premiers13

Everywhere that I look and read atm is about how the Dogs are going to beat Melbourne. It seems to me that the Dees are not going to run out unprepared. Any thought about hanging it on Max will fail, why? Max is determined very very good and I cannot imagine his team mates letting any funny business go without strong retribution! who is going to stop Kozzie, Petracca, Oliver, Spargo , Brown , Fritsch? Etc etc The Dogs have a good team, but no mention of how they will handle the fortnight off. On a roll , but now, who knows what effect this will have on their team. The Dees have prepared like they did before Geelong. How did that go? Yes we need stoppers on Daniel, Liberatore and Mccrae. Especially Daniel who the dogs play through all of the time. He drops off runs to the back of the play and where he receives the ball. He is such a good user , this supply needs corking. I get the feeling that the Dees are ready for the pressure and will deliver a fair bit themselves. The Dees did not get here by luck. Time and time again a new type of Melbourne has emerged this season. The Dees have many weapons, they play as a single machine. The Dogs also are a good team, but this season we would appear to be the better team. This we will prove on Saturday. As Ronald Dale Barassi recently said, “ stay calm and give em hell!” Dees by 37

Saturday nights worst umpiring decision , did pay dividends. When Gus had his kick forward paid as deliberate out of bounds, most of us die hards cried foul and couldn’t believe the stupidity of the umpire, but then….. Guthrie kicks out on the full ( thanks to Tracs harassing on the mark), a brain fade in hitting the ball 20 metres into the stands ( despite Scott claiming it in the field of play), 50 metres! and Jakes smart kick to Max. a goal and we do not have to play Port in Adelaide So thank you Mr Umpire for the dumbest decision of the year and allowing the Dees to finish on top. in all seriousness the decision against Gus could have shaped, who eventually won the Premiership! we all know how good the Umpiring has been this year!!!!!!!!

I cannot work out why Melbourne was penalised 100+ metres for not breaking a rule. Three goals, momentum, Salem about to deliver into our forward line and ......hang on the ball goes right back to the square. Oscar had marked the ball and been allowed to play on down the field and we were in a very advantageous position. No laws broken. There has to been a time frame for reviews. Certainly is when a score occurs. No problem if Oscars mark was called a point. Brisbane got a 100 m+ advantage and we lost momentum. Surely once the Central Umpire allows the play to continue, it continues. At the very least the ball should have been returned to Salem in the position he had been in.

Can happen ; AFL Boss wants it? A Tassie Team will not just be people living in Tasmania as members. There are thousands of Tasmanians living in other States Like me I'll always be a Dees Member, but would also become a Tassie member The Team will be exposed on the national front, and will attract National Sponsors, plus Tasmanian business Over 45000 Tasmanians already indicated their financial support GWS and Suns have been given zillions , + Draft concessions to succeed. Tassie has produced more champions per capita than any other state. Ever heard of Hudson, Hart, Baldock, Robertson, Stewart, Sutton Lawrence, Lynch, to name a very few and apologies to the many I've not mentioned? Even Nieta was born there. 6 million in Melbourne supporting 10 teams, (600,000) per team, roughly the pop of Tasmania , plus those living interstate It can happen, just need 'a coalition of the willing!'

Was Dees supporter

So Munford smacks his opponent in the face with his foreman , deliberate action. Gets off his ban and May who stood his ground and his opponent 'throws' himself backwards gets a week. Our game is in such good hands, we never know what decision is about to occur when the umpire blows his whistle and now we can guess work Christian's interpretations. How is it possible to suggest that Munford's action was of less force than May's ? The game is 'in such good hands!' yeah right!

Today’s game was about Umpires wanting to be the ‘centre’ of attention. look at me ! Look at me! I’m in charge and I ‘m the boss . It’s all about me! The big problem is (even with 4) , they umpire from BEHIND the play, 40 metres at least from the play. They guess and are Never wrong when challenged. Goals kill teams especially when you watch a replay and see such dumb, inconsistent and poor decisions. its the only game in the world where the whistle blows and no ones knows the outcome. solution : Get umpires full time, professionals, maybe 25-30. Pay by performance. Stop umpiring from behind the play, stop guessing. Great umpiring is when you do not notice them. Should we not review decisions that are made which result in shots on goal? The run past 50 metre is an absolute shocker of a rule. Today the Dees were penalised with players chasing their opponents past the kicker at least twice. So frustrated with inconsistency and often the frees not paid are the real killers. Then again we are criticising those who do not accept criticism!

