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and sponsored by Ronald McDonald, Cameron Lings twin brother.

See, that to me just makes it even funnier.

I don't want this thread to end. Having just watched the replay, I'd like to suggest I'm mature and level-headed enough to understand that this was just one game and it's dangerous to read too much into one performance. But maturity and level-headed shouldn't really be integral to the make-up of a passionate football fan so stuff that. We're going to be competing for premierships very very soon. We're going to destroy teams with our midfield. Jones and Vince deserve success at the tail end of their careers and all indications are that this young crop of budding stars will give them a taste. Viney, Tyson, Petracca, Oliver and Brayshaw are seriously going to monster other teams. The emergence of Gawn just gives us another dimension and the chemistry he already has with our younger mids is incredible. I love that our flankers and pockets continue the theme of hardness and aggression. Harmes, Vandenberg and Kent are strong at the contest and relish body contact. Even our outside cream seem to enjoy the physical side of the game. Hunt only knows one way and attacks each contest with the same venom as one of his now signature line-breaking run. Stretch should be our weakest player (given his size) but consistently puts his head over the ball. Frost and McDonald make their mistakes but they attack the body of the opposition and take the game on. They will get better and better and the mistakes will be minimized over time as they mature and play more footy together. And, of course, we boast the most intimidating young forward in the game. Hogan along with Watts, Weideman and Garlett give us such a potent and balanced attack. Maybe it's the footy coach in me, but I take equal amounts of pleasure in watching how hard our team works without the ball. So many times upon reflection, Hawthorn would reach the wing, commentators at the ready for a penetrating forward thrust and then they'd be forced to stop and move sideways. Our defensive running was first class. We're responding quickly and decisively to turn overs always getting players behind the ball through sheer will.To have developed that mindset in such a young group reflects very positively on our coaching staff and the mentality of young recruits over the past 3 years. At it also suggests that despite our tender years this is a very fit team. How many times do Hawthorn getting run over like that? If you were to throw Salem and Hogan into that team for Bugg and Pedersen you'd be hard pressed to find a more combative and skilled Melbourne combination for many many years. With Melksham, Neil-Bullen and Kennedy providing genuine depth, the future is bright. I'm not sure we need to spend big bucks on Hurley. I think the quality is there and our challenge will be keeping them together. I can't remember a time when I was more certain about our premiership prospects.

Watson saying Essendon 'would accept" Tom Mac for Hurley. How about we have both and give Essendon SFA Tim?

Excellent. Tim Watson thought the Bombers were a chance at getting T mac LOL We will take Hurley as a DFA now, thanks Timmy.

Would definitely look to give Pederson at least another year. He's been a handy player for us over the journey and he is decent depth considering our lack of versatile talls.

"I was trying to keep it separate from him, because that’s his deal and mine is mine. But once mine was almost done, I was told Oscar’s was almost done as well and then I was told that it’d be nice to announce them together,” he said. I knew it!

According to Tom in the Burgs article, he never talked to any other clubs or assessed any other offers. Can we please stop assuming that a long negotiation equals player leaving now? Not every player is Tom Scully.

Give it a rest mate, it's not even a thread about Jesse.

Fully concur and am surprised that in this thread and the Tmac contract thread more isn't being made of the uniqueness of the MFC position in having the two brothers on their list. Trading and contracting players is all about exploiting market imperfections and discontinuities. There is no doubt that both McDonald brothers would place a premium on playing in the same team and this can be leveraged to a degree by the MFC. It would therefore have to be an overwhelmingly compelling value proposition to forego this benefit and trade Tom willingly (and in doing so put Oscar's future with the club in jeopardy). Others have commented on how the "Rance moments" lasted well in to his career. Many of us believed that getting games in to Oscar during this season has come at a cost but the investment is starting to bear fruit. He is only 20 and Tom's 23. I would be aghast if any other course of action is being contemplated other than re-signing them both. Augment them with Hibberd by all means and make the play for Hurley if there's a way of securing him cheaply (presumably due to a realistic threat of contract breach litigation). But not by imperiling the McDonald brothers future with the club.

