diesel

I already like the bloke for the fact that our 'facilities' were obviously not an issue for him coming over.

Just so you know, he ignores crtiticism. Take it with the proverbial grain.

Accepting the cold hard reality of modern day marketing I think whatever market research has indicated is acceptable to the uncommited population is acceptable for me. We can wear the old fashioned stuff for heritage round. In actual fact if we win a cup a I couldn't give a flying fig what we wear as long as it is red & blue and called Melbourne/Demons.

BA HA HA HA! Thought this had something to do with Brad too! Dick Pratt would have to plant trees until he turns 200 to fix the damage his business has done over +50 years of its existence (remember green has only become fashionable recently), actually he must be feeling guilty about it. I hear he drives a Prius. Agree with others though....please no more Judd threads. He is Carltank, so he is poison.

The expression of a man who has just received a welcome hug from Barb.

Doing the 210 via Queenscliff so hopefully I should beat you back to Melbourne

As alluded to by Rollo I would be unavailable on the 21st Oct due to round the bay in a day. I will keep an eye on dates. If there is a change and spots in the team don't fill I will be happy to slot into a back pocket/inter and will probably come down anyway. Definitely can't run in the middle (found that out last year!!)

I have moved on in terms of not getting Judd and look forwrd to the club getting on with the job. If there never was a deal for Judd to go to Collingwood then I will forget the issue completely. I believe it is almost certain though that Judds move was always going to be to Collingwood, therefore we have probably been lead up the garden path. That is not something I would forget quickly and neither should the club given another player may use the MFC as a negotiating or PR tool.

Started well there. I'll value OX's opinion over yours, thanks anyway. What would we say after being stooged into a carefully orchestrated sideshow, "Thanks for considering us Chris, your a champ, good luck at Collingwood". Are you Steve Harris' copy writer? Hardly a victim of anything. He is having his ego stroked more aggressively than any player in the history of the game! Don't need to tell you about the possibility that he could have contributed to lifting a club from mediocrity and obscurity that could have been the icing on his career and even won back WC supporters. Those actions would certainly be worthy of those sorts of accolades. It will never be like that if he goes to Collingwood, surely you are smart enough to work out the difference and the meaning of it to MFC supporters (you are one aren't you?)

YM, If I was your missus I would be worried, your ability to move on is unbelievable. You are right though, I think DB will be a great developer of talent and the blokes you have mentioned have bucket loads, add also Newton and Dunn as having plenty of upside.

I didn't like the press release either. On the one hand we have a new coach with a "5kg weight is a 5kg weight" philosphy and on the other we are giving recruits and players an out by saying our facilities are not up to scratch! "Sorry for the inconvenience Chris but for the next two years at MFC you may need a Melway to find out where we are training". Isn't that the only difference vis a vis training?

I also heard Russell and he appeared to be speaking on behalf of Judds' management in denying the facilities were an issue. Well is the MFC CEO a liar then? What is the real reason behind Judds choice which I now believe was made long ago.

Don't care. Hopefully by the time he ends up in the PSD we will already have a Judd photocopy from pick 4.

CAC, put us out of our misery....please?

Didn't you have them believing that you would be drafted a couple of years ago?

No wanting to have a go at fellow posters, especially Melbourne supporters because we are all investing a heavy amount of emotion and OPTIMISM in Chris Judd coming to Melbourne FC, but isn't this statement of veiled crticism tied to the very self interest that we all express in wanting Chris Judd in a Melbourne jumper? Personally I will not say a bad thing about Chris Judd until he makes a decision and states his reasons. I will be very interested in his reasons because I do not believe there is anything Collingwood could offer in terms of football support for him individually to get the best out of himself that we cannot match. After all our performances over the period he has been in the AFL are pretty much on a par with Collingwood.

Just cool it mate. We don't know for sure yet.

But excitement this year has been as rare as an Adem Yze handpass Mick. I am more than prepared for any emotional let down because at least two other clubs will miss out on him as well, surely a positive?

Caros' comments were prefaced with "I think". In that regard she is no different to anyone here thinking (hoping) Judd will come to the Dees. Of course my thoughts are based on a desire to see Juddy in Red & Blue, not Carolines perception of the attractivness of the Lexus Ed(die)fice and McChins sales pitch.

Apparently that relative missed the end of the sentence which in the best comedic tradition finished with.....NOT!!!

I think you take the thought of trading Robbo as part of a Judd deal to an extreme here. If Robbo cannot come at a 2 year deal then I agree look to sending him elsewhere whether or not it is part of deal for Judd. To say we would be better of without him is off the mark. The question is whether or not we need him. IMO we can get by without him.

It's important to keep all this in mind because if Judd nominates Collingwood and they can't do a deal then he may have to settle for Melbourne or wind up at Richmond (PSD). Juddy will not be at the club he nominates until the deal is done in trade week. My feeling is Colingwood won't be able to accomodate WC and will get little help form other clubs to pull off a deal.

I like this bit best (rest of the post was good as well BTW). I hope whatever we offered Judd today we finsihed by putting one of those riders on it like the deal Essendon have at Telstra Dome, that is, anything else anyone else offers you, we will match/better it. Surely you can't go wrong with an offer like that?

Crap, this attitude [censored] me to tears. Have you ever been outbid at an auction? Life goes on, new opportunities present. We will have a high pick still and if someone else snares Juddy they will have to give up a hell of a lot, Collingwood more so. Every time we beat that team I will be able to scream "you chose wrong Juddy". Don't get me wrong, I will be disappointed but far from suicidal. What doesn't kill you should make you stronger not whimper.

Take him to the Junction Oval because it will continue to be our training base for a year or two (can't hide that fact) but by all means have the discussion/meeting at the 'G'. This is our major hook. Collingwood are blow ins. As nice a facility as the Lexus Centre is, the history is transplanted. The tingle CJ will get from walking into the 'G' should be a factor in this decision.