Ricky P

37 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Considering what Roos walked into i would say he has been the most important since Smithy.  

Swooper was a legend but he was also lucky to inherit RDB's hard work

Danners was fantastic but we were to Flaky in his term

2005 after Round 18 Top of the ladder...Didn't win another game...

Balme was just so unlucky with injuries...

Tiger Ridley was great but Greg Parke couldn't kick!!!

What's story here swyl?

Dead heat for the rev and swooper. Both had to overcome having substandard facilities - a situation that just had to be a factor in neither being able to create a truly top side. 

Just on swooper - why did he get sacked in 92? Seems a bit harsh given it was our first year out of the finals in 5.

28 minutes ago, chook fowler said:

Too soon to judge - if we get a flag in the next 3 years you would have to give it to Roos

If we get a flag in the next 3 years I reckon Goodwin might have a fair claim.

Presumably he says "here it is", the boys do a victory lap and we all drink for 3 weeks.

2 hours ago, Bombay Airconditioning said:

Beating the Saints, Suns, Carlton, Port (away) and one of Eagles, Hawks, Cats would be massive.

Yeah winning 5 would be handy. Would be even better if North go 2 and 5. Then we'd be in the finals!

3 hours ago, Petraccattack said:

I am going to be the pessimist this week.  I dont think we will win and I think they might run us off our feet sadly.  We just never beat St Kilda, let alone at Etihad. Coming back from a draining Darwin match with a very young team playing a side that loves Etihad and has great leg speed doesnt bode well.

Happy for someone to talk me off the ledge.

I actually think we've taken a step up since the bye. Something about the way Watts spoke in that post-Adelaide interview made me think that something has clicked and the boys are sick of development/improvement and just want to win...starting from now. I think we're going to have an exciting end to the year.  

1 hour ago, AdamFphlebeb said:

What a patronising post. Being a 'fan' can be defined in a number of different ways. I consider myself a fan of the Melbourne Football Club. I go to every Victorian based game and some interstate matches too. Every player on our list is not without reproach. To question or dismiss does not necessarily mean you are not a fan.

I stuck up for Watts for many years, but by the end of 2014/early 2015 I thought he was gone. I think most would have said his career was at the crossroads at the end of 2015. So are all those that questioned Jack during this time not 'fans'? Supporting a footy team is not simply about cheering every bloody thing. It's about having an opinion on something, rather than simply blindly following everything a club does.

There's nothing wrong with criticising players or thinking they're not good enough, but a vocal minority of Melbourne supporters at games used to actually take pleasure in Watts making mistakes. They actually like it when he stuffed up because it gave them an opportunity to vocalise their frustration at Melbourne's situation. It was incredibly ugly and toxic. To a lesser extent the baton has now handed on to the McDonalds and Dawes. It will fade away as we get better, but it was pretty bad. 

1 hour ago, Dante said:

The club should push Max's cult status, he will ba a fan favourite with the kids and not just Melbourne supporters.

Maybe they should think of handing out "Max Beards" that the kids can attach to their faces during the games.

Great player, great guy and loves the club, what more could you ask for?

Yeah, they should take something that is organically funny and commercialise it to the point that it becomes a cliche and everyone is sick of it.. 

2 hours ago, Petraccattack said:

Maxy must be almost a lock for the AA team now.  Goldstein has dropped away, and even if he hits form again I can see them naming two ruckmen.

But right now Max is the lone AA ruckman.

Do they usually name two rucks?

18 hours ago, MFCPodcast said:

Hi Guys, We are back for episode 41 to discuss the sweltering win against the Dockers and then cool down with a chat to young jet Billy Stretch (Glove's hero)

http://bit.ly/29M8zdk

Good edition boys. Don't be so worried - we'll smash the saints!

We simply cannot keep losing to this mob. I reckon we'll [censored] them. Come on Dees - it's time.

Come on Dees! Pick at the carcass!

4 hours ago, Vogon Poetry said:

I know I should leave this alone but something just doesn't sit right with me when people make these sort of comments.  It's like the bully in the school yard who picks a fight, loses and then wants to be friends.

WGO I have no problem with critique.  What I hate is "gave the kid hell".  You've recognized you were wrong in your judgement (as we've all been on issues) and I just hope next time a player disappoints you you'll stick to critique and refrain from "giving them hell".  You'll have lots of opportunity to practice the skill - as we all will.

But that's just me.  Credit to you for honestly stating your position.

 

BTW, friggin fantastic that he's found his way and looks set for a meaningful second half of his career with us.   

Agree with this - some of the behavior towards Watts by our fans was really ugly and toxic. 

12 minutes ago, billy2803 said:

Oscar and Vince cleared of serious injury, both a chance to play this week.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-07-12/demons-get-good-news-on-vince-mcdonald-injuries

I would be surprised if either played.

Looks like a solid mid-sized defender who does all the basics pretty well. We've now got a nice pool of very young promising defenders.

1 hour ago, Django said:

Lets not get too carried away. Dangerfield is currently the best player in the competition and Hunt has played a handful of games. That speed is breathtaking and his courage and dare are great to see, but lets not put too much expectation on the kids shoulders just yet.

Haha agreed. Midfield is a completely different proposition to half back. Much easier with the game in front of you. That's why midfielders and forwards get paid the big bucks!! 

But love the way this kid goes about it! As Martin Flanagan wrote the other day, "Hunt plays as if he is an arrow shot at a target behind the middle of the goals." (Or something like that).

I reckon we'll smash them.

Here are the reasons why I support the NT deal:

- cash - goes without saying.

- academy - I don't know the details of how this works, but anything that gives us the inside running on talent is obviously a good thing.

- home advantage - perhaps slightly controversial, but playing in the NT may eventually give us a BETTER home advantage than the MCG. It's a pretty unique place to play footy and we should handle it a lot better given we've played there twice a year for the last 6/7 years than a side going up there for there for the first or second time. Opposition teams play on the MCG all the time and the climate is never a factor.

- preparation for finals - it can be really hot in September (and early October). If we've played in the heat twice during the year, it may just give us an edge when it really bloody matters!

- indigenous communities - as much as I question how much a footy clinic addresses the massive problems in indigenous communities, it's nice that the club is at least trying to do its bit tackling social issues. 

35 minutes ago, picket fence said:

Freo allowed him to play that type of non accountable free flowing footy he loves! End of story! Reiwoldt must be salivating this week!

I actually agree a bit with PF here. At times it was a bit like soccer for our defence when the other team just lets u knock it around at the back. 

That said, he still took some terrific marks and had some great one on one efforts. He's a terrific player and I'm confident he'll stay with us.

I thought he was too old for  Rising Star Nom?

I just to want to win.

Looking at their draw, North are a chance to fall in an absolute hole. Still a sneaky chance for finals.

4 minutes ago, 3Dee said:

* offset by two away games based in Melbourne. 

 

No problem.

This has actually been the case the whole time. 

I also reckon they don't give us as many interstate trips.

50 minutes ago, johndemons said:

A win tonight and we're even on points to West Coast only percentage out of the 8. OH WAIT WE SOLD TWO HOME GAMES AND PLAYED HOME AT ETIHAD V STK. OOPS

And have four away games at the G.

They've won 3 games for the year. We'll smash them.

It's nice to see our players aren't the only ones people on this forum aren't ridiculously harsh on! 

Thought it was a great piece.