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Billy and Joel weren't at training, they were busy starting fires. Yeah, the door's over there. I'll graciously see myself through it.

I love the wild imagination of some on here. One photo of Garland's arm around him and it's "he can sook off in to the VFL...", "he's probably ripping apart a yelliw pages" (?!) and even "his whole generation are sooks"! More likely: he was told yesterday that he wouldn't play, Jeffy is fit, and ANB is the resting emergency, and all his attention and focus goes to the Casey game tomorrow night, just as it has every week so far. I know that probably isn't as exciting though.

It makes no sense to me that a player would be rested only to line up in the VFL.

Just tell who ever the Christening is for that you have a clash as you have a Christianing to go to

I'm not sure why posters were poo pooing other posters on the notion of "resting" Oliver. Roos openly admitted that they "overplayed" Brayshaw last year. First year players like Oliver come in after the preseason has already started and then are limited in the work they do in that preseason. To expect them to be able to cope with a full season of the rigors of AFL in their first season is folly. We as posters have no idea how footballers are physically travelling but as much as I love Oliver in the team I have no problem going back to Casey for "rest". For those who are also saying that if you are fit enough to play Casey you are fit enough to play AFL, I ask you to consider why there are so many footballer we have seen who do so well at VFL but can't make a fist of it in the AFL. VFL is a good vehicle to get competitive match time, miles into the legs and hone the skills, but reaction times, skill levels, physically and aerobically there is a wide gulf between AFL and VFL requirements.

I can see the headline now. After saying Petracca only plays if Garlett does not, Melbourne plays Garlett and Petracca and it goes pear-shaped leading the Herald Sun to write "Roos rues ruse". Just a pity it's not against North Melbourne which would have allowed the inclusion of an extra 'Roos'

The record was set in the heyday of Jim Stynes presidency. We have been to hell and back and membetship collapsed to 30,372 for 2013. Since then a lot of anonymous people at our club have worked tirelessly to get members back on board. They include staff, volunteers, players and coaches manning phones etc Yes 40,000 will be fantastic but in the meantime a new record is an extraordinary achievement for our club. Worth celebrating every milestone i reckon - on and off the field.

Just wondering if I have missed something.........Has Petracca suddenly played 100 games and is Brownlow favourite whilst I wasn't looking. I really like the kid but he hasn't played a bloody game yet. The way some posters around here are pumping up his tyres is just mind boggling. It reminds me of a certain No1 draft pick we got a few years ago. Don't get me wrong, I am looking forward to when he does play but until then he is just another draftee that shows great promise.

I'm not one for conspiracy theories ( can you feel a however coming ?....) however..... I vividly recall prior to the draft last year Petracca said to StKilda (reported in the Hun)... "I have X factor and you will not be sorry taking me as no 1 pick" - or something very similar to that. Interesting that by all reports he has been earmarked for his first game against StKilda..Would it enter the match committees thinking that the man with a liberal dose off arrogance may have even more to prove first game if it is against the team that basically overlooked him ? I actually think that the timing of his fitness coincides with the StKilda game but I do love a good conspiracy..

Don't like this post. It demonstrates an unacceptable level of literacy. Please delete.

Nutbean, I suspect they won't even play Clarry over at Casey. It's a 5.5 day turnaround for the seniors and 6.5 for the Casey guys until the Saints at Etihad. I suspect they'll want him to be as fresh as possible and hence it will be a genuine rest, not just a rest from the rigours of AFL.

Didn't say much interesting. Petracca "probably won't play" but it all depends on Garlett. Is going to Hawaii at the end of the season, won't be coaching next year. Wants the Anzac Eve fixture permanently for Dees and Tigers. Doesn't care how stupid Gawn's beard looks if he keeps playing like he is. Oliver being rested because Angus showed them last year that overplaying kids is a bad idea.

Just be thankful we have B.Gale and PJ reinforcing the ANZAC Eve blockbuster, alternating home game status each year, plus the QB blockbuster. Happy with our 2 Blockbusters. That's two more than the likes of StKilda, Nth Melb, Western Bulldogs.

Of course, if we lose against Richmond I'm sure Demonlanders will find no shortage of players to demote, along with Paul Roos, Dave Misson and even Saty.

Hopefully this is entirely tongue-in-cheek. I'm not usually reactive but find just the suggestion particularly insulting. A teenager working hard enough to reach the top of his draft class and then spending a year rehabbing a knee injury before missing out on selection is not a reasonable opportunity to take a swipe at an entire generation.

The "Petracca is ready and waiting" should eliminate any complacency by the 22 selected to play Richmond. With Oliver "rested" and Petracca "waiting" the boys should be focused and firing.

