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Was Petracca turning around and waving to the feral Essendon [censored] in the crowd, who no doubt had been giving Christian some goal kicking advice. And THEN, when he kicks the goal, and gives him a great big smile and a wave, the Essendon [censored] appealing to the umpires saying words to the effect of "Can he do that?" At least the Swans supporter with the huge hand who bagged Tom McDonald in the same situation had the class to clap him after he kicked the goal and acknowledge that Tom won that one. You could add up may hatred for every other club together and it wouldn't even come close to my absolute loathing of every Essendon supporter on the planet, including my mother and 2 of my brothers.

The absolute highlight for me was the double 50 metre penalty! Not because of the penalty itself, nor the fact that it gifted us an important goal. No! It was because I was picturing the absolute apoplectic rage of the Essendon supporters and wishing I was there to see it live. I didn't know whether to laugh, cry, or wet myself while dribbling Shiraz out of my nose. And to think people say you shouldn't bask in the misfortune of others!

In 20 years of posting on many forums I’ve never ever had a ban. I got on last night on big footy for telling that scum what I think of them and their fans. its a badge of honour. What a bunch of [censored] the lot of them are

Just quietly, how well is James Jordan tracking in his first year of afl? Again 20 odd touches, 5 tackles, 5 score involvements from 60 percent time on the ground. Can kick a goal too. Depth in midfield is a cornerstone of dynasties.

Good to see the Casey game day threads are of the same calibre as the AFL game day threads. ?

Reading some of the posters views on here (which clearly I disagree with) there is a consistent devaluing of oppositions ability to actually put pressure on our players when disposing of the ball. It's as though without fail, disposals should be perfect, when clear AND when being heavily pressured AND fatigued! It's simply not realistic to execute deliveries to afl standard (tm) consistently in a sport where you are pressured and heavily fatigued... I'm not sure why people forget that, and then bang on about it being disgraceful. Seriously... to get a read on how difficult it is - go run 10km fartlek style and try to hit targets that are moving around, with pressure on them. Anyway, the reality is we are a seriously [censored] good team. The defence was great, but it was the two way running by the midfielders that alllowed it to be great as well - pressuring kicks into the forward line. No wonder they disposals were wonky at times. For those that bemoan we are not smashing 'lower teams' on the ladder - those teams 'park the bus' so to speak, and try to stem our scoring, which they do and that is inevitable due to the amount of players in our F50 - thus they score lowly themselves as they rarely break through- hence the aesthetically unappealing matches (and hence supporters being upset that we're not playing 90's free flowing football). The aerobic capacity of athletes doesn't really allow for that anymore. When teams try to take us on - WB, Tigers, Geelong, Brisbane (our biggest threats) - we have smashed them in contests and around the ground and to be honest, they have been the least stressful games. We are so adaptable to the varying opposition strengths - yep Goodwin and co has plenty of variance, and trust in the players - in the sense of bringing in/dropping relevant personnel vs the opposition and still getting the job done.

I beg to differ, I watched him very closely today and I was super impressed. He ran his AZZZZRSE OF presented well clunked marks, worked hard, praised team mates and generally was very very involved. Unless you want Spargo to be the Go to forward which occured when caught one out last night! ( (No disrespect to Charlie who continues to play well) Then we are CRYING out for someone who will 1 Take no1 Defender 2 Can Mark 3 Can Kick And who kicked 5 today in very flukey Casey Type conditions! HE PLAYS NEXT WEEK. I HAVE DECREED IT SO ???

If you look at the whole game, which I just did on replay after getting home from the G, the holding the ball was adjudicated the same way all night. There were several examples of Essendon players inside our 50 in the first quarter being pinged exactly the same way. There is no prior, they’ve attempted to dispose, it’s play on! There was one Essendon player who was caught in front of our goal and drop kicked it, play on. then after they’d booed so much they spooked the umpire into paying the one against Kozzy, which was blatantly high! The umps were scared to pay anything but holding the ball. there was one against TMAC, who executed a chase down tackle on the edge of the square, punt rd end, the bloke drops it cold and rather than paying the free kick for dropping the ball, he pings TMAC for holding the player too long in the tackle. the Petracca non decision in the last quarter was close to a sling tackle. No, In fact it was a sling tackle. He also had no prior. they can huff and puff all they like. They drove the narrative the entire game. From the first bounce. They booed everything. The commentators are sucked in by it. It becomes the narrative. Then the TV audience believe it. EAFD Bombers supporters. Pure nuffie muppets

Essendon fans booing Hibbo says everything you need to know about what a classless bunch of inbreeds they are. You injected the man with god knows what and you have the nerve to boo him for leaving your cheating [censored]? Pathetic.

