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I would be shocked if petty is selected. Interrupted preseason and no preseason practice games. One vfl game with limited minutes is too limited a preparation. And besides, they don't need to take any risks. We are in ok shape down back.

I like it.

From me a massive thank you - Softcap, the draft and the socialization of the income stream to the smaller clubs, has allowed MFC to win a GF, overall the comp has become fairer, under the previous fat controller we would have been allowed to die. I for one am sick of hearing about polo as much as hearing about Pendlebury playing basketball. The man clearly loves the game. I also think that every woman that plays aussie rules is a prospective mother that is going to allow her children to play. Never forget AR has more female supporters/fans than any other code. And demographics are a fact of life, it is an existential fight to grow the code in the population growth corridors. As for the rules, Rucks and Wingers are back (which suits us very well), key position players are in ascendancy, and the ugly rolling maul that was turning the best game into ugly rugby has gone. More been done to keep the look of the game the way I love it under his tenure than either Ross or Andy. And I know everyone bleats about ‘the boys club’ but the consensus Gil was able to build to save two seasons of football during COVID was extraordinary, and is a positive example of the boys club, and he sacked mates. Really in a complex world revolving around a game full of passions that are clearly obsessive, with no common denominator for very divisive issues he did a bloody good job. Lastly his two knocks, and they are knocks, are the Goodes saga, for which he clearly said sorry, and Gambling which for me is dirty dirty money, as much as I love to gamble it should be an adult sin and should not be normalized with wall to wall advertising coverage. Problem gambling breaks families at the same rate grog and dope does. So yes Jesus or Mohammed or Buddha would have done a better job, but for an ordinary human (and Carlton supporter), we should just say thank you.

Dogga vs Zoot

Hunt is not the player of 2016 / 17. Everyone refers to his "run & carry" but since 2021 he has been defence first. I can't see that anyone's torched him this year so I guess he's doing his job. He does cough up the odd howler but beware of just looking at his DE stats as a number of his possessions are in a situation where he just has to clear the ball from pressurised defensive positions. I expect Petty will replace Tommo in due course. Again, Tommo hasn't done much wrong but in my view, Petty is the better footballer by some margin.

Bump George Christensen channelling former Melbourne President, Joe Gutnick

Interesting that Jordie Lewis (who some forget played great games for the Dees in his first two years) and Daniel Cross (who was an outstanding get, culturally and footy-wise) both played the half-back general/sweeper/distributor role. Luke Hodge did the same for the Lions. Seems to be the perfect late career role for tiring/slowing midfielders, as against the pre-retirement forward role, which rarely works (Jack Ziebell’s last game excepted!).

I won't bag you but I don't agree. Thought it was strange at the start, but he wanted to come to us and he seemed to me give his all for us, accepting that age caught up with him. I thought he was all in with us and love hearing in the media now.

People forget there weren't many many players (let alone multiple Pemiership players) wanting to come to Melbourne. We were a laughing stock for many years. These guys changed the narrative and I for one will always be grateful for them coming to us.

Jordan Lewis and Daniel Cross were both good professionals who lifted standards around the place. I also think Bernie Vince was a great pick-up. He came to us when we were at our lowest ebb, won a best and fairest and gave very good service. He and Cross were the first proper recruits after years of rubbish list management

We also don't have the same ability to control the tempo of matches or play controlled football if not for 2019. Or for that matter a defensive system as good as it is now. Goody was super clever that season. And brave. I'm positive we could have won a few more games that season if we played more in our 2018 style. But goody took the opportunity the horror run with injuries gave us and introduced new methodologies, sytems and tweaks to the ballistic game style that got us to a preliminary in 2018, but was vulnerable to giving up mutiple goals in quick time and wasn't going to get us go the promised land.

I somehow seem to have caught a bit of Jordie speaking on various shows over the last few weeks. I find him knowledgeable without being sensationalistic. I’ve noticed that his relationship with Melbourne seems very immediate. He’s nostalgic about Hawthorn - but there’s very, very few players left from that era, and he watched as many of his mates left (some of them in circumstances that we now know were less than ideal). He has a lot of the older brother vibe with our players. I think they treated him with a bit of reverence in his time at the club and he appreciated it. He’s genuinely happy with where the clubs at, and he seems proud of his contribution - as he should be.

