Golden Monkey

It may mean nothing to most fans, but it meams alot to players to represent their country and let's face it, our game will never be an international force like soccer or rugby. Why not have a vechicle for players to experience the game before they get to an international level? Most people do forget results from International League games, but would you forget so easily if it was AFL clubs playing each other throughout the season in domestic International compettition? I don't think we would. But what if there was substancial prize money at stake? I'm not sure on the prizes for the cups at the moment but I think it's: NAB CUP: $500,000 Premiership CUP: $1,000,000 WIN BOTH: An extra $1,000,000 (Please tell me if these figures are wrong, I remember reading it somewhere.) If the NAB cup was gone, then the prize for winning the Domestic International rules series would be $500,000 with the extra $1,000,000 if a team could win both that and the premiership cup. More than enough incentive to play the "big" players.

Let's face it, the only way players of our code will ever represent their country is to play Ireland in the International Rules Series. The problem with this is that when players get the call up to the Australian team, they have no experience with the rules and round ball. Most of our training for this competition is focused on getting skill levels with the round ball to a playable standard. My suggestion is: To remove the pre-season cup and play a knockout International rules cup between the 16 AFL teams intermidetaly throughout the AFL season much like the FA cup is played during the Premier League Seson. for example: AFL SEASON Round 1 Round2 Round 3 Round 4 *Round 1 International Rules Cup. Round 5 Round 6 Round 7 Round 8 *Round 2 International Rules Cup. Round 9 Round 10 Round 11 Round 12 *Round 3 International Rules Cup. Round 14 Round 15 Round 16 Round 17 *Grand Final International Rules Cup Round 18 Round 19 Round 20 Round 21 Round 22 AFL FINALS SERIES Benefits I can see are: -All players at all clubs will gain experience using the round ball on a rectangle field, with the strange rules. -Marketing for clubs, Clubs will be able to sell the shirt sleeved style jumpers as official merchandise. - Teams that are struggling in the Premiership Season may do better in the round ball game and give players, staff and fans of those teams something to look forward to. -The NAB cup rules make the cup different from normal rules anyway. (9 point super goal = ridiculous.) - The soccer like style of the game may help people that follow soccer pick up a love of our game. (One of my mate loves soccer and isn't that fussed on the AFL, but he enjoys the International Rules Games.) So, any Comments? Am I a genious or a moron?

I remember watchin thew dees play last pre-season, against the bulldogs in Bendigo. The basic skills displayed by our boys were horrible, missing targets with both hand and foot. Even experienced players like Jeff White were missing easy targets. I remember saying to my Dad saying to me, "If they don't sort this out, we'll finish bottom for sure." As the season went on, and the confidence dropped lower, these critical skills diminished further. From reports from the Intra club match (Which I unfortuantley couldn't get to as I was working), the passing skills have undergone a massive improvement. We need to remember that Dean Bailey didn't really get a full pre-season with the demons last season, and was asking the players to play a style they were unfamiliaer with. This is what caused the sudden drop in passing effectiveness. Now with full pre-season with his players, and a season to review each player's strengths and weaknesses, I believe Bailey will have put together a great gameplan. This man was involved in the era at Port Adelaide where they should have won 2-3 premierships, not just the one. He is no idiot and will have his players primed to beat the hawks. 2009 will be a very different year for the demons. Now, we just need a sponsor.

Forgive the lateness of my reply, I haven't had a chance to get on the net for a few weeks: Demon Tragic, You make its sound like Devoted Demon posted " Please, don't argue it's ever so bad" What was actually posted was: And what I meant by reply is, if you think Collingwood is so great, go support them for 3 seconds, the vicious in fighting will drive you back to the dees within minutes. The demons need supporters who will stick thick and fast, not supporters who come to games once every ten years and threaten to leave the club whenever something doesn't go their way. Heil, Her Demon Tragic. You say demon supporters are all your best friends, yet earlier in your post say I am 1/1000th the worth of Devoted Demon. Some best friend you are, I wouldn't want to be your enemy. You would take 1 first year member who worries that they have chosen the wrong club, over a thousand of me? I have been a member for 12 years, so what your saying is you would take his one membership over 1000 of my 12 years of membership? You would take 1 member over 12,000 members? Yep, that's the kind of logic that the previous board would have used. I have no problem with any of these people personally, we are all here for one reason, our love of the club. But I will call people if they make ridiculous statements. I n reference to HotGod45's comments, I would gladly have a drink at a bar with these people. I argue with my mates all the time, it's a part of mateship. the key is to agree to disagree and move forward. COnversations where everybody agrees with each other are just so boring.