Attended Corey's 'finals' game with Casey v a near AFL side in Richmond. He was simply outstanding. Very strong over the ball and good user. Thought I saw a real AFL player. Predict he will make massive improvement this year, barring injury

The problem is ...now you can apparently lay force on the head region, as long as its 'not forceful'. So a slap or push to the area must be OK? A fine should have been the minimum outcome or are we saying you can bring force to the head region and 'we will decide the force of that blow' As for acting, just watch Rance...now that's acting! Clayton is a tough young man, just hope the Swans have a go at him!

We can beat Hawthorn. Hawks always play out the back. Their backline players drop off usually without a man and then the Hawk players spread quickly. This leaves a number of options and allows them to run forward, hand pass over the top and lead into space. They score! Dees just have to pick up these players who drop out the back and try to stop their run. We look good when we run! Easier said than done I know. We are young, especially this week. I am proud of 8 wins so far ( could have/ should have been a couple more) Hopeful of a very competitive go against a very good team

Retired teacher. Son a High School teacher. Dee's fan for over 50 years

Why not try? 3 to Port Wines to Melbourne Port get to use 3 for Paddy R

It seems to me that if we get a PP, it may be a 'tradeable' pick, so another club gets the benefit of this and we get a player. Works for me and may interest the detractors. Maybe we need to get used to being hated by other clubs.

What Damian fails to address is that the AFL is NOT just made up of other Clubs. Each club has its own passionate band of supporters. Melbourne has nearly 32 000 members and I am sure, If we were at all successful, we could be up about the 50 000 mark. The AFL has gone to amazing lengths to ensure that the Suns and GWS will be successful. Enormous resource, personnel and draft picks has ensured that both of these clubs will eventually be very competitive. Let's go with Damian's thinking about Melbourne, we could ensure that Melbourne finish on the bottom every year. I am confident that the AFL would not want that! Even the AFL have worked out that an equalisation culture is necessary. Extra support does not guarantee success. Dear Damian, draft concessions, etc do not guarantee success! We have been a basket case in recent years and the AFL have intervened to give us some professional support. They want an 18 team very competitive competition. They want the weekly footy tipping to be a tough task. Melbourne supporters are entitled to some success, just like all other club supporters. We do need 'on the ground' support, if we get a draft concession then the AFL have made that judgement, NOT Melbourne! We will take any support on offer. I am offended by Damian's comments...I have been a Dees supporter for over 50 years and I want just 1 Premiership before I help subsidise the flower growing fraternity. You are a' tool' Damian and have absolutely no idea about the passion, true supporters have for their club. I will continue to be a Melbourne Member and hope desperately to taste some success in the near future. Do not tell me that I don't deserve success, Melbourne supporters are vital members of the AFL community. You Tool!

Thankyou Caroline Wilson for ensuring that natural justice has taken a huge whack! If this was a criminal trial, her bias, blokes in the closet, vitriolic and emotional attack on the club could only be seen as interference with justice. It would be impossible now to get any natural justice, her articles have made this a legal minefield. I hope our lawyers use 'her words' to seek a strong case for biased interference in the process and a public attack ,without providing 1 real piece of evidence. Come on Caroline , provide the "Hard evidence you say you have, to the AFL" Not possible? According to her 'gutter'' approach , she has everyone guilty of everything, well before an investigation has been completed. She has made the truth so impossible to get at, having tainted the investigation with a public attack on the club. She has dismissed any attempt to widen the investigation as unnecessary and her personal attacks must open her to slander possibilities. I am hoping that the AFL can see the very injustice of such attacks and acknowledge that she has clouded the truth. Who could find the truth in her 'declining' articles. Regardless of outcome (and I doubt how anyone can come to a conclusion now ,without a stong hint of interference by a single journalist), I would ensure that Caroline Wilson gets 'nothing' from this Club, ever! Now of course we get every 'hater' of Melbourne jumping up and making statements that provide no more facts, just more fiction and hate mail. If you or I persisted with such a vitriolic attack on another person, without providing a shred of 'real' evidence, we would be in court and suffer strong sanctions. I can only be hopeful that natural justice will be afforded to Caroline Wilson, because she has tried to stop Melbourne from having any. Remember , we are guilty because Caroline Wilson says so! There must something underneath the surface to ensure such hatred from a person who calls herself a journalist. There I've done it , used inuendo and a maybe's to enhance my story....sound familiar

What people coming forward? They are anonymous or 'allegedly it was reported....' Any of us can make anything up, put it in print and according to 'the Age' , it must be true!' A Carlton president once had a great saying to some this up 'Pigs Ar..'

