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this was my highlight !!! my son getting asked to be Mascot for the day and my girls did the guard of honour too many thanks to MFC for this , on such a hard day for us

Random musings for you to think about: Gawn played 59% game time and Spence 48%. So basically they were rarely on the ground together. Max will play around 80-85% game time in the season - does this mean that we wont play two rucks because effectively we didn't yesterday? Our leading contested possession winners were Viney (12), Oliver (10), Brayshaw (9), Salem (9), Smith (9) - great signs that Salem is getting a hard ball. O-Mac took 9 marks for the game. Which was more than Cloke and he is a marking machine. Salem had 4 clearances. Which was more than Jones or Oliver. Melksham was blowing out the cobwebs but had more rebound 50's than anyone else in the game. He also had 3 1%ers. While I'm not convinced he is playing round 1, not a bad effort from him. Brayshaw had 5 inside 50's which was only behind Dalhaus for the match. Jones (6) and Viney (7) led the way with tackles but not to be outdone were Brayshaw (7) and Stretch (6). The boys are adding a defensive mindset as well. What this all means? We moved Lewis, Jones, and Vince out of the fire and the young boys stepped up. Specifically Salem and Stretch who are outside mids, who showed a little more balance. Our top performers are becoming our under 23's and that is only going to make us better.

Each to their own, but I get amused by the constant criticism of Brayshaw, who is tough, smart and a beautifully balanced footballer with great foot skills on either side of his body. Does he incorrectly weight the odd kick ? Sure, he's an improving young player. And it was the first hitout for the year. Imo, he'll become one of the games elite midfielders.

Depends on the extent of soft tissue damage, assuming the bone is unharmed. If he hasn't badly disrupted the ligaments securing the superior tib-fib joint, then it's a 2 to 3 week deal. Imaging this week will tell. Chronic instability is the thing to avoid.

Two things that havnt been mentioned, We played the game at the premiers home ground, a big benefit to them. And in the season proper there are no 9 pointers. As they kicked 2 that would be 6 points less they scored in the season proper. We were rusty but looked the most dangerous for most of the game. We need to finish out our quarters.

The MCG

What ? Salem's soft ??? This is one weird Sunday morning.

Totally agree about Spencer and Gawn. We look a lot better and balanced side with Spencer there. It is interesting that with the commentators waking up about Demon potential they can now see what a menace Max will be as a resting forward. Bring it on I say - and Spencil is a very under-rated ruckman which a number of sides will come to learn in this current season.

Weideman showed in his first game against the Hawks that he'll be a player. Whether he "makes it" or not isn't in question. Footy brain and courage in the air. He's 3-4 years away from his best footy, but he'll develop quicker at AFL level. I hope he plays at least 15 games this year. He's the future and games are an investment. And he's not so far away that he's going to be a liability.

We were very fumbly with our hands. Jones' was the worst, directly gifting his man a goal, but there were many instances where the players didn't take the ball cleannly. It's something we've had trouble with in the past, and I really hope it's just rust and will be quickly polished off. The standard was high mostly. Very intense and hard at the stoppages. We have one of the best extraction units in the league and the Doggies have built their side around contested ball, so it was always going to be a battle. The fact that we beat them in all but one category in the key stats says we're doing something right. I'm a little surprised by the lack of love for Garlett today. He did a great job early on creating goals for us. I question the AFL site saying he had three assists as I had him with four to halftime. Maybe I mistook JKH for him? Except he didn't get credit for any. Who knows. Regardless, I thought he was selfless and creative and turned half chances into certainties with his vision and passing. Probably needs to do more defensively, but in terms of scoreboard impact he was as good as any.

Seriously, why some people must pick faults in a well rounded and very promising practice game against last year's premiers is beyond me. Imagine how sad these boards are going to be when we become top 4? Hangover from MFCSS.

Gawn to Viney.

Joel Smith was the big turn-up for me. Laid the best three tackles of the game, read the ball well and was constructive with his disposal. Dare I say his athleticism reminds me of Easton Wood. I think the brains trust have big plans for him. Sam Frost might be the one to make way.

Am I the only one who thinks we need more out of Trac? He needs to take set shots inside 50 rather then try to pass them off all the time.

