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Can I open the bowling and just say, has there ever been such a meteoric rise and richly deserved 100 games ever in MFC History?? What a Brilliant inside modern day Midfielder we have. Dual B&F, All Australian and we hope a Demon for ever more. Congratulations Young man Cheers and best of luck P.F

Watched all games yesterday and here is my positives and negatives. Positives - Our ball movement at times looked very quick and slick when we pulled it off. I thought Jayden Hunt and Christian Salem were the two who really drove this off half back. I'm really excited to see Hunt speeding off half back and opening up the game. - Max Gawn is ready to go a level up. The Jackson/Gawn combo up forward will change the dynamic of a our forward line while Brown is out. Such a captains game yesterday by the big man. - Now that's the Jake Lever we like to see! Marked everything that came his way and actually looks like he's put on a bit of size as well. Reads it extremely well. - Chandler has certainly thrown himself into round 1 calculations. Put in another performance like against the doggies and now doubt he'll pick himself for round 1. The Spargo/Chandler combo was exciting in terms of defensive pressure. Can't wait to add Pickett to the fold. - Petracca and Oliver. No words needed, they're simply stars now and ready for another big year. - I was quite critical of Jones early but I thought he got better as the game wore on and at times was calm with his ball use. - Jake Bowey and Bailey Laurie. There are some serious serious class and poise with these two kids. Bowey's run and drive off half back and then his ability to just hit basically every target was very impressive for an 18 year old. Looked like 100 gamer already. He's ready for AFL football and I'll be shocked if he's not playing against the doggies next week. Laurie is a beautifully balanced and calm footballer. His hands around the stoppages and contest were clean and quick, and just waits his kicks like Bowey. Both boys are going to add some serious class and outside dash to our current line up very soon and can see them making an instant impact straight away. - Harrison Petty was BOG for me in the B game alongside Bowey and Laurie. He easily would have had over 10 marks, 7 of them intercepts down back. Really impressed with his game and if the coaches were smart enough they'd be playing him next week against the doggies instead of Tomlinson who was just pretty poor yesterday. Special mention to Tom Sparrow who I thought played well and showed courage in defence by taking a strong grab and got crunched as well. Negatives - Ball use was pretty poor at times but I put that down to it being our first scratch match. Happens everywhere. - Jetta was poor. Why on he he was playing on the likes of Reiwoldt and Lynch up the ground has me beat.. watching young Bowey carve it up yesterday makes me think it won't be long until we see him taking his spot soon. I live Jetta but he's way too slow now. - For someone who is as big as Tomlinson, he's incredibly soft one on one. Beaten throughout the day and on form Petty is miles ahead for that 3rd tall option. I was glad to hear Richo say that Simon Goodwin loves Petty, because that should all confirm he plays next week against the doggies instead of Tommo - Harmes was far too sloppy. Again tried to give don't argues and made himself look like a complete [censored] but getting tackled in return. Honestly dont know what to make of him currently. On yesterday's form I'd have Sparrow instead. - Lockhart was also disappointing. Wanted to see him stake a claim for Jetta's spot but he was just poor and sloppy. -Bradke, 21 year old who still looks and plays like a gangly giraffe 17 year old kid. I know the delivery wasn't much chop in the B game, but when the ball hit the ground he was barely seen. A true definition of a list clogger. - Yeah look Farmer won't be getting a spot on our list. His ball use is very poor and times was just walking to contests. Dont think he hit a target all day except for the goal he kicked. Spend a year at Casey or at under 19 level and I'm sure that will benefit his development more. Was disappointed that Deakyn wasn't playing. Supposedly he's been far more impressive on the training track than Farmer. Overall it was a solid hitout and thought the longer quarters suited our running ability far more then the tigers. Coaches would have taken a lot out of that and I was pleased to see our young kids in Rivers, Jackson, Sparrow, Bowey, Laurie and Petty all contribute well again.

