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This will sound like the strangest comment ever uttered in these hallowed digital halls, but I don't think I'm ready yet. This is my life now. Melbourne's inveterate crapness is a core part of my personal identity. The Stockholm Syndrome has full hold of me. Just the thought of a flag and the existential anxiety seizes my brain. How the hell am I possibly going to cope on Grand Final day?!! And around all those bloody neutrals who couldn't possibly understand. What if it all goes horribly wrong? And surely, surely, after waiting so desperately all this time, there isn't the slightest hope that the joy however great could ever live up to the desire. And how much salt would it rub into the wounds - to suddenly do it so easily after a half-century of wasted effort? What happens when life returns to normal? When cricket returns to the G' and ordinary people no longer care? When everyone else has forgotten the pain and the suffering and simply moved on? I'll be that prisoner released into society after serving a life sentence. I'm institutionalised. My only hope is recidivism. To bid farewell to the MFC and jump on the Richmond bandwagon to nowhere . . .

Will be a huge boost for Casey to get Gawn in into the team for the rest of the year. Pedo will be in full flight by then of course.

How about the OP outlines what constitutes a clanger. It's one of those stats that doesn't tell a true reflection on the overall performance of the player. Pretty sure that Dangerfield and Fyfe were "clanger kings" in their Brownlow year. IMO, Tyson has played pretty well in the past 3 weeks.

I was sitting on the western side of adelaide oval center wing the Adelaide supporters around me were fine they just thought it was another game they were going to win by 10 goals. The usual smart arse comments about draft picks etc very polite arrogance I'd like to call it, had my cousin ask me if I was having a gd time when the crows piled on 6 in a row it was all gd everyone was having a jolly old time,until the 2nd half that is. They started turning on each other also asking each other what's wrong with the team etc. With each passing melb goal my screams were getting louder and louder especially when clarry nailed from the betts pocket I had people turning around a looking at me thinking how dare u but that just fueled the fire this was a release of pent up frustration we've all carried to years. The started leaving in their droves the 1st we kicked in the 4th I got up had a look around and ask 'where a you going this isn't what supporters do' by that stage I was center stage non of the supporters could look at me because they knew we had bullied them on their on patch humiliated them. All this crap about this lady saying the chap involved started swearing I listened to the lady on 5aa this morning she admitted when the presenters pressed her for info that the man only swore once load of crap this is. At the end of the day Melb supporters all had the last laugh.

Whenever Footscray won a flag we've won the next 3. Relax. We've got this.

Lots of people in the media tipping against Melbourne on the basis they "they will get ahead of themselves." For the love of god, please prove them wrong Melbourne.

Look he hasn't been good this year but at his best he is a very handy player on our list. Take a look at our win vs Hawthorn last year, he was one of our best. Everyone was critical of Viney earlier this year and are now eating their words. He is a lot better than what he's currently dishing up.

If we can get into a position in the top 8 in the next 4-6 weeks and then get Gawn & Hogan, our 2 most important players reaching peak fitness at the right time of year l can see no reason why we can't have a real crack. We seem to have really galvanised as a team with the difficulties that have arisen & they seem to love being coached by Goodwin. Having said that we need to start winning the games we should. With a full fit list finals time look out!!

My mates refer to Waite as a sanitary item, in for one week and out for three.

I love Titus. After the win v st kilda he made a comment along the following lines - "Cop that Saints. No one beats the Demons 15 times in a row."

Our top 5 clangerers are Tyson, TMac, Vince, Oliver and Hunt. All 5 of them are also top 10 in disposal average (Tyson 5th). Gee, what a revelation that the players who get the ball the most are the ones with the greatest chance of misusing it on occasion.

I know it's behind the paywall, but for those who can view it (or know how to get around the paywall), the link is here: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/melbourne/star-recruit-jordan-lewis-is-spreading-hawthorn-gospel-at-his-new-club-melbourne/news-story/5331da6c68b450060d13cb5f7b6e76fc Basically, it just outlines that Lewis has been talking extensively to the players about the 'take less money' model that Clarkson used at Hawthorn to assist in player retention, which in turn will help us break our premiership drought. Great to see Lewis doing this and if we keep growing as a group then hopefully that makes it even easier for players to sign on for the right coin. With teams throwing money around, and with a few gun players (Petracca, Gawn, Hunt etc.) out of contract next year, this may help us in retaining players without going overboard about it. The article does say that we aren't currently under an salary cap constraints and with it going up soon we shouldn't have any problems retaining our players. What it may help with is being able to add further players to the list as well to complement what we already have.

