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PaulRB

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Everything posted by PaulRB

  1. Proud of the clubs stance on this, on Aaron and on Liam. It is decisions like this one (that come at a cost) that make integrity a real part of our culture and brand at Melbourne rather than a aspiration in a vision statement. Well done, Cam and the board of the MFC.
  2. Irrespective of what (if anything) was said by a Melb player to Mifsud. Mifsud has damaged his reputation and broken the trust he may have built up with players (especially indigenous ones) by leaking to the media. The losers in this are the indigenous players the AFL is trying to support. They now have one fewer trusted channel by which to discuss and explore the issues they may be struggling with. And that is a shame.
  3. I think we need to ease up on bashing our players for their struggles to learn and implement the new game plan. Neeld has said that learning the new game plan will be difficult and the players will take different amounts of time to adapt... The old adage about old dogs and new tricks applies more to players who have played a certain way for longer... i.e. the old guard. Beamer and others will adapt. They are our players and I want them to be successful. Tired of this weekly"sack them", "last game for MFC", blah blah blah. Lots of chest beating by frustrated supporters (me being one also) may be ignoring the challenges of what Neeld is trying to achieve even with the 100% support of all the players.
  4. More positives: we have Petterd, Tapscott, Strauss, Morton, and Tom Mac warming up at Casey, with Liam and Col to return in the next month or two. Building pressure to improve on the 22 every week... ... ... and Jack Viney next year
  5. Looks like the Lions could be well short on Saturday "Brisbane's Leuenberger doubt".
  6. I reckon the Lions are in for a brutal contest if we get on top in contested possessions as the coach and team personnel imply we will. Grind them down (Jamar, Jones, Moloney, Magner, Bail, Bartram, etc...) then open them up (Grimes, Howe, Trengove, Watts etc...), with a solid spine (Clark to Frawley)... Bring on Saturday and season 2012
  7. Fraser Geric and Gary Abblet Snr played their early years upfield...
  8. I think when Neeld arrived at the club he would have gone through the list and recognised that our player policies prior to his arrival led to some players being played at AFL level prior to doing their apprenticeship in the reserves. By bringing in Clarke, Magner, Couch and Seller he has re-balanced our list and enabled players like Cook, McDonald, Gysberts and next years crop of draftees to be developed and built up at Casey before throwing them into the main team. Did Jack Watts' development as a player suffer because he was blooded too early and had to play against men before he was one himself? I think, undoubtedly. Time has moved on, Jack should be ready now, he's bigger, wiser and seasoned... This year he will unlearn the techniques and mindset he adopted to survive physically against men and start to impose himself, and when he does... Go Jack Watts Go Dees
  9. Mate, your initial question was to state that as the season has started, and we don't have a FOJ sponsor, hence big fail... My point was to say that the MFC wouldn't announce it prior to Jimmy's funeral even if they have a FOJ Sponsor locked and loaded. And thus for you to expect them to have done so, while the club is in mourning is "insensitive". Yes, it is a simple question.
  10. I suspect that the club will focus on Jim's State Funeral, at least until tuesday. So your question is moot (and insensitive)...
  11. Cue the music for a training montage. "... Getting stronger..."
  12. Grimes, and Bail need game time would be monties for Rd1 Watts is searching for his mojo, kimba needs to start roaring like a lion... Strauss and Tapscott have had interrupted preseasons and need to more time. Imagine Tapscott will only play a half, Strauss 3/4, both will slot into best 22 when ready. Morton and Gysberts seem to be too thin for the heavy bodied, contested ball game plan Neeld seem to be focusing on, their time will come as they discover form...
  13. And Jimmy was wise enough to know it, and compassionate enough not to crucify Tom for doing it. A great man our Jim.
  14. It is evident that Jim has left a a big impression on the new Leadership Group and that is a good thing, given the characteristics that Jim epitomised on and off the field. Jim's example and untimely exit give them an added element to their opportunity to recast the way the MFC team play their footy. Again, from Robbo's interview of Garland, Jim loved the MFC and it (his passing) will prompt more of the player to love the MFC more... and footy is an emotional game.
  15. Reach will prosper and Jim's legacy honoured irrespective of the logo on jumpers. I think any company considering sponsoring Melb will be well impressed by the clubs poise, professionalism and ambition over the last couple of days since Jimmy passed, and now be very keen to deal themselves into our story, season, club. Sad as it is, my daughter asked me after watching the heartfelt interviews and tributes to Jimmy, "are we the coolest club in the league?". I could only agree.
  16. Col Garland said it well (http://www.melbournefc.com.au/video/tabid/8667/contentid/431959/default.aspx) with the lines "... We're gonna stop getting [censored] canned! ..." great interview.
  17. Rest well Jimmy, content that you lived well, touched many and left a great legacy. Condolences to your family. A true gentleman and demon.
  18. Two weeks of this negative, whining and moaning till the season starts is far too much. We know we are going to have a different year to 2011. We hope that all the effort to select and employ a new FD PLUS their effort to put the team through a rigorous preseason PLUS a new game plan from one of the architects of Collingwoods winning plan will improve our performances on the field in 2012 We know that in 2012 we will NOT sack our coach, have a weasel undermining team spirit and then leaving the club, and in 2012 we hope we won't have all our older players playing like crap... So I choose to conclude, against the tide of self-pitying negativity, that 2012 WILL BE BETTER than 2011. Go Dees.
  19. 6th and rolling like a freight train in second half of the season, unstoppable.
  20. Mark Neeld in his commencement speech spoke directly about practicing things in the practice matches (NAB). He also said that we (the supporters and media) will need to trust in him, the footy dept and the players as they develop and implement the game plan they believe we need to compete with the top four teams.
  21. It's a shame Jack couldn't have done a couple of years apprenticeship under David Neitz, like NikNat under Cox. Hopefully, Clark will provide this over the next couple of years as Jack grows into his body and learns his craft.
  22. Agree the Jack was better in 2011 than 2010. This year he gets the benefit of having Clark as the Number 1 key forward and as a result has no excuses. Big year for our Jack, he'll be fine, just need to develop a taste for inflicting pain and humiliation on his opponents. Given the amount of flack he receives he'll develop an angry streak or perish.
  23. Denying reality won't make Jack a better player.
  24. Jack is well behind NikNat at the moment, see the Herald top 50 players for confirmation. Ox's criticism and disappointment may be uninformed, or over the top, but it is warranted. We are all hopeful and protective of Jack, but he needs to lift significantly this year to get where he should be, and where the club needs and expects him to be.
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