Just waking up and nursing a VERY severe hangover.

What a game. We were outstanding in the first. Then let it go. It one 28 down that late, I was certain it was over.  Credit to our boys for never giving up. Gawn, Petracca and Kozzie all solid.  Good to see Brown playing better. I have no doubt Max needs to be our number one ruck from now on. We beat a too 4 side without Clarry, Fritch and Grundy. I am very satisfied we’ll be here in September.

If they ever release a “greatest games” compilation again, I nominate this one.

 

14 minutes ago, old dee said:

I thought JVR did a reasonable job of the back up ruckman. 

Yes thought his effort was excellent and managed a few taps to advantage.  Held his own.  Tough gig to play a KF plus chop out ruck role.

So much for first to a hundred wins.

Joe danihers dive should cop a fine.

10 hours ago, leave it to deever said:

I am banning myself from game threads as a self imposed punishment for the criticism of this incredible team.

Just wow.

Never say die.

I don't see how anyone can watch the games and take time to post in the game day threads except maybe at 1/4 time and 1/2 time. I'm too focused on the events onfield to worry what fellow demonlanders are rabbiting on about, but these comments do make great reading with hindsight.

Heh heh.

Not that I am suggesting I saw that ending coming. I'd written us off as having been exposed as pretenders so I was very calm at the finish, and until we hit the front, happy that we'd been able to stop Brisbane's run and overlap which carved us up for two quarters. For me the disappointing thing was that we had not regrouped earlier, at half time. We stopped a similar style of game when we played the Woods but were slow to match the Lions.

Their dominance stemmed from a mix of superior leg speed, our poor positioning, lack of concentration in the back 50 on our part when they were in possession and stronger foot skills on their part. They made great use of the MCG's expanses and had no trouble with the venue. That we were able to wrestle back that advantage is testament to a different kind of Melbourne team to what many of us have been used to.

Gawn, Viney, Petracca just made it work. Melksham, the hero at the finish started badly with a couple of bad blues but was clearly determined to make amends and did so with assists in the first half as well as nails in their coffin in the last. A very mature performance. And while Woey did not do a lot that running goal showed presence of mind and the skill to match.

Now off to watch the replay to try to work out how we did it.

Edited July 14, 20231 yr by pitmaster

What a Saturday to be yesterday's hero!

I was out and missed the game. Checked scores with 15 minutes to go and 👎. Found out what happened when my phone started blowing up!

I watched the replay of the last quarter when I got home, and even knowing the result I was still in shock! Huge.

49 minutes ago, speed demon said:

Seems they have. We showed great run in the last quarter, especially coming off consecutive 6 days breaks and hard games. 

Not sure such talk is nonsense. I think the Lions have to ask themselves how well they coped with the pressure of being chased down. Fagan for one looked like he was having a panic attack in the coaches box. 

Our fitness and Lion's choking need not be mutually exclusive factors in influencing the outcome. 

There are people out there that think the Lions should have won by 7 goals and choked that result. I just utterly refute that because we ran out every quarter better after the 1st. And both clubs won 2 quarters each in totality.

We had some chances to bring the margin back to even within a few minutes of the last, and missed them. Before reigning back the margin. And they had chances to put the game beyond reach in the last. 

 

Seems to me quite an even split of momentum swings.

Edited July 14, 20231 yr by John Demonic

6 minutes ago, pitmaster said:

I don't see how anyone can watch the games and take time to post in the game day threads except maybe at 1/4 time and 1/2 time. I'm too focused on the events onfield to worry what fellow demonlanders are rabbiting on about, but these comments do make great reading with hindsight.

Heh heh.

Game day threads are wild, but I’ve realised it’s just a reaction to the last thing that happened. It’s like watching the footy with an angry goldfish. 

I hate to say it but we may be a better team without Grundy.

Not because of Grundy but Max looks like he plays better in the fulltime role.

Max hasn't had a great season this year but last night played a blinder.  Not sure what Goody and co will make of it.

12 minutes ago, leave it to deever said:

So much for first to a hundred wins.

Joe danihers dive should cop a fine.

And Nathan Williamson (22) should never umpire again. But of course he will. He is a West Australian. I'd hate to see him in charge of one of our games against the Dockers or the Eagles. Maybe his gal is from Brisbane.

14 minutes ago, Demon Dynasty said:

Yes thought his effort was excellent and managed a few taps to advantage.  Held his own.  Tough gig to play a KF plus chop out ruck role.

Agree. He won several contests with that awkward lump OscarMac who is an absolute hand full. Really good effort on JVR's part.

1 minute ago, John Demonic said:

There are people out there that think the Lions should have won by 7 goals and choked that result. I just utterly refute that because both clubs won 2 quarters each. We had some chances to bring the margin back to even within a few minutes of the last, and missed them. Before reigning back the margin. And they had chances to put the game beyond reach too. 

I was interested to see that we scored 4.5 in the last quarter, to 1.1. Brisbane completely stopped and we absolutely dominated. Their 1 goal was from that horrible Daniher free, where he threw himself forward like he’d been shot.

God help Brisbane in a last quarter against Collingwood at the G now. They’ll be psychologically destroyed.

2 hours ago, Engorged Onion said:

Look at how people respond on here, when someone takes a risk and it doesnt come off. People don't realise that taking risks irrespective of outcomes, helps fosters decision making in high stress moments (finals). BUT to then get severely criticised and have the 'shame' experience for chosing the right option (never the wrong option) and it not coming off, is what causes athletes to go into their shell.

