Friday 3rd of October

7.15pm AEST

Ikon Park

ONLY TWO HOME GAMES LEFT of the H&A season. Yes, this one's a Dees home game.

So if you've ever looked at the trip out to Casey and thought, "Nah," this is your time to shine!

After last year's debacle against the Dons, suffice to say our players will be out for revenge.

And along those lines, let's all channel @Ghostwriter's feelings towards Essendon:

5 minutes ago, Dees_In_October said:

Friday 3rd of October

7.15pm AEST

Ikon Park

ONLY TWO HOME GAMES LEFT of the H&A season. Yes, this one's a Dees home game.

So if you've ever looked at the trip out to Casey and thought, "Nah," this is your time to shine!

After last year's debacle against the Dons, suffice to say our players will be out for revenge.

And along those lines, let's all channel @Ghostwriter's feelings towards Essendon:

That game out at Windy Hill last year is one I’m hoping to forget… and soon.

Not only did we have to fight to get seats for our elderly/mobility-affected members, they wouldn’t allow us to bring camp chairs and instead provided 12 hard plastic chairs.

It was a hot day and there was bugger all shade. Despite its name there wasn’t a breath of wind at Windy Hill, therefore no respite from the burning sun.

And worst of all… the result. Losing to that team sucks, especially losing the way we did that day.

But that was then and this is now:

Look out Dons… we’re comin’ for ya!!!

👊🏼👊🏼👊🏼👊🏼👊🏼👊🏼👊🏼👊🏼

On grand final eve, Essendon had their best game of the season against the unbeaten Roos. The match report said Essendon applied immense pressure, forcing the Roos into uncharacteristic errors with the dons up 20-0 at quarter time.

If Essendon can replicate that pressure, it will be great hit out for the Dees. We showed vulnerability against high pressure when we played Collingwood and Port. In those games, we were still trying to work out how to replace Liv Purcell.

Since, Wotherspoon, Fitzsimon and Chaplin have stepped up. At only 21, Wotherspoon has already played at representative level in soccer, cricket and softball and it shows. Really smart, tough athlete. Fitzsimon had an amazing 15 tackles against the Suns. When she rotates into the midfield, Chaplin makes impact and gets the ball outside.

It will be interesting to see how the post-Purcell midfield progresses.

Based on form should be a regulation win.

Still can't see MFC beating North but on any given Sunday.....

Not sure that fixture has done us a favour but hell these wins feel good

Anyone who headed out to the AIA Centre to watch training will be disappointed to know the venue has been changed and is now taking place at Casey Fields. And if the website had’ve been updated I wouldn’t be at AIA right now 😭

5 minutes ago, Ghostwriter said:

Anyone who headed out to the AIA Centre to watch training will be disappointed to know the venue has been changed and is now taking place at Casey Fields. And if the website had’ve been updated I wouldn’t be at AIA right now 😭

Wow. I was very close to heading to the session today, glad I didn't. If it had been moved to Princes Park I would have understood, but that is disappointing.

How much do we need to win by to take Essendon one step closer to folding as a club?

24 minutes ago, Craig T said:

Wow. I was very close to heading to the session today, glad I didn't. If it had been moved to Princes Park I would have understood, but that is disappointing.

Especially considering there were kids already there and I’m sure being that it’s school holidays and a beautiful sunny day many more kids would likely have been on their way there.

Apparently the surface at AIA is too hard for the players to train on and that’s why it was moved to Casey. That’s the official reason, personally I reckon it’s coz Filth germs can survive in the air and on surfaces for several weeks so we’re waiting for the all clear. 😁

Edited Monday at 03:123 days by Ghostwriter

45 minutes ago, Ghostwriter said:

Anyone who headed out to the AIA Centre to watch training will be disappointed to know the venue has been changed and is now taking place at Casey Fields. And if the website had’ve been updated I wouldn’t be at AIA right now 😭

I was in the same boat.

At Gosch’s, I got a bit of a look at the Victory squad, and Juan Mata scoring a goal.

Looks like a big build up happening for the Storm.

MFC training-times also mentioned October 10, at AIA Centre. Can I trust them?

15 minutes ago, Ghostwriter said:

Apparently the surface at AIA is too hard for the players to train on and that’s why it was moved to Casey. That’s the official reason, personally I reckon it’s coz Filth germs can survive in the air and on surfaces for several weeks so we’re waiting for the all clear. 😁

Didn't they get a rejuvenation on the AIA surface last season (I remember the Wood's training on Gosch's for a while).

Edited Monday at 03:223 days by Kev

12 minutes ago, Kev said:

MFC training-times also mentioned October 10, at AIA Centre. Can I trust them?

