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Well, the QB game is their Grand Final, after all.

Mission make Jaded eternally happy by beating the world's most despicable footy club is on. Come on Dees, I think it's about time. I hope we crush them, or alternatively win by a point after the siren due to a controversial free so I can watch Scott's head explode.

Viney stamped his leadership credentials in the rooms after our Rd 1 debacle to Port Adelaide in 2013 by speaking to the group about his passion for the club and the jumper after another insipid performance under Mark Neeld. His first fricking AFL game he took it upon himself to deliver that message to the team. Neeld even said in his post-match that day that Jack Viney "is (was) probably the most Melbourne person in that room." I couldn't give a sh*t what Barrett thinks or writes. All I know is that Goodwin is an astute judge of leaders amongst men and the dynamics of the co-captaincy between Jones and Viney,

Jake Lever is a poor mans Oscar McDonald.

No problem. Schedule them every year at Skilled and Blundstone with 5 day breaks after interstate games and 4 games in 18 days with maximum 3 Friday Nights. All's fair in fixturing.

2 first rounders for Lever, you must be joking! that would be reserved for the absolute best in the comp - Dangerfield types the way we are recruiting at the moment, every first round selection is a gun

First time poster, long time reader Is Damien Barrett just pumping our tyres up as a tactic to help his beloved Roos? I've heard him call us the real deal on a number of occasions this week. Maybe hoping we'll get ahead of ourselves with the extra media attention...

If the Wiz has a kid that can play it will be for Melbourne. I have had a few beers with him one night. He regrets leaving the Dees and I'm sure would push his kid that way. He LOVES the Melbourne Football Club.

I don't mind this as long as the rest of the fixture is evened up (ie we get regular home games against the Bombers and Blues too)

Tim Watson is a moron and his son is a drug cheat.

The purplish monkey in the foreground is Barrett.

I still think it'd be better to have Jones as the standalone captain and Viney as his vice. I disagree with Barrett's assertion that it was a 'safe' decision as though that's some sort of negative thing. Jack Viney would now be acting captain, and still be playing the exact same brand of footy now as he's been playing his entire career as he only knows one way- the captaincy hasn't changed that. Viney is a young player of exception talent and courage- he will be a long term captain of the MFC. He's displayed these qualities since his first match when he confronted the team in the rooms following a loss to Port Adelaide. Viney's leadership' never been in doubt, but the timing has been called into question. But... the decisions made, the season's two thirds over and it isn't going to change. While not a terrible decision, or even a particularly bad one, I think it was a call made too early.

They will probably un-retire Boomer just to really mess with us.

Won't be a walk in the park by any means. What's the bet that they re-call Goldstein and Thomas who generally give us headaches. Huge game, a lot on the line. A must win for finals!

I'm fine with Collingwood's suggestion and while we're at it, the Demons and the Pies should be given a number of prime fixtures such as Friday night games as is commensurate with their respective ladder positions at the end of the season. And when we play our away games against Geelong these should be at the MCG and the likes of Collingwood and Carlton should be forced to take the hike down Princes Highway when they play against the Cats.

The club is more than just those responsible for this saga. Why shouldn't I support players like Daniher, Zach Merrett, Fantasia and McD-Tip, players who weren't even at the club in 2012. People in charge of the club in 2012 made awful decisions, individuals, you really want me to walk away from a club I have passionately supported for nearly 40 years of my life because individuals made shocking decisions. The names don't matter, in fact I didn't want Hird to return to coach us after his 1 year suspension. I will support my club so it can get better. If you think me being a member means I'm condoning what happened, not the case. The club is under new management, trying to move forward and improve. The club has probably just gone through it's lowest point ever, so while I hated what has happened, and in no way support what happened, I'm proud that have contributed to getting the Essendon FC back on its feet. The people in charge of the club now had nothing to do with the 2012 program, so why shouldn't I support them. As for the players involved, everyone has their view. Whether you see them as blatant drug cheats who knew exactly what they were taking and were happy to break the rules knowing that it was illegal, or a bunch of young men who were told one thing and given another, they have done their time and I think they should be allowed to play football with my support as they are representing the Essendon FC. Hibbard and Melksham deserve the same from the Melbourne supporters.

Not sure if it's been mentioned yet but Hogan just needs 2 goals this weekend to bring up his first 100 goals. Nice mini milestone for him.

In our defense Ash, that wouldnt get mentioned if your club didnt, .... you know...... cheat with drugs?

I don't think you appreciate the restrictions of list size, draft and the salary cap. Every side has fringe players in their 22, even premiership sides, here's one example from each the last 10 flag teams: Dogs: Biggs Hawks: Duryea, Suckling, Simpkin Swans: Bird Geelong: West Collingwood: Blair Geelong: Byrnes Hawthorn: Ladson Geelong: Wojcinski There will be a couple of players like Kent, Hannan, Melksham, JKH, ANB, Bugg or Harmes in our flag side too - they won't all be Oliver, Hunt and Petracca.

I could see absolutely no reason why Viney should be made co-captain in stead of, for example, vice-captain. There are a lot of things I cannot see.

I think it's good they get to experience playing a successful club

2013 me would slap 2017 me in the face.

