Jaded No More

Epic fail Must stop getting hopes up. Damn it!

Excellent news. If they are talking early it's because Scully wants to stay. We just have to come through with the goods now.

It's not, when our midfield is currently in a worse position than our backline. It's time to start putting some serious game time into Strauss, and if that means we have to cringe through some average defensive performances than so be it. Strauss has a killer kick and is the prototype of a half back flanker. Jack Grimes is a midfielder. He was drafted as one, played as one all through his junior career and we could really use his skills and play- reading ability in the middle. I'm not even worried if he plays as a true half back flanker, but don't plonk him on Angus Monfries on the last line of defense and waste his talent with 20m sideways kicks. That sh*ts me to absolute tears.

I'm not saying it's right, but our senior players certainly looked to be taking it easy out there. Essendon probably had plenty of guys who are under the pump and needed to impress the new coach. Of course we need to win everything and anything at the moment after years of being terrible, but to be honest I don't really blame players for not wanting to get seriously injured. If given a choice, I'd take straight set losses in the NAB Cup over injuries. It's just not worth it. Grimes and Bartram flying backwards into packs made me seriously cringe, even though I'm the first person who gets stuck into a player if they don't go hard enough.

Excellent call and one I made last night. You can only have one big, slow, uncreative midfielder, and sometimes even that's one too many. Moloney has proved over the years that he can be a very good clearance player, and he does have a role to play, but you cannot have two inside mids with no pace, who don't win clean possessions, who aren't great by foot or hand, and are just used as battering rams. Essentially if those two are in our starting midfield each week, than we have progressed very little since 2007, haven't we? The midfield has been our biggest weakness since 2002 and I'd hope that after years of drafting we could significantly improve in that area. Moloney AND Jones, aren't the answer. I too am a massive fan of McKenzie and with Junior gone, and McKenzie injured, our tackling last night was disgusting to a point of non existence. You're always going to have the precious few who won't do the grunt work and lay multiple tackles in a game, and that's OK, but if you're an inside mid you need to be able to lock the ball in, as well as get it out. Yesterday as soon as our players overran the ball, Essendon were able to run with it freely. Even in the midst of a 2 on 1 contest, we couldn't lay a tackle.

1. Jack Watts doesn't want to win games of footy, is a terrible kick and is also the direct cause of the NZ earthquake 2. Liam Jurrah can make grown men cry by just sneezing 3. Our future depends entirely on James Frawley's man boobs

Speaking of umpires, the bald guy that looks like a serial killer needs a good punch to the face, as does Angus Monfries.

Midfielder. The end.

I am far from Bartram's biggest fan, but god he has improved out of sight. Sure, he has to know his limitations in terms of disposal, but his defensive game was quite good, considering he was playing on someone like Davey who is so hard to shut down in crumbing situations. Also really happy to see Maric deliver. He is a very very good user of the ball, as is Strauss who just needs to stop looking like he is about to poo his pants everytime the ball goes near him. He backed himself with some kicks tonight and they were beautiful kicks. That is his one strength and probably the sole reason we drafted him, so it's good to see him use that weapon. Spencer taking pack marks and hitting targets by foot also a highlight. He is far less spasticated than Jamar was at the same age. Overall very very disappointing midfield performance. Sylvia was good, and Trengove did as much as you can expect from someone so inexperienced, but Moloney and Jones were like two tanks who ran out of petrol. I don't see how both are necessary in the same team, as both serve the same purpose. They were both horrible below their knees tonight and very slow. They get first class service from Jamar and that still does nothing for their ability to win a clean possession. Finally, I'm loving Jeremy Howe. That kid can mark a football (Bate, please take notes!), and he has very good evasive skills. Impressed me tonight. P.S.- Bring back Frawley!

