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Yes

Boring

Jackos mum won't like that

Every round is "contrived" if you want to look at it that way. It's a fixture after all, not a draw. I don't see what's wrong with having an opening round featuring evenly matched teams.

Well thats it, Socceroos were so brave this morning and battled hard for 90 mins. Pushed them to the max but Messi was the difference. We leave this tournament with our heads held high, a great tournament in so many respects and we can definitely build on this for the future.

6 goals from Schache from 6 Hunter goal assists. 💥

As much as I hate to agree with Eddie McGuire he was spot on when he made a comment about why are we trying to squeeze into the sports precinct when Port Melbourne's ground is primed for a redevelopment. The old DHL factories next to the ground are as old as the hills and could make way for an elite facility. Port Melbourne would be a great location IMO.

We may not get so many night games this year with four teams finishing ahead of us wanting the bright lights. And Carlton, Ess and Bulldogs will as usual get more than their ladder position warrants. I would rather have our night games in Mar to May than June to Aug and hopefully the night games in the winter months are in the warmer states. The MCG is bitter at night in winter. As an aside, I note the AFL has brought forward the Friday night game but by only 10 minutes to 7.40 pm. Bit of a token effort given nearly everyone wants it at the same time as Thursday (7.20pm) or Saturday (7.25pm) night.

Not really sure that we’ll be playing Hunter at half back next year but it’s nice to hear from him 😀

My niece has a school play on Tuesday. I bet the b*stards at AFL HQ are already planning how to steal her thunder.

And good on them

Magnificent Article and so very very true 🤩

Naturally, Collingwood’s game against Geelong – Geelong’s home game – is at the MCG.

Santa came to Amsterdam early this year thanks to my awesome brother back home!!!!

Classic AFL to release during the Socceroos game.

Happy with this. Saturday night prime time beats Sunday at 1.30pm or 4.40pm. If the gate doesn't top 50k then that's on our own fair weather fan base, not the dogs.

His ability to kick accurately inside 50 to the advantage of forwards is his biggest asset to us IMO Pencil in more goals to Fritsch in particular solely because of this

Burgs was a print media journalist and rusted on MFC fan who had to build the club’s media presence from scratch, and stayed loyal after he was given the heave ho. I reckon you could have said Gibbo did a great job without saying anything about Burgs.

