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I had a combined 3 mums/2 birthdays lunch on Sunday so was reduced to picking up scores from my phone. Finally watched the game last night. Also read the bigfooty gameday thread to see how it evolved. It's extremely gratifying to hear the commentators laud our team. It's gotten to the point where it's self-reinforcing. The commentators almost dare not imply that Melbourne aren't the best at defending/pressure/etc etc. But what really caught my ear/eye were the comments in the game day thread made by neutrals. I now bring you: what they said at Windy Hill/Vic Park/Alberton/Carrara/what have you. (You might want to pour a cognac and light a cigar before reading further.) Scary statement by Melbourne here. Hard to disagree with the sentiment that everyone else is playing for 2nd. Bucks right. Melbourne are playing sh** hot, faultless footy . No team would get anywhere near them today. This is so pure. Amazing to watch. Melbourne have to be the most unique dominant team I’ve seen. Teams like Geelong, Hawks, Tigers would smash you with glamouris ball movement. Melbourne thump you in a grind. It’s so impressive. They really are incredible to watch So organised around the footy, never look in trouble when the ball hits the turf This Melbourne side truly is playing some of the best football of the modern era. The scary thing is this doesn’t usually happen until the third quarter. Melbourne are beatable. You just have to play a different game. No one is going to catch Melbourne this year. Essendon 2000 vibes about them. Well played Melbourne. Legit scary good team. The top 4 is irrelevant, Melbourne is a 4 goal better team than everyone else.

So surreal that they are talking about our football team. Ok. I just got to know. Which one of you sold your soul to the Devil? Thank you for your sacrifice.

Hi, I think what has happened is that initially when H came out with these claims publicly in 2017 the club, Bucks, Eddy etc tried to play it down, said it wasn’t a big deal and denied several of his claims. The only footage of the first press conference with Bucks is here excuse the inflammatory title it’s the only version I could find: As you can see in the video Buck’s denies knowledge of the nickname, which he later admitted he had heard but thought H was ok with, smirks and consistently implies that H isn’t ok by saying he hopes he’s ok, attempting to play down H claim as implying he’s not well. He doesn’t engage on the “threw him under the bus” comment in this conference but in a subsequent one the same month of the year of this video he denied ever saying it/played down what it was even if he had said it. The point is clearly H showed the club that he had proof of the nickname, the conversation and other incidents including as part of the do better report. The issue is that every time the CFC has denied, then attempted to paint Lumumba as an antagonist, then admitted it but said it wasn’t a big deal, then said it was a big deal and apologised, then been upset that Lumumba didn’t see it as a genuine apology given they only did it when he dragged them to it through proof. The reason he’s leaking it now is because the do better process fell apart with him, Krakeour and Davis and the only way to make CFC admit what they need to get better is to once again prove he’s not lying. Theres a pattern here. Step one, deny racism: ”what that 13 yo girl said to Adam Goodes isn’t racist” “ they’re not booing him because of racism” “ the nickname wasn’t racist, he was cool with it” “Eddy was joking about a musical, not being racist” “Kennett wasn’t being racist he was making fun of her pants” “everyone’s mean on the internet it’s not unique to racism” Step two, admit racism but minimise it: ”yeah what the girl said was racist but he she’s 13 what does she know” “ some people are but not all of them are booing him cause they’re racist” “ yeah it was a racist nickname but they didn’t mean it like that” “it was a bad joke but Eddy’s not racist he made a mistake” “ it was a bad joke from Kennett buts it’s been blown out of all proportion” “I mean it’s gross but there’s far worse insults and language on the internet” Step 3 assassinate the victims character: ”yeah it was bad but what kind of man points out a 13 year old girl, Adam Goodes is arrogant” “ he did a war dance when they wouldn’t stop booing him, what did he expect, he should be grateful to the AFL” “ Lumumba is a lunatic on a crusade, he’s a terrible bloke and makes grandiose speeches, he’s just an attention seeker and probably just wants money, he should be grateful to CFC” “Cyril is clearly having a hard time, he’s on the outs with his family, he’s in a bad place and just lashing out” “Eddie’s an attention seeker, he does media and DJing, you put yourself in the spotlight you gotta take it” Step 4 paint the perpetrator as the victim: ”Adam Goodes ruined this girls life!” “Adam Goodes and Lumumba ruined Bucks and Eddie’s careers! They made mistakes but overall they’re good blokes, they didn’t deserve this” “Cyril is trying to bring down strong successful leaders of a great football club” “Eddie’s trying to guilt the fans for being passionate” Step 5 apologise, then immediately expect the victim to be cool with it, if they refuse or seek change, say they will never be happy with anything and are totally unreasonable then…. Step 6 restore the status quo until next time. You watch, the next indigenous player to have a hard time will go through this again. It happens every time and this is the exact culture and cycle that needs to be broken.

