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I deal with depression every now & then in my life, not necessarily more than a lot of people. I feel like it's quite a bit, but I don't really know. Maybe it's just normal. I've suffered from it, badly in the past, but I've been pretty much free of it for years on end now & I feel lucky for that. My wife has suffered from it terribly and still does frequently, although it is better now that I have learned to help her manage it better (and completed a course on emotional intelligence as part of my CPD, which as surprisingly helpful despite seeming elementary at the time). For some reason I'm floored by Fasolo's revelation. I know it is foolish of me, but I really just didn't think he was the type. Seemed a happy, bouncy (even cocky) fella and I'm sad to hear he is doing it hard. If anything, I'm thankful he is open about it and seeking help, and also for the timely reminder that I should never assume someone is safe from the black dog in spite of appearances. (terribly self indulgent post, but I felt like sharing)

What was it about Jack's game that you found so upsetting? 20 possessions (9th highest and he's not a mid), 8 of them contested (equal 8th highest in the team), second highest for marks and contested marks, equal 10th for tackles (and he's not a mid) and equal top for goal assists. He's playing out of position because Hogan and Gawn aren't playing and he's played rucking for a lot of the season. Pretty half hearted rucking against people much bigger and heavier don't you think? I doubt this will cause many to change their view because those that criticize want him to do things differently but what surprises me is some who can't see that what he does is so very valuable to the team and he does what few can. The prospect of trading out these skills would reduce our chances of winning flag significantly. I think it's unlikely we win on Saturday if Watts didn't play and Jack Hill the blind miner can see he's playing very sore. I was at the game and thought he played just ok. When I read the criticism of him (and Oscar who I like) on here I looked closely at their games. I thought Watts was terrific and I thought Oscar had a mare. Those who want Watts gone miss the point that a team is made up of many different things and Jack offers some of those things in spades. And the things he offers are very rare. Trading him would be a horrendous mistake in my opinion.

The new CBA gives all clubs a 20% increase in the sal cap - a massive windfall of about $2m p.a. Clubs can go out and splurge on a few marquis players (or overpay players who they are desperate to keep/get). Not sure the AFLPA have really helped 95% of players - it just inflates the price of a handful players and makes it easier for clubs to get Free Agents in (but that is a separate subject). How much money a club has to throw around next year depends on how many players have 'escalation' clauses in their contract. North appear to want to spend it all this year on 2 players; St Kilda seem more likely to spend on a $1m player this year and a $1m player next year. Others will spread it around a bit over the next two years. So how might this affect us? My distant observations are: Our club has stated it will pay the market rate and not allow our player salary structure to get out of whack again. Jesse and others who have re-signed in the last year or two would have escalation clauses built into their contracts. This would take up a decent part of the $2m over the next few years. Mahoney has done a great job of 'insulating' us against this new CBA windfall as all our 'young guns' (except Salem) are signed up till 2018 or 2019. This takes the urgency out of of scrambling to sign up players now. On Salem - I wouldn't be surprised if he has a few offers on the table so hope he is signed up asap. Other 'guns' would have offers but leaving would involve breaking contracts. The important one is the extra $2m makes it a lot easier to keep our 'young guns' in the sense of fulfilling their $ expectations prior to knowing their is a $2m windfall. Some will get outrageous offers from other clubs. Only time will tell whether they want to stick together. With Lumumba leaving we have an extra amount in our salary cap, say $2.5 to 'spend'. I wouldn't be surprised if contracts are being revisited as we speak to ensure we keep and reward players appropriately. I think the club will keep the faith with players and reward them fairly according to the market. If stories are believed we resisted throwing a bucket of cash at Prestia (wisely). The truly elite (eg Hogan, Oliver) will get a premium. With PJ and Mahoney managing this, we are in good, steady hands with wise heads.

Petracca has been playing injured and he needs another pre-season to really get his endurance up. He plays a very unselfish, team game - likely on specific coach instruction - which I think is great. There have been some glimpses and cameos this year to show what he is capable of. When he gets his body right and is licensed to take responsibility to own the play then he is going to absolutely explode.

Dont wish the black dog on anyone. Hope he gets the help required.

These were dark times. The Geelong loss still erks me to this day. RIP Deano. He deserved better.