Hoping they continue to strive to finish mid table and do themselves out of a high pick I wish nothing but mediocrity upon them

Weid kicks a goal from a spot where Brown dropped a mark earlier today...

Pretty sure Hunt was on Tippa most of the evening. Zero goals from a bloke who usually tears us a new one most of the time. I'll take that. Thanks Hunty

Is anyone got their fingers crossed hoping that Ben Brown kicks a bag today?

https://i.imgur.com/BnXmvTt.mp4

This is like the Sydney game. So many on here were fearful going in. Now that we've won, so many are criticising the win. Someone said we're being "picked apart". Which is just the most ridiculously bad take from this game you could have. We conceded 8.9.57, so that's 17 scoring shots. That's the second least Essendon's had all season (their lowest was 6.9 against Brisbane) and it's their second lowest score all year (again, Brisbane their lowest). The main reason this game was close was our forward half inefficiency in the first and third quarters. Had we converted our inside 50s and time in forward half when we were on top, we'd have won by more. Which is a frustrating concept, but one mainly within our control. If TMac, Fritsch and/or Harmes kick even one of their set shot misses late in the third, the oomph could easily have gone out of it for Essendon. This wasn't our defence, which yet again stood up on the wide expanses of the G. Lever and May were outstanding, just exceptional again. Hunt took AMT out of the game and Salem was strong and rebounded. If you weren't at the game I don't know if it was clear but Brayshaw was brilliant on his wing (as was Langdon but I'm sure he was noticeable on TV). Brayshaw's two-way running was phenomenal. Oliver's lift in the second quarter helped get us going, and Gawn gave Draper a complete bath in the ruck. Clearly though the delivery inside 50 and the forwards themselves need work. I felt for most of the game we needed another tall forward. I'm sure we were high on forward half pressure acts but for much of the game I felt we were crying out for someone else to offer a marking option, particularly when TMac was up the ground. On the umpiring - the overwhelming majority of the decisions I'm seeing complaints about online, and heard complaints about at the ground, were correct. Stringer hit Jordon in the head late in the second. Harmes didn't have prior and attempted to kick it late in the fourth (which is not HTB). These are important wins. They're built off system, and we know it works because 12 times this year our opponent has struggled to score, and that includes the four highest scoring sides other than us we've played (the Dogs, Brisbane, Essendon and Sydney). Oh, and it's so satisfying beating that mob.

We didn’t freeze in the last 15 minutes. The last 3-4 minutes I thought we were exceptional. They threw everything at us, and we held our nerve. I think it’s worth asking yourself what you expected? We are playing at about 50% of our capacity and winning. We are one of the most watched teams in the league. Everyone wants to work out how to beat us. In that environment you don’t get a lot of free swings. We are doing what we can do. Don’t be so hard on the team.

I haven’t been following the footy for long enough( because I immigrated not because I’m young) so haven’t got the deep hatred of certain teams of fans that normal dees supports have developed. But after tonight the Bombers can go and get stuffed( for want of a stronger word). The dirty cheating shower of cheats. Their fans were awful tonight. How about you cheering on your own team instead of booing the opposition for the whole game.

What do you mean benefit from a rest? They've just come off a bye with a week's rest already.

A 48 point win after 5 weeks off is ordinary?

That is false on many levels. Very few experienced forwards go to the VFL and dominate. Delivery, poor windy grounds and poor quality teammates often means key forwards struggle the most at this level. We know Brown can play AFL. The questions remain over his fitness. If he’s looking strong and fit he gets a recall. Doesn’t need to kick 10 goals. Edit: he also doesn’t need to kick 10 at senior level. He needs to take marks, compete in the air and on the lead and provide a meaningful target. Fritsch best games this year were when Brown was deep forward taking away defenders.

STOP YELLING AT ME, DEVON!

Sparrow’s bomb.

Ben Brown needs to play. I think we can all agree that Tmac needs to play as a high leading forward and Fritsch at full forward won’t get us many marks or goals. We need to give Brown a solid run in the seniors.

