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Ironically, my mental health improved dramatically when Neeld was given the boot.

Not wishing to give this witches’ hunt any more oxygen, but BT did describe it after Tom’s after the siren goal as “being the greatest winning margin in a grand final by any Melbourne team”. Something the vast majority of true red and blue faithful would be rather proud of, given the club’s history.

Loved it. The final seal on a dominant and magnificent win. Summed up the Dees attitude that day. Play hard until the siren. I mean seriously, who wouldn’t have had a kick for goal at the siren. Stamped the team’s dominance.

Either way, Demonland and the MFC pales into significance vs the 40,000 years of our first nations people which is why it's great we are renaming ourselves Narrm as a way of showing our respects and helping the continuation of that culture!

Harmes has stuffed up plenty of attempts at goal without TMac's input. The whole TMac mark on the line has been overblown here. Fritta did it to Sparrow in Q1 of the GF. That turned out ok !

Inspired by recent articles in the footy media, I now bring you my ... SECRETS TO BEATING STEVEN MAY Bring the heat Back yourself: try to get the ball before he does Embrace the challenge Employ the air: catch the ball before it hits the ground Control scoring: kick it through the tall sticks Play the full 120 minutes

Maybe they could talk to that one forward, and ask for his 'Secrets to knock-off Stephen May' and then write a 500 word article?

Breust, Gunston and for the 15 minutes he turns up each week Wingard - yes. The others, no. He’s staggering Mitchell and O’Meara’s on ball minutes whilst investing in Newcombe and Ward (rested v us). Even using Nash as his tagger over Shiels. No longer just handing games to Shiels, Howe, Phillips and even Worpel. Only injuries are stopping Reeves solidifying the number 1 ruck role. There’s a clear shift from the way Clarko went all in on his imported/stale midfield. Sicily, Scrimshaw, Day and when he’s back from injury CJ have been the mainstays of the backline. They’re one more younger tall away from a complete rebuild down back. Up forward he has to bank on the veterans because there’s no substitute for class. But I’d imagine within 12-24 months it will be the Lewis and Moore forward line plus draft picks. The way he’s getting games in to kids, staying competitive and kept the veterans buying in despite changing their roles is really excellent coaching.

Are people really upset that Tmac kicked a goal after the siren in the GF? What the actual [censored]?!

I know we have a low opinion of the footy media. I avoid it as much as possible other than watching our matches when I can’t attend. For the most part, I avoid the opinion making, headline grabbing, entertainment making, boys club jokey stuff, self aggrandisement, ignorance and fickleness of 85 per cent of “the boys”. Most do not do their homework and rely on cliches and headline grabs. I reckon the fans on this site are better informed. I particularly dislike the pack hunting that occurs when one side or other is having a bad trot. If we actually lose a game or two they will be all over us like a rash. Despite the diatribe and rubbish most are articulate or perhaps, more accurately, understandable. However, Robbo plumbs the depths of footy media standards. He is an embarrassment to the rest of the footy media, to himself and the footy industry. He is foolish, ignorant, and inarticulate. You would think a commentator who commands a fair bit of air-time would need to speak the English language. Robbo does not achieve a bare pass, not even a supplementary pass. I don’t blame him, I almost feel sorry for him. He is clearly not a well man. However, there are basic standards. He does not meet any. It’s an indictment on the TV Network and the Producers of the program. Whether it’s work, family, clubs, friends or social groups we expect basic minimum standards. It’s what we call a civil society. It’s what holds a society or community together. Without it, we are predators in a jungle. Robbo does not make it on any level. His performance also reflects badly on Whately who I suspect is a jellyfish. Now don’t start me on our politicians!

Would expect Hunt to have the shut down role on Higgins, possibly Petty/May on King/Membrey. They don't have many other avenues to goal. As an aside, In a footy show they showed how Hill is blocking for King, sometimes illegally but because he is ahead of the ball the umps don't notice it. Hill runs straight toward where King is as if he is heading toward the ball. Then he runs between King and his opp or 'accidentally' runs into or bumps King's opp enabling King to break away and mark. Worked every time. Hill's op needs to detour him so we can get genuine 1vs1 or 2vs1 with KIng with Lever a chance to intercept.

You should listen to Goody and learn to respect the opposition a bit more. Have a look at some of the footy (say) the Hawks played. It was fantastic. Beating all teams is a challenge. Thankfully the players and staff understand this.

You seriously think he should not have taken that kick? What would you have had him do instead - kick into the stands, just drop the ball at his feet, bomb it up the ground? A professional footballer does not refuse to take a shot after the siren in any circumstances. What did it achieve? For one thing it was yet another example of our discipline and playing to the final siren. And an example of tom's professionalism and respect for the game. The same discipline underpinned why goody never fudged the rules to get Jordon on the ground, something he could easily have done (after all Steve may had a tear in his hammy). When asked why he didn't goody (paraphrasing) said no one was injured so he couldn't do it. Discipline.

