Pates

Well done, it was a fantastic mark and he'll at least be remembered for that but i look forward to many more highlights!

No i didn't back him all the way, but i saw a lot of promise towards the end of 06 and that hard me a little excited. He would've been a runaway for the B&F this year had he not gotten injured. Well done to him polling a BOG from the umps.

I give the club my blessings to play hard ball with this, if he really wants to go to another club and he wants to choose where he goes than we tell him "you damn well make sure we get something good for you or we'll let you go into the PSD and go to Richmond or Carlton", if he really cares for Melbourne but wants the security of 3 years then its the least he can do.

Jeff White is one i can think of, but credit should go to the coach when a player makes AA.

Interesting story this, early this year McLean said that he avoids hitting it hard with Sylvia because of this sort of this and keeping himself in shape. It's very dissapointing to see him backflip on his standards. Wait until they get back before we hang 'em though, i hope Bails will get right in their faces and tell them that this won't be tollerated under his guidance. As always, showing your immediate distaste for McLean. He must have ran over your favourite puppy, because i haven't seen you say one good thing about him, and as soon as he slips up you're all over him him.

As old Brucey Mac would say, "Clever!" On the issue at hand, Robbo's stubbornness is the problem here. The club is right to offer him 2 two years, and there is a good chance that we'd keep him on afterwards, but we shouldn't take the risk on a 29 yo who has dogey knees. He's clearly been taking lessons from Biz.

I would only be looking to trade Trapper if we were getting Judd, it's a bit of a 1 step back two steps forward scenario. I'm worried about how many players are being shopped around from our side this year, surely it can't be good for club moral, especially if players we put up aren't traded.

I had a discussion at my work with a Blues supporter and he said that apparently in the interview we asked him whether he wanted to play for Melbourne, and he added, with a goofey grin, Judd took his jacket off and revealed a Melbourne top. I know it's probably BS, but a i guy can dream!

No value at all on Carlton.

Carlton have the bargaining chips, but if i was Judd, and i was being honest with myself, I would be looking at the Pies as my choice. It's got everything going for it, facilities, money, premiership chance, good staff,etc. But i would have Melbourne before Carlton, for a number of reasons. 1. He would always be seen as chasing the $$$$, not the top prize. 2. The Dome would be my home ground, and he's already stated he wants to play on the G 3. He wouldn't be screwing WC because we do have much to offer them, pick 4, players on the outer etc. 4. Choosing Melbourne over Carlton, i think, would gain you respect in the football world because you'd be going to a project club rather than one that's being propped up by a Millionaire and let's face it, still has issues. I've said it all along though, if Collingwood are willing to trade for him, and WC are wiling to deal with them than he'll be a Pie next year. But honestly can't picture him as a Blue bagger, which IMO leaves us in second stop to get him.

It was sickening to see him walk around OO on the Footy show last night, it'll be good to see footage of him meeting with MFC staff. Maybe this is just stupid, but Melbourne Victory's stuffing around with the new Bubble dome might have hurt us with convincing Judd. We should've had a state of the art facility in the making for 2008 at this stage, but because of all the hold ups it won't be ready till 2009. It may just be those little things that make or break. But still, got to stay positive! C'mon Bails, Cuddles, and Gazza, bring the Juddernaut home! PS. I'm a fan of MVFC, i think i'm just so nervous that i'm looking at every little crack!

Really dissapointing from Robbo, and i don't think we should take the risk of giving him an extra year. I hope he settles on being at Melbourne for two but if he can't then let's trade him and go hardcore on it, if the bulldogs don't give us what we want then send him to the PSD. I don't want another Bizzell. PS. I'm a fan of Robbo's but this has really hurst me.

Obviously if we're to get Judd, pick 4 would probably be going to WC. But is he the only player we'd consider trading the pick for, or should we be shopping it around to see if anyone is interested, and what should we be trying to get for it?

I think extra time is definately something the AFL should consider. I remember watching the Liverpool v AC Milan match where the Pool came from 3-0 down to level it at 3-3 and take it into extra time, that match's extra time was so increadibly nerve-racking and thrilling despite there being no goals, just seeing the players try to muster up that extra 10% when they were physically and mentally stuffed was inspiring. (Same with the Aust v Urug qualifier) I'm not sure it works as well for AFL, but Friday night was an amazing game to watch.

All the best to him, this is the start of a new era for the MFC and i think the fact is that it would hurt the relationship between Bails and the players if Reilly remained, just because he's been around for the Danners times and he was passed over for the top job. Good luck Bomer, though i don't wish your new club any success!

3. Jaded's Stewie Robot 2. Madness 1. Finks' dog (simple, but i love it!)

We could trade to get Scott Thompson back! And then he'd say he'd want to go back home! But i do agree with the topic of this thread, pick 4 can get us right in amongst the Judd trade even if we don't get him, and it could really be benificial to us.

Did he know, well that's great news then! Long live Chunky Jones!

I've had this one for a good while, it was on my dad's wall at his office and i just loved the line "don't ever give up!" Plus i don't know whether I'm going for the bird or the Frog!

Pretty good review but just one mention of Nathan Jones, i would've put him at the top of my list in positives!

I think the Shinboner spirit exists to a certain extent, they do seem to fight a little harder sometimes, but in finals you need more than fight to carry you through, you actually need true class coupled with the will to win to get you a finals win. There is no "spirit" in finals football. To win you must be good enough, all the times mentioned, they weren't good enough.

I agree, Godfrey did his job this year and with Bartram being so young and getting over a full season of injuries, he's some handy depth to have. Ward i'll be happy to see out the door, too many younger players that should be taking his spot now.

He's a great player, i would never trade him and i don't think many clubs would take a risk on him given his injury run of late. They wouldn't be able to off anything of value to us and a fit and firing Whelan is one of the best small defenders in the comp.

Have to admit, i thought that the Pies would be bungled out in the first week. But they looked pretty good last night and i give them half a chance against a WC outfit that is underdone. Always happy to eat humble pie when i'm wrong, this one particuarly tastes bad.

I disagree, i think the key reason why they have won those 4 premierships is more because they have had a good quality Sandringham core with the Melbourne players filling in some of the gaps. Yes, we gave them Rigoni and Read who both starred in grand finals, but unless you've got the quality out there week in week out, you won't get very far. In fact it's a testimate to how good their core is that they did so well this year with Melbourne's injury problems. PS. What the hell was with the kicking this week? We handed the bloody game to NB. I would be very sad if we were to end our relationship, and it would definately be to your detriment.