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To me the next three weeks will really define our season. They will determine whether we have a slim chance of being a top 8 contender or just hover between 12-16th. Three games that we can win against Collingwood, Richmond and St Kilda, we could be 4 and 2 after this stretch, at a bare minimum we should be 3 and 3 and it would be a complete utter disaster if we are 1 and 5. Our players talk about improvement, GWS was a terrible game but we stole it, Essendon well no need to comment and North another should have game but at least we played well. It is time for the club to get of the rollercoaster and show us what they are really made of. Three weeks, a lot of talk out of the club over pre-season the next three weeks will show us supporters whether this talk was to build the Hype or we have the game to back this up.

He should have said "we will let the opposition cruise to huge lead and then try to come back from there".

Confirmed. Jayden Hunt will debut this week against the pies. http://www.melbournefc.com.au/video/2016-04-14/jayden-hunt-calls-his-mum

I've got a gut feeling that its all going to click for the Dees either this week or the week after and we're going to see a complete domination similar to that game against Sydney in the Bailey era where we absolutely blew them away. It's gotta happen sooner or later,

Will be very interesting to see how this game plays out. I expect Pendles to play mostly off half back again, simply because we have so many tough inside mids who would be pretty keen to test out those ribs, so i'd play someone like Watts or Kent on him, someone who he has to respect and can make him play as a defender. Last year sidebottom had 21 touches in the first half, then Daniel Cross was moved onto him and he only had 4 more for the game, i'd start the game off with Bugg on him, seems he doesn't handle a tag very well. Treloar is in great form but so is Viney so i'd let them go head to head. Crisp i think with go to Chunk, though it would be tempting to put him on Oliver i reckon, the young fella has been a driving force for us from the midfield with fantastic clearance and contested numbers. Fingers crossed Cloke continues his horrible run of form. Jetta should get the job and i think is more then capable of beating Fasolo, he looks to me like the most likely to kick 5-6 goals and be a match winner. I think the really big advantage we're going to have will be the midfield, i think we have a much deeper midfield because of the Pies injuries and we also have an inform Max Gawn who i expect to really dominate Brodie Grundy, we saw against North for the first time that i can remember Max being extremely damaging with his hit outs to advantage, i think it resulted in us scoring 6 goals or something last week, so a repeat dose of that and we should have a good win. Jeffy back will be pretty handy and i quite like the form that Kent, Watts and Hogan seem to be building, i really love the way Watts and Hogan seem to be working together, Jesse himself has said when he see's the ball in Jacks hands his eyes light up. I really liked H's game last week, i know not everyone did but he really added some run and spark to the side which makes a difference, just needs to work on his decisions but i think that comment probably applies for every player in the team. Really big week for Dom Tyson, i feels he's been going okay, but he is capable of soooooo much more, he's good enough to be getting 30 plus and a goal a game, and using it really well, i think he's averaging around 22 touches at the moment ( someone i'm sure knows this ) so a little below what i'd expect and making some bad decisions and being a little lazy with disposal, if he gets anywhere near his best form it will go a long way towards us winning the next few games.

He was just putting roofies in the Gatorade though, so he should get off lightly.

Is that you deeluded

I allowed myself to get carried away with expectations and have ridden a hell of a rollercoaster in the last two weeks as a result. On paper and form we should be well on top of this mob, however I think for now I'll revert to the 2015 mantra of "cautious optimism".

I noticed Petracca and Weideman weren't selected though...

I am almost certain that media outlets are trying to pump this up as a certainty for Collingwood, so they can get even more mileage out of it next week if they lose. I don't see how any sane football watcher could have Collingwood that far ahead of us on what we have seen so far. Anyway, we will see Sunday.

You've been a Jetta doubter for a long time and only coming around now? Really? Jetta's been doing a terrific job since his reinstatement and is probably our most consistent player, who gets the job done without fanfare regardless of who he's playing on. What have you been watching?

I'm convinced Max wrote it.

It's scripted perfectly, Collingwood followed by Richmond. Please let it happen.

Great for Jayden, another player many on here wanted delisted last year. Have a good one Jayden and then go on to a good AFL career with us. Will give us something we lack, pace.

Ms. Wilson in the Age has a good handle on Dank ~ His reputation ruined, Stephen Dank craves relevance. It's not just Dank's reputation that's ruined but also his credibility. How appalling it is that some people who have it in for the former board and CEO would give the four month story the time of day. For the record the matter was investigated by the club which reported to Gillon McLachlan, then second in charge at the AFL. According to information made available then, Dank was interviewed for a position at the club and was rejected. He also had dialogue with the club's doctor, Dr Bate on treatment of injuries without the club's knowledge but Bate cut off all contact on 5 February 2013 ("the darkest day"). Eventually word of what had happened got back to Don McLardy and Cameron Schwab who had the matter fully investigated and reported to McLachlan who had not communicated the fact to Demetriou when the 7.30 Report story about the club's connection came out. Demetriou was wrong to blast the club but no apology was ever forthcoming. If there is any truth to Dank's story it might come out (personally, I doubt anything of the sort will) but if anyone on this site wants to cast aspersions of impropriety on the specific individuals in charge of the club at the time on this issue, then please provide your name and address and be prepared to accept the consequences. This site does not endorse any comments or inferences against those persons.