I can’t say you can trust them, Kev. Especially when they can’t get the day/date right…

According to my calendar this Wednesday is the 1st of October 🤷‍♀️

12 minutes ago, Kev said:

Didn't they get a rejuvenation on the AIA surface last season (I remember the Wood's training on Gosch's for a while).

Yes I remember that. What puzzles me though is why they didn’t know the surface was too hard until this morning 🤷‍♀️

What and were is an AIA Vitality Centre?

22 minutes ago, Deeman said:

What and were is an AIA Vitality Centre?

The Glass House field, of the Collingwood football club, in the Olympic Park precent.

On the way home from Casey on Friday I was waiting at the bus stop on Punt Road by Gosch's Paddock and it didn't look like it was undergoing maintenance to me. The number of people running about kicking footballs around was the big clue. 🤨

14 hours ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Based on form should be a regulation win.

Still can't see MFC beating North but on any given Sunday.....

Not sure that fixture has done us a favour but hell these wins feel good

The fixture is great, especially if we dont meet them until the GF by winning the first week of finals.

Just remembered, I noticed that O'Hehir had some crutches during the team song (indoor version) on Friday. I guess we'll know more in the next few days.

As to the upcoming game, and the rest of the season really. I reckon we're going to do a lot of finding out, in a way that's exciting for the potential of this team, either this year or in the next few. I've always been wary of a scenario where, once the dust settles and the "early adopter" advantage fades completely, we haven't done enough to rejuvenate and recognise the tipping point of young players' skills vs. experience. Jury's still out, but I like the way we're shaping up as the middle group of teams evens out somewhat.

I'm guessing no one was out at Casey watching the training session yesterday for a first hand report!

No update yet if Zanker's head knock is nothing to worry about, or how bad Taylor's hamstring and O'Hehir's knee soreness are.

On 29/09/2025 at 13:33, Ghostwriter said:

I

According to my calendar this Wednesday is the 1st of October 🤷‍♀️

Does anyone believe, Wednesday 1st October 10.40am, at the AIA field will be the time and place for tomorrow's training run?

It is still listed on the MFC site.

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/teams/training-times

Edited Tuesday at 11:322 days by Kev

Just now, Kev said:

Does anyone believe, Wednesday 30th Sept 10.40am, at the AIA field will be the time and place for tomorrow's training run?

It is still listed on the MFC site.

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/teams/training-times

Mick Stinear messaged a track watcher buddy of ours today Kev, saying the session is going ahead tomorrow at 10:40am at the AIA Centre. Regardless, I’m still gonna call the club beforehand.

INS – O’Hehir
OUTS – Rigoni (omitted)

Glad to see O’Hehir back obviously but Rigoni is very stiff to be dropped.

Edited 2 hours ago2 hr by FarNorthernD

ESSENDON

In: M.Gay
Out: A.Morcom (injured)

Edited 2 hours ago2 hr by Dees_In_October

Avg. games experience of teams as selected:

Melbourne: 45.9

Essendon: 38.9

This is Melbourne's most experienced team since Round 2.

2025 available form against current top 12:

Melbourne: 2-0 (9th StK +74, 8th WC +51)

Essendon: 1-4 (8th WC +5; 10th Geel -31, 9th StK -52, 12th Freo -48, 1st Nth -30)

Coming into their 8th games in Round 8, first-year players Ebert and Mahony surpass the length of the 2017 home and away season, while 7-gamer O'Hehir matches it, with 5 more opportunities still to play in 2025's H&A fixture. It's progress before our eyes, let's not forget to stop and smell the roses.

As mentioned by Meggs in the match preview, congratulations to Brisbane coach Craig Starcevich, who becomes the first to notch up 100 games as coach in the AFLW. Mick is next in line, coaching the Dees for the 94th time on the weekend (of a possible 95 games).

KATE HORE COUNTDOWN TO 100 GOALS

Leaderboard:

Hore 95

Garner 90

Houghton 88

Ponter 88

Brennan 79

Wardlaw 79

There are some challengers, but barring circumstances that don't bear thinking about, Kate will be the first Demon to 100 goals given she leads Harris on 70 goals (9th all-time) and Zanker on 66 (12th).

Is it time to start planning a celebratory pitch invasion? A big game this week could get her there, but more likely would be away at Freo in Round 9 (disappointing) or at home at Casey in Round 10 (bring back the helicopter, fill with streamers, allow for wind, press the release button at the right moment). Or beyond?

Just watched much of the second half of Hawks vs Freo. Umpiring was disgraceful. Makes it so hard to enjoy watching a game as a neutral #freekickhawthorn