Grapeviney

Thanks for the update KC and DL7 Great to hear that Strauss was in the thick of it, even if it was only for a half. Will be interesting to see how Jetta fairs this year..

Putting aside the allegations and the charges, and speaking selfishly from a purely football perspective, that is the nub of the matter WJ. The way I see it there are three possible outcomes: One, Jurrah modifies his game to adapt to the systems and structures demanded by the new regime. Two, Neeld sees value in having a brilliant player with freakish talents who can turn it on at the drop of the hat but who basically plays to his own rules and rhythms. Three, Jurrah and MFC part company. Of course, there's a lot of water to pass under the bridge before we even contemplate that equation. My fingers are crossed - no Melbourne footballer has excited me so much since Schwarz of '94. Thanks to all those posters here and on the other locked thread for providing links to some of the background / insight into indigenous culture and law.

good for you Muzza - probably the universe's way of rewarding you for the awesome membership video !

Interestingly, only listed for two charges. No mention of the "intent to cause serious harm"

Was super-impressed with Jones, his agression around the contest and ball use was first-rate tonight. Make no mistake, this a rejuvenated Demon team - aggressive at the footy, great pressure around the stoppages and an intensity we havent seen for years. The skill will improve with time (presumably) and the execution of the game plan will also lift as the season wears on but the attitude and the desperation is there in spades for all to see. As WJ noted in his match report from last week, we are seeing the Neeld imprint on the team already.

Had this great video of an hour-long RDB doco from the early 80's where mike willesse followed him around for a while. Lots of great footage, one scene in Sydney where they showed him coaching and screaming into the phone "Elshaugh on and get Ellingworth off - bloody weak as [censored]!!" I remember him saying too ( or maybe it was cheryl) that ron could not play a social / friendly game of anything.. he just had to compete - and win - no matter what he was doing. Would love to see the doco again... what a legend

it was great, got to talk about how much i loved the Demons for two hours and got a $100 coles myer voucher for my troubles! was nice to meet you demonoid - and to sit around the MFC boardroom table and imagine that I was calling the shots B)

There's a lot of reasons to be hopeful going into season 2012 but it seems LJ is not going to be one of them. Still some weeks away from handling the ball and then he's gone have to find touch in the magoos before cracking it for a senior berth.. it's gonna take some hard work to get back in the caper. I really hope he is a part of Neeld's plans, he is beautiful to watch at his best

pics or stfu ... hang on, what's this thread about again

these ^^ Surprised that so few on this thread have mentioned '94.. I reckon Schwarz alone was worth the price of admission that year.. Putting aside the belting we got in Perth in the prelim, the three games prior to that were probably the best of his career... 9 goals straight against the Swans in rd 22 at the SCG, turned the game against the Blues in week 1 of the finals, before teaming up with G.Lyon to smash the Doggies in the semi. Everyone remembers Garry's 10 goals of course, but i'll never forget Shwarta's 3rd quarter pirouhette at CHF to evade a defender before passing the ball laces out to Lyon, who was infringed before he could complete the mark. Sandy Roberts called him "Nureyev" and you can hear the crowd gasping their amazement and delight. MAGIC

1981-2011 1. Robbie Flower 2. David Schwarz 3. Garry Lyon 4. Todd Viney 5. Jimmy Stynes 6. Sean Wight 7. Brett Lovett 8. Rodney Grinter 9. Allen Jakovich 10. Stephen Tingay Special mention to Alan Johnson, Darren Bennett and David Neitz

Clever move by the club I reckon, a smart way to save a bit of money and they promoted it well too, with the "i've already got 10 scarves" tagline. My only gripe with it was that the fridge magnet with the draw should be in all the packs sent out... I didn't want another scarf and lanyard but I did want the draw / fridge magnet as that's the one thing I use.

i think the backchatter @ no. 10 would have to be the great RDB.. still giving lip (and a little bit more) to people who deserve it to this very day, as per events of last NYE show

Well Don won one, but I'm guessing Dennis polled more over his career ?

Carlyon is one of the finest writers going around, full stop. I'm in the middle of reading "The Great War" and it's just superb, on many different levels. I've got "Gallipoli" queued up next

The reason that Flanagan is so good is that he's a writer, rather than just a journalist / reporter. He has the time to really research and understand his subject matter, rather than just churn out 300 words on deadline. As has been mentioned on another thread somewhere, Brent Crosswell used to write some really good pieces for the Age back in the 80's. I'm pretty sure Supermercado even dug a few out on microfilm which he posted on here.. Patrick Smith sometimes turns out some good copy, although he does polarise those who read him and you tend to either love or loathe him. Garrie Hutchinson was probably up there with the best of them too - there are published collections of his footy stories - although, like Flanagan, he was a writer rather than a reporter.

Good pickup DR. The funny thing is, it crossed my mind as I was writing it not to mix them up, but alas...

paul prymke used to remind me of a young giraffe, all gangly and awkward in the legs.. but he developed into a pretty solid defender i'm glad someone mentioned paul hopgood, he could always be counted upon to cough it up

i agree watts will be in the best 22 but i think you're asking a lot of him to play both wing and forward pocket at the same time mono

The offer's been extended until 31 December - I got a neat little FOXTEL promo card in the mail today in the shape of a Melbourne jumper with my name on the back and a big number 5. I gotta say, I'm pretty tempted, not so much for Melbourne games (upgraded to 17-game membership next year), but for the uninterrupted coverage of the other 8 matches.. The downside is that I know I'll just end up watching a bunch of other garbage on it that I can really live without.

greg champion also had a great version of that song "timmy watson to michael long..." etc

he'd be better off closing his mouth and letting his football do the talking out on the field well, that's my 0.02c anyway

and most of them belonged to alan ezard, who was poleaxed into the turf by a bonecrunching todd viney tackle during the last quarter good times and i agree with you about robbo's commentary WYL... used to really enjoy his calls

courtesy of the good folk at demon wiki http://demonwiki.org/image2455

And we can practice for those Fri night games this year by playing under lights in the last quarters of those 3.15pm games...