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Went along to training today. By the great deal of activity on Demonland I thought I might post as people like myself are excited by the season ahead. Main player missing was Hogan, but being early in the week it may not mean much. Drills all morning. Very little contact as you would expect. One drill was interesting which was four players, one at each corner of an 80 x 40 meter rectangle, kicking the ball to two players in the middle, who would take turns in marking, turning and kicking down to the other end of the rectangle. The ball would then go from one corner over a defender to the other corner then back into the middle and on down to the other end. A little confusing trying to write it down but it was making the players kick low and hard to a player, then when a defender was there up and over to the other corner. There was a period I think in the third quarter on Saturday when we had about seven or eight non-contested marks in a row and this drill was similar. The skills were good, especially the low hard passes, Garlett was really good. Like Hannan's pass to Petracca on Saturday just as Reiwoldt got injured, the boys are looking to lower the eyes and hit targets. Hibberd was doing run throughs and working with Cross and looked good but will probably join the main group next week. Frost and Wagner were in the main pack and looked good chances to replace Smith this week. Tyson and Kent were in the main group and also looked good. Pedo was on light duties running laps, I think he is O.k for selection if required if he trains at the later session in the week. They finished with goal kicking and ANB kicked more balls than anyone else. He missed a couple on Saturday and was working hard to lock down that small forward role.

Jesus wept, flat out illogical. I can understand the logic of playing a backline that involves T McDonald, Frost and Hibberd, even to a lesser extend T McDonald, Hibberd, Wagner. But to say that a rookie pick, who has to be fair barely shown enough at VFL level to warrant selection over a promising and competitve undersized but quickly developing defender is laughable. It entertains me how once people have a perception on a player it does not change, of course Oscar has his limitations as he is a 20 year old key position player, but his positioning and ability to read the play for the most part is quite good. Sure he loses some one v one contests, but not half as many as people make out and most of the time it is not due to poor positioning but rather lack of body strength.

What is FACT is that you stated that Omac is not up to the required standard. For the sake of the argument lets say Goodwin agrees with your assessment of OMac. If that were the case goodwin could have instead selected either keilty (who played Omac's role very successfully for much of last year) or pederson, who has lost 10kgs in order, in his words, to be come more mobile. Pederson is an experienced AFL player who is fit and has played CHB before. This was must win game - as both Bernie and Lewis (and any number of commentators) said post game a potential 8 point game that could well set up our season. Are you honestly saying Goodwin would, in these circumstances, pick a player not up to AFL standard? What is fact is that since being first selected by Roos (and Goodwin who would have had a major say in selection last year) OMac has not been dropped once. What is also fact is that he was selected in all 3 of the JLT games, games in which Goodwin made it clear he was picking his best 22. Goodwin had the the opoportunity to give someone else a chance in the JLT and didn't. What was interesting in this regard is that he elected to bring in Hannan and jetta, who didn't play JLT, showing he was prepared to drop players. And he didn't drop OMac. What is fact is Omac continues to be selected every week, suggesting he is a lock for best 22. it also suggests Goodwin does not agree with your assessment that Omac is not up to the required standard. To be honest STMJ i think you are confusing FACT and SUPPOSITION.

OMac wasn't "isolated" against just anyone - he was "isolated" on one of the best one-on-one tall forwards of all time. Not many coaches in the AFL would be comfortable about their 2nd-year defender being isolated on Nick Riewoldt, who has built his stellar career out of getting "isolated" one-on-one with some of the very best defenders of all time and, at times, making mincemeat out of them. The whole aim of a zone defence is that you DON'T get defenders isolated in one-on-ones. If you do, repeatedly, it means the structure has broken down, and that was the problem. These words from Goody were in the context of how well the defence as a unit did after quarter time to hold their structure and avoid getting "isolated".