I must say I hate it when I see Dees fans bring in opposition fan guests into my Melbourne "only" area. Especially if we lose. If we win then I love it.

This is the key. Dropping games we should win or were in a winning position will bury our finals chances. Despite suffering from MFCSS this is the first time in a long time, perhaps ever in my 40 years a Demon, that I believe we can genuinely beat any team we come up against. Having said that my eternal pessimism also leads me to believe that we can lose to any team in the competition. I should seek therapy. Our win against Adelaide means nothing if we cannot back it up.

Hahahha what a list of chit trucks who can't find a team mate.

I don't think they understand what a wildcard is or why it exists All they need to do is create some fairness in the fixture. That's it. No need for 17-5, 18-5, wildcard weekends ad infinitum. Just have a rolling fixture alternating home and away each time you play an opponent. Either that or decide the double up games on the prior years ladder (so 1st has double ups against 4th, 7th, 10th, 13th & 16th). This isn't about fairness, it's about marketing and promotion. The sooner the Dil [censored] off the better, he is FAR worse than Demetriou.

I don't want to be a negative [censored], but I don't see us developing a level of consistency this year that will get us there. Even when the Bulldogs finished outside of the top 4, they'd played a season that was capable of top 4 if it weren't for injuries. I don't think we're mature enough to play to that level. I've always expected 2017 to be another year where we find our feet, make the 8 and maybe win a final. I've always seen 2018 as a year we should be pushing for the top 4 and could pinch a flag, ala Hawthorn in 2008 or Bulldogs in 2016. I hope I'm wrong and we can get to a level of consistency sooner than even our coaches expect, remembering that McCartney has repeatedly said we're 18 months behind the Dogs in their development. We're certainly due finals though and 13+ wins.

Titus speaks: for your edification Melbourne v North Melbourne (MCG) 3.20pm Jesse Hogan’s illness put’s footy in perspective this week, and thankfully it appears Jesse’s outlook is bright. He’s certainly had a terrible time of late, and I hope at some point he has a corresponding period that is as positive as this has been negative. Last week, Melbourne were so good they’ve given me an unrealistic sense of how good they are. I’m being set up for an enormous disappointment this week, aren’t I? I just get nervous when people use ‘season-defining win’ and ‘Melbourne’ in the same sentence. It usually means a ‘season defining loss’ is just around the corner. Melbourne have a good track record against the Roos though, having defeated them as recently as 2006. Letting North win the past 15 contests has lulled the Roos into a false sense of security and the trap is ready to slam shut on Sunday night. Suckers! The Kangaroos do get Jarrad Waite back after suspension. He must certainly be due an injury if his history is any guide. Melbourne to win. - See more at: https://titusoreily.com/afl/highly-unhelpful-guide-round-nine#sthash.Y6mXCYPz.dpuf

A ridiculous thread, particularly when contextualised with the other 'Clanger Kings'. Dom Tyson is one of the first picked every week, and deservedly so.

"It is understood some Premiership Club members enjoyed lively repartee with the Melbourne-supporting guests until half time, when the Crows lead by 10 points, but the mood soured when the Demons piled on 12 goals to Adelaide’s three in the second half" http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/adelaide-crows-chief-andrew-fagans-directive-dont-crow-over-our-exclusive-fans/news-story/f6866b498511cbcb6da3ae6795bfec1e Aaahahahahahaahahaha eat it crows fans

No. [censored] off. Leave the game alone

Eddie just received word Max could be back for the Pies game !!

A contender would win the next three games in a row.

Me thinks some might be just getting a little ahead of themselves here

There once was a man. A man of great renown across this 'land. And for three straight weeks back in ought-fourteen he was a god, a god by hand and by foot among those mere clanger-ridden mortals cowed beneath his golden boot. His name to all who knew him was Alex Georgiou.

