pantaloons

On the reputation point, Chris Judd was happy to head to Carlton immediately following their 2007 nosedive. As for West Coast's winning culture, I'd say yesterday's result was more indicative of Essendon's injury list than West Coast's ability. The Eagles had put in more suspect performances than Melbourne of late before Sunday's win. Their effort against Freo was laughable.

How would you feel as a Richmond supporter after watching that game? Virtually a full-strength side has to rely on an after-the-siren kick to beat a half-strength side with a bench decimated by injury and making some of the most comical positional moves ever seen. They will be competing for the wooden spoon for the next 5 years. Well done to Dean Bailey for having the plums to orchestrate that Benny Hill performance today.

Possibly the worst and definitely the most infuriating player I have ever seen at Melbourne. He simply must play the next three matches.

'Deserving' has nothing to do with anything in sport. Did Hawthorn 'deserve' the 1987 prelim? They never gave it back just because it was the most unjust sporting result in history. I'll be taking picks 1 and 2 into the draft with not the slightest hint of remorse.

What a massive step towards picks 1 and 2 today was. I can't believe West Coast actually got up - I was convinced they'd go winless for the rest of the year. If Freo can somehow find a win at home in the next four weeks then 1 and 2 should be ours. Bring on the end of this rubbish.

That's pretty much it for me. If I was told right now that Melbourne wouldn't win a premiership in my lifetime, I'd find something better to do with my weekends. The MFC has to satisfy supporters allright - by winning premierships! It's interesting when you look at the thread headline - "What is the 'essence' of a football club's existence?" I'd say the essence of a club is largely based on how many flags won. I'd say the essence of the St. KFC is one of abject failure, along with the Dogs. The Dockers simply have no essence, they are a non-entity. There are subplots and stories and greats and controversies, but the great clubs became great and famous largely because they were winners. And S_T, that is one of the reasons I don't care whatsoever for EPL or international club soccer in general.

For me, a 'disappointing' player would be one with still a number of years ahead of them that regresses to the point where it seems a once-promising career has stalled or doomed to failure. Despite the side being completely rancid once again, I find it difficult to find one player who was disappointing in that sense. Those who performed poorly this year were, for the most part, not up to AFL standard. The injuries as others have mentioned were the most disappointing part for me. There were a lot more players who improved this season than went the other way thankfully.

Given that we would have paid the expense to promote him, I'd say he'll play. Outstanding work from the selection committee. Quite simply the most hilarious team changes I have ever seen. I'm so glad the club is as keen on securing Tom Scully as most of the rest of us.

I don't think Green is eligible due to him not turning 30 until 2011. If that's the case, then Bruce goes onto the vets list and its a toss-up between McDonald and Robertson for the second spot. Since each club gets 2 vet spots, Robbo/Junior are not taking a spot away from a senior-listed kid or senior-listed player. They're just competing against each other. Unless this is not the case, then I'm in favour of keeping one of Robertson or McDonald.

Pretty similar to a couple on here: 1. Davey 2. Moloney 3. Bruce 4. Warnock I'd say Davey would have had a fairly handy lead for much of the season that Moloney is now reeling in significantly.

I'm always bemused at the woeful presentation of the AFL Draft. That the event is held on a Saturday morning and restricted to SEN radio coverage is embarrassing, and an area in which the AFL has not yet emerged from the dark ages. It's not a difficult concept. The NBA Draft (which is probably the most relevant parallel as their 60 selections are relatively close to our number, as opposed to the NBA and NHL's 200-odd), is something that Demitriou and his cronies need to sit down and watch and learn from. It's very simple. Bring it to prime time and it'll rate very well.

1. The selection of anyone other than Scully at #1 would result in the immediate interjection of another Melbourne staff member, requiring the firing/exorcism/assassination of Barry Prendergast. It isn't going to happen. He's had his one brain fart when he almost botched the reading of Jack Watts' player number at last year's draft. 2. On list management getting revealed to the AFL, we're not doing anything worse than what's been done in the past, or what will happen in the future, draft or no draft. Even if there were no draft picks and Tom Scully at stake, I'd like to see the club, clearly outside the finals race, prepare for the future with regards to selection in the final seven rounds. Even before the draft system was in place, teams out of contention would play the kids late in the season. There is nothing untoward in what Melbourne is doing and no way the AFL could punish us for engaging in prudent list management. It's what happens in professional sport.

If you're searching in football for respect, you're looking in the wrong place. I want to see Melbourne win a flag. If people do or don't respect us after that happens, I couldn't care less. If Carlton won a flag in two years time, tell me any Carlton supporter would give a [censored] about whether opposition supporters respected their club. They'd be rightly celebrating a premiership. We won't be losing any respect from any opposition supporter with more than twelve brain cells if we win only one of our next seven games. We've been absolutely putrid for the last three years, and two close wins against completely rancid opposition in the last fortnight doesn't change the fact that we've a long way to go. There is some list management required to ensure Scully becomes a Demon, but it doesn't have to be drastic. Newton and Buckley played games earlier this season, but that doesn't mean we were 'tanking' then any more than it would mean the same if they played against Fremantle.

This is an interesting (and slightly depressing) exercise. For me, Todd Viney is the clear-cut number 1. After that, it becomes a lot tougher. Stinga would likely have been the #1 had he played a full career minus debilitating injury. McDonald is very blue collar and is probably in there. Yze played a fair bit of footy all over the ground, not just the midfield. Woewodin pulled in a Brownlow but really only gave us 4 seasons of top shelf footy (97-2000) in his 6-year stint with us. Leoncelli (or Leon Chelly as the Herald-Sun once called him), Rigoni, A McDonald and Obst were all very serviceable. TJ was at his best brilliant. Viney's really the only one of the crop that stands out as a certainty to be in the top 3.

I'll be at the cattery.

We can come up with as many systems as we like - we're likely never going to find one that pleases almost everyone. Personally, my view is that once this draft is done and dusted (conveniently), the AFL should simply eradicate the priority pick system. That's the simplest solution. I'm not a massive fan of the idea of bringing an NBA-style lottery into the AFL. The NFL is a more similar beast, and the top picks are simply distributed based on the teams' records. That wouldn't completely solve the clamour-fest for Scully this year, but it certainly would put an end to the ridiculous situations Melbourne and West Coast find themselves in this year. I don't like the idea of determining draft order after 15 rounds. We have a full 22-round season. Whatever shenanigans teams want to pull in the final 7 rounds, we send 8 teams into the finals based on their position after 22 rounds, and we can do the same with draft order. Please note that if in 2010, Melbourne is 16th after 15 rounds at 4-11, scrapes into the 8, wins the premiership and lands the first non-GC pick in the draft, I'm all for it.

What's the financial cost of elevating a rookie? If the club thinks its worth the $X to elevate one or both to have a look at them for the future, then great.

And nobody is forced to listen to either song after the game.

Jaded, I see what you're saying, but currently we are approximately 40 goals worth of percentage behind West Coast. If we both finish on 4 wins, you can be pretty sure we'll be behind them.

I'd certainly call the club first thing tomorrow morning. Can't help you on the public transport front I'm afraid.

It's funny. I didn't even think it was one of his better games on Sunday. I'd have him in the top 4 in our B & F at the moment.

Out: Bell In: pantaloons

Looks like Port are taking this one rather seriously, with the Chad set to make his return: http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tab...97/default.aspx

Just saw that. Ouch! http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tab...24/default.aspx I didn't see it live, and haven't caught it on the replay. It must have been a cracker. Pity for Col given that he's in career-best touch this season.

Touche A victory for common sense, and a loss for ... I'll leave it for someone else to go there.