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Reading this post match discussion so far; Brayshaw is slow and not up to AFL standard. Watts needs to be dropped. Viney and Petracca were bad and probably won't be too far behind. Imagine if selection were in the hands of some of the commentators here. OMac of course wouldn't have played after last week, or for the rest of the season. Pederson would play and never be dropped (this one really fascinates me). The level of kneejerk absolutist rubbish some of you spew is frankly hilarious. Those who just can't seem to work out that form is variable, particularly for the under 23 year old players. One week up, next down, maybe underwhelming for a few in a row. If you expect week to week or even month to month consistency from every player, you're going to be continually frustrated and angry.

Salem was a CLEAR best on ground.

I really dont care about the semantics. We won the bloody game. If we win ugly most of the time that's just fine with me. We have had years of losing ugly every bloody week. So let's be happy with the win.

Who kicked goals on Oscar today? How many goals was he directly responsible for with turnovers?

Went down today, was impressed by the young Casey players with Ed Morris one of the stars of the day and a leader out there for a very inexperienced Casey side. It was a much tougher test this week with some pretty motivated Hawthorn players in Sicily, Schoenmakers, Duyrea & Hartung after being dropped and very experienced VFL side in Box Hill. My thoughts on the Melbourne boys. McKenna - Made a few decision errors but was general sound with disposal before getting injured in the 3rd qtr. DJ - Struggled like most in the first half but lifted the intensity in the second, at the moment only a one effort player and needs to build fitness. Kent - Was very good and looks ready for AFL. Spencer - Dominated in the ruck against Fitzpatrick with Casey midfield getting first hands all day, spent some time forward and was competitive without hitting the scoreboard. Wagner - Looked really good from return, he wasn't the best defensively but his kicking out of the back line was brilliant. Could come back in if required. Frost - Defensively sound but had limited game time, building fitness and probably needs another week. Pederson - Better than last week and competed well in the air. Bugg - Played well and was probably the most consistent player over the 4 qtr's for Casey. Maynard - Improving, looked lively in the middle and was already much better from last week, Looking forward to what he can do this year. Filipovic - Moves well but is just getting pushed around in the contest at the moment, might spend some time in the development league if Spencer plays VFL. Trengrove - Very clean in tight, spent the 2nd half at half back and was sound with a couple of outstanding tackles. Kielty - Played forward and struggled early, went into the ruck for a few minutes and had a real impact kicking his first goal out of the ruck. Was much better after getting involved in the ruck and major contributor in the comeback. Smith - Always a star at Casey, building fitness and needs to improve his 2 way running if he wants to be considered for the AFL.

Can't wait to get back to docklands play better at that ground.

The third quarter was the only time I genuinely thought there was a chance we'd lose. The rest of the time we dominated the ball, just used it poorly, especially with that last kick in to 50. Not the confidence boosting drubbing I was hoping for, but just a relief to win in the end. Probably a bit of a reality check of where we are at, without having to pay the ultimate price of a loss. On TV at the beginning of the last quarter, they said Goodwin had abandoned the 2 extras back and lined up in traditional formation. Another win for the coach?

It's about time we break the cycle of putting in a crappy effort following a solid performance the week before. Carlton are a mess, I'll accept a 10 goal plus win. Watts to boot 4.

The worry for the Dees will be a potent 'baggers forward line. Kennedy, Waite, Garlett and Betts are capable of a big score. What?? On yeah.

I will take an ugly win every day of the week.

Just as rewarding a win as laat week. Why? Because we found out that this team will no longer lie down like [censored] when challenged by a team they are expected to beat. That the swagger of players like tracca, salem and harmes etc came to the fore rather than the "oh no i hope i dont fail" mental scarring we have seen so often by this team over the past 10 years (essendon round 2 last year being one case in point). Ecstatic. Go dees.

The prospect of an extra hours sleep was exciting, but my two year olds have obviously never heard of daylight savings. Or maybe they're too damn pumped its game day! Hope I don't nod off at the G this arvo..??

