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It’s a beautiful thing

According to the little paper the Dees have 3 inside the Top 7 Well done Jason Taylor and Tim Lamb Re-ranked top 10 1. Luke Jackson (3) 2. Caleb Serong (8) 3. Kozzy Pickett (12) 4. Noah Anderson (2) 5. Tom Green (10) 6. Mitch Georgiades (18) 7. Trent Rivers (32) 8. Cody Weightman (15) 9. Harry Schoenberg (24) 10. Matt Rowell (1)

Credit to the development coaches and their team as well as recruiters. A small technicality - this is the 2019 draft

I’m waiting until round 5 to renew. Sick of the false hope.

While not necessarily disagreeing with the fact that we struggled financially from say 1990's through to about 2015 The ability to come up with $15 mill. Almost on the spot would have ruled out about more than half at that time inc. Tigers Saints Roos Dogs Cats Blues and possibly Hawks depending upon the specific date it was required. We must not allow our current and stable off field position financially to be frittered away. A Power Club ranking awaits us if we are sensible and successful in the next 5/10 years on and off field.

Politics!!!! Politics in the thread, kill it with fire!!!

My victory pack arrived in the mail today and at a quick glance: The GF is a DVD, not blu ray The GF has the commentary options of Channel 7, Triple M, 3AW, and SEN The season highlights disc runs for 1.5 hours and has someone hosting it, reflecting on the season, and a sit-down with Jack Viney before starting to go in to the highlights from each round Looks like a great package of material in my opinion, exactly what I was after!

I'm sure everyone on here has their own story of the games they went to over the years, the heart breaks, the embarrassments, the disappointments, the great memories too, but for me personally, I have never enjoyed a finals series and post Grand Final more. I'm sure everyone is like me and has a photo or a video of them celebrating. This is me and my 90 year old Dad. We have been to hundreds of games together over the years, and while we couldn't enjoy the game together because of lockdown, my son and I visited him post game. This might be the best moment of my life. Please post your own pic or video so we can continue to enjoy the emotions of that fateful night. Post GF Video.MOV

Absolutely right. Still furious about that goal. And the behind they snuck in as well. Higher standards demanded for next year's grand final demolition job.

Also worth noting that our recruiting team was originally planning to select Georgiades with pick 32 before he was snapped up earlier than expected by Port. Safe to say our recruiters have an eye for finding 'it', that's for sure.

You are such a pendant!

Agree. Only known weakness is sometimes he chooses to spoil with his head…

We were gifted Petracca at pick 2, I think time will tell Sparrow was an inspired pick and everyone thought we went too early on Oliver. Bang, Bang, Bang.

Weightman has played 4 good games, there is no way he should be higher

I'm booking my Sept flight to Perth as we speak

The last 32 seconds of the 3rd was the best 32 seconds of my life. Watched it at least 10 times again last night. Kozzies block. Tracs all class dribbler. James Brayshaw .... "Christian Petracca no way." Settling back at the bounce "Lets go Demons .... Another one." I asked the footy gods. Viney to Trac to Oliver streaming forward to Sparrow and the bomb. TMac in a show of strength on the line and hist fist pump. Even Brian Taylor. "This is gonna be a big one, Sparrow to make it a 3goal 3/4 time lead .... He's got it, MELBOURNE ARE UP BY 3GOALS on the eve of 3/4 time." I've said it before but I was forken redlining right here. Roaring and fist pumping harder than Sparrow. The boys making their power move in the premiership quarter before my very eyes. Back at the bounce with 30 seconds to go. Now the football world raves about Scarletts toe poke to Ablett in their GF. Viney putting Jackson into space with one of his own was also footy genius. Jackson bolting forward like a 6'5' gazelle the 19yr old displays his own high footy IQ by-passing Viney handballing to Oliver "Streaming through" in a relentless wave straight down the middle. The crowd starts roaring off the boot as they do when it looks good from down town. The goal umpire leaning right back as it sails directly over his head. Brayshaw again "Bang ... Bang, Bang, Bang!" Another fist pump on the goal from TMac who's starting to see his dreams come true. Oliver and Jackson charging away together mobbed by their teammates with a pair of 1 finger salutes. Sparrow under the wing of Oliver, one of the sides leaders who's just torn the heart from the dogs and holding it aloft. If I was redlining after Sparrows goal I found a whole new level I didn't know I even had at this moment. Pure , unadulterated ecstasy maybe .... Dunno, but the world went fuzzy there for abit. There was much heroics from many players in that game and I could be here all day but that 32seconds ...... Holy forken sheet. Un forken real .... Just Legendary. Said to my daughter at 3/4 time. "Another couple quick ones and it'll be party time." And the boys come out and did just that so I could sit back and spend the last qr shaking my head chuckling at the surreal realisation that I was actually watching the Mighty Demons win the Grand final. Top item on my bucket list ticked off 🏆 ✔️ At peace with the world.

