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For all those wonderful Dee supporters worried about our moves this year, let's reflect on the last few years. High draft nos. and yet we have failed to find a superstar (Trengove, Blease, Grimes could well yet emerge. I suspect they will)) We have not played finals for soooo long We have not been truly competitive. I think Neeldy wants a side that can compete. I want a side that can run out each week and give us a chance of victory. We are recruiting bigger bodies, we are recruiting Premiership players!.....more than anything else Neeld needs to be applauded for 'having a go!'. The worst scenario would be no improvement....this will not happen in my opinion. All of the recruited players have great attitudes, train very hard and understand what it takes to be successful. I hope the Gys and Cale find success, but I'll settle for Byrnes, Dawes, Rodan, Petersen, Hogan, Barry and Viney for starters and if we can get Wines....2013 will be an exciting year. It certainly has to be more exciting than 2012!

The issue around Tanking is not a club issue. It is an AFL issue alone! Any club that is rewarded for losing by an organisation, must in all good faith do the best to gain that reward. It's unimportant if individual clubs are accused of Tanking. Each club would be stupid not to seek the best players from the draft. It is the AFL who created this situation. No one can surely imagine some club being found 'guilty of tanking'. How are you going to prove this? What player will do this or what official could provide enough 'hard' evidence to prove this to be a fact. That individual would be villified and 'attacked' legally in so many ways. Brock's comments are laughable when you realise what club he chose to go to, so that he could get his integrity back! Anyone remember Kreuzer and Trapper's 40+ possessions in his last game for Melbourne? Supposition, inuendo and 'idiots' like those on OTC have nothing in cold hard facts. If they do let's hear them. Muck raking, and Roos inability to get over the Swans heaviest defeat seem to be the stimulus. I would believe that any club found 'guilty' and threatened with sancction could take this to court and have it thrown out. The AFL know this and will say they have investigated thoroughly and 'again' and hopefully finally, find 'no substantive' evidence. End of the story!

While Melbourne has been injury depleted, there awaits a massive opportunity this week against Richmond. Let's face it. No King, no Vickery, no Jackson, Morris doubtful - this must upset the Tiger balance. Hopefully back for Melbourne will be Jones, Jamar and Davey. Possible debuts from Couch or Cook or both and we have an interesting contest. While Sellar is 50/50, Richmond will be nervous of the improving Dees. Melbourne have absolutely nothing to lose. Rivers will probably venture back , while Garland will remain in the a key forward post. One gets the feeling that Garland is a 6 goal game, waiting to happen. Shutting down Deledio, Martin and Crotchin will determine the outcome. Jamar or Martin will have to give Maric a bath. Sylvia is getting better each week and I think Howe is about to take mark of the century. The game might be won at the selection table. If the Dees win, it will be wonderful, if they lose, then picks 3+4 seem assured. Melbourne may well surprise, as some of their middle of the road players will be starting to second guess their futures. They all need good performances from hereon in Melbourne supporters will sleep well at either outcome. My pick Dees by 17

