Jaded No More

Don't care if it's a 7 year deal, it's a good reason to smile... I get to see my favourite Demon finish his career at the club that he loves. You can bet that Robbo wasn't chasing better facilities, and he would never walk out on our club. It's good to know that both parties agreed on a deal.

I expected him to say "this is the club I've chosen" and move on. Ruling clubs out one by one, telling us that our facilities are not good enough, is just rubbing salt in the wounds. You bloody well knew the state of our facilities weeks ago, so why waste our time? It's the contempt that he showed our club that pisses me off. No, he doesn't owe us anything, but the way he has acted just reeks of arrogance. He is NOT bigger than the club, he is not bigger than any club. The Melbourne Football Club has been around for 150 years and won 12 premierships. What the hell has Judd done that compares to that?

Chris Judd = the new Nathan Buckley. Let's hope he has the same success as good old FIGJAM has had with the Pies.

I think we might convert this board into "Trades and Drafts" until the new season starts. But I need the OK from the big bosses

Which is exactly why we were chasing Judd. We need something to excite those fickle bastards who won't buy a membership until we win a flag or produce a star. What they don't understand, is that success and player development cost money, lots and lots of money, and when they don't buy a membership, they are robbing us of the opportunity to be better. It's a vicious cycle. I've long maintained that one of our biggest weaknesses is our supporter base. Too few who care, too many who won't contribute.

So come on, all those who had really good strong sources and were positive Judd was coming to Melbourne... tell us what went wrong...

Paul Connors actually manages a fair few of the Melbourne players, including Robbo and Nathan Brown (not anymore obviously). The decision was never his to make. From all reports, Connors holds Melbourne in high regard.

There is nothing I want more than to see Neita hold up the premiership cup. God knows he deserves it! However, a team should never risk development by thinking they are one or two players away from a flag, and trading their future. Teams that have done that in the past were not successful. The best way to win a flag, is to recruit well (and we have one of the best in the business) and develop well. With Bailey on board, I am confident that development will now be number one priority. If Bailey thinks we can finish top 4 next year and challenge for a flag, he'll re-sign Robbo and TJ and maybe trade pick 21 for a top-up player. But, IMO we should explore what we can get for some of our senior players who fail to deliver during trade week. The chances of us winning a flag while Neita is still around are very very slim. We need to keep developing and recruiting, especially KPPs.

Should have said: "We're disappointed Judd did not choose our club, and it is unfortunate that we've invested so much energy into this process only to be told that our facilities are not good enough, given that Chris Judd and his manager were fully aware of the situation with our facilities before we started this process. The club is bigger than the individual and we look forward to season 2008". Better than: "Oh, Judd you're a superstar, thanks for spitting on us. We'll forever be greatful that you considered us for a brief moment".

Agreed. If we can get a top pick for him, we should go for it. We need another first round pick, and TJ can probably get that for us. If Sydney want TJ, we can trade TJ plus pick 21 for pick 11.

The fact that we were eliminated first, and that Carlton are still in the mix, says to me that he is chasing the dollar. Carlton have NOTHING, I repeat, NOTHING to give him on the field. They have a crap list, poor facilities, their president knows nothing about football, and they have a rookie coach who is nowhere near as impressive as Bailey. They also play at TD. Money money and more money. That is the two things that Carlton and Collingwood have in common. You can bet that if Pratt wasn't at Carlton, Judd wouldn't even consider them. Hope he enjoys his premiership success...in 2018!

There is a big different between being a champion player, and a champion person.

I hate that the club is honoured that Judd considered us! We shouldn't be honoured, we should expect him to speak to us, and we should demand to come up winners. This is a huge slap in the face for the MFC, and it again highlights that we are so far behind the rest of the competition, that it is hurting our on field and off field prospects. Judd has purely and simply wasted our time and precious resources. He knew all along our facilities, for now, are substandard. If the real reason he isn't coming to Melbourne is because he wants shiny dumbbells, why speak to us to begin with? This is a big kick in the guts for the MFC, one of many. I just hope that we are motivated by this, because at the moment we are stuck in an endless cycle of poverty while the rich clubs only get richer and more successful.

Indeed. Clearly has bought into his own hype. Facilities don't make you successful. How many premierships have the Pies won since they built the Lexus Centre?

Oh well, he chose training facilities. Good on him. Hope he enjoys being the public property of the CFC for the next 8 years. Now we can move on!

I really wish people would tell us what they know, instead of writing one line posts that send everyone into a frenzy. If you can't reveal any information, why post it?

Well that'll be a nice change of pace

The tools on SEN are saying that "Melbourne are very confident they'll get Judd". This is becoming a joke. I'm over it. Time to throw the computer out the window and concentrate on something else. If we get him, great, if we don't, he was never ours to begin with.

I'm not doubting you for a minute. You have no reason to report anti-Melbourne rumours given that you are a Melbourne supporter. My point is, that just as you've heard from a 'reliable source' that Judd is going to Collingwood, others have heard from 'reliable sources' that Judd is coming to Melbourne. I wouldn't worry about Robbo, Lane or Wallet, they are all speculating just as we are. What do you make of BT's claims that he is ready to sign with Melbourne? Carries about as much weight as what the other 3 journos had to say. Here's hoping that this time tomorrow you'll have a new reason to drink, and this time, in celebration instead of agony!

Things may have changed since yesterday morning. For example, Judd may have spoken to West Coast and realised that getting to Melbourne is far more realistic than playing for the Pies. He might actually care about finding a solution that helps best compensate West Coast. Then again, I might be clutching at straws and he really is going to Collingwood. Put it this way, I'd be VERY surprised if he chooses Melbourne. Collingwood is a far more obvious choice.

You obviously have a source that you believe wholeheartedly, but there are a few other people with sources who say he is coming to Melbourne. Someone is mistaken. 50% chance your source is the one who has it wrong. And yes, tears will flow.

Yeah, don't you just wish Chris Judd posted on Demonland?

Like everything to do with Judd, it's pure speculation. We know nothing, in fact, unless your name is Chris Judd, it's fair to say that you know nothing. Maybe even Judd himself has no idea what is going on!

You would hope there is something to all these rumours, otherwise we've all been sucked in and are in for a major heartbreak.

That's good to know. I'm very very very much hoping that your source is proven right!