demon-4-life

none of them had a 186 point loss though...

I'm placing a fair bit of emphasis on this win. Yes we only have 1 win. Yes it was only by 6 points. But, look at the opponent! They were 2nd. Equal 1st except for percentage. Looking through the last 3 years of results, the MFC only beat 2 teams in the top 8. TWO! They are: Essendon in 2011. Essendon finished 8th and "limped" into the finals, because well...someone had to. Sydney in 2010. Sydney finished 5th. This however was after Sydney won 4 of their last 5 games against fellow top 8 teams in: Stkilda, Doggies, Hawthorn and Freo to rise above them all to 5th. Where Essendon finishes come end of the year is still yet to be determined. But I'm calling this the best win for the last 4 years. It wasn't the biggest. It wasn't the most glamorous. It wasn't the most skilful. But it was against good opposition, it was a 4 quarter effort by EVERYONE and they showed heart, fight and resolve. You saw the leadership group stand up when it counted. You saw Colin Sylvia do something when it mattered. You saw a tackles, smothers, second efforts, dives to get to the ball first. Saturday night was a massive step in the right direction. Being a realist, I also know the rest of the season won't be like Saturday, but I think we can all agree that things are starting to sink in. Things are starting to come together.

It could very well work. In essence Watts and Garlo have switched positions. Do remember there were calls for Garland to play on the wing early in the preseason. Watts and Garland have the agility to push up the ground when needed. Sellar essentially came in for Chip. So Chip will most likely come in for Sellar.

I'd like to think that the MFC staff have better things than update the membership tally on the website every hour just to appease fans that don't have the patience to wait a few days. But that's me. Its an arbitrary, inaccurate number that is not real time, but rather an indication at the time of update. Hence it's never going to be 100% accurate except for when it is posted, and even so, it's still probably not 100% accurate.

Might want to put the opponent that they lost to...that's kind of a key factor. Also might want to add whether it was home or away. Oh and how long the break was till their next game. But just saying.

very interesting. He's spot about about Bailey's game plan. And the comparisons to Essendon. He was wrong about Blease. Blease was 2nd rounder. He says we're not "babies" in terms of list. Well, take Green, Jamar, Davey out of that list.... and replace them with say a tapscott, gawn and strauss...we suddenly are pretty close to being "babies". But he didn't really talk about our club. Basically analysed ages and analysed where players were picked. He says 5 out of 15 first rounders have "made" it. Well firstly its 5 out of 14. But of the 9 that they didn't count. Trengove, Gysberts, Watts, Grimes are apart of that 9. So I see that as 9 out of 14. The 5 he didn't count then would be Bate, Sylvia, Dunn, Sellar, Cook. Cook still too early to tell IMO. Sellar...picked off a scrap heap. Bate, Sylvia, Dunn. Spot on. So while they were trying to give the illusion that we're not doing great with our talent/development, I agree partly, but I disagree as well. By round 12 next year, if we aren't at 4 wins 8 losses or better... Then I'll be asking for answers from the Board about Neeld.

Mark Neeld, could you please publish what your measures are for each player currently, and publish the measures for each player, each round this year.

I honestly doubt we'll finish 3rd bottom. I see us finishing 13th/14th this year. which means pick 5 or 6. Fairly sure that Viney will be picked up with that pick. that is all.

Yeah I saw that clip. Was insightful and no doubt players will be shown that footage over and over again. Its great to see that a simple thing of 2 metres apart on 2 men led to a goal to Geelong. That clip actually gave me confidence that it is in fact about educating our players more. It does however show how far behind our players are though. Giving me hope for the future.

rpfc, can I say I really enjoy seeing this statistical side of things each week. Thank you for the effort. Really think we're going in the right direction. To me at the moment, its one step back for a lot of steps forward hopefully.

I actually didn't mind today. Yes disappointed with the win. Yes disappointed with some crucial umpiring calls/non calls. All in all my observations: Morton did some great things, but did some bad things. But I see improvement. TMac is terrible. Can't hit a handpass to save him. Gave up directly 3 goals from his turnovers. JMac - I love his hardness and his effort, but struggles with disposal efficiency. Our goal kicking really let us down. Round 1 and this week, we have had the chances to really put confidence into our boys and put scoreboard pressure on our opponents and have failed to do so.