Harmes butchers the ball more than Tyson

I have an idea. Gil to play off against the mail-room boy for a spot in the executive.

Unsociable Demons. I couldn't be prouder.

I would've waited till after we beat North in terms of making a thread like this. Lose Sunday and we're simply going around in circles and unlikely to make the 8. As for contending, I think a dream result would be winning 1 final (especially at the G in front of the faithful) and building that into next year when perhaps we could be contenders for a grand final. Winning a final would be surreal for many of us that went to see the Dees week in week out over the last 10 years.

Max and Jesse will have to be satisfied with keeping the pine warm as Pedo holds down ruck and KPF role #pedofacts

Tall defenders and their disposal efficiency is one of the most irrelevant stats there is. 9 times out of 10 they are chipping backwards or across the ground under little to no pressure. It's no surprise their efficiency is that good. Their disposals rarely happen in the heat of battle like a midfielders would.

League Leaders clangers per game Dom is in good company.

As discussed as well on the Demonland Podcast I mentioned that I was a big wrap on Pedo before the ruck injuries and thought he should be in before Weeds and to let Weeds develop at Casey. With Jesse out there is now room for both Pedo and Weeds in addition to Max once he returns. When Jesse returns we are back to having the good type of selection headache.

We need to keep this fellow at the club after he's retired as a player.

Just wanted to start a new thread on Jeff's 2017 form. It's outstanding. He's in elite territory this season when it comes to small forwards. 20 goals, equal to the raved about Toby Greene and Robbie Gray. 5 behind Betts who plays in the highest scoring team in the league. 35 tackles, which is miles above any forward other than Charlie Dixon (if you can believe that) with 30. Betts has 22, Gray 19, Greene 16. Not only his tackling, just his pressure in general has been fantastic, honestly like a new player, he's always chasing. Was nothing like this last year. For me his most impressive games have been in our losses, hard position to play in and he's really worked his arse off in those losses. I thought he was falling away a bit last year, but it's time he got some acknowledgement for his form of late.

Sour grapes make the best whine.

If i was paying through the nose for some seats, i too wouldn't want to have to put up with opposition supporters being overly boisterous (particularly in an exclusive area). This is different however, as the article suggests that these upset Crows supporter's were giving just as much lip to the Melbourne fan when they were on top, yet couldn't handle it when they were getting soundly beaten. Hypocrites. Down hill skiers that like to give it out but not get it back, like their soft team.

We just flogged the top team on their home soil in front of over 45,000 of their fans. We can beat anyone.

Great to have him back earlier than expected, just whatever they do make sure it's not TOO early so he doesn't break down again

Amazing recovery if true. Credit to Max and the fitness staff. The questions will come, what do we do with Pedo when he's back. Cam has been playing his role very well and I wouldn't mind him staying as the second ruck/extra tall in the forward line.

1st- Nev at 86.4% 2nd- Ocsar at 84.3% 3rd- Oliver at 81.9% 4th- Stretch at 80.7% 5th- Frost at 78% Very interesting to see demons whipping boy 2nd, yes he handballs and chip kicks a lot but the % is still elite, he has 1 bad turnover which makes it seem like he's had 7. Frosty, what a gun.. Has improved his kicking and decision making.

Haha i love the roller-coaster of emotuons on this site... It's going to get nasty if we drop a couple of games. I personally dont think we are a contender this year but will be very happy to be proven wrong

We were definitely the underdogs in 2000...

Playing the pies is less work than vfl isnt it...

I know it seems like forever ago, but it's not much more than a week since we were all wallowing in deep grief following the loss to Hawthorn.

would surprise me

A list spot and salary cap space for Ty Vickery

What a stupid metric when taken in isolation. I would like to see m gained and a few other indicators as well. I like Dom, he is dancing on a postage stamp most times after getting the ball on the inside. I can't understand the OP and others giving it to him - he is having a go with his head over the ball and getting better all the time.

How high have we rated Tyson to call him overrated? Tyson is a smart footballer, yes he makes mistakes like we all do but he more than compliments our midfield as evidenced by his great second half against the Crows. He gets under the oppositions guard when they don't pay attention to him and he contributes offensively.