A number of commentators were calling Melbourne's win over Adelaide "season-defining" and I wish that were true but the reality is that our season to date has been defined by other things, such as injuries, illness and suspensions to important players, slow starts to games, narrow losses and defeats snatched from the jaws of victory. 

I don't really like the expression "season-defining" and I would prefer that it be confined to the context of a single win in September but if it must be used then it should apply to the day when the club finally shows that it can perform consistently as it did last Saturday night at Adelaide and win games that it's expected to win.

 

Melbourne opened the season with a great win over St Kilda but in the following march it played poorly against Carlton. We haven't played two good games in a row so far this year.

 

It's time.

Game day from Winton, it's chilly and foggy but the fire is going the beers are cold and they can't catch the Falcons of Dick Johnson.

 

Hopefully they can't catch the long blonde mops on Jayden Hunt either...

Swans crushed the Kangas last week in contested ball. Their big bodied mids overpowered the Kangas.

That is our strength, along with midfield depth.  Will be surprising if we don't comfortably midfield battle today. That will get us 90% of the way to winning.

 

6th if we win, 11th if we lose and the bummers get up.

as a young developing side, we are told that things can be inconsistent.  Time for this to change up to a young, brash and hungry side.  

The game is as important as any other, but [censored] me I want a win.

 

I'm nervous but determined, we have been in every single game this year and last week was the most professional win I've seen from us for a long time. This is where Lewis earns his money, keeping everyone in the right headspace and fired up for this match. 

Time for us to make good on our talent and get the job done. Kangas were so lucky to beat us last year, we are a better team and they are a weaker team. Get it done Dees!

Agree Jack. Season defining wins can only be identified post season imo as if we lose today last week didn't mean that much

we could move into the 8 above the dogs and tigers if we win. 

North won't be easy, their % is higher than freo and pies so clearly have been playing better than their ladder position

will be gutted if we lose though 

8 hours to go!!? I know, I'll watch the Adelaide match again!

Eventually somewhere along the line, we need to win 2 in a row - win a game we are favourite and begin to be consistent.  lets hope today is when it begins.

Wew! Game day!!

 

Faux-tough Ziebell will be ragdolled by our midfield. Oliver to have 41 possessions. Melbourne by 101 points.

Edited May 20, 20178 yr by Ethan Tremblay

If we win we'll be 6th (if Carlton win) or 7th (if Freo win) above Tigers, Dogs and Saints.

Get it done and get it done early Demons, don't disappoint.

Edited May 20, 20178 yr by Dr. Gonzo

Goldstein is the biggest threat, Pedersen has his work cut out for him.

This is definitely a season defining  game. The jump will be stratospheric compared to what has been our lot if we win. We have wasted wins this season with poor attitude and lack of confidence to take the opposition by the scruff of the neck. We have been good enough to win all our games even with suspensions and injuries. We have not been one of the clubs that played [censored] but pulled out last minute wins. We have been on the losing end of those games. If we lose today I wil be devastated.

Edited May 20, 20178 yr by america de cali

Dees by 21 

i expect us to just rove Goldsteins taps but our midfield should be way to good and deep for them to stop us over four quarters. They don't have many genuine mids and the ones they do are overrated. 

Key match up for me is Waite vs frost. 

1 hour ago, buck_nekkid said:

6th if we win, 11th if we lose and the bummers get up.

6th as long as Carlton do the unlikely and defeat Fremantle...7th is more likely the best we can hope for; but I'll take that!

I'm sick to death of being beaten year after year by the whinging Scott brother's marsupials.  Time to put another hoodoo to bed.  Make 'roadkill' of 'em Dees!

Genuine pressure on our team to perform today as with other clubs around us losing a big jump up the ladder is there for the taking. Great test of the sides development and maturity, hope we rise to the occasion.

19 minutes ago, Abe said:

Dees by 21 

i expect us to just rove Goldsteins taps but our midfield should be way to good and deep for them to stop us over four quarters. They don't have many genuine mids and the ones they do are overrated. 

Key match up for me is Waite vs frost. 

If Goldstein goes forward, he must have a tall opponent. This needs to be planned and executed.

38 minutes ago, Clint Bizkit said:

Goldstein is the biggest threat, Pedersen has his work cut out for him.

True, but Jacobs would have been the biggest threat last week and we all know how that worked out.  Pedersen just needs to make him earn it and then beat him around the ground.  He's more than capable.

Why is it that all North Melbourne supporters think that they 'should' win? Bewildering given the relative ladder positions and what not. Hopefully today we can give them a reality check rather than vice versa!

3 hours ago, Whispering_Jack said:

A number of commentators were calling Melbourne's win over Adelaide "season-defining" and I wish that were true but the reality is that our season to date has been defined by other things, such as injuries, illness and suspensions to important players, slow starts to games, narrow losses and defeats snatched from the jaws of victory. 

If we get up today then, to me, it will be the season defining win everyone is talking about.  If we can finally back up a good game with another good game, then that should set us up for the rest of the season and give the players the confidence that they can do it every week.

God I hope we win.  Sick of going in to these games feeling extremely nervous.

Again today comes down to mindset. We have enough talent to win today, 

Have been doing 'nervous bogs' pre-game ever since Frankston East under 12's three decades ago.

Must back it up or last week meant sod all, back it up this week and next with wins and play well then we have turned a corner.

11 years of putridness against this mob. the arrogance continues to come from their supporters... like the st kilda rabble as well. no idea why we haven't been able to get up for the Kangas games.....

 

having said that reasonably confident, that we will physically smash them in the midfield and finally beat them... and by 8+ goals

Edited May 20, 20178 yr by jako13
stoopid fat fingers....

1 hour ago, Abe said:

 

Key match up for me is Waite vs frost. 

Waite, Brown and Goldstein are the threats for me