Are you saying he shouldn't have kicked the goal after the siren??? Oh boy....

He’ll sign with us and maybe end up at Freo in 4-6 years time. He ain’t going near the Eagles. He and Brayshaw are simply waiting for the new EBA before signing. The rest is media chatter

Looking forward to this game, most of my friends are saints supporters so we always pencil this game in at the start of the year. It's helped that the partner of one of my friends is a dees fan so I'm not so outnumbered and don't have to dish out all the insults. In fairness to them they all jumped on the dees bandwagon last year and helped me celebrate our drought breaking flag. They way they talk about their footy at the moment, hopeful but full of doubt and waiting for an enevitiable collapse, resonates all too well. I genuinely hope they continue on their good form and push for a flag in the coming years, and I'll happily celebrate with them too. Of course if it's against us they can all go get stuffed and drown in their own salty tears when they lose, as they can on Sunday as well.

Your MFCSS is so acute you are worried Bruce will kick a bag against us this weekend, coz he 'always does'.. And that is in spite of the fact you know he is currently out injured and he no longer plays for the saints.

From Saintsational forum: TheirThread Title: "I honestly believe we can beat the dees if: " ...Ratten leaves his ego in the locker room and makes a statement. Just like when Dal and Milne were dropped... ...Gawn, Oliver, May and Petracca all contract COVID before the weekend. But it will still be close! More seriously, even the best teams can be beaten if they have an off day. But, if Melbourne play to their usual form, they are certain to win ...if we swap midfields. ...we start playing 2 hours before they do and we don't kick a point! If we are to have any chance, which is unlikely, we need to make a few few changes to improve our skills, pace and decision making. The Dees haven't be blowing teams out of the water, I don't think they're invincible by any stretch of the imagination. Not writing us off because off a bad game in poor conditions but let’s be real, the demons are good, real good. That is not underselling our ability but I think Melbourne is just better so I am hoping they have an off day and we play well Yeah , we can beat the dees. All we have to do is kick a bigger score than they do. Easy peasy. Wouldn’t it be a great way to announce ourselves as genuine contenders. Not just beat them, give them a real spanking My favourite: The game will go 3 ways We play our best , they are slightly off , we win by a close margin . We play our best , they play their best , they have too much class and win by 2 to 5 goals . We play [censored] , they play their best and smash us , 6+ goals. Chances: 1 about 10%. 2 and 3 90%

Apart from Round 1, this is our first real challenge for the season. This is not a game we can just cruise along in and play a sensational 15 minute burst in the third quarter and win. If we go in flat, and underdone due to Covid then I think the Saints will win it.

I heard part of an interview on the weekend with someone from the Suns coaching group (it could have been Stuart Dew, but I missed the start). He was asked about how the Suns wanted to use Jack Lukosius. The response was that they wanted the best ball users in the front half/third of the ground. It got me thinking about where we should play Salem when he returns. The obvious answer is to plug him straight back into the backline and get on with it, but I wonder if he could be better used in the front half. Reasons for shifting Salem to the front half: Decent forward entries have been an ongoing and frustrating struggle of ours. Spargo is very good at it, but it is still hit and miss with many others. I reckon our forwards would love Salem delivering the ball to them. Salem was so important in the backline because he is a great ball user and our backline was really lacking in this area. Jake Bowey has now arrived on the scene and is a great ball user, as is Brayshaw who has slotted in back there to great affect this year while JJ stepped up on the wing. Do we still need Salem back there? Our backline has performed in Salem's absence. We are still keeping the opposition's score low, and have rebounded well. Reasons against shifting Salem to the front half: Why change a premiership winning role? If he was to play forward, you'd think it would be in the place of Spargo, Kozzy or Nibbler (ANB). We hear all the time from the coaches that the main focus of those players is to put pressure of the ball coming out of our forwardline to create forward half turnovers. Can he provide the forward half pressure required? Salem seems to get banged up a bit. There is a theory (or perhaps myth) that players are somehow less likely to get hurt in collisions when they play as a backman than a forward. Supposedly backman need to be more mindful on where the opposition players are at all times, which lessens the possibility of collisions, where forwards are more focused on the ball so they get hit more often. It was meant to be why playing Paddy McCartin as a backman was going to be safer for him. We all know how that ended up.... I think the club needs to always look for areas to improve. Just because something worked, doesn't mean it can't be improved on.

I remember him giving it to Frosty big time when SF was still at the club. I thought, we've either got a natural leader here, or someone who's divisive and will fracture the playing group. (No, I'm not talking about Frosty!) Turned out to be the former. It's a wonderful thing to have a ferocious competitor and football brain down back. We've been kissed on the Sherrin to have two such.