You're obviously new here.

You won't get to. Enjoy the permanent ban. To be clear on opposition supporter policy: welcome with open arms, if here for civilized discussion. If you try to 'infiltrate' by stealth and deception, expect to be shown the door. A Melbourne fan who posts in every Essendon related thread, but not one post on the weekend's results. Seems legit.

No.

has been a reasonable week for Demon supporters

3AW Scoop McClure is going with Tmac has signed.

IF We beat Port - 50:50 Hawks beat North - likely Swans beat Saints - likely We are the only team with a chance of taking North's position in the 8. i believe North's percentage will take a hammering against Adelaide and GWS. i believe it will come down to the our last game v Geelong. We are currently paying $101 to make the 8. I may have had a little go at it. Go Dees.

As much as Tom frustrates the [censored] out of me with his disposal this signing is huge. His 2nd half of the season is close to the early AA form he showed last year. Well done Tom.

and he looks a lot more than 2cm taller. wonder if he has put on a height spurt this year which has slowed him from filling out. looks a good 6cm in pic

This list is getting out of hand. If we keep on winning you blokes will have to go for records like "Since 1988 we haven't beaten Sydney at the SCG on a day when a north westerly was blowing until half-time after which it swung around to an easterly." I look forward to that.

The best thing about Tom is that his turnovers are so entertaining. He never makes boring, run of the mill blunders.

Great news. The club has huge raps on Oscar so it will be "watch this space" over the preseason to see how he develops physically, and in terms of footy nouse. Both these boys are capable of thevery best and the very worst but their best is very, very good.

It's hard to believe Tom is only 23. Still just a young man, but sometimes gets marked as a senior member of the team. His name really still belongs in the talented youth group, but he's acting as our back line General.

Jay Clark Verified account ‏@ClarkyHeraldSun Bi g news @melbournefc McDonald brothers re-sign Exclusive here They look very happy...well done guys!

I was in a remote area of the Snowy Mts. on the weekend. Watched the match on Fox with only myself for company, made enough noise to be heard back in the 'burbs, joined the boys in an off-key rendition of the Grand Old Flag, then re-watched the game, glass in hand, through sometimes teary eyes. Brilliant day ..... a turning point and a window into the future of our great Club(?) Sunday morning was a 36 km drive to the nearest town for 'phone / internet coverage, logged into Demonland, and confirmed that it wasn't a dream. The sheer joy expressed in this thread was palpable. Returned home yesterday to find the thread had more than doubled in size. Thanks for sharing the joy Demonlanders! We've earned this, and as we all know, there's lots more to come.

TMac is the most underrated Dees player on Demonland. Media commentators are full of bs but each that I have heard have spoken glowing of Tom now and how good he will become. They have him in the same conversation as Rance, Talia and Hurley. It is no coincidence today was the second time Watson has stated their interest in Tom. Watson is the EFC media mouthpiece. He is their 'good cop'! Clearly they are talking to Tom. And they have the big $$ to throw at him and will pay overs which we have said we won't. Tom has at least 8 years of A+ performance ahead of him with a few AA's. We might get Hibberd and/or picks but there is no equivalent (except Talia) to Tom. Because we have shown our hand on Hibberd, I fear we will get shafted if Tom decides to go and nominates EFC. I just hope Tom tells them to GAGS!