I really don’t know if Gill has done a good job or bad job or a mediocre job. I guess the truth lies somewhere in the middle. What we do know is that the industry will paint his time in a favourable light particularly in terms of revenue streams and Covid management. He has managed to keep most of the key stakeholders onside. No mean feat. He is a good negotiator and has an ability to achieve acceptable outcomes. And sometimes doing a good job is measured by what you don’t see or hear rather than what you do. I tell you what I don’t like about his tenure. The AFL jumping into bed with the gambling industry. They have sold their soul and changed the nature of footy. The long term ramifications and corruption that comes with gambling will be felt for years to come. I also don’t like the constant rule changes and interpretations that frustrate fans, coaches and players. I don’t like rule changes that are simply designed to increase the speed of the game, the scoring rate and the attractiveness of the fame. Often the changes do not bring about the change desired. Most of the time I hear myself saying over and over in my head, just leave the bloody game alone. It is such a great game that you don’t need to do to much to improve it. I don’t like the fact that footy Tv ratings dictate the fixture. I hate weeknight games and the fact that it discriminates against families, working men and women, school age kids. In fact everyone that likes to attend live footy matches. Whilst recognising that umpires need the support of the AFL, I hate the way umpires have become centre stage actors in the drama of the game. Thats enough for now. This could go on for ever!

Jordan doesn’t wax lyrical about this when prodded by Garry Lyon and other Fox people that know - but he had the ear of Oliver and Petracca and Gawn long after he retired and even came down to the club in the pre-season ahead of 2021. He considers himself someone with a split allegiance which is simply stunning when you consider what he achieved at the Hawks. He was better than people remember and the people that matter got a lot out of him.

Also, though perhaps in a lesser measure, Bernie Vince. I think people forget how lacking we were for senior players of any kind of quality across that period.

... and #50 has shown, that bad things can happen to "too good" players at VFL.

Doing the typical Demonlander thing and reading a bit into things, but going by Goody's presser today is sounds like Petty might play VFL this week just to get a bit more touch/form. He didn't specifically say that, but emphasized Petty was 'physically ready' but they'll look at whether he's ready for AFL footy yet.

I won’t bag you but a champion player chose us to come to, helped us overachieve, continued to help his former teammates years after he left as they won a flag, and refers to himself as a former Hawthorn and Melbourne player. Perhaps it’s time to recollect differently.

Mazer, I've played, watched followed footy for a gazillion years. I know I'm not always the sharpest knife in the wardrobe .... but if blokes ( and maybe even Sheilas) like me are constantly confused by umpiring decisions ...... well maybe there's something amiss.

One game recently, can't remember which, the ump waited until one ruckman had dragged himself from one end of the ground to the other to get to the ballup. It's such bullshlt. And why oh why does the boundary ump have to wait until everyone has settled in and had a nice cup of tea and a scone before throwing it in? JUST THROW THE ****NIG THING IN. THERE IS NO NEED TO WAIT FOR ANYTHING. If a team isn't ready for it, it's on them! Duh! Throw the ****nig thing up! One player max from each team goes up for it. "Ruckman" or not. The AFL lost control of the refereeing of the game some years ago and now don't know what they're doing.

Count yourself as a very lucky supporter 😀

Wouldn't mind seeing Jackson up fwd more with no bbb. Max was back to his sublime best last week.

"Welcome to SEN Perty before he 2019 season, great to have you, how do you think the team will go this year on the field and how will that help the club off the field?" Good question, first of all while we had a great 2018 season we were really disappointed with the Prelim loss, I know Goody has burnt that tape hahaha... anyway our expectations of this season are very low, we had a heap of guys limp to the finish line last season and a heap of players go in for surgery really late in the preseason.. don't get me started on the plonker we have as our Dr I know Goody is going to have a sharp word with him hahahha... anyway based on that we're stuffed and will barely make the 8... as to how that translates to off field, we're really chasing lots of sponsors to pay us big dollars and want heaps of new members to make sure we stay profitable... go dees!"

Jordan was actually a pretty decent player in his first year with us (2017). He placed equal third in the Bluey, tied with Jones and behind Oliver and Viney. That was after being suspended for a couple of weeks as well. His 2018 season was mixed but he was an important player in the first couple of finals, and by 2019 he was cooked. Overall, he made a great contribution in his time at the Demons.

Not even worth debating. He helped to ingrain a culture of hard work and discipline

Ron Barassi Snr and Jnr - 7 Flags between them.

That’s what people said before the last one and yet plenty of people signed up before it was finalised. And also we recently signed Petracca until 2029 - the best player in the league - so I don’t see a finalised CBA as a large dependency.

It's early season, we're coasting , if there is any doubt about your gun player why not give him a break, it's September that counts.

