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Rising star this week well done Bowes🥰

My observations: Our first crushing win. Our fwd line was excellent: While opps were paying close attention to Fritsch in the 1st qtr, Brown had 1 vs 1, got good separation and kicked 2.1. When opps paid more attention to him, Fritsch had 1 vs 1, got off the leash and kicked 7.0!! His separation from Kelly was helped by Kelly being almost concussed earlier in the game but that does not diminish his excellent leading and his goal kicking was brilliant. Fritsch isn't leading to the pockets. Most of his marks/kicks were a fair way from the boundary and closer to goal. Hence his accuracy. Delivery to the fwd line was vastly improved. Our final quarter defence was a masterclass in how to defend a lead. At one stage Lever was waving players to the boundary to ensure his kick to the pack would go out rather than come back. Not only did we keep the opp score down to 1.1 we managed to kick 4.1. Brilliant defence. We've learnt from poor 4th qtr defense vs Crows, Hawks and Eagles. Goodwin said before the game that what he wanted to see was improvement in our defensive mechanisms. He would have been rapt with the last quarter. We have now rested: Viney, TMac, Hibberd and May without missing a beat. Their replacements have enabled us to have a good look at alternative players/structures should the need arise. Our whole team clicked yesterday. Great rehearsal for the month ahead. Just wish I and the rest of DL's and fans could be there to see it.

I love this kid already. We have kept him nice and secret and fresh for the finals.What a brilliant player he is going to be for us over the next decade and a half. Well done Jake! I was coach of the1973 Cheltenham High(Jake's recent School) footy team. I also coached the late and great Trevor Barker at the same school. Looks like my coaching skills live on. Ha ha. But I really did coach Trev at Chelt High.Go Dees you CAN Do It!!!!

I’m already over $600 deep in a membership that meant i sat in my reserved seat once this year, and wont get to any finals. I have no income in lockdown and wonder more about getting through than what i can give to the footy club.

I just want to say that as a Jewish person, I am disgusted at what has gone on in that community. A community that I have purposefully distanced myself from. But I can tell you categorically that the large majority of the Jewish community are furious. The video of the party was leaked and sent to authorities by the community. The $350,000 of collective fines and the massive contract tracing efforts have only been made possible because good law abiding members of that community were not willing to protect these idiots. The outrage is real and I hope that the greater Victorian community can see that those people are a minority of selfish [censored] who use their religious radicalism to justify their [censored] behaviour in all walks of life.

To the bye mark for the season, JJ was 6th in the comp for tackles. He's demonstrated he's an excellent decision maker and beautifully clean below his feet and by hand generally. Strange take, but each to their own. One has played pretty much all year in the top side in the comp and been a vital part of the engine room, and another has been on the fringes of the side. There's no doubt JJ seems to have tired though and his influence on games in the second half of the season has been minimal. But Tom has struggled this year in the 1s. Doesn't mean he won't make it, but he's significantly behind JJ for mine.

Langdon matched up on Seedsman almost all day, and specifically in the first quarter. Both teams wanted to use the wing those 2 were on all game. Angus plays the defensive wing and does a lot of running purely for the team. He’s an important role player for the team. The stats don’t tell you the whole story.

Jesus Jason Taylor is certainly churning them out! Well done Bowser 👏

Disobey stay at home orders and run nude down the street

Ben Brown should have had 3 goals next to his name. The ball wasn't touched at all. They showed vision where it was blurry AF then next minute when they gave the decision they showed a much clearer version that showed that the ball wasn't even touched. Disgraceful really.

Sure, but we were without May, Viney, TMac and Hunt, with top 4 locked up, a near dead rubber game, and playing in front of an empty stadium. We didn't play well for 4 quarters but in those circumstances I essentially don't care. Also what does "we haven't played a proper side for 3 weeks now" mean? West Coast in Perth might not be the force they've been in previous years but they're all of a sudden not a "proper side"?

I think Oliver was born to play finals. I just feel that he will rise to the occasion. He was a baby in 2018. He is not anymore. I am probably most excited for May. Baring any disasters next week, he gets to finally play finals. He must be salivating. Watch out forwards.

Still going at nearly 100% efficiency

This could have gone in a few of the threads, but I notice David King has finally relented and pegged us as his flag favourite on FIRST CRACK, jumping off the Dogs. He talked about us in the last 6 weeks being #1 in a list of categories vis a vis defending without the ball and a mile better than any other team (ridiculously so), so defending ball movement, forward half intercepts etc. He basically said, if it continues, you can't not back us. I think the real x factor that I've completely underestimated this season going into finals is Luke Jackson. He's not as damaging or as involved for as long as Jake Stringer (who I'd say is the best player in the comp over the last 3 or 4 weeks), but given where the rest of our game sits, I thought for the first time today, this kid could actually tear the 2021 finals series up. The fact he's started marking the ball and adding goals to his game from the contest, to add to his ability to get it on the outside, is a massive, massive development for our forward half. I worry slightly that McDonald coming back will disrupt this, but we'll have to wait and see. It worked okay against the Suns. The other tantalising aspect to LJ's game was again on display today from stoppage. He's a freak in that not only can he rove his own tapwork ala NikNat, he's an elite user by foot at 200cm. Wowee. So can we win it? We just need a bit more luck and I think barring a horror out of the box performance, it's ours to lose now. We're still vulnerable when Oliver or Petracca are slightly off, but fortunately they're rarely off and then we have Viney as a finals wild card as well.

