Leaderboard

I’d rather he be Mr Signed-It 🤣

Just wait until we actually lose a game. The knives will be out and our dynasty will be declared over. And that's just from the Demonlanders ....

Patrick Ryder tonight was asked during 'On The Couch,' who were the best three ruckmen in the comp (currently). His response was 'The two Melbourne boys' followed by himself. I expected Max to be named at No. 1, but I sure as hell didn't expect Dogga at 2 (or vice versa for that matter)! 🔫 🔫 Lyon later mentioned that Gawn still rates Ryder as the best centre square ruckman in the comp!

I feel sorry for North. It is not so long ago we were in a similar position.

Everyone needs to stop feeling sorry for other clubs. The weaker other clubs are, the better positioned we are. I sat next to enough arrogant North fans on Saturday to know that when we are down the bottom again they won't show any mercy towards us. The way they tried to physically attack us during the game, knowing full well they couldn't win on skills, talent or execution, just shows you the sort of club they are.

i don't disagree but i think our midfield won't allow them repeated easy exits and f50 entries, our defensive workrate will stop their ball movement off half back, and our backline is as stingy as they come

Sounds like a grave situation.

I’ve got the same nickname unfortunately..

Oh and just noticed that for this amazing attacking side, they have actually scored 6 less points than us for the year but let in an extra 233.

Hang on I thought it was Freo that was best to challenge us? I can't keep up.

I saw that. Was also a little (pleasantly) surprised about Jackson, as other more experienced ruckmen get talked up in the media. Shows what they know! Ryder was a little modest not putting himself second. Nonetheless, second or third it was very high praise for Jackson, coming from one of the best, who knows what he is talking about.

Hypothetical. AFL ask Tas to apply for a 19th licence. Application has to be approved by the 18 clubs. Clubs reject it. AFL says: "Well, sorry Tas. But our hands are tied, etc." Tas govt retaliates by revoking funding for Haw & North. Haw take the hit and move on. North slump financially. North go begging to AFL. AFL says: "We have funds available on conditions. Do you like apples, hiking in wilderness, visiting Port Arthur, etc?"

[censored] em. No sympathy from me. Same North Melbourne that had Brent Harvey running around for them giving cheap shots, same North Melbourne that even their own supporters laughed at us during the dark times and same North Melbourne that beat us back in 1998 in the preliminary final (still dirty about that final system).

It was a practice match...not a match. Last season the dogs flogged us in a practice match. How did that stand up?

Its not his 'official' nickname, it's just one kicking around supporters on social media. The players call him "Big Sexy". (Not kidding)

Sparrow's accuracy looks a lot worse when you include the six shots at goal which haven't registered a score. Here are all Melbourne's players to have taken at least five shots this year, noting of course that raw accuracy doesn't take into account where players take their shots from nor the pressure they are under when they take the kick. This is where Champion Data's expected score can be useful but they don't make the data available for individual players. Here are the least accurate players in the AFL this year who have taken at least ten shots. Notes: For the purpose of comparison to xScore, Score excludes rushed behinds. xScore sourced from the Herald Sun / Champion Data via https://twitter.com/OliverGigacz/status/1528338101042806785?s=20&t=LvFmdS4tCVKdBsutoZc2pg