Usually enjoy reading your work DS but this is pretty poor post. We got the win mate, enjoy it for 24 hours and move on to next week.

A fantastic article by Ben Guthrie that highlights his journey to the AFL. Worth a read. http://m.melbournefc.com.au/news/2017-04-02/clarry-a-nugget-worth-fossicking

I love watching Jordan Lewis speak after matches. "One of those games (when) you just have to find a way to win". That mentality exists at Melbourne now. F*#% yea!

Good teams find a way to win when they're playing badly, a lot of players off today but we found a way. Hogan seemed to be playing sore

Worst. Win. Ever.

The combination of Lewis, Brayshaw and Salem gave us far better balance and quality around the stoppages than Dom - holding the ball/turnover Tyson. Don't get fooled by his stats. He blasted to no one repeatedly, is slow to defend at the stoppages and his field kicking is disgusting. He had a big last quarter but he needed to because he'd cost us about 5 goals by that time.

gee there are some tough critics of here. JW played well for most of the day IMO. early on he was doing a good job in the ruck and dropped two masks that should have both been "in the back". Then he turns in a great last quarter and we win.

Our backline ultimately won the game for us today I thought. They got the job done, and more often than not it was the mids and roamers that let us down going forward. The McDonald's were both great. Jetta was great. Salem. I think people underestimate our defense. There was a Carlton onslaught in the third and we're lucky we weren't 5-6 goals down the way we and they played. Our backline really held firm and our structure down back was superb I thought. That's a positive to take out from today. A year ago, we fold and lose that game.

DA you're up there with Osilick, Picket and ENYAW with over the over the top statement.

Hogans tap looked bad because Rowe threw himself on the ground like a toddler.

Winning ugly is so much better than a creditable loss. I'll be saving the Grange for another day, but sleeping easy tonight.

You obviously missed the Brisbane win last year.

It's on at 1.20 here, don't worry I won't post score updates and spoil the game.

Just on the question of the club's intentions going into that draft, I was at the pre draft talk at the club with Jason Taylor and Todd Viney and they basically had it down to taking two of Petracca, McCartin and Brayshaw but the way they spoke it sounded very much like they believed the Saints would take the truck, spending a lot of time talking about Paddy's attributes. They even mentioned how he dealt with his diabetes and the need for him to manage it with rests during games. There was also the matter about Alan Richardson being close with the Petracca family and how he knew Christian from when he was a young kid. There is a lot to suggest that the Saints changed their minds in the eleventh hour. I think we might have lucked out on this one.

I have to admit that I was somewhat concerned about reports from training during the week suggesting injuries to Max Gawn and Jesse Hogan but the news from Casey's practice match provided comfort. If there were any concerns with either of those two then Jake Spencer would surely have been withdrawn from the game. Otherwise, I think we have the Blues well and truly covered although come to think of it, I thought that was the case last year ... and the year before.

Well never let it be said I don't acknowledge a good performance. I THOUGHT OSCAR AND ESPECIALLY TMAC WERE VERY GOOD TODAY!! PF The discerning man's critic!

On a bright note.....its nice to see hawthorn, Sydney and St.Kilda in the bottom 6.

Don't bother mate Most on Demonlanders think we are running out with the experience of the Swans/Hawkes each week and like to critique every small detail to the death. My positives for the day, We seem to be closing the gap on our best and worst footy. Building some consistency We were able to win although we didn't play great footy - that is a real sign of improvement as normally we drop these games We don't rely on 1 2 or 3 players to win us games. We are still young and we will get better There are plenty of negatives but we won ffs.,, There will be negatives in every game player by every club. Time to have a beer and enjoy the replay

Gees some of you are in for a long season based on what I've read here. Ultimately Carlton played a very well coached game style that could only win if we let it get to us. We didn't, and so we won. That in and of itself is a step in the right direction. They got an top of us mentally, and we adjusted and hung in and came away on top. We are the team being coached against in game like today's now. We dont have to negate and drag clubs down to our level. Our level can be a step above, so that means clubs they'll try and block us up like Carlton did fairly well today. Some credit needs to go to them for that. As for the other comments potting blokes let's not forget that we now have 8-10 players that can move through the midfield at varying times. Blokes like Viney, Brayshaw, Petracca, Salem and even Jones, Lewis and Vince (when available) are natural midfielders making it work, or learning, as half forwards and backs. It's a work in progress and they'll feel more or less involved depending on the game style and opposition structures. BUT if they can play 50 games together we'll have a rock solid team for 5-6 years after that.