Whispering Jack predicts that a twelve year hoodoo will fall by the wayside on Sunday ... A DOZEN DEAD OCEANS by Whispering Jack "Oh, where have you been, my blue-eyed son? And where have you been my darling young one? I've stumbled on the side of twelve misty mountains I've walked and I've crawled on six crooked highways I've stepped in the middle of seven sad forests I've been out in front of a dozen dead oceans I've been ten thousand miles in the mouth of a graveyard And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, and it's a hard It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall." - by 2016 Nobel Poet Laureate Bob Dylan (A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall) In recent years, Melbourne has been smashing its hoodoos like dinner plates at a Greek restaurant leaving very few left for the club to break. There's still North Melbourne and heaven knows whether we can cross Subiaco off the list before they shut that god forsaken place down forever, but there's imminent challenge looming close on the horizon that must be dealt with in the coming week - the curse of round two. This Sunday will mark the passing of twelve years since the Demons last won a match in the second round of an AFL season. It was exactly on 2 April, 2005 before a meagre crowd of 13,481 at the ground then known as the "Telstra Dome" that Melbourne 20.11.131 beat the Western Bulldogs 15.21.111. The Demons were travelling well in those days. They made a good start to the season, suffered a mid-season slump but recovered to make the finals as they had done the year before and would do in the year after. However, that game against the Doggies in 2005 was to be the last time, the team would salute in an AFL round two game and what's more, the majority of the defeats in between have been in the most humiliating of circumstances. Another dismal round two flop against Carlton this Sunday would be the unkindest cut of them all. The long run of second round outs began at the Docklands on 8 April, 2006 with a 47 point whipping at the hands of the Bulldogs. The Dees had already suffered a shock result to Carlton in the opening round and it lost again the following week but a long run of wins followed to see them safely into the finals. More second round debacles were to come:- 2007 - after the opening round disaster against St Kilda, Melbourne was confident of beating Hawthorn which had been a struggler in recent seasons. But the Hawks were on their way up and the Demons lowered their colours by 22 points to an opponent which was closing in on a premiership era. The Demons won their last game for the year - the infamous Kreuzer Cup - but by then, long-time coach Neale Daniher had already been given his marching orders and a caretaker coach has seen out the long death throes of an old era. The club was looking into the mouth of a graveyard. 2008 - Melbourne heralded in the Dean Bailey era with a 104 point defeat to the emerging Hawks but it did manage to stave off another 100 point plus losing margin when it lost by 95 points to the Western Bulldogs in another round two train crash. It took a while to get onto the winning list but that was done in style against Fremantle when the team stormed back from a massive deficit to win by a goal in round 7. 2009 - an anaemic Melbourne side lost in round 1 to North Melbourne and it was more of the same the following week when the Magpies 17.15.117 made mincemeat out of the Demons 10.4.64 before an MCG crowd of 43,176. Things were so bad that Nathan Jones' father was clocked on his way out of the ground by a an inebriated normal Collingwood fan celebrating his team's win. 2010 - after copping a hiding in the season opener against the Hawks, the Demons faced the Pies again in their next up match over the Easter break. They were in sight of victory when Ricky Petterd's lunge for a mark in the goalsquare failed with seconds left in the game. 2011 - for once, Melbourne managed to stave off defeat in its opening game. However, it didn't exactly win either. In a dramatic finish, the round 1 game against the Sydney Swans ended as a draw - 11.18.84 each. Against the Hawks in round 2, the Demons held a 19 point lead at half time before they were strangled into submission in the third quarter by a hard press, eventually losing by 45 points. The club was on a roller coaster ride to disaster. The rain was about to fall hard. If you think the foregoing was bad, prepare yourself for a horror story. 