You have to be joking. Since mid last year he has rucked consistently and courageously against much bigger opponents and has had to do it for extended periods of the game this year when Gawn and Spencer went down. That has clearly taken a toll on him and it's showing but he is still able to make a significant contribution to the team. He's a vital component in our quest for a flag. Jack is our Cyril, they're different players but the value is the same.

What it was was a huge display of disrespect for the jumper. Quite frankly most of them ought have just hung it up ( the jumper) left the change rooms , left the ground..and just kept going. I suspect there's more than a healthy amount of reinvention in various recollections as to what happened and all the whiles someone is incapable of reply. If I was Brad Id just stfu.

That last half of the season in 1998, is still the best period of football for me as a Melbourne supporter, I only started to follow the club start of the 90s, didn't have any interest in the VFL prior to then. The games against West Coast, Richmond, then finals V Adelaide and St Kilda before North got us really was an extremely exciting period with the Wiz central to this

Along with Jakovich the most exciting footballer we had for the past 40-odd years.

Nice Little vid on The Wiz. http://www.afl.com.au/video/2017-05-31/fantastic-five-jeff-farmers-best-moments

Thread needs more Whiteboard Wednsesdays.

Forgive me if Im wrong, but my understanding of events was this. In the days leading up to the game the president had had private meetings with the players to get to the bottom of rumours circulating. Upsetting routines and pre game meetings. The players admitted in private that they had been upset with Schwabs undermining of Bailey as coach. It was felt by some in the upper hierachy that Bailey was " too close" to the players and to that mindset these admissions proved it. The players wanting to stand up for their coach, soon realised that by standing up for the man they went into combat for, they may have deepened the issue. In the lead up to the game Bailey wanted to take his players away from the trouble and stay overnight in Geelong and had offered to pay out of his own pocket for it. Rejected by Schwab. On game day the players were both demoralised.....and tired. We can rave on and on about the shame of 186 but the fact of the matter is even AFTER that game we were closer to the finals that we have been since 2006. Maybe last year we were as close. My view is that the team leaders were forced by circumstances to take sides with the coach against schwab...and then hauled over the coals for it. The club got exactly what it deserved that day re 186. We were a rabble of a club off the field. Maybe Bailey WAS too offensive but the players loved him and had we simply brought in some tougher players and altered our style a little the other way we could have avoided the utter, unmitigated, and brutal disaster that followed. Green was a great player....tarnished by that game. Schwab gets away WAY too lightly imo from this whole thing. Personally Im way tired of blaming the players for being at, what was in reality, a fully crap club back then.

In fairness to Hemingway ,he spends most of his money on rum,marlin fishing and Cuban hookers .

I think through all of this, poor old Josh Mahoney hasn't received the plaudits that maybe he should have. I'm a big fan.

We forget that despite some terrible losses, DB coached us to some significant wins; e.g Sydney and Brisbane when they were up and about. I won't name names, but DB was for the chop before 186 happened and certain people within the club wanted it that way. Clearly Jimmy was very ill when the end came for DB and his judgement was clouded. Regardless of whether Brad Green should have or could have done something as skipper is immaterial, given the white ants had already eaten well and truly into the club's structure. DB did not deserve what he got from the MFC. A very sad chapter in our history.

One benefit of that day was that WE demanded to know WTF was going on. Chris Cuddles Connolly Looks fairly average in all this. I know you are obsessed with CS but the whole club was rotten with self serving stake holders. We were a club that you went to if you had nowhere else to go. I watched them train on the beach prior to that year.Jared Rivers just pulled up stumps early and started joking with Barry P. The tails were wagging the dog.

I heard that Adam Oxley bloke goes okay too. Maybe we could get them both?