Your constant overuse of the facepalm emoji is tiresome. However, I apologize in advance if you have literacy problems and need to sign.

They were booing him from the start of the match. Imagine being that deluded that you think players you injected with drugs and took away an entire year of their career had no right to leave?! You clap that wife cheating gambler Stringer but boo Hibberd. All [censored] class Essendon.

Essendon supporters are the absolute worst. Anyone remember this classless display?

They are such bad sports. On the train they were jibing Melbourne supporters , saying stuff like when was your last premiership?, and, you guys aren’t good enough to win it this year . They we’re hurting and it made the win so much sweeter

My highlight is the same week after week. It’s watching the opposition stalled at defensive 50, looking sideways, backwards and every which way, with nowhere to go, before an eventual dump kick under pressure which invariably lands in our hands. I wasn’t fussed that we started poorly - our defensive game was on from the first bounce and as @A Fpointed out, when that happens we usually win.

5. And they were good. And terrible. But they were gifted to him. He marked well, but didn’t dominate as he marked them. Hope that’s clear.

A convincing win by a side that hasn’t played for 5 weeks is much more than an ordinary win. A foolish post.

Brown putting on a strong performance so far. Has kicked 4.2 and hauled in 8 marks to go with his 13 disposals. Get him in Goody.

I spy a lone Melbourne supporter among the ferals.

Highlight was walking away with the 4 points and a bottle full of Essendon tears

When may crunch tackled Hit him so hard thought he folded him on half Was like a lift tackle in the NRL Can't show enough love for this beast he's stepped up big time this year

After the game with Steven May. God love 'im. https://www.facebook.com/MELBOURNEfc/videos/204366084788887

The first 50 was 100% there. I was yelling 50 - just as it was paid. The second was for abuse. Complete lack of discipline

I was there tonight. The supporters are really something else. They act as victims- whinge, it’s not fair, whinge, whinge, boo, the umpires are against us, booooooo, the AFL is against us booooooo, whinge etc etc, all night. It was a very satisfying win, ugly but satisfying

I’m non-binary and go for Essendon.

He was a big reason we got to the Prelim in 2018… was brought back into the team around finals time, and performed brilliantly.

Game over and a big win to Casey. VFL Mens Casey Demons 1.2.8 4.7.31 7.11.53 13.14.92 Essendon 1.2.8 2.4.16 5.4.34 6.8.44 GOALS Casey Demons B. Brown 5 Melksham White 2 Jetta Jones vandenBerg Weideman Essendon Cahill 2 Brown Hird Johnson McBride BEST Casey Demons Jones Bowey B Brown Weideman vandenBerg Smith Essendon VFL O’Kearney Cahill Cutler Gleeson Hird Bryan Statistics Oskar Baker 15 kicks 3 handballs 18 disposals 7 marks 2 tackles 78 dream team points Toby Bedford 4 kicks 4 handballs 8 disposals 2 marks 3 tackles 35 dream team points Jake Bowey 19 kicks 8 handballs 27 disposals 7 marks 4 tackles 111 dream team points Aaron Bradtke 3 kicks 4 handballs 7 disposals 2 marks 1 tackle 27 dream team points Kade Chandler 1 behind 9 kicks 5 handballs 14 disposals 7 marks 2 tackles 67 dream team points Ben Brown 5 goals 2 behinds 14 kicks 14 disposals 8 marks 1 tackle 3 hit outs 106 dream team points Mitch Brown 1 behind 1 kick 1 disposal 1 mark 7 dream team points [injured] Majak Daw 3 kicks 7 handballs 10 disposals 3 marks 3 tackles 22 hit outs 63 dream team points Kye Declase 10 kicks 3 handballs 13 disposals 5 marks 1 tackle 55 dream team points Neville Jetta 1 goal 1 behind 12 kicks 4 handballs 16 disposals 4 marks 6 tackles 86 dream team points Nathan Jones 1 goal 1 behind 19 kicks 16 handballs 35 disposals 4 marks 6 tackles 128 dream team points Bailey Laurie 8 kicks 5 handballs 13 disposals 5 marks 1 tackle 51 dream team points Jay Lockhart 8 kicks 6 handballs 14 disposals 3 marks 5 tackles 66 dream team points Jake Melksham 2 goals 1 behind 16 kicks 6 handballs 22 disposals 6 marks 4 tackles 107 dream team points James Munro 6 kicks 9 handballs 15 disposals 2 marks 1 tackles 43 dream team points Fraser Rosman 6 kicks 4 handballs 10 disposals 2 marks 2 tackles 41 dream team points Deakyn Smith 4 kicks 4 handballs 8 disposals 3 marks 2 tackles 37 dream team points Joel Smith 7 kicks 2 handballs 9 disposals 4 marks 2 tackles 43 dream team points Daniel Turner 5 kicks 11 handballs 16 disposals 5 marks 53 dream team points Aaron vandenBerg 1 goal 16 kicks 12 handballs 28 disposals 6 marks 5 tackles 107 dream team points Sam Weideman 1 goal 3 behinds 13 kicks 8 handballs 21 disposals 11 marks 2 tackles 10 hit outs 113 dream team points Mitch White 2 goals 2 behinds 9 kicks 4 handballs 13 disposals 5 marks 1 tackle 68 dream team points

