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Yep, I'm not a fan at all of requesting to play Footscray in Round 1. I feel its not really at all humble unfurling the flag in their faces, in fact it could make the difference given how close some teams are in terms of mental application. We talk about 'respecting' our opponents, well this isn't it for mine. I don't think we should bite off more than we can chew.

G'day all! I'm currently in the process of editing and uploading Grand Final highlight reels for every player that took to the ground during that fateful day (sorry James Jordon, we still love you!) I'll post them here in this thread as they're released. To kick things off, here's Steven May's Grand Final highlights!

Has to be the cats. Put them out of their misery early.

Just watched the repay again. Noticed a new thing, in that Sparrow was actually kind of amazing. Had at least three direct goal assists that I noted and he seems to love crashing into bodies. The kid can play. Also, how good was the whole team effort in the second half? No passengers. I don't think I've ever seen the team play better than that half.

Hibberd signs on as Dees make last list changes

Twenty years ago I thought I had plenty of time to see a Premiership. However, in recent years I was beginning to think that it would not happen in my lifetime and that I would not have the joy of sharing the experience with my adult boys. And the thought that their loyalty and enjoyment may be extinguished. At the start of the game I remember thinking, if not this year, when ? It is ridiculous to place so much importance on footy. It defies logic because it is so emotional. However, what a difference the win has made to my mood. It has reinforced in my mind that we should always maintain faith and hope, and, even expectation. To think that miracles do happen (but not the kind that our PM believes in). To never again to have to put up with hearing and reading all the derogatory comments about something you love. To not have to suffer the looks of pity and the words “long suffering Demon supporters”. To watch and read of the joy of the players, the coach, club officials and all the other Demon supporters. Can it be that important? You betcha! The win and post match celebrations are to be savoured and never forgotten. A dream come true for all of us. A feeling that all that agony, heartache and disappointment has been for a reason. It has made the joy of winning that much more significant and meaningful. Thank you Melbourne Football Club.

I prefer we play an interstate team in round 1, that way we get a bumper crowd for the unfurling of the flag against a team we traditionally don't have big crowds against.

GCS, we could get 70k demons into the ground.

Angus Brayshaw played the game of his life so determined and brave, no one was going to get between Gus and the premiership cup. Absolutely loved his effort and controlled aggression coupled with his raw team lifting emotion.💕❤️💙

You can bet that Sydney won't be drafting him. The Bloods and The Cripps are mortal enemies.

Bradtke was Cat B, so never really counted to the 42 main and rookie A list. The mid season draft players were added to the 42 to replace inactive injured players. So we ended up with 44. 7 of those (5 delistings, 2 retirements) have now gone, with 1 addition. Gets us to the current 38 players with 4 spots.

Mr Pert, if you're out there, please don't request Footscray for our flag unfurling game

I'm not a fan of a Thursday night game. Much prefer 200 pm at the G on Saturday arvo.!!!

I'm not overly fussed about opening the season on the Thursday night but can see the financial advantage in playing the Dogs round 1 along with another big home game a couple of weeks later to offset being the away side next year on Anzac Eve & QB. My only concern would be that unfurling the premiership flag against our GF opponents would have an element of rubbing their noses in it. Maybe they could unfurl Bayley Smith's hair on the same night to give their fans and the commentators something to fawn over.

There was a lot of talk about how badly Tom McDonald’s form tapered off in the last month or so. Did it though? Football is a team game, not an individual one. It’s not a coincidence that Brown’s apparent influence grew in the same time that McDonald’s diminished. Every time that Brown took a mark or had space to lead into, if McDonald and his man were nowhere to be seen, that’s not an accident. These are the sacrifices that key forwards make for each other. Does Bayley Fritsch have the finals series he does, and is he able to cut the angles to find space like he does, if McDonald is cutting off his leading lanes or being close enough for his opponent to go third man up? McDonald will have been feted beyond belief internally for putting the team above himself. Old mate earned the extension.

It would be easy to read the news and twitter and think we have a big problem looming with Vax rates and mandates. We don't. Soon - maybe by xmas, Oz will have more than 90% of over 16s double vaxxed. We will be in the top 5 countries in the world for coverage. And mandates? The police force is probably relatively representative of the community in terms of the spectrum of views on vaccination and mandates. There are 21,399 police officers and PSO’s in Victoria. 43 are not vaccinated, and were suspended as the mandate came into force. 0.2% Houston- we don't have a problem.

I dunno. I enjoy watching Carlton lose the first game every year.

Cerra wants out of Fremantle, could we get a deal done?

