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That game from OMac was better than Smiths whole career output. Experiment done. OMac is no superstar, but he can shut down a tall and allows others like Lever and Hibberd to get free and intercept and provide drive. Similarly, Weid is no superstar but he provides a target and straightens us up. Always chimes in with a few goals too. We look much better with them both in the side.

Thought O-Mac was terrific, and is the reason he was one of the core in 2018. He is never going to be a superstar, but his ball use is solid, he competes and allows others (Lever) to play their game. Enough with the temptations to play the more athletic Smith, I think O-Mac had Day for large parts of game who has been handy so far in 2020. I don’t think I heard his (Day’s) name. Well done Oscar

I love Melbourne. I love you. I love a win. It was one of the most frustrating games to watch in among some good footy and in among some horror football. But the last two minutes summed it up for me. The new Trac, kicking the sealer. Lever and May taking big marks when we needed it. Then Viney boots it forward to Kozzie who shows maturity in kicking in to Harley. Love it. There is still so much to work on but we won away from home against a side playing good footy. Love it.

Undefeated when this bloke is in the team...

I reckon we deserved that. And 17 points feels about right. One down on the bench for 2.5 quarters but never felt like we ran out of gas. Clearly tried harder with shorter kicks and fewer play on instances. It's not all there yet unfortunately, with still far too many dumb turnovers. A step in the right direction but we have many more steps to take. Thought Lever was super impressive, really important return to some form. Not sure if Oscar is the reason for that but Oscar's performance was strong too. Weideman did what we wanted - needs confidence and hopefully he got some today. Hannan and vandenBerg were really important and Bennell looked better than he did vs Carlton.

Now I am not a fan of OMac but credit where it’s due, he played well tonight. Hopefully it continues.

Terrific win. Yes we made any number of skill errors and poor decisions. But we got the job done. Top Rankine had a shot at goal that would have given them the lead with not that many minutes left and they had the momentum. We worked hard to arrest that momentum and critically scored against the flow, which is what good teams do. A three goal win is about what we deserved given we were the better side for most of the match. And a three goal win (in a game with 16 minute quarters) is nothing to sneeze at in a match that was even in the betting, meaning we beat our line by 18 points. I was furious after the blues win, not even relieved. After this win i feel both relieved and pleased. Incomparable. We were so much better that we were in the blues game and we played a much better team. Credit where credit is due for goody: in terms of selection he made the changes he needed to (though it is ironic that we ended up playing small forward line anyway) tactically we slowed things down a bit and looked for the kick on the angle much more and went down the line much less he made some interesting positional moves - Salem playing higher, Melksham the same, Max pushing back and May forward late i reckon he got in Weeds ear as he was much improved after half time in terms of intensity and defensive work. also clearly the message about looking for the right option inside 50 was heeded (if they miss a target so be it but that is so much better than kicking it to an out number) Maxy was huge as was Viney. That is leadership. I loved Oliver's effort if not his execution. I thought Weed slotting his two goals was huge. Great for his confidence after that miss last year in the Alice. VDB got the memo about impact players needing to have an impact and his tackling was a massive factor in that last quarter. Some very sore Suns boys And our second last goal was simply brilliant, on a few levels - Oliver making the right decision not to go long (which given the circumstances he would have been well within his rights to so), but instead choosing the hit up to Trac. The decision was the important thing but of course brilliant for him that he hit his target. And trac took a good strong mark and i loved that after a simply woeful kicking game he never looked like trying to give it off or look for a pass and instead took the responsibility. Again the decision making was what was most important. The fact that he executed was also brilliant, but in some ways a bonus. But obviously great for him to nail it in terms of his confidence. The last goal was fun. Clever kick by Kozzie (who i reckon would have been a bit challenged to be put in the shade by top Rankin, who played much the same role) And of course Harley was never going to miss it. He has such an economical, tight kicking action- it reminds me Wattsy's action. Unlike Tracc, very few moving parts. He didn't have an outstanding game but his class and balance shone. And how magnificent was the passion and emotion after he slotted it and the boys getting around him. This team is not going though the motions On that last point one of the players in the huddle who hugged Harley was a clearly emotional Hibberd (who was terrific again), as he was after kicking his goal and kissing his arm band and pointing to the sky in tribute to his brother (who by all accounts he was incredibly close with, his closest mate). It gave me a lump in my throat and reminded me that this is just a game. I was going to post some negatives but happy Garry Baker avatar told me leave it 'till tomorrow and enjoy the positives and the win for what it was. He also reckons i should watch the Goody presser now and enjoy Goody's sly smile and likely repeated reference to Melbourne footy and i think i'll take both bits of sage advice.