Based on watching the 7 “quarters” I would give votes to in order of best Oliver, Lever, Gawn, Langdon, Bowey. Bowey was WOW in the B game and should be trialled next week wing or half back instead of Jetta, Baker or Harmes. Nothing wrong with Jetta’s game but he slows connection and is playing on players too tall or too mobile. Other points of note for me Chandler and Spargo had a great balance of defensive pressure and clean crumb and attack. Hunt whilst offering straight line rebound at speed needs to learn to defend at a contest otherwise will cost us 3 goals. Baker was ok but I feel will just be warming the second wing until we find a real good partner for Langdon. We looked super quick in defensive run, offensive movement and general recovery out of a stoppage. And that was without Bowey, Bedford and Laurie who were all super quick and super good in the B game. Also as part of the B game it will be difficult to not play Petty up if he plays to that level. A good problem to have.

On Monday night, the Melbourne Football Club handed out four life memberships. Two of those awards went to men who are long gone. Charles ‘Chubby’ Forrester and James ‘Jas’ Byrne played for the club in the 1870s, even before the Victorian Football Association was formed. The other two are current skipper Max Gawn and swingman Tom McDonald, who almost left the club at the end of the pandemic-affected 2020 season. Some fans might have raised their eyebrows and wondered whether the emphasis on history might have been a subtle message to the two surviving players but on Friday morning, both of them had left little doubt that they are definitely part of the Demons’ immediate future. The roles they played in their team’s 14.9.93 to 12.10.82 practice match victory over reigning premiers Richmond were significant. Gawn was not only outstanding in the ruck but he was also able to go forward and back to take vital marks. In doing so, he kicked a couple of goals and saved a few as well. Meanwhile, the trimmed down McDonald showed that he still had a lot to give to the club. His confidence has returned, he’s taking marks that were spilled in the past few years and he roamed far and wide across the expanses of Casey Fields to good effect. Together with young ruckman/forward Luke Jackson and the lively Bayley Fritsch and surprise packet Kade Chandler and Charlie Spargo, they assured the Demons of some potent attacking strength that many despaired might be missing in the absence of injured forwards Ben Brown, Sam Weideman and Jake Melksham and young small forward Kozzy Pickett, out for personal family reasons. At the other end of the ground, Jake Lever dominated in the rebounding defender role for which the club recruited him from Adelaide and he combined well with Steven May who also looks to be in for a fine season. Melbourne received great drive from Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver in the middle, Ed Langdon on a wing and Christian Salem and Jayden Hunt coming out of defence. They were helped out by Tom Sparrow and James Jordan and Trent Rivers looking to build on his exciting debut season. The above might sound like a glowing endorsement coming at end of February and mindful of the old adages about practice matches, March champions and April Fools. After all, the Tigers were coming off a premiership game at the glittering Gabba in their last match and here they were playing in a tree lined setting in late summer. For a club known for their attacking intensity, when the pressure valve is set at perhaps 10% below their best, the result of the contest often will lose its meaning. And the Demons still need to resolve a few problem positioning issues with their small defenders. In light of the fact that it’s still very early days, let’s put it all down to a good opening hit out with the main positives being evidence of a faster, smoother transition into attack from a team that has finally come to terms with the rules that changed the game after their break- out 2018 season and that the subsequent fall from grace might have finally been consigned into Melbourne’s history books. Melbourne 3.2.20 5.4.34 10.8.68 14.9.93 Richmond 2.3.15 6.5.41 9.7.61 12.10.82

Even though it's a practice game against Richmond (reigning Premiers no less), don't think I've seen a better game from Jake Lever. Solid in defence, intercepting and holding his marks. He had a big influence in the win. I'll go out on a limb and say Max and Jake were our two best players. Don't tell me the Tigers weren't trying.

My favourite from just about his first game. Absolute gun, and I honestly believe he has another level in him as well.

It is too often ignored just how good he is

Alan Richardson was on to start the B game and he said Petty is one of Goodwin's favourite players, I don't think Goody or probably any of the coaches are the reason he isn't in the A side. He missed all of last year and had a slow start to preseason. It was hard to get a read on what Lamb was thinking apart from the plan to save at least the potential Hore spot for a mid season addition. Just from hearing a few comments I think Deakyn might be ahead of Farmer and as much as we could send Deakyn back to the Stingrays we could do the same with Farmer to Casey.