Part Three - Comparing apples with pomegranates by The Oracle One of the truly pointless exercises after each year’s draft is the game over which club “won” the period in question. The reality is that there is no winner or loser at the time and it’s only years further down the track when a full assessment of how the picks turn out can be made, that the winning hand is revealed. And the draft results cannot be considered in isolation; you need to look at where each club stood before the trades including their original hands, how they traded and drafted and where they stood in the end. It wasn’t so long ago that one so-called “expert” gave Melbourne a C rating for its 2019 draft haul of Luke Jackson, Kysaiah Pickett and Trent Rivers. Less than two years later the trio were all part premiership team. With this in mind, I return to the changes in the make up of Melbourne’s 2022 list in the fortnight after this year’s grand final. The club had failed in its recent finals campaign and then lost exciting young ruckman Jackson who sought to return home to Perth. In the trading period, the Demons acquired three new names in two-time All Australian 203cm tall ruckman and Copeland Trophy winner Brodie Grundy, premiership Bulldog wingman Lachie Hunter (also a past best and fairest for the Western Bulldogs) and his teammate in Josh Schache, a former Larke Medallist and the number two national draftee of 2015. On top of that, the Demons improved their draft position. They now held a current first round pick and two future first and second rounders for 2023. That outcome wasn’t enough to impress all of the pundits but to many, including yours truly, it was nevertheless a satisfactory outcome. In the month before the draft, Melbourne added young basketballer Kyah Farris-White as a Category B rookie on a one year contract brokered by his American agent who initially contacted Jason Taylor via Linkedin. The 206cm beanstalk was tested by Mark Williams who liked what he saw and the youngster will now gain tuition in ruckwork within a system containing two of the game’s best ruck practitioners. With the draft fast approaching, there was speculation that the Demons were preparing to deal aggressively with their future picks to improve their hand but that all came to nought. Perhaps the Demon recruiters are fans of the US musical Hamilton because they decided to use the national draft to select a pair who carry the names of two early American Presidents, Jefferson and Adams. High flying forward Matthew Jefferson from the Oakleigh Chargers has been associated with the Demons ever since they collected a first round selection (which turned out to be 15) in the Jackson trade. The connection was clear and present. One of the club’s needs was a key forward to team up with 2021 draftee Jacob Van Rooyen as Ben Brown and Tom McDonald neared their twilight years. The Under 18 All Australian Jefferson who booted 14 goals in the recent national carnival including a haul of seven against WA was the obvious choice at that point on the first night of the draft meeting. He was also the full forward in the NAB League Team Of The Year. Late in the second round of the following evening, Melbourne snared a Jefferson bookend, Jed Adams, a 196cm key defender from Western Australia. Despite some injury concerns in 2022, Adams is considered a cool and steady customer who could fill Steven May’s shoes when the great man decides to step down. There was no third selection in the national draft. As expected, the club promoted Kade Chandler off the rookie list — a fitting reward for the young midfielder/forward’s patience and perseverance during the Covid pandemic when he played an understudy role at a premiership club, biding his time for opportunities that were hard to come by. The critics provided no universal accolades for the Demons’ drafting exercise. Rather, it was considered as a solid effort. There were no raised eyebrows. Pulses never ran hot. There were no apples to compare with the fruit of the other clubs. So when the rookie draft came a day later, Melbourne did pull a couple of surprises. It bucked the trend of reloading with previously delisted players and continued to go young and tall by selecting an impressive South Australian ruckman who has established some great credentials in his young career. Standing at close to 200cm, Will Verrall is not that far away from accompanying one of the two big guns in the ruck or up forward at AFL level should the need arise. If not, he will develop in their shadows at Casey. Then came the bombshell selection of the smoky of the draft. Strong bodied Xavier College student Oliver Sestan happened to be at the place (Gosch’s Paddock) at the right time when the Paul Connors management team showed off its draft stable to league recruiters late last month. It has been said that Sestan matched it that day with now North Melbourne recruit George Wardlaw. Days later the prolific 186cm goalkicker in junior ranks at Mansfield was a Demon. The experts all asked “who” and I guess we’ll find out some time sooner or later as to whether the speculative selection can play. But that’s not all. The selectors left one place open to be filled during the preseason supplemental selection period or further down the track in next year’s mid season draft. And beyond that, the Demons have two first and two second round draft picks awaiting them when the 2023 trades and draft take place. In the meantime, the lists read like this — PRIMARY LIST: Jed Adams Jake Bowey Angus Brayshaw Ben Brown Kade Chandler Luke Dunstan Bayley Fritsch Max Gawn Brodie Grundy James Harmes Michael Hibberd Blake Howes Lachie Hunter Matthew Jefferson James Jordon Ed Langdon Bailey Laurie Jake Lever Tom McDonald Steven May Jake Melksham Alex Neal-Bullen Clayton Oliver Christian Petracca Harrison Petty Kysaiah Kropinyeri Pickett Trent Rivers Christian Salem Josh Schache Joel Smith Charlie Spargo Tom Sparrow Adam Tomlinson Jacob Van Rooyen Jack Viney Taj Woewodin ROOKIE LIST: CATEGORY A Judd McVee Oliver Sestan Deakyn Smith Daniel Turner Will Verrell ROOKIE LIST: CATEGORY B Kyah Farris-White Andy Moniz-Wakefield

Realistically there is space in the MCG precinct, the challenge is securing buy-in from the necessary stakeholders to cut through the red tape. I believe we will have first class facilities in the MCG within the next 5 - 7 years I just think we don't have the political clout to drive the process and so need to work within the process set out by the State Government.

