simma02

Great sentiment but not viable. This club needs to stand on its own two feet and further handouts from it's members is not the answer. We have given enough - over to the club now!

This is a nightmare.......

I like to think he will be good value. 2 goals in that farcical effort last weekend was a good return considering how little he had of the ball, and with better delivery and more input from him, we could see Clark easily returning in excess of 50 goals this season. I would prefer to see them persevering with the Spencil (who is due back on track very soon) in the ruck, as like Jamar, he could be a late starter (I seem to recall he was starting to look a lot better just prior to his injury).

Sorry but Spencer is an absolute spud - I know big guys take longer to develop but seriously he has very, very limited ability and no skill whatsover!!!You could make a cup of tea in the time it takes him to drop the ball onto his foot!!! No way on earth we will win a flag with Spencer on our list. Ruckman like Spencer became extinct years ago.

Not sure why so many people are crying foul over these comments by Matthews. Mitch Clark has not yet proven over an entire season that he is a great key forward. His best year was 2009 as a ruckman and I still believe this is definately his best position. Not unhappy that we got him to the club but at the same time I really don't see him developing into an A grade key forward. Once Jamar retires, Clark will most likely take over Ruck duties.

I think that some mistakes were made in terms of not shielding the players from the situation as Malthouse has noted. In retrospect, I think it was the wrong choice to have exposed the players to the media on the day of Jim passing and even in the days that followed. Mitch Clark's public breakdown should have sent alarm bells to the administration that the players should not have been put in front the media on that day. Especially given that it was such as new leadership group and two young captains. It was just too much to ask of them and at the time I really felt for them because its a responsibility they probably weren't prepared for (although they did pretty well all things considered). I note that Neeld kept a very low profile at the time, which I thought was appropriate given he had only recently joined the club. Perhaps he should have fought harder protect the players as well, but I reckon he would have decided to concede to the wishes of the club administration in the case rather that trying to get his own way. But who knows?

However, I think we have to accept that the build up to the game was a very unique situation for the players, coaches and the club. I think Neeld must accept some responsibility for this, but given he is so new to the club he wouldn't know the players well enough to be able to know how best to handle such a situation so I willing to let this one slide.

Stop trying to wrap the players up in cotton wool and dish out excuses!! Jimmy's passing was A BIG deal and the public wanted answers. We have a leadership group in place to deal with such enquries. Hurting or not it was their responsibility to represent the club and answer the media's questions in order to shed some light to the general public that also loved Jimmy.

Lets stop putting "the complete clean-out" talk and put it down to the emotional drain of losing Jim Stynes after such a long and bitter fight .

I've vented my spleen about softness from players .A lot of our play was reactionary .They will get a good kick up the arse and being away from us next week may be good for them .

Does anyone think we have a chance against the Meth Coast Eagles?

Or am I just searching in vain for hope?

Let's not do that. I'm sick and tired of the club's and supporters excuses - it's been going on for too long now. An emotional drain is absolutely NO excuse for our display on the weekend. We need to stop wrapping this playing group in cotton wool and expose them for the heartless plebs they are. A good portion of our players don't have the talent, work rate or the will to successed. Furthermore, we have the most pathetic exuse for senior players I've ever witnessed at any club since I've been follwing AFL! How many times does Brad Green come out and say we need to stand up - he sounds like a broken record player to be honest and he is one of the biggest offenders!!!! Time for these pitiful excuse for leaders such as Davey and Green to be dropped and if Moloney doesn't lose the chip on his shoulder he can go join them also.

I am thankful our coach doesn't come up with excuses - thankyou Mark!!!!!

As far as our response next week I couldn't care less. Too many times we respond the week after a bad performance - this is not good enough. We need to respond during games, respond at the next contest. Make it right during the game, not the following week!

When you break it down it doesn't look we will get anywhere a premiership with this list - we need to face facts. We're 5 years into a rebuild and don't have one single A-Grader - this is depressing!!!!

Trengove, Grimes, Watts, Sylvia, Frawley, Pettered and perhaps Gysberts look to be our only potential A Graders. None of these players are anywhere near it yet.

Bate, Dunn, Batram, Jetta, Bennell, J McDonald, Cale Morton have been around for long enough and just haven't delivered. No flag comming from these guys. Trade or delist at season's end

Davey, Green Spencer get rid of them

Jurrah - who knows what's going to happen with Liam.

Rivers - depth player at best thse days

Seller - unsure

L Cook, Taggert, Blease, Fitzpatrick, Tynan,Tapscott, Strauss, Gawn, Davis, Howe, T McDonald are still quite raw. There is some potential in this lot but how many will turn into decent players is anyones guess..

Jones, McKenzie, Couch and Magner will give a contest but none will be A grade stars. Very good B Grade types.

Martin, Jamar, Moloney, Clark and Garland are all required players although not sold that Mitch Clark can be the forward we need him to be. Still think his best postion is in the ruck. I still consider Moloney a required player at this stage but if he puts in many more performances like yesteday they can place him on the trade table to be honest. Didn't give a yelp!

