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I am so proud of the boys tonight. I've almost got a tear in my eye. We've been smashed from pillar to post these last three weeks, some of it warranted, some of it over the top, and when the Swans got 20 odd points up you could argue that we were in big, big trouble. But we didn't panic. We went back to playing the Melbourne way. We hassled. We tackled. And by God we took our chances. This was a modern Melbourne performance and you could almost sense, when we got up, that we weren't going to give it up. The one person I want to single out is Nathan Jones. Under the pump from all and sundry, he steps up to kick three crucial, captain's goals to help us win this game of footy. How bloody good is it? Right the man off at your peril. I also thought Marty Hore, another to cop it on here, really stood up down back, particularly early. Also to Frosty who did a pretty good job on Buddy! But stuff it. How good is it, everyone? I love this club. We have won this game when, with the injuries and the history against the Swans, we had no right to win it. As I said earlier, it's shades of the '98 game over in Perth. Kudos to the coaches, players and everyone else involved for lifting and keeping our season well and truly alive. And I'm proud that I never lost the faith! DEMONS!

Loved Hunts two games up forward. Doesn’t get a heap of it, but he’s so damaging with his pressure and hits the scoreboard. Ticks all the boxes needed for the small/medium forward type player. He and Petracca really stood up tonight.

Loved seeing the Wagner brothers able to share it together. Without meaning to be disparaging, they’re both fringe players and you wouldn’t expect that they’ll get to play a huge amount together over time. Must be such a great feeling. Thought they both play well for a second week in a row too.

Just landed in Paris! Scrambled to get to my hotel to listen live....OMG! Picked up the last five minutes and the crew on 3AW were saying that the Swans were: 1. Out played 2. Being toyed with 3. Sinclair was cooked! 4. And I heard Gawny's name and C Oliver's named several times Fantastic effort! I love this team and Paris awaits! Night all, soak it up!

3 goals 2 behinds to Swans in the second half. Fantastic team effort. We can finally enjoy a replay. Rest up boys and let’s get ready for next week. Well done to all fans that turned up to the SCG.

It was a hard game to watch. We aren’t out of the woods by any means and we have a lot of improvement to do yet. But that was a gusty hard fought win and absolute credit to Jones. Led from the front tonight.

Amazing how a defensive 50 without Jetta, May, Lever and Lewis stood up the way they did. Fritsch and Hore, take a bow.

Marty Hore, great game young man.

That’s a bloody ripping win right there. A few Thursday night beers watching us get the four points to get the season up and rolling. No complaints. A dominant second half on the back of some subtle signs in the first. Got our contested game back. Pressure on the oppo was in a different league to what it’s been in the first three weeks. We wanted it and we got it. Jonesy pivotal serving up some humble pie. Hunt is a hot and cold player but when he’s hot he is very, very good. Preussy outstanding debut with a typical Gawn performance. It can work. Shout to the Wagner boys. 10 and 16 disposals but they mattered. In the top 7 players on the ground for efficiency. Hore in the votes. Great [censored] win. Now let’s continue on from here.

Now who wanted Jones dumped from the team?

There's been a lot of gloom on Demonland of late. Although it must be said that even at the best of times, there is always a healthy miasma of despair hovering around the place. Comes with supporting the Dees I suppose. And yes … I sat through two shockers this year and was ready to chew my own hand off. I did no such thing obviously and contented myself by giving the maid a jolly good thrashing. Nonetheless onward and upward! Team sport is a strange beast and it only takes one special moment to turn zeroes into heroes. Who will produce that memorable momentum changing moment tonight? Perhaps Frosty will outmuscle Buddy in a one on one and then break away..... take a bounce or two and ….. kick a raking goal!!!!

The teammate to his right was Charlie Spargo. Probably didn’t see the point in putting his arm around fresh air.

Trac needs to bring that mindset every game. He was a bull tonight.

What a pleasant surprise. The way we killed the clock in the last five minutes was the best we have played all year.

I have this feeling in my bones - call it a vibe - that we’re going to win this and win it well. We’re playing poorly but are only a goal behind. We can do much better than this and it’s time to rise to the occasion.