You haven't pointed out any other players mistakes and have pointed out every single one Weid has made. Not sure what your problem is, but a lot of us are noticing and have had enough of it. We are SUPPORTERS thats what we are.

If the ball is in contact with the foot as it crosses the line, it's touched over the line and therefore a point. Not that the AFL care anything about their own rules if there's a bit of theatre involved. They are hypocrites and fraudsters.

Tmac can't do it all on his own. Part time rucks aren't forwards. Bring in a forward who can kick straight from 40m. Bring in a forward who will take the opposition tallest back Bring in a forward who can take a mark Is there anyone you can think might be able to do that?

In the last 5 minutes alone; - Rivers pushed straight in the back while taking his kick out of the back pocket - no free - Hooker throws the ball over his head (just prior to the Tippa/Harmes HTB they're up in arms about) - no free - Kozzie tackled around the neck - HTB against There was another blatant one in the 3rd where TMac tackled Merrett and was paid holding the man against. The Petracca one they're also whinging about that they think should've been holding the ball probably should have been a free to us for a sling tackle (one arm pinned, 360 sling, head hits the ground) The whinging from their supporters was ridiculous, the persecution complex infiltrated their players so Merrett, Smith, Stringer etc were more worried about the umps than the footy.

Thought I'd have a look and instinct proved mostly correct - JV has definitely had a lot of slow starts after long lay-offs. Measuring disposals alone, he has easily more than doubled his output in his second week back in most instances. Augurs well that he still picked up 17 last night in a relatively quiet outing. 2014 – Rnd 3 (first match of the season) 12 disposals (21 the following week) 2015 – Rnd 9 (after being absent since Rnd 2) 7 disposals (26 the following week) 2018 – Rnd 9 (first game of the season) 12 disposals (35 the following week) 2019 – Rnd 1 (first game of the season) 10 disposals (27 the following week) 2020 – Rnd 2 (first game of the season) 13 disposals (24 the following week)

if we had kicked for goal just a little bit accurately we win by about 30 points there was a point there in 3q where we missed 3 fairly easy set shots in a row 44 i50s to their 33 back line may have won it bit fwd line had the opportunity to put it beyond question

There was something really ordinary about the Ess supporters there was a lot of heated exchanges around me in the members with verbal insults The Ess supporters barracking was extremely provocative Anyway they left pretty well on the siren the booing was very bad and lasted all game The double 50 almost caused a meltdown hhahhahahhahah

What all this shows is that Essendon had to rely on sensational, low % goals and every marginal umpiring free kick to keep them competitively in the game. We controlled the game through our superior defense when they had the ascendancy (thanks to May, Lever, Hunt, Hibbo & Co) and were able to break down their defense and punish them on the scoreboard when we had the ascendancy, despite the lack of a clearly dominant permanent forward on the night - it's what good teams do and marginal ones can't do consistently. That's the lay of the land right now Bombers supporters. Suck it up and shut up.

I find these two comments very unfair. Oliver's ability to win the ball was crucial and he provided some great run through the midfield. I don't think he should be judged based on a couple of skill errors. He was clearly our best midfielder tonight. I find the criticism of May bewildering. He was absolutely unstoppable in defence and he won almost every one-on-one contest. He was best on ground, in my opinion.