We lose extra spots from 1. Austin Bradtke. He was a category B rookie and was allowed as an addition to the total of 42. 2. Recruitment and now retention of Turner midseason due to a players on our long term injury list. He essentially was an extra player for us during the year. Declase was as well but has since been delisted. Essentially we had 42 + a cat B rookie and 2 x midseason draftees making a total of 45 for the year. We have to shed 3 players to get back to 42, although we can add a cat B rookie again if we like (think we can have two even) What DeeSpencer said

Having the game on Saturday afternoon would allow the supporters of all ages to attend the match and watch their team unfurl the flag raise by the heros of yester year.

Like you mauriesy I would be looking at the list, who stays who goes who can we get in to help improve the side. This year I am thinking let the FD sort that stuff out let’s enjoy every minute of this 2021 Grand Final.💕❤️💙

Confirmed signing for next season.

What you suggested is what i've come up with in my proposal earlier in the thread. Must admit a bit disappointed that the Gosch's Paddock isn't being fully developed (like in the Master Plan i came up with below) but something is better than nothing i guess.

This too

He's a heart and soul type player. Just love the way he speaks about his role and the club. Executes his role to perfection.

Online article on Taj on his combine, he's quick over 20. Quote from Taylor included. https://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/afl-draft/afl-draft-2021-melbourne-father-son-prospect-taj-woewodin-impresses-at-combine-as-nervous-dad-stays-away-c-4261588

Its been a week since I've watched it so I gave it another run this arvo. I tell you what's an under rated act - Max Gawn breaking away from the celebrations after the final siren to shake Bontempelli's hand. He was well within his rights to get lost in the euphoria of the moment. Classy captain.

Having watched he replay a few times I have noticed just how good Viney was. He had an enormous game tackling, getting the hard ball to advantage for his teammates and creating space for his teammates with one in particular I remember which gave Harmes the opportunity to get the ball and hit Fritch lace out which atarted our comeback. Viney is Melbourne royalty and deserves all his success. I am really happy for him.

Disagree strongly. Yes he dropped off big time last eight games but he came into the team late this year and hit the ground running. Played some blinders early on including making dusty look like a second rate player. Yes hes long in the tooth but still worth another year for sure.

Winning the Premiership is the ultimate AFL joy for supporters. But along with that biggest thrill, there are little things to savour. For me, it is this. I'm old enough to remember football in the late 60s onwards and in those days, like so many others I supported Melbourne and anyone who was playing Collingwood. Given we were so awful then, the best to be hoped for was an annual dose of Colliwobbles as Collingwood regularly made finals, and often Grand Finals, only to fail at the end. In my lifetime (born between the 57 and 58 seasons), and before this season, both Melbourne and Collingwood had won three Premierships. The little thing that pleases me most with the 2021 win is overtaking the number of Premierships won by Collingwood in that time. What little thing has added to your enjoyment of this new Grand Old Flag?

That interview post-match with Garry Lyon was another unforgettable moment. ” Our Club” Amazing desperation all game.

Relief. Gratitude. And with modern media there are so many ways to relive the moment.

The words "it's coming home" from our captain will resonate with me until they close the lid.

I think we will definitely select him in the draft. Just seems to be the type of player we would love, hard working and driven. He will also have plenty of time to develop in the VFL and learn off some fantastic players. I reckon he will be bid on in the 40-60 range and we will then match.

The football gods took note of all the Bulldog prayers asking "just one more goal ... please ... just one more goal." Being cruel and capricious gods, they decided: WISH GRANTED

guilty. I'd just climbed out of the shower having decided I couldn't watch any more, when I heard my missus shouting after we got back to within 1 point. I then had the joy of calling the Old man and brother, who I just knew would be in bed already. Good feeling to telling the family to "get out of bed, we're about to win the flag"

I felt sick. Like, physically sick. Stomach churning...maybe all the distraction food I'd eaten during that looooong day. It was dead silent in my living room. Couldn't think of anything comforting to say. Started on the five stages on grief in my mind, probably got to something like bargaining ("it's only a game", "getting to a grand final is an achievement" - all that stuff). Self preservation perfected from years of practice. Off the back of that physical reaction though, the turn around to absolute elation was like nothing else. You all know it. Even on the replay now I still get an echo of that nausea, so intense it was at the time. But now when Bont kicks that goal I just feel excitement: "Here we go!"

Anyone with lingering doubts about Goody should listen to how Burgo speaks about him.

Son of a gun and East Fremantle colts skipper Taj Woewodin putting up some seriously quick times in the 20m sprint. 2.906 and 2.898 seconds in his first two. Melbourne get priority access to him in the draft. https://t.co/OtjD5oGytK