PaulRB

I actually think we should jump this year ( i.e. up 6 spots to around 10+/- 2) then punch well into the 8 in 2014 as the kids (Viney, Tompass, Hogan) settle in and our earlier high draft crop hit their prime (Tregove, Watts, blease, Strauss, Tapscot, Howe, etc...). Do agree we'll need three years of the new regime (training and drafting) to be able to slug it out with the heavy weights in September in a way that is other than just making up the numbers.

We sound much closer to the elite (top four) training than we were. Question then becomes, how many years of elite training do we need to realise the talent we have in our list sufficiently to bridge the gap between us an the 15 teams above us? Are we expecting a surge up the ladder (aka West Coast or Adelaide) or to gain say 2-5 places a year over 2013, 2014, 2015 (aka Carlton -pre-2013 or North)? With our sus-standard development over recent years and the turmoil of this year, it will be interesting how quickly and which of our young recruits blossom most under these conditions, and what that looks like.

As long as it isn't the next Cale Morton... I think Jack will have some career defining moments in 2013. Great training reports and sounds like they are all looking to step it up. All good.

Sounds like the commentary of a certain game in 2009, watch out for the Awful's Andy Dee to kick a match winning goal after the siren to steal it from the Dees (once again)...

If the AFL is going to engage in retrospective investigations into the performance of teams in seasons past then it is the point. In 2009 the chief of the AFL condoned our behaviour in season 2009, yet 3 years later they re-open an investigation on us. If they can do that to us they are setting a precedent that decency and fairness requires they also apply this approach (an investigation) to the other clubs in the AFL who have acted similarly...

The Press always argue for open processes, makes their job of grabbing juicy sound bites out of context and creating "stories" so much easier than having to research, interview and write stories with substance. Problem is in an open process the allegations and lies so reported by an irresponsible grandstanding media rapidly turns fictions into fact, further damaging the reputation of any clubs being investigated... I.e. the Witch hunt.

Bit tragic that Collingwood increased their (already huge) FD spend by 1.7 mill AND posted a profit of over 7 mill. We've still got a way to go. At least we're heading in the right direction.

What do people estimate to be the membership benefit should the MFC scrap into the 8 in 2013, assuming we get to 35,000 in 2013 and make the 8, what would the bump be for 2014?

Took the Lions fans till 2011 to realise they weren't gonna get any more flags for another decade (or two).

Competition for spots is great and comes with the bonus of being able to effectively cover positional holes on the field when injuries come. Hence, not compromising the teams adherence to the game plan.

I'd hope Col was on a path to be cherry ripe for Rd 1, and any "slackness" is part of this program, rather than the result of any character flaws as some on hear like to assume. May be time for us to sit back and appreciate that Col, like most of our players, is doing his honest best to improve, and recognise a propensity to have a laugh does not equate to slacking off.

Imagine how good our results would be if we could win say half the games of footy we play for a couple of years. Great to see we're able to invest in the footy Dept and player dev.

Another Keating on Costello and other axe-grinders... "all tip and no iceberg".

I was initially inclined to take a risk on Garlett, but have come around to the view that it would be a wasted pick at the moment. If the kid likes to party more than he like to prepare professionally for his footy, knowing the eyes of the footy world would be on him in the lead up to the draft, he's either super arrogant or stupid, or both. Both of these character flaws, once revealed to his suitors (the club's recruitment teams), require a period demonstrating humility and smarts in the WAFL, VFL, etc... prior to him being able to claim he's "reformed" his character and is ready for the big league. Unfortunately for Dayle the days where talented player could get through largely on talent are past. Clubs invest hundreds of thousands of dollars in pay and development effort in developing an AFL player. Melbourne has performed badly in this area recently, having lost our investments in Morton, Gysberts, Wonna, Jarrah, etc... over the past couple of years. In retrospect, all these players lacked one (or more) aspect of the "four pillars" that the club is now espousing as the criteria to be recuited by the MFC. I like this approach and if it means we pass on "Party Boy" Garlett then, well done us.

I agree BB59. Some people use the rearview mirror to see where they are going, others decide where they want to end up an set off down that path. With Neeld, Craig and co they have confirmed their destination as "the hardest team to play" and are moving aggressively to arrive there. 2013 should be fascinating and an improvement on the past five years.

I'm mocked annually in March for my optimism and pitied in July-Sept. I agree this looks like a solid dawn... shhh

Where is OD to put an end to this optimistic jibber jabber?

Port need every win and piece of good news they can get. They just posted a 2-4 million dollar loss, are leaking players and face a couple of years re-building with a new coach. Gaining an experienced and talented forward / excitement machine who'd be a walk up started in their 22 for Zero in the rookie draft is a no brainer. If things go bad for Liam in his court case in March they say "see ya" and calm they did their best by Liam etc... Liam is not a toxic influence on the group, he worked hard and kept his head down until last year when things went off the rail. Port's current rookies = Danny Butcher If he'd come "home" to Melbourne, there would be numerous clubs cueing to speak to him.

Helped me get through a few games at the G this year.

I'm not convinced that young men working in a specific role in the AFL (the players) should be subject to recreational drug tests that the rest of the AFL and the media that covers it would object to. If it's not performance enhancing, they are an adult, and it won't lead them to harm anyone else, then it's no ones elses business. I know if my employer asked me to take a recreational drug test, I'd tell them to go take a flying F#$K! irrespective of weather or not I'd indulged recently. Why are footy players any different to our politicians, journalists and business owners. The challenge is best dealt with by educating the young about how to minimise risk in a world abundant with recreational drugs (both legal i.e. alcohol, and illegal).

From the latest training reports it sounds like he's doing alright now. Perhaps the Henny Pennys can move on to the next player or issue thats going to give them the opportunity to voice their anxieties.

Training reports were Ok for today, so maybe we should settle down and support him. The season starts in 4 months. We should defer our doubts (from afar) and get behind him. Remember, we're supporters, and he's our player. It will be clear by Round 5 where Flash is at.

If a player walked from the MFC and three months later was joining Port? Or If a player walked from the club to spend time with his distressed family prior to a court hearing for an alleged machette attack? I imagine Jim would be compassionate and understanding but a little [censored], like many of us seem to be.

We don't own Liam and he had/has bigger issues to sort out, but it does leave a bad taste...

I think 10 wins is achievable, simply because the low of 2012 was exacerbated by so many factors that are unlikely to repeat in 2013 both off field and onfield. In addition, Neeld has covered the holes in the structure (i.e. forward line), the players seem to be getting on top of the elite training load, and our crop of young talented players are starting to blossom (Watts, Blease, JT, Howe, Tapscott, etc...). Finally we have injected 8 new players that are going to take 4 spots in the 22 while delisting 10 who were not taking spots. Then there are the three top 10 draftees. We all know it could all go pear shaped, but it could also rise like a phoenix. I choose to believe the latter. Go Dees.