This has been spoken about plenty of times, but the North Port oval isn't the only option. And why would we want to step into Ports home? Just down Williamstown road is the Murphy, Anderson reserve with 4 ovals and room for development both on the site and adjacent. Then even further around the corner is Fishermans bend and plenty of space. Even Melbourne Grammar have their sports oval ( Flack Parkl) there. But while we have a Board which is fixated on MCG proximity alone, these sort of options are not explored.

Always liked the ideas of Rivers in the midfield, big bodied & explosive Would allow us to fit in a true line breaking half back too

And yet there is nuffies on the socials defending it. Most likely clowns who follow no other sports, not even cricket.

Good chance we will play them in the match where they unveil their new stadium and only let Geelong members into the game.

I was convinced we would be playing Geelong in Geelong in rd 1 but I suppose it will be the last game of the year just so we can whinge about it all season.

here ya are https://www.bursty.com.au/#home a new sports startup

100 days to go. Can’t wait!

AFL can take their Brownlow and stick it. What a waste of prime TV space is all it's come to. I honestly give zero Fs about that suposed award these days. When Oliver and Gawn (and others I'm sure) can have such dominant seasons and still fall way short on that award, it's time to religate it the eyes of the football public. As if kicking more goals should make him more eligible. Gees, the guy has bright red hair, so he's ticked that Brownlow criteria 🙄. Need to rename the Brownlow for what it is 'umpires favourite player', it's hardly a league best and fairest.

Damn! Thanks for all your work Gibby, as a nuffy living overseas I followed the club vicariously through you. Gonna be missed.

Wish it was on a Thursday so Tom Morris had a chance to break the news of Hunters debut

My boy Hunter to stick it to Bevo early doors Saturday night at the G. We'll get a big crowd. This year we opened on Wednesday night which didn't help attendance wise. We'll get 60,000 in I hope

Um I'm not so sure. Breaking into a Premiership side is one thing BUT coming off an underwhelming season for your Club having coaching and personal issues are all major career points, however there are vacancies in our AFL best 23 that weren't there last season ( until after Round11). Thats the way many supporters view it now but do the FD, Selection Cttee plus Simon see a need for replacing and tweaking our Brest team, by updating the list on game day. Our trade of Hunt Weid and Toby while not all our doing does indicate that some extra players are needed on our list. I believe if given a chance some of the following are possible ( not all of them together) in Round1 vs the Dogs. Grundy Hunter JVR Bowey Chandler Schache Tmac Joel Smith Dunstan JJ, Tommo if injuries and form warrant consideration. Others like TajW, Howes, Laurie and our 2022 and this season recruits are possibles for down the track later in season on good form or fast track development above expectations. In essence no one should be ruled in or out of the best 23 except say the best 17/18 from last year. This may not happen but I believe if we are to challenge Geelong seriously we need sbout 5/6 improvements to our team in the Finals including our fitness!

In one's darkest moments, we can always close our eyes and think of Essendon's list and generational performance. Thank the maker.

Expect Jordon to get better too and not want to lose his spot again. Both will be vying for that role in the 22

