Latrelle dodging and weaving through multiple players and then NOT just bombing it in, but waiting to find the right target and hitting said target, was very promising. He did it twice too.

8 hours ago, Ted Lasso said:

Kozzie Pickett could legitimately win the Brownlow this year. If we go okay in terms of win/loss and he plays anywhere near that level consistently he’s going to go very very close to winning the Brownlow and could finish top 10 in the Coleman as a midfielder

Kozzy wins and runner up is N Daicos 😜. Now that would be funni.

39 minutes ago, Macca said:

Putting the coaching aside, I reckon that the reason that we only won 7 games last year was because of the deadwood & non team players that influenced the side so much. A huge distraction on game days

Many here (and elsewhere) zeroed in on the Coach (and that's fair enough) but a few here were more looking at the make-up of the team and the old habits that couldn't be shaken

At last count there were at least 6 players on the list that went off the rails, post the premiership. That's 6 too many when often there's not even one player who bucks the system at a club. And that's the ones we know about

• 2 guilty at a restaurant (amongst numerous other indiscretions by 1 of the 2)

• A wingman from another club who was a bad influence

• A utility forward who went rogue

• And the much discussed 2 mids with their numerous issues

Outside our control was the loss of ANB, Gus & Luke Jackson

With all that going on, it's any wonder that we lost our way

As good as the premiership was, things started to go pear-shaped not long after

Players like Windsor, Kolt, Langford & Lindsay must have wondered what was going on, upon entering the club.

By contrast, Steele, CJ, Heath, Mihocek, Taylor & Latrelle have entered the club with a new regime in charge. Trouble has exited the building

But even so, the senior players need to lift and to lead the way. Without that happening, we could become too reliant on the youngsters, too soon

The kids that we've recruited in deserve a proper foundation

I always wondered why Harmes left.

8 hours ago, Bang Bang Bang said:

I thought Steele was fantastic and brought a skill set we haven’t seen from a Dees mid for a long time.

Yes: leadership.

3 minutes ago, John Crow Batty said:

I always wondered why Harmes left.

In his final year with us Harmes wasn't getting a regular game and then the Bulldogs offered him a 3 year deal

But there are a number of ex Demons playing elsewhere and quite a few are very good players ... LJ, ANB, Hogan, Oliver, Petracca, Bedford, Jordon etc

The list has undergone a real transformation since the flag year

It's like we're back at Paul Roos' 3rd year as coach again (which was 2016)

22 hours ago, Demon Head said:

Let’s not get carried away. The match sim did not even rise to the level of a practice match and was the first hit out for both sides, neither of which was anywhere near to full strength. How many times has a team starred in a preseason match and then struggled in the real thing?

us - this time last year we fixed up Norf and then a month later they fixed us right up and 2025 was dead by Easter!

1 hour ago, Macca said:

And that's the ones we know about

This.

Worth noting also that 2 of the newer players have been brought in as much anything because of their leadership. Both Steele and Mihocek not only bring leadership in spades, they show what leadership is. Much as we love Gawn and Viney, they're both lead-by-example leaders, not so much troop-marshalers.

Bit of a paradox here as well in that our collapse against St Kilda was the beginning of the end (or the end of the end) for Goodwin and probably the couple of usual suspects as well. Yet here we are with St Kilda's captain from that day, someone who was at the frontline of making sure his team did what needed to be done.

Funny old world, though IMHO the wheels really came off when we lost Gus.

1 hour ago, dazzledavey36 said:

"And for the first time in a while, Melbourne doesn’t look like a side trying not to lose ..."

Oh so true, and has been true since the moment the final siren sounded in the 2021 GF. Winning the flag and the weight of expectations that came with it became a millstone around our necks. Right through the club.

2 minutes ago, bing181 said:

This.

Worth noting also that 2 of the newer players have been brought in as much anything because of their leadership. Both Steele and Mihocek not only bring leadership in spades, they show what leadership is. Much as we love Gawn and Viney, they're both lead-by-example leaders, not so much troop-marshalers.

Bit of a paradox here as well in that our collapse against St Kilda was the beginning of the end (or the end of the end) for Goodwin and probably the couple of usual suspects as well. Yet here we are with St Kilda's captain from that day, someone who was at the frontline of making sure his team did what needed to be done.

Funny old world, though IMHO the wheels really came off when we lost Gus.