Weids vs Batman

TMac is our swingman so not sure why we would be trialing the Weid at CHB. We have ample defensive depth as it is. He either makes it as a forward or he'll be delisted

My plan was always to get one of the special edition tops with the reigning premiers logo on the front and the norm smith medallist's number on the back, and since this is getting released before our 2022 indigenous top this will do nicely. Should we go back-to-back I'll hold out for the indigenous top next year Edit: purchased

Oh, and we shouldn’t be throwing the magnets around - we should be rewarding players that have trained positions and have an understanding that the reward is an opportunity in those positions. After that fails then you can throw magnets.

Wish someone pumped me up for doing nothing like people do with Smif

The two statements are not contradictory are they? We're in ok shape down back, but will be improved by Smith replacing tomo. Just as we will be improved when Petty comes back in. Just as we will be improved when Salem comes back in.

anyone anywhere anytime

Most consecutive minor premierships (6) 1955-1960

Look I disagree with your view as to why Jordan Lewis came to Melbourne with respect. I quote him here at the time....Lewis, who commenced with the Demons in the 2017 Premiership Season, said he was excited about the new opportunity and the chance to pass on his knowledge. The Demons were not in contention for a Premiership year in 2017 ....“When I decided to retire, I still wanted to have a connection with the Melbourne Football Club,” he told Melbourne Media. And he did through to the 2020 Season end.... My understanding is that he left Hawthorn due in part to their Salary Cap issues at the time. Either way his 55 games with the Demons helped lift the culture of our great Club. I just wonder if he would have ever left the Hawks if not for the Salary Cap unrest that saw his buddy and best friend Jarryd Roughead re commit. Lewis at one stage @ 28 years of age was touted as the next captain of the Hawks. Wiser heads prevailed.. to our advantage.

It is isn't it! Remember when we released the strategic plan for 2020-2023? I remember thinking the mens premiership and 75k members was pie in the sky stuff... but we are currently on track. Others will know better than me how we are doing on the financials and re our facilities. So this is what is in our strategic plan: OUR AMBITIONS FOR 2020-2023 1. ON-FIELD PERFORMANCE • Play in AFL and AFLW Finals each year • Win at least 1 AFL and 1 AFLW Premiership 2. FINANCIAL • Deliver a combined $4m profit over 4 years • Eliminate debt • $30m + of income producing assets 3. OUR PEOPLE • To have a culture that inspires excellence and attracts new talent 4. OUR FANS • Grow to 75k members • MCG home game average crowds of 50k + 5. OUR FACILITIES • Finish construction of high-performance facility at Casey Fields • Start construction of new Melbourne home base facility https://resources.melbournefc.com.au/aflc-melb/document/2022/03/01/1eca15e8-6169-401d-85cd-2b0b036e5fb9/MFC_Strategic-Plan_Web_V2.pdf

@58ernow look at the whinging…

I am sorry that Gil is stepping down his exceptional management skills during Covid definitely helped us to achieve Premiership Glory in Perth in 2021 and for that I will be eternally grateful. Thanks Gil job well done.❤️💙💕

It could really be anyone. And by anyone, I mean an old, rich, white dude.

Josh is trying to elevate his profile. Pure click bait comment from him

Win this weekend and we will have won 12 on the trot for only the second time.

I have a record I think, my sons and I caught the first Jetstar fight to Vietnam in two years. We are riding motorcycles from HCMC to Hanoi (about 2000km) On the front of my bike is a Melbourne Member 2022 sticker. I am prepared to bet that's a first. Go Deees.

CEOs generally don’t come out after the club makes a prelim and say - we’re in trouble, lots of injuries, you’re in for long season what exactly should he have said? No one knew how bad 2019 would be

In addition to his on-field work there were some great off-field things. Two I vividly recall: 1. Immediately after we beat Geelong in the 2018 Elim final, when the player excitement would have been right up there, he took them aside with no coaches and no staff present and told them 'you've achieved nothing yet'. They went on to beat his Hawks in the next final only to fall in the Prelim. In 2021 they got it!!. 2. He helped instill in the players a sense of selflessness, in an off-field sense, by saying the Hawks were successful because players forfeited the big $ for the ultimate prize. The signing of our star players last year is testament that they were paying attention. Regarding what the players thought. I doubt the club would have kept him as a (part-time) development coach if players weren't happy with him. Not sure if he is still.

My recollection is that they used to hang off every word he said.. He was a superstar with 4 flags. They had never played up close with someone like that before.

Bob Spargo Sr. and Charlie Spargo - Great granddfather and great grandson combination.