Part Three - Comparing apples with pomegranates by The Oracle One of the truly pointless exercises after each year’s draft is the game over which club “won” the period in question. The reality is that there is no winner or loser at the time and it’s only years further down the track when a full assessment of how the picks turn out can be made, that the winning hand is revealed. And the draft results cannot be considered in isolation; you need to look at where each club stood before the trades including their original hands, how they traded and drafted and where they stood in the end. It wasn’t so long ago that one so-called “expert” gave Melbourne a C rating for its 2019 draft haul of Luke Jackson, Kysaiah Pickett and Trent Rivers. Less than two years later the trio were all part premiership team. With this in mind, I return to the changes in the make up of Melbourne’s 2022 list in the fortnight after this year’s grand final. The club had failed in its recent finals campaign and then lost exciting young ruckman Jackson who sought to return home to Perth. In the trading period, the Demons acquired three new names in two-time All Australian 203cm tall ruckman and Copeland Trophy winner Brodie Grundy, premiership Bulldog wingman Lachie Hunter (also a past best and fairest for the Western Bulldogs) and his teammate in Josh Schache, a former Larke Medallist and the number two national draftee of 2015. On top of that, the Demons improved their draft position. They now held a current first round pick and two future first and second rounders for 2023. That outcome wasn’t enough to impress all of the pundits but to many, including yours truly, it was nevertheless a satisfactory outcome. In the month before the draft, Melbourne added young basketballer Kyah Farris-White as a Category B rookie on a one year contract brokered by his American agent who initially contacted Jason Taylor via Linkedin. The 206cm beanstalk was tested by Mark Williams who liked what he saw and the youngster will now gain tuition in ruckwork within a system containing two of the game’s best ruck practitioners. With the draft fast approaching, there was speculation that the Demons were preparing to deal aggressively with their future picks to improve their hand but that all came to nought. Perhaps the Demon recruiters are fans of the US musical Hamilton because they decided to use the national draft to select a pair who carry the names of two early American Presidents, Jefferson and Adams. High flying forward Matthew Jefferson from the Oakleigh Chargers has been associated with the Demons ever since they collected a first round selection (which turned out to be 15) in the Jackson trade. The connection was clear and present. One of the club’s needs was a key forward to team up with 2021 draftee Jacob Van Rooyen as Ben Brown and Tom McDonald neared their twilight years. The Under 18 All Australian Jefferson who booted 14 goals in the recent national carnival including a haul of seven against WA was the obvious choice at that point on the first night of the draft meeting. He was also the full forward in the NAB League Team Of The Year. Late in the second round of the following evening, Melbourne snared a Jefferson bookend, Jed Adams, a 196cm key defender from Western Australia. Despite some injury concerns in 2022, Adams is considered a cool and steady customer who could fill Steven May’s shoes when the great man decides to step down. There was no third selection in the national draft. As expected, the club promoted Kade Chandler off the rookie list — a fitting reward for the young midfielder/forward’s patience and perseverance during the Covid pandemic when he played an understudy role at a premiership club, biding his time for opportunities that were hard to come by. The critics provided no universal accolades for the Demons’ drafting exercise. Rather, it was considered as a solid effort. There were no raised eyebrows. Pulses never ran hot. There were no apples to compare with the fruit of the other clubs. So when the rookie draft came a day later, Melbourne did pull a couple of surprises. It bucked the trend of reloading with previously delisted players and continued to go young and tall by selecting an impressive South Australian ruckman who has established some great credentials in his young career. Standing at close to 200cm, Will Verrall is not that far away from accompanying one of the two big guns in the ruck or up forward at AFL level should the need arise. If not, he will develop in their shadows at Casey. Then came the bombshell selection of the smoky of the draft. Strong bodied Xavier College student Oliver Sestan happened to be at the place (Gosch’s Paddock) at the right time when the Paul Connors management team showed off its draft stable to league recruiters late last month. It has been said that Sestan matched it that day with now North Melbourne recruit George Wardlaw. Days later the prolific 186cm goalkicker in junior ranks at Mansfield was a Demon. The experts all asked “who” and I guess we’ll find out some time sooner or later as to whether the speculative selection can play. But that’s not all. The selectors left one place open to be filled during the preseason supplemental selection period or further down the track in next year’s mid season draft. And beyond that, the Demons have two first and two second round draft picks awaiting them when the 2023 trades and draft take place. In the meantime, the lists read like this — PRIMARY LIST: Jed Adams Jake Bowey Angus Brayshaw Ben Brown Kade Chandler Luke Dunstan Bayley Fritsch Max Gawn Brodie Grundy James Harmes Michael Hibberd Blake Howes Lachie Hunter Matthew Jefferson James Jordon Ed Langdon Bailey Laurie Jake Lever Tom McDonald Steven May Jake Melksham Alex Neal-Bullen Clayton Oliver Christian Petracca Harrison Petty Kysaiah Kropinyeri Pickett Trent Rivers Christian Salem Josh Schache Joel Smith Charlie Spargo Tom Sparrow Adam Tomlinson Jacob Van Rooyen Jack Viney Taj Woewodin ROOKIE LIST: CATEGORY A Judd McVee Oliver Sestan Deakyn Smith Daniel Turner Will Verrell ROOKIE LIST: CATEGORY B Kyah Farris-White Andy Moniz-Wakefield

Remember our 2019 year...would have been no chance of that happening to us either. We finished 2nd last... Not saying it will happen by any stretch but recent history shows it's a possibility. Imagine finishing in the bottom 5 having given away your top end picks. At least we were able to top up and go again.