I think what many people miss, and by people I mean [censored] knuckles in the media paid to analyse footy, is that our approach is different. It is not about ruthlessness, for ruthlessness sake. Old school footy rules has a team as dominant as the dees crushing a team from the first second to the last, like a dominant boxer not once slowing up on a hapless opponent. Through that lens, we establish an early lead and the lead grows in a linear, even upward trajectory for the whole game. But that is not how we play - against any team. Stretching the boxing analogy, we certainly look to dominate early and establish a lead. Land a few early blows that rock opponents and put them on the back foot. We then absorb their pressure, take their best shot. Not quite rope a dope, because they don't land that many blows, but the ones they do we absorb. We respond to how they want to play the game. If they want to attack, we repel. We are comfortable with the ball being in our defensive zone for long stretches. If they want to play a high possession game and chip it around their back half, like the Roos and Port did, then we are happy to accommodate that approach too. Hard to score from deep inside their own 50. if they want to go wide and try to stretch us, like the saints did, no probs, bring it on. If they want to flood our forward line and bring multiple extras to the stoppage, like the bombers and GWS did, no dramas. If they want to attack through the corridor and go fast like the hawks (sometimes) tried - then be our guest, attack away. They throw their best punches. And inevitably tire. And we they tire we take over. It is a dance, with two participants. The gears we supposedly have that you hear people talk about is really about this dance. What i don't like about the idea of gears is that implies we are in cruise mode and then just flick some imaginary switch when we want/need to. Which apart from being a wrong characterisation of how we play, is disrespectful to our opponent and totally contrary to goody's philosophy. Like a dance, our game is all about tempo, rhythm (as in the rhythm of the game) and responding to what the opposition bring to the table. The goal is to win. Not win by some arbitrary margin - but win. Our approach maximises our chances of wining. Trying to win by the biggest possible margin doesn't as by definition trying to do so involves taking risks and risks create opportunities for the opposition to score. The key reason why Brisbane were beaten by the hawks was their inability, or choice, not to control and slow the tempo in the last quarter, and instead keep their foot to the floor and continue to take risks. The margin doesn't determine how good a win it was for us. Sticking to team rules, discipline, attitude, behaviors, how well we respond to the opposition's approach - how well we parried - and how effectively we got the game on our terms, to look like how we like it to look, are the key determinants.

Played for Oakleigh Chargers as a bottom age player at the weekend. From Rookie Me Central ~ #55 Kynan Brown “One for Melbourne fans to watch as a potential father-son candidate, Brown (son of Nathan), produced some exciting moments in his NAB League debut. The hard-at-it midfielder got a run through the engine room and also impacted up forward, snaring two goals from 17 disposals and four inside 50s. Both of Brown’s majors were fair efforts, particularly the second term snap which he seemed pretty pleased with. Still a bottom-ager, there’s some exciting traits to work with.” 2022 NAB League Boys snapshot: Round 7 Height 180cm DOB 13/01/2005

I wouldn't say I feel sorry for teams but I would never want any other supporter to feel the way I did during the dark years.

Just putting this out there. I know there have been whispers that some @ the AFL have been pushing to still look to relocate Nth to Tasmania, and a lot of denials etc. Can the AFL, if it actually owns the licenses for all clubs, revoke the Nth license for the AFL and award a new license to Tasmania instead? Nth could play VFL if they didn't want to exterminate the club entirely. In terms of the AFL competition, it's not diluting the talent pool, Tasmania gets a new team with it's own branding etc, the complexity of 19 teams is a non issue. Clubs with loud moth presidents like Tony Cochraine who are mewling at the thought of someone taking the teat from their mouth would have less of an argument about the slice of the pie. I absolutely get this would be a disaster for Nth, but I doubt any supporters (other than the ones who live in Tas) would come across to support the team as a relocation anyway. Give me 2 minutes to run for cover and then fire away!!!😁

Probably doing them a big favour. List management and recruitment has been pure [censored].

I agree we have to stay ruthless as a club/team on the field Jaded. More than happy to thump everyone while we can! Norf (and most other) supporters have always laughed in our faces & kicked us while we were down (for decades). Been on the receiving end multiple times. Bit of Kanga Karma maybe.

I have more and more time for Buckley. On SEN with Gerard, after the latter waxes lyrical about how good the Blues are, Bucks goes: 'We are talking bout the undefeated premiers, Melbourne, right?

“Super underdogs this weekend. Nothing to lose hopefully we throw everything we have against the dee's.” Tired of hearing this defeatism every week.

We are one of the only teams I've seen that can lead by a relatively small margin (3-4 goals) and be in no danger of losing whatsoever

Might be a steam train enthusiast !!

I must be way behind.. I'm still at the part where St Kilda were going to finally end our streak and stamp themselves as the new premiership contender?