It's hard to know how well a defensive wing plays because their role means that they are often where the ball ain't. He could play his role immaculately, deter every opposition kick and force long kicks down the line .... and you'd have no idea. Sometime the opposition will take the game on through his side and he'll get it 20+ times, and sometimes they'll barely go near him. That's why pressure acts and tackles don't tell the story for his role, because he could play his role perfectly and be nowhere near the footy for most of the match. Counting possessions for him is silly because the biggest influence on that will be the style and shape of how the game is played. If he does his job well, the reward will be when we win.

Delidio and Ball were reviewing the game and said completely ignore the stat sheet. Brayshaw was good. Did what a defensive winger is supposed to do. That roll is the worst in the Game. Work your [censored] off for no reward. But the hardest position to play on the ground. He only moved into the centre at the end to give Oliver and Trac a rest.

How good is Bowey? 3 games in and so composed, such a good user. Another Jason Taylor gem.

IN: MAY, VINEY, MCDONALD OUT: J.SMITH, SPARROW, MELKSHAM

At least keep a mask on for the benefit of public health. In fact, maybe a second mask as well, you know, also for the benefit of the public. As for me... I reckon I might convince my wife/her family to do a Vietnamese match commentary and crowd noise. The 95% of relatives back in Vietnam are all heavily locked down so it might be a fun family project that would also make them all understand football. :D EDIT: I brought it up and she declared the plan has to be for ME to do the commentary in Vietnamese! Now we're talking a serious commitment. "Cú lấy tuyệt vời của Pickett trẻ tuổi! Anh ấy ngoặt sang trái và ghi một bàn thắng tuyệt vời! " Goosebumps.

How good is this for insight!

How can you get a rising star nom when you’ve played 150 games?

Bawl my eyes out for hours, rehydrate, and then go again!

Just sit there in shock thinking oh my god I have actually seen one. Id buy the dvd and re watch it with the different radio commentary teams, I'd buy memorabilia and just be so happy. I have seen 4 storm premierships and have premiership dvds and framed premiership photos on my wall. I'd love a melbourne demons one.

Probably complain about Viney’s disposal efficiency… then weep openly in the street, in the rain.

I realised this morning that only 5 of our team on Saturday were 26 or older (Hibberd, Melk, Gawn, Brown, Salem). Yes, another 5 in our nominal best 22 are over 26 and didn't play (May, TMac, Tomlinson, Viney, Hunt) but we covered them pretty well. In the next 4 years, Gawn, Brown, TMac and May are the only "retirees" we really need to worry about replacing and with Petty and Jackson we've got a good start on two of those positions. I can see that key forward for 2023 onwards would be the thing keeping our list managers up at night.

I'm not sure in what world Sparrow's a better option than Jordon at the moment. Jordon is heaps cleaner by hand and seems to make more decisive decisions from what I've seen over the course over the year. I probably do agree with the upside bit, Sparrow has a bit of explosiveness we haven't seen much of yet.

I’m more impressed with the fact that he’s been a lot better with his defensive pressure.

Would you be inspired to make a cash donation? If so, what sort of amount? Buy extra memberships? Upgrade current memberships? Grand final guarantee? Me, i would go absolutely NUTS on commemorative merchandise. The drunker i got the more i would spend. Perhaps even a tatt to celebrate. How far would you go after a flag?

The fact when sides look up and have nothing to kick too is because of Brayshaw. He is often rolling onto Lever's opponent so he can drop off. Last week before finals coming of 3 wins, no time to change structures that work!

I'd be getting a tattoo of an iconic moment in the granny... think Jones celebration pic during the elimination final v Geelong. Then I'd buy as much 2021 demons merchandise as humanly possible. Then I'd buy the 2022 jumper because we would have the gold afl logo. Then I'd renew my membership for the whole fam. Then id probably have some divorce papers to read through.

Pfffft. They can't even spell Bradshaw properly.

Well deserved. I reckon we've found one here.

Nothing. The MFC and I will be even after the 2nd flag. Maybe I'll do something for the 3rd

I would probably thanks them on finally fulfilling what so many promised, but failed over my 40 years on this earth.

I honestly cannot believe the league is considering WA. McGowan is a loose cannon. It should be SA or Queensland imo.

Your disrespect for Viney is not unnoticed by the football gods - I fear for your karma - they are vengeful gods. Viney was built for finals and he will deliver where others struggle to perform. If you think we are better off without him then I will leave you to the fate of those above.

The thing was you could even see it wasn't touched in the blurry vision.

