Grapeviney

Seeing pictures of a broken-hearted brian stynes snr at yesterday's game made me sad all over again. I really feel for his poor family - they would be missing him tremendously

Interested to read Cam Schwab say that with the signing of the three new sponsors "we have largely bridged that gap" left by the departure of EW

by my reckoning, that means we're still a major sponsor - the equivalent of a reasonable $$FOJ deal - short of where we should be..

Just saw Trenners and Tappy at a cafe in Elwood. JT's calf was wrapped up in a compression bandage..

Err, Jack??? What about some sort of Pain Relief? And just Maybe we could get a Security company to sponsor the Security of our List? Maybe Nickless, or Armaguard???

Mayne Nickless actually did sponsor us in the early 80's

It Hertz to barrack for Melbourne

But 4 weeks after an operation on his finger at his age?

The way these things go for guys at the MFc This could easily be 8.

Could be right there OD - Jurrah's "four-week" wrist injury officially passed the 5-month mark this week !

There was a queue of about 20-25 people / families waiting to sign up for Richmond membership before the game on Saturday.

In contrast, the Melbourne membership tent was empty; the one person standing outside the front was from the club i think (my dad said it was someone wanting a refund)

6. Howe

5.

4.

3. Jones

2. Frawley

1. Clark

Not sure how Trengove's getting votes here.. only had 16 touches and 2 goals in junk time

* edit to add frawley, who kept reiwoldt in check

The "new game plan" appears to be run it along the boundary to around HFF, then kick it long, but take care not to the "hot spot" but to the pocket --- but not until there is a 1 on 2 or preferably a 1 on 3 contest, and only if it is really deep in the pocket. Am I the only one to notice this interesting "innovation?"

heaven help them if they bring it into the middle with a pinpoint pass, as bail did to howe in the 2nd quarter.. might actually score a goal>>

Destroyed at the stoppages - hardly won a clearance all day

not sure what else to say.. gutted

So you think we'll have a percentage over 270% (which is what Sydney has right now)? I'm not that bullish. But I'm never too shy to make a bold yet uneducated prediction. Melbourne 82 d Brisbane 65, which would be a percentage of 126%.

ummm s'pose i should have looked at the ladder before posting that !

We're going to thump them and will be sitting pretty at the top of the table at the end of Round 1.

nice meeting you today GV

you too Barrass, was nice to see Demon friends both old and new

I had this on VHS but cannot find it anywhere. A friend and I used to watch it all the time. I also seem to remember watching it with a cousin of mine too. You might know him Grapeviney.

If I remember correctly you and your cousin knew it by heart, word-for-word

Saw Damian Monkhorst among the punters at Fed Square.. he would have rucked against Jim plenty of times. Quite a few opposition supporters there too which was nice to see

A documentary titled "Dublin Jim" was released after he won the Brownlow Medal and had lots of great footage / interviews on Jim's journey.

I've got it on video somewhere but it would be great if it was re-issued and re-mastered for DVD.

I checked on Name-a-Game a while ago but there was no mention of it on the website... I wonder if it's worth contacting them, or the club, to try and make this great doco available again?

_{Garry's speech bought a smile to many faces but it was Brian's words that will stay with me. The poem that Sam read was beautiful too.}

Wasn't Junior on the MRP which gave JT a three-week holiday last season ? See-ya-later alligator..

They mentioned before the GW$ v Swans game that Jurrah has had the pin removed from his wrist, is feeling a lot better (injury-wise), and has been given the all-clear to train with the main group..

Melbourne forward Liam Jurrah receives a boost in comeback bid

For those interested in supporting Jim's work and the club, I reckon the Demon Heartland program is a pretty good way of doing so.

$50 allows 10 kids who would not otherwise be able to attend the footy to come and see the Demons play and be part of the MFC family.

In addition to giving the kids a great day out (well, hopefully it's a great day on the scoreboard) you are helping to build the club's young supporter base.. the kids all sit together and get MFC merchandise and a visit by the club's mascots along with injured players and the like.

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/demon%20heartland/tabid/13640/default.aspx

Some nice tributes in the Herald Sun death notices today, including the Essendon and Adelaide FCs, and Greg Wells and Andy Lovell too

Pretty sure the green shirt on the right was a trainer - his name escapes me but was there during the Northey years and beyond

Assuming these words actually came from the mouth of Jack Grimes ... we have a very mature and level headed young man as a co-captain, which augers well for the future.

i certainly agree with this sentiment ^^

And I agree with what JG is saying.. in essence, the players shouldn't be relying on fleeting inspiration from the passing of a club legend to play well, or play at their best. They should want to do that week in week out for themselves and each other.

Real success - a premiership - is going to require sustained effort and sustained belief, every minute of every game, year after year for the next few years.

If the players need something to motivate them - beyond the motivation of a premiership itself - then we will not get there, no matter how inspiring / trite the call is to "do it for Jimmy".

Great read WJ

There's a pretty good piece from Rohan Connolly about an inspiring Jimmy speech to the International Rules Squad in 2004 which touches on Uncle Joe

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/stynes-passion-sparks-international-resolve-20120320-1vgnc.html?skin=text-only

It was very moving to see cars driving around Melbourne today with their headlights on as a gesture of respect and mourning.

His football achievements were considerable, but they pale into insignificance when compared with what he did off the field through Reach.

A real diamond in the rough.

The MFC was lucky to be able to call him one of our own, but in the bigger picture Australia as a whole was blessed that he chose to make this place his home.

RIP Big Jim. Sincere condolences to your family and friends, both here and in Ireland.