I watched a show online last night that had Gerard Whateley & David King talking about the weekend's games on SEN and Whateley said that when watching Carlton right now he'll get the popcorn out as they are fun to watch but he watches us with the reverence of taking in a masterpiece on a gallery wall (or to that effect). Someone else said that it wasn't fair to judge any other team on their performance against us, only against each other.

The Comment sections on Facebook are so depressing to read, real ugly area. I've reported a few posts as racist but Silicon Valley does very little unfortunately . Also respectfully can we please use the name Heritier in this discourse

For those that think he should 'move on' - It's often those who say someone should move on, because a) they don't genuinely relate to why someone is choosing to pursue change, or b) they're part of the problem themselves, but just don't see it. My take is this... (and my client work is with people whereby they feel a system/organisation has never supported them when they've attempted to address cultural or OHS issues (or whatever issue it is). I always ask the question around their mental health and the choice to walk away and have immediate 'stress or anxiety' taken away to 'move on with their day to day living' - or the choice to continue to hold people/organisations to account, which will be demanding and take a toll often over many years. The impact on them and their families is always huge, always painful. When an individual chooses to continue to 'fight' against a system that is stacked against them, it's never about money. It's often about protecting others in the future who will come into that organisation. They are being clear on their values, and behaving inline with that... stepping away is incongruent with creating positive change He is clearly a principled person (whether you agree with his is another story), and actively choosing not to 'move on' is his prerogative. This is not about ego, it's about values. The energy and effort that is required by Heretier, is tremendous, compounded further that his is a minority, choosing to speak out and hold to account a system/organisation that failed him.

I'm tempted to start a company called "Bang ... Bang, Bang, Bang" and get the naming rights to Optus Stadium.

My favourite is still from The Age: "The Demons then just played out time, always keeping the margin above 20 points after strangling their opposition like a python and putting the game to sleep".

If you are like me, you are still coming to terms to us being Premiers and being 8-0. Ten years ago we were the laughing stock of the comp and I honestly thought I would never see a flag in my lifetime (I was 32 then). I was watching AFL360 tonight (stay with me) and they were talking about North and how to rebuild and not to blame Noble etc. Kingy brought up stats from the teams that had rebuilt successfully - namely Brisbane and us. There were no jokes, no mention of the previous 10 years of failed rebuilds, Jack Watts did not even get a mention! They were seriously talking about us as having a fantastic rebuild and now being a great team. The scars from the last few decades sit with us supporters but the media and pubic have moved on. We have respect. Actual respect. Not pity. Might just be me but it finally hit me that the dark days are over. Not just for the next few years, but we are a quality organisation that we can proud of full stop. Not sure where I am going with this, just wondering if people feel the same or am I just rambling? Us long suffering supporters (Im sure many longer suffering than I) have been through a lot. And I for one, am ready to let all that [censored] go and say we are a [censored] good team!!

Nice to be going “home” again

Gosch’s Paddock training ground looking good today on my morning ride. Work continues on landscaping around the perimeter. I wonder how long it takes for the turf to fully bind with the sand base so it’s safe for use?

My favourite was having a look at the neutrals grand final game day threads. People lost their [censored] at the end of the third after writing us off 15min earlier!

As much as I love "Bang....bang, bang, bang" - Hamish's call of Maxy's goal in the prelim where he "pulls out the driver, sets sail for home" gets me just as much.

Nancy does it better

You need to go back to the late 90s.

I doubt our players are going to Perth to bump into people and go nightclubbing.

Ooh I can

Thought you were going to say, "Doesn’t feel like that long ago that a trip to Perth meant producing some false documents and travelling via Darwin."

I know this is a family page, but only in your throat?

Think the womans umpire report was even more deafening . Surprised it was leaked when Gil was away ( sarcasm)

Give away tickets to Freo fans who can send in a photo of themselves in a Dees scarf from last year. West Coast fans will stay away in droves, so we can pack the place and they can play in front of a hostile crowd on their own ground. Seriously though it’ll be great to go back there for the boys I reckon. Happy memories there. Doesn’t feel like that long ago that a trip to Perth meant pencilling in the loss and just hoping for the best. Wonder if I’ll ever be able to see bang… bang bang bang without getting a lump in my throat?