So what does "toughen up" really mean? Ignore it? So you "toughen up" and it still happens, then what ... keep letting it go? Eddie Betts has been trying to "toughen up" after 15 years and 350 games and it still gets him down. You could see the other night he was just sick of it. "Toughening up" can be used by those who don't want to actually deal with the racism, because it's too hard. We still need to fight against it and raise it when it happens. It's like bullying. Trying to tell someone to toughen up against bullying just panders to the bully and excuses their behaviour. Kozzie needs to know that the large majority of football supporters (especially Melbourne) love him and respect him, and will call out racism when it happens. That they will support him when he calls it out himself. Not be simply told to "toughen up" and let it persist. Taking a stand is the real "toughening up" and we all need to do it. Otherwise Nicky Winmar, Heritier Lamumba and Adam Goodes haven't taught us anything.

My father told me when I was a boy that good sides win when they look average. A good side has the ability to get the job done when they are not at the top of their game. If we keep winning I don't care how we look. When you win the record book does not say played poorly it just says won by X amount.

Average age 24 years 6 months, average experience 86.2 games. Adelaide was younger and less experienced (24 years 4 months and 66.3 games - they had 14 players with less than 50 games yesterday, compared to our 8, and only 6 players over 100 games compared to our 12). The entire comp from Round 22 in order of age: Essendon: 24 years 0 months, 79 games Gold Coast: 24 years 1 month, 68.2 games Fremantle: 24 years 2 months, 64.3 games Adelaide: 24 years 4 months, 66.3 games Collingwood: 24 years 5 months, 95.3 games St Kilda: 24 years 5 months, 88.3 games Melbourne: 24 years 6 months, 86.2 games GWS: 24 years 7 months, 90.1 games North: 24 years 9 months, 85.9 games Hawthorn: 24 years 10 months, 100.7 games Sydney: 25 years 0 months, 92.3 games Carlton: 25 years 3 months, 97.8 games Bulldogs: 25 years 6 months, 101 games Port Adelaide: 25 years 7 months, 104 games Richmond: 25 years 9 months, 111.4 games Brisbane: 26 years 1 month, 115.4 games West Coast: 27 years 0 months, 131.2 games Geelong: 27 years 6 months, 143.8 games

Wasn’t directed at you specifically, AF (tbh I forget who says what), just a more general vibe that Fritsch is bizarrely maligned. He isn’t perfect, much like every one of his mates. Clarrie is a horrible set shot, Tracc murders a good amount of his field kicking, Kozzie overruns the ball a fair bit, Dogga runs under it, Harmesy tries to take on too much, Nibbler can be fumbly. Fritta sometimes lacks a defensive edge. I think they’re all great, in a wabi-sabi kind of way. But here’s the thing. He is, by any measure anyone can use, our most potent, effective forward. For this reason I have no doubt he’s the first member of our forward contingent picked every week, and he should be. That his worth continues to be questioned, despite his shared flaws, is utterly baffling to me. He’s the first forward I want playing every week, because he is our best forward.

I feel for the players as well. Going into the finals on top of the ladder and we won't be there to shake the "G" like we did in 2018. They deserve the adrenaline rush of 90,000 supporters losing their sheet.

I loved how our backline performed today. We have to remember how little experience these guys have had at AFL match level. Rivers has only played 30 games, Petty 26 games, Smith 19 games and Bowey 3. And can someone tell Eddie Mcguire to stop complaining about the MCC and how toffy the Melbourne supporters are. Eddie sits right next to the MCC stand when the Pies play every time, so a bit of pot kettle there!

I hate that we can’t be there to enjoy this climb that we’ve all waited so so long for. We deserve to be there to cheer on the club, but my god if our performance in 2021 hasn’t been the biggest joy giver of the year for you, then you’re doing a hell of a lot better than most. It has been a glorious distraction and something truly worth keeping going for. So thank you Melbourne for making 2021 a year that we might actually all never forget for the right reasons!

Today was a performance of self preservation. Do enough but don’t get hurt. We are a week away from finals. Top 4 secured. Why would you risk injury or suspension against a team sitting 17th on the ladder? We won by 41 points with the handbreak firmly sitting in neutral. This is what professionals teams do.

Worth noting that the only teams Port have beaten in those rounds not outside the top 8 are the two Sydney teams. Sydney was at AO. They’ve had a soft draw.

Agree with your sentiments. Watching games on TV rather than attending week in week out just isn’t as good. Although, with our list profile, our gun mids under contract, our key defenders at the peak of their careers and our exciting 18-20 year olds who are taking the AFL by storm, we’ll hopefully have a sustained crack at premierships rather than a once and once only crack at it in 2021.

Interesting Faulty, I went for a walk by the beach yesterday and today and there was a lot of Melbourne stuff being worn, I guess you aren't the only one who's not ashamed to be a Dees supporter now. Walked passed the butcher shop with my Dees hat on and got the big shout, Go Dees. For what it's worth, I think we will win the flag this year, at least.

This one's relevant also................

Channel 7 reporting there is a chance we play Geelong at the G next week to meet contractual obligations for games played there per year.