dpositive

Watched the doggies last two games and they bring an enormous intensity to the game. We cannot go with players who do not have that intensity. Watts does play with intensity just does not compete.intensly, he applies tension through his positioning and his skill when he does have the ball.Others have to create that tension by playing close checking and tough. players need to concentrate and have that intensity for every passage of the game and for game after game they also need to know how and when they can release their concentration to refresh for another effort. Intensity must be recognised at training and in selection The coaches .must assess who is "switched on" and who is "tired" after their efforts. Anyone in the squad can be rested and anyone should be able to come in. We are building a squad where this attitude can now be used at selection.

So an ex player comments on the worth of a player and thats how the market is set. He is worth what he is worth! his worth to another club may be not realistic to his worth for us. I agree with others that our club now has a group of experienced managers who will know what we can afford and how we can afford it. They will know what we pay others and why, Some of this is dollars and some is altruistic.They will know what a premiership is worth. Roos is essential as part of the management team as he has the experience of Fitzroy and Sydney to recount.. I dont think there is any doubt he is something special so want him with us but not if it destroys the clubs progress.

Heard Eric Bana state that he was one of the few not to have witnessed a Saints flag and would place it above winning and oscar. It was a lovely gesture of support from him and filled me with admiration but there are plenty of us that have had our lifes scarred through our demon allegiance. While I am qualifying for a pension this year I have not been able to appreciate the glory of attending a premiership victory. Our glory years were when I was a child in the country and had to play out our victorious moments on the front lawn listening to the radio. I will always remember Bluey Adams, Barass, Lord, etc from that time, while equally and probably better skilled players are wallowing without that pinnacle of achievment I have been to more grand finals of other teams than I have Melbourne and frankly am getting sick and tired of being an irrelevancy. I hope that our current group can develop a more sustainable model. Perhaps they need to be reminded of how many Eric Bana's we have. I know that does lead itself into some inexusable banana repartee but go for it

Not so simple to move on and also agree with both JnrMac and Fr_ap to some extent We are a young side and so performance will not be consistent. The new boys didnt play with the same ugency Hunt and Wagner particularly. Viney couldnt sustain his intensity Trac was just too slow but standard for a first game needs longer Watts Frost and Pedo seemed just a tad flat after a good start and just couldnt sustain the effort Lumumba kept running into trouble Tmac kept just kept running anywhere. Too many times too many went up with only saints down Roo just kept manning himself into zones where he could get a mismatch and he showed Membrey and Bruce how to do that Dunn just didnt seem to know what was going on and may have been better to just sit at the back of the pack and clean upthe loos e saint player. Why didnt coaches have plan be Man up It aint that hard Why did we stick with hunt and wagner who were both terrific last week, give them the rest and bring in fresh Trengove who knows the pace of seniors and Stretch same. Grimes and Garland are not the future but they are part of the squad that should be used week about to rest players who are still too young to sustain intensity week after week. Gawn has been great for a few weeks and played well yesterday but he also cannot yet sustain the intense pressure week after week. The coaches need to use the full squad to get experience into the youngsters while playing the harder bodies when required. Ive said it before and Ill continue to say it its the coaches job to get the best performance thaey didnt do it yesterday and yes they are responsible coz if someone isnt performing they need to tell them what to do. It was obvious at half time but nothing changed.Run until you break coz you wont be playing next week on the performance so far.could have been the message. fumbling and over running the ball in close needed some attention get in front slow down take possession and take the free if tackled badly.I understand there appears to be no in the back or throwing the ball but the umps still seem to give the benefit to the player in front and allow too much at times for effort. But will see what next week brings hopefully the team can be reinvigorated by the coaches sllecting the best group for the opposition

Im happy to be PUMED and even happier that we are on the channel 7 coverage at 3 so not much will be done when I shut up shop and get home at 2.30 GO DEES

I think Rances attack of Watts was one of the worst instances I have seen. As bad as the attack on Watts by the Collingwood triumvarate in his first match. The biggest difference was that Viney came in and remonstrated with Rance immediately. Previously Melbourne players did not even raise a whimper in protest at Watts manhandling Thank Goodness Viney was ferocious enough to stand up for his mate. I hope he told Rance that the treatment he had dispensed was as disgusting as it gets and that he wasnt fit to wipe Watts boots and of course more. Had he been reported probably would have given the AFL away I am pleased with the outcome and hope this is just the begginning of a new demons Go DEES

Perhaps we can build the Anzac Eve blockbuster and offer that as the prelude TV match for the Anzac day game to be played by Melb and Rich

