Ricky P

2 hours ago, jnrmac said:

Just imagine our win/loss ratio if we had only kicked the league average goals.. Wouldn't be pretty. It's arguable that we have have done better than we should have....

Yeah, we've really ridden our luck in executing the most important skill in the game better than pretty much every other team.

Has to be on a case by case basis. Surely not worth risking long term injury to play VFL finals. But playing VFL finals is more educational than pre-season training so I'd let them play generally.

9 minutes ago, america de cali said:

For under the table payments or over the salary cap payments? 

Just to keep them afloat, provide facilities etc. I'm not suggesting anything nefarious. Im just saying that fundraising off wealthy supporters is a big part of the business model of most clubs.

Like a lot of players that are super hard at it, Kennedy lacks a bit of awareness of what's going on around him at times. He's also not a great kick. But I reckon he's not a bad little player and I'm interested to see how he turns out. I love his intent.

4 hours ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Gordon Lewis was Commisioner for Corporate Affairs in the early/mid 80's

He tells the story of how he called the VFL (as it was) into its office and said they had 14 days (I think) or perhaps a few months to fix up their finances or he would close football.

The licence fee paid by the Brisbane Bears (Christopher Skase) saved the VFL.

Those days many of the clubs were basket cases. Collingwood went almost bust a few times. Clubs mortgaged grand stands to banks. ( God knows how the bank would ever take possession.) Delayed player payments were not unusual. And of course it was payment by matches so no payment in the off season for training etc.

The modern AFL under the AFL Commission is an altogether different corporate structure than the old VFL.

Richmond also nearly went under a few times. When KB was coach he had to go and buy boxing equipment with his own money. Geelong were in some pretty serious trouble too at one stage. 

Basically everyone except Carlton and Essendon!

As well as the TV money, clubs rely on wealthy benefactors more than they would like to admit.

1 hour ago, DemonLad5 said:

GCS Have Day, Lynch and Wright up forward. If Oscar came out then Dunn or Garland would have to come in

You're right. I didn't mean Kennedy in for Oscar even though I realise that's what my post sounded like!

I am an Oscar fan, but Roos said he'll get a rest at some point before the end of the season. Given he's been injured twice in three games, I reckon that rest will be this week. 

It sounds like Kennedy had a ripper so he might come in as well. 

Massive changes not required given it was a good performance and there's an eight day break.

You guys are right. RDB should give all his stuff to the dees for free. Never done anything for this club.

FMD.

The people being overly negative wouldn't be the ones who predicted we'd get done by 15 goals would they? Surely not. That would mean they lack any kind of consistency in their critical thinking which I just can't imagine being the case...

6 hours ago, Vogon Poetry said:

I think I might speak for the silent majority who just can't be bothered answering every negative comment about Tom (and Oscar) but I'll post here every now and again for balance.

Tom is a terrific footballer.  He is fantastic one on one, he is a great mark both contested and uncontested, he is a fantastic aerobic athlete and most of the time he is a good kick able to make good decisions. He saves many many more goals than he gives away. But he also makes mistakes (like all players) that the haters jump on at every opportunity claiming each and every mistake cost us the game.  It's rot.  If Tom McDonald wasn't in our team we would be noticeably worse. He's being chased by multiple teams who are prepared to pay high dollars for him because they know that at his age you can build a backline around him for 8 to 10 years. He is in the top bracket of tall defenders in the AFL.

I'll be bitterly disappointed if Tom leaves.  He's a vital part of our future and that many can't see that surprises me. The concept of trading Tom for Tom Mitchell is mind numbing.  A key position back who you can build your team around for a 3rd or 4th string mid who's disposal is poor and has been relegated to tagger on multiple occasions.

Please stay Tom, you're a vital part of a very talented young group and to achieve what we all want you're required.

Great post. Think we should just cut and paste this a couple of times a week.

3 hours ago, Sir Why You Little said:

For 35 years i was a staunch Zebs Supporter. Hell they won Flags for me

have lived in the area most of my life. 

But the AFL being so greedy no longer permit me to follow Sandy. 

It's sad

in a small way i understand how Fitzroy supporters feel cheated..

Out of interest, why did Melbourne swap from sandy to Casey?

2 hours ago, ProDee said:

I like Bernie, but I've rarely seen an experienced senior player make the mistakes he does.  And he does it every single week.

This is an exaggeration.

