Mallee Bull

If you interpret what Stynes has said in the way that you have then sure, it's probably inappropriate. Personally, I'm just taking the words for what they say, not reading into implications about an unmentioned former coach that may or may not be there. If that means I require 'help' that you apparently cannot provide then I can live with it.

''It looks like we have a coach now that is really serious and he is not going to relax,'' Stynes said yesterday. ''He is not going to sit back and let it all happen. He is going to create it - it's good.'' Where does he suggest that Bailey was not serious? All I read is that Neeld must be very intense about achieving success with this group of footballers now. Not achieving competitiveness.

May I ask why you bothered with your first post if your unwilling to actually reveal what you know?

They are idiots if they do.

It's interesting to note that when he threatens that they'll be looking at other clubs uncontracted players to poach, their history this year suggests that the main club that should be afraid is their older sibling, Gold Coast. They will have half their young talented list coming out of their first 2 year contracts and seeing as GWS are willing to spend massive overs on kids with potential, I'd put money on GWS having a massive crack at some of the Suns young talent. Luckily for us, the pain of expansion is over.

Sons of Anarchy anyone?

Was intending to watch that episode this weekend. Cheers for that.

Just noticed the author, Denham. Figures.

http://www.theaustra...f-1226172259466 Gotta love the quality Journalism here. "Melbourne Demons approach" is the head line, later on it's mentioned by their only source, Kennett, that the approach is from "concerned powerbrokers, not those currently employed by the clubs concerned." So it could be Gutnik for all they know. How does that equate to a MFC approach? Unless the so-called "powerbrokers" are named, it's a stupid article that belongs in the Hun, not the Australian.

I agree WYL, I'm all for the club taking this option, but it would be reasonable for us to request (demand) that the Darwin match be played the week before our scheduled BYE. This would allow our players adequate time to recover from what is a really grueling match.

Well. I can say for an absolute certainty that this was the last thing I was expecting to see when I got home tonight. I feel like a kid on Christmas morning! Awesome work MFC! P.S. Now I can really stick it up my two filth supporting mates who bagged our club for not being able to lure him!!!

Having Clark wouldn't impact on the Jamar/Martin duo at all. He's a forward that can ruck. He had the break out year as Brisbane's ruck due to no other rucks being available. They had Leuenberger this year, and they played Clark as a forward. Alongside Brown when he played. He would push out one of our Mid sized forwards. He'd be a great pick up and would be insurance on match day incase one of Jamar or Martin went down.

My understanding is that the pick will be tied to where MFC finish, not the club we trade it to.

Good for Junior. Can't blame the guy. Everyone is bagging GWS for getting together 'Dad's Army', I think they are being very smart. Junior, Power, Cornes won't play all 22 games, but their leadership and knowledge of the game will be invaluable to their kids whilst on the field. They may have looked at what happens to a club full of kids without any mature leadership and decided to do something about it. Really hope we can lure Junior back to the club in some capacity when he's done with GWS.

I've been thinking that we need to do this all year long. St Kilda brought in Aaron Hammil to help protect and lead their young top draft picks. We need to get someone similar. Someone in their prime (24-27), someone that has real leadership. I'd also love Goddard, but he's not free until next year and I'm thinking that GWS will be going gung-ho for him this time next year. Is anyone able to obtain a list of notable players out of contract this year?

They were, my post wasn't having a dig at the MFC, I don't think they could have done anything other than they have. He was the best at the time, so we chose him. They likely have done all they can to keep him. My post was just lamenting the wasted pick. Not laying blame.

Regardless of how I feel about Scully for defecting, my deeper anguish is that we have wasted a number 1 draft pick. They are so precious and we've lost ours for a pick 17 and maybe another pick. Forget about Scully's suspect knee and whether or not he will be a star, that pick should have delivered us a Nick Reiwoldt/Hodge/Goddard/Deledio/Murphy. I'm just shattered that through no fault of our own (MFC just couldn't go $ for $ with GW$), the pick has been wasted. I'm sure our compensation pick will get us a good player, but they won't be like the players mentioned above. Gutted.

Are you kidding? Morton is exactly the type the Swans would go for. The kid clearly has talent. As frustrating a player as he is, you still see some very good things from time to time. He has not been playing in the one role for us and this has likely unsettled him. The swans have and amazing record for getting the best out of their recycled players. I'd bet they could do so with Morton. Hell, I'm betting our new coach will be able to. I'm not saying they'd give up gold for him, but I'm certain that they'd be interested in him, for the right trade. In any event, I hope we hold onto him. I'm sure I'm in the minority here, but I think with a new (experienced) coach coming in, he might turn the corner.

I tend to disagree with this line of thinking. I think the only reason our membership will increase next year (if indeed it does), will be because of the way we play. Win early games against quality opposition and all of a sudden the supporters have a reason to believe we are righting the ship. Lose like we have been these last 4 years and we'll end up with the same loyal 35,000 or so that buy memberships regardless. I think all Melbourne fans are fed up with the idea of brighter times ahead due to {insert draft pick/new coach}. The day we can back up our 'talking' with our 'walking' I will get seriously excited.

Yes, that is true, but it was the current administration that made the members (and supporters) believe it was worth donating. The FD is the last piece of the puzzle. I have faith they'll get it right.

The board is implementing change. They sacked the coach. Trying to 'rock the board' is the last thing we need. The current admin has eradicated debt, acquired assets and secured one of the largest sponsorships in AFL history. It is now turning its attention to fixing the under-performing FD. Wait and see who the new coach is before you start calling for change.

Ahhh crap. I'd resigned myself to accepting he'd go, so that I wouldn't be disappointed if he did. But the longer this drags out I find myself nurturing a tiny spark of hope....

The problem is that the other 8 clubs not only lowered our colours, they then tore them off, wiped themselves with them, tossed them aside and went on by chuckling.

This. Except I would label Sylvia as 'inconsistent' rather than poor. Dunn really disappointed me. Looked like he'd come of age in the second half of last season.

Frawley can handle any power forward, its only when there are two that we are exposed. Watts has grown this year, massively, and we have cook developing in the VFL, so he should debut next year after a second pre-season. Our concerns are the midfield. We need to keep injecting quality talent into the midfield. Personally, I think we really need to do what StKilda did with Hammil, and trade for a big, experienced leader to teach and protect our talented youngsters. I love Moloney, Rivers, Green and Davey, but as leaders they have been pathetic. We need to trade for our Hammil.