Two youngest teams and least experienced teams (bottom 3) going around this weekend at the G on Sunday.....: Reference: from Brett Anderson's twitter feed - Round 3 stats

Anyone see this [censored] on the footy show tonight. He has tried to connect us with Dank and supplements scandle over 3 years now..He will not leave it alone and now suggests that WADA is going to reopen a case on us. The club needs to get on the front foot and smash this [censored]. He is a parasite.

He's injured. You're on fire mate!

Scroll up dude.

See, this is what's confusing. When we're underdogs we play better which makes us favourites which means we're no longer underdogs which means we're no longer favourites which means we're now the underdogs which means we play better...

...brings all the boys to the yard?

Agree, but our problem is that our form against Norf is as relevant as our form against the Druggies. Stating the obvious, there's still too much difference between our best and our worst. If we get everything nearly right, we can match anybody. But if we get one or two things wrong, we're poo. Last year we got a few things wrong the first time we played them. Bucks got away with playing Oxley loose in defence and he was BOG, as well as Cloke popping goals from both boundary lines on the 50m arc, from 60m out and from a ball that bounced on its point back into his hands right in front. The second time we played them, we got pretty much everything right and nailed them. If we're on top of our game, we'll beat them. We can again expect Bucks to try to nullify Gawn & Viney & probably Hogan. Goldie did us a favour by trying to beat Gawn fair & square, but this week there will be heaps of holding & pushing & double-teaming of Gawn at stoppages without much concern about where the ball is; their mids will expect this and be ready to pounce on a neutral ball, and Gawn will get no help whatsoever from umpires. Bucks doesn't like tagging, but we rely so heavily on Viney at stoppages that he's now a target, and can expect to wear someone like McCaffer who will be focussed only on pushing or holding Viney away from stoppages, again without any intervention from umpires except when Viney pushes back. Clearances are so important in this match. Like I said before the Essendon game, I don't want to see us a few goals behind halfway through the third quarter scratching our heads wondering why we're getting smashed in clearances when we should be winning them. The Pies will be planning their whole game strategy on being able to nullify Gawn & Viney (for example, they'll plan for the ball landing at the ruck men's feet at just about every stoppage, and they'll be swarming on the ball & getting first hands & blocking & digging it out, while the taps to advantage that we're waiting for just aren't coming) and we need to anticipate before the game what we're going to do if they manage to do it. For example, if McCaffer's wearing Viney like lycra, Viney doesn't try to win the clearance but tries to block another Collingwood mid (say, Treloar) at stoppages, thus taking two opponents (Treloar & McCaffer) out; or move Viney to full forward, where against a mid-tagger his greater strength will be extremely dangerous and harder to counter.

Out: Vince (susp.), Vanders (ankle) In: Brayshaw, Garlett (if fit otherwise ANB)

I am looking forward to Sunday's match against Collingwood and the possibility of sneaking into the eight. The thing I particularly enjoy about Collingwood matches is that they inevitably televised are free to air, meaning my father, in his mid nineties (and a paid-up MFC member until this year) can watch his beloved Demons in comfort without having to battle through the Collingwood scum, enroute from the station. Go Dees! Late update: My brother is driving up from Lorne and collecting Dad and bringing him to the match via taxi. I have arranged a guest pass into the Pavilion for him so a great day ensures.

I don't think any of them can be accused of performance enhancing either

Richmond last year after Hafey died?

Problem is each one of those games the opposition will be "up and about" and see us as a win, same as Essendon. We don't expect to beat Geelong Sydney or Hawthorn (though it's nice when we do). Bring the pressure and fight and we can treat the next three games like Essendon treated us and take the fight to them. The right attitude equals three wins.

The Saints killed them with speed, both running and ball movement. No doubt hopeful of doing the same. Good luck to him.

"Disagree. We are now doing what the good sides do, giving talented young players time, to develop their bodies and game. " I wrote the above comment in January on Hunt after earlier posts last year when several posters wanted to delist him. The point is however, we are now a different club to the crap we were a few years ago. We are doing so many things better and player development is one of them. This kid has been kept on the list for a few years, where he had a number of injuries, which restricted his game time for Casey. He has been allowed to get his body right, develop his game and is now playing his first AFL game. We are developing a good list and our future looks bright. We just need to cherry pick a few players in the next year or two and we will become a strong club.

Win all 3 games. If the team is any good that is what will happen... close losses mean nothing..

First game back, underdone, no tank, things to work on, "one of our better players." God help his opponents.

