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I know Clarry, not super close but enough to know him I can’t ever see him leaving this club, he loves the club and loves the boys and I can’t see that ever changing

I was sitting ground level, southern wing on Sunday, so had a close-up experience of Ed Langdon’s game. What struck me, other than the sheer mileage and fluidity of his running, was his absolute calm command. Even in the tighter keepings-off type stuff that happens near the boundary, he’s never panicked, always seems to know how he’s going to create best effect with his disposal and positioning, and executes brilliantly. He’s right there with Alves, Tingay and of course Flower as a pure winger, a joy to watch, and the kind of player who makes our game.

The tackle then the trash talk has been posted on here and talked about a lot, but yes at the end of the half right after Trac kicks that goal Selwood goes after Kozzie and Oliver intervenes. Sounds like they may have been at each other all game. God bless Kozzie for showing no respect to that diving cheat.

For God’s sake, I cannot believe how many Demonlanders are suggesting trading Brayshaw! ? Brayshaw is our ‘culture’! obviously, many have not watched Gus’s weekly session with Gawn to realise how popular he is and how it is guys like him that bond a team together. Plus he is not too shabby as a player. Frankly, I think that guys like Gawn, Petracca etc would prefer to have a drop in their own salary to keep Gus than to see our team ripped apart at his expense.

I am obsessed with Eddy. What a player he has been for us. His gut running has completely changed the way we play at the G and having an actual winger is something I think we’ve missed since, I dunno, perhaps the Daniher days. Seems like a really nice down to earth guy as well.

There it is. Proof of the importance of Choco in our form turnaround. 30 minutes a day on improving kicking compared to zero previously. A master stroke getting him to the Club.

You’re a bloody gem to have onboard D, I hope Dec and the family are doing well! Go Dees!!

Also Kent's bang on with the tag, we have too many players now that can get off the chain. Was fantastic watching them to try and put a tag on Oliver and watching Tracc get off the chain - in past years Tracc wouldn't have been able to expose that. Now he can. Then they removed the tag from Oliver and he exploded. Please footy gods keep this midfield injury free. Although having said that, the depth we are building by rotating Jordon and Sparrow through there is very encouraging. I think Yze is doing a GREAT job at changing the One dimensional nature of our midfield unit. Anyone else been noticing how Max has suddenly started smashing the ball long out of clearances and also grabing the ball himself? Stops all the sharking that has been going on for years now (i'm sure that this is yze influenced as well).

In 2023. But if he’s taking 3 premiership medallions with him, he has my blessing.

I don't know chook, this all seems a bit sci-fi for me compared to running laps around the oval.

Me too. He’s just a machine. A real introvert too living in an environment that doesn’t cater for that too well. Just love seeing the long hair and long sleeves cruising down the wing. We got told he was a ball butcher too. Not withstanding his comments that he’s worked hard on it, I haven’t seen any evidence of it at all since he’s been here. Hard to believe he came so cheaply.

Good player but I'd target Lachie Ash if the rumours are true he wants to move back to Victoria. That dash out of the backline is tantalising...

I reckon he's nailed a few goals this year that he wouldn't last year, so he has clearly worked on his kicking. But it has never been a big issue for me. He does so much work that just can't be replicated by anyone else in our side at the moment. If he's running at 100% game time and sometimes he butchers a kick inside 50, well I can live with that. He and Hunt running down a wing is such a lovely sight.

The fact that we have conceded only 25 behinds which averages out to just over 6 a game kind of waters down the value of this statistic. In contrast the Swans and Geelong have conceded 50 each. We don’t have enough opportunities on the board for a meaningful comparison. We also have only conceded 39 goals for a total of only 64 scoring shots against us at an average of 16 a game. The opposition only score 4 times a quarter. Very impressive. The Bulldogs have conceded 68 scoring shots.

Yes look apart from some key distinctions such as: • Sparrow belongs to the Family: Passeridae while swallows are members of the Family: Hirundinidae. • Taxonomic diversity is much higher in sparrows than in swallows. • Swallows are bigger and heavier than sparrows. • Sparrows have a stocky body while swallows have an elongated body. • Swallows make mud nests, but sparrows never use mud. • Swallows usually fly around water bodies whereas sparrows prefer to fly around terrestrial ecosystems. • Wings are characteristically elongated in swallows but not in sparrows. Once upon a time a Swallow at the dees might have been a nice edition but I'm quite happy with our Sparrow especially if he has higher taxonomic diversity.