Would be lovely if we win the flag, draft a future champion with the LJ pick and Freo finish last, handing us another 2 champions, with their F1and F 2nd picks and LJ has a quiet year in 2023. Is that too much to ask for?

Deja vu as we start the season against the Western Bulldogs at the MCG for the second year in a row.

Unsighted: Oliver, Pickett, Langdon, May, Harmes, Brayshaw, Melk, Tomlinson, Joel Smith, Verrall. No Dunstan, ANB either Rehab: Ben Brown, McDonald, Hibberd, AMW, Deakyn Smith Benny Brown doing pretty short jobs but joined in one drill and kicked the footy around. Hibbo and AWM doing solid work. T Mac not looking a mile off. New boys: Adams (Jed Adams): In runners and t shirt, did a good session on the watt bike. Good height, not big but solid frame, looks like he'll fill out once they do get him going though El Jefe (Matthew Jefferson): Joined in some drills and match sim, kicks a nice drop punt and seems to have loose easy arms that easily hold marks Kyah (Kyah Farris-White): joined in some drills, has a monster of work to do on his kicking, poor Choco wasn't marking many of his 15m stabs Sestan (Oliver Sestan): solid but not heavy, will need a preseason to change his frame a little but hardly a mile off, kicks accurately with punch when doing some kick to kick with Choco

I’ve been one of Doerre’s critics in recent times but, to be fair, it should be recognised that his own views on Jefferson are no different to those which he held before Melbourne traded into the first round of the draft and became one of the front runners to get him. He posted this podcast entitled “AFL Draft Power Rankings tier list August 2022 (Top-50)” outlining how he ranked the draft prospects at the end of August in three different tiers. He placed Jefferson in the third tier and explained why (around 24/25 minutes in). On that basis, you have to respect his views even if you disagree with them. The three tiers were - Tier 1 Will Ashcroft Aaron Cadman Mattaes Phillipou Harry Sheezel Elijah Tsatas George Wardlaw Tier 2 Jedd Busslinger Jhye Clarke Bailey Humphrey Henry Hustwaite Cam McKenzie Tier 3 Jaxon Binns Charlie Clarke Alwyn Davey Jr Adam D’Aloia Blake Drury Brayden George Reuben Ginbey Lewis Hayes Elijah Hewett Oliver Hollands Olli Hotton Matthew Jefferson Isaac Keeler Noah Long Harry Rowston Kobe Ryan Jacob Ryan Mitch Szybkowski Casey Voss He didn’t get too many on the list wrong although Hustwaite “the next Patrick Cripps??” slipped through to pick 37, one before Melbourne’s second pick (I wonder if we might have picked him if he was still available?) The other thing to note is the difference between power rankings and a phantom draft. He placed Jefferson at #10 in his September draft because that was where he saw an AFL club selecting him. I’ve gone back to the vision of Jefferson in some of his Under 18 National Draft games to see if Doerre’s criticisms stood up. MJ kicked 14 goals across the four games and his seven against WA was the standout. Obviously, when you’re getting delivery from a dominant midfield like he did in that superb five goal third quarter, it’s a bonus but I did notice some aspects to his game that Doerre might have missed out on. The final game vs Vic Country was a much tougher one for him but he still managed two goals including one important one in the final moments. He moved well around the ground, provided some scoring assists and executed a great smother. There’s plenty there for the club to work on and he compares well with the more strongly built Cadman. All in all, I’m looking forward to the day when he and JVR form part of a very formidable key forward combination and I disagree with Doerre’s suggestion that he might become a key defender. He said much the same about JVR last year and I suppose that it might happen but it’s unlikely.