Collingwood???? Isn't this the team that has chosen to dissolve it's cheer squad due to in-fighting and the unauthorised founding of a rebel cheer squad???? NRL: NRL supporters are notoriously fickle, the NRL has traditionally struggled to maintain decent crowds and changed to a night premiership to maximise exposure because NOBODY turned up. Melbourne supporters may argue, but that's due to a love for their club. Each person has a unique view on the best way forward for this, the oldest football club of any code. We could all sit around and make posts like "Good job, Melbourne board." and "Whatever the board says is always right." That would be wrong because the board isn't always right. If the board had it's way in 1996 we wouldn't exist right now. It's our right as financial contributors to our club to question decissions and offer alternatives to take the oldest and greatest football club forawrd. If a little thing like bickering on a website is going to tourn you away from the mighty dees then GET LOST NOW, go support collingwood. By your threat of leaving are you not just one of the other "precious" supporters you were complaining about to begin with?????????

Yes, how to make horrible television.

My 3 favourite moments: 1- 2009 When a young & inexperienced Melbourne team defied expectations t lift from last place in 2008 to win a elimination final in 2009. 2- 2010 When the Demons built on the previous year's success to narrowly lose to a strong Hawthorn in a Preliminary final. 3-2011 When the Demons won their first premiership in 47 years. Now excuse me, I have to go and return this DeLorean to Avis, I asked for a Datsun.

SOmething like this?

A big one, it's My Chemial Romance's Welcome to the black parade with lyrics changed to represent the Round 7 victory over the shockers: _______________ When I was a young boy, My father took me to the MCG To visit Demonland. He said, "Son when you grow up, will you be a supporter of the broken, The beaten and the damned?" He said "Will you defend them, the Demons, against the non believers, the plans Dean Bailey made?" Because one day he’ll join you, A saviour to lead you in round seven, To break a black O-eight." When I was a young boy, My father took me to the MCG To visit Demonland. He said, "Son when you grow up, will you be a supporter of the broken, The beaten and the damned?" It was an awful Sunday, at the MCG. At half time I felt like I should go. Through it all, the rise and fall, the sobbing in our seats. half the crowds gone we want you all to know We'll Carry on, We'll Carry on Though your dead and gone at half time Wonaemirri will carry on Carry on We'll carry on And in my heart I cant contain it Commentators can’t explain it. That second half of game time ended my decimated dreams Their passion and their guts did shock us all picked up the slack and took it back Lets shout it loud and clear We’ll fight it to the end We hear the call to To carry on We'll carry on Though your dead and gone at half time Wonaemirri will carry on We'll carry on And though the Dees were all defeated The Melbourne spirit marches on In the Box Bailey ends our fears Ooh oh ohhhh Disappointed faces of his peers Ooh oh ohhhh Take a look at us cause we’re the greatest team of all Neitz sings: Quit the dees? You'll never make me Cause the world, will never take my heart You can try, you'll never break me Want it all, I'm gonna play this part Wont explain or say i'm sorry I'm not ashamed, I'm gonna show my scars You're the chair, for all the broken Listen here, because it's only.. Wonaemirri Sings: I'm just a man, I'm not a hero Just a boy, who's meant to sing this song Just a man, I'm not a hero I -- don't -- care Carry on We'll carry on Though your dead and gone at half time Wonaemirri will carry on We'll carry on And though the Dees were all defeated The mighty club cam back and won. We'll carry on We'll carry on We'll carry on We'll carry We'll carry on

I'm sorry Rogue, he may not have meant to say this but it is what was said. Here is the exact sentence: "On Sunday, it led by nearly nine goals against Melbourne, one of the worst teams of the past decade, only to lose by a goal."-Damian Barrett | May 07, 2008 If he were referring to just the fiest 6 matches of this season the sentence should have read: On Sunday, it led by nearly nine goals against Melbourne, a team that has this season put in one of the worst performances seen by any team of the past decade, only to lose by a goal. By saying "one of the worst teams of the past decade," he is publicly stating that a team that in the last decade (1998-2008) has appeared in 5 finals series, including a Grand Final. Produced a Coleman Medalist- David Neitz 2002 and a Brownlow medalist- Shane Woewodin 2000 is one of the worst performing teams of the past decade. I repeat, he may not have meant this but his poor english skills have meant that he has made the above statement. "Melbourne, one of the worst teams of the past decade"-Damian Barrett | May 07, 2008 the worst piece of journalism in the past decade!

The plan according to the Goldenmonkey..... Players- play with the same guts and determination you showed in the second half on sunday every minute of every game you play. In short PLAY LIKE DEMONS Dean Bailey- If fast flowing footy with quick delivery to forwards is part of the game plan, fantastic job. If not, Why not? It works. Supporters- Hold on tight because if the above happens Melbourne WILL be a finals contender this year. We are only 3 games out of the finals. Other than Geelong, Hawthorn and the dogs it is a tightly run finals race this year. Melbourne can make a finals push, we have had similar losing streaks before mid season and still made the finals, I can't exactly remember which year, either 2005 or 2006. The players have their confidence back, this was all that was missing from the Demons winning formula. Now it's back,the rest of the pack better watch out........ THE DEMONS ARE ON THE LOOSE!!!!

Ben Cousins will be a Magpie in 2009

Lack of discipline.