Yes… we don’t need a massive win to increase our percentage; just restrict them to as low a score as possible, and a 50-60 point margin is suddenly a big percentage boost.

Definitely doesn’t sound like someone who isn’t thinking about other options.

Thankfully our players' parents didn't 20-30 years ago.

The video that highlights Neil is no longer able to be the voice of the campaign had me chocked up. Words can express the admiration i have for him,a truly all time great Australian

That's very funny OD he might have said it from his hearse but his name was Hearst

deafening silence from the afl.com site journos

I can seriously watch these sort of things for ever and a day.

Personal view : I think Buckley was right in asking just what outcome is HL looking for? If he could state that then everyone involved could progress towards that outcome and then move on, hopefully all happy.

Where did I say that the rest of the site doesn't agree with you Macca? I merely said we know you position on this (because you state it regularly, and as you said it sticks out). Completely different. (In fact I agreed with your recent post on the topic, but as I said, would have liked to see extra words to say that sometimes, however rarely, umpire calls (and luck) can determine who wins.)

Yes, your posts on umpires stand out, hence my comment that we know your position. And re the 50m abuse discussion, of course it's gone quiet. I think I said something along the lines that the players would pretty quickly learn to shoot their best friends if their coach required it. Doesn't mean the thing is the best policy. If you learn to curb your arrogance and you will be have more success in influencing the 10 to 15% of us you said you hoped to influence. I suppose the other 85 to 90% os us are beynd hope.

Their numbers are no worse than Victoria’s, and our players are no more at risk there, given they are going to play. In Victoria they will be playing as well as going out and about living life. The only reason the WA sides are copping it big time is because Covid has only just started spreading. We have had it here for a long time and most of our players have already been exposed to it.

