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cant believe Mark Neeld only signed this guy for 3 years Now we risk losing him at the end of 2015 Damn you Neeld!!!!!

A genuine quality midfield God it has been a long time One seasoned veteran in his prime, two brilliant kids, two genius imports Roosy has just strolled in and in 9 weeks has fixed a huge problem we have had for about 7 years Hooray

A fantastic win and a great game to go to. Saturday arvo, traditional Victorian teams, big crowd and a tough, hard contest. Oh yeah, and a win! That's what footy is about. At times it was almost hard to believe what I was seeing - a Melbourne team playing hard, tough, combative footy for four quarters, ferocious tackling, being hard to score against, structured and well organised, dangerous on the break...this is the kind of stuff we've all longed to see over the last 7 years. Great credit to the players for playing with that level of intensity and desire and to Roosy and the coaching group for getting it out of them. We did have our fair share of luck. This does not take away from a great performance and I still believe we deserved to win, but you do need a bit of luck to win the close ones. Richmond missed some really gettable chances, we had a few bounce through that could easily have missed and they only had two rotations in the last quarter to our three. But by the same token the Dogs had this luck the previous week. If it wasn't for some missed chances in the last quarter (including two posters), a couple dodgy frees and some freak goals, we would have beaten the Dogs by 4 or so goals. So we had no luck last week, but had a bit this week. For me though the most impressive thing in recent weeks has been our midfield clearance work. We all know we have had the worst midfield in the comp over the last couple years, and week after week we'd get smashed in the stoppages. The last two weeks we have played two teams whose strength is their midfield. Both the Dogs and Tigers have good depth and some star talent in their midfield and really it is the midfield that drives these teams. The fact that we beat the Dogs (slightly) and Tigers (comprehensively) in the clearances the last two weeks is quite incredible considering where we've come from. I am not sure what the key factor is, but obviously having Tyson, Cross and Vince makes a huge difference, as does the scintillating form of Nathan Jones and the rise of Viney. It's a new midfield indeed. It's hard to know the impact of the midfield coaches from an outsider perspective but we just look a lot more structured and confident at the clearances and have shown an ability to flip a few handballs out to release a free player (something we have not been able to do in the past). The coaches should get credit for this. However, one more factor that should not be ignored is the Russian. I haven't seem him ruck like this since 2010. We were still struggling in the clearances earlier in the year, but since he has returned against Sydney we have just gone to another level. His ability to get first hands and more importantly direct his hit outs to our advantage has been critical. Well done Russian.

with apologies to FB ( MFC) pilfered from there...but the sentiment is the thing here "Symon Brady My 8yo son, Cameron, seeing his first ever LIVE win. He chatted to Jack Watts at the race before the game and told him that he had never seen the Dees win a game live, Jack said to him, "let's change that today." At the end of the game when the players came down the race Wattsy pointed to Cameron and with a big smile gave him a massive thumbs up. Was the best sight ever! GO DEES!" I've lamabasted ol' Jack when I thought it warranted. In fairness applause also when due. Nice touch JW

This is a rubbish post. His effort in the forts 3 quarters was ordinary? What tosh, he was excellent all game. Attacked the ball, ran hard all day, ran to space to give options all day (and as noted by a poster above was often ignored), was smart with his ball use and his coach lauded him. Was in our best 3. Just a rubbish post and typical of some so called fans who have a set view of Watts and refuse to change even when the evidence demands a reassessment. Oh and knocking him by knocking Vlaustin? This is the same Vlaustin who was almost their best player last year?

Bit hard on Spencer Steve?

Great to see Mitch Clark continues to support for the boys and I love reading his enthusiastic tweets. It is heartbreaking that he is not playing but comforting that he has the club in his heart and he remains one of us.

Amazing win! Check the scores in the changerooms after our win today and let out the biggest YOU LITTLE [censored] BEAUUUTY!!! Turned to two other teamates of mine who are melbourne supporters and gave each biggest high five going around! We were more excited about this win then us just beating the top side would you believe it or not lol. Btw first time Viney, Toumpas, Tyson, Salem and JKH all played together today. You could build a seriously competitive midfield out of that lot! Ps: To Picket Fence go and EAD and take your Toumpas negativity and shove it up ya. Your a sad individual who share the same similarities as Damian Barratt.

Wattsy had 10 disposals, four marks and kicked two goals in the last 30 minutes. Match winner.

Oh please c'mon. His intensity today was as good as it has ever been. I just don't get the negativity about Watts in the last 3 weeks. And to be clear i called for him to be dropped due to his lack of intensity against the Swans. Thankfully i'm not coach of the dees and since then he has been terrific and his intensity and effort has been first class. For petes sake he was a key to us winning today.

I reckon Paul Roos knows more about footy than me.

