Jaded No More

Amen to that! I'm going to miss the first quarter tomorrow as I'll be at work. But when I get home, I expect to see us 10 goals down. It's all about losing... and watching Newton/Buckley/CJ/Jones/Dunn/McLean/Sylvia...

Nice team, except take out Robbo and bring in Neville. We had 6 injuries last week. The task tomorrow is to try and equal that (no serious injuries!), so that we can drop a whole host of first-choice players without looking too suspicious.

Don't tell anyone, but Bizzell is as good as gone already <_< Warnock was promoted to the senior list last year, which I assume means he got a 2 year contract. So unless we trade him, he'll be around next year. That's why Warnock is getting a game ahead of Bizzell. That, and we're clearly not playing to win.

The irony of that rule is delicious Y_M, if we get pick 3 for Bruce that would be an absolute miracle. However, as Deanox rightly pointed out, he would need to agree to the trade as he signed a new deal in 2007. Would you do the same, but trade Sylvia for pick 5 instead? We'd lose a young midfielder/half forward, and gain two more. I'm not advocating trading Sylvia, but if we want pick 5 we'll need to trade something good. Whoever coaches Essendon next year won't let a first round pick go, especially not for a 28 year old.

Exactly! We haven't chosen anyone yet, and that's the truth. At every stage there is a surprise loser and surprise winners. Who thought Bailey would make it to the last 5? Who thought McKenna/Bond wouldn't? It's all still very much in progress.

What's wrong with Junior? And how is Robbo not on that injury list??? Big thumbs up for CJ, PJ and Buckley. Honestly though, what does it matter? We're not in it to win and nobody even cares anymore. This may very well be the first time in Demonland history that we haven't had any game discussion pre-match, and even the list of 'ins' and 'outs' is not generating much interest.

It's wonderful to hear that they've recognised the need to not only get a good senior coach, but also to build a better equipped support system around him. Our footy department has been under-resourced for years and it's nearly impossible to achieve success this way when you're competing against interstate sides and Essendon/Collingwood.

Can we fake 5-6 injuries, leaving us with only 17 on the ground? That way we won't look pathetic or as if we're tanking when we lose. If all else fails, the dodgy curry and a bottle of Vodka will work just as well! :D

Spewing that it's on Saturday! I'll have to tape it and rely on the great match reviews we get on here.

Even if we don't get the desired outcome in the long-term, it won't be through lack of trying or research. Perhaps we could blame the criteria used to select the new coach, but we certainly can't say we weren't patient and precise. Imagine the fall-out at Carlton if Ratten is unsuccessful (which I don't think he will be, btw).

I'd like to take the risk with Sheedy, but I think the club will appoint Connolly. I am very pleased with the process so far, and am especially happy to see us sticking to our guns despite some clubs jumping early and quickly appointing a replacement.

Of course it is, and some of it is probably false as well, but it's there, the damage is done. We can't judge him on one incident, but he's been at the club for 4 seasons, and this is his third offence. While maybe not as serious as the other two (especially the girlfriend incident), it paints a very unpleasant picture. Whether the picture tells the whole story or not, is irrelevant. Reputations take years to build, and only seconds to destroy. Sylvia's behaviour in the past has put the MFC in a bad position with the AFL, the general public, sponsors and members. And besides, at 21 you'd expect him to know his alcohol limit and have the smarts to carefully select his crowd.

I don't think it matters a whole lot whether we end up with pick #2 or pick #3 (especially if pick #1 is definitely going to be Kreuzer) What really matters here is getting the extra second round pick... and screwing Carlton of course! :D

Captain : Neita Vice captain: Brock, Green, Jones and Junior. Coach: Chris Connolly (note: this is what I think will happen, not what I want to see happen) Delisted players: Ferguson, Neville, Ward Retired players: Brown, Holland (depending on shoulder recovery), Bizzell, Pickett Traded: one of Johnstone, Bruce, or Robbo. First draft pick: Depends if we beat Carlton or not. Maybe Ebert. Football manager: Maybe Connolly if he doesn't get the senior coaching position 07 Bluey: I hope Jones, but probably Junior

He keeps getting his name printed in the paper and spoken about on the news... and it's not to praise his on-field efforts. That in itself is not good enough. He shouldn't be putting himself in situations which have the potential to get him into the trouble and tarnish the club's name. I doubt the altercation was major. It was probably two players letting their drunk egos get the better of them. One could even argue that it's not news-worthy. However the point remains that it made the news and it compromises our public image. Besides, it's a bit worrying that a large majority of Melbourne supporters have seen Sylvia out and about, drunk, at some stage or another. Not the greatest endorsement of character I would have thought, especially for a player who has been struggling to deliver since being drafted in 2003.

Assuming we're doing finals teams, the teams should be: West Coast Geelong Port Adelaide Hawthorn (they'll keep getting better and better) Adelaide/Brisbane I'd love to see how Bailey would coach Melbourne against Port Adelaide, or Hardwick against Hawthorn, but I don't think they'll get their own team. I would love to be a fly on the wall in those presentations. Would be really fascinating.

Yes he's 21, yes we all go out and get wasted every once in a while and probably disgrace ourselves. None of us are public figures however, none of us are professional athletes, none of us are representing the MFC. He can go out and drink and enjoy being 21. He cannot however make a tool of himself and get his name in the paper or on TV because he had a fight with someone. That is not acceptable, no matter how old you are. Putting it simply, he needs to grow up, and he needs to cut down the drinking if it makes him do stupid things.

How come? Isn't the aim of the exercise to see whether a prospective coach can coach against a top team, with what he has at his disposal?

Jonesy got the most votes in the Coaches' Award this week (9 out of a possible 10). Coaches > Herald Sun Jonesy had a great game and both Riley and Malthouse acknowledged it. He is our one massive shinning light for 2007 (with apologies to Petterd, Juice and Frawley)!

I knew the picture wouldn't be pretty and seeing it on the night was bad enough... why I opened the file to have a closer look, I'll never know. Poor Dutchy, that looks like the most painful injury I've seen since Brown broke his leg Incidentally, was breaking Dutchy's shoulder Rocca's only possession for the night?

I raise you Pickett as ruckman We can't win to save ourselves... but can we lose to save our draft picks?

I was in the next bay... surrounded by ferals and cheering like crazy. And what do you know Yze_Magic, I'm from Brighton!

Thanks Fagan for 10 loyal years of service at the MFC. A great position for Sheedy and or Connolly to fill.

Sylvia + Alcohol = Trouble There is a simple solution to this. Decide whether you want to be a professional footballer and get your body right, or whether you want to be a tool that can't hold his alcohol and gets into fights. I stood by him following the Didak incident, but honestly he has not learnt a thing. It's a shame, because he could be a very good player. I just hope the club investigates and clears him of any wrongdoing. We don't need any more dramas.

It will all come down to who is our senior coach in 2008.