On Sunday, when the Melbourne Football Club returns to the scene of the club’s most famous victory of the 21st Century, the feeling out there on the ground will most certainly be different. The dying moments of the night of 25 September, 2021 at Optus Stadium marked a team rising to the level of a Phoenix, bathing in the cheers and adulation from an adoring crowd in the wake of their premiership victory after so many years of hardship and desolation. This time around they can expect a mainly hostile crowd indignant with their own team as it wallows in mediocrity at the very depths of the AFL table. What else can you expect from the reigning premiers who have gone more than a third of the way into the season undefeated taking on the competition’s biggest loser? Adding to the home crowd’s discontent at the shambolic nature of their own club as the pandemic runs riot across the State will be the fact that their cross-town rival, Fremantle, is among the most likely challenger to the Demons in their quest for back-to-back flags. When the teams last met at Optus Stadium in August last year, the State was free of Covid and had a booming economy. Folk from the other side of the border weren’t particularly welcome and the Eagles were still contenders for the finals. They managed to turn on a night time light show that interrupted an almost certain runaway Demon victory into a near upset defeat but today they’re in disarray with pandemic protocols, injuries, loss of form, discipline issues and heavy defeats turning coach Adam Simpson’s life into one long nightmare. The Eagles are already in such dire straits that they’ve been forced into resting key players as they look towards the last half of the season with an eye to rebuilding for the future and contemplating the end of season drafting and trading. By way of contrast, the Demons have a healthy list that just overcame a batch of Covid19 cases and are buoyed by the fact that captain Max Gawn and key defender Jake Lever were cleared of injury concerns and available to make the trip to Perth to tackle the Eagles. For Melbourne, it has the luxury of considering resting such players because of the depth of its playing list rather than the fear of a bleak future that West Coast faces when it sits at the selection table. Nothing stated here guarantees the Demons of victory in their away game against an opponent seemingly on its knees. Complacency and overconfidence can easily turn victory in defeat as we saw in the last round with a few form reversals and upset results but it’s hard to imagine a greater upset result than the bottom team rising Phoenix-like from the ashes to end Melbourne’s 15 game winning streak that was already in train when it beat a much healthier West Coast on the same ground so many months ago. Melbourne to win by a lot. THE GAME West Coast v Melbourne at Optus Stadium Sunday 15 May, 2022 at 5.20pm. HEAD TO HEAD Overall West Coast 37 wins Melbourne 18 wins At Optus Stadium West Coast 3 wins Melbourne 2 wins Past five meetings West Coast 3 wins Melbourne 2 wins The Coaches Simpson 4 wins Goodwin 2 wins MEDIA TV - live and on demand on Kayo and live on Foxtel & Ch7. Check your local guides for details. Radio - check your local guides THE LAST TIME THEY MET Melbourne 10.12.72 defeated West Coast 9.9.63 Eagles at Optus Stadium in Round 21, 2021 The scene at Optus Stadium six or seven minutes into the final term of this contest resembled the opening of Shakespeare’s Macbeth — lots of thunder, lightning and rain. The game was stopped for half an hour and when it resumed, the Demons who were previously heading for a big victory, almost lost it. Since then, they enjoyed a couple more emphatic victories at the right time of the season. THE TEAMS WEST COAST EAGLES B: J.Rotham 35 T.Barrass 37 J.Nelson 30 HB: J.Jones 31 J.McGovern 20 A.Witherden 23 C: G.Clark 39 T.Kelly 11 L.Duggan 14 HF: J.Cripps 15 J.Darling 27 S.Petrevski-Seton 10 F: C.Jamieson 40 H.Dixon 41 L.Ryan 1 Foll: B.Williams 32 C.West 11 J.Redden 8 I/C: H.Edwards 42 L.Foley 29 J.Waterman 2 I.Winder 22 Sub: P.Naish 28 Emerg: T.Blechynden 58 S.Fisher 29 In: G.Clark H.Dixon J.Nelson B.Williams A.Witherden Out: J.Florenca (omitted) A.Gaff (calf) S.Hurn (quad) J.Kennedy (knee soreness) D.Mountford (omitted) MELBOURNE B: J.Bowey 17 H.Petty 35 J. Hunt 29 HB: J.Lever 8 S.May 1 T.Rivers 24 C: A.Brayshaw 10 C.Petracca 5 E.Langdon 15 HF: C.Spargo 9 T.McDonald 25 J.Viney 7 F: B.Fritsch 31 B.Brown 50 T.Sparrow 32 Foll: M.Gawn 11 C.Oliver 13 A.Neal-Bullen 30 I/C: J.Harmes 4 J.Jordon 23 L.Jackson 6 K.Pickett 36 Sub: K.Chandler 37 Emerg: M.Brown 38 J.Melksham 18 A.Tomlinson 20 In: K.Chandler Out: T. Bedford (omitted) Injury List: Round 9 Max Gawn - Knee | Available Jake Lever - Quad | Available Taj Woewodin - Concussion | Available Andy Moniz-Wakefield - Concussion | 1-2 Weeks Michael Hibberd - Calf | TBC Christian Salem - Knee | 1-2 Weeks Joel Smith - Ankle | 8-9 Weeks Blake Howes - Foot | 10-11 weeks ANALYSE THIS by SAM THE STATS MAN Its eight weeks into the season and the Demons’ list is looking as fit and strong as it was twelve months ago. There are a number of players who have taken part in all eight games and it would have been a far greater number but for the Covid19 scare of a few weeks ago. That’s a sign of stability and strength that doesn’t require any genius in the field of statistics, so I’ll leave it at that for now. 1. Steven May MFC games 8, goals 0 3. Christian Salem MFC game 1, goals 0 4. James Harmes MFC games 8, goals 8 5. Christian Petracca MFC games 8, goals 7 6. Luke Jackson MFC games 7, goals 5 7. Jack Viney MFC games 7, goals 5 8. Jake Lever MFC games 4 goals 0 9. Charlie Spargo MFC games 8, goals 4 10. Angus Brayshaw MFC games 8, goals 1 11. Max Gawn MFC games 8, goals 7 12. Toby Bedford MFC games 8, goals 2, CD games 4, goals 6 13. Clayton Oliver MFC games 8, goals 1 14. Michael Hibberd 15. Ed Langdon MFC games 8, goals 4 16. Bailey Laurie CD games 6, goals 6 17. Jake Bowey MFC games 8, goals 2 18. Jake Melksham MFC games 1, goals 0, CD games 5, goals 2 19. Fraser Rosman CD games 7 goals 0 20. Adam Tomlinson MFC games 4, goals 0, CD games 4, goals 0 21. Jacob Van Rooyen CD games 6, goals 9 22. Blake Howes CD games 3, goals 2 23. James Jordan MFC games 8, goals 1 24. Trent Rivers games 7, goals 1 25. Tom McDonald MFC games 7, goals 8, CD games 1, goals 3 26. Sam Weideman MFC games 5, goals 9, CD games 2, goals 2 27. Luke Dunstan MFC games 2, goals 0, CD games 5, goals 4 28. Majak Daw ® CD games 6, goals 3 29. Jayden Hunt MFC games 8, goals 0 30. Alex Neal-Bullen MFC games 7, goals 1 31. Bayley Fritsch MFC games 8, goals 16 32. Tom Sparrow MFC games 7, goals 1 33. Oskar Baker CD games 7, goals 0 34. Deakyn Smith ® CD games 7, goals 0 35. Harrison Petty MFC games 3, goals 0, CD games 1, goals 0 36. Kysaiah Pickett MFC games 7, goals 9 37. Kade Chandler ® MFC games 1, goals 0, CD games 7, goals 10 38. Mitch Brown ® CD games 6, goals 17 40. Taj Woewodin CD games 5, goals 2 41. Judd McVee ® CD games 7, goals 0 42. Daniel Turner ® CD games 1, goals 0 44. Joel Smith MFC games 5, goals 0, CD games 1, goals 0 45. Andy Moniz-Wakefield ® CD games 7, goals 5 50. Ben Brown MFC games 5, goals 13, CD games 1, goals 2