All the ins were difference makers good work

Why would you even say this dross..? Enjoy the win. Ffs

To be fair Gold Coast pulled four goals out of their back passage. Rankine *2 and Ellis *2 So Melbourne were due a little luck.

Agree and disagree. Yes needs to play every game for the rest of the year but don’t agree he was average. Gave us a leading target and despite a slow start, hit packs and brought the ball to ground. Also had to play most of the game as our only tall target along with Gawn.

We just look more balanced with Weed in the side, even if he doesn’t mark the ball as he creates a contest we can feed off and always has good second and third efforts.

Seriously though, Weid, though I thought he was average, needs to play every game for the rest of the year. He only needs to take two marks inside 50 per game and will more often than not kick both. The only thing that will teach him to be the player he can be will be time in the ones

Hell yeah boys how good was that

Pickett to Harley.. i jizzed.. That is a bloody good win! Don't underestimate the suns. They're going to be a good side this year and years to come. The composer from Oliver, Hannan and Pickett was simply huge! Welcome back Weideman.

We are back !!! Crush the hawks next week Worst umpiring I’ve seen Garry Lyon bog for suns Max Gawn - Hero!!

Kossie to Harley to finish ?

We're under the pump, and Its not just a slump The media is giving us hell We cant kick a score, our games are a bore And Goddy cant coach very well Its only bad news, our team has the blues The Demons are playing like chumps We deliver so badly, our forwards look sadly, Like their form is down in the dumps Our mids cough it up when, they shank it so bad then It lands on the chest of defenders They run it up field fast, and slot through the goal just Like we were a bunch of weekenders. But our time is coming, we soon will be running On top of the ground with our fitness Our hero is Burgo, he made made us so fit though Our stamina soon you will witness. The Suns are a safe bet, with a list who are young yet have played very well just of late. The pressure is on us, its time to respond thus I reckon we'll win it by 8 (Points) GO DEES !!!!

It's also worth saying that OMac and the Weid made a big difference to the structure today. Oscar frees up May and Lever to play a more attacking brand and having Sam up front means we have someone contesting in the packs which means that the blind kick in hope isn't quite as disastrous for us as it normally is. Well worth persistingwith both of them. Is it just me or was Kozzie trying to set up Bennell all game?

really annoyed at the string of soft free kicks and downfield frees given to the suns. Soft as butter, yet nothing was done when weed was continually shoved forward in almost every contest. It felt like the umps were trying to keep the Suns in it.

Hannan was huge btw!

Anyone else loving Langdons game so far

A lot to like in this: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-11/what-if-broadcasters-are-the-source-of-afl-image-problem/12437678 (Mods: couldn't find an existing topic, merge please)

'Goodloss'? No offence, but you sound like a five year old saying that.

Moment in the first quarter where I seriously considered turning the sound off: TMac is on haunches on the turf with his eyeball on the ground in front of him. Jonathan Brown, while watching the slo-mo: bit of a delayed reaction there. One day they’ll raise the standards in the commentary box beyond intellectually deficient oafs who were good at footy when they were young, but it clearly hasn’t happened yet.

Good to CP5 nail the clincher. He’s coming into the player we always wanted. Sloppy by foot tonight but still massive. He’s the type that want to step up and win games. Mays disposal is starting to be a real concern, some horrible errors. but he was there in the clinches at the end along with lever. Kozzie looking like SUCH a prospect and dare I say it, we are definitely a better side with Omac back in the team

What a game by Viney. He totally redeemed himself tonight.

All three had massive second halves. AVB with some big tackles, Hannan getting back to some of the 2018 form that made him so dangerous, and Viney leading from the front. Really terrific to see.

We were better that quarter but the umps have no idea how they should be calling HTB

Awesome artixle. The broadcasting if games has been horrible for a long time, particularly since channel 7 regained the rights. The camera angles are horrible and make it impossible to see what is happening strategically across the field. The commentary is so bad it defies belief. Channel 7 wants the commentators to be the stars, their "personalities" to be bigger than the game. The atmosphere is also rubbish as the broadcasters turn down the crowd volume so we can hear Hamish and BT's "witty" zingers. It's just terrible and amateurish all round.

