Winners at last

I wonder what he will say/write on his white board session this week?

It was like watching a different sport to Sunday's "effort".

I wish I could disagree with any of that.

I agree with you Colin. As a long time supporter (and member) the opening round last year was one of the biggest disappointments I have had following the Club. Maxwell was right. The season was over at that point. The deficiencies of the team have been mentioned over and over and over again on this site. So, why shouldn't I add to the dronefest? In general terms, the players attack the ball hard enough, well most of them. But they certainly don't block or shepherd enough to help out team mates. No gut running. The spread just isnt there. A player with the ball looks up and has no one making a lead. The good teams (even the average ones) do this so much better. Is it lack of fitness? Laziness? Cluelessness? Lack of confidence? Hello, is anyone still reading this? On a similar theme, the failure of certain players to work both ways. Turnover. Well, get back on your man!!! I suspect that the overall fitness of the team will be better this year. But that will be the case with every other team. Poor skills, which includes poor decision making, are still a problem. I agree with another poster's comments about Frawley and Garland have one brain fade each per game. Regular turnovers are murder/game losers. I think the FD/coaching staff are probably OK. Is the overall standard of the players good enough? I doubt it. There has been discussion about the midfield ad nauseum. Ideally one or 2 goal kicking midfielders are needed. And the side cant carry midfielders who are purely negators and have poor skills. Anyway, nothing really new in the contents of this post. Just assorted ramblings. If the team loses the first match (which is about 50/50), then I think that yet again, the season is over. Am I a pessimist? Well to the extent that a pessimist is a well informed optimist then I suppose i am.

He is the footballer equivalent of "the Scottish play".

I think it's more a case of we will have to agree to agree!!! Like you I'm quite happy with these signings. But I was making the point that they weren't big signings in the sense that there was much competition for their services. Cheers.

A pessimist is a well informed optimist.

Now come on kids. Settle down, or you'll both have to go to your rooms!!

The past is a foreign place. They do things differently there. "The Go Between", L.P. Hartley

The only really good "get" has been Clark. Collingwood clearly no longer rated Dawes and Byrnes couldn't get a game at Geelong. Attempts to get Ball and Warnock were laughed off. Can't quite remember the scenario with Cloke but if MFC's offer bumped up his salary then there was at least some upside. I'm still amazed (and pleased!!!) that we got Clark, but MFC doesn't seem to be viewed as a desireable home by top players.

Dream on.

Perhaps one could also ask When is a man not a man? When he's a freak in a sideshow ... @"The Freak" by The Zoot

Dream on.

I was always one of the last picked. Thanks for reminding me.

How could Cale Morton fall into the "Below Average" category when there is a "Poor" category?

Cheers bro.

Excuse my ignorance but what does OP stand for?

Clearly a ripping bloke. But repeated turnovers are soul destroying for a side. Hopefully he can improve that part of his game. Otherwise I agree with the majority that a tagger with poor skills is a relic of a bygone era. On that same topic, my favourite coach was Swooper Northey. He got the most out of the playing group. But football's way more sophisticated these days. The days of ranting and raving are pretty much over. (Alan Killigrew RIP). It's about developing plans and systems. Not so many one on ones these days. It's more about excellent skills and keeping possession which is why turnovers are murder.

As if. He's a top bloke though.

Chook, with the utmost respect, I don't think that's a great analogy. I think it is a slightly bigger ask for a medical student (let alone a team of highly professional and experienced medical researchers with massive financial backing) to develop a cure for cancer than for Brian Royal to improve the MFC midfield. if a med student could improve the standard of the MFC, then perhaps that option could be investigated? And Mr Royal could work on the cancer cure.

As for Australian films, I agree that Wake in Fright was a ripper. Lantana was great, and I didnt mind some of those quirky films in the early 80s like The Big Steal and Death in Brunswick.

I am ridiculously fussy when it comes to films. One of the worst films I have ever seen is Red Dog. Corny, dreadfully overacted. If I hadnt taken my daughter to that film, I would have walked out half way. I re-watched The Elephant Man the other day. Now there's a film! John Hurt's performance was brilliant. He was beaten to the Best Actor Oscar by De Niro in Raging Bull. The film was beautifully made and acted. Another one i really liked was American Beauty. As for comedies, my favourites are Napoleon Dynamite and Groundhog Day.

In the words of Frank Woodley "I wish that hadn't happened" (contemplating his unfortunate experience).

I think that wearing gloves is clear evidence of tanking.

Not the end of the world? You can't be serious!!