Chins up, Demon fans. This hurts but we've hurt before and we'll hurt again. But our day is coming and we have more reason to hope than we've had for a very long time.

34 minutes ago, wizardinoz said:

We did well but Goodwin's refusal to play Frost earlier probably cost us 3 wins & dropping Frisch for Smith was farcical. 

Dropping Fritsch ahead of Tyson was. Keeping Bailey in ahead of Smith and an unchanged team would not have changed the result regardless. Even dropping Tyson would have made zero difference, but Tyson almost single handedly handed them 3 of their first 4 goals.

Edited September 22, 20186 yr by praha

I'm circumspect about it all.

Mostly because I've been here before. Particularly late 80's/early 90's and again in the '00's. We make the finals and expect it all to happen as though it's our birthright.

This loss needs to burn as much as last year's round 23 debacle against Collingwood.

Because yet again, another opportunity has been missed. 

I appreciate the year was another step forward but I don't want to hear about 'eras of success' or how it's all before us. There's no guarantees in life and this needs to be viewed as our chance to end a 54 year old drought that we have fluffed.

Great OP. It has been a good year. Still a very young team so plenty of room for growth. Recruitment this off season very important to be truly elite medium to long term.

I am happy and proud...and disappointed too.  This was an opportunity lost.  Things will be different next year, and I hope we can continue developing as we need to go up another level to stay in front of the competition.  But, I am happy with where we got to based upon my initial expectations for 2018

It was a great year yeah it was a poor performance came from too far back to realistic challenge for the premiership this year. That St.kilda game cost us win that game we finish in the top 4 they should never have played Petty that day he wasn't ready. Just wish Garry Lyon would shut up i can't stand him.

The year wasn't that great and todays performance was typical MFC.
Winning a couple finals was nice though with the Melbourne crowd at the Elimination final a highlight.
Exceeded my expectations.
 

Edited September 22, 20186 yr by Fork 'em

8 minutes ago, Colin B. Flaubert said:

I'm circumspect about it all.

Mostly because I've been here before. Particularly late 80's/early 90's and again in the '00's. We make the finals and expect it all to happen as though it's our birthright.

This loss needs to burn as much as last year's round 23 debacle against Collingwood.

Because yet again, another opportunity has been missed. 

I appreciate the year was another step forward but I don't want to hear about 'eras of success' or how it's all before us. There's no guarantees in life and this needs to be viewed as our chance to end a 54 year old drought that we have fluffed.

True but this group is built on contest and tackling.  They will be gutted by what they served up today. I expect a serious tilt next year.  Goody sums up moments like these perfectly.  It’s a fine line.  Never as good as you think it is and never as bad either.

10 minutes ago, praha said:

Tyson almost single handedly handed them 3 of their first 4 goals.

Hyberbole at its best

13 minutes ago, Forest Demon said:

Hyberbole at its best

Watch the replay.

8 minutes ago, praha said:

Watch the replay.

Lewis was worse.

1 hour ago, Redleg said:

Great year and proud of boys except for today which was terrible. 

Sums up the year for me also. 

Poor neale

11 minutes ago, praha said:

Watch the replay.

I can recall 2 off the top of my head, one was Lewis, another was Brayshaw fumbling Frost's handball. Case closed.

Next year we MUST finish top 4. Should have this year and things might have been much different. See Collingwood. 

 

I want to see four or five years of sustained effort

 

1 minute ago, Deevout said:

Next year we MUST finish top 4. Should have this year and things might have been much different. See Collingwood. 

This

Minimum expectation is a top four finish at the end of home and away

Agree with the sentiment.

We cannot approach football by saying it's the flag or it's bust. To make a prelim after 12 years of not even being able to make the finals, to win four consecutive games against the top 8, to win two finals in front of 90,000+ against sides we traditionally lose to, all with TMac, Viney, Lever and Hogan missing 5+ games each this year, makes this season a resounding success.Obviously we had our chance this year and we don't just automatically get that chance again next year, but we cannot simply write off all of the amazing positives this year gave us because of today.

44 minutes ago, praha said:

Dropping Fritsch ahead of Tyson was. Keeping Bailey in ahead of Smith and an unchanged team would not have changed the result regardless. Even dropping Tyson would have made zero difference, but Tyson almost single handedly handed them 3 of their first 4 goals.

First one was a Lewis mistake.

Second (or third?) was Frost's handball being fumbled by Brayshaw.

Where is Tyson involved in either of those?

1 hour ago, whatwhatsaywhat said:

when we lost to the aints i didn't think we'd even make finals, let alone win two of em

exceeded my expectations in 2018; top four after home and away is the baseline expectation for 2019 

My thoughts exactly. Im looking forward to the next few years. This was our first taste of finals, I can't recall many (any?) teams in history going all the way on their first assault. Today was hugely disappointing obviously but overall we've continued to improve year on year. The finals experience will do a world of good to Viney, Oliver, Petracca, Brayshaw, Gawn etc etc

1 minute ago, whatwhatsaywhat said:

This

Minimum expectation is a top four finish at the end of home and away

Add a premiership as a minimiun in the next four years is a non negotiable. We are now into or 55th year without one and with this core group anything less is a failure.

My expections this year was to make finals and win at least one.

1 hour ago, dl4e said:

There are 2 ways of looking at it. Yes after 12 years making finals again is a tick. However I have seen melbourne play in plenty of finals and no flag. Make no mistake todays result was poor. Very poor. If they can raise the bar even higher in the next couple of years then fine but I have seen too many finals exits to get excited.

From someone at the ground today ...terrible first half but fought it out..we didn’t play well last week & I think it was symptomatic of playing finals type footy for the past 5 weeks...they were done ...they aren’t quiteready...& in a way I feel a sense of relief that it is over...I would have hated to lose to Collingwood ...just wish the first half wasn’t so bad...HOWEVER....make no mistake...this team will give us many more highs than lows & i am glad I made the trip...glad I stayed till the end & I thank the club for one of the better seasons that I can remember....before I get howled down by the “negative nellies” just ask yourself one question “ how many of you legitimately felt at the beginning of the season that we would win 2 massive finals at the G against two powerhouse clubs & make a Preliminary final? I didn’t ...can’t wait for 2019 ...

4 minutes ago, Deevout said:

Add a premiership as a minimiun in the next four years is a non negotiable. We are now into or 55th year without one and with this core group anything less is a failure.

My expections this year was to make finals and win at least one.

Same.
But to get humiliated on the big stage like today  is so ..... Us.

Edited September 22, 20186 yr by Fork 'em

4 minutes ago, Fork 'em said:

Same.
But to get humiliated on the big stage like today  is so ..... Us.

Agreed. Time to stop being the Demons of old when the heat is on. 2019 no more excuses.

10 minutes ago, Fork 'em said:

Same.
But to get humiliated on the big stage like today  is so ..... Us.

3 minutes ago, Deevout said:

Agreed. Time to stop being the Demons of old when the heat is on. 2019 no more excuses.

This is the kind of stuff I don't get.

We're just coming off two consecutive finals wins in front of 90,000+ against sides we've hardly beaten for 15 years, and you're going on about "the big stage" being the problem?