T-34

Heard a memorabilia expert on the radio today who explained that it is highly unlikely it is the original, as back in the day the clubs actually flew the flags at all home games and over a period of about two seasons they would fall apart due to weather. Most flags from that era are replicas that the clubs would purchase to replace these, and he would require irrefutable proof that it was the original for him to believe otherwise.

I like the suggested emblem however I have always liked the " Est. 1858 " on the current one.

We are the oldest professional football club in the world, including soccer, we should advertise and be proud of that fact.

It's only an emblem but it can be a rallying point for a club and we need one everyone gets on board with.

That said there are way more important things the club needs to fix before moving onto this.

I like Bomber Thompson and his record speaks for itself, but I really struggle to see how he fits in going forward. I thought the whole point of Roos signing with us was to teach the players the "Roos-mantra" over his tenure, and groom a successor to carry on the "Roos-mantra" after he left. Similar to his final years in Sydney. Bomber Thompson would have his own coaching mantra, a successful one YES, but clearly it will be different to Roos'. I'm not saying it's a bad thing if he signs on, just intrigued as to how it would work.

Crazy to see how often they seem to be thinking along similar lines on 360.

I believe their respective coaching mantras would be a lot closer than some may think.

They seem to share many ideas about how to go about building a side, a game plan and a culture.

Players have every right to seek the best possible deal for themselves as this is their career, and for many of them the only major source of income they are ever likely to receive.

Take emotion out of it, from a business point of view they would be silly not to try to sell themselves to the highest bidder.

Every time they step out on the field they are literally risking their necks for the jumper, so the least we can do as supporters is not question their loyalty when it's contract negotiation time.

Loyalty is a romantic notion, but that's all.

Do you not think a player, especially a one club player would not be looked after post career by the club and it's supporters.

Do not be so naive as to believe the rubbish about a player only having x years to make as much as possible as these players will have opportunities post playing that you and I would view as dream jobs and never get. Even players who are at the lower end of the pay scale but have been in the system for a while are on good dollars, receive the opportunity to further their education/trade gratis and make contacts in big business via club coteries.

When was the last time you saw an ex footballer in the unemployment line?

Players are well catered for not only during their playing career but also post career and to think otherwise is also a romantic notion.

Bunch of sooks.

Good teams are able to win in-spite of the umpires.

The Watts free was there. The last time I checked, a player was not permitted to make contact above the opponents shoulder.

Interestingly KB went to great lengths to explain that the Watts free was in fact not there on SEN this morning.

He generally goes into bat for the umpires but was adamant that by the laws of the game there was no free, and that any contact was incidental and as such was play on.

Agree about good teams but we aren't a good team and will struggle if the whistle goes against us.

The loss of Clarke and Hogan forced Watts to play as a forward, otherwise I think Roos may have continued with him on a wing/mid.

This has also forced Dawes to play a role he probably isn't up to, the key target instead of the second or third forward.

The fact neither played a game has altered the make up of the side greatly.

We need to keep this in mind when assessing exactly where we are come seasons end.

Captains cost us late with two stupid actions. Jones plays on and Grimes goes out on the full. Just dumb, dumb footy.

Can't expect to improve when your leaders make elementary errors like that.

Grimes out on the full under no pressure.

Havent changed my opinion of the soffkock for 3 years.

Says more about you than him.

He is playing as a loose across back.

Blind freddy would pick up a possies playing that role.

Dont put him on a pedestal for that,wait until he wins a few hard ones.

AKA he is doing better than I said so I will attempt to lessen what he is doing.

13 points at half time

This game is there for the taking

Kent in for Watts please

Watts hasn't been great but he has plenty of mates, and when he gets it he makes good decisions backed by excellent disposal.

This is streets ahead of most others and he is not worst.

We may be seeing why Blease has struggled for a game as well.

At least we don't have to put up with Bruce mcaveney,s continuous statement ending in a question?

Really good insight shown by the pantsman don't you think Leigh?

Finding this hard to watch, between our mistakes, umpiring standard and pathetic commentary from blokes that may as well be in the outer wearing Port jumpers all makes terrible viewing.

Alastair Lynch is possibly the worst comments man going around and Huddo refuses to call poor umpiring decisions for what they are which is poor.

Unfortunately he is as good as what is offered him.

If that is 7 years at 600-650,000 a year then that is it.

Jamie Shanahan.

