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The mornings session was sharp and sweet. Blink and you would miss it. Plenty of media there. They seemed to be in a joyous mood. There was lots of talk and regularly they gathered in small groups to have discussions. Probably related to structures. Rehab had Bernie Vince, Oskar Baker, Dean Kent and Lachlan Filopovic. Bernie, Oskar and Crossy doing some nice kicking to moving targets (Great for Oskars development). Kenty doing laps. They started off doing kicking practice, then split into their lines. The mids did hit ups to the forwards. Backs continued kicking. Goodwin spent time with the forwards. At one time structured them up without any ball play. Jack Viney did some one on one work getting his touch with below knee drills. Some work with drills to stop the opponent recieving the handball off the mark from running on. The forwards and mids finished with goal kicking. Sam Frost doing some work running up the wing and then kicking the ball to a coach. No Aaron vandenBerg, probably being managed. He had been in the test group the last two weeks. James Harmes at training. Mitch Hannan having long discussion with Max Rooke. Last to leave were Jake Melksham and Christian Petracca who were goal kicking. Go Dees, from Kev Martin

5 Years ago today Roosy was announced as coach of the Dees. It's fitting that tomorrow we play in a final that he had a huge hand in getting us to. Thank you Roosy.

We owe the Cats. Last two losses down at Kardinia Park (111 and Zach T) reduced my eldest daughter to convulsive fits of despair and snot after the final siren. She used my shoulder and my 1980s hand-knitted scarf (marked with my own tears from 1987) as a hanky each time - it’s still intact and will be worn with pride this Fri night. Anyway, what a difference a few weeks make. Here she is running out with the boys for the GWS game last week, with all ahead of her and the team. Great photo full of hope, joy and purpose, from article here: http://m.melbournefc.com.au/news/2018-09-04/finals-experience-no-issue-lewis Go Demons!!!

Heard from a reliable source: Viney and Hannan in for Kent and JKH. JKH stays if Tyson doesn’t get up.

The Robbie Jumper. When I was a little tacker Robbie was my hero. From birth I was given his badge and frequently told about the beauty of his game. I went to many of his games but unfortunately was too young to remember (although I do remember watching the smoothest one handed mark in an EJ Whitten Legends game years later). Growing up even though he'd retired when asked who my favourite player was "Robbie" was my answer, the legend of the man had become a part of me. Dad's mate Brian was a banker and looked after Robbie in the days when he founded Sportsco. One day he asked if Robbie could get him some jumpers for his mate's kids. Being the amazing person he was Robbie gave us all guernsey, although they were all massive adult sized ones that went down to our ankles! This blank, woolen with collar, never been worn Dees guernsey was at Mum and Dad's for 25 years until I found it in a box earlier this year. I found a fella in Fitzroy who'd recreated the VFL logo patch. I got a sew on number 2 at Buffalo Sports in my street, I redesigned the original Drake sponsor's logo and got a guy in Pakistan to make it into an embroidery file for $7 and found a local mob embroider it. Today Damien the tailor from the laundromat on Brunswick Road sewed them all on. The jumper is complete, just like Robbie's was in the 1987 finals series. Tonight I am extremely happy. Tomorrow night I will wear it to the MCG and I hope to keep on wearing it until we will win that final that escaped Robbie's grasp.

How many in the last two games? Nothing like getting behind our players eh.

Can still remember the day! I was on an RDO. I was browsing Demonland and Paul Roos wasn’t the coach. Went and had a shower, came out, jumped back on to Demonland, and Paul Roos was the coach. I haven’t showered since. Saving it for Grand Final day. Seriously though, how fitting is it that the anniversary is so close to our final? Almost exactly 5 years after the journey began. We all hoped it would be the beginning of something great, but I think many of us are still struggling to comprehend that it is actually happening.

JKH seriously unlucky, but that is great news for the club. Go back only 2 or 3 months ago and he was a certain delist. Now he not only deserves a contract for next year, but many of us would not have been disappointed to have him in the team for tomorrow. Keep your head up Jay, you are far from finished matey. Respect.

If Fritsch stays back I expect Hannan to play. I watched him closely at the Eagles win and he is a very difficult match-up when he has the space to create multiple options in due to his speed and spring. JKH doesn't offer us that so I can see him making way for Hannan who essentially would've played without any doubt against GWS had his knee been okay. His follow up performance in the VFL of 3 snags and a screamer is enough to warrant a return.