2012 - the early optimism of a new beginning under Mark Neeld had dissipated long before the Brisbane Lions crushed Melbourne by 41 points in the season opener. Jimmy Stynes had recently died and the club was beset by troubles but nobody was really prepared for what was to come at Subiaco Oval in week 2. On Saturday, 7 April, the West Coast Eagles inflicted a 25.16.166 to 9.4.58 flogging on Neeld's charges before a crowd of 35,674 but even that would pale against what happened in round 2 in the following season. 2013 - after a few seasons as AFL whipping boy, Port Adelaide made an impressive start to the season winning 19.19.133 to 8.6.54 over Melbourne at the MCG. At the same ground a week later and in the midst of the developing drug saga, Essendon was the host when it blasted Neeld's charges to the tune of 148 points - 28.16.184 to 5.6.36. The slaughter reverberated around the club and precipitated several changes at the top which saw the departures of the CEO, the chairman and ultimately the coach in the weeks and months to follow. 2014 - the arrival of Paul Roos at coach/saviour of the club didn't bring immediate joy on the playing field. The team lost its opening game to the Saints by 17 points thanks in part to their woeful kicking for goal, but the next match was another round 2 disaster - a 93 point loss to the West Coast Eagles before a crowd of only 22,230 at the MCG with the home team managing a meagre 4.6.30. 2015 - the club broke its opening round hoodoo against an injury riddled Gold Coast Suns and things were looking up at Star Trak Oval when the Demons led the Giants by 33 points in the shadows of half time before the round two curse took hold and the home side kicked 14 of the next 15 goals to win by 56 points. And now for the steak knives. 2016 - after an exciting round 1 win by two points over the highly rated GWS Giants, Melbourne was expected to record a handsome victory over an Essendon team decimated by the CAS ruling which outed a dozen of their players for the season, leaving them with a rag tag bunch of youngsters and football mercenaries, many of who would otherwise have been playing in the VFL or local competitions in round 2. As always, the Demons approached the game on 2 April, 2016 as if they were millionaires and ended like beggars on a street corner in skid row. At the end of the day the MCG scoreboard read "Essendon 11.14.80 defeated Melbourne 10.7.67". That score line still leaves me with dread in my heart 12 months later wondering how on earth is it possible that to avert the calamity of another round 2 that turns us all into April Fools even when opposition supporters believe that their team is too young, too inexperienced and not good enough to win? I've found a way and will reveal all shortly. THE GAME Melbourne v Carlton at MCG Sunday 2nd April, 2017 at 3.20pm. HEAD TO HEAD Overall Melbourne 89 wins Carlton 117 wins Drawn 2 At MCG Melbourne 49 wins Carlton 50 wins Past five meetings Melbourne 1 win Carlton 4 wins The Coaches Goodwin 0 Bolton 0 wins MEDIA TV - Fox Sports 3, Channel 7 at 3.00pm RADIO - Triple M 3AW THE BETTING Melbourne to win $1.22 - Carlton $4.40 to win - $4.40 THE LAST TIME THEY MET Carlton 11.12.78 defeated Melbourne 7.16.58 at the MCG Round 22, 2016 The Demons were raging favourites to win at $1.24 and didn't fail to disappoint the fans and themselves with an insipid performance at a time when victory would have kept their finals hopes alive. They played like a young team that had run out steam and hit the wall - the same wall their supporters were banging their heads into at the end of the game. THE TEAMS MELBOURNE B: Jayden Hunt, Oscar McDonald, Jake Melksham HB: Neville Jetta, Tom McDonald, Nathan Jones C: Christian Salem, Jordan Lewis, Billy Stretch HF: Clayton Oliver, Sam Weideman, Jack Watts F: Christian Petracca, Jesse Hogan, Jeff Garlett FOLL: Max Gawn, Angus Brayshaw, Jack Viney I/C: Mitch Hannan, James Harmes, Alex Neal-Bullen, Dom Tyson EMG: Ben Kennedy, Dean Kent, Jake Spencer IN: James Harmes, Ben Kennedy, Dom Tyson OUT: Joel Smith (shoulder), Bernie Vince (suspended) CARLTON B: Jarrod Pickett, Caleb Marchbank, Lachie Plowman HB: Harrison Macreadie, Sam Rowe, Sam Docherty C: Matthew Wright, Bryce Gibbs, Kade Simpson HF: Jack Silvagni, Levi Casboult, Charlie Curnow F: Simon White, Jacob Weitering, Sam Petrevski-Seton FOLL: Matthew Kreuzer, Patrick Cripps, Marc Murphy I/C: Dennis Armfield, Ed Curnow, Nick Graham, Sam Kerridge, Harry McKay, Billie Smedts, Dale Thomas EMG: Nick Graham, Sam