Around The Grounds

A daily wrap-up of MFC related news. Click links for the full story.

Melbournefc.com.au
* Gardner sets his objectives
Melbourne president Paul Gardner says he wants to remain chairman of the club until it has achieved at least three key objectives. Gardner wants the club to be financially stable, based in the MCG precinct and to add to its 12 premierships, the last of which was won way back in 1964

* Daniher cool with Cairns heat
Melbourne coach Neale Daniher is not concerned with the warm weather in Cairns for Saturday night's Wizard Home Loans Cup clash against the Brisbane Lions at Cazaly Stadium.

Daniher said the local starting time of 7.40pm was not an issue for the team, but he added the players would be carefully monitored after the match and in the ensuing days.

* Neitz keen on Dees' prospects
Melbourne skipper David Neitz says there is no reason the club cannot reach the grand final and go all the way in 2005.

Neitz, who in 2005 is poised to set a new club record for the most matches as captain, said the Demons' playing list had the ability to be a genuine threat in September.

But he was realistic enough to know that a lot of water had to travel under the bridge before any silverware could be held aloft on the last Saturday of September.

* Gardner stresses club/city relationship
Demons President Paul Gardner says Melbourne, the club, is strategically placing a greater emphasis on aligning with Melbourne, the city.

Gardner said it was imperative to be "putting the town of Melbourne back into the Melbourne Football Club and the Melbourne Football Club back into the town".

"I read with some interest how Collingwood are going to be global. Collingwood would kill to have the Melbourne name, but anyhow they haven't, but we think it's a great asset," Gardner told Sportal in Cairns.

Herald Sun Footy
* Demons wary of pick to replace Troy
MELBOURNE has been granted its wish to replace Troy Broadbridge on its list with a mature-age player, but coach Neale Daniher says there is still no guarantee the club will pick anyone.

Real Footy
* Miller puts leadership ambitions aside for now
Brad Miller insists he is nothing like a leader at Melbourne yet. But if former St Kilda and Brisbane rover Danny Craven is any sort of judge, it's only a matter of time.

Craven was Miller's first senior coach with AFL Queensland club Mount Gravatt in 2001, when Miller captained the Queensland under-18 side. He was so taken by the strapping youngster that, after half-a-dozen senior games, he decided to appoint him senior captain the following year.

* Demons not set on new addition
Melbourne received permission from the AFL Commission yesterday to add an experienced player to its list but may not take up the right.

The Demons have identified three former league-level players they consider worthy of consideration but are yet to decide if they will replace defender Troy Broadbridge, who died in the Boxing Day tsunami.

Essendon premiership player Justin Blumfield and former Hawks Adrian Cox and Kris Barlow are the contenders for a late recall to the highest level, something Melbourne recruiting and list manager Craig Cameron said yesterday was "more likely than not".

AFL.com.au

* I've got no idea what they're doing with their new site. It appears they've decided to bump news off the front page for more sponsors ads. That's nice of them. You'd hate to, you know, provide a service for the loyal supporters who take all sorts of other crap from you without complaint. Next thing they'll be selling all the Grand Final tickets to corpora.... Shit. Too late.