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Heading to the ground with my youngest (nearly 3) today for her first AFL game. She has her demon backpack packed already and is packing her snacks into little ziplock bags, never seen her so organized! please the lords of football let her cheer on many goals and get to sing the song at the end of the game today!!! ???

JKH hadn't played at AFL level for a while Worked his way into the game

I really want Melbourne to win too make a bad week a little bit better. My 88 year old mother is currently in hospital after having her appendix removed on Monday. I will be visiting her on the way to the game. A win would really lift my spirits. CARN THE DEMONS.

In addition to Gawn Oliver Brayshaw and Hogan's games I liked Spargos game. The kid is just a footy player, that goal he kicked to the city end was classic criminal, got front and centre and read the play beautifully.

I flew up from tassy to watch this game, and Oliver just left me speechless. He is SUCH A STAR! He's an absolute magician with his hands, and just watching him was worth my air fare today!

I'm going to go left field and suggest that Goodwin evolved a little today. He did something very counter-Simon today; he actually changed the game ..mid game. A lot of his style has been men at the ball...this fills a stat sheet but often congests players ( ours ) and provides an imbalance favouring the opposition. They get clear skies to spread...we chase. He (SG) addressed our ineffectiveness by reversing the situation. He's learnt something ( possibly ) ...it's not he who necessarily wins the ball succeeds... it's he who controls it. 2nd half we had ball on a string. Again stats are rubbish lmho as there's no dynamic context. Footy....it's really not that complicated.

Game high 9 tackles. A nervous start but aaa good on the second half. Will play next week.

Down from Sydney with my 6yo. Hoping for a big win

Thought Milkshake wa really good today.

I love you Max. I want to have your babies.

Don't worry, we rarely miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity. ?

All good she has her flag which she will no doubt wave at every opportunity and if all else fails nothing like an ice cream to make it the best day ever for a little one ???

Would be really happy for JKH and the MFC if he can step up and cement himself as an AFL player. As others have hinted at above his introduction to AFL with our team of 4-5 years ago can not have been easy, particularly for a forward. He is a slightly different sort of player, but Spargo has certainly had a much easier introduction to AFL than JKH. My recollection of that first season was that JKH he showed real promise as a player that had a bit of X factor, good skills and poise delivering the ball. It's been variously stated by Roos that before his time younger players were both gifted games too easily and thrown in the deep end and that realistically these players should have been given more time to develop in the VFL. That all said, I'm not sure thay the MFC has been able to deliver on many of those long term development players in the VFL either, which has been very frustrating as a supporter. I've heard many on this forum write off the likes of Billy Stretch and JKH on the basis of a lacking of fundemental football attributes like leg speed and/or ball skills. At the same time many are also critical of players who lack mental strength and/or good character that drives successfully team culture. From all I have heard talked about both JKH and Stretch is that their character and training ethic are first class. Thus I think it's really important for the MFC that players such as these guys succeed and become a valued and embedded part of the team moving forward. Probably the best example of where it has come off for us would be players like Nev Jetta and ANB.

Staying home with your blinds closed?

We should smash them i haven’t been this confident for a win since the Saints game

I like it, get to see if we’re pretenders or contenders. Don’t play low sides in finals so bring it on.

Well that was an unusual game and one that might puzzle those analysts who figure they’ve got our game worked out. Statistically, we had less disposals, less contested possessions, less clearances, less tackles and less inside 50s. These are areas where, during this season, we are usually in front of our opposition and yet today, we won by 50 points. Anyone have an explanation?

Harsh on omac, becoming one of the comps best fullbacks

Only one stat matters....ever

I’m frustrated. I wanted to gouge my eyes out until Oliver started hitting chests inside 50. Is it that [censored] hard? Excellent games by Gawn, Oliver, Brayshaw and Hogan. Opposition were rubbish. I need to see us beat a good team.

Gawn, Oliver, Brayshaw.... Wow, just wow.

We might stop hearing about this "top teams" myth that posters keep talking about. Hawthorn, Geelong, Port, Sydney are all ordinary.