Plenty of ruminations on here already, having witnessed the game at ground level yesterday then re-watched again today here's a few of my random observations: -Jones left foot disposal was outstanding when called upon. -The prolificacy of combination disposals between the 'veteran' stars in Jones, Lewis Vince across the half back line, while the younger midfielders in Oliver, Brayshaw, Salem and Viney did the bulk of the middle of the ground grunt work. -Spencer playing very well allowing Gawn to use his skillset up forward. -Fringe players doing little to change their status as fringe players with very little impact on the overall contest, namely JKH, VDB, Harmes and Nibbler. -Joel Smiths first half. For someone who's played relativity little football, his potential was there for all to see today. Some great tackles and attack on the footy highly promising showing. -The disposal skills of Hunt & Melksham off the half back line. Were very poor. Hunt has to be more than just someone who can run and carry the footy with alacrity, he needs to also concentrate on hitting targets so he doesn't undo all his good work. We've seen Melksham's propensity to shank the footy at essendon, it was back again in this game. -Great to see David Rodan wielding the goal umpires flags. A lot of the centre bounces by field umpires left a lot to be desired. -What's better than signing the song after a win? Singing it again 2 hours later when the women also beat the dogs! Perfect end to the night.

Always enjoy attending this day, a great chance to rub shoulders with all the players who are very approachable and appear to enjoy themselves (Tommy Mac look bored out of his brain but I got a smile out of him). Congratulated JKH on a solid game and discussed his hopes of not just competing for the small forward position but hopes to play up off the wing too. Had some banter with J Lewis asking when he is going to update his Twitter photo of him accepting a medal for the Hawks, to which Jonesey got a laugh out of. Lewy said he doesn't use it and can't even remember what pic he has on it. Great to chat to some of the girls too, Daisy Pearce is every bit as popular with the kids as a lot of the senior blokes. Got some great pics with our kids with many of the players, thanks to the MFC for the opportunity for our kids to meet their heroes.

In a day full of positives the biggest worry for me is how putrid Tom McDonald dosposal is still.

I really don't think the AFL community have quite realised how good Jordan Lewis is going to be for us. While the talking point of the day for the commentators was the recruitment of Cloke, the ex Hawthorn player picked up a team high 28 disposals for the Dees. Did he miss a target all day? He must have but all I remember is him hitting players by both hand and foot. And then, of course, there he was bobbing up in the final few minutes in defence exactly where he was needed. Big call but I reckon he could make us a better team by two or three wins this year. Recruit of the year.

Lumumba would free up a spot. Best thing he's ever done for the club.

IT'S THE MIDFIELD STUPID by Whispering Jack The AFL's JLT Series isn't all about winning games. There's no ladder or table to tell you where your team's at and there's no finals series or premiership cup for your captain or captains to hold up at the end of it all. In fact, it's nothing more than a glorified practice match schedule dressed up for television, running side by side with the women's competition and a handful of other sports that vie for our attention at this time of the year. While it's always better to come out of it with a win or at least a decent performance (especially against the stronger sides) and without any serious injuries to your playing list, the series is really about testing out your players (especially your newcomers), your systems and style of play and preparing your team for the long arduous season ahead. In that regard, Melbourne fans could come away from the game at Whitten Oval knowing that most of the boxes were ticked (Josh Wagner's injury is said to be not as bad as it looked) and importantly, a very seriously good midfield is emerging - and we all know it's the midfield that underpins the success of a club. The extra numbers that play in these games afforded new coach Simon Goodwin the opportunity to test forgotten man Jake Spencer in the ruck and give his All Australian Max Gawn an easier day at the office with less on ball work and more time up forward. That seemed to work and even if the plan won't always be adopted in the regular season, the option is always there. It's clear though that with no third men up Gawn is set to give his on ball division an armchair ride this season - and it will be a different, more varied and younger brigade this year than it was under Paul Roos and significantly better than the third world model that was in place when the list was in such poor shape five years and more ago. Against the reigning premier on their home patch in their first post flag game, the Demons' rucks allowed the likes of Jack Viney, Angus Brayshaw, Clayton Oliver, Christian Petracca and Christian Salem to win more clearances, control of the ball in the middle and ultimately a winning edge in inside 50 numbers. Those players are all young and they have the experience of Nathan Jones, Bernie Vince and Hawthorn's gift to the club Jordan Lewis around with the luxury of having them patrol the half back line in games such as these. And there's a bit of run about the place with Jayden Hunt and Billy Stretch. The media pack were raving about Travis Cloke's impact on the Bulldogs and his supergoal was a ripper but it was Jesse Hogan who picked up four and took some great clunking marks to suggest he will improve his goal kicking record further in 2017. He had a great foil in Sam Weideman who, for the record, matched Cloke's haul and should have kicked at least one other after he marked strongly in the second quarter and missed a relatively easy shot. Tom Bugg was his usual pesky self and also bobbed around goal. Another plus for the Demons was the first up appearance of Category B recruit Joel Smith who showed a great deal of promise, particularly early in the game. He definitely has the makings of a player. If there was a downside, it was the two glaring lapses late in the second quarter and again late in the last when the team gave away goals too easily and allowed the Doggies back into the game both times. In a seven or eight minute period before half time, the intensity dropped, the defence went missing and a 22 point lead was squandered. Weideman's goal just before the siren to restore the lead to three points was all that enabled the team to go into the sheds at the break with their heads up high. A similar fade out occurred late in the game after the Dees had led by 25 points at one stage well beyond the halfway mark of the final term. The club could do with the steadiness of Nev Jetta and the rebounding work of Michael Hibberd in its defence to halt these lapses in games. The signs are good after one practice match and next week's another game but what really impresses me is the fact that Melbourne is developing a strong young midfield engine room and that is where games are ultimately won and lost when premiership points and the big prizes are at stake. Melbourne 0.4.2.26 0.8.3.51 0.12.5.77 0.14.8.92 Western Bulldogs 0.2.0.12 1.6.3.48 1.8.4.61 2.9.14.86 Nine pointers Melbourne Nil Western Bulldogs Cloke Johannissen Goals Melbourne Hogan 4 Weideman 2 Brayshaw Bugg Garlett Gawn Jones Neal-Bullen Petracca Viney Western Bulldogs Dahlhaus Hunter 2 Cloke Dale Lynch Daniel McLean Best Melbourne Hogan Viney Lewis Salem Brayshaw Gawn O McDonald Western Bulldogs Dahlhaus Liberatore Cloke Hunter McLean Johannisen Injuries Melbourne Wagner (dislocated fibula) Western Bulldogs Roughead (right knee) Reports Nil Umpires Williamson Dalgleish Rosebury Margetts Official crowd 7,581 at Whitten Oval