The doc told me to take these suppositories But for all the good they did me i may as well have shoved em up my arse

We remind AFL of our long history with the Chinese market We agree to go with both teams on Chinese southern flights We agree with Ports demands on home grounds etc We demand umpires who pay free kicks to the demons at every favourable occasion while they penalise Port for every discretion.. This is a way to teach the Chinese the rules. We win the match

Thanks for all the reports pretty comprehensive and without any apparent hyperbole. Just wondering about the Munro and Ambler boys if they come from the Traralgon families of the same name would be good footballers. Frank Munro was a champion who could have played VFL and Terry was also very useful at a time when Traraklgon produced Quinlan, Templeton and Jennings to name a few of the better ones. Add Cordy and theres a bit of a pedigree

I too believe it was an appalling game. Everything to play for and all the momentum of an encouraging NAB and round 1 even if only playing half a game. Essendon reserves as two of my Essendon supporting friends stated were there to be beaten. Did they get some lift from the pre game antics? The coach needs to know how each player prepares and what it takes for them to respond. It is his job to make sure they are motivating themselves. The coach prepares game plans and tactics which should be based on some assumptions but be able to be varied if circumstances change. i think may have got it wrong and didnt change . As we were got back in front in the last quarter it may have been the right plan but it ultimately failed and he needs to understand that is not good enough. I know of memberships lost for another year which would have been cemented with this win. This team needed to win on Saturday and didnt. They needed to be tired they needed to be absolutely spent after the game. I have not seen this in a Maelbourne side for years. While I am prepared to accept the inconsistency of youth, or inconsistency becaues of effort, the coach needs to recognise these and make changes. If necessary we should rest the young bodies while playing the older and more experienced bodies. Watts played with an injury and hasnt been bagged by those who usually do , He is a senior experienced player now and must perform consistently each week allowing the younger players to come in and out of the side only when ready play to their maximum even if it means missing the next week to rest and rejuvenate I have been saying we need to use the full squad all season rather than a fixed 22 I confirmed with one of the Bomber fans last night that the baby bombers were very much a nucleus of experience with a fleet of youth who played in and out I dont know how to check that but it should be a consideration. Oh bugger I do have other things to do I just hope for a better result this week and I dont have to go through the same torment with my North Melbourne supporting mates

I have always said (Bailey and Neeld the most obvoius but equally Danher Balme) that the results always are the responsibility of the coach. Player performance condition is what they should know aligned with their structures and tactics The age of players needs to be considered Younger inexperienced players have always been inconsistent or eventually tire. They also need to experience the tempo of the game. Brayshaw was excellent last year but did tire as the season progressed. He perhaps needed some conditioning under matchday pressure.and should be better next week. Hogan is undoubtably stellar cannott afford to get too far ahead of himself. Watts was always being ignored on leads and did not always have support around to match his quick presence of mind .True he is not a crash and bash type and his body may have been the tired one from the effort of last week. The coach should know this sort of stuff for each player and select around that. We are closer to the point of having a squad that we can rest players who are not cherry ripe. We are in a competition that demands that every player gives his very best effort for a complete game. They should be exhausted after each match and then if not fully recovered rested for the alternative replacement

The original Brothel creepers are still produced by Rossiters. Most reputable footwear retailers will stock them or be able to source them for you. At the risk of being embroiled in "questionable business practices" I have size 5 and 6 in black @ $147.00 and a range of Slatters Ripples in Stone (a light beige) @$99 but would require a fitting at the shop in Beechworth. If you wanted to expand your wine tasting experiences and retreat to Beechworth would be happy to meet. We are remote enough from Melbourne that the bitter sting of defeat by Essendon can be diluted.

I play squash on thursday and we discuss in gretaer depth the footy and other philosophical issues than I have seen on the footy show in years and we have more humour than Trevor Marmalade well Saw bits of the show last night in between ads. (Squash break for school hols) I reckon she might be brought in to provide the reason for taking off the air what is a tired and redundant format which is beaten hands down for footy content by Marngarook and for entertainment by anything.

or how about Whatever it takes Dees Just to remind them

Melbourne not guilty of tanking Essendon guilty of danking.

Feeling the Earls pain here. Disgusting in this age of innovation and free trade that the unselfish efforts of the earl are not suitably recognised. Although I may be incorrect with some of this statement!??????? Please Ignore Haven't participated in any of the wonderful conversations that occur on this thread since this apparently unsent missive. Cant seem to delete the reference and hope this submission clears it . Was concerned about the outcome of proceedings given the sudden interruption. Was Bitter overcome by the Poor quality shiraz Was Biffen affected by the g mer a tile arrangement Was DC overcome by his outing coinciding with a Dees win The coincidences of victory can often leave an addled and confused state , similar to that evidenced by Malcolm on finally achieving the prize but not knowing what to do next. I hope our players are receiving appropriate post match remedial treatment to ensure that the next match continues their astonishing rise and the unfamiliar territory of winning.