I do not think umpires are biased, but I do think there are some fundamental flaws in what we are seeing in the modern game. I was watching West Coast against Carlton last night and while I am not a fan of either side, I found myself favouring Carlton because of the raw deal the umps were giving them. It would appear that crowds in the West, inparticular, do intimidate the Umps at times, surely we above this happening? Its not that they were paying the Eagles more free kicks (although they did get 10 out of the first 14 given), it was what the umpires did not give to Carlton, in my opinion blatant pushes in the back, holds and other obvious frees to everyone except those officiating. A couple in front of goal for West Coast (Darling and Cox ) were 50 /50's at best and ended up being a game changer. Some of the very best games of Football are good, because of the player's skills and the fact that no one noticed the umpiring! Here's my grumble: The game is one of a few ,where the rules are open to interpretation.. The umps are never consistent in their interpretation. The % of frees in front of goal can and do determine a game, apart from giving incredible confidence to the receiving team and demoralising the other team, who are battling their guts out only to have a very' iffy' decision given in front of goal. Worst umpired decisions include holding the ball (in possession). in the back, deliberate out of bounds, holding and arm chopping. Of course umpiring is not easy. I have followed the game for nearly 60 years and umpired in my early years. We were taught to NEVER guess, always interpret the same way. Umpires could actually communicate as to how they were going to umpire and what they would pay frees for. I believe that Umpires often umpire from the wrong side of the pack . Its great when you hear an umpire say the he could not see and therefore could not pay a free. Disappointing but reasonable. Umpires will make mistakes as do players, but all I am after is consistency in approach and interpretation of the rules. I am sure the players are confused, because there is no doubt the supporters are. How a player that is jumped on by 5 others and the ball is squashed under can make a genuine attempt to get rid of the ball , is beyond me. How many times have we seen a big forward hold their arm back on the defenders arm , only to receive a free kick, how manty times does it take an umpire to realise that some players are always slipping down as they are grabbed to get a 'high tackle' (it is almost impossible for the tackler to readjust his tackle), likewise players who consistently throw themselves forward when they are tackled. Some out there might say all this is fair, get away with what you can and this is OK, but it makes it hard for the spectator to understand what rules we are playing, because they appear to change from year to year, game to game and even during a game. In the game last Monday, it was impossible to know how the 'holding the ball' rule was to be judged, because the Umps in my opinion had no consistent idea and we spectators were left guessing, yet again. Come on Mr Geischen , am I asking too much?

I agree with this sentiment. The tide will turn. There is always hope. E.G. I attended a local derby in Hobart last weekend and watched a player (in Collingwood colours) demolish my beloved North Hobart (Dees). His name is Ben Brown and he is playing this weekend against the VFL. He is 200 cm, good build, very mobile, elusive, fast and can kick goals from anywhere. Ben would definitely be someone to look at for 2012 and there is also a wonderful centre line player called Bowden who would be worth a look, quick with silky skills and football smarts and also playing against the VFL on the weekend. Ben Beams is coaching these players and has been in contact with a couple of AFL sides about these two, hopefully Melbourne are aware? We will emerge from this trough, I for one will always be a Dee! Looking forward to Monday morning's headline DEES STUN WASTEFUL BLUES !!!!!!!!!

Maybe its time players have to reveal their analysis of their game each week...... This would need to be an eye balling sharing with their team mates. Maybe they do this at the monday inquisition? My review of the tape clearly indicates that the majority of the team displayed a lack of chase? a lack of hitting a target (even) when the target is standing by himself? a lack of spirit for the contest? a lack of leadership from our senior players? a resignation that all is lost? I do not know how many times I have seen this season three MFC's run toward the ball carrier ,only to watch the ball go over the head to two (now unmarked players for the opposition), down the ground and goal! I am sure players are trying, but it it doesn't always look like it. I will continue to support this club as I have for over 50 years, but would just ask for some brief glimpse of improvement soon. Those of us who hang in week after week, month after month and year after year deserve something positive soon. Blease Watts and Howe give me something, but as a long suffering and very passionate supporter please Dees give me somthing to hang my hat on.

No sound to the post match comments and no sound by the players. There was more emotion by some players at the end of the game. That's when they were congratulating the opposition for killing us

Whatever no. in the draft we use, he will be worth it!!!!! I'd use no 1. if we had it. He is just what we need. The highlights from saturday's game should make us all salivate. When Jack pushed that trainer away, I am thinking wow, this kid is tough! There will be no two to three year development stage, Jack will be ready to mix it. I cannot remember seeing a kid as tough as Jack and physically well prepared to take up a position in our 1st 22. As Wojo becomes a name from the distant past, Viney will become a household name at Melbourne (again) ! Premiers 13

