Gibson was not that huge a loss – he’d been squeezed out of the undersized key back role by Grima and Thompson (I like both these lads), along with Hansen,
The midfield, farewell Simmo…..but, he couldn’t kick to save himself – - – a midfield of Ziebell, Anthony, Cunnington, Bastinac (plus Swallow, Harvey, Wells etc)……starting to look a bit alright, (although I prefer Wells across half back)
and up forward, we know we need Campbell and Thomas on the paddock together, Petrie can stay forward now (that we’ve given up on Hale as a key forward!!), need Edwards as hit up half forward, and Josh Smith has to consolidate in 2010.

and McIntosh, Goldstein and Hale in the ruck department,

We’ve got a pretty good balance across the board and a group that can go forward together. I think we’ve better placed for 2012/2013/2014 than almost any other list. But, anything can happen.

The clubs been going since 1869.

They really should have taken the Gold Coast option – and it was only James Brayshaw trying to turn himself into a Rock Star by blocking the move that stopped it
I see he’s already canvassing the option of ‘selling’ a few home games! – something that he was dead against when he was initially standing for office.

And it does nobody anygood when your coach quits half way through the season.
Any idea what was behind that? – I thought Dean Laidley had been doing a pretty good job with limited resources – I smell the hand of Brayshaw in all that.
. . . sorry

http://test.mirayafm.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=421:about-us&catid=99:about-us&Itemid=320

A very impressive young man.

Redb

From ABC – AM Program

SIMON LAUDER: Majak Daw and his family fled civil war in Sudan when he was just nine. After three years in Egypt they arrived in Australia in 2003. It was a proud moment for 16-year-old Theresa Daw yesterday when the Kangaroos used the ninth pick on the AFL rookie draw on her big brother.

THERESA DAW: It makes me proud to be actually African.

SIMON LAUDER: She says her brother’s success will be good for Australia’s African community.

THERESA DAW: It will like encourage them to want to become more like him, to give them more confidence that they can actually do it because he did.

SIMON LAUDER: His debut could still be years away, but Majak Daw is mindful of what he’s already achieved

MAJAK DAW: First Sudanese and African born to make AFL, I’m just hoping to try hard to be the first African to actually play AFL.

SIMON LAUDER: How does it make you feel? Is it significant to you?

MAJAK DAW: It’s a big achievement. When I first started a lot of my Sudanese friends, the boys, they weren’t a fan of me playing footy, they tend to hang around the Sudanese people, just one area.

I kept on telling them you need to get out and explore and know these people ’cause you’re going to be living here all your life, you’re not going to be with the Sudanese people the whole time.

SIMON LAUDER: And he’s hoping his success in the AFL will break down some barriers for others.

MAJAK DAW: When I first started back in under 16s, some of the boys were saying racist comments but I just got on with my footy. Racism I suppose is, comes from jealousy. They know that you’re doing better and it’s their way of trying to make you not succeed.

As you know the Sudanese people haven’t had it easy since they came to Australia, coming to a new country is not easy and not knowing the laws that govern the country. Me making it into AFL will make them, will give them more opportunities and give them confidence to sort of go out there and do their own things to better themselves.

SIMON LAUDER: So you’re the first, obviously you’d be hoping you won’t be the last?

MAJAK DAW: Yeah, there’s some Sudanese kids down at Wyndham Vale, my local club, who have taken up footy and some of them look pretty promising and with the right guidance they could become good players and have more Sudanese in AFL.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/87975/default.aspx

Firstly, re the article, I had to heavily cut my own ideas anyway – - for North Melbourne, there’s a whole lot more detail including the pseudo private ownership structure, the return to a members based club in the true sense, getting really passionate people like James Brayshaw on board to lead the way and provide a ‘profile’ and to go from a pretty low point near the end of 2007 where …… I will admit, I thought we probably should just go North to Carrara……because, I just wasn’t sure that there was the fight left to make a real stand in Melbourne.

I’m delightedly proven wrong…thus far. (also, I much, much prefer the notion of the organically grown GC17 process…..I reckon that’s a hugely interesting ‘growth’ of a club to see occur and will be good for football in the long run).

So, it comes to this year, we have the new facilities opened. And an interesting story not long ago about a ‘white knight’ long time supporter but non significant financial contributor, who wishes to remain anon, but, put in $1 million towards the new facilities on the proviso that the ‘multi-cultural/community’ side of things was fair dinkum and followed through with. Because, words are easy and cheap. Seeing North Melbourne really taking this challenge and responsibility is a great thing, and …….being very careful to not imply that Majak Daw is a token jesture…….the symbolism is very strong.

The pictures of Majak Daw are now, just a little symbolic reminder of where the club has been and where it’s now headed.

That this is a good news story, and as I pulled into home late on Wednesday evening and heard a couple of guys on SEN wrap up their regular show for the year with super positive comments about Daw and North Melbourne – - pride swelled. For us North people……it’s so much more than Majak Daw……but, at the moment, his photo doing the rounds and the feel good element to the story is symbolic of a whole new positive aura around the club………..a 5 letter word……Pride.

Daw, himself, isn’t the reason.

re the Bulldogs, Daw trained the first few days of the week at North and then went to the Doggies after that. He was an obvioius fit for either North (Werribee is one of our feeder clubs) or the Doggies (Williamstown is their feeder club). North had an earlier selection in the rookie draft.

On a side note, wasn’t Daw training with the Bulldogs? How come they didn’t pick him up?

The Feds have taken their eye of Hopenhagen to congratulate your club:

http://www.minister.immi.gov.au/parlsec/media/media-releases/2009/lf09059.htm

Redb