It was also mentioned that at the family day his thumb was in a brace. I'll believe that over a rumour.

What surprised me watching Spence yesterday was his mobility. I live interstate so I haven't seen him for a while. But I have to say he looked like a different player to the loping, unco, try hard of yesteryear. He was good in the ruck and also really fully fierce when the ball was on the ground. I thought he added a dimension to us when he was on. Its hard to judge from a practice match but I liked him and Max in the same side. At the very least my MFCSS thoughts re Gawn going down with a knee injury on the eve of the finals don't feel as scary. One thing for sure though if he doesn't get game time this year he'll be gone next year. That isn't a reason to play him I know but he IS a valuable commodity.

Does chromecast still work for android? If not I'm heading off to the pub every weekend. Goodbye liver Goodbye marriage Hello demons.....

Melksham was always a pretty middle tier recruit anyway so I think he will need to blow out some cobwebs. Ill have a look at the highlights when I get the chance but I think any pre-season comp you start with beating the premiers is a good start to the year. Let's keep building.

He already conned the AFL into giving him a Norm Smith.

First practice match for year, we play well and win (good for membership no doubt), and some bag out Hunt and Brayshaw, two who have had ripping preseason and the coaches have earmarked for stepping up further this year. FMD!

Well, the Women won a new fan tonight. I have been very sceptical of the skills that we might see, and thought the first round was an embarrassment. To the posters who defended the girls, and said it would improve, I say, you obviously had better judgement than I did. I thought it would take several seasons to see good skills, but tonights game was excellent. Girls, think about that. It's not a suburban kick with your mates any more. You are all being watched and cheered on by Aussie rules fans all over the world, on international T.V. Bloody fantastic tonight. Go Dees. Mifsud is mine. Step away. Power forwards bring people to the game. (and Daisy is a really really attractive version of Gary Ablett)

Had no idea that was even a thing.

Pedersen takes Weideman's spot in the early rounds. i appreciate he did a couple of nice things today including a strong contested mark inside 50 but I don't think he's ready yet.

My guess is that nobody's talking about it because they suspect it's BS.

Jack - if you're out there, it'd be great if you could Skwosh these rumours.

Queen of the Hirdashians.

When you're used as an outlet option in a switch of play passage in the backline, you're going to take plenty of marks. Seriously. That is a really useless stat.

Salem should be one of our best mids as he can play inside and out and he's so clean with his disposal as a rule

Me and the kids drove into Hunt and Petracca repeatedly on the dodgems.

Suffered the injury myself a couple of times but I was lucky. Never missed a single game of AFL football as a result. Then again, I'm a spectator and not a player.