Why would the 'current thinking' be any different than it was 20 years ago? The AFL is arguably even more dominant now than it was then.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-03-05/afl-crowds-worlds-fourthbiggest

"WITH an average crowd of 32,163 in 2013, the AFL ranked fourth in world sport for attendances per match, according to the League's annual report."

"AFL Chief Executive Officer Andrew Demetriou has announced that 2013 AFL club membership had reached 756,717 members nationally – the highest recorded figure in the game’s history and a 6.94 per cent increase on last year’s total."

http://sportsbusinessinsider.com.au/news/category/financial-and-governance/afl-announce-highest-membership-numbers-in-games-history/

FCS that is 750,000 paid up members and 290,000 people who rock up to a game every weekend!

and what's the bottom line on that? "THE AFL achieved record revenue of $446 million and more than doubled its net profit in 2013 despite the shadow cast over last season by the drawn-out Essendon supplements saga."

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-03-04/afls-446m-record

This type of thing makes my blood boil. They talk about 'staying competitive with other codes' and blah blah, using it as justification for inequitable fixturing, rules-fiddling that ruins the game for its loyal supporters and number of other greed-based phenomena that plague the modern game. There is no reason for GWS and GC to even exist apart from pure unadulterated greed at the expense of the enjoyment of the sport by its long-term supporters. Disgusting.

Ease down buddy.

My point is that sports such as soccer and basketball are known sports to many African and Asian immigrants who will be more naturally drawn to these.

Their kids however could be a different kettle of fish.

The rest of your rant I actually agree with.

well that doesn't make sense

1994 - pop. 18 million, 15 AFL sides, 1.20 mil per side

2014 - pop. 23 million, 18 AFL sides, 1.28 mil per side

Interesting point however the demographics of that 5 million increase may not lend itself to playing footy.

Perhaps the current thinking of many immigrants would see AFL as a third or fourth choice sport behind soccer or basketball in particular.

A change in this may take a generation or two.

IMO Davey, Dawes and Clark were overpaid.

Based on performance I still think they were overpaid.

Should we of tried to entice a couple of youngsters for 600k, probably.

Whatever we did do - hasn't worked.

I have no problem paying players big money if they are worth it.

But I don't agree paying them overs, when there are players from others teams being paid unders.

For what we paid Clark and Dawes, we could've thrown at players like Sloane, Parker, those types of guys - who would've came much cheaper.

Vic guys who actually lean towards coming home, not blokes who stop into MFC on their way home to WA.

Staggeringly incisive post.

You obviously majored in hindsight.

Sloane,Parker would not have come any cheaper and may have broken their neck at their first training session.

Bad luck does not equate to bad management.

Jobe Watson is just as bland

Absolutely but at least he has an excuse, he is still playing and can't be seen to make any controversial calls.

Zempilas is as interesting as a caravan site.

Tom Harley is the most beige colored, vanilla flavored, AFL yes man of a commentator in history.

Even in a game so poorly umpired he has agreed with every decision, the more blatant the bad call the more adamant the yes that was clearly there.

His special comments have only added to the pain of the day, [censored] of the highest order.

Absolute disgrace

Trade Watts at the end of the season

He is an embarrassment to the jumper

Obviously no mirrors at your house.

Just as an aside is this the worst commentary team Channel 7 has ever trotted out.

Basil Zempilas and Tom Harley are the pits.

Not injured, just not a great footballer.

Port have built their forward line around Schultz, the Hoff and a rotation of about 6 mids,

Butcher just gets in the way and doesn't contribute defensively.

Agree with above and would add that a forwards no. 1 job is to kick goals. He is only 50/50 to do so from the top of the goal square.

We already have ample players who can't kick, we certainly don't need another.

Casey Website:

'Melbourne Football Club - Building the best alignment in the VFL'....mmm

As Roos has said several times the 2nds are really important for this club going forward - I hope they are looking at options. PJ has been awfully quiet lately - maybe he could twist the AFL's arm again and get some funding for a standalone team.

Casey is too far away for players and supporters - we should centralise. Melb Uni?... probably not.

Nothing like a gross generalization, I have supported MFC for almost 50 years and live 10 minutes from Casey Fields.

What you meant was, Casey is to far from me and I can't be stuffed going that far, please relocate to my back yard so it makes it easy for me to attend.

I'm sure recruitment doesn't come down to how they played in one game.

If Brayshaw is selected it will be based on a body of work spread over a period of time and numerous games.

I'll put my trust in those running things now to make the right call.