Can't believe anyone can say drop OMac did not turn the ball over did not get beaten by his man, a good backmens game,. Hogan all most lost us the game, but made up for it in the last, Jeffrey won as the game, was a good win only conceding 64 points, the only part of the ground we played poorly was kicking into the f50. Watts played well can't say a bad word about him today, should of got a free kick in the third qtr had his arms chopped. we should of won by more, there was 2 moments in the game that turned it around Hogan missing from 25 in front, then giving away free kick in goal square, he kicks that goal and we would of run away with it, those 2plays was a 23 point turn around, like all good sides we lifted in the last qtr to win the game and win well. the only thing Tmac did wrong was give a silly free kick.

Rowe should get a week for acting

They wanted it more, ran more all day, and tried everything they had. We looked lazy, overused the ball, and didn't run for the first three quarters. One of the worst display I have seen in a while. We still won! We finally played badly in a game we should win and managed to win. Hopefully it keeps up!

On a train city bound, lunch in Richmond before heading to the ground. Haven't been to a game in Melbourne for 2 years, I'm bloody pumped....

Have they? I can't recall Simon Goodwin's Demons ever being beaten by Carlton. Blank slate as far as I'm concerned. Last week proved that.

If we don't win this well Ethan, I maybe seen attempting to stab myself to death with one of horrible plastic beer containers. No doubt I will fail in the attempt so I shall return to the Manor and give myself a jolly good flogging

Special ? Hogan is special. McCartin might be solid, or even very good, I don't see "special".

Further encouraged by Frost and Wagner playing a half yesterday. Frost in particular I think we need back. Honestly Id be shocked if we lost today. As mentioned above I also thought that last year etc etc