In all the media hype and the barrage of this 'allegedly' happened!, one 'version was and another 'version' was etc tetc I have not read or know of a single FACT that has come to light to prove anything. A witch hunt through the media must also have its consequences. Unless there is a proven case of 'anything', people like Caroline Wilson must be prepared to resign her position should she not be vindicated. It is her right to report news, not make it up on the run or offer interpretation to suit her story. We are talking of something that supposedly happened 4 years ago. To be truly open we would need to investigate much further back and to widen the inuendo to even that idiot, Kennett's team. The AFL know that any negative outcome towards Melbourne will bring fierce resistance from the Club , injunctions and a demand for deeper investigations. The AFL should simply admit that they supported a flawed system , a number of clubs may have used the system with interpretation and they are now changing the system so this will never occurr again. Making 1 team or individuals scapegoats for using an existing system will not advance the game. There are many players in this scenario and many possible outcomes. In recent times a lot of Australians have been 'tried' in the media, only to find the actual facts do not support the theories generated out of 'Headline seeking' poor journalism I for 1 will be watching to see whether or not the AFL support the Media circus being played out, whether they are agreeing with the media clowns or they are actually gathering the facts and will make a fair and provide game supportive outcomes.

If found guilty of some ridiculous charge (impossible to prove), the following should occur; 1. Brock Mclean becomes a persona non gratia at Melbourne. When next he plays us we should focus our attention on him like no other player in the VFL's AFL's history (probably should happen either way) 2. Never buy an Age again read an Age article again, talk to an Age reporter, allow any Age reporter access to our club etcetec, and publish the fact that CW has been the sole cause for this 3. The Club needs to sue the 'pants' off the AFL, Take the outcome to the High court, determine that this action will continue until ALL players from ALL clubs are identified and so called called to account 4. If the Club does not do 3. then the members take this up and take out a civil action against the AFL. there are so many holes in this stuff that even a layman can see that the AFL will be walking on eggshells over this. If they think this is over when a club or someone is found guilty they had better be prepared to bunker in. I hope they will come to a rational and intelligent outcome or this has the potential to drag on for years

An investigation into any meeting held by Hawthorn, Collingwood or Carltank in their years of being at the bottom, will have to occur. Who is the person who is actually going to say "yes we agreed to tank". Cannot see that happening. It has to be inuendo or hearsay. If Bailey was to be proven guilty of such a statement. surely he would be sanctioned. I hope Melbourne is ready to take this to the High Court. Brock Mcclean you are a 'wombat' ! you transferred to the Club who must be found guilty of tanking if Melbourne was ever found to have tanked. Certainly no player would deliberately tank.

Collingwood, Carlton never tanked?

Great leaders have always surrounded themselves with alike thinkers. It is very obvious that Mark has chosen this pathway that is open to a little risk, but with the potential for a huge upside. We are not the coach at Melbourne, just desperate supporters who crave some success before they put the dirt on top. I for one know without equivocation, that we have for the past few years had our hopes constantly being destroyed by incredibly poor and uncompetitive performances. Enough! I hate the fact that our Club has been the brunt of footy jokes. Enough! Some of us will be sad to lose players who we may had high hopes for or who have given us snippets of potential. Surely we all knew that if Melbourne was to change to a club that is respected and feared on and off the field, massive changes had to occur. I am sad to lose some familiar faces, but I am excited by seeing a Leader who is showing some amazing boldness, a lack of fear, focussed and a preparedness to set the 'bar' so much higher. The incoming players all have displayed levels of courage, desperation and considerable skills. There appears to be a balance of experience and emerging talent. There is still more to come. Great leaders set a standard that is high and have demanding expectations of performance and attitude. As a passionate supporter I applaud Mark Neeld for giving us a chance to finally dream of success. The rocket is being fuelled.............our critics are already in disarray.

Barrett has just rated Melbourne's trading as an 'E". He rates Port Adelaide as a "C"!!! Surely this alone, examples anything he says as rubbish. He is allowed an opinion, but he certainly demonstrates a strong bias against Melbourne. His answer was that we should have kept our low Picks and drafted kids.....lowering our expectations!!!!! I think time will prove him totally wrong. Barrett you are a 'wombat'!

And their opinion is more important than Mark Neeld's?

If all the top draft picks had translated into excellent players, I would agree that it seems odd. However our recent history tells me that we got it very wrong. Rodan et al, is a goer, a premiership player and prepares incredibly well. This experience (short term I agree, but good for 2 years) will hopefully help mentor the younger boys at Melbourne. We could not have accepted a draft period without major change. Time will tell!

I think you will find a very different approach from now on.