I’m not one who likes mixing politics with sport but it should be noted there have been some unusual trends in the world of sport lately. In the US, Major League Baseball announced that it’s moving the 2021 All-Star Game and the 2021 MLB Draft out of Georgia, in response to the state’s new voting law. Over here, there’s a move to force Carlton to change its club song because the original song on which it was based (written in the late 1800s) has “racist connotations”. The Blues maintain the current version of the song, “Lily of Laguna”, was changed several decades ago and, in any event, their theme song doesn’t have a racist bone in its body. I hope the controversy gets resolved but I wonder where this movement to cancel anything that offends is going to lead us? Personally, I’ve been offended by the sight of Hawthorn guernseys for a very long time. It began when I was just a kid in the early 1960s when the Hawks started kicking the Demons around the park. When they beat us in the 1961 second semi and effectively ended our pursuit of a second threepeat in less than a decade, my sensibilities were so hurt that I couldn’t sleep for a week. This state of affairs continued for decades. Hawthorn premiership stars of the 70s like Leigh and Kelvin Matthews, Alan Martello and Michael Moncrieff were all plucked out of the Chelsea region immediately before that area became zoned to Melbourne. Their great goalkicker Peter Hudson chose the Hawks ahead of us even though his cousins, the Minton-Connells, were with the Demons. Later on, the Jarman brothers snubbed us in favour of them (even after we had drafted Darren). Then there was the humiliation of the ‘87 Preliminary Final and the ‘88 Grand Final. The bastards even refused to merge with us in ‘96 and then continued to belt us for a decade while they won premiership after premiership. It’s little wonder that the sight of those sickening brown and yellow stripes offends me to the core (and I leave aside all connotations to bodily functions from this equation). Yes, it’s about time we gave some serious thought to cancelling the Hawks. When I come to think of it, now is the perfect time for it all to happen. They’ve lost their last three games this season and now is the time to make it zip four. They have lost their last three games against us - starting with the 2018 semi final - and now is the time to make it zip four for them (and when was the last time that happened?). And let’s go back to the concept of club songs. Does anyone really believe that they’re a happy club at Hawthorn these days? But in the final analysis, it’s never the song, it’s the singer. Melbourne’s “singers” are its players and they’re all singing together from the same hymn book. As Christian Petracca said after last week’s game against Geelong, the boys are playing together as a team. It’s one for all, all for one and they’re doing all the things that are necessary to cancel out the once mighty, high flying Hawks. So come Sunday, the hundreds of our fans who bring along their cheeseboards replete with the “Cheers” brand of the product for sustenance will be celebrating the long awaited cancellation of the brown and gold menace with a 59-point victory for their Demons. THE GAME Melbourne v Hawthorn at the MCG Sunday 18 April 2021 at 3.20pm HEAD TO HEAD Overall Hawthorn 87 wins Melbourne 78 wins At the MCG Hawthorn 46 wins Melbourne 38 wins Last 5 meetings Hawthorn 2 wins Melbourne 3 wins The Coaches Clarkson 2 wins Goodwin 3 wins MEDIA TV live and on demand on Kayo and live on Foxtel. Check your local guides. Radio - check your local guides. THE LAST TIME THEY MET Melbourne 14.7.91 defeated Hawthorn 7.6.48 in Round 7, 2020 at Giants Stadium This was a Demon master class inspired by Max Gawn’s ruck domination and the brilliance of Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca on the ball. The forward line with Sam Weideman 3 goals and Bayley Fritsch and Kozzy Pickett, 2 each, functioned beautifully in another pleasing performance that underlined the team’s recent improvement. THE TEAMS HAWTHORN B: C. Jiath 29 K. Hartigan 28 B. Hardwick 15 HB: D. Howe 17 Sam Frost 8 J. Impey 4 C: J. Scrimshaw 3 T. Mitchell 3 L. Shiels 26 HF: D Moore 36 T. O'Brien 23 S. Burgoyne 9 F: L. Breust 22 J. Koschitzke 34 C. Wingard 20 Foll: B. McEvoy 7 J. Worpel 5 J. O’Meara 10 I/C: C. Nash O. Hanrahan H. Morrison T. Phillips Sub: J. Cousins Emerg: T. Brockman J. Ceglar M. Hartley In: O. Hanrahan J. Koschitzke C. Nash Out: T. Brockman (managed) J. Ceglar (omitted) M. Hartley (omitted) M. Lewis (suspended) MELBOURNE B: T. Rivers 24 H. Petty 35 A. Tomlinson 20 HB: C. Salem 3 J. Lever 8 J. Hunt 29 C: A. Brayshaw 10 C. Oliver 13 E. Langdon 15 HF: K. Pickett 36 T. McDonald 25 N. Jones 2 F: A. Neal-Bullen 30 L. Jackson 6 J. Melksham 18 Foll: M. Gawn 11 C. Petracca 5 J. Viney 7 I/C: M. Brown 38 M. Hibberd 14 Jordon 23 C. Spargo 9 Sub: T. Sparrow 32 Emerg: O. Baker 33 M. Daw 28 N. Jetta 39 In: M. Brown M. Hibberd H. Petty Out: B. Fritsch (hand fracture) N. Jetta (omitted) S. May (facial fracture) T. Sparrow (omitted) Injury List: Round 5 Sam Weideman (leg) — 1 Week Ben Brown (knee) — 1 to 2 Weeks Bayley Fritsch (hand fracture) — 2 Weeks Steven May (facial fracture) — 2 to 4 Weeks James Harmes (wrist) — 3 Weeks Marty Hore (knee) — Season Aaron Nietschke (knee) — Season