Supporters can't have it both ways (but they do...)

I'd like to believe that taking the boundary option is a cosching issue rather than a player decision

Have you heard McRae talk about his players taking risks and how he does not concern himself with errors? 

An example for our team is Brayshaw and how he has an attacking midfielders mentality ... that mentality means he will naturally take risks (and the coach knows that about him)

But he is often asked to play as a holding midfielder or defensive midfielder or defensive wingman or even at half back

You know what? In those roles he still takes risks with coaching approval.  So some errors are going to occur

Btw, Brayshaw has close on the 2nd most possessions at the club this season ... only a handful behind Viney (Angus had another 29 or so last night)

He's had a very good season and is severely underappreciated on this site

To win risks must be taken and that has always been the golden rule in footy.  The safe option like heading to the boundary line spells doom (especially against the best sides)

That's not to say that that switching the play (quickly) or using the angles aren't good options ... it's not about just booting it to CHF when using the corridor

Edited July 14, 20231 yr by Macca

Some really iconic pivotal moments from this game.

Max sky high goal late in the third.

Kozzies third goal.

Rivers barging through the middle.

Vineys snatch and goal.

Jake the snakes two goals.

Levers mark.

 

2 minutes ago, leave it to deever said:

I hate to say it but we may be a better team without Grundy.

 

I think we best leave those judgements to those empowered to do so. Clearly Max and Simon sold Grundy on a concept of forward-ruck mix, maybe something like 50:50. That has not worked so now the job is to make Grundy work predominantly as a forward and taking boundary contests in the F50. Max thrived last night in the role that has made him AA but he is a couple of years older than Brodie and has taken a lot of hits, so over time Grundy's predominantly rucking days will return.

Haven't read this thread yet, was up till the wee hours watching the replay after seeing probably the second greatest escape this club has engineered (after Rd 23 Geelong 2021!)

 

But I just wanted to say how disgraceful and disgusting was the umpiring surrounding Petracca. The club should lodge a massive complaint. He was continually held, impeded and scragged off the ball at every single stoppage. 1 late free kick was all he got. Makes his game all that much better

We copped the worst 3 umpires possible that all seem to have a hatred of Melbourne but this was beyond the pale.

From Goody's presser, sounds like Brodie will spend most time in the fwd line. Maxs centre clearances were supreme and last night showed he belongs in the ruck as much as possible.

51 minutes ago, BDA said:

There has been a narrative spouted recently in the media that the fight in Entrecôte was the reason our form turned last year and explains our drop this season as well. That our culture had been irrevocably damaged somehow. It's a load of tosh.

Sure is.  A good recent example was (listening to ABC driving home last night) Kelli Underwood bringing it up in the context that she said Steven May was the only player not to run up to Melksham to congratulate him on that final goal.

Pathetic Kelli. Just a talking head .  Malthouse to his credit batted away the insinuation.

7 hours ago, layzie said:

Best impossible comeback/great escape wins I've seen live:

5. V Geelong Rd 6 2006

4. V Freo Rd 7 2008

3. V Bulldogs Rd 21 2005

2.V Carlton QF 2000

1. V Brisbane Rd 18 2023

Carlton final was best ever live  

Max game at Geelong best of all time  

 

9 hours ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

The ones near us were up and getting really arrogant I thought in the 2nd and 3rd quarters when they started to get on top.  After we came back and won the game I made sure I gave them a bit of a serve.

I ran down the aisle and starting fist pumping in the face of an extremely arrogant Brisbane supporter. Not proud of myself, but sooooo sweet.

1 minute ago, Demon17 said:

Sure is.  A good recent example was (listening to ABC driving home last night) Kelli Underwood bringing it up in the context that she said Steven May was the only player not to run up to Melksham to congratulate him on that final goal.

Pathetic Kelli. Just a talking head .  Malthouse to his credit batted away the insinuation.

Sure I saw May and Meilkie embracing after game

1 hour ago, BrisbaneDemon said:

I’m off to U/8’s in Lions heartland this morning, wearing my demons jumper…. I cannot wait for the comments

 

Love it give ‘em hell which is nothing less than they deserve. 

5 minutes ago, leave it to deever said:

Some really iconic pivotal moments from this game.

Max sky high goal late in the third.

Kozzies third goal.

Rivers barging through the middle.

Vineys snatch and goal.

Jake the snakes two goals.

Levers mark.

 

The team agrees with you on Lever. He was swamped fater the game by team mates recognising he could have saved the game after others had won it.  Huge for our culture I reckon last night.  That 67,000th member got their moneys worth.

1 hour ago, DemonOX said:

What about how right on the final siren Hipwood was trying to claim the mark when he clearly had his arm high around Levers neck and the fact that Lever marked the ball in the side of his body first only for Hipwood to take it out of his hands. 

What a [censored]. 

Did give me a good laugh though. 

And channel 7 ( from Sydney TV this morning) claimed in the narrative that Brisbane should have been paid the mark and win the game. Wouldn't know the rules/interpretations not being a mark and/or around the neck. Nuff Nuff

 

3 minutes ago, radar said:

Sure I saw May and Meilkie embracing after game

You did. Fabulous sight !