I was disciplined like tmac and didn't start crying until after his goal sailed through 😂

By taking that kick, he avoided any post-match discussion about the implications for any betting on the game which was related to the winning margin. That would have distracted from the overall positive publicity. Whether we like, don't like or don't care about the betting is irrelevant. The AFL has obligations under agreements with the betting companies and the gambling regulator to ensure that it manages the integrity of the game. Playing the game to the end is one of those obligations. Finally, and on a separate point (so to speak), that after-the-siren goal gave us the greatest winning margin - by one point - in any of our 13 premiership wins.

Don't usually watch 360 but did Monday night Robinson is a complete tool and a waste of breath, goes from one side to another yells when he talks and just asks dumb questions, christ I can butcher the english language but he is on a whole new level.

Respect your view, I think when it comes to the two moments I see it just a bit differently in that I really appreciate Tom's laser like focus and not letting anything around him faze that. On both occasions he's made a decision and carried through with it 100%. I think it's an exceptional quality to have, whether he was right or wrong on Sat.

With how much of a mess the Eagles list profile and age demographic is I'm genuinely surprised they're still willing to throw big cash and a potential first round pick (probably pick 1 or 2) away just for a player that I feel isn't exactly their biggest need. Their midfield and forward line is a shambles. After Shuey, Redden, Kelly, Kennedy Darling and Gaff their is a significant drop in depth. What's worrying also is these guys are 30+ years of age. I can't see where their next up and coming gun midfielder or forward will come through once these guys retire. The Tim Kelly trade has really set the club back big time and I think there is far more pressing needs then a young ruckman.

If Hill tries that on the weekend May will put him on his [censored] and they’ll be a man down 😆

I’m not so convinced, sure the Hawks appear better than last year (although they won most of their last 5 games with Clarko) but in terms of long term success Mitchell is still relying heavily on an older core of players that are on the way down, the following are carrying them atm and will not be part of their next flag imo: McEvoy(32), Breust (32), Gunston (30), Shiel (32), T Mitchell (29), J O’Meara (28), Impey (28), Wingard (28), Frost (27). These players (with the exception of an injured McEvoy) are all playing close to the Hawks best players to carry the Hawks back to competitive footy. They are not the Hawks future, to the extent Mitchell tried to trade a few of them last trade period and I predict their form will slump this year or injuries will get them, hurtling the Hawks back down for more pain, with less quality draft picks due to the improved performance from this older brigade. It might be wishful thinking but I think Mitchell and the Hawks are in for more pain, the great pretenders!

Typically I wouldn’t bother responding to such a silly comment but his stats from the Grand Final, the most highly pressured game of the year, were: 22 kicks, 5 handballs at 96% disposal efficiency. I’m not sure who you think you’re watching that isn’t a good kick, but it ain’t Salem.

360 is not worth watching when Essendon or Collingwood are struggling. They will dominate every single episode and Robbo will raise his blood pressure with a bombastic heightened emotion 5-10 minute diatribes that make you feel worse off for having sat there listening. At the very least its worth recording and fast forwarding through that content when its on to get the few good bits later on with players, coaches or Montagna/King content.

I detect an underlying sense of 'put down' of Joel Smith in some of these posts. As though copping injury after injury is a sign of weakness or self indulgence. I would have thought compassion would be more appropriate.

I rarely watch the "footy shows" any longer but I just happened to go for a wander with the dog and plonk myself at a pub to have a meal on this lovely balmy evening. It so happened they had 360 on, minus the sound thank [censored]. Between mouthfuls of duck and an ave red wine I saw this headline of "Robbos" tweet "Mark Robinson: Essendon need a review into its coach, players and officials after poor start to 2022 AFL season". So after wandering home I thought I'd check the kayo showing of his [censored]... So after seeing the above Gerard then goes into a little spiel about it before throwing to Robbo "I think something will happen in the next 4 weeks anyway Gerrard, Hawthorn this week, I think they have Port Adelaide way, they got Rich dream time and their 150th celebration is the Carlton round 10 or 11.... I don't like looking to far ahead but Ess could be 1 and 10 or 1 and 11 and that state of the season I think it is imperative the EFC sits down and looks at the football program... list management, executive... whole club situation... (get you facts right you massive dribbler!!) Then he goes into Rutten.... and plenty of images of him looking under the pump. Crickey then they go slamming Stringer with "Why does Jake Stringer get injuries get injuries and take weeks to get himself right".... Gerrard then goes into Stringer doing another hammy... but they then show images of Stringer bringing his kids over the fence onto the ground after the loss. Robbo is borderline incoherent and footy clubs need to protect these guys better especially from rubbish like the above on TV tonight. Where are other people besides coaches and players fronting the media to allow the players and coaches have a breather from the intense scrutiny?