Never gave up, Martinez saved Kuol’s shot with his bicep at the death.

Disposal is a problem???? Get real, his disposals are mainly "elite"

That would rely on Dogs fans attending the game in their droves and as we saw in this years game, they didn’t. They also only got 45,000 to a Richmond V Dogs MCG 2022 Saturday night game. Always good to start the season off the G with a home game. However a round 23 MCG game would be great too. Last 4 season we’ve ether been sent interstate or to Geelong to close the season.

Melbourne V Ducking Dogs Rd1 MCG Sat 7:25pm. Looks like we gonna be playing them twice a year like we did with the Saints 2015-2019. Not 100% but pretty sure it will be the case.

A couple of characteristics of this bloke: Smiles and enjoys the game for the love of the game, every game. Never backs away, and always backs up,, shares and has a penchant for selflessness. Secretely, every clubs nightmare at the same time as every clubs idol. A cult figure, who, there will be a book written about.

Hunter has been a higher calibre player for most of his career, and may be better suited to our side. I highly doubt Dunstan thought he'd slot into a premiership team as a regular with Clarry, Viney and Trac as inside mids

At the same time, what we achieved this year in terms of the draft and associated recruiting through the wisdom and criticality of JT has been extremely satisfying - particularly since we did not venture into the top 10 picks (allegedly top 10 - some I would not regard as the same high quality of what we managed to occupy on a new dotted line). So, for 2023, there most probably is no real need to sniff the air for what are regarded as 'the best'. Provided we can now progress (as a Club) to a new game plan/s or alternatives in our 'systems' to benefit the whole team, we are responsible to: * develop our new players with greater intensity than we have in the past * extend the skills and knowledges required for our whole team to perform more effectively and successfully as a singular but potent unit * provide experiential opportunities (not just one or two) for our young guns with deepening assistance from our terrific, more experienced players and mentors * be prepared to quickly respond to/tackle or appeal for explanation - at/from the senior levels of the Club - the AFL and umpire management at any and every suggestion of disadvantage, disregard or unfavourable circumstance as these impact the playing group, the Club and its administration quite negatively, and concurrently contaminate the ideals of even playing fields upon which our AFL game depends. Bias and advantage are far too apparent across the last two decades '...up which we should not put!' (To quote from the entertaining Captain Blood.)

Dunstan isn’t a premium player, BF or filling a need. He was always back up to a top 4 midfield. Hunter will provide a need if he wants it enough.

Whilst there’s room for it - fixture announcements, contract extensions etc - I like that our socials haven’t descended in to a mess of bad memes and attempted edgy content. Our media content reflects our brand and the interviews with players reflect a level of trust and respect. Kudos to Ben. There was a new person taking photos out on the field at training and their outfit alone made me a little nervous. But I don’t want to judge prematurely. Teams give so little to traditional media these days (and I don’t blame them), which means the in house media are really important for how we connect with the team.

Things that caught the eye JVR was the main target of the other match sim team and he was prominent. Had some solid marking contests with Petty and he definitely has a good crack at it. A couple of two grab marks and drops, hopefully that's just early season stuff. But he looks really fit and strong and doesn't lack for energy. McVee - paired up with Salo and drills and they linked up on the same team a bit. Looks stronger but also to be playing quicker Rivers - had a stack of it, not as efficient with his use but a few kicks that missed by inches Woey - looked sharp and used it well Sparrow - had the hair flowing and moves like some kind of new age armoured vehicle. JJ - the match sim was all focused on fast ball movement and JJ was playing to instruction and getting it on nicely. Used the left at one stage, had a nice run and penetrating accurate kick at another, willing at the contest Petty - cleaned himself up nicely spoiling Fritsch at one stage, but got back out there for a nice battle with JVR. Had some spoils, marks, tackles and just generally did Petty stuff. Looks good Gawn, Petracca, Viney, Lever were all doing their things. Was good to see them all healthy