Makes you really wonder about the previous football department and the Head coach 4 years to realize that we needed kicking practice. Most on here have known it for years

Straight of player managers text book, drip feed and squeeze what you can. Sign till FA and go again in your prime for that last big deal. Well played Great work by the FD to take this kid when they did

Can confirm this continued on after the game as Selwood attempted to have some dinner.

Our new president has close links with govt, VicSport, Tennis Australia and the Tennis Centre Upgrade committee. If only she could convince the govt to include elite indoor training facilities in the next stage 3 upgrade for use by the worlds best tennis players in December/January and MFC the rest of the year. And surely there is a potential social club venue already existing in the tennis complex somewhere that could be commandeered for MFC in season. The tennis centre is under utilised for most of the year. That would give us admin in the Southern Stand, elite gym/training faculties across the rail tracks and a social club inside the Melbourne Tennis Complex and our training ground at Gosch’s across Swan Street. And I still think we should demand access to train on the MCG once a week during the season. At the end of the day the Tennis Centre is a huge under utilised asset, it is in our precinct, surely we could work something out with the govt.

Only Jack himself can pardon you. I'd be careful about approaching him at training, though. You don't want to end up in the Jack Viney Made Me Cry Thread.

I'm one of those who associate Royal Blue with desperate times. That being said I'm in favour of it as an away jumper, much better than the white versions we've had.

Oliver has now played 90 games in a row, third longest streak in the AFL. Trac has played 62 in a row good for 11th in the AFL, and Ed Langdon 61 which is 12th. We have a few iron men in the engine room! The next highest for Melbourne is 28 in a row for Jake Lever, and it isnt it amazing what some continuity can do for a player as Jake is in All Australian form.

I'd ensure we have enough in the cap to pay for Salem before I'd start thinking about Merrett.

I heard Goody in a post game presser. Might have been after the St Kilda game in round 2 when we kicked 12.19 He said something like "we might have to focus on our goal kicking a little this week, not that it's ever been an issue for us in the past" I almost choked on my beer. If Fritsch didn't kick straight on the weekend (and I'm really happy he seems to be straightening up), we could have been in a bit of strife again. Poor field and goal kicking has cost us so much over the past two years. I'm really glad Chocco is on to it. I think Goodwin is very lucky to have both Chocco and Yze working with him. Hats off to Yze as well. That continual rotation of players through the midfield would be giving midfielders small breaks to allow us to burst out of the packs with more speed and agression and keeping the opposition guessing. All of a sudden we have outside speed! At a guest it seems that Goody has realised he needs to listen and accept help from others. Looks like a great coaching combination. Fingers crossed we go 5-0 this weekend and head into Jones' 300th at the G against Richmond undefeated.

#Positive Lingers!

I have so much of my identity tied up with supporting an incompetent football club. I am seriously rattled.

Jay Clark reporting that Oliver has re-signed. No idea of the details but this is huge news for us and a big statement to the team! I was a bit worried he was going to get offered a truck load and move on.

Say 5 Hail Mary’s and go in peace my child.