We are all drawn into it unfortunately. Its drugs in sport. Essendon havent gotten out of it and want until they admit the truth .

I am a bit fazed Would like to hear some truth from him. A genuine admission that he was/wasnt part of a drug program That he regrets the processes that were obviously lacking in the Essendon program. That he has learnt from that experience and will ensure that any practices he is involved with meet the highest standards of transparency and rigour. That he does not condone any illegal or untested drug programs in any sport. That as MFC coach he is following and maintaining the high standards that were outlined during his recruitment..

That Moncrieff name rings a bell

Thats the first critical learning point old dee Perhaps someone could give this advice to the Essondon players. It would perhaps be appropriate instruction to a player perhaps no longer with the club who has perhaps signed with another club. Dear former Essendon Player It is time to accept that you have been poorly advised in some instances, When you took up the trade of football player you became a professional footballer and were given advice not to partake in many practices gambling, social media, alchohol, etc. You were particularly advised not to take any medication or drug regime without confirming its legality. You may have been advised that you are responsible for your actions. You may have been mislead by or misinterpreted me advice but you are still responsible for your own actions. Now is the time to say Sorry.. Try saying that you are sorry you accepted the assurances of the club of the program you undertook involving drugs. Sorry that this program was not as assured as all the other advice they give you. Sorry that in following the coach and support staff, doing whatever it takes, you strayed into some areas that have now been the centre of forensic examination and prolonged legal processes to arrive at the position You are now in. You are perceived as having been participating in illegal action and you regret that this has not only affected you personally but has the co-committant impact on all people involved in sports. You are sorry for any pain and confusion caused by your actions, but in recognising your own sorrow are prepared to accept the circumstances and move on, applying your own determination and the aspects that have allowed you to reach the levels you have to continue personal training in order to return a wiser and better player and person. The resilience that has been recognised in the past few years will make you a stronger person and you will work even harder to reassure yourself and everyone else of your abilities. Urge everyone to take care in accepting advice but once they have accept that, there comes responsibility with action. You are sorry that it has taken this unfortunate occurrence to re-emphasis that lesson.

Perhaps someone could give this advice to the Essondon players. It would perhaps be appropriate instruction to a player perhaps no longer with the club who has perhaps signed with another club. Dear former Essendon Player It is time to accept that you have been poorly advised in some instances, When you took up the trade of football player you became a professional footballer and were given advice not to partake in many practices gambling, social media, alchohol, etc. You were particularly advised not to take any medication or drug regime without confirming its legality. You may have been advised that you are responsible for your actions. You may have been mislead by or misinterpreted me advice but you are still responsible for your own actions. Now is the time to say Sorry.. Try saying that you are sorry you accepted the assurances of the club of the program you undertook involving drugs. Sorry that this program was not as assured as all the other advice they give you. Sorry that in following the coach and support staff, doing whatever it takes, you strayed into some areas that have now been the centre of forensic examination and prolonged legal processes to arrive at the position You are now in. You are perceived as having been participating in illegal action and you regret that this has not only affected you personally but has the co-committant impact on all people involved in sports. You are sorry for any pain and confusion caused by your actions, but in recognising your own sorrow are prepared to accept the circumstances and move on, applying your own determination and the aspects that have allowed you to reach the levels you have to continue personal training in order to return a wiser and better player and person. The resilience that has been recognised in the past few years will make you a stronger person and you will work even harder to reassure yourself and everyone else of your abilities. Urge everyone to take care in accepting advice but once they have accept that, there comes responsibility with action. You are sorry that it has taken this unfortunate occurrence to re-emphasis that lesson.

Good point DC I guess I meant to say should receive a correction issued by the AFL. It must however be a genuine statement so unlikely to happen.

I said at the outset (some years ago now it seems) that 1 Jobe should be stripped of medal 2 Hird banned for life Players get 2 years.. Drugs in sport is the issue and this public cleansing is as necessary as the Arrmstrong humiliation. The attitude and culture of AFL needs to be altered and journalists who fail to see that need to be corrected by the AFL.

Feeling the Earls pain here. Disgusting in this age of innovation and free trade that the unselfish efforts of the earl are not suitably recognised. Although I may be incorrect with some of this statement!???????