1 minute ago, dee-tox said:

Comprehension is obviously not a strong point of yours Ricky P. Vince's discipline has been horrendous all year. The reports, the stupid free kicks, the lack of leadership etc. No-one is saying he has been bad for the club. But as one the most experienced players he has to lead the way.

Comprehension is top notch mate. I fully understand what you're saying. You're just wrong and this thread is a disgrace.

A lot of the posters saying we are hopeless and spiritless also said we would get belted this week. It's amazing they can be so confident with their opinion given that it would seem that they may not know what they're talking about ;).

7 minutes ago, ENYAW said:

9 wins max looks to be at best. A vast improvement on our 4 wins last year.yeah……………………………… sorry that was f.cking 2 yrs ago.

After today I reckon we're a good chance against Port. Still on track for 10 I reckon.

Festering turd of a thread. The bloke's been terrific for the club - doesn't need his own thread because he made a couple of blues today.

27 minutes ago, Biffen said:

The smother in the last was as good as it gets. The resulting missed shot was average by Dawes.

watts was huge in the last quarter.

Unbelievable repeat efforts.

Did a lot things right today but he'll be filthy on himself for missing that set shot in the third and the snap in the last. Those shots were bread and butter for Wattsy.

I reckon Tom played well today. Oscar got outbodied a couple of times but it's his 13th game for f's sake.

Terrific game from Frosty. Thought was T-Mac was pretty good as well. Oscar lost a couple of one on ones but we've got to remember he's only played 13 games.

3 minutes ago, Soidee said:

I don't care what anyone says, Tom McDonald  for all his good points is the dumbest and brainless footballer on our list.  His turnovers when not under pressure cost us games so often.  I'm over him, he needs some good old fashioned tough love from the coaching staff.  

The umpires are just pathetic and almost corrupt at that ground, something needs to be said, however my anger is at McDonald and his brain fades....we cannot rely on him if we ever make finals FFS!!!!! 

McDonald had a good game today.

It was a fair old choke. 30 more inside 50s, 100 more possessions, ball was in our half for two thirds of the game and we missed a lot of pretty easy shots for a side that's the most accurate kick for goal in the comp.

Fourth time we really could've beaten a top side (North, Hawthorn, Adelaide and now WC) but we weren't mentally tough enough to do it.

But we're a very young side. As WJ said, we'll be winning these games by 4 or 5 goals next year.

26 minutes ago, Deevout said:

He was always an extremely nice, humble person. Even in primary school you knew he would become a footballer. His skills even then we're amazing, jumping over packs, he was so quick and talented even whe he was boy, I would always try to be at the other end during kick to kick as you had no chance of getting the ball otherwise.

We were Murrumbeena boys, just aquantances, not close. Amazingly when he  became the number one ticket holder, and I said what I said to him on the day, he remembered me and then made the chat about me, introducing me to Tom who I remembered from our Murrumbeena days. Robbie was a true champion on and off the field.

I was going to write about him when he passed, but found it to difficult at the time. It's still hard now because to me, he was part of the MFC's fabric. Melbourne his entire life,  and loyal always.

That he and Jimmy are not here to see our upward progression is so unfair. Oh well.....?

They're watching mate.

4 minutes ago, Deevout said:

1. Robbie Flower saying to me in primary school to wear our Melbourne jumpers to school the next day in 1964, the week before the GF.

2. Being at said GF. (thanks mum)

3. Proudly telling my mother that a skinny kid with glasses in his first senior game would become a club champion. (Her reaction at the time was a highlight in itself ?)

4. My mother saying to me the only reason she endured the late 70s and 80s watching the Demons was to watch Robbie play. (she went every week for over 40 years, she is 90 now and still a member and watches on Foxtel ) 

5. 2000 elimination final come back against Carlton, my sister was worried I would have a heart attack.

6. Telling Robert Flower on the day he became the number one ticket holder, that no one deserved it more than him. (He took it over from RDB)

7. Having hope restored in that I can go to a game and we have a chance of     winning.

Wow. I had to re-read point 1 a few times - I was thinking "this person's got his wires crossed". What was Robbie like as a kid?

Subi is massive. Dawes has a lot of faults but he's got a big tank for a big man. Would be bonkers playing Spencer as a key forward at subi.

Great to see ANB get a run. I reckon he's got potential and it will be good to see how much he's improved since last year.