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The quiet achiever - Neville Jetta. Plays it simple, tough as nails and doesn't waste a posession. Knows his limits!

Clayton Oliver 22 disposals, 7 clearances only 56% game time...What type of beast have we just unearthed???

Never Give Up.....

I was the anti social bloke at a mates BBQ watching the game on the Gold Coast, a mates son watched the whole last quarter with me and asked who number 7 was, I said Jack Viney, after the game asked his dad can he get a Jack Viney jersey, we're on the Melbourne football club ordering a jersey now for him! Little steps but this big beautiful club is Coming back to life!!! Great win

I'd like to dedicate this win to Tom Scully

Getting a bit bored with all these wins. When are we going to get some decent competition. Matt Jones best game by miles - really pleased for him.

2 interesting stats 1. Clayton Oliver had 15 contested touches, record for a first gamer is a tie between Jack Viney and Ollie Wines on 16 2. Jack watts had 100% disposal efficiency 4 score involvements and a goal in the last quarter

Rules question: When Pedersen had that shot from the boundary against the point post, aren't the GWS players meant to be further away than they were. One of them seemed even closer than last year?

Watts has clicked. You knew we'd win when VDB's kick dug a trench on its way through for a goal. Tyson will lose his spot this year if he keeps this rubbish up. Very happy with Kennedy. Even more happy with GWS goal kicking and Steve Johnson's selfishness. Oliver! Oliver!

Just home. Still a bit [censored]. No negatives tonight. We have won a first round without some good players out and from a position where we might have tossed it it in previously. Some highlights for me were Jack Watts who looked a mature classy footballer and contributed all day. Jack Viney contributed all day - his muscle in the packs is so important. How did Collingwood let Kennedy go? Big Max took a couple of grabs and did not let Mummy dominate. Heavy work from Jones and some class from Bernie. Hogan looked all at sea a t times but lifted and kicked three. What will he do when he is having a good day?

Hilarious reading the gameday thread. There was so much moaning, grizzling and doom & glooming that it barely registered that Melbourne hit the front. Get a grip, girlfriends.

Collingwood are going ok given that 11 of their players are suffering from withdrawal.

loved the win and hate to be picky...but Gawns tap at the last centre bounce was Stkilda all over again. I was amazed we didn't get that right. All Melb players behind him and he taps forward? Anyway...post match review will at least be a good place to be this week, Bank the win and great fro morale but I think you gotta say we've got a lot of room for improvement also.

Great game # 50 for JV7!! An amazing game from him. He has been so good for so long its hard to believe it is only 50 games. Champion.

I would like to see how many goals as a result of Kennedys work.

Divorce her.

Okay.....I admit, I've had a few, but I'm reading stuff twice?

Most of the first quarter was great and the last quarter was exactly how we want to play this year. We were hopeless in the middle half. We let GWS play on their terms (flooding back, using the space in their half to stream forward). But to Roos'/Goodwin's credit, we made some key changes in the last to get the spark back and it worked. Jones to half-back, Garlett to the wing and Vince into the middle were key moves. Pedersen to CHB fixed two problems (filling in for OMac and making space in the forward line). We can't play Pedersen, Frost and Hogan in the same forward line, with Gawn continually floating in front of them. Fourth quarter was down to just Frost and Hogan and with the faster ball movement made all the difference. Oliver's debut was stunning. I can't wait to watch this kid grow into a star of the AFL. OMac was lost and shouldn't have played. Frost was largely ineffectual and I remain unconvinced that he is a forward. Harmes was poor today as well I thought. Kennedy added a heap of value across half-forward and his fourth quarter was spectacular. Watts, Viney, Gawn and TMac all played great games as well. Overall, we got lucky in parts but we took the game on when we needed to. Good sides use the opportunities provided to them and GWS kept the door open. We found away to barge back in and that should be celebrated.

Such an impressive last quarter - that is what Roos has brought - confidence and belief. Negatives before positives: - Tyson first 3 qtrs were sloppy and 'bad TJ-like' - Oscar isn't ready. And they should have played an underdone Dunn or Lumumba. - Frost playing near Jesse is like trying to fit a Porsche and a Hyundai into a narrow garage, I'm nervous every time, just let the Porsche have the effing space - the above was the main reason for our impotence, that and Pedersen/Gawn clogging too - Bernie getting used to his role resting across half back will take two months I reckon Positives - Oliver. Christ! - Watts plays like this 5 times a season, if he can double that stat, he will be top 6 in the bluey -Hogan's last term cements him as a star. He's a game winner - Viney first half was immense - McDonald was very McDonald; he is a great CHB. Loved the finish. Jones finally has a team with as much heart as him.

Should have been 10 goals down at 3/4 time. Got out of jail.

Me at the siren:

Despite the misleading DE statistic, we were far too messy with our disposal in the first three quarters and stopped running and moving the ball quickly in the second and third quarters, but when we move it quickly, we look so good. That passage of play in the last where Oliver somehow managed to win the clearance, Jones got it, kicked it down Kennedy's throat, who then kicked it beautifully to Watts' advantage was sublime and is a sign of things to come. Kennedy was arguably the most influential player on the ground in the final quarter. Had 5 scoring involvements in the first 7 minutes. Viney has well and truly arrived. He is a star and kept us in the game through the middle period (and GWS' poor goal kicking). Watts was terrific in the first and last quarters and Oliver's debut (with restricted game time - would he have even played 60% game time?) was one of the most impressive debuts from a midfielder you will see. I remember counting four centre clearances in a row in the last quarter. He became more influential than Viney. Honourable mention to Maxy Gawn. A very good game, despite playing against an underdone opponent.