Agree Maxy is a champion. He will be known as a Demon great imv. But I saw Robbie Flower play for most of his career (from my first game of watching the Dees in 1975) and he just was highlight after highlight against the odds. He survived against thugs and could mark, run, spin, evade, kick goals, handball, kick either foot with distance and accuracy. Absolutely magic and a fantastic player to watch.

Some feel the need to put people down for simply sharing information to a Demon chat forum believing they are holier than thou.

Disappointed that no news regarding Aaron Nietschke has come out of the club in the 24 hours since he came off the ground in yesterday’s practice match. Even if they’re waiting on the result of scans, a brief statement on the initial medical viewpoint on his situation would suffice.

I spoke with Membership today. There is a staff meeting on Monday, where the ticketing arrangements will be explained, with hopefully all the nuances which will arise. Then there will be a general email to members to explain what is required. In a nutshell, it will be something similar to what was done at the cricket. You will need to get another ticket for an allocated seat. If you want to sit with your mates, then make sure you have their barcodes from their membership ready to go on the one application. This won't be perfect, but it will be better than last year, and if various governments get their act together, should improve as the season progresses.

Jetta wasn't overly prolific but he looked fit and agile and was able to compete at his usual level. It's great to have him back moving well. If he stays fit, he's going to be a huge asset.

About 5mins into the last quarter Gale comments that we look a lot quicker than last year (after Langdon’s run down tackle). Not sure if the whole team looks quicker but Langdon certainly does. I liked hearing this from the opposition....

Lever was awesome. Thats the player we envisioned when we poached him from the Crows. As the commentators were saying people can easily forget hes only 24, seems like hes been around forever. He also did his ACL a couple of years ago which seems to get glossed over too. This could be his year.

Chandler's check side kick for goal in the last quarter was a gem. Kicked three goals and had a great game. Looking forward to seeing him playing in Round 1- in person!?

A gesture of goodwill? You have to be joking. I will be beyond [censored] off if this game is moved. No other club got as badly treated as us last year with the fixture. Some of that was plain bad luck (eg the Eagles game - though, even that is marginal - they should have postponed that game) but most were shafted. As a gesture of goodwill we should play all 23 games at the g.

Not at the expenses of winning games of football. 3 blokes out yesterday I’d rather have in the team than him if they are fit. Pickett, Brayshaw, Melksham. Jones was serviceable yesterday though and exceeded my expectations.

Great to see: 1. Looking to come through the corridor more often than not 2. Kicking long with the wind out of the guts 3. Lever marking just about everything 4. Hunt running with the ball and kicking long 5. All our key talent in good form

People underestimate Barassi. If the Norm Smith medal existed in the 50s and 60s RDB would have five of them!

Simple fix. Get WFC and Freo out of Perth. Relocate all 2021 home games to other venues in Australia and the state can suffer the financial and performance ramifications. It is clear now that we know how to respond to outbreaks with short sharp lockdowns. 28 days without community transmission is just ludicrous - we managed to play a whole tennis tournament throughout this debacle. I sense that this is a little bit of sour puss from WA state govt after we awarded the finals series to Qld.

As I said on the game-day thread, what was most pleasing was that Goody, for the first time in his career as coach, did not rush in his first-year men, and stuck with his senior men over raw kids who all showed glimpses pre-season, but are not seasoned footballers yet! The choice of Sparrow, Jordan, Chandler and Baker - all third-year men - over these first year excitement machines was totally appropriate and ensures that they don't get disenchanted with their coach and let's face it, as good as Bowey, Laurie and Rozman have looked at training - these four have done their apprenticeship and deserve a chance. All four may ultimately not be quite good enough, but at least now they will know and we will know. Even better was the decision to give Jones and Jetta a chance before these kids. Both may be too old ... and now too slow, but they still have the smarts and do the team role player things with strong bodies hardened from years of weights. There were heaps missing with at least six players likely to press for Rd 1 selection injury permitting - Brayshaw, Melky, J.Smith, Viney, VDB and Kossie - I think Hibbo, B.Brown and Weid are all confirmed non-Rd 1 starters - but the nucleus of the side is still there and we have at least two more players in the twos who are ready when called - Petty and Lockhart. Both Gale and Balme made mention of our pace in transition. We have been slow in the past and now have a better balance with our outside/inside run. Richmond, of course, is getting older and they were missing Rioli who is mega quick. But the one player who has transformed the pace issue is the move of Jayden Hunt back to defence. He was beaten badly a couple of times over the back by Castagna in the second term, but kept providing line-breaking dash and against Richmond who zone and peel off and block with precision, such players are vital. Rivers also did it a couple of times, his baulk and bounce and 50m kick from a kick-in one of the highlights. The other thing that surprised me was that we played four small up forward crumbing Jackson and T.Mac and Fritta and Gawn (when there) as well as providing the short option which is now more likely under the man on mark rule. All four - Spargo, Jones, Chandler and ANB - pressured hard all game. And our best small forward - Kossie - wasn't out there. The decision for Goody now is whether he continues to back in the four small forward set up or tries to solve his problems when everyone is fit by slotting Trac or Melky and Sparrow into the forward mix to accommodate Viney and Brayshaw. The other pleasing thing is that it looks like we will use Gawn and Jackson as more of a tandem ruck-forward weapon this year which is great. Onwards and upwards.