I sat quite close to the bench tonight and I have to say that a lot of our senior players seemed to be in self preservation mode. The Essendon players were going ape sh*t, but Davey, Green, Moloney, Rivers, Jamar, they all seemed to lack intensity. I suppose when you've battled as many injuries as they have (Green aside), you tend to take these pre season comps lightly. To be honest, I'm happier that we lost and sustained no injuries, it's better than winning at a cost (Essendon copped a few injuries). Screw the NAB Cup. Bring me a healthy team for round 1 and lets take it from there. Also while we are venting our spleen, can our midfielders please STOP TAKING ON 6 OPPONENTS. You are NOT Superman. I repeat, NOT Superman. I'm sick to death of having a ruckman who wins pretty much every clearance, only for the midfield to either grab the ball and ram into a wall, or watch as their opponent takes off. We barely got a sniff in there tonight. Hopefully McKenzie, Scully and Gysberts make some difference in there, because without a decent midfield we are going nowhere fast.

Midfield seems to have boarded the fail-train, stopping all stations to Shitsville. Sylvia however got off early. Backline was average but given no Frawley and no Garland for a half plus odd match ups and experimentations, I'm unconcerned. Midfield continues to be our biggest weakness but also where we have the greatest scope for improvement.

I'm not saying they haven't made mistakes, but many people thought we should have merged back in the day, and many also suggested relocation as late as 2009. We didn't want to peruse those options and you cannot blame North Melbourne for not wanting to do the same thing we stood firm on. I very much hope they can rebuild their club financially and get back on their feet. I'd hate for any club to fold or have to relocate (Carlton not included, I hope they get shredded at a Visy factory), especially because the AFL would rather support these new franchises who mean nothing to no one, and have a traditional club just fall by the wayside. On field they are fair game and I hope they struggle and I hope we smash them at every opportunity, but that doesn't mean I want to see them disappear from the competition.

If you are not kidding or drunk, please get help immediately.

It really bugs me when Melbourne supporters have a dig at clubs which are struggling financially, and wishing they relocate. We were in this situation not long ago and we could find ourselves in deep financial trouble again. I feel for their supporters, and the entire club because I know what it's like supporting a club on the brink of disaster. That it gives some of you pleasure to see their misfortune gets bigger is quite sad. Enjoy our off field success and the possibility of some future success on it, and stop worrying about what other clubs are doing. It's petty and pointless.

I have no idea what the deal is for our home game at Etihad this year, but for away games at Etihad you have to sit up on the third level, even with a 17 game membership. Alternatively you can pay around $40 and upgrade your ticket. Btw, NAB Cup games are different. I'm pretty sure level 1 is general admin for these games (it was back in 2006), unless stadium management have taken their stinginess to a whole new level.

The girl needs to close her legs and stop using sex as some sort of tool to feed her emotional longings for something greater, no doubt. But it takes two (or three or four?) to tango and nobody forced these ADULT males to take their pants off. They should all have enough sense to say no, but clearly their penis got the better of them. So you could argue that both are as bad, and as dumb as each other. I'd expect a 47 year old married man with kids to have more sense than to buy alcohol and meet a 17 year old girl at a hotel room. I doubt he'd want some dirty old perve to behave this way with his kids.

Thursday night is one thing, but why on earth is it a 7.10pm start and not 7.40pm, like Friday night? That's really pushing it for the majority of supporters who work. Makes no sense!

We did have a thread in the General Discussion board that was massive as well. Can't remember what it was called.

He is the Miranda Kerr of Demonland. How can you just move on from that? HOW?!

Favourite thread of the off season. Well done everyone.

He should only be allowed to post on the Casey forum from now on. Time for the Demonland administration to take a stand!

And it could take years, possibly decades, for GWS forum to reach the development levels of the Demonland inter-forum footy team. We are reigning champions afterall. Those guys over at GWS can barely put a team together.

Quoted for sheer awesomeness. My favourite post on this site possibly ever.

Smash Carlton.

This thread is making me want to cry. Stop obsessing and trust that our club is not going to roll the red carpet for Tom and GWS. We'll put up a good fight and at the end of the day, if Scully sees how bright our future is, he'll take our offer. End of story.