The great thing is I’m stressed anymore about footy and will we ever win one or not. Im ecstatic we’ve won one and can now watch footy with a sense of accomplishment and pride in the knowledge that we’ve reached the pinnacle. Anything from now on will be icing on the cake.

I'm furious still about the soft frees Liberatore and McRae got in the middle. Viney gave two away that were nowhere near frees.

This beauty arrived today.

That's great to hear and read. All fans should be able to find ONE opportunity to hold and be photographed with the Cup. Dec5 th will be the biggest but every other venue on the tour will be a great highlight for all our passionate and loyal fans.

In the same article Bayley Fritsch was re-ranked as No.3 in his draft year ... originally 31 Spargo in the same draft was originally picked at 29 but given the attrition rate of those picked above him, he might sit just outside the top 10 (or better) in a re-ranked scenario

I know that it's the off-season and the Herald Sun is scrounging around for AFL stories. I also appreciate that it's November, so the Herald Sun is desperately trying to find stories with a link to the up-coming draft. But re-ordering a draft held less than 2 years ago is fatuous. At least, that's what I would have written in any other year to justify why no Melbourne players made the top 10 or moved upwards in their personal ranking. (Let's be honest, it's a meaningless exercise given the brief opportunity these players have had to show their talents.)

Interesting on the digital membership. The physical one's are important for junior members, my son loves getting his and showing it off.

The Cup turned up at my daughters primary school this morning and she was able to have photos holding the Cup. Very happy and proud daughter, very jealous parents and siblings. How good is this club of ours.💕❤️💙

That is usually the case

The fact that the GF DVDs provide alternate commentaries says all you need to know about the Channel 7 commentary. * * Apologies for lumping Daisy in with that lot.

So I rang the club today to upgrade my son to a reserve seat membership as I already have 1, managed to get 2 seats together but it was a struggle had to change to a dry area, so if anyone is wanting to get a reserve seat sorted for next year best you get onto it lots of membership sections are sold out already and from what the lady said they have been smashed for reserved seats

Not sure why but Tom reminds me of Todd Viney but a better kick.

I've watched the last 4 games -starting with the Geelong game, last round of 2021 - and I am left with awe and admiration for the feats of Sparrow, Neale-Bullen, Spargo, Pickett, Jackson, Bowey, and Rivers. Rivers, for example, was awesome in the last quarter against Brisbane. Barring injuries, and the slings and arrows of fate, 2022 should be another good year for the Dees. Another great sign was the camaraderie and genuine affection the players have for each other. This is really a very good TEAM.

I bow to your proof of age of the Bullies mid field brigade Jontee. Undoubtedly convincing. I didn't check the ages and thought some from 29 to 25 were a year or 2 younger. I didn't think the gap was as big but also when Jacko Vines Clarry and Trac turned on the power in the third it just blew the Dogs away even the Bont looked powerless to stem the tide. The depth and class of us vs them plus that vital years in age showed fir the last 1.5 quarters of the game. But it should not have been 16 to 1 goals! That's embarrassing and unacceptable no matter how good we were.

I think Rowell still goes somewhere between 1-3. And I’d have Green and Georgiades a little higher too. Still an incredible draft for the Dees no matter how you rank them.

Simon Dalrymple at the Dogs and then Sydney might be the only one I rate above Taylor purely for having the same level of huge success with early picks (Bont, Stringer, Macrae, Naughton) and then some more late round gems. Taylor’s been freakish in the first and second round but surprisingly colder with late round picks. The other clubs who have done really good jobs lately are Port, Brisbane and also GWS since Sos left.

Although at the Stadium on the day it is amazing Watching it on TV now really awakens me to the completely separate halves of the 3rd quarter and how we couldn't generate any scoring opportunities ( but kept Doggies to 2 goals only) to suddenly flick a switch and presto 7 majors on the run pretty well sealed our drought breaking flag agony. That quarter along with the last quarter of the GF and Round 23 at the Cattery plus the Gawny Masterclass 3rd stanza in the Prelim are about the best 4 quarters of footy we have played in a patch for decades. Truly Premiership quality footy by the Undoubted best team in the comp in this season. All hail the magnificent awesome sensational Demons of 2021.

Hopefully just to see us play Fremantle in a round 23 friendly before we embark on 3 MCG home game finals.

We’ll be spoilt for choice in the next federal election won’t we. The incompetence of Albanese, or the arrogance of Morrison. Don’t get me started on the state election. Matthew Guy’s a nut and seems to love getting polaxed in elections, or the most corrupt premier in this country’s history. We’re really spoilt for choice in politics at the minute.