It's a good point. I'll choose my words a bit more carefully. It appears he was more evolved than the sociocultural system in place at the time. He was addressing, sexism, racism and other forms of bigotry 10 years ago in a system that was not ready for that to be addressed. Importantly, he was not being compliant (and is still not) to what he feels is acceptable for his distress to be redressed, whereas I suspect many other people would be compliant. People get paid out all the time in these situations, people sign non-disclosure agreements. That aint Heretier's style. Can you help me understand what you meant by "Can anyone imagine Bernie Vince getting up on the best and fairest night and declaring he was a prince. It simply wouldn't happen"

I normally agree with everything you post @Engorged Onion but I disagree on this. Lamumba wasn't playing with a system stacked against him He played as a crowd favourite at Collingwood HE came to Melbourne and we embraced him. Can anyone imagine Bernie Vince getting up on the best and fairest night and declaring he was a prince. It simply wouldn't happen

As much as we are on solid ground joking about the gap between us and West Coast, the reality is we need to take this game seriously, and if percentage is on offer, we need it. Brisbane and Fremantle are both ahead of us on percentage, in part because they've both already played both West Coast and North. Fremantle has West Coast again this year, whilst Geelong has West Coast twice and North again. Our fixture post North gets really tough, so now is the time to fill our boots if we can.

It is so hard to be modest when our team is so bloody good at the moment. I’m failing miserably and I love it!

I don't think we'll win by anywhere near as much as what people think, it'll still be comfortable but I'm sure the coaches will press home playing to the system rather than trying to destroy them. After every win, we're still hearing the players and coaches talking about 'learnings', 'structures', 'game plan implementation' etc. So I think they'll value a player committing to their role, more than running forward so we get another goal. Of course WC might be that bad that it turns into a thrashing, but I don't think that'll be by design.

I seem to remember the same optimism going into the Crows game last year, strange things can and do happen

In theory, the game would be in best shape if players who get the ball are more likely than not to receive a free kick (for a push in the back, high tackle, etc) than those who are second and do the tackling. However, because of the incorrect disposal/holding the ball rule, I'm not sure that that logic stacks up. If it did, though, good teams would be more likely to be rewarded.

On who/what? He helped bring down Eddie. Buckley is no longer there. CFC discredited and still in the doldrums. Not sure there is much more he can do that will damage them further. Sue them? Then do it and be done with it. Buckley would be well served to ignore the provocations and not respond. No winners on social media t-t for tat posts.

It appears to me that Harry wants revenge, mediation is not in his mind. He wants to bring down the CFC. Nothing else will satisfy him. The way it looks to me is he will take this to the grave with him. I feel sad for him that he cannot move on.

Can't wait for BBB to kick a bag at BBBB stadium...

I am reminded of the Randolph Hearse saying. News is something that someone else doesn't want you to know. The rest is unpaid advertising.

if I could go back to the moment before that all occurred and re live it for the first time… man that would be magical.

Yeah I’m usually spent after the bang…bang bang bang.

I can't even listen to this song without thinking of those marvellous couple of minutes.

bit hard when there are obviously 2 different narratives one side will have to admit to telling porkies i'm just ordering in more popcorn

One of my favourite players. Honest, brutal, perfectionist, heart on sleeve, will die for his teammates. Absolute star and a massive reason why we are where we are as a footy club.