Have a watch if this, the 64 grand final and you can see the paper blowing across even at the centre bounce

Bombers would be a good fit... Nearer their suppliers.

On another point, the AFL have announced that compensation picks will stay for free agents leaving. Who wants to bet that these picks vanish next year and the AFL twist the rules so Essendon get compo picks for what should be delisted free agents this year (who usually don't qualify for compo picks)? If it was a betting market I think you would get a 99cent return on your dollar as punishment for being dumb enough to not see what they are doing!

Hello to M_9 (and others), Dobbo is still alive and kicking. I was in the Melbourne Cheer Squad from about 1962 until ??1967. I used to stand behind the CS after that.Still a member (now via MCC); still suffering. I haven't seen more that five or six games a year for the past decade, on account of living OS for much of the footy season. Always home for the finals, though. Loved the confetti making in the 1960s, and I maintained <THE DEVASTATING DEMONS> BANNER FOR A YEAR OR SO. Buggered my mother's sewing machine. It's many years since I saw anyone from the CS. I remember Ken Baines, Peter Lawrence, Jim somebody, Chris & Graham, and of course, Malcolm Turner.

BenKen and HH to star. Cloke to be held goal-less, Hogan kicks 6 and Eddie books a meeting with Buckley on Monday morning.

No idea how we'll go in this game, Melbourne are the most unpredictable team in the AFL. Could win easily, get smashed or anything in between...

Melksham,

It definitely presents a big opportunity, but I would be disappointed if anyone at the club is even thinking about anything else than getting 4 points on Sunday. I genuinely feel St Kilda will be the toughest game of this stretch. They are quick and put on a lot of pressure, and they will be up to play us especially, given we are on similar trajectories and there has been a bit of talk about who is better placed.

I regret nitpicking and apologise for causing a ruckus. There is a word I wish I hadn't used in that first post which was 'many'. Perhaps he didn't win 'many' taps against ruckmen other than Goldy, but he certainly didn't win all 63 against the big guy. And that, and only that was the simple point I was trying to make. There is nothing left to argue because I agree with your observations concerning everything else. Again, I was nitpicking. Gawn had a monster of a game and kept us in it in more ways than one. I don't mean to undersell him in anyway and appreciate his efforts. Peace and love.

[censored], maybe we're the ignorant ones and we never realised. God help us. This is like 'The Others' all over again.

What was even sweeter is that was a 'press red for Ed game'.

Those banners were very heavy when wet. I think I was in charge of 'The Never Say Die Demons' for a while. I recall a post some time ago talking about the wording on our banners. The funniest time I had (as a 13 year-old) was sleeping outside the Linton St. ground on a freezing Friday night when the Saints cheer squad came along and invited us to share the St Johns' Ambulance room with them. They had permission to use the room to store their banners, and would leave a window ajar as a means of (illegal) entry. The stretchers and blankets came out, and it was far more comfortable than outside the gate, albeit with an open fire made from neighbours fence palings. BTW my sex education got quite a kick along that Friday night, with a little inter-squad 'bonding' taking place.

Even as someone who hates drugs in sport, and the Essendon Football Club, this continual, droning 'drug cheat' mantra gets up my nose. The Essendon players fully deserved their penalty, for their naiveity if nothing else. But they were also badly deceived by poor management practices and unconscionable conduct by their club. At the end of 2016, they will have served their time and deserve to continue playing. We no longer transport people for seven years for stealing a loaf of bread, do we? I'd have Heppell in a heartbeat. Whether he wants to come to Melbourne, stay at Essendon, or go elsewhere is another matter. Anyway, what's a better continuing punishment for Essendon than losing some of their best (suspended) players?

Apart from numbskulls like Slobbo and unbiased and wholly agenda-free truth seekers like Chip, everyone is awake to the self serving and barely credible Dank agenda. 1. "I know where the bodies are buried" 2. "Do you really want to appear in a court/tribunal or would you rather shut me up? I can't talk with a mouth full of dollars." Even if he blabs I don't think it will go anywhere. Annoyance factor only.

We have a great opportunity to get on a roll and win 3-4 games in a row now. really should be 3-0 already

Hows this for a belter of an article! http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/the-crowd/max-gawns-potential-is-so-sky-high-that-he-could-one-day-become-the-greatest-ruckman-in-afl-history/news-story/9a5770275936f7acabe9cea495b9f264

He's 27, had a career best of 46 goals in an attacking side, he'll cost a lot of money and a high draft pick for a team that's traded away it's first pick already, he seems very happy at the Crows and we've invested heavily in Weideman, want to keep Hogan on a big deal and Watts is coming out of contract soon as well. Yes he'd fill a big hole. But I can't see it happening.

Yep, he was enormous. All this from a 24 year old with 42 games under his belt. If he continues on this trajectory, Max will be the best ruck in the game by next season.