Losing is simply not an option if we want to play finals. Luckily we’ll come out pumped up and show the Dogs what we’re made of. Dogs by 27.

In my first ever game of under 12s, I only got one kick. It slewed off the side of my boot and through for a point to the opposition.

To be perfectly honest WJ " I don't give a dam" we won by 50 points at the G means a great night and a happy weekend. about to pour a single malt.

It's also great to see Hogan hit 40 goals for the season, and he's currently second on the goal kicking table (with Buddy one goal behind with a game to play). His best haul was 44 back in 2015 and he's in with a big chance of getting at least 60 goals before the season is over. He and Tom worked superbly together today and you can see their synergy building by the week.

Hmm so we won after going to Darwin! I have been saving for years that it is not the trip to Darwin that matters but the quality of the players. Blaming going to Darwin for our poor performances was always BS.

Did a great kick to Hogan for a goal. 8 tackles Give him some credit

I've had Gus in my supercoach for over 2 months. This is just what he does now. Massively underrated player. He will start getting props off the media after tonight - but he has been in great form for a while now. His kicking appeared to have improved a bit tonight which is good

not sure you can drop a player who has the 3rd highest disposals, 6th highest AF points, 9th highest metres gained etc etc

he should get all 6 brownlow votes this week...

A percentage boost and we moved a game clear of Geelong and Hawthorn. Bring on the Handbaggers next Saturday.

For a renowned handball practitioner, Oliver's boot is ridiculous.

If Hogan doesn't get a free kick, he's out of the contest. Still plays for them too much IMO.

To anyone reading this thread not watching the game, we’re actually 14 points up.

EVERYONE: "Melbourne has no footspeed. ALSO EVERYONE: "Why would you play Hannan when you have slow-as-treacle Tyson in the VFL?"

Another Goodwin move. Bring in Hannan who has done SFA all year for Viney when you have Tyson, who all year you have refused to play in his rightful spot as an inside mid. Honestly this coach and this team are infuriating.

My unsolicited advice: make sure she has the best day ever, even it the MFC are poo.

I got one up on you. In my 150th game of junior footy, i was playing full back on the league's leading goal kicker. Kept him scoreless initially, but didn't get a disposal myself. Anyway, 3rd quarter, kicking in from a behind (the first time I'd touched the ball all day). Kicked it straight into him, he grabbed the ball and snapped a goal. My stats for the day: 1 clanger 0 disposals

I have a good feeling he will take some big steps forward today. The team wasnt as strong when.he played semi regular in the seniors last He will be fed the ball this time round and im very confident he will take his chance and deliver beautifully inside 50 Good luck mate

As i said in the game day thread i have a feeling he will take his chance. Looks fit and strong.

C'mon Dee supporters, enjoy our journey. Win or lose, we are getting a better ride than in previous years. Go to game, watch the game, none of the heeby jeeby's, jinx's or general anxiety. We are competitive, we can win when we are behind and can dominate games. I know there is an emotional gamble but is only a game. Enjoy, I don't get the hide away, not go or watch it. Individual superstitions really don't determine the outcome (stop the magic thoughts). Have some courage, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else on such a beautiful Melbourne day, at the "G", win or lose.

If my calculations are correct, wins over Port and the Saints would have us 2nd on the ladder and a realistic chance of top 4. We really stuffed up.

hm, i'm more circumspect than you about them although in fairness last night they did have 12 players with under 50 games under their belt, and another 3 in the 51-99 mark but how many of them are much chop? the younger curnow and cripps are stars, but ed curnow is about to turn 29 - he's not part of their long term future, and nor is simpson (34), murphy (31), thomas (31), rowe (31), kreuzer (29), wright (28.5), casboult (28), or even really liam jones (27) their list is in a bad, bad way it's glorious

Have driven down from Canberra for a Tiger supporting mate's 30th, and have convinced the boys to go to the game. Hopefully it's a good start to the evening

That is literally the most MFC win contra indicator I've heard of.

Got a doggies mate who thinks they’re tanking for the no.4 pick. It would be very Melbourne to lose to a team that’s tanking ?

Dusty dreams of being as good as Clarry