A report just on the radio then stated that Carlton have offered Fev a one year deal and he wants a long term contract. He is going to have talks with other talks, with the retirement of Neitz at seasons end more than likely we will have salary cap room and a real need for a strong forward. Fev has vowed to clean up his act, and I believe he has and will continue to do so. I think we need to do as much as we can to undermine Carlton's attempts to keep him and secure him as a melbourne player in 2009

The Melbourne Football club is the oldest Football club of any code, that could soon be all over as talk of relocation and merging take hold just 11 years since we escaped frm the Dorks tag. Many have said they wouldn't support the Melbourne Kangaroos, I would, because something is better than nothing. The Melbourne Kangaroos is better a better option for supporters than the Gold Coast Demons. Preferably, I would hope that the Melbourne Demons stay the way they always have. I'm a member, I can't make it to many games as I work 10 hour shifts both Saturday and Sunday. This year I can attend 2 games, a friday nighter against Geelong and the Queens birthday match. But I will be at both those games to support a team I know that will probably lose both matches because it's the team I love, the team of the red and the blue. This is a plea to those who are not yet paid up members, unless you sign up RIGHT NOW an start attending EVERY SINGLE game you possibly can, the Jumper below may be something you see in a few years time. This is a team that has won 12 premierships, a team that has a rich history. If you do not sign up you will be partly responsible for it's death. I have added my representation of the Melbourne Kangaroos Jumper ( Don't like it? BUY A MEMBERSHIP!!!!!!)

I like the idea it would be fantastic to see some of the teams from NSW beat Collingwood or Carltank. However some problems could occur in scenarios such as: UNEQUAL TEAMS AFL clubs pour millions into the best. The best training facilities, the best sports doctors, the best players. The AFL competition is already horrribly unbalanced in these areas. Collingwood train at the million dollar Lexus centre whilst Melbourne train wherever they can,( provided that they don't intefere with the local under-12's side training schedule.) How is a club from central Queensland going to compete with the AFL clubs? TEAMS WITH THE SAME NAME/HISTORY Geelong Cats (VFL) V's Geelong Cats (AFL) Port Adelaide Magpies (SANFL) V's Port Adelaide Power (AFL) Port Adelaide Magpies (SANFL) V's Collingwood Magpies (AFL) [This would be brilliant to watch Eddie cry about the jumper clash.] VFL clubs and AFL clubs have links, Melbourne and Sandringham. Essendona nd Bendigo. Would these have to stopunder the proposal? TRAVEL COST Who covers the cost of say the Northern Territory team flying to matches around the country, who pay for their hotels? The AFL, The league the club competes in, the club itself? How many clubs at this level could afford this cost? PLAYER SALARY Players in state leagues often have jobs other than playing football, this will take them from that work. Do they get reimbursed for this time away? Who by? Is this covered by a salary cap? QUALIFIERS Does a player have to have played a certain number of games to be eligible to play for a club? What if Geelong Cats (AFL) bomb out in first week of champions league losing to Melbourne Demons(AFL)(yay) and Geelong Cats (VFL) win narrowly over the south NSW Stumps (made up NSW team). What is to stop Geelong pouring it's top notch players, Ablett, Bartel, Ling etc. Into the VFL side for the next Champions league round? These are just a few problems I see with the idea, and I was getting excited when I read the article. I'd hate to see the negatives put forward droms omebody who hates the idea.

Much like your thought process if you are serious. White in his prime was possibly the best Ruckman in the league. It was when the centre circle rules were changed that his effectiveness was diminished. His around the ground skills are excellent and really could be used more as a tall forward option.

I believe this may have been the first page, as well as a plan to get good draft picks by tanking early and "improving" too late in the year to avoid suspicion..

My father's best friend's cousins dog walkers brother works in an unidentified capacity at the club and he has leaked to me this, the official 2008 gameplan of new coach, Dean Bailey.

One way ticket to hell- The Darkness

The AFL is like a well meaning parent that treats one child better than another whilst firmly believing that they don't play favourites with their children. They believe they are doing what is best for the entire family (The league finacnially as a whole) and have lost focus on caring for the needs of all it's children (the clubs) equally. Melbourne will NEVER be treated as well as the pies or the blues, we don't have the money. However, we don't need a draw rigged in our favour and we don't need a multi million dollar training facility. It doesn't matter if you run 20K on an electronic treadmill in the lexus centre or you run 20k in the heat around an oval, you've still run to 20k and have a graeter sense of achievment because you did it the hard way. All we need is a winning attitude, a bit of mongrel and when we win that premiership the hardships faced will make it all so much sweeter.

I think they must have actually only surveyed three members. Probably members that also sit on the board, because that new logo is in no way as good as or better than the old one.

I didn't mean to reopen the Selwood V Headland debate. Just thought it was hypocritical to sue someone for saying bad things about you because you said bad things about someone else.

Why would Headland make up something like that? It's exactly the kind of thing I've heard come from people's mouths. Mostly about mothers or sisters to infuriate someone. You mean like the trash talk that Selwood said against a little girl?

How about a flag with Premiers 2008 written on it?