Just got home. Casey is severely lacking in talls. Fitzy was pretty good. He was moved to the ruck and dominated. But there was no one to kick it to as far as tall forwards go. The one thing I really took from the game was how much better melbourne players are in close with their hands. I thought michie and Evans were our best. Mckenzie played well but just lacks any penetration. Kent got a bit of footy but he turned it over sooooo many times today. I'm a big Kent fan but was frustrated with him today. Tappscott had some turnovers as well. Blease started really well but tried a bit too much later in the game. Think of the Richmond game in the preseason. With no one really to kick long to we tried to make kicks that just weren't there. I saw the 2nd half of the magoos just to see westrupp. He would have had 10 or so possessions as a back who plays tall. He took a good mark down back and almost a huge pack mark near the wing. He didn't turn it over once and created a good amount of run. It's the first time I've seen him in a game and I thought he went ok. Needs to back himself a bit more. Not sure if he can go further but you never know.

didn't think grimes was poor at all. completely cut martin out of it when moved onto him.

No it doesn't.

That was right in front of me. Was nice to see him get up and even though he wasn't keen to kick and winced a lot until he went off he had to fight through it a bit. Obviously you don't want guys getting injured but the message to Toumpas is clear. You sat under a high kick. You went for the ball and drew a free kick. And it might have hurt but your survived and are a better player because of it.

I hope the football public matures a bit too, and many on here. It's time for Jack to be left to get on with his game, this is what the FD has brought with them this year, they let the players play, teach them and back them in.

Fitzy played and did ok. He started at FF but moved into the ruck in the last. It wasn't a FF day with the quality of ball coming in, it was awful. He was very clean with his hands below his knees, marked quite well and was good when he went into the ruck against modest opposition. Kent looks closest to me and would be a step up from Salem or Toumpas. Michie, mcKenzie and Evans could all do a capable job in the seniors but where are the spots. Blease kept running behind the man with the ball and tried to dazzle with every possession..he failed. Having said that he did get some of his own ball in the second half. Nicholson and Tappy got a bit of it and Barry impressed in patches. Hunt is learning and Georgio had a poor game. Caseys problem is they don't seem to play team footy and a lot of the possession were like MFC in the preseason games. A lot of The Lions goals came when we tried to switch and turned it over in dangerous positions.

Just watched the replay and I'm super impressed with Bernie Vince, he is a real key to our good form, it's like watching the energiser bunny he just keeps on going. He gets plenty of the ball and makes good decisions; I can understand that Adelaide were thinking long term but letting him go was a mistake. Two players that were supporter favourites with their clubs, Bernie and Crossy have been tremendous for us.

Yeah ... Nah... I want opposition supporters to sit in stony silence as we thrash their team with the odd close game to make it exciting.

I couldn't wipe the smile off my face when I read this on my twitter feed. Here we have respect coming from a champion of our game. Not only supporters, but players are legitimately recognizing the Melbourne Football Club and our players. It's great to see.

Fair dinkum watching Game Day and they have Cotchin and Chaplin as panelists and you would have thought might have won yesterday. Cotchin 3 things we learnt was disgraceful. Could only muster up one positive for the dees saying how our big man stretched there backline then had the guts to say Ben Lennon is a younger player to watch in the future. What about Dom Tyson who pulled your pants down? Or JKH who put the nail in the coffin? Unbelievable.

I don't know why anyone would take the slightest bit of interest in what Barrett has to say, he hasn't got a clue and just waffles on as if he does. The media will attack any lame dog, as they are easy game, the smart ones will realise when the tide is turning, Barrett and his kind will continue to get dumped because they just don't get it and don't understand it.

I was really harsh on him but he's now doing pretty much everything that I was complaining about, which means, well...I can stop complaining. That was easy.

go away.

This is my first ever post.... Reading Demonland every day, subscribed after the sentinal 'Demonland will close' post. What a great win All I can say is Thank you Paul Roos, how lucky we are The first 'Messiah', who has told the team I am NOT the Messiah, YOU are The TEAM is the thing.... Pivotal moment this win

Sitting third in the Lou Richards medal right now if he got any votes yesterday he'd be winning Top 10 in Herald Sun player of the year More than likely got 8 or more brownlow votes so far Ranked 109 in the afl player ratings Something out of place there seriously underrated

Agreed Scoop. I had written Jamar off totally but he is playing his best footy for years. I'm still not convinced about consistent accuracy of his taps but his body strength and positioning at the centre bounce is first rate.

I'm a big Sandy fan but he got a lot wrong yesterday and continually. Maybe he hasn't done enough commentary to keep his game up or maybe it's past him by but mistakes and all I would still have him over BT or D-Wayne who also make a lot of mistakes and are absolute ..... to boot.

Casey 7.9.51 v Coburg 6.2.38. McKenzie, Tapscott, Evans, Michie, Nicho all good. Blease lots of the ball but few if any contested possessions. Most MFC players in the game and contributing.