Yep. I reckon watts makes Hogan 20% more potent too. It was amazing how many of Jessie's goals last year came from Watts assists. On that front i think Watts's 'laconic' (yes, yes i know its the wrong word) style means some of his work goes unnoticed. Two bits of play really stood out for me against against GC. The goal he set up for ANB looked like he was in slow motion but he held his handball and put into the perfect spot for ANB who did did not have to break stride, in fact had to accelerate which put him the perfect spot to run into an open forward line and score. Great stuff. The second was the perfect example of things he does that many seem to miss or under appreciate. In fact i have only read one reference to it on DL. Harmes' third (?) goal was set up by a sublime deflection from Watts who had gone up for the mark. Funnily enough, given what a nong he is Dermie notices it and wondered aloud if he did it deliberately saying if he did it was genius. Well it was. I've watched it a number of times and there is no doubt he meant it. Watts does those sort of taps and deflections a lot and it is one reason he does ok in the ruck. I am convinced it a skill he developed playing basketball. Trac is terrific at it also. On Watts, i have no doubt at all he is carrying an injury and has done for a few weeks. You can see it in his movements. He is an incredibly resilient player. Rarely misses games and in this day and age that only comes through super professional preparation and recovery.

Good to see more players are acknowledging their problem and seeking help - a real cultural shift in the game and the community.

Will be interesting to hear the players talk about that time in years to come.That was a disgraceful epoch and everyone involved should have nothing but shame.

Was a very ugly time for the club. Up there with the 1996 merger vote. I wasn't around for the Norm Smith sacking, but 186 and Bailey's departure set the tone for Neeld to come in and nearly ruin us. Thank [censored] for PJ and Roos.

He's back just before the players get 4 days off. My guess is he's back to get some sort of work in to get up for QB. Otherwise why not just come back after the break?

Shouldn't the players who have been good be under par, and the ones who haven't played well be below par? Or am I missing something?

I have been wondering about this for a long time - it seems blindingly obvious and I am amazed that it hasn't raised a murmur amongst the footy journos. Essentially, the Bombers must have offered huge compo packages, otherwise there would have been a class action through the courts. If you cast your mind back to last year, the rumours were that Dyson Heppell (and his family) was furious with the way he had been treated by Essendon and was almost certainly going to leave. Same, I think, with Michael Hurley. Nek minnit, they re-sign and are as committed as ever to the Bombers. It seems to me that they have been able to rort the system by paying out large chunks of contracts as compensation. I take it that the AFL will be sweeping this under the carpet?

I know it's not practical from a preparation and fixturing perspective but this is a situation where some flexibility in the scheduling of matches would be handy. This should be a Friday night game. The Saints can play the Kangas in the who cares Sunday 3:20pm timeslot.

Daniher has every right to feel dudded by that offer. It's worth keeping in mind that in Essendon's case there was the $4.5m in compensation payments to banned players which was counted by the AFL as falling outside of the salary cap. So players were being financially compensated and then entering into separate (in principle) contract renegotiations. New contract amounts were not allowed to fall under the market rate, but it would be naive to think that the settlements paid to players did not factor at all into those renegotiations. "Loyalty" may well have been a factor there too. Essendon's ability to retain so many of its returning players and have enough left in the kitty to chase Dustin Martin is enough to raise an eyebrow. Meanwhile Daniher, who was not one of the dozen banned players and therefore has received no additional compensation, seemingly has to accept unders. That doesn't pass the fairness test. However they have chosen to sort this mess out, Daniher shouldn't be the one getting the short end of the stick.

Apparently Watts is very popular amongst the playing group - he is likeable, good company and really upbeat when morale is low. Best mates with Hogan so very important around the club. Hard to put a value on something like that.

The goal against the Hawks is one of my favourite Melbourne memories forever as a kid I would practice running down the wing trying to kick torps towards goal.

We also know that Watts is a better player when he's not the sole/key focus of our forwardline. So the sooner Jesse can get back in there, the better. Even Pedersen providing a contest inside 50 on the weekend enabled Jack to get into the game more. Our coaches need to be smarter in structuring our forwardline going forward and particularly, if Hogan isn't playing in it. But I reckon Jack will be 20% more potent with Hogan next to him. They do tend to compliment each other well.

I feel deeply for anyone with depression. Having the guts to admit you've got it is the first very tough step all the best Alex

At risk of incurring stmj's wrath, I had literally never heard of him before this week.

All players have their flaws it's just some 'supporters' obsessively focus on the flaws, Tyson perfect example, the disdain for Tyson, as with Watts, is totally unwarranted

I don't envy your position on here. There are always going to be tools on footy forums that want to pot your bloke without knowing anything about him. Just roll your eyes and ignore.