Did you punch him in the throat and ask how he likes that history?

Gee Mitchell is average. He really is an accumulator not a match winner. Will be quite disappointed if he wins the Brownlow

No-one should ever forget that Paul Roos took over a completely broken football club. A club that lost the first 3 games in 2013 by a combined total of 321 points - average losing margin of 107 points. For me, Roos is a marvel and was worth every cent he was paid.

Mitchell may get a million disposals, but not many are damaging. I would take Clarrie's half million over his any day.

I wouldn't want to wish an injury on anyone but gee I wish rance's foot is seriously injured. A chip a fracture or a break.

From an article last year when the Tiges beat the Cats in the qualifying final “mauling Geelong with an unrelenting brand of pressure that carried them to a 51-point win”. That’s the template on how you beat the Cats.

Anything to do with Wayne, well you know, I tend to shut down...but anyone's my best friend when they tell me things I want to hear... https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/demons-rising-a-new-september-force-gathers-20180906-p5023s.html?crpt=homepage

I have to say it. This is frightening. Richmond are looking awesome. Also, if we win tomorrow we get the Hawks on the rebound. They've torn us apart every time we played them. It may seem odd, but they are the team I least wanted to run into as we seem to have no answers to their game.

A finals shakeup that involves Hawthorn straight to a prelim isn’t exactly a shakeup is it? Next you’ll tell us you’re hoping for Carlton and Gold Coast make up the bottom 2 next year just for a bit of variety. I know the Richmond being good thing is wearing very thin, but Hawthorn... just no. Quite happy to see them get flogged a few times first, please.

Not surprised. He’s the dirtiest player of the modern era, yet he never gets called on it. Dirty overrated piece of sh*t.

Cotchin struggling with wet hair.

I agree GYM, but I reckon that's our best available team. Yeah, it's a very tough call on JKH, but that's what happens when you have a list that runs deeper than what we have become used to at Melbourne. On a positive note for Jay, I reckon he has earned himself a new contract beyond 2018, where that seemed unlikely a couple of months ago. Good on him!

Pumped for Tyson, super excited for Viney, and disappointed for JKH ... he’s done alot right, and should keep his chin up

Got there late - Nev was there so was JV and Lewis JSmith and Hunt doing drills with the backline group TSmith working with the forwards?? And Hannan didnt see AVB

Interesting Mitchell up to 37 possessions but if Richmond kicked straighter it would have been a 60point thrashing. What was his impact tonight? Zilch really.

Very glad to see Tyson in the side. He was part of the bedrock of our midfeild during the early years of the teams reemergence. Whilst he did seem to struggle with the pace of our improvement and find himself somewhat on the outer in the last two seasons, I think like others, his perservance and ability to improve and reinvent parts of his game are a real credit to him. Have noticed some really good ball use and involvement in passages of play from Tyson over the past few months (think you will find it was Tyson that shot out a couple of great handpasses to Lewis Vs the Crows that resulted in clutch goals during the course of that game for example). Interesting article from Wayne Carey in the Fairfax press, asserting that whilst Geelong have some great star power, the rest of their 22 is not as good as ours. Guys like Tyson are part of that picture. GO DEMONS - hanging out for Friday night big time.

Ch.7 promoting our game “one of the oldest rivalries in football”, Sorry you muppets, considering we are the two oldest teams, do tell, which is the oldest rivalry?

Geez dusty nearly kicked someone’s head off, where is the kicking in danger rule gone

Wow Tyson got up!

Good changes, but geez you gotta feel for JKH He hasn’t done a lot wrong, hope he keeps his chin up and supports the boys and hopefully he gets another chance or a flag with Casey

Don’t really care about other results. Except, prefer Pies to beat Eagles so we get all four at the G, should we be good enough. Cats, Hawks, Pies, Tigers. Slaying that lot is what dreams are made of...

Demonland in a nutshell ?

A risk of what? That he might be unavailable for finals? We are at the pointy end. If he’s not going to play now, he may as well retire.

People forget, last year Hogan broke his collar bone, had a plate inserted, came back 3 weeks later and kicked, was it 5 or 6 goals. Message from the club was the plate makes the bone even stronger, just need the wound to settle down.