I don't always write to Demonland, but was having a cup of coffee today at my local cafe and happened to read Greg Denhams article in the Australian. I nearly choked........ The article is basically a total denegration of Melbourne, its players and how things have been managed over the past few years. As a loyal supporter of this club for over 40 years I do get sick of football journo's waking up one day with nothing to write about and decide it must be time to 'kick' the Dees again. Let's face it, the team is not in the place that we would like it to be, but I am getting a good feeling about the future. I think Mark is 'building the house', laying a solid foundation, selecting players who are prepared to dig in and give their best every week. Sylvia, Jurrah, Green will add strength, depth and flair. It looks like we have found a couple of good players in Tom Mac and Mitsubishi and I for one am prepared to give 2012 to building onto the foundation. Mark has drawn the line in the sand and we will see who can hack it, follow our new structures and develop the consistent effort we all crave. This week at Geelong I hope to see everything thrown at the opposition, courage under fire and a desire to win the hard ball. You just never know what we are capable of. I think we will build respect over the coming weeks, if not victories. Some commentators, including this idiot from the Australian believe we have gone backwards, I think we have restarted, with a desire to be good not just for a week or two, but for the decade ahead. Could be proven wrong and even if we were 0-11, still think we can win 8 or more games this year. Of course it would be sensational to win any of the games over the next 6 weeks. Just love to shove some stuff to these Journos who know nothing of what Melbourne is trying to do, know nothing about what is going on behind the scenes and just want a headline.Greg Denham could well read some of Matt Burgan's stuff to find out that you can actually write a good story based on real information and facts. Premiers 13

I don't always write to Demonland, but was having a cup of coffee today at my local cafe and happened to read Greg Denhams article in the Australian. I nearly choked........ The article is basically a total denegration of Melbourne, its players and how things have been managed over the past few years. As a loyal supporter of this club for over 40 years I do get sick of football journo's waking up one day with nothing to write about and decide it must be time to 'kick' the Dees again. Let's face it, the team is not in the place that we would like it to be, but I am getting a good feeling about the future. I think Mark is 'building the house', laying a solid foundation, selecting players who are prepared to dig in and give their best every week. Sylvia, Jurrah, Green will add strength, depth and flair. It looks like we have found a couple of good players in Tom Mac and Mitsubishi and I for one am prepared to give 2012 to building onto the foundation. Mark has drawn the line in the sand and we will see who can hack it, follow our new structures and develop the consistent effort we all crave. This week at Geelong I hope to see everything thrown at the opposition, courage under fire and a desire to win the hard ball. You just never know what we are capable of. I think we will build respect over the coming weeks, if not victories. Some commentators, including this idiot from the Australian believe we have gone backwards, I think we have restarted, with a desire to be good not just for a week or two, but for the decade ahead. Could be proven wrong and even if we were 0-11, still think we can win 8 or more games this year. Of course it would be sensational to win any of the games over the next 6 weeks. Just love to shove some stuff to these Journos who know nothing of what Melbourne is trying to do, know nothing about what is going on behind the scenes and just want a headline.Greg Denham could well read some of Matt Burgan's stuff to find out that you can actually write a good story based on real information and facts. Premiers 13

We are the weakest team I have seen for some time. Before you castigate me, I have supported Melbourne for over 40 years. We surrender today very meekly. Neeld, good luck. Does the number 16 have significance?

We are the weakest excuse for a team that I have seen for some time and I have been a supporter for over 40 years!

What can you say, has anyone ever heard of f.........manning up. Thats it for me a supporter for 50 years I have nothing left to give

I just do not what to say 27 to 5 frees and every mistake you could imagine. where can we go from here.?can only be be up. Have had absolutely nothing from Umps. Mark Neeld will need to be a miracle maker. Haing said that we'll beat the tigers by 15

I am living in Italy for 12 mths and need a Dees fix everyweek. You can consider joining up at www.afl.aussiesport.tv this is available to overseas folk. It shows replays etc For live games I have joined omnisport tv. I have not used this service yet, so Iam unsure of its quality or reliability. It also cost about $60. For this i supposedly can waych any AFL game. Time will tell. Hope this helps

Why wouldn't the club look at Little from Williamstown as a big bodied forward. Seems to be very competitve, strong, a good lead and accurate kick?