Honestly, I'd rather Garlett played because I'm not comfortable going up against Richmond with another super-young team. We need to balance out the youth of types like Wagner and Hunt by playing experienced bodies; we took a huge risk last week with so much youth and it paid off, but it definitely won't every week. Vince and Garlett returning is a huge injection of senior talent and exactly what we need on the big stage Sunday. I've a feeling this game will be won or loss depending on the experience of our players; they will need to adapt to whatever inept plan Hardwick implements, and senior types will be far better equipped to achieve this than first-gamers.

picket you are an imbecile! Biffen you are a pig! I can't post at the moment as I've been watching footage of Our Majesty's 90th. I'm teared up and excited. I'm just hoping for another royal wedding or royal birth. It's a re run of "Beaches" for me tonight.

p.s. Loved Pendlebury's claim that his team should treat the game like a final. Something about "treat" and "like" and "THEIR" and "(grand) final", and "shoe" and "other foot"....

About hair height?

It has made me realise that I don't actually care who plays instead of who, I just want to win.

I gather by the arm around the shoulders he's a bit upset. Be patient son and stay off the basketball court.

I think he did one last week in public didn't he? Which did seem a bit odd. As much as I want to see Petracca debut, I don't want him at the expense of Garlett. He is one of our most important players.

Jones was definitely injured last weekend, and this move has been flagged all week.

Petracca doesn't have a mum, he was created in a lab.

Couldn't care less if people have never rated his discussions over the last few years. He has kept it simple, general and boring... and thus he has kept the heat off the players and the club, something a new coach wouldn't have been able to do. That gets a big tick in my book.

Resting a player doesn't wash for mine. I understand the logical hindsight on Brayshaw for 2015 that's all of a sudden come to light as some sort of precedence. But Oliver's game times haven't been excessive, he's handled himself well. And this is a big game he would excel in with a full 7 day break. At times he's been critical in getting first to the ball in stoppages, dishing it off having someone already committed to him (in a tackle). I reckon we'll miss him.

most of my posts are hit and myth anyways...

Basically Petracca had not played a game since the 2014 TAC season. That is a good 18 months. Then has rehabbed but again took 2 months off without really touching a ball. Oliver had played all last season, done all preseason asked - played intraclub and games of NAB. Simply - Oliver was ahead of Petracca fitness wise allowing him to be selected straight up but we have already seen a quieter Oliver in week 4 (and now rested) and even in his first two weeks he was on limited time and tired in the last quarter of his first few games ( he actually looked the best last week in the last quarter)