I realise this is easy to say now that it's done, but I was never really worried about this. This is the guy who, when told he needed to lose weight as a junior, just stopped eating. Getting bogged down in details isn't his style. I highly doubt he's the type of person who would want to bother himself protracted contract negotiations to squeeze out a few extra bucks, or to make ultimatums about team success. I feel the same will be true when he's a FA in 2023. So long as the MFC open with an offer that is fair and reasonable for a player of his calibre, it will resolve with no fuss.

We have won Flags in Dark Blue

I just watched this game again to confirm some things. Saints pressure was excellent in the first half, I’d say not far off their 2nd half v West Coast. Seeing how WC crumbled and we ate it and walked through it gives me confidence. 5 dropped marks and easy misses stopped us beating them by 10 goals, we all knew that at the time, but Essendon beat them by 10 goals with the worst pressure seen nearly ever. West Coast look a much more gettable I f we keep up the same pressure we have in the first 4 rounds, they don’t like it. Conclusion. We’re dealing with and applying pressure better than ever before. To my eye we’re applying it longer than the majority of teams and it’s key to our success.

The combination of the surfer bros Hunt and Langdon is a generational joy to watch. Hunts dare and speed puts your heart in your throat, and Langdon's endeavour is an example to the entire team on effort. And now he is more settled in the team culture you can see that starting to disseminate across the team

Possibly the most articulate and cliche-free interview from a player I have heard. He nailed the selflessness issue wonderfully in his response to why he runs 100% game time - He can run all day so it allows power-based players (Oliver, Petracca etc) to have their rests needed under the lower i/c rules. What an inclusion into the team and its culture.

Ernest, I was a fervent supporter throughout our 'glory years' and my love for the Club has not diminished one iota during our extensive periods in the 'wilderness'. I fully understand your pragmatism, but I intend to ride the current 'ripple (not wave) of success' for however long it lasts. They have been too few and far between for me to give up now!.

And he’s better than Patrick Cripps???

Might as well give this a bump while the 'Trade Fritsch' thread is still floating around. Of course Olisik won't be back until we lose a game, but that shouldn't stop others in the 'let Jack go to Geelong' camp from offering their own Mea Culpa. For those of you who don't speak French, that means owning up to your mistake!

Brian Wilson would love playing in this current side!! He was a magnificent footballer

I thought Oliver dealt with the tag beautifully on Sunday . He took O’Connor well away from the circle, then pushed off him to the contest instead of being clogged in at the tap, so not being held in at the contest. And as someone else has noted, hit the contest at speed. Do I detect a growth in football IQ in the lad?

Great news. Clarry might actually be our best midfielder in a very long time. Right up there with Greg Wells, Gerard Healy, and in my humble opinion better than Brian Wilson, Cameron Bruce or Todd Viney.

The traditional darker colours are, without a doubt, my favourite. BUT, the lighter version is by far our best alternate jumper.

For me, it's weirdly more to do with sponsors. If I see the TOOHEYS or LG logo, I feel happy. If I see a KASPERSKY or WEBJET I feel sad. With that said, I think both our current colour schemes look great, and I also quite linked the Blue guernsey, with the Red back.

Agree, we need to find another like Langdon. Not the same type but a player who is on the cusp of going to the next level who is not going to cost the world in trade and money value. Ash could be that player.

Anybody else super impressed with levers' on field and individualised leadership after May went down? I was amazed and very proud Lever is a fantastic addition to our future

I don't know whether that's also a bit of an indictment on the club that we haven't had that skills focus, but Mark's been a top level recruit for us. Sounds like he's got a great relationship with the players as well.

It was my 14 year old, bowled a short ball and I wasn't wearing a helmet

Sorry for being a pinko lefty but I find Choco to be a bit of an average name for Mark, especially after hearing the last piece of audio when he spoke about the nickname with Lyon and Watson. I think Mark deserves better than that and for people to not call him a loose cannon or eccentric especially the way he has helped our players and club and for us to call him by his moniker. I think he deserves a huge amount of respect from our game and how he is helping lead young men/people.

Depends what his motivation is - does he want money or success? if he is happy to come to us for ~750K/yr then it could be doable. If we are to offer up someone for trade we need to be VERY careful. look what happened at collingwood with Treloar - its a culture killer. A bloke like Gus, not our best. but well liked. its very delicate. if in doubt I hope we back in our talent