Given this was actually the 2019 draft. ...in the 2020 draft Bowey would probably be re ranked in the top 5 and could be argued the new number 1 after his 7 games.

Spotted the cup at a cafe in black rock this morning. Cheers for the photo guys!

But Basil got his 15 minutes. Bit of a fairytale ending for Basil, grand final in Perth & him on stage. But Goody proved to be the bigger man, so all's well.

The only 3 premiership players in the list 2019 draft.

Three premiership players on that there list!

The draft experts in today’s Herald Sun on line edition (sorry, no link) have produced various forms of mock and phantom drafts, ranked players and now, their “consensus rankings” below. With a number of players going up the various rankings like yo yos, it’s looming as a draft that’s going to make everyone happy. 1. Jason Horne-Francis 2. Nick Daicos 3. Finn Callaghan 4. Sam Darcy 5. Josh Gibcus 6. Ben Hobbs 7. Josh Ward 8. Josh Rachele 9. Mac Andrew 10. Josh Sinn 11. Jye Amiss 12. Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera 13. Neil Erasmus 14. Josh Goater 15. Matthew Johnson 16. Tyler Sonsie 17. Jacob van Rooyen 18. Matthew Roberts 19. Arlo Draper 20. Campbell Chesser 21. Zac Taylor 22. Mitch Knevitt 23. Jesse Motlop 24. Sam Butler 25. Tom Brown 26. Darcy Wilmot 27. Jack Williams 28. Blake Howes 29. Josh Fahey 30. Leek Alleer 31. Judson Clarke 32. Angus Sheldrick 33. Mitch Owens 34. Rhett Bazzo 35. Toby Conway 36. Connor MacDonald 37. Marcus Windhager 38. Cooper Murley 39. Jase Burgoyne 40. Corey Warner NOTE: This process is a ranking of the best talent available and does not factor in club draft picks and father-son or Academy bids.

You could even argue that Rivers has been more impressive than Anderson given the different positions they play...

I watched the game again yesterday . . . do other people still shout at the tele even though the game was six weeks ago and you've watch it 50 times? My neighbours must be fed up.

GF guarantees will be at a all time high.

I might not be around then. Let’s make it 10.

Difficult for the MFC to produce 200,000 membership cards in fairness

I guess my point was that when we are rated THE BEST EVER for defending D50, there's probably other areas that should be higher priority. Goal kicking is prob no1 for mine - but as others have said, it's part of our setup to kick to less dangerous spots (in case there's a turnover) and when it mattered in finals, goal kicking wasn't much of a problem. Arguably the D50 stats are inflated due to the pressure coming from our midfielders and forwards which ensure less quality entries from the opposition, but they're still the best ever. In addition to what Binman has outlined comprehensively, I think the key to us moving forward is continuing to innovate. We are the definitively the hunted rather than the hunters now - so we can't expect it to just happen. E.g. try Jackson as a ruck rover, throw Petty forward, give Kozzie some more midfield minutes, play Tmac on the wing. Not necessarily all of this and certainly not all at once. But we have genuine weapons who if played in the right spots are almost impossible to stop. Next year everyone will be coming hard at us and trying to break down our system. So while its important to back it in (as it will beat almost anyone if we are "on") we have to be ready to mix it up - to counter teams who have done their homework on us and to provide more options should we sustain some injuries to crucial players.

He had me when he played a ripper on his debut in an otherwise lack lustre team R1 2019 v Port. In a parallel universe, he could have had 4 in the grand final - (1) Fritta marked on goal line, (2) his goal, (3) Max or Tom take Easton Wood out of the goal square contest and the ball goes through and (4) hit up Luke Jackson rather than running into 50 and taking a shot. But that last one shows he's on the selfless bandwagon. Tough as old boots. I hope he's a 10+ year player for us, we'll be at the pointy end for a while as a result.

I have always liked the look of the way that Sparrow plays the game and look at his development as a blueprint for the way to bring young players into the game and work on their strengths and weaknesses. The coaching team have done wonders with some very good raw material. For Sparrow he is in a great position of being able to play a role in behind the likes of Petracca, Oliver and Viney so that he has the freedom to do what he does. He is a very good kick so he ha the attacking elements that make him a danger. He also has the defensive game with his tackling and running. I also like the competitiveness and aggression he shows. He is developing well but will be even better when he builds more of a tank and I can see that coming over the next couple of pre-seasons. A lot of upside for this kid. A great game in the grand final, and remember, according to the AFL stats, he only rated 15th best in the Demons 22.

To be honest I hadn’t noticed Tom until late in the season. But his Finals Series was superb. He was a serious cog in the midfield. His GF Goal in the 3rd Quarter was the moment I knew we were not going to be beaten He will get better Premiership Player who played well