pantaloons

Nice. That's pretty much it. I would just love to see Carlton get done again. After all their bleating for the last 7 years about the severity of their draft sanctions, they would be in for a big surprise if they were found guilty again. There needs to be some serious investigation into what is becoming a complete joke for the AFL.

From memory he kicked 9.0 against Sydney in Round 22 of 1994 at the SCG when we needed to win to make the finals. We kicked something like 27.5. Or the equivalent to what we kick in three games nowdays. Ah, Schwarta. To put it into perspective DD, imagine Buddy Franklin circa 2007 going down with three knee recos now and never being the same player again. Schwarz wasn't quite on that level, but he was set to become one of the best players in the game before the injuries. Just terrible. Injuries to Prymke and Jakovich were also massive. Actually, as Redleg mentioned, we really had the rough end of the stick during the 90s. You can add Glenn Lovett to that list.

Either way, he's going to be competing with Kruezer and Hampson for number 1 ruck duties for the rest of his career. Who is his competition at Melbourne? PJ, Jamar and Meesen! It's a money call, coupled with our woeful image at the moment.

Yes, perhaps some "performance bonuses" would be appropriate!

I think there is cause to be surprised at Warnock's decision. The number one ruck factor is normally a carrot for every ruckman worth his salt. Simmons didn't leave Melbourne for money, he wanted to pursue his dream of being a top flight AFL ruckman, of an opportunity to play, pure and simple. Same as Jolly. Freo had never appeared in a final when Snake went over there. I don't know Robbie Warnock, and I'm not going to judge him based on him choosing one team over another. It does speak volumes about what he wants to achieve as an AFL ruckman though. Very little it would seem.

Nice one! You'll need to add another zero to the price tag though.

I wonder which club 3AW was referring to tonight when they said that a Melbourne-based club had offered Warnock 4 years at $400,000 a season?

Totally agree. If Warnock goes to Carlton, the credibility of the AFL has been completely undermined. We might as well take up watching non-salary capped sporting leageus such as the EPL or hope for some Google-creating billionaire nerd to buy us out and start recruiting players who can be paid $18M for typing a few buttons into a computer. It is an absolute farce and I cannot believe that the AFL would be stupid or corrupt enough to be duped again. It's been said before, but here are some of Warnock's considerations: No 1. ruck spot: Melbourne Better chance of playing finals in new contract: Carlton More money in salary cap: Melbourne More money in brown paper (recycled) bag: Carlton Family ties (we all know how well that worked out last time): Melbourne Team best placed to placate Freo's trade demands: Melbourne

It's early days, but that's going to be near impossible to beat for the '2008 Most Idiotic Trade Proposal Award'. Do Carlton supporters really believe that after they treated West Coast like a piece of Sorbent that the same will occur in any future trade they participate in? Don't waste your time on that forum.

I know the question was a little rhetorical, but the only way I could see us getting into the top 10 would be to give up Green and 17 or 19 for an 8, 9 or 10. Not that I want that, mind you. Rivers and McLean would usually command a top 10 pick, but due to their injury problems, the club's on-field state and the importance of high drafts picks with the new teams coming in, you wouldn't be getting too many clubs wanting to offload prized picks now.

Why would anyone want to see Richmond make the finals?

You have to ask yourself why Warnock wants to leave Fremantle, if indeed he does. The two major reasons I could see would be to come home to Melbourne (the city), and to play as a club's number one ruckman, something he won't ever get at Fremantle. Don't underestimate that last one, we've had Simmonds and Jolly leave for that exact reason. That pretty much strikes Carlton off the list right there. In addition, he'll legally be able to get more money at Melbourne (Carlton would be paying $2M a season for Fev and Judd), and there will never be a better opportunity for him to play with his brother. If he wants to do that, now is the time, otherwise it'll never happen. I'm not saying he won't end up at Carlton, but if he does, the AFL should shut that corrupt entity down once and for all. There can be no doubt that something very suspect has happened if he ends up there.

Woey ran further (from around defensive 50), had about five bounces and a couple of baulks (spelling?), and slotted through from about 45 to the Punt Rd end at the G. A memorable highlight from another whipping of the Power at the G.