Special shout out to Petracca, Hunt and Oliver for their utter determination to win/win back the ball.

Preuss is just the type of big nasty baaastad we've needed for years.

That’s a price I’m willing to pay.

Great effort boys.❤️?

Melbourne will go bang! Second half. Win by 54 points!

Assuming he’s not a late withdrawal, tip of the hat to T Daddy Mac on reaching 150 games - a game for each strand of hair he’s driven me to remove, but provided a lot of entertainment along the way. Here’s hoping he puts in a good shift, because by god do we need one right now. All the best Tommy ?

Buddy just saw our backline, called his mum and told her to watch this one

I havent stuck a fork in us yet but i have already set the table ready to go. To be honest, it probably won't be a bad thing if this year is a write off for us. Here is my reason why: - Lever and May will be able to play some games out together towards the end of the year with then rolling into pre season fit and ready to do a whole summer of training together. Round 1 next year a fit May and Lever are ready to go. - We start pre season early and half our list wont need end of year surgeries. So the likes of Oliver, Viney, Jones, Melksham, Hannan, Harmes etc hit the ground running and complete a full pre season. - Potential early 1st round draft pick which we will hopefully use on a outside running gun midfielder. Need more depth in our midfield. - Hopefully an overhaul of our list. Clear deadwood the likes of Tim Smith, JKH, Keilty, Maynard who have just hung around too long for little impact. - Guys like Weideman and Fritsch will start next year close to the 50 game mark. Both huge talents who will be much better players next year. - Guys like Brayshaw, Harmes, Petracca Oliver, Salem will be closing in on 90 games start of next year also. Something to definitely work with for sure going into next year.

I’m reserving judgement on Preuss the forward. One goal was plucked out of his arse on the boundary from the ruck, the other a long kick that a competent defence would have touched. Don’t get me wrong, quite happy to take two goals and enjoyed his physical play, just not quite ready to crow yet.

weekend is looking so much brighter already, and it's only Thursday!!!

Exactly right. Drives me nuts dl posters and so called footy experts in the media saying we need to go man on man. Goody has his model. We made a prelim with it. We will stick with it. When it works teams struggle, like the swans tonight, to get it passed half way. We strangle them. Relies on but running and that is what we saw tonight

Oliver’s contempt for Roaming Brian makes me love him even more.

Hore might just prove a few people wrong!

From the little I saw the Wagners looked tough and OK

Like hallelujah

If Oliver, Viney and Brayshaw get on top and the umpires shed their bias, we are seriously in this.

Who the Freakin’ Hell is Max tapping it too? He’s bounce passing it off the deck to Swans players every EFFING time – work it out!!!

Kennedy threw that!!

This guy is a robot. ^

True. Whatever happens, Preuss cannot be judged on one game alone, so I hope he is given a run of games to find his feet. I can never understand the point of dropping a player after one match.

I’ve never been so happy to lose money to ladbrokes

The TV commentary is absolutely disgusting

Hunts been great

WHAT IS WRONG WITH THESE UMPIRES?! Fritsch gets front on contact, and then tripped, and it's play on! Someone jumps all over a dee and gets no where near the ball, and it's a mark to Heeney

Bailey Fritsch is always in the team from now on

Can we please get the podcast taken off the mobile site? My thumb keeps hitting it.

Brian Taylor thinks his elongated pronunciation of “Llooooyd” is really catchy and cool. It f&@king-well isn’t.

Petracca has been OK. I like his attack on the ball

Needs to throw his weight around and cause a bit of damage. Caution (and Michael Christian) into the wind

Three goals from the captains this term. Brilliant stuff!

Take one of these, Nash

My body is ready for a victory. It's going to happen tonight.

We're not cooked...but we're on the grill. Rare, med-rare, medium, well-done ?? Quite frankly I'd be encouraged to see some basics accomplished...maybe string 2 qtrs together. The season ?? We'd not only have to win one game but suddenly string a whole bunch together. Sorry just fanciful rubbish at this point.

He's our bunny