Yes, Gus was the glue that bound the team together. He could play so many roles including as a breakaway attacking mid or as a mid who played a kick behind the play. Mr Versatility

Losing LJ & ANB were big losses as well ... more so when LJ had his mind on the job ($$$$'s elsewhere became a distraction)

ANB is still a tireless worker but Bowey & Chandler (together) have overcome his loss, to an extent

The kids we've got could be anything. Add on 2 more in the 2026 draft (with at least 2 x First Round picks) and our future, post 2026, looks very exciting

2026 the bridging year? Might be somewhat better than that, if things click into place

Edited 20 hours ago20 hr by Macca

1 hour ago, Macca said:

Players like Windsor, Kolt, Langford & Lindsay must have wondered what was going on, upon entering the club.

I’ve spoken separately to the parent/s of three of these boys about this because I wondered how they felt when their sons came to the basket-case that was Melbourne. I knew the players themselves were happy just to have been drafted but for mine the parents’ feelings were more telling.

From the conversations we had and are still having* I can confidently say that the club couldn’t possibly have handled this any better than they did. And no, that’s not just me blindly defending the club.

*I ran into Harvey’s parents and sister yesterday before the match. Mr and Mrs Bison are delighted with their baby Bison’s progress and continue to sing the praises of the club. They also LOVE the nickname Bison, and that’s because he loves it ❤️💙

Edited 20 hours ago20 hr by Ghostwriter

Just now, Ghostwriter said:

I’ve spoken separately to the parent/s of three of these boys about this because I wondered how they felt when their sons came to the basket-case that was Melbourne. I knew the players themselves were happy just to have been drafted but for mine the parents’ feelings mattered more.

From the conversations we had and are still having* I can confidently say that the club couldn’t possibly have handled this any better than they did. And no, that’s not me blindly defending the club.

*I ran into Harvey’s parents and sister yesterday before the match. Mr and Mrs Bison are delighted with their baby Bison’s progress and continue to sing the praises of the club. They also LOVE the nickname Bison, and that’s because he loves it ❤️💙

My trepidation was not the club itself, but the influential players, including those bringing undue attention to all and sundry

As an 18yo, those sorts of things can be quite the eye-opener

Beforehand, a young player might only know those players as top players, but when in the midst, a different picture can emerge

As an example @Ghostwriter

At the end of this season if you were to ask Bison, XL, The Duke & Kolt about their year at the club (2026) as compared to 2024 & 2025

The atmosphere, the leadership, the coaching, the mateship, the teamwork and their general enjoyment

If we have the year that I reckon we might have, their view of 2024 & 2025 might be somewhat condemnatory*

*Thanks, AI

Edited 19 hours ago19 hr by Macca

8 minutes ago, Macca said:

My trepidation was not the club itself, but the influential players, including those bringing undue attention to all and sundry

As an 18yo, those sorts of things can be quite the eye-opener

Beforehand, a young player might only know those players as top players, but when in the midst, a different picture can emerge

And this is my point, Macca. The club made sure there was no negative influence on the kids. I’m not saying they segregated them or wouldn’t let them engage at all with certain senior players but from what the parents have said the kids were educated if you will right from the outset.

3 minutes ago, Macca said:

As an example @Ghostwriter

At the end of this season if you were to ask Bison, ZL, The Duke & Kolt about their year at the club (2026) as compared to 2024 & 2025

The atmosphere, the leadership, the coaching, the mateship, the teamwork and their general enjoyment

If we have the year that I reckon we might have, their view of 2024 & 2025 might be somewhat condemnatory*

*Thanks, AI

You lost me at “Thanks, AI”😅

2 minutes ago, Ghostwriter said:

And this is my point, Macca. The club made sure there was no negative influence on the kids. I’m not saying they segregated them or wouldn’t let them engage at all with certain senior players but from what the parents have said the kids were educated if you will right from the outset.

When you're in amongst it, young players can't help but notice how the senior players go about it ... both on and off the field

Whether they get influenced or not is another story but in a well run club with strong leadership values from the senior players being par for the course, then that can rub off in a positive way

Where was our leadership group in the last few years? Seems like it came down to Gawn and that was about it

I guess everyone has covered the individual efforts and team efforts, the seemingly improved game plan and ability to execute etc, so I see no point in adding to that; not that I could anyway, having the short term memory span of a gnat. However, while I agree somewhat with those talking the match down because of the quality, well, lack thereof, of the opposition, the way that I see it is that an 80 point win against anyone playing in the AFL comp is pretty decisive and cannot simply be dismissed offhand.

All I can say is that this result and some of the plays, both individual and set moves, have given me great cause for optimism, to the point where I’m feeling like we might actually improve our position on the ladder by a couple of spots, up to 12.

I now only hope that Friday’s upcoming match against Richmond doesn’t bring me crashing back down to earth… if we can bring that same teamwork, energy, intensity and commitment to the game, and manage another win, albeit against a weak opposition, I’ll be over the moon!