I am a shattered man. I am 28. I have been a member since I was 19. For the last 5 years, I have NEVER left early or turned the tv off. Not during the drubbings to hawthorn and doggies round 1 and 2 a few years ago. Not during the 186 point loss did I turn the tv off. Not during West Coast's game 2 weeks ago. I vowed to support this club through thick and thin. Show the resilience and determination to see off any obstacle. On Saturday I left at 3/4 time. I sat in my chair when I got home and just felt broken. I'm usually the most positive/optimistic/hopeful person when it comes to this club that I love. But I wonder whether this club has broken me. Are there others out there that can shed light on this feeling? I think I just needed to vent this. I have such a heavy heart right now. urgh.

RIP Jimmy. Such a great bloke. Caring, genuine. Your inspirational messages will live on with so many people that you have touched over the years. I think of all the youth that you have helped achieve great things, the Melbourne faithful and of course, your friends and family. I am a better person for having met you and shared some great conversations.

Let take things with a grain of salt. A young Carlton team won the NAB cup a few years back and still got the spoon. Performances aren't ideal, but like anything new, it takes time to understand to and execute.

so what do we read into this game? if anything?

Isn't that what media do all the time? They say what they want, and often they are way off the mark. But at the same time, they can often report accurate things. I'm actually on your side, in the fact I didn't agree with part of what Ox said. All I'm really saying is, he may have different standards and a different view. Whether he is right or wrong, is completely immeasurable and you could enter into an argument all day about it. Just enjoy the moment when Watts flicks the switch and he can shove it up all the commentators. Oh and I do have respect for Newman and Aker. They can be tossers a lot of the time, but they call a spade a spade. Better than sitting on the fence and just regurgitating what other people say. Whether its appropriate is a different issue.

Gotzy, should heed your own advice. Ox is just voicing his opinion. No right or wrong. Only difference of opinion. Its a subjective topic. Your measure of progress is different to Ox's and different to mine. He doesn't lose credibility. He gains it for having the confidence to state his view and by doing so, also bear the risk of certain criticisms.

Its all about expectations people. Malthouse has been in the game for a long time. Is it luck that he has coached premierships and his teams have played in so many finals series? I think not. He has expected and demanded "elite" output. Neeld is starting the long journey to get this into our players heads. JW or whoever it may be needs to know, expectations are higher now. Its human nature. If you aim low, you're only going to achieve low. By setting what may seem like unrealistic goals at the time, people amaze themselves at what they can achieve. All our players should (and I believe are) be pushed and expected to reach levels they never thought possible before. Through this, they'll be better players, individuals and a better footy team. It will separate the ones that can handle it and those who can't. "If you can't handle the heat, get out of the kitchen"

The grey area...and I mean really grey, is as a club, what stance does the club take? On one hand, you have the humanity side of things. Is it the clubs responsibility to make a moral/ethical stance of what is right/wrong here? If yes, then it gets greyer, with the fact of: what stance should they take? Continuing to make it harder: once they decide what stance to take, what actions do they take? How do they handle the media? How do they handle the players? How do they handle Jurrah? Whatever Jurrah has or hasn't done, should there be any difference stance compared to how they handle the situation of Moloney urinating in a pub? Should Jurrah be sanctioned? Allegedly being a drunken fight with weapons vs urinating in a pub? Punishment/no punishment? In a strict black and white world, the club could simply say: we're a football club, these actions are not what we want, and cut their ties with Jurrah (this won't happen and shouldn't happen in my opinion). With every decision made or not made, it sets a precedent. Should Nathan Jones have sought some sort of redemption on his father's attackers a few years ago, would this be the same situation? I think not...but once again, it's grey.

Oh dear...

Not sure about that one. From what is being reported, he was drinking alcohol, has brought the club into disrepute, etc. 100% support him in terms of ensuring he is mentally right with everything outside of footy, but when it comes to the employment side of things, there's going to be a bit more to it. I can't see him playing 1's for a while. Its going to be a very tough management issue for the club in so many respects. I don't envy them, thats for sure.

My point is that it is so simple to be negative on people trying to make a difference in the world. There are always going to be problems to solve wherever you go, wherever you look. Our culture is so cynical and to have a negative attitude towards charities that are aiming to make a difference in the world serves no purpose. If you plan on being negative towards a good cause, back it up by doing something yourself, or take it over to make it better. Its the equivalent of criticising the US people for donating to our Flood Appeal last year, when they have people devastated by cyclone Yasi.

So Chook, what are you going to do to help Indigenous Australians? What actions are you going to take to help them?

uhhh yes. read genetics 101.

Surely you mean Morton has really bulked up