He's warming up.

lolz

Freeman with another 6 week injury due to his team mate falling on his ankle. Yet to senior debut..You win some, you lose some in the draft. In this case we definitely won. Puts things into perspective when you look at all the 'could have hads' in the draft, yet we don't always stop and think the ones we dodged.

The Filth aren't being totally fairs-fairs about this As some suggest. Put all the revenues on the table Eddie !! Never been anything dodgy about this crew...ever !! My fervent hope is Jackson is only too aware of this lot. I'm sure he is. Eddie is looking for some victories as his beloved club is currently shlte

Yep don't think anyone's giving up 2 first rounders for an out of contract player that will name 1 club for his destination.

Smug know it all perhaps.

Channel 9 suggesting all of Viney, Gawn, Jetta to play.

The game is fine - the elephants are named 'umpiring' and 'match review panel'. These two things are in dire need of sorting out. Do that and I'll enjoy my footy much better.

That 15 minutes in the last qtr on Saturday when neither team scored was as tough, brutal and physically demanding football that you will see. I found it great to watch

Its easy. Stop the Interchange rotations. All of these modern problems have begun from the interchange rotation numbers... K.B. Is dead right on this one

Not sure if this is the elephant in the room. There has been more close games this season than any other season I can remember. Record attendances, so many swings in games, upsets galore and a very even season. boring, predictable, certainly don't come to mind. The second half of the Melb v Port game was contest after contest, no side willing to give an inch. In the balance it was enthralling arm wrestle and the Dees did well to hold tight and score late to secure a great win.

Smack bang in the middle of the Eagles members after McDonald kicks the winning goal.

Young key forwards are a mixed bag. And playing in the hardest position to make consistent impact doesn't help. Patton looked like a dinosaur at early stages, couldn't get near it. Now he's smashed a few games and looks set to be a player. Boyd looked promising, has done nothing. (Yeah yeah grand final blah blah.) McCartin was a number 1 pick. Hasn't got near it. For various reasons. Hogan is a freak and been a man since primary school. Still has flaws Daniher is an athletic freak. Still has flaws They're just a mixed bag. And they take time and development no matter how good or bad they are early days. The promising thing about Weed is he has shown glimpses of everything. Every facet of the game he has shown he can do it. Showed great decision making and link up play in his first game, neat skills. Showed defensive pressure and hardness against the Crows. Showed contested marking and long accurate goal kicking against Box Hill. He needs a tank, strength, and for it to mentally click. Those things take time for most tall kids. Cool your jets.

It's simply not true though- there was a thread on this topic following the WCE win, where Viney played a blinder as captain. It's never been a slight on Viney to think the decision was the wrong one and being a 'keyboard warrior' has nothing to do with it.

did you see theirs? 5000 less than ours and indoors, out of the inclement weather...

i have no qualms with alternating it / sharing the gate in an ideal world the afl would be a full socialist organisation with all gate receipts pooled and shared equally

Jordan Lewis on 360 tonight said Viney’s injury was normally a six week one but he recovered in 16 days. He said some players can play through pain better than others and that mental strength has a lot to do with it. Jack Riewoldt then talked about cousin Nick and his ability to play through injury and made the link to Jack. I wasn’t a fan of Viney being promoted to co-captain but it would be difficult to find a more inspirational and hard at it footballer or one more dedicated to the cause. The bloke was born to captain this club

[censored] Lever. We are in it up to our ears this year. If he wants to come to us, so be it. i see no reason to chase anyone. We got where we are because we payed unders for everyone. Josh Kelly is good but we got Jayden Hunt for him. Win win. Except we got Tyson and Salem as well.

I would pay 2 first rounder but demand next years second rounder back from AFC.... that at least gives us 2 second rounders next year.

Adelaide has had a terrible run since the free agency era began. Maybe worse than any other club. So many high profile players seeking trades, or simply jumping ship. It's great isn't it.

They're only smug when their team is up and about, probably the worst of all supporters. They're quick to shut up and not care about footy when their team isn't doing so well. I wore my Melbourne jumper to work the Monday after our win and kept kicking the footy over my head through a doorway.

Melbourne injury list: round 19 Neville Jetta (ankle) – available Max Gawn (ankle) – test Nathan Jones (quadriceps) – test Bernie Vince (suspended) - 1 week Tom Bugg (Suspended) - 4 weeks Mitch White (hamstring) – 4-6 weeks Dean Kent (shoulder) – 6 weeks Pat McKenna (hamstring) – season Tim Smith (navicular bone) – season Aaron vandenBerg (heel) – season Lochie Filipovic (hip flexor) – season Colin Garland (knee) – season

Gee we have changed as a supporter base when we are worrying about this. As Dory said in Finding Nemo, "just keep winning, just keep winning..."

They should knock Southland down and put it there. Win win.

Completely disagree, maybe a couple of years ago it was a worry but the players are getting better at playing through the congestion. You see guys like Clayton who come in and absolutely thrive off it. it's incredibly exciting when a team breaks through lines and has clear space in front of them, and players like Hunt and Frost have added value because they can tear through these lines. The games this year have been incredible, I really don't understand how you can say they're boring.

Any second half when the Demons are winning all day is awesome from where i sit. Bring on 30 years of Domination, we have all seen quite enough of the alternative.

I think a father who puts the image and future of a football club ahead of the physical welfare and well being of his own son is a poor excuse for a father. You embarass yourself Tim.