Yeah, it was really quite sad. I really liked him at Melbourne. Maybe I'm looking through rose coloured glasses, but I saw him as a cheeky young fellow who provided a real excitement about going to the footy. He just seemed a bit offputting at Freo.

Yep. It was a filthy cold and rainy day at Waverley and we flogged an ordinary Hawthorn outfit from the outset. Farmer had a few bounces and torpedoed from around 50 if my memory serves me correctly. He also clobbered Shane Crawford that day and earned a holiday! Ah, Jeffrey.

Keep in mind that players have to agree to any trade they're involved in, and that they're out of contract. If Warnock wants to become a Demon then he'll become one, regardless of what Freo or any Victorian club come up with. It's all up to him now.

Whatever happens, we can't be basing any decision-making on our ruckmen situation on the abilities of PJ and Jamar to play up forward. Neither of them are capable in the slightest of playing as a tall forward.

Interesting but not entirely surprising times. Brisbane ditch a 4-time Premiership coach for a rookie with diddly coaching experience. For a team that's best players are getting long in the tooth, they've picked an interesting time to pick a coach who's going to be learning on the job in 2009.

Oh, the Wizard. He was my favourite player when he wore the red and blue. The epitomy of excitement and unpredictability. During his time at Melbourne, he was electrifying, and a major reason behind our 2000 Grand Final appearance. He then moved to Freo and became a show pony with questionable off-field exploits, but I guess that's par for the course at that club. Some of my favourite Wiz career highlights include: * 8 goals in the 2000 prelim * 9 goals in the second half against Collingwood after not getting a touch in the first half * Almost doubling the marks and goals of the year in 1998, but missing out on the goal to Woey * Handballing into the back of Garry Lyon's head in the season-ending 1995 loss to the Cows I know he's gone off like stale milk, but after a season where we were about as exciting as a Tonia Todman infomercial, it's nice to remember the sheer excitement the Wiz brought to watching Melbourne. His career with the Dees would fill a long highlights reel. If you released a DVD package of his highlights, I reckon you could find at least 50 of his 259 Melbourne goals that were absolute magic and would bring a smile to your face. There was just something special about the days the Wiz would light up the G with a bag. A 6+ haul from the Wiz was just something else. I wish he'd stayed at Melbourne, but I'll fondly remember his time as a Demon.

We hold a few better cards this year though. Warnock's brother plays for Melbourne, he will have the first ruck at Melbourne, we can offer him more money then Carlton (at least legally), and have the first pick in the PSD. If Warnock goes to Carlton, then the AFL would have to investigate their cap. There is absolutely no way they could pay Warnock that much more than Melbourne to bypass the Dees in the PSD.

It's a tough call. Dean Bailey was on MMM before the game today and said we'll be selecting the best player available at number 1. In that case, you could be a happy man, Clint.

Or Patches O'Houlihan. While it's too early to be predicting our 2009 fate, depending on the drafts and trading period, I'd be expecting a bottom two or three finish again next year. While some aren't fans on here, I think Robbo adds a great deal of value to this sde. You know you're going to get at least 40 goals a season out of him, and he at least provides a genuine target inside 50. He'll need some support next year though. The forward line is an absolute embarrassment without him. Realistically, it's good to see people being upbeat about the Dees, but this has been the most pathetic, boring, listless, clueless and embarrassing season I have ever seen Melbourne produce, and I'd rather not even think about 2009 just yet.

Oh man. Whoever it is that keeps linking Murphy's name with Melbourne every offseason needs to be kicked in the groin. Terrible, terrible trade. The 3 + Warnock for 1 sounds interesting, but probably unlikely now that Port got over North.

I'm afraid not. Austin finished second on 24. Quite sad. Not coincidentally, this is the first time since 1995 that someone other than Neitz, Robertson or Farmer won Melbourne's goalkicking.

Amidst the carnage, Melbourne's first 2008 award-winner has been decided today. Brad Miller has taken home the Dees' goalkicking award, with a grand total of 26 for the year. Despite missiing half a season, Robbo only finished a bag off the pace. Congrats to Brad, but the total gives a fair indicator of the struggle of the side to kick any sort of score at all this year.