Dee Fan

So you didn't make it condition that you would only marry her if she converted? Who has first dibs on the kids?

They came out on Anzac Day, all guns firing, and hit Collingwood with everything in the first quarter, but they just couldn't sustain it, perhaps there is an issue of fitness or maybe they're the sprinter in a staying race. But you're right they're crapola, unfortunately they get their tyres pumped up by the media and actually believe they're good.

When we win more games than we lose and play and win some finals matches. Seriously, if you were an opposition supporter, what would your opinion of the Melbourne Football Club be?

I did and went home to watch it this afternoon. Even better the second time around, don't you just love the looks on their faces as they stream out of the ground.

Bomber fans are nasty, whereas Tiger fans are just stupid.

Bunch of a/holes never met one with a brain.

Too true OD but they need to be able to play the game as members of the team not as individual stars. Judd is great at bringing others in to the play, that's the sort I'd like to have in the side.

What a jerk he is, Bernie is like the rest of the players he is given a job and has to carry it out. Roos has consistently said that no one player has to try to win the match for us and I guess Healey goes back to the days when a superstar was supposed to carry you over the line.

Don't watch the show, what did he say about Bernie?

Not sure about B&F Ron but he's a real asset to the younger players and really shows the way. There was a lot of poor field kicking tonight and it was a comedy of errors at times, with players from both sides finding opposition players with pinpoint passes. I just love him and Bernie because the bring toughness to the midfield and take much of the burden off Jones which has made him a better player, I didn't think Jonsey could lift his game any higher but he has.

The guys are getting used to playing at the G in front of big crowds so let's not let them down next week, north reckon they've got more members than us so let's see what we can do. Worst time for a game but that's life.

I was so happy for my grandson today, he was over the moon after the game. You have to admire the kids who have stuck with us after all the cr@p we've put up over the last 7 years, he just turned 11 so we've been rubbish for most of his life.

I'll see your year and raise you two, there's no reason he can't keep going and he's probably in the top 4 or 5 fittest players at the club. Love the way he plays.

After the last few years, one in a row is good.

I was in the opposite pocket and it looked to me as if it came of his knee, I know he was paddling it toward the line but that's what I thought I saw. There were plenty of similar incidents during the game where players paddled it over the line and no free kicks were paid.

That deliberate OOB actually bounced of his knee, or just above it, it was purely accidental and a dreadful decision by the umpire. Tommy has pretty good pace but sometimes he backs himself when he should get rid of it earlier, he has to understand that sometimes his opponent is quicker. Love to win a game by 10 goals, I'm too old for these close ones, but I must say today was just great and to see the opposition leaving while I was singing the song made just that much better.

Wonder if that will be the case when we win the flag.

Tommy Mac gave Dudiher a bath today, look forward to him doing it many more times in the future. We looked good today and just need a bit more oomph in the midfield.

What a game I thought we were gone at quarter time, they looked terrible and in the second quarter they weren't much better, but after half time, wow what a difference. There was no run in the first half and we just marked, stopped and propped waiting for something, I'm not sure what, but after half time they took the game on and looked great. That's what's been missing in all the games we've lost, but should have won this year . They can do it and now they know they can do it. We will some more games this year, starting with next week.

Sam probably dreams of the days when a player takes a mark bows to the crowd then walks back to take his kick, then that's repeated all over the ground. I've seen plenty of football over the years and someone like Sam would struggle these days, he wasn't the greatest trainer and was a tad overweight, I doubt he'd have the fitness to play a game out.

We've played Collingwood on the QB for many years, longer than you've been alive. It's probably the longest standing annual match of any in the competition, there are still plenty of Collingwood supporters that hate Melbourne and vice versa.

60k against the Tigers, 37k against Carlton, 36k against the Bullies, 68k against the Pies, 45k against the Crows, not too shabby 31k against the Saints and even 22k against the Weagles. Poor attendance in Alice but we didn't expect much there anyway and the same against GWS, no one goes there.

They gradually wore us down and at half time I thought they would win. They were just too good on the day and too many of our players were below par. We will get beter and we probably need to get a few more quality midfielders before we do.

Some of the clubs you started your post off with have had success and have grown their supporter base but as soon as the success drops off, so do the supporters. North continually struggle Saints are in diabolical strife and are supposedly in debt for $10m Brisbane are struggling with cash and need handouts Port were nearly relocated 2 years ago Sydney are the Darling of the AFL so they'll stay solid. They clubs that are strong are those that can maintain their supporter base even if they are near last, because they have a huge off field presence. We have to get to that level if we want to survive. Winning a flag isn't going to save the club, it will help, but it's all the work done in the board room that will ensure our future. Collingwood have won two flags in the last 50 years but they are the biggest club by far, we have won 3 flags in the last 55 years and we are one of the smallest. Success on the field hasn't driven Collingwood's drive to the top.

Not always, look at North, they've had success aplenty over the last 30 years and have had marquee players but they are the biggest strugglers in the competition because they haven't made themselves attractive to support. Collingwood have turned their club in to a brand that's easy to support whether you are rich or poor, whereas once they were the working man's club. I can recall Hawthorn being successful but still without much support, but they have turned that around by clever marketing of the club. We can wallow down the bottom of the supporter base or we can promote the club and achieve sustainable success, we can push for greater membership and a strong financial base or just continue to rely on handouts. We need success, but if we make the club an attractive place, then we will get supporters and players coming on board and we will get it.