Dateline: Wednesday Morning, Cairo Waiting for a 3am flight to Rome. Rolling on to Round 5. 8 out of 9 last weekend. I was let down by the Bloody Sons of…. They gifted it to Leppa’s Pride. That can’t be right, really. Tipping total is 27 so far so good. Who says you need intelligence for this game? This will be a little late this week as I am travelling and will need to do this around travel and meetings. I know you are all hanging out for this but I hope you have been patient. In the land of Cleopatra, sand and large pointy mounds of rocks. Interesting place this. Old? Like you would not believe. This place was old when MFC was founded…… I kid you not, time did exist before this club of ours was created. Hard to believe. Cleo played body on body against the Romans in the Med League way back when. She endured a hard tag from “Big Julie” until he went the way of Stef Martin and then the Romans moved Marcus Antonio on to her. She played herself out of the game with the help of an asp. Way to go Cleo! Now the games. Friday night and it’s the Dorks and Cows to battle it out at the ‘G’. Another feathered clash Two winners from last week, the dorks beat someone …… ummm I know it, I know it…. Yeah, the Aints… the picture fades a little more. Well, as for the Cows, they got up against the Swannies. I picked it! I was very impressed by Clarko’s presser. He managed to get “a fair amount of grit” and “when the Chips are down” into the presser… sometimes I think the coaches have a private game of Presser Bingo each week. If so, Clarko won it hands down this week. Both teams doing what they need to, just…. Dorks to wander along a bit better than the Cows. Franklin to kick a bag….oops…. Well, I might be right, just won’t happen in this game. Prediction: Dorks to win at the ‘G’…. But, no 4 peat for them this season. Saturday Games. First up, Siddelly vs the ex-Druggies at the other cricket ground The ex-Druggies did not break a sweat to beat the Timid Tiges last week and Nicky nacky noo did not break any ribs. For the first time this season the Tiges showed a bit of toe ….. wanting to get out of his way. The Swannies, on the other hand are looking to bounce back after the Cows got them in the City That time forgot. Different story this week. Horse liked his team last week and loved the game… liked it all except the loss. Nah, that is rubbish… I got Nothing on this game. I don’t care what happens in the game. Siddelly, ex-Druggies, Coast to coast… rubbish to rubbish. Prediction: I won’t watch it, read about it or care about it…. If I have to have an opinion… Siddelly by whatever. No…no… Saturday afternoon at the cow paddock out the back of the blight on the landscape and two games in a row that I don’t care about! There has to be some game on this Saturday that will spark my interest. Sons of Ablett Vs Norf. Rhetorical question: Why is it that when I type ‘Norf’ I always sound it out in my head as though I am a toothless halfwit on the turps? So? What happened to these two last week? Norf got out the umps goat pics and won again and the Sons screwed up my tipping by playing dead against the Pride of Leppa. I want an enquiry. I am sure my tips were perfect. Bloody Sons. I will not tip them again this season. Rocket was on the truth Juice at his presser and told it like it was….. "I think we got beaten in all facets, all credit to Brisbane," "They played really well. It's an obvious statement but they deserved to win. Probably should have won by six or seven goals." Wow, just think if there had been the same approach from the Golden Boy when the Dank hit the fan. “Yep, we did it. Made a huge error and will wear the consequences.” Game over and we would not be sitting here. Norf are bouncing along at the top of the ladder like Skippy on a rescue mission. Prediction: Tut Tu Tuc Tat…. What’s that Skip? Tut tac t-t-tut Norf by a lot? I agree. Still Saturday afternoon and surely this next game has to be a cracker……Nah, I lie…. Doggies Vs Leppa’s Pride at the home away from home. At least this game has the Doggies playing. Don’t mind watching them but it is being played at the Graveyard of Football. The place where the game of imagination and creativity comes to be buried each week. I do not like the place. Nuf said. The Pride beat someone last week, not that it matters. I just cannot get past Leppa’s jaw to like this team. For the Doggies the Tepid Tea (a lukewarm Beveridge) had mild praise for his team after they managed to get past the Boos. Prediction: The doggies for me in this one. The Pride to wake up to themselves and realise that no team can win two in a row. Will Saturday never end? Just one more sleep till the mighty Dees. TOT from Adelaide Vs The Handbaggers… the try hards against the over-the-hills.it is being played at an oval shaped ground in Adelaide. Well The Handbaggers still have Danger and TOT have players, just not very good ones at the moment. Has Hinkley lost the players? Great phrase that…. “lost the players…” Hmmm, now where did I put them? They were here last week at training…. A couple of them wandered off but I am sure they will turn up at some stage… after all, we have a game on Saturday Night. It is here in the city that time forgot so they know their way to the ground. The Handbaggers last week very nearly stumbled around against TDC and almost did a “Dees”. Prediction: Handbaggers to win one by more than a few and BIG questions to be asked of Hinkers Sunday at last….. Aints Vs The Canberra team (FWS… further west of Sydney) at The Home Away from Home. Who is this team from Sydney that belted the living suitcase out of TOT from Adelaide last week? …..and we beat them…. For the Aints… they seem to be a bit like us… they are almost there. Almost winning, almost playing well, almost selected Christian over Paddy….almost….almost… Think we have got them covered. Be an interesting game and if the Gnats get up it might hurt the Aints for the rest of the season. Prediction; toss a coin… gunna be close….. Aints by a couple (just so they do not need to get up against us next week) Sunday… Duckers Vs Boos at DS… that’s what it says on the AFL site….. Domain, the newest suburb in Perth…..Used to be in Sydney before they moved it. Wow…. The battle of the two lowest rungs of the ladder. The excitement builds. One of these teams is more than likely to walk away with a win, Their first win of the season. Who will it be? Duckers? Boos? Who cares? I do not have a lot of interest vested in this game. (Note my mastery of understatement) Prediction; Ross the Boss to win one…. Boos SOOL……(Work it out) Finally…. Sunday night TBO Dees vs the Inepts At The “G” What to say about the Dees? Did enough to win in a walk over the Rubbish last week and keep the pressure on Bucks, Lovely to see and I have smiled all week. Lots of players smiling and putting in good performances in the 2’s. Pressure on the ground paying off and pressure from the other players to keep them honest…. Everything rosy in the Demon garden….. So, why am I worried? The Inepts are doing a passable imitation of scrambled eggs… All over the place and very bland. Hardon has his contract in his pocket and could not care less. They are bringing in Lids to play… rushing him back to counter the Mighty Dees…. So? why am I worried? The Inepts are coming back from having their pants handed to them over in the West and we know that teams have a down after an interstate trip……. So? Why am I worried? Prediction Dees by plenty… So? Why am I worried? Well, we are trying for two in a row….. Monday… Pies vs TDC at the “G” Ever wondered why the Italians and the Spanish have not fought a significant war since Hannibal trekked his Heffalumps across the Alps? It is because these days they realise that they are not very good at war and that no one, outside of the Italians and the Spanish, really gives a fat rat’s clacker about the outcome. So we come to this game….. 8 games between them so far this season and two wins between them…. Let’s build it up with a few war/battle analogies… nah, I have a better idea… let’s give the crowd a real experience…. Dig trenches for them to stand in a watch the game… throw in stinking mud up to their knees, a bunch of rats and hose them down between the quarters. I would draw the line at lobbing High Explosives at them… I think… If the Dees lose I may change my mind. Quote of the week: “You must not fight too often with one enemy, or you will teach him all your art of war.” Napoleon Bonaparte This may be the longest post ever on Demonland…started in Cairo, added to in transit in Rome and finished in London. And That… as they say is That. Done and Dusted.