Still somehow underrated. Absolutely critical to our team and success. Critical to our culture and toughness also. most players wouldn’t have even considered playing in the GF. He backed his body and knew he could do it

It seems that Collingwood and Richmond have their own Aboriginal names, so no need for them to assume ‘ours’. Ten previously forgotten Aboriginal names for 19th century sites and suburbs of Melbourne have been recently unearthed at the Melbourne Museum. These include the names for Fitzroy (Ngár-go), Richmond (Quo-yung), Collingwood (Yálla-birr-ang) and Brunswick (Bulleke-bek).

They are paying for 9/10 of nothing this year Bbo.

Good to see you on full voice Ernest. I think the basic problem comes back to too many media with too much space to fill. So the mundane becomes a major story. All these commentators fighting to be noticed to maintain their jobs.

This site has good stats https://www.wheeloratings.com/afl_stats_team.html There is a play on % stat (I'm not sure what the % is of), which I would normally equate to an offensive brand, and Crows and Saints are bottom 3. Interestingly Hawks were near the bottom, and then last week they played on nearly 50% more than normal against us. Port are high up, but then against us they decided to change it and played on 50% less and were hopeless. Sides that take the game on can hurt is (like the dogs for a qtr), but that comes unstuck against us when we bring pressure. Our pressure has been down this year compared to last year, and all the related stats are down (pressure acts, tackles, ground ball gets etc). For Tackles we were #1 last year, and this year are #16. I hope we can turn the pressure on when needed. Would be good to do it this week.

I think new coaches getting baked under the unreasonable expectations of long deprived club and supporters (via the media) highlights the wisdom of our path getting Roos in to settle the ship and start the rebuild before handing across to Goodwin as performances were improving. Not to do so exposes young coaches to too much pressure. Mind you, not unhappy to see the Dons in the firing line.

They always find a way.

Apart from Oscar Allen which under 23 players at WC jump off the page as great potential for the future? None! I don't even know if they have a 50 gamer under the age of 23 excluding Allen which is a massive, massive concern. They're in big trouble and I can't see why in the blue hell anyone would want to go there right now.

I hate to say it, but I think Robbo has been better this year than in previous years. (Maybe the health scare did him some good.) Then again, it would have been hard for him to be worse.

What pub are you getting duck at? I normally just get a chicken parma.

This is a good topic to consider. I watched AFL 360 tonight and immediately thought of the fact that should be so obvious to the 2 hosts - by nature, sport involves winners and losers. Every week, excepting a draw, there will be 9 winners … and 9 losers. Little surprise that despite the best efforts of the coaches and players, in any year, some teams are going to win very few games. It is far too simplistic to blame just the senior coach. The reasons for failure, as we Demons supporters well know, are often complex, deep seated and can take years, skill and probably a fair bit of luck, to turn around. Essendon are an easy target at the moment, and don’t deserve much sympathy from us, but the simplistic analysis this evening did 360 no credit.

Um why not just engage a few alternative new age supports and come back refreshed before winning a premiership?

He plays for the same team as Jordan, Wiedermann, Thomlinson and Bowie. And you call yourself a Melbourne fan.

I’ve been looking forward to this game since they started playing some good footy, don’t ask me why but I love the idea of a genuine rivalry building between us. Saints vs Demons, heaven & hell and all that. I also think the Saints when they’ve played their best have a really good “brand” of footy. King is a star in the making, so it will be interesting to see who we play in him. The obvious choice is May but I think it’ll end up being Petty. We’ve had a few frustrating weeks of poor connectivity in the HF/Forward part of the ground. We’ve got more than a few capable players who can kick bags, and while I love that Brown got himself 4 last week he got a couple of soft free kicks and he didn’t seem to attack the contest to mark the ball as much as he has in the past. Fritta is always capable of breaking a game open but just seems to be travelling along at the moment. Then comes the conundrum of Weid vs TMac, who gets the spot and will be see the best of them? I’m happy with the way we’re going at 7-0 but I just wait for that day that the players don’t go at their full potential and expect the game to go their way. I think the Saints will go as hard as they can early on and potentially tire at the end, so if we’re in from the 3qtr time I could see us cantering away. But totally respect them and their best is capable of knocking anyone off.

But they got you to watch didn't they? That's the era we're in currently, engagement is king. Doesn't matter whether it's positive or negative, it's all needed, analysed and monetized. Unfortunately, especially in the current climate, negative engagement is so much more powerful and easy. Instead of getting frustrated watching how it is, just vote with your feet - both on TV and online. Engagement data is the only thing that will actually change anything.

I coached him junior cricket at Frankston YCW. He played in back to back premierships in under 14's. Was a decent medium pacer and a gun slips fielder. Footy was always his go though. A very clever small forward. He's doing great at Casey this year. Pleased to see him doing so well.

Hey, we don’t want to get involved in aNarrms race!