Kerridge, Harry McKay NO CHANGE BLUE SKIES Twelve months ago, I was enjoying a holiday break cruising the North China Sea somewhere between the tip of South Korea and the Chinese mainland. We left Australia a few days after Melbourne's barnstorming come-from-behind victory over GWS and all was well with the world notwithstanding the ominous proximity to mad Kim Jong-un's battery of missiles. Thousands of miles away to the south east, the Demons were about to take on the Bombers' B team. I was supremely confident that the Dees were on course for a 2 - 0 start to the season. Suddenly, our ship sailed into a thick fog and we were enveloped in a misty grey-yellow shroud. You could barely hear the lapping of the tiny waves around us as we ploughed through the eerily silent waters. Internet communication via satellite was intermittent and limited. I picked up an early score that had Essendon leading 1.2.8 to nil but I wasn't worried. The next time I managed to get on line, it was Melbourne leading by two goals midway through the second quarter. We were on our way. They had a trivia competition on board and the rules were strict - no cell phones. My confidence was up and I wasn't worried but a little over an hour later when I was back on line, I had to look twice as the ¾ time score flashed on the screen to show the Bombers leading by nine points. The fog was thicker than a pea soup. The air became frozen. I was literally overcome by a sickening feeling like sailing the Titanic through another dead ocean with an iceberg directly under the bow. There was never a satisfactory explanation given as to why Melbourne crashed so badly that day. The Bombers were the competition's easybeats copping defeat after defeat in the weeks and months that followed and it looked as if the Demons would be their only victim for the season until they triumphed over an injury depleted Gold Coast at Etihad Stadium in Round 21. Some put it down to poor preparation in the week before the game while others claimed that Melbourne got ahead of itself, that the players had big heads and turned up lacking focus. At the other end of that season in the second last round, Melbourne suffered another humiliation at the hands of a lowly team in Carlton when it needed a victory to maintain its finals hopes. At least there was an explanation for that result - the young team was rapidly tiring after a long exhausting season. It was at least a plausible if not entirely comforting excuse for a loss to an opponent going through its own long string of defeats. This time around there are no excuses whatsoever. There is nothing and nobody left to blame. All of the stars are nicely aligned and you simply cannot question, the current board, CEO, coach, conditioning staff, playing list, ground announcer or boot studder. There is no reason on the strength of the form shown by the team last week; the coolness, the calmness and the discipline that we saw from a team which shrugged off an early four goal deficit to blitz to a well fancied opponent with ten consecutive consecutive goals in the period before and after half time. The sort of form that is epitomised by four of your players (including a 19 year old who played 75% of game time) accumulating 30 touches or more and another nine clocking up at least 20 disposals when the team is down a player from before quarter time is irrepressible and simply can't be overturned in the space of a week. Even the loss through suspension of Bernie Vince who was one of the team's 30 possession men against the Saints - something that once might once have been regarded as catastrophic - is not a major problem when Dom Tyson is waiting in the wings to replace him. Carlton toiled hard in the season opener against Richmond but was outclassed and saved by further ignominy thanks to its accuracy in front of goal. They won't have to contend with a Dustin Martin this weekend but instead, face an opposition with a multitude of mid sized runners led by the AFL's leading ruckman and some very classy talls at either end of the ground. The players have the right mindset and are now well and truly used to disposing of any hoodoo or curse they might encounter along their football journey. I even checked the weather forecast in the region of the North China sea and am led to believe that it will be all sunshine and blue skies on Sunday. No fog, no hard rain. The evidence is there for all to see - another hoodoo will bite the dust in the most emphatic manner. Melbourne by 65 points