Fugazi...

He is 6th on the all time "tackles per game" list at 5.9. And he has the highest ever "contested possessions per game" at 15.3 (a long way ahead of Cripps who is 2nd with 14.6). So he is in the all time record conversation for disposals, contested possessions, clearances, and tackles, yet people think he needs to kick more goals to be one of the greats?

That first incident involving Langers looked a bit premeditated to me..

Yes a bit close to the bone OD

I mean, they could probably do with some change in their recruiting and list management department tbh...

Terrible news for a struggling club. I'd suggest that there will be more fallout than just these three. Not because I know anything, but it seems most unlikely that three people leaving like this will resolve whatever the underlying problems are.

If T Mac's still in our planned best 22 for 2023 and they anticipate JVR will be ready to play AFL, the club really needs to strongly encourage Weid to actively look for a new club next year, even if we only get a ham sandwich for him. He's good enough to play 22 games for a club lacking key forward options (eg - Pies, North, Essendon). Sam should prioritise playing a regular game over the hope of winning a flag at this point in time.

Reckon their confidence could be a bit shot from two demoralising losses. And they may have 'heavy' legs from two weeks of playing in the wet. A bit weary perhaps from a 6-day break. Not to mention the big psychological advantage we have of being so hard to score against, home ground, crowd support. They play a similar style to us and it should be a good game. Dees by 4 -6 goals.

The kid was a bust years ago. Can rarely get separation and out body opponents after six seasons. VFL footballer unfortunately.

Great interview from Ryder. Will most likely enter his 18th season next year. I respect him a great deal. He was one of the few to hold the bombers to account and left due to the clubs lack of player welfare. He was concerned about the impact of the hundreds of injections might have on his unborn child

Paul Roos prime performance metrics were percentage and points against. When he took over at the end of our dreadful 2013, our percentage was 54.1% and our average points against was 122. By 2016, this had improved to 102% and 88. Now it's 161.7% and 58. With a 10-0 record, it's hard to see how we are "underperforming". We are doing exactly what we need to be doing.

Carlton are playing the best they can play. They are extremely reliant on Curnow and McKay, so if they don't kick a bag then they are less likely to win. We rely on no one player, that's the difference. Plus their defensive work is pretty average. I would actually say when up and going the Lions forwards are the most dangerous. But as we have seen good defence often beats a good offence.

I was grinding my teeth watching his early disposals but he started to settle as the game went on. Just remember he has come in cold to a team that has been very settled. Clarry, Trac, Viney and Gawn know exactly where the other one is going to be. Dunstan will take a while to get used to the pace and make that connection with his team mates. On a separate note, I would really like to see Bedford get some game time. His chase down of LDU was really something to watch. He has got great pace and endeavour and he can finish around goals okay as well. I’m not sure what his tank is like but I’d prefer to see him in that high half forward role than Melksham.

I thought it was the Lions...🤔 ...flavour of the week at play...

Ryder is a gun. What is he now? 38? 40? Amazing

Carlton and Brisbane will be seen as our threats until we play them. There is always a headline to be made out of speculation But Carlton at it's best is certainly equipped to give us a good challenge, especially now their biggest weakness (defence) has been improved by the fantastic return of Docherty. Good mids, bloody good forwards and an improved game plan. Would be nice to maul them prior to finals.

Apparently, Fyfe not playing this week.

Well that word has certainly changed its meaning recently! ♥️

If they're the best match-up waiting for us in September I'm relieved😅. I agree that they have the personal to negate some of the creativity and production of our best players but I just don't think they're well drilled enough generally and especially in Voss's first year to match us.

Why would you bring in Weed?

I'd be inclined to leave Dunstan in for a game or three just to see what happens and see if we can't "Melbournise" him. Can't be easy stepping up to AFL level. Not saying he's going to really make it either, but I'd give him a bit more of a run before we write him off as nothing more than good depth.

Is Ben Brown being rested because of the exhaustion of carrying his 2 kids through the banner? Not a chance in Demonland of BBB getting rested for Weid.