As Roos is into his last month I thought it may be worth recognising his contribution in a separate thread. If mods feel thread should be merged elsewhere, no prob. First contribution from our likely future captain, Jack Viney: “I think his greatest legacy at the football club will be the culture. Hopefully down the track when we are being successful, it will be Roosy that set the foundation for that...I will miss him a great deal. He has been terrific for our football club, coming in when the club wasn’t going so well and really setting some strong foundations.” http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/paul-roos-to-test-demons-young-talent-against-hawthorn/news-story/718fb452b3441a1c22724475d8151bdd I recall Jack saying in an interview recently saying that 'Roosy is the 'boss dog' said with the earnestness that left no doubt as to who is in charge and in a tone that had awe, respect and adoration. From Jack Watts recently: 'Roosy’s probably saved my career, to be honest...It’s his person skills and the way he actually invests in his players outside of football'. Methinks that along with the undoubted respect in which Roos is held there is also much love from the players. People may find fault with some Roos' decision, rate of improvement etc but he never lost sight of the end game: setting up our club for a successful future. I believe he has delivered that in spades. He (and PJ et al) has made MFC relevant again. I will be eternally grateful for restoring pride in my club again. Following on from Jack's words above when we are being successful, it will be Roosy that set the foundation for that, my dream vision is Barassi and Roos presenting the Premiership Cup to Jones and or Viney!

Hi 'braysure'... Bye 'braysure'.

Great stuff! Another 2 ticked off and the commitment to the cause continues!

Never in doubt. *wipes brow*

Tom and Oscar McDonald are managed by Alex McDonald, the brother of James and Anthony McDonald.

I just did a ladder predictor and ended up with us playing Sydney in the Grand Final, am I getting ahead of myself?

My wife is a school teacher and she tough a kid who wore his Melbourne jumper to every footy dress day at school with pride but in his life time he had never been to a game Melbourne had actually won. Paul Roos has changed that.

Perhaps, although it could also be that the TMac bashers and the TMac lovers(?) are in furious agreement that nobody gives a toss about Tim Watson's opinion on anything.

I don't think it's that safe to say that at all. It could just be selective memory, but I can't recall much conversation around Gawn being delisted.

Great news. Tom appears to now have a contract now that takes him to FA. I suppose most managers would try and get that situation. We just have to keep improving, to ensure he and our other good players want to stay. One more to go and we can all rest easy.

Great news. Now someone get Oscar twenty pies and five snot blocks. Looking at that picture, he couldn't knock the skin off a rice pudding

Same here. In terms of importance to the team, I rate him in the top 5, which would be reflected in his market value. But I don't rate him in the best 8 players at the club. His re-signing is hugely important.

Well done Mach5.. Nailed it right on the spot too.

In the last qtr there was a moment when Oliver saw Rioli near the boy and went after him (I need to find the time) it was only a fraction of a second in the corner of the screen but you could see Olivers eye light up when he thought he had a chance. Rioli will need to be a little careful next time, I'm tipping Oliver keeps score.

I'm amazed that the argument about not selecting Hogan is still going. I just assumed that once everyone came down off the high a bit, we would all return to our senses.

What are the chances of us increasing our percentage from 102 up to 108 by the end of the season? If we did, Roos could claim that we've double our percentage since he took over. Now that would be a legacy.

We have all sat back and appreciated the season that Max Gawn has produced, but how about this for a stat: The top 5 ruck/rover combinations in the comp this season 50 - Gawn/Jones 49 - Gawn/Viney 47 - Gawn/Tyson 42 - Naitanui/Priddis 42 - Hickey/Armitage

. Tim Watson is a farkwit

Tap outs by Ruckman are really overrated up until the time you see Gawn do it. His palming this year to Jones/Viney/Tyson/Vince has been nothing short of magnificent. We talk about how good our four onballers have been at clearances - but to watch Gawn put the ball into the exact spot where he knows the likes of Viney will hit at full pace is a work of art.

I like that Tyson got a bit of recognition this week. He's been brilliant for weeks now.

A few anti-Oscar's still clutching at straws this week. It's been said a number of times, but bigger guys take time. Rance was a butcher two years ago and hopeless three years. Frawley was ordinary when he first started out. It's experience Oscar needs and at the moment he's getting it.

I will be emotional saying goodbye. He has saved this football club.

A farewell game for one of the greatest coaches in the modern era and where does the AFL put his last game? Down at the shithole in Geelong.. [censored] idiots.