Oscar isn't going anywhere. He and Tommy were very solid from the 2nd onwards. Even after a few brain farts and fumbles the kid still continues on with confidence and urgency. Many of you seem to have forgotten his end to 2016 when he was out most consistent defender. Defenders are easy targets because their mistakes stand out more. He will learn and the club will benefit from it. Drop him..for who? Who do we bring in that makes us better? Will be a long term player for us, just like his bro.

Jones and Hogan very unlucky. EDIT: Just realised I passed 2000 posts on Demonland. Thanks to everyone who makes this website possible!

I know this will get moved to the AFLW Forum very soon but as most readers don't visit it, I thought you would like to know of our AFLW Demon success It has been a really successful season for the AFLW and the Demons came agonizingly close to the GF missing the right to play on percentage. Maybe next year. We have a very talented team as evidenced by: 4 Rising Star nominees, the highest number of any club: Lily Mithen, Jasmine Grierson, Katherine Smith, Deanna Berry Winner: Ebony Marinoff (Adelaide) Demon Placings (from 14 nominees) 3. Lily Mithen, 5. Jasmine Grierson, 8. Deanna Berry. 6 nominees in the All Australian Team of 40 players, the highest number outside the Grand Finalists: Karen Paxman, Elise O’Dea, Daisy Pearce, Melissa Hickey, Lily Mithen, Jasmine Grierson Demons in Final Squad: Karen Paxman, Daisy Pearce, Melissa Hickey, Elise O'Dea . Captain: Daisy Pearce Best Captain as judged by players: Winner: Our very own Daisy Pearce Best and Fairest: Demons in the mix: Karen Paxman, Daisy Pearce Winner: Erin Phillips (Adelaide) Demon Placings: 2. Karen Paxman (Tie) Congratulations to all and especially to the winners. We will be hearing those names a lot more in the future. Lets just hope the weird AFL rules on putting all contracts up for renewal this year doesn't cause major losses of our players. And the understatement of the year: Daisy is an amazing asset to the MFC!

What a transformation in body shape. First picture is from the same year he was drafted. From looking like stewy dew to this today.

Love Bernie. He kept us in the game. Simple. The focus by some wannabe school headmasters here is ridiculous - it's footy and he's not a nasty player. He's competitive, tough and cheeky. And he cops it back without complaint - remember how he ruffled Dangerfield's feathers and then Danger overstepped the mark. Perhaps he overstepped the mark for a split second, but it reflected his competitive determination throughout the entire game. Look at his performance as a leader over the other 119 mins and 59 seconds of the game - his contribution was invaluable.

In 2006 Carlton had three wins for the season, and two of them made the difference between a third place finish and our actual finish at 7th. I've not forgiven them, or us, for that yet. We play them twice at the MCG this year. If the combined margin is greater than 20 goals, and we make top-4 on percentage, I will officially let go of my bitterness. I set high criteria for letting go of bitterness.

I've enjoyed the game about 3 times now. I don't think Oscar is as "thin" as everyone is making out. He plays the defensive role pretty well and impacts a lot of contests. He also runs well and creates. Yes, he makes mistakes but I saw Jordan Lewis stuff up regularly on Sunday. Anyway we'll have this conversation every week this year I'd imagine, pity there isn't an ignore button for this.

Big Max's beard and the red yoke behind his head make him look like Count Dracula or some strange Elizabethan courtier with a jabot. Heppel just looks like a mop. That one you've been keeping in case something spills one day that you don't want to use the good mop for.

I also thought it was ok, Ron B. Like other 'unsociable' footballers Bernie plays close to the edge of the rules. Sometimes his antics get noticed, sometimes not. It is Bernie's job to ruffle opposition feathers. Someone needs to do it. Bernie is the best we have at it...until Lewis gets going... Edit...and of course Viney isn't too bad at the ruffling feathers caper, either

I'll sound like a sook, but I preferred it when they provided highlights of all the goals after a win. First world problems, really, and the goals above are all rippers so I can't really complain.

I'm sure if O Mac was interviewed he wouldn't have been happy with his turnovers either...I'm pretty sure he would also have higher expectations as would the coaches.

As much as i love the above clip and it was the single greatest passage of play i have seen as a Melbourne supporter in my lifetime. That wasn't the defining moment of his career. When he kicked out from full back you knew he would hit a target. He simply didn't miss and had a thumping kick on him. Whoever he played on before the days of zones would just have a quiet day. Without fail. His tackles were brutal and he attacked the ball with a wreckless regard for himself and or others.

I think the other thing to remember is oscar was playing on one of the best forwards ever with the ball flying in there in the first quarter.

This has nothing to do with Oscar, but they were right not to chase some of the proven defenders out there. Just look at Nathan Brown on the weekend - totally out of his depth. He was worse than Oscar. I know you were keen to get someone like him in over the summer, but the game is passing him by quickly. We were right not to go anywhere near these guys - we would have held on to Dunn if we thought we needed someone of that ilk.