31 consecutive undefeated weeks. Beat GWS in 2 consecutive home and away games. Life's good.

Who's the new recruit number 4?

Just watched the final quarter again. - Our first two goals were both started with a C. Oliver centre clearance. - Jack Watts kicks a goal within 90 seconds, and his extravagant celebration with teammates comes with the clear message. "We can win this" - Hogan 3 goals, one assist (shepherd on the line), a nice pass to Kennedy (who missed) and the match saving spoil. True definition of a 'match winner'. - Kennedy was directly involved with 3 goals. He also thwarted a GWS forward thrust at a critical stage with a near 'impossible' spoil (i.e. running back with the flight without impeding his opponent). - Garlett was involved in multiple scoring chains once pushed up the field. - Tom McDonald very involved and regularly hit target by foot.

Roos on Watts: "He is super smart, a good ball user, definitely a lot fitter now, his contest work is really terrific." No greater praise could be given to Jack, especially from his coach. Time for all the JW knockers to pack up!

Got bored watching Collingwood get flogged, so I turned it over to the North game, and straight away got a shot of Brad Scott with his mouth open and hands in the air. There just aren't the words to sufficiently describe how much that guy irks me.

Razor Ray achieved his aim. He got himself noticed.

Oliver won the first two clearances decisevely out of the middle to set up back to back goals at the start of the last quarter. Thats how a team gets on a roll.

Dazzle, might want to check out disposal efficiency numbers, in particular 1 Tom McDonald

The dawn breaks and we're first up today at the MCG. Our opponent has an extraordinary number of top 20 draft choices on its list but, as we well know, that doesn't necessarily mean anything. This game is at our home and, as much as we broke a hoodoo when we beat them in our last game at Etihad, it's time to reclaim the MCG as our home against these northern invaders.

fmd we cracked it - great result - bring on 40k 35117

For all those saying we 'stole' the game, that's rubbish. Yes, they kicked badly from their 50 entries into the forward 50, but we butchered it pretty much every one of the 58 times we went in. We had more attacking ball and should have used it better. The result was the fair one. The good news is that we will get better at it, as the last quarter showed. And, we are a team, finally.

Yes it's meant to be 10 metres, that was a joke. Then they pinged Kent for 12 steps, running into goal and then let Kelly have 20+ steps without penalty. Chamberlin was at his worst today.

Good win today but a lot of passengers. I thought we might have been a bit too cute leaving out Brayshaw, H and Dunn but there are positions open for them next week. ...and the sooner Weed makes his debut the better.

my favourite player.

Some parallels to the Richmond Carlton game here Winning side got up with a big last quarter from their forwards Found a way to win ugly and just sneak over the line Loser kicked themselves out of it it inaccuracy Main difference we beat a quality side expected to push for the eight. Richmond bear a gutsy Carlton outfit expected to finish in bottom 2 So there's two different ways to look at winning ugly...I like our perspective Go dees!

There's a tilt in my kilt and glide in my stride.

At 3 quarter time I was trying to convince myself that losing this game wasn't the end of the world, then in a blink of an eye we were in front! Ben Kennedy was unbelievably good today, I think he'll be one of the recruits of the year. Hogan's lethal from inside 40m, he can stutter all he likes. I thought it was a good move putting him in the midfield. He got 7 touches there then went forward with renewed energy and won us the game. I think those who questioned OMac's and Frost's inclusions were justified. OMac wasn't too bad but Frost doesn't look up to it (reasonable last quarter though). Those questioning Matt Jones' selection (me!) can eat some humble pie. What's happened to Tyson? His disposal by hand and foot is deplorable. Last, but not least, Clayton Oliver. Once in a decade talent IMO. Will be a champion.

Best on? Injuries? What's wrong with Hogan and his 3 goals? How was Oliver? When should I buy finals tickets? Help a sister with third world internet out!

jeepers creepers that was a tough game to watch.

The kids are looking at me like I'm a freak, think I may have got a tad too excited... (no BBO, not like that!)

I think we underestimate the quality of GWS.. Great comeback & never say die attitude hopefully beginning with similar positions in practice games.. Cant ask for anymore than that .. Sure some poor periods but remember great sides find a way to win!

Bit harsh on Frost. He was great in his pressure and efforts. And his tackle that should have had the GWS player holding the ball was a ripper. The umpires were utter Sh!te.

Everyone's different, I guess. It's hard to really comment without knowing the dynamics of their relationship, though I do know from an earlier relationship that time spent together lacks quality when one of the parties is held against their will. Anyway, I reckon if I proposed spending a Saturday doing something that didn't involve my wife, took up most of the day and included me taking the kids with me, I reckon my she would open every door for me on the way out and have the bottle of wine cracked before I was out of the driveway.

At Castlemaine station on the way to the G, woke an hour before dawn. Full moon energy as well as the first game excitement. With my keen 14 year old son. Thinking of my one eyed demon father who was still alive when last season started. ...

I'm tormenting my just turned 6 month old boy and setting him up for a lifetime of sporting chit, he is off to his first Dees game. Mumma has laid out all of his Dees gear ready to you, I've got his brand new ear muffs organised as daddy likes to yell at the footy!!!!! Trepidation and excitement for round 1 especially against a GWS side that will turn the corner and look to be a powerful side to play against at some stage. Just hope it isn't today.

Got woken by the girlfriend after very little sleep. She wants to go and look at houses to buy. Adam's got a short fuse now and he's writing in third person, so we'd better hope the MFC put up a good showing, otherwise it's going to get messy in the MCC.