One of my all time favorite players even to this day. How good is it to see this cheeky fella playing in the legends game. Hope he turns it on tonight. I remember that 9 second half goals against Collingwood like yesterday. One of the best half I have ever seen from an individual AFL player! Love ya Wiz!

Most appropriate nickname "the wiz".........he was magical,,,,,,,,,,,,,an excitment machine. For the younger supporters think Garlett factor and double it.

Glad they got #1 right. Eight goals in a prelim final is amazing... doubt it has been done since.

Lack of aggression does not equal wimpiness. Watts might not be super aggressive, but he's not a wimp. Totally agree with your other point too. Not surprising at all and have been hearing this for a long time.

Watts is not a total whimp or he wouldn't be playing AFL. In any team there will be some competitive beasts who are more competitive than some of their team mates. Watts' skills make up for the fact he is not Nathan Jones. To give an extreme example to illustrate the point - if we had a player who could reliably kick goals from 70 metres out, I would have him in the team even if he was the biggest whimp in the AFL (which is not very whimpy by any other standard).

Of greater concern is the coaching that seems to allow it to go on unchallenged for a whole half of football Geesus!!!! Pederson should have been at CHF relief ruck, TMac at CHB relief Ruck, and JW relief ruck/forward again the coaching in the first half looked to me to be half baked

We were a 'boyz' club. A social venue for many over rated persons, at all levels living the dream. Our nightmare but a decent wicket for many.

And, for much of the season, playing in a midfield as the clearance guy with no dedicated ruckman.

Another player who enjoys playing alongside Watts is Petracca; in fact, Trac nominated Watts in a recent article as the player he most enjoys playing with since he arrived at Melbourne. (I am trying to find the article so that I can add a link or an exact quote,)

Hibberd would have to be one of our greatest trades in the modern era. I know that sounds a little silly, but I can't recall a player that has come in and performed from game 1 at such a high level, consistently. A player in the Hibberd mould would be great, but if he'd played since Round 1, he'd be in AA contention. No doubt about it. So he's playing A grade football at the moment IMO. The circumstances that Hibberd was drawn to Melbourne were also slightly unusual in that Goodwin and his best mate Melksham were already at the club. I don't think we can expect or hope that players like him (and Lewis - a similar story with Todd Viney) fall into our laps again. But, perhaps the wheel will start to turn and good players will look at Melbourne with a desire to play for a club with a young talented list on the rise. Playing finals is obviously a huge part of creating an environment good players will want to come to. I disagree with this. My uninformed view is that Dusty will want to stay at Richmond and it'll take an absolutely insane offer to drag him away from Punt Rd. And even then, he might simply settle for a pay increase at Tigerland.

Great post. We have been on top in general play (and by that I mean time in possession, stoppages, inside 50s etc.) for significant periods (and indeed, against Geelong, Fremantle and Richmond for longer than our opponent). But in those periods we have failed to convert the on-field dominance into scoreboard dominance. Then, whether it's goals out the back (Fremantle) or our pressure and intensity slipping (Geelong, Richmond), our opponent scores goals in the small(er) periods we're not dominating the play. As you say, the longer the same group of players play together, learn together and grow together, (hopefully) the sooner the patches of inconsistency will disappear and the more we will convert our general play dominance into scoreboard dominance.

I think whether he plays QB or the week after he still needs to get the work in. If he has another week off then it makes even harder to get back

Yep, Wattsy can handle the QB Game, no probs....

This is good news right? Then why he look like he on A Current Affair after he swindled some old folks out of their life savings? Good to see you back Jesse.

I don't know opposition lists well enough but rather than back the truck up for a gun recruit I'd be looking for a trade in the Hibberd mould - value for money. If we can replace a marginal bottom 6 player with someone who is significantly better but not a gun we get a lot of improvement whilst maintaining early picks and salary cap. I don't believe we need to win the battle for gun players out of contract. We need sensible trading and then target a free agent. We have enough players with significant elite potential to not play a desperate hand for out of contract players. Good free agents will come if we are good enough.

To be honest I reckon ANB was expecting a kick, but I agree all the same. Watching "all the goals", ANB was instrumental in a number of them. I know not everyone loves stats but he lead the team for goal assists and equal second for inside 50s. He was a key link in the chain. Probably never going to be much more than a decent foot soldier, but he has been good for a lot of the year.