Straight Sets Simon

Well that sucks.

My point exactly. Surely poor on-field performances can bring about instability off the field in the first place.

I understand that, but can instability come about in the first place because a team is performing badly on the field?

Does instability within a club (board, finances etc) result or contribute to poor form on the field or does poor form on the field result in instability within a club?

IMO, experience is underrated by many people here. There seems to be so much hype and focus surrounding rookies and draft picks, moreover as soon as a player hits their late 20's or early 30's people think there is no more room for improvement. Just like we have seen with James McDonald, oh wait... EDIT: Just like to add that I agree with the sentiments of the original post in that ATM Melbourne have a good mix of youth and experience.

$13 is still a fair bit of money for a lot of people. Especially just to see some games of footy on tv.

This is a question for Nasher or anyone else with some knowledge about Tasmania. How would an AFL side go down there in terms of support and ultimately finances? Personally, I would love to see a Tasmanian team in the AFL. For one thing they are an AFL state so competing with the likes of the NRL wouldn't be a problem. Moreover it isn't a case of converting people to a whole new game as a love of footy already exists there. Obviously the biggest hurdle would be the small population, but to me it just seems the most logical place for either a re-located team or new team all together should that ever be the case. Thoughts?

Malthouse took an average Collingwood list to two consecutive Grand Finals (which were against one of the best teams in recent history) and Pagan has had some of the worst off-field dramas, which you admit are detrimental to a side's on-field performance.

Personally I'd say there is six with one and half a dozen with the other. Neither is a particularly good coach. Neither has had any real success.

To be fair, Jaded did acknowledge Miller's weaknesses in this post.

Bell is still very much a developing player, however IMO he has shown a fair bit at AFL level and is easily up to "AFL standard".

Do you mean physically stronger opponents, or stronger as in better?

I agree. What's happening behind the scenes shouldn't have anything to do with Neitz kick goals or White winning hit-outs.

1. Melbourne - contenders or pretenders? Contenders 2. A ) Where will the Demons finish after 22 rounds? Fourth B ) Where will the Demons finish after the finals? Fourth 3. What will our season highlight be? I can't go passed beating Collingwood 4. Will the Demons beat the Eagles at Subiaco? Unlikely 5. Who is our best Brownlow chance? McLean 6. After a loss do you take A ) a Bex Powder or B ) a Panadol? ...my frustration out on Demonland 7. Your back page headline prediction. "Back in Bizness" 8. Will the Demons re-sign Neale Daniher? No 9. Who will be the first AFL coach to be sacked? Laidley 10. Which Demons will make All Australian? Rivers and Bruce 11. Would you be happy if we won the NAB Cup? It never hurts to win 12. Our biggest victory and against who? 73, Collingwood 13. Will Carlton go the Trifecta? No 14. Our win loss ratio? 15:7 15. Will Mark Jamar have a stellar season? No, I'm predicting that PJ will overtake him 16. Will Sandringham make it a 4peat? Yes 17. Will Eddie discard the Versace and defect to Peter Jackson? I didn't know Versace made cigarettes... 18. Who will be the MFC's first debutant for 2007? Newton 19. First MFC player reported and suspended? Sylvia 20. Goal prediction tally - A ) Neita 52 B ) Robbo 41 C ) Flash 36

It's interesting that many people kick up a stink about State of Origin and International Rules because key players can potentially be injured, but no one seems to care about this game...

The 20 metre kick rule and the backwards kicking rule are both good ideas IMO. The reason I think they are good ideas is because they will help Melbourne play better football.

It is interesting to read about him having to lose so much weight. Not something I expected.

Can someone please get down to the club and feed Cam Bruce RIGHT NOW! P.S. Most of those links didn't work for me.

I really like these ideas.

Byron Pickett vs. the Kangaroos in Round 5. At one stage he was literally doing everything and in the end won Melbourne the game.

That's the best news I've heard so far.

No one is denying that Yze was and has been a very good footballer. Whether or not he gets selected in the best team of the past 30 years is just one person's opinion and as the topic shows, it has created much debate. The problem is that in recent times his efforts and form have not been the best. Many people here believe that this decline in form and effort does not warrant his selection in the Melbourne 22.

Does Melbourne have the key ingredients for Premiership success in 2007?

It's never easy choosing a "best" team during the season let alone just before Christmas, but I'll have a go. FB: Whelan Carroll Holland HB: Ward Rivers Bell C: Johnstone McDonald Green HF: Pickett Miller Davey FF: Robertson Neitz Yze (I wouldn't mind seeing him dropped for Round One so that he can forget about his record straight away and get back to playing good football) Foll: White Bruce McLean Int: Bate P. Johnson Jones Moloney Apologies: Sylvia Jamar Dunn Ferguson Warnock C. Johnson Bartram Bizzell