You are completely wrong about Garland, he being a true professional and was playing with a dodgy ankle and most of the time needed jabs He got it right over the break and had a solid pre season and was on his way back to some decent form when he did his knee So you want Omac to learn to play on AFL forwards in the VFL, please, he made a couple of mistakes, the rest of the time he was solid, the side picked this weekend will tell us whether those mistakes were critical enough to warrant being dropped, and that won't be decided on here thankfully I support the team, and whoever is in it at any given time, they are there for a reason

37,025 That is 2,000 up on 10 days ago. 600 of that due to the fine efforts of our players and staff calling fans. Prior to 2016 our highest membership was 36,937 in 2011. Yes 2011! So, a mini milestone was reached today! It won't be long before we break the 2016 record of 39,211 final tally Then 40,000 is just around the corner. About the time of our ANZAC Eve game, maybe?

Two alternative views of new 'no third man up' rule: 1 Geelong totally nullify the affect of Sandilands by surrendering the hitouts but scored most from clearances. (Dockers ending up 63-18 hitouts). No 3rd man up, no big deal! http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/live-afl-round-1-fremantle-v-geelong-cats/news-story/ebe52c3413fb7f60bed19d7e4ba0a0fa Geelong had their own gameplan and it worked brilliantly. (A page out of Beveridge's book ala 2014/2015) 2. Richardson sooks about it in StK vs Demons game. “You can’t do anything, really,” St Kilda coach Alan Richardson told Fox Footy’s AFL 360...“I think that’s something that’s been lost in the whole argument about getting rid of the third-man up". WOW - a startling admission that he really had no idea what to do if he couldn't have a 3rd man up! That is what preseason games are for. He should watch footage of Freo vs Geelong to get some ideas! Max is one of the best but for a coach to not have a plan...it is going to be a long season for Richo and the Saints. http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/st-kilda-becomes-the-first-victim-of-afls-decision-to-scrap-thirdman-up-at-ruck-contests/news-story/7e7ed8d944f1ae70cd0557c755686b71

An alternative scenario of votes: Goodwin Richo 5) Vince Oliver 4) Oliver Lewis 3) Jones Gawn 2) Gawn Hogan 1) Roo Roo

Bring back all the goals.

Wow, what a change in 3yrs. Only TMac, Nathan Jones, Bernie Vince and Jack Watts from Roos' 1st game. That is a huge turnover of players. GOODWIN'S 1st GAME ROOS 1st Game Nathan Jones Bail, Rohan Clayton Oliver Byrnes, Shannon Jordan Lewis Cross, Daniel Jesse Hogan Dunn, Lynden Max Gawn Fitzpatrick, Jack Alex Neal-Bullen Frawley, James Tom McDonald Georgiou, Alex Bernie Vince Grimes, Jack Christian Petracca Howe, Jeremy Mitch Hannan Jones, Matt Jayden Hunt Jones, Nathan Jack Viney Kennedy-Harris, Jay Angus Brayshaw McDonald, Tom Christian Salem Michie, Viv Billy Stretch Pedersen, Cameron Neville Jetta Spencer, Jake Oscar McDonald Terlich, Dean Jeff Garlett Toumpas, Jimmy Jake Melksham Trengove, Jack Jack Watts Tyson, Dom Sam Weideman Vince, Bernie Joel Smith Watts, Jack

I thought the comments by Roos on FOX about breaking the lines were fascinating. Rather than kick long to the opposition defensive wall and a 50/50 at best, kick a half or three quarter kick to the hole before the wall, then go over the top and out the back.

Still my favourite piece of play. One handed against a 3 time premiership player. Impressive

Had to slow down and enlarge to see properly. Smaller, speed of light version aka reality.

Watching it for 3rd time, without child or wife in the vicinity... Besides the possession that lead to his shoulder injury, Smith he will be a loss. He looked really good for a first gamer.

Cant be said enough. A man down from early in the game, in hot humid conditions and we ran them off their feet.

That's proper disgusting

What a poor reading of character! Nothing fake about Bernie... a lair perhaps, but he is loved by coaches and team mates because he has legit cred for backing up his mouth when required.

Jones is not lightning quick - what Jones does is hit the contest at top speed . Viney does that too. I think what has really improved with both of these guys is the reading of the play - it means you can go at the contest at full pace with some confidence knowing that the ball is going to be there. It also helps first and foremost that Gawn will put it exactly where he promises he will. But if you look at the goal he kicked from the Oliver handball - he just took off past Oliver knowing he would gather the ball and give it to him. Weidman looked quicker than he has because he took off knowing he was going to end up the end user of the handball chain. Confidence in your teammates abilities is a glorious thing. They talk about "quick sides" - but it is not always about leg speed - it is about confidence that your teammate is going to get the ball and give it to you so you feel right about going hard to get yourself in a good position.