Ben Gibson is a real gem. Knows the game both from a strategic and historical standpoint and presents with a relaxed confidence. I don't think he'll last long in the Dees media team before moving on to bigger and better things.

I believe 44 is Luca Goonan - ex Mt Eliza player. Was on Casey's list for last year but obviously didn't play. Nephew of a family friend.

Don't read the gameday thread. I accidentally did after a long offseason but immediately regretted it. It's an awful place purely designed for people to let off steam whilst not flooding the main board. You could almost call it Demonland 'quarantine'.

Guys I know it was only Richmond at near full strength but you can only beat what’s put in front of you.

Thanks for that See. All 3 were Confident team orientated and ready for the next step when needed.

Bowery did some really nice things and looks ready to go. Liked Laurie balance of offensive and defensive acts

He was terrific I thought - very confident ball use and smarts. He came to the MFC as a winger. I'd have him there ahead of Baker.

If he wasn't the Wiz's son I doubt that there would be much interest in him.

One of the things I want to do before I die is watch Melbourne beat West Coast at Perth Stadium in a final. A prelim would be ideal, but anything to scrub the memory of $1,000 down the drain in 2018 off my soul.

Robbie Flower played in some truly terrible sides, was as thin as a rake, and played with no protection. He was the most courageous and skilful player I’ve ever seen - and he retired when I was 9. I love Max, but he’s no Robbie.

He's no Cale Morton but he'll do.

There's a State election in WA on 13 March. On current projections, the incumbent government will win comfortably and primarily because of its "tough Covid approach". So, don't expect a change in the WA Government's quarantine rules before 13 March. I wouldn't be at all surprised, though, if Gil has received a "nod and a wink" that quarantine rules for porfessional sportspeople will change sometime between 14 March and Round 1 of the AFL season.

I like Spargo's understated celebration when he does well. I saw it at the end of last year when he was playing well too. He just keeps his game face on like "we haven't achieved anything yet". He looks pretty determined to silence his doubters including me who said he was too small and without any tricks. I think he has the trick that he knows how to play and has really improved his power.

No reasonable thinking person would have taken offence TJ6

Haha I am not bald and there was no ill-intent in my comments, intended in affection only. Apologies if taken that way.

Chocko's going to be tired and sore tonight after umpiring.

Of course they don't. It's a 3/4 practice match between the 30-40 players on AFL lists and whatever VFL players they could cobble together to fill out the numbers, being umpired by some assistant coaches and volunteers doing the goal and boundary umpiring. Nobody cares. I'm thankful that we can get a stream at all. I'm happy to listen to the commentary if they interview guys like Balme, who gave some interesting thoughts on the game and even how he thought we played.

I really thought the return to longer quarters did us a great service. We looked fit and full of running at the back end of each quarter, which ultimately proved vital for the win. We were missing plenty of players who would be walk up 22 players, and would make a big difference to us structurally. So overall a very good win.

How good was it to watch full-length quarters of footy again!

Great to see Clarry sprinting clear and kicking long

I liked the bit where the score went over 90 points. Lever, Trac, Oliver, Spagbol, Chandler all quite good. Decent hit out with no injuries, can’t ask for much more.

Essendon losing is what I like to see. Hope it continues for many many months.