WOULD YOU LIKE THAT WITH GRAVY? by George on The Outer With the Demons making an absolute meal of the opportunities achieved through their sheer dominance around the ground against Carlton, it was as if the fans being asked if they would like what was being served up to them with gravy. The fortunate thing from a club perspective was that in the end, it wasn’t gravy that came with the meal, but rather the icing on the cake that saved the day and finally saw Melbourne run out the eventual victors on the day. In this instance the icing was provided by the likes of Jeff Garlett, Christian Salem and Jack Watts with a handsome contribution from Nev Jetta. In the early going it was all Melbourne. By halfway through the second quarter, the Demons led by four goals. At that stage, they had five players with more possessions than the best performing Carlton player and yet, at the main break, the lead had been pared back a meagre 10 points. The fans had seen this before. This was a Melbourne game that had been marked down as a certain four premiership points but suddenly they found themselves in an arm-wrestle by giving the opposition plenty of opportunities to recover as a result of their over use of the football and sloppy turnovers. Things got worse in the third quarter as the Demons continued to produce more of the same. The battle of the rucks between Max Gawn and Matt Kruezer was relentless and there seemed to be no curbing Bryce Gibbs and Patrick Cripps while, despite numerous clearances, the Melbourne mids were simply being trounced. Jack Viney was strangely quiet again this week, Dom Tyson was getting plenty of the ball around the ground but little in the middle, and Clayton Oliver also got lots of touches but he was too dependent upon handball when kicking was the order of the day. In the latter stages of the third quarter, the Demons had fluffed around with the football so much and had shown such a lack of intensity and discipline that the unthinkable happened. They had allowed the Blues to hit the lead and take it out to a nine point margin before Jeff Garlett decided that enough was enough when he put the team's first major for the term on the board at the 21 minute mark. This brought the margin back to only three points at the final change with hope that the worst was now behind the team. It wasn’t to be entirely because despite the Demons kicking the first two goals of the final stanza to take a nine point lead, the Blues replied to restore the margin back to within a goal. With the minutes ticking by, Garlett came off the bench and as he did in the third, he made something out of nothing in the middle to start a chain of possessions that left the fans with their hearts in their mouths. The team still managed to stuff around in front of goal as better options were looked for instead of simply putting the ball to boot and through the majors. Tyson snapped a goal and Sam Weideman chipped in with his second but Casboult replied. It was Jeff who followed up with a spectacular run down from behind on Docherty and he converted from the resultant free to ice the game. A final snap from Nathan Jones in the dying minute saw the Demons record a 22 point win. More hoodoos were put to bed as a result. The first win in round two since 2005 and only the second against the Blues in that space of time. They had only beaten Carlton once in the past ten meetings. Special mention must go to Christian Salem who time and time again delivered the ball accurately and faultlessly with his 31 touches. Both he and Tom McDonald held back multiple attacks and launched many forward thrusts. They genuinely kept the team in the game at critical times, when Carlton threatened to do exactly as they did in round 21 last year. Oliver put forward another 35 touch performance in only his 15th game, while Tyson racked up 32 of his own after return from injury. He will be better for the run, for despite his 145 Dream Team points tally, his delivery at critical times was below his usual standard. With the likely return of Dean Kent and Bernie Vince next week, Mitch Hannan and Alex Neal-Bullen will probably find themselves Casey bound as they were found wanting against an opposition that is not highly regarded. They will get another chance as the season progresses, but the message is clear that players will genuinely have to earn their spot in this side in 2017. No longer is senior selection assured week after week, because the gravy-train has now left the station. Melbourne 3.2.20 6.4.40 7.5.47 13.8.86 Carlton 2.2.14 4.6.30 7.8.50 9.10.64 Goals Melbourne Garlett 3 Jones Watts Weideman 2 Gawn Petracca Salem Tyson Carlton Wright 3 Armfield Casboult E Curnow Murphy Petrevski-Seton Pickett Best Melbourne Salem Tyson Oliver Watts Garlett Jones Harmes Carlton Wright Murphy Cripps Docherty Gibbs Curnow Changes Melbourne Nil Carlton Nil Injuries Melbourne Brayshaw (cut eye) Carlton Silvagni (corked thigh and ankle) Thomas (right knee) Reports Melbourne Nil Carlton Nil Umpires Dalgleish, Meredith, Williamson Official Crowd 46,727 at the MCG

Oh, I missed Jetta. He's a star. Tommy Mac and Omac were good today too.

You have got to be kidding me, Steve. He was just about best on ground and kicked the sealer. He's slow, but he gut runs and gets to most contests and kicks goals.

we lacked drive off half back. be good to get hibberd and vince back in

Relief. Midfield decidedly ordinary for most of the day. Overuse of the ball was ridiculous at stages. But we ground it out which is promising, albeit with Docherty doing us a huge favour at the end. Salem and Jeffy were terrific. Jetta and T Mac stood up at important moments. Bank the 4 points. Raise a smile at being 2-0. Look towards a better performance next week. .

Also, Maxy hexed Clarrie with his 360 interview. Promised another 35 possession game - finished the game with 34.

PetraccaGarlettHannanNeil-BullenWattsHoganHarmesJonesTysonWiederman These players got us the goals we needed in the last quarter. T. McDonald Jetta These players saved us the goals we could not concede. Oliver This guy is just a gun.

Keen to see oliver and Cripps go head to head

I don't agree. Richmond conceded 14 goals to Carlton, which was poor. I'll be disappointed if we concede any more than 10. I also expect us to kick over 100 points. Dees by a minimum of 40 points.

I've always maintained that as supporters, we should be welcome to get as carried away as we please. It's our own emotions we are putting on the line. You are right that the team must not think this way, and I really doubt they are.