I just cannot see a premieship comming with this list. Too many similair type of midfieldes, we have no run and spread whatsover which is the most concerning aspect of our list. Unfortunately, we are going to need to rebuild again. Get rid of the dead wood and get some decent recruiters into the club so we can build a list that has a realistic chance of winning a flag. We can't make the same mistake and put faith in drafting a plethora of kids again. Sure we need to get the best kids we can to the club but we really need to go after some established stars with leadership qualities that can take this club forward. A bare minimum of 2 classy outside midfielders with pace that can break the lines and a decent crumbing forward should be 1st on the recruiting agenda.

Davey has to be bannished to the VFL immediately and should not return until he can spit out 3-5 BOG performances. Pathetic!!!

we are well beyond panic mode on this link now, i personally need some reassurance from the club, something along the lines of 'we have a sponsor but we will annouce it the week before the first game'. If we go into the rd 1 clash without a front sponsor ill die from embarressment. My mates give me enough crap about melbourne without this happening.

come on MFC let your fans know whats going on PLLLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAASSSSSSEEEEEE

Seriously, the amount of panic merchants on this site is just ridiculous. I mean really, people like Jonesbag who claims If we go into the rd 1 clash without a front sponsor ill die from embarressment.... Get a grip will you. I suggest to everyone to take a deep breath and concetrate on things you can control - worrying about if the MFC have a front of jumper sponsor by round 1 is completely pointless..

should be careful about what gets written here. prosecutor lawyers are probably all over this thread already.

on a side note what are peoples impressions on how the club would handle this?

do you think they will throw him into the team as soon as he is fit? or do you think he may be put back to casey until it is sorted?

thoughts?

What a load of rubbish!!!! Prosecutor Lawyers have more imprtant things to do and will not read through the crap on this thread to build a case!!! Furthermore, no-one on this thread has any decent information anyway - it's all speculation at this stage. A midless post of the highest order!!!!

I love this line: "The last thing Ryan would want is for this to turn into a saga," he said.

Well if you don't want it to turn into a saga sign with the Kangaroos or tell them you're leaving.... He is tarred with the same shitty brush that Scully is!

Terrible - we're not living in the 1850's anymore!

This really does suck! Hopefully it's not too bad.

isnt Missons job to make sure our injury list is reduced? to be honest it dosn't look any shorter then last year...

Nothing Misson can do about impact collisions like Grimes had and wrist injury that Jurrah has. Same goes with Spencer and Gawn. These sorts of injuries can't be helped - it's just a case of bad luck.

IMO Nicholson has the pluck and agility and speed a bonus, to grow himself into a Topline Mid. He seems to have the step & reactions to operate in heavy traffic, or 'Outside'.

He IMO will develop his disposal & general play.

# Evans still an Unknown quantity at this point.

Nicholson won't become a top line Mid. There is no magical switch you can hit to make your disposal a-grade, just doesn't work like that. Don't get me wrong, he'll be a decent, steady player but his disposal will stop him friom being an A-Grade midfielder.

G'day guys just been thinking melbourne should really try and draft or trade for a top class crumbing forward. The small forward is a hole in our list in my opinion we have davey who is getting older by the day and might have 1 or 2 good years left we also have bennel and lawrence who are yet to make an impact at AFL level but a really good small forward is a very important player in the make up of a really good team. Stephen milne is a good example of a top class small forward he has 490 goals next to his name as a small forward he plays the role perfect.Having been sitting at the feet of Nick riewoldt and getting in the right spots for the last 8-10 years. Melbourne has Jack watts and mitch clark who will bring the ball into the hot spots for a small forward so we must get a really good quality small forward. We must make the most of this rebuild and a small forward is one role that's open for the next 5 years at our club. I have not seen much of lawrence but bennel is a fairway of in my view does anyone have thought on who is out there at other clubs or coming through the tac cup who can fill this really important role? Cheers.

You'll find we already have one. Sam Blease will fill that role and if Aaron Davey pulls his finger out he can fill the role also.

Stuff what Eddie says. His outburst means we are hitting a nerve of some kind. We should keep pursuing whatever it is that Eddie is worried about being recruiter, player or both. Take no prisoners.

I think that Monday is Our day. Not there's. So don't talk in terms of it being there's. It's just we play them, on Our Home Game on that Monday.

It would be the same if we played Essendon, or the Blues. Our Home Game, on Our 'G' Patch, on Our Monday !!!

Monday is not OUR Day. Collingwood let us have it as a home game - we don't have exclusive rights!

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/129490/default.aspx

Thread Closed.........................

It will be terrific until Collingwood decide that the Queen's Birthday game should be shared.

So be it. We can't continue on in fear with Collingwood standing over us waiving a big stick. Time this club stood on its own two feet. If we rely that heaviliy on Queens Birthday for revenue then we need to lift our game!

Stuff em'. Leave no prisoners. If we lose the home game on Queens Birthday because of it then so be it. We've been to passive for too long, time to get a bit of grit and get stuck in.

Looking forward to seeing Magner - I think he'll be ultra important for us this season.

Gaff is going to be a very, very good player. However, talk of having to give up two compo picks is crazy stuff. No club would do that for a small framed young midfielder. 1 high pick and a player would get the job done.

Big men on long-term injury list

I don't know if this has been mentioned before or not but it looks like the big fella is out for another eight weeks.

My calculations are that three rookies can be elevated.

i would say Nicho, Magner and maybe Kel Lawrence if Davey doesn't come good.

Nicho, Couch and Magner are absolute Monty's of being promoted if there are 3 spots available!

Top song!!!!