This isn't to say he doesn't need to improve or some aspects of his game arent frustrating, clearly what you mean is they think he is worth persisting with, despite some frustrations from supporters which are probably fair enough in some cases. I think saty sometimes you ignore what are fair criticisms of players by being a bit to bias. Oscar is young and will be good but is clearly not perfect

The father-son rule is surely the best in the world of sport. https://www.instagram.com/p/BSDp-tQj48F/?hl=en

I was looking at your hashtag and it reminded me of goody two shoes. Maybe we need to send Alan Richardson some #goodytissues

I'm a Kent fan, but I'm unsure the mix is right with him in. With he, Garlett, ANB, Hannan and maybe Petracca in the side, we've got too many half forwards in the side who can't (or coaches won't allow) yet do much else. You could argue they could rotate through the middle more and that gets suggested a lot, but I haven't seen a lot of evidence that this actually happens much. I think it more likely we'll add two mids, with Lewis and Jones increasing their responsibilities on halfback to cover Vince. I think it will be Tyson and Bugg in for Vince and Smith.

Certainly but I think the suspension had as much to do with bernies record as it did the action. for me that action warrants a fine at worst if no other factors come into play. Bottom line is a leader should not be doing that rubbish. Now he misses a game for it.

It's a demonland thing that he was imagined to get off. It was clear as day he was going to cop a week. Going by both his poor record and the fact that he hit someone in the head, way off the ball. That was completely unnecessary. I mean, what was his intention if it wasn't hitting the bloke? Melb supporters can be delusional.

Did Vince run over your dog, A F? You're on the hunt lately. Did you not see some of Lewis' turnovers? Everyone made mistakes in the heat of round 1. Vince was outstanding.

In that 9 defenders situation stk out numbered us 7 to 3 in our forward line. Yet the out number and run from that set up won the ball.... i think it was gawn to brayshsw who handballed to trac on the break who hit hogan with the long entry. It was very impressive and very hard to pick up on the coverage. But seeing that from king and looking at the replay it was bloody impressive. It's hard to believe our team is playing smart footy. . I need to check this osnt a dream

If this is all you base leadership criteria on you should probably start following another sport.

Watch the replay. Vince was terrific.

Got what it should have. Silly from Bernie, but that's who he is. Don't want him to change. Take the good with the bad. Off the ball, high and intentional. Don't really care about "impact", as it's not really a good look. I always remembered the Hawks during their reign pushing the boundaries. I think this is one of those cases. Just simply that Bernie went a little too far. Take the medicine, move on.

Boooooo. I want all the goals!

Completely ripped off. We want all the goals as like it used to be. Booooooooooo

We ran forward in waves however a difference to previous games was that when we got to about half forward if there were no options and we ran into a wall instead of bombing away and watching the ball rebound over our heads we turned and retreated backwards with a short kick or long handball to a man standing behind the play to reset before pushing g forward again. Was very noticeable in 2nd and 3rd quarters and we just dominated possession because we wouldn't allow them to touch the footy.

We are also havent beaten them during a solar eclipse

Oscar played the last 14 games of 2016 and impressed with his intercepting and work in the contest. McDonald was involved in 41 defensive one-on-one contests and lost just 17% (7) - ranked 2nd at the club behind his brother Tom and seventh in the league in players involved in 30 or more contests. Of his 14 games, he didnt concede a goal to his direct opponent in 6 games and cinceded more than two just once. He averaged 6.5 intercept possessions per game, rated above average for key defenders" AFL prospectus. All of those stats indicate he is clearly at the level, whilst he may have got caught out in the early stages of the game, his next three quarters apart from skill errors were pretty solid defensively. Often in the right spot and rarely beaten after that, of course he made some mistakes, so did alot of our players. But I cant see how anyone watches the 2nd-last quarter and says Oscar McDonald was a liability to the side. He was solid and showed great resilience to bounce back from a poorer start.