This is what I'm hoping to see from Jack Viney tomorrow night. All night long.

It sounds like Tyson will get up for this one so I think there will be two changes. Ins: Viney & Hannan Out: Kent & JKH B: Jetta McDonald Hibberd HB: Salem Frost Lewis c : Brayshaw Viney Harmes HF: Petracca Weideman Melksham F: Spargo McDonald Neal-Bullen R: Gawn Oliver Jones Int: Tyson Hannan Fritsch VandenBerg Emg: Pedersen Kennedy-Harris Smith Bugg

Phew, I see Nicholls has been sent to Perth.

Correct. GWS have lost a few kids too, but they're doing bloody well. Every club goes through a cycle of losing players. Remember Rivers, Frawley, Howe... the list goes on. The problem is GC will get pick 3 for Lynch, and will end up with another kid who has no desire to play for them and the cycle will start all over again. The AFL have epically stuffed this club up from the start. Let them clean up the mess. As for Lynch, better Richmond than mother effing Hawthorn!!!

Only injured players are done for the year. If we keep winning we still need players in reserve as injuries will happen.

So will Tyson. (full disclosure: no source, only personal opinion. But it will be a correct opinion)

I like the sound of this prediction by Bob Murphy.... https://www.sen.com.au/news/2018/09/06/murphy-my-gut-feeling-melbourne-will-absolutely-smash-geelong/

That is simply terrible. Could barely put a handful of words together. Hadn't seen before, wish I didn't! Very painful. Heard pizzed punters in the outer speak with more football clarity and insight than that. Thank [censored] that era is behind us.

The two loudest roars I've heard from Melbourne supporters: Travis Johnston's third quarter goal vs Adelaide in the 2002 Semi that put us up by 2 goals. And the final siren of the 2000 qualifying final vs Carlton. Nothing has come close since. I suspect that, should we kick an early first goal tomorrow night, the roar will trump all of those before it.

I have had a few goes at ideas to improve free agency. Today's is Top 4 sides must pay 1.5 times the AFL valuation of free agents in draft picks to the side losing the player. Sides 8-5 must pay the AFL valuation in draft picks. Bottom 8 sides pay nothing, the AFL compensate the side losing the player. There must be a cost for top sides and not $. This does not hinder any player going to any club. It puts a realistic cost on the player movement. Would Richmond give up 2 top ten picks to GC for Lynch? How would they get them? They would have to trade out some players. Would top clubs still target the best players of lowly clubs if the had to pay? Make it real AFL make the top clubs pay, and that includes Melbourne. I am sick of free agency destroying all attempts at equalisation.

I'm only hearing happiness for us. Even relative strangers are pleased to see us come good and be in finals. Yes, even Collingwood supporters of which sadly I know quite a few. We are the Cinderella of the AFL. We finally get to go the Ball! Any neutrals at our finals will be barracking for us. Wait and hear the roar!!

Are you sure? I hear he’s a moron.

I think the last decade or so has shown us that it's not top draft picks that make a club successful. Melbourne tried that trick and fell flat on their face. Carlton has had more no. 1 picks than any other side including the two expansions, and look at the good it's done them. Our own example shows that the back-end needs to be properly run before things come together on-field. Rather than worrying about the loss of talented but unfulfilled players, GCS need to get their act together off-field. That is where the AFL can really help them out, just as they did with us. None of this Priority Pick rubbish that both GC and Carlton are asking for.

Imho i think they need to get rid of the minimum salary cap. Carlton are paying (minimum) 93% of what richmond/wce/hawks are spending. They should be able to pay their players next to nothing and use the rest of the money to make huge offers to free agents. Who is to say lynch wouldnt have gone to carlton if they could pay him 2mill instead of 800k at rich?

No point complaining when the Demons will no doubt land a very big free agent in the next year or two. Anyway, Jack Riewoldt turns 30 next month so it makes sense they would get Lynch. Can you blame him for choosing an established club when he had to spend the first half of his career at the Suns?

No doubt if we lose and Viney has little impact then all and sundry will be pointing the finger at that as the main reason. Personally, I'm 100% comfortable with Viney coming back in. He's an animal that'll will himself on every contest and punish the opposition far more than JKH or Spargo can. I reckon his preparation has been flawless this time around and he'll be a significant factor in the clearance battles even with 6 weeks without game time.