It was an advantage, up until the opening bounce when we'd already decided we had the game won.

Nothing better than having an in-form 22 plus a host of other talent banging the door down in the reserves. I haven't seen it for years. The beauty of having players like Brayshaw, Vince, Oliver, Petracca etc is that they're all multi-positional players. If Hunt or Wagner were to make way, Vince would slot to a half-back with Clayton to play a mid/forward role. Brayshaw can play back, middle and forward. We have so many options. That's the really exciting thing. At the moment, it's clear we're trialing different back-line outfits. Having Wagner and Hunt playing back there and a senior leader who's a backman playing reserves is proof of that. I think we look settled everywhere but the back-line at the minute. It's holding up, but clearly the coaching group are trying to get a really cohesive back-six who possess a diversity of attributes suited to the modern game. We're in a really really positive place and to have guys like Petracca, Weid and Trengove all being made to be one-hundred percent fit and firing before they get a game is hugely significant for their development and confidence and our club at large. It's early days yet, but the Essendon loss may have just been what we needed. (As much as I hate those sayings). There's a time where a young team turn a corner and take-over as the new breed and I reckon we're seeing more and more glimpses.

People are reading way too much into the team selections this week.

Nice. Sorry to go off topic but I've been waiting all week for a headline of "AFL to drop draws on Grand Final day". Apologies if this has already been published and I missed it.

And now this: Why on earth would you say that. What about "if we play our best we believe we can win". It's such a negative message.

Few stats for those interested. Based on full 25 man squad. MFC RFC Diff Average Age 23.6 24.9 -1.3 Average Games 71.1 95.6 -24.6 Back Line Ave Age 24.8 24.7 0.2 Ave Games 107.0 98.2 8.8 Fol (includes wing) Ave Age 24.5 25.0 -0.5 Ave Games 88.3 109.2 -20.8 Fwd Ave Age 21.7 24.2 -2.5 Ave Games 40.2 79.2 -39.0 Int Ave Age 23.6 25.7 -2.1 Ave Games 52.0 96.0 -44.0 Melbourne Games Backline Fol Fwd Int total 0-50 1 2 5 4 12 51-100 3 2 0 1 6 101-150 0 0 1 2 3 151-200 1 1 0 0 2 200+ 1 1 0 0 2 25 RFC Games Backline Fol Fwd Int total 0-50 3 1 3 2 9 51-100 0 2 0 3 5 101-150 2 1 2 0 5 151-200 0 2 1 1 4 200+ 1 0 0 1 2 25 Fair to say that without our experience in the back line when compared to theirs that we are a much younger side. I still think our best can beat their best (just). It all comes down to who brings what to the table.

Much smarter to ditch Darwin and keep Alice Springs

As much as I'd love to see petracca play, garlett is a must if he gets up. He is a 6 goal difference with himself capable of getting around 3 goals plus at least assisting in another 3. Also allows players like Ben Kennedy and Kent to be even more damaging as a lot of the attention is paid very close to Jeff

Let's not mince words, the human race is filled to the brim with morons, not just Australia. We're just luckier than most other countries (and I've travelled enough to know).

The Footy Show is garbage television, plain and simple. The only reason it rates is because Australia is full of braindead morons.

His mum didn't answer.

Answer him, Nasher!

Please don't be Ess game again, please don't be Ess game again, please don't be Ess game again....

Good Lord Mable!!!!! That Canabodia must be backwater indeed. Those movies had a great influence on me and Jabba the Hutt was my role model. In latter years though he was supeceded by Pizza the hut

Yes thats fair enough.. we were dead and buried a few years ago..I guess I was just thinking in terms of the membership rising along with population growth so a new record wouldn't be that impressiv, but it really is,considering we have been worse than Fitzroy (on the field) in recent years Hats off to the membership department and volunteers

Had to edit your post Ethan.

We get it. You think Petracca should be in.

If Saty can get away with it every week im sure Andy will be fine.

No tv and no vb make big red go something something