Agree on Vince. Haven't seen the game yet as away, but was saying that in the last half of last season. He gets it and can kick a long goal, but he also turns it over and in defence that can be lethal. He is probably best now with bursts in the middle and spells in the forward half, where he can hurt the opposition with a goal. We have enough half backs now and don't need him playing there.

The editor in me is crying.

Pretty impressed with Jones's game today seemed to have a bit of freedom to make effective inside 50s and got straight up after a heavy knock....so did our other Captain as well. All in all very even display on a pr%%k of a ground.

Bit harsh on O Mac - I thought he played a really good game and I don't remember any poor disposals. T Mac looked a bit rusty but he is coming back from shoulder surgery.

Proximal tib - fib dislocation. Feel the bone on the side of your knee just below the joint. That's the head of your fibula. It joins the tibia there. Depends on how it settles but might only be off legs for a few days or a week and can start rehab. Hopefully under a month.

Salem was terrific today. Got plenty of the footy on the inside, used it well and made good decisions. Stretch was very good too, he is a beautiful user of the footy and he gets himself in the right spots. Melksham did struggle a little but he looked like a bloke who hasn't played competitive footy for 500 days. He'll take time. He did a few good things and a few things that made you cringe, but it's onwards and upwards from here.

There was one lightening switch of play near the end of the third quarter that took us from inside defensive 50 to inside offensive 50 in less than 10 seconds. It was that speed of ball movement and quick change of direction that really caught the Bulldogs off guard. Exciting stuff. And progress. Clear progress. I only caught the second half, but here are some observations from those quarters: * Oliver solidifies himself as my favourite player. Those hands are so clean and he showed off that beautiful kicking and vision we know he has. * Lewis' experience will be invaluable this season. He knows where to be at the right time, floating back across our defensive goal square twice in the last minute. He also took charge of the kicking duties at the end, which was great leadership. But how was Bernie's typical brainfade that almost gave them another goal at the end there? * Stretch looks in really good nick. He looks tougher and more toned, but doesn't seem to be any slower. Hoping for another step up again from him this season. * Jesse was good in the moments I saw. Bringing the ball to ground and contesting. High work rate and little negative body language. * One thing I noted to my surprise and delight was that we seemed to have numbers and be front of centre at the contests off half back, which never happens. It's usually the opposition. I hope that's a sign of things to come. The Bulldogs smashed us in these areas last season. * Our tackling was ferocious. Our work rate, our numbers around the ball were really, really positive. * Harmes and Bugg still can't kick and Vandenberg can't handball to save his life (even the assist that led to a goal was at the feet of his team mate). The thing though that I like about the state of our list is that all these guys are vying for similar positions and at their best are contributors. If Harmes could kick, he'd be one of our most exciting prospects, because he works hard and knows how to find the ball. * My boy Jake Spencer was excellent from what I saw in the second half. Such a good problem to have. Do we play Spencer and Gawn or do we just play Gawn? I'd say the majority of the time we'd go with one of them, but I think we could really expose certain teams if they're both on form. * Weideman needs to get tougher and he needs to put on some more weight. He's only a kid, but he didn't seem any bigger than last year. Playing up the ground, he gets knocked off the ball too easily. * Great seeing Salem, Petracca and Gus getting through unharmed. Beautiful kick for goal was Gus' last.

Jones behind the ball provides a lot of confidence. Looks in ripping nick. Hogan will crack 50 goals this year. O Mac will be a big improver. Tommy Bugg is a far from perfect but I love having him wearing the jumper. If JKH can stay fit he could be around the mix for selection throughout the year. Likewise J Smith. Spencil and Salem the two big stories of the day with their performances. Spencer provides a selection dilemma for Round 1.

Much better win than the corresponding fixture last year when we beat the Dogs reserves with plenty of skill errors. Big ticks to the fossils (Jones, Lewis, Vince). Smith had a quieter second half but is firming for round 1. Petracca was good, Melksham is heart in mouth stuff but was OK, slimline Oliver is amazing as is non-stuttering Jesse. I think vandenBerg and Harmes will struggle for games this year. JKH and ANB had their moments but neither confirmed they're up to the grade. I need to mention Oliver again, I think he's in for a Cripps 2015 year. Overall a lot to like.

Thoughts everyone? We played pretty well today, plenty to like and some of the kids showed their flashes of brilliance. Lewis was our top possession winner, already looking like a wonderful acquisition!

No way that bump was high. Was the fairest bump I have seen in a long time. Of course it cost us a goal.

That Jordan Lewis kid goes ok.

-3 votes to Johannisen's haircut.