A couple of sensational taps, the one to Vince where he scored a goal was fantastic.

No, you could not. McDonald is doing a lot of things right. He beat Riewoldt all ends up yesterday. But he cannot kick and he makes some really poor decisions when he gets the ball.

I got on. They're having a total meltdown, as you'd expect. Outraged at losing to a weak team like Melbourne - a little faint praise for us - only one poster dares to suggest we might be better than they thought. When I think what we've had to endure, this mob are WAP.

The Tigers having more scoring shots is almost irrelevant. They blazed away and then sometimes got a second chance when we failed to get the ball out of defensive 50. Overall it was more than evident who the better team was. Can't quite get over centre clearances being 14-5 in our favour.

Lets just wait and see if he can get on the park again before making big calls.

I'm laughing out loud. Knew this would happen. Those here who regularly bag Watts can get stuffed. You can no longer hide behind your convenient, simplistic, boring, cliched, pathetic posts. Just admit that he's still developing and that he's a bloody important player for this club. Good onya Jack. Great game - thank you. I really enjoyed that win.

I thought he was good most of the game but not great, as there were still those "what's happening why is everyone running past me moments". What was frustrating were the amount of times he ran his guts out to get into position A or space A and his team mate kicked it to another option where we were outnumbered. But I loved his exhausting gut running. I was impressed with his game today because: He had vital possessions in every quarter. His last quarter was outstanding. He took some contested marks. Some of his tackles were very strong. He played a team game. His kicking. It really is a pleasure to watch him kick. And to that female Melbourne supporter behind me who kept screaming out "just kick it Jack" every time he got it, I love the way he holds onto the ball and takes his full 6 seconds to decide... then delivers.

I think that Pedersen just needed to feel that he was wanted and part of a team culture. Roos has made him and the other players feel that way.

At half time I thought his game was almost the opposite of usual. All work rate, tackles, leads etc and no fancy stuff, no threading the needle etc. I was really happy with his efforts but thought it would probably go unnoticed. I thought his third quarter was a bit quieter but they were at the other end from me so maybe that was it. His fourth quarter was immense. The amount of running he did was great. The last goal he kicked after a mark close to goal was a result of a 150 m run from the wing where he won the ball and got it out before sprinting forward. Fantastic play. Well done Jack. He has *played better* but this was one of his highest work rates I think.

On the subject... Have you not noticed the defensive structures. It is very apparent. How many shots did they miss from an angle of 45 degrees or better. One of Roos biggest win is teaching the boys not to give up the corridor - pushed wide all day. They got two goals from lucky frees. Got gifted forward possession ending up in goals by poor umpiring. We hit the post twice. Not lucky - we deserved to win. Lucky by 3 goals ? Please ....

Like Deledio deliberately elbowing someone in the face a couple of weeks ago and getting a reprimand?

Who was the f##g who used to post on here and dropped the Dees to go over to the Tiges, bet he's feeling all warm and fuzzy tonight.

I thought Watts was sensational today, he did all the things we have accused I'm of not doing in the past, I'm as guilty as anyone. Ever since Roos had a dip at both he and Howe they have improved immeasurably and I reckon today was the making of Wattsy and just showed how good Howe is. We still make mistakes and that's why the top teams will probably beat us, but as time goes by we will make fewer mistakes and games will all of a sudden be winnable. One thing that we must do is try to keep Cross playing for a few more years, he is a gem and just backs up, contest after contest. Pederson, what can you say he is playing out of his skin at the moment and just gets better every week, boy has he turned it around. I'm glad that Roos has shown more faith in some of the players than I have.

I am a straight man and everything but I think I want to be Dom Tyson's boyfriend, that's if he is keen.

h_h's thoughts don't lead from one to another, they're just random, unrelated occurrences. Don't bother trying to hold him to account, it's pointless. I'd still have hugged him if he'd had the audacity to be nearby after the win, though.

I also trust him to win the ball. Doesn't matter if it's inside or out, he puts himself in the right place. On current output I'd trade pick 2 for Tyson alone. The fact that we ended up with Salem as well is nothing short of exceptional. So happy.

Not a perfect game, but a strong consistent game during which he rose to the big moments. He was one of the few still at full pace in the last quarter. At one stage in the last quarter he and Dawes were over near the wing on the Brunton Ave side, and after 4 or 5 long plays both were absolutely stuffed. From there Watts led 2, 3, 4 times and burned off every opponent near him, ended up reciving it on the lead. I was surprised, relieved and delighted with his game today.

Its a strange feeling - actually being able to trust that your team will be competitive in games and ... may even have a chance to win... What's it been? 4-5 years?

If Mitch was still playing we would be 5 wins I reckon.

Apart from the one obvious screw up, I think Matt Jones played another great game.