Deestar3

I think it is more likely that roos will stay than go after two years. If anyone believes that we will be competitive with no forward line & no back up support to spencer ...plus garland , viney, Kent etc you are delusional .. Just get into your psyche that it will be a year of building confidence individually & in a team environment....getting players fit & cherry ripe for seasons ahead not just the next few weeks. There are many positives that unfortunately are not reflected on the scoreboard & I for one, who has paid my membership, will be content to watch the rebuild through year. However if we get the fore mentioned players back & don't improve I will also (not happily) eat humble pie. We have an excellent administration, an excellent & proven coaching panel & I am going to hang on for the ride.

Injuries happen......Reid from collingwood ....his calf injury has not settled down & I bet we will be lucky to see him in the first part off the year. I am quite happy to have the policy of 100% fitness which will set us up for the second part of the season & for the seasons ahead. We are all desperate for success & some joy ....it has been so long ....but I do feel like we are on the right track albeit slowly.

Roos said fitzy & McDonald a def chance as not playing till Sunday. He basically would like to take the scoreboard away & just let the players focus on the good things they did.. Happy with the midfield. Cross' s job on Armitage....conceded lack of tall forwards made it harder to implement the game plan.....would be reluctant to play watts up forward because it was his best game for the club & he feels he has been stuffed around by the club enough . ( I agree with that)

Just to set you straight on Richo.....he actually tore his quad muscle completely doing squats. He has a very large scar across his buttock which he isn't happy with. It was never reported in the media & they went with the hamstring issue. Also I am sure Mitch & Richo have talked....but they are two different individuals & people cope with things differently .

Good to see hamish macintosh taking to the field after almost 3 years. Spoke to people who knew him really well & he was saying how he had some really dark times & massive self doubts as so to whether he would play again. New club....new team mates & supporters & how he felt incredibly useless & bad about letting everyone down. Guess what.....he is playing so let's just leave Mitch alone......close this thread & hope that firstly for Mitch Clark himself that he can play again & then we can celebrate how good that will be for him & the MFC

OMG.....Really 37 pages ....x

Wines wants to be a one club player. This is based on two seasons with a coach who obviously has great rapport with his players & some moderate success. We now have that coach .....the club will slowly succeed & hopefully have moderate success this season .....can we not have an embarrassing 30 odd pages on discussion on whether we got the right player. We have jimmy toumpas .....who has played one season.....& I hope to god never hears or reads Demonland. Can we just stop the hand wringing & let him be ......he along with jack watts will be very good for the mfc.

Great thread........I too think some very positive signs.......once the boys actually feel comfortable plaing with each other .....so many new players .....the results will be even more encouraging. Players like watts & Fitzpatrick will definitely get a lot better but I thought they performed pretty admirably given that it was their first hit out. We are all realists & we won't turn into an A grade team overnight but at least they are heading in the right direction,

Gee we can be picky. It. is the first game (practice) after many years of dismal coaches, lack of confidence etc, etc. of course players will make mistakes , but overall they look good & exciting. David astbury gifting jkh a goal was a massive mistake & but it happens. You can't expect every kick to be pin point accurate , every handball to meet its target. If last night is anything to go on. I can't wait to see how they develop as they spend more time with each other, learn the gameplan & keep growing in confidence. Until then, I am not bagging or making disparaging comments about any player. if you think you have been hard done by as a supporter, I certainly have empathy for the players. And for those bagging toumpas I was with a collingwood supporter and he was in raptures about his kicking ,his ability to find space & the way he read the play. Bring on the season I say

Apparently his father also suffers from the same condition - he had fainted at training so will be on a modified program whilst they work it all out. This info came from the parent of a draftee who is from melb but has gone interstate so they know him well. But again it is just second hand info..

Just wondering if anyone has seen Christian Salem at training. I heard tonight from a fairly reliable source that he has been diagnosed with a thyroid condition & will be on a moderated & limited training program? Anyone else heard this.

Alex rance .....please!!!!! How he can be ranked above frawley is an absolute joke

Haven't heard from any coach .....presser if they have been given the main gig but can't recall hearing any coach speak. Don't need to hear him do we......he will be busy with recruiting, off field appointments & most importantly assessing our players. In fact doing exactly what he was employed to do. I have no interest hearing meaningless platitudes......it is only October !

Also pick 23 for Sylvia ..... Same a del santo .... Sensational .... That's Bernie vince

Can we attract talent? Effectively we have Jessie hogan (would have easily been between pick 1-5 this season) Dom Tyson a pick 3 with two seasons at afl level (& don't doubt his talent - taken behind Paton & coniglio ) for an unproven pick 2 ......he will grow with our other young midfielders, we have upgraded pick 20 to 9 , will use compo pick for Vince ( Sylvia out ...Vince in ) more upside for us I believe & pick 70 becomes 53. Throw in viv Michie at pick 54 & I don't see how anyone can complain. We also have barry & a host of other young players whom I look forward to watching develop with the right network behind them. Injuries, talent , form etc are variables that not one club can control with any player & only time will tell with all clubs whether their drafting is successful but I can see the nucleus of a very good competitive side forming. I'm realistic. There is a lot of hard work ahead but I believe off field we are in very capable hands & I am positive that the mfc in finally in the right hands & on the right path.

One thing I have noticed is that since pj has come to the club .....nothing has been leaked.....yes..rumours & innuendo but nothing of fact. I have complete faith in what roos & pj are doing.......if you think for one moment that roos took on this position without having his "team" in place then you sell him short. I have no interest in listening to the rumblings & speculation from journalists & posters alike who have nothing better to do than try & fill space in a long off season. I don't believe roos is the "messiah" but will trust the expertise, respect & knowledge that someone like him brings. I don't believe in the perception that the mfc is an unattractive place to go to......if you put the right deal in front of anyone they will take it. So far we are bemoaning missing out on players & assistant coaches when in reality there has been no concrete evidence of any firm offers being made. I think,it is exciting to see what is unfolding & I am happy to wait. After all,it is a long time till February. String it out i say !

We will finish above the saints. The negativity is astounding.

To all those posters who say " he should go, can't kick etc" I will be governed by roos & his expertise. Watts & similar players that we think will improve under roos, why can't these other peripheral players impove as well. You never have a team of 22 superstars , there are lots of good honet plodders that do their job as well.

Why such a negative comment moonshadow! Don't for one minute these "A" grade off field people don't see a lot to like about this team . I am extremely sure that by the end of the first year of roos & co tenure we will see some emerging "A" graders & they will be from current personnel !

He spoke to col today before he boarded,his plane

Did anyone hear on channel 10 news that melb had cancelled interviews with some prospective coaches ?

True.....$400,000 is the amount ...... The money is irrelevant ..... What the paul roos brand would bring to the mfc would more than compensate any salary we would pay him.

well glad you are not the coach. Happy to take roos assessment of the team...nobody expects miracles but I think it is sheer arrogance to suggest that your opinion is where we are at . I was listening to Luke Dalhaus who said he had the worst skills by hand & foot at the club last year & he is still working on them. With hard work, good coaching & most importantly confidence ....a lot can change.