The way he has fought back to his best recently, given the nightmare he's gone through.......................absolutely inspirational

Very nice LN. Isn't it great to see a classy ball gatherer and smart ball user on the outside wings and up around the arc. Fingers crossed he can stay on the park and go from strength to strength. The two connections between him and Kozzy tonight (that i can remember anyway) were a breath of fresh air. What a difference this makes up forward. The good news is .....78% game time tonight vs 50% in his first match. That's significant. And ranked in the top 10 best players (statistically) on both occasions (10th ranked player on both occassions!).

Baby steps, but everyone knows how important these are for belief and self-confidence. First game in a hub, first win in a hub .....

I don't usually post comments on this thread. In fact, I cant remember doing so before, but I reckon Gawn's game today was just off the planet. When we needed a mark - he took it When we needed a clearance he created it. We needed a leader today - and he provided it Just fantastic

Some key takeaways: Hannan - 8 possessions - 4 score involvements - great 8 poss game Oliver - the most pressure acts for Dees and 2nd most on ground. Trac - had a good night let down by some poor decision making - but showed maturity - worth more than anything. OMAC - solid as a rock and all we need him to be. Viney - you can questions lots of things about him but never his competitive spirit. Him and Max HUGE Lots to like, started at selection, Kicked 10 plus goals and looked at times like a really good side. Confidence will be the biggest thing we take out of that.

My attempt at an unemotional dot-point response to tonight’s game: Was a surprisingly good game. Omac lol – was our defensive structural pin. I love when I don’t notice Omac. Points to collective Demonland. Lever and May enabled to play to their strengths. Shame about TMac at the opposite end. I liked him pushing up again. Weid still flakey but enough to persist with as a second-fiddle. Prefer Hannan and AVB cameos to Melksham’s. The latter has to go. Petracca fluffed his kicking lines but his extraction and handballing was supreme. Trac out-olivered Oliver but Oliver still goes alright in his determination to win contests. Bennell – collect the ball and compose. He stands out among the rest. Also Pickett. Uber-Spargo. A smart hungry footballer with natural skills. What a perfect ending – Pickett precise pass to Bennell for an after-siren goal. Liked watching Rankine. Liked also that he missed two crucial shots at the death. Viney was strong. Langdon gave a lot. Gawn took some marks. Some of the umpiring felt ‘uneven’ at times. My internet data held onto the narrow end.

Only Melbourne can have you tearing your hair out with frustration and swearing at every stupid mistake and then so happy with a couple of minutes of good football to win the game. If only the rest of the game wasn't so blindingly awful!

We were due after it seemed as though they'd been kissed on the [censored] by a fairy for their first 7 goals.

Umps nearly killed us

Nice to see some changes made this week, definitely thought the structure was much better! We really struggled with decision making, errors and the pressure but I think we'll get a lot of confidence out of the win. Desperately hope that TMac is OK, otherwise Brown has to come in. This game clearly showed that multiple talls in the forward and backline are needed Wow that was stressful, but woooo hoo!! Signs of life

Hmmmmm.......not a single moment of that suggests we have come anywhere near the corner we need to turn. Still, a win’s a win, and it’ll give them some confidence. In what, I just don’t know.

Viney is a player with his flaws, but you are completely deluded if you think we’re better off without him or with a second round lottery ticket/draft pick and starting from scratch with an 18 year old. Of course we re-sign him. It’s only the remotest possibility that he gets an offer elsewhere that is hugely in excess of ours AND he indicates he wants to go. I expect there will be enough good will on both parties’ behalf that an agreement will be reached quickly. If that remote possibility did come to pass then we deal with it then, but all the planning now should be around re-signing him.

I like our selected side. I reckon we will win comfortably I am particularly looking forward to watching Bennell and an improved VDB, now that he has a couple of games under his belt In a joyous celebration of my returned optimism, I shall give the maid a jolly good pre game rollicking !

milkshake is an absolute liability

Normally, being located in Newcastle most of the time means I have to travel a lot to games in Melbourne. But this week I was surprisingly invited to be in the ballot for a ticket to today's game as a NSW member. I was lucky enough to get a ticket. So I only have to come from Newcastle. I have no idea how the ballot worked or whether anyone actually missed out. But, the reason for limitations on numbers is that they are only allowed to put a limited number of people in certain sections (as per NSW government restrictions) and they have to be spaced right out. It turns out that my ticket is in one of the glassed-in sections in the main stand. It will not be as much fun as sitting in the Olympic Stand with the rest of the people I have shared the seats around me for many years week-in, week-out during Winter, but I feel very lucky. Let's hope we do better today!

Dees by 4 goals. Weid to kick three, Bennell to have an impact and Clarrie will respond to the criticism with a vintage game in the middle.

Avoid Demonland