Now that I have read the Casey report I will change the team

B: Lever, McDonald, Salem

HB: Jiath, Turner, Tholstrup

C: Langford, van Rooyen, L.Pickett

F: Fritsch, Miiocek, Kentfield

FOLL: Gawn, Rivers, K.Pickett

IC: Langdon, Sparrow, Windsor, Howes, Heath

EMERG: Petty, Culley, Jefferson

Casey

B: L.Lual, Adams, W.Lual

HB: Taylor, Berry, Bonner

C: Bergman, Onley, Culley

HF: Mentha, Petty, Matthews

F: Cross, Jefferson, Melksham

FOLL: Ah Mu, Laurie, Sharp

IC: Henderson, McAdam, Moniz-Wakefield, Laplanche, Sinnema

2 hours ago, WERRIDEE said:

Now that I have read the Casey report I will change the team

B: Lever, McDonald, Salem

HB: Jiath, Turner, Tholstrup

C: Langford, van Rooyen, L.Pickett

F: Fritsch, Miiocek, Kentfield

FOLL: Gawn, Rivers, K.Pickett

IC: Langdon, Sparrow, Windsor, Howes, Heath

EMERG: Petty, Culley, Jefferson

Casey

B: L.Lual, Adams, W.Lual

HB: Taylor, Berry, Bonner

C: Bergman, Onley, Culley

HF: Mentha, Petty, Matthews

F: Cross, Jefferson, Melksham

FOLL: Ah Mu, Laurie, Sharp

IC: Henderson, McAdam, Moniz-Wakefield, Laplanche, Sinnema

Are we going to revolutionise the game by playing with 15 on the ground and leaving out the HF line?

13 hours ago, Ted Lasso said:

Kozzie Pickett could legitimately win the Brownlow this year. If we go okay in terms of win/loss and he plays anywhere near that level consistently he’s going to go very very close to winning the Brownlow and could finish top 10 in the Coleman as a midfielder

If he plays like that every week, yes.

However one thing I feel that has occurred in the past is that Kossie can be a little inconsistent in his output week to week. I suspect that's partly because he attracts alot of attention to shut him down, which might be harder to do in the midfield than in the forwardline. As a mid, he'd also be somewhat less at the mercy of how others are delivering the ball further a field into the forward line.

Give Dacos his credit to an extent, I'm guessing he cops alot of pretty hard tags and still produces. If Kossie plays a few more games like Friday early, he could easily attract the same. That said, Kossie also plays a lot more physically tougher game, which could be either an asset or a hindrance if he gets frustrated and gives away frees or gets suspended trying to break a tag.

This all said I do feel a growing maturity from Kossie and I hope he is ready to explode as a regular dominant mid. My God I'm glad we recruited him and then we able to retain him last season, because he's certainly developing into a genuine star.

...and then to have his cousin at the club as well, who looks like an absolute jet. Full credit to the recruitment team for going what some considered early in the draft with these player's. The both have that real X factor at another level, that sets them apart from most players.

Edited 16 hours ago16 hr by Rodney (Balls) Grinter

14 hours ago, DubDee said:

what kind of a [censored] does a tackle like that in a practice match?

should be suspended just for stupidity

I think the body language of the North player in the moment immediately afterwards is telling that he knew he'd done something wrong and but also that perhaps he hadn't ment it. Still, I hope he gets suspended as we've seen so many MFC players rubbed out for similar actions and we can't afford to be inflicting concussions to players in the game.

Asides from that, watching the replay did remind me of how impressed I was of the impact from Mihocek in the limited gametime he was on. Looks like a great pick-up for us already.

From watching the stream and reading the reports it would seem we have a lot to look forward to this season. The team had a very fresh look to the way they played and their attitude.

I feel that we will still be a bit up and down but the trick will be to see how quickly we can adjust and get back into the game. In ‘21 there was a lot of talk about our ability to ‘reset’ during games and I hope we are working on that ability with this group. A lot of this stems from the players having confidence in the coaches and what they are saying. I do not think that confidence was there in the last couple of seasons.

An 80 point win, no matter who it is against helps to build that confidence.

A lot to like. Roll on next week.

6 hours ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

Are we going to revolutionise the game by playing with 15 on the ground and leaving out the HF line?

Given the Saints well publicized extravagant recruitment largesse. AFL have instigated an across the board austerity drive by stealth.

8 minutes ago, Tarax Club said:

Given the Saints well publicized extravagant recruitment largesse. AFL have instigated an across the board austerity drive by stealth.

That or Mr.Werridee had one or two too many fine reds last night, was my initial thought!

Edited 10 hours ago10 hr by Rodney (Balls) Grinter