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Players Definitely on the Flight to Brisbane. May, Harmes, Petracca, Grundy, Viney, Lever, Spargo, Brayshaw, Gawn, Hunter, Oliver, Hibberd, Langdon, Bowey, Melksham, Tomlinson, Jordon, Rivers, McDonald, Smith, Neal-Bullen, Fritsch, Sparrow, Petty, Chandler, McVee, Brown

"Look Eddie, I haven't received February's payment and it's close to the end of March. WTF is going on?"

Bayley Fritsch & Steven May are here

Viney and Hibberd are in the lounge on the way to Brisbane.

It's the cool kid, the nerd and the stoner (Left to Right).

This is great! DL has really gone up a notch with all access stuff this year!

Tomlinson here. No sign of May. TMac here too.

Funny watching a game where you can’t stand either team winning.

No sure why they would do so given in a quarter of footy, where we dominated, he only got 2 possessions - albeit both being a score (one super classy goal, one point). And he had zero tackles and zero clearances. He also had 83 metres gained, which isn't too bad if you don't factor in that about 70 of those meters were from the goal he kicked from inside the center square. Don't get me wrong, I'm a big fan of melk as a sub, but jeez he got plenty of plaudits for 2 kicks at 50% DE in one quarter of footy.

Judd McVee here too so will be interesting to see whether Hibberd plays.

Mad a car trip from north east Vic to the Gabba for the game, just wondering what tickets we buy to make sure we are with other Melbourne supporters???

Been playing it all morning. The player ratings are warped, but the graphics are amazing!

The game developers used a basketball game as their starting point, so it's natural they would favour players who throw the ball.

I can trace the origins of this thread to the mention of Cam Rayner in the 'What they're saying at Springfield' thread. Humans are fascinating creatures. Anyway, if Watts had been taken at 31 we'd love him and if Fritsch was taken at 1 we'd probably have burned him for 'underperforming' for the first three seasons of just being good. Of course, NOW we can say that pick 1 of the 2008 draft got us one handy third tall swingman for a decade and then the games' best mid-sized forward who kicked 6 goals in a grand final and is realistically top-3 in his draft. It's like an MFCSS therapy session in here.

I smell a late change with May not being risked… No insider info, just a faint whiff of footy dept nonsense. 31. Tight calf. Friday night in Brisbane in March.

BT- " .... he evacuates the ball . " Painful I would think.

Hawkins hands after each game

Tommo would be in the first six picked in every other team this week.

Terrible ins 😅 Gotta feel for Tomlinson, he played so well and deserved another go. Fingers crossed May's calf doesn't blow up.

https://t.co/3Fnk3U5KPR 3 return

Over the last 48 hours or so, and particularly after listening the podcast last night, I have been pondering the potential evolution of how we play, and more importantly why we are now (albeit 1 regular season and 2 pre-season games) doing things so apparently differently in the forward half. Primary focus over time (at least overtly mentioned to the public) Goodwin initially wanted to build from the contest out, and we have been well supported by the calibre of players that we have obtained, in being able to achieve that (2017-2020) focus on defensive capabilties first and honing those skills (2017-2020) focus on transitioning without ball (2019-2021) focus on forward 'connection' (2020-202... Now all these things have significantly improved - and clearly all these are ongoing works in progress, these are merely illustrative time frames. What I am interested in now is about the last point - and the delivery and 'positive risk' to now seemingly to deliberately choose to NOT kick to pockets and play the percentages of minimising options for the defence should they obtain the ball with choices of lanes to get out of the D50. To my surprise, this to me was exemplified by Charlie Spargo's goal on the run from 40... it was a surprise to me because, not that the bloke cant kick far (he can), it's presumably being because he has historically being told to hit someone up.... that feels like a significant shift in philosophy. I wonder if this is less about a reaction to how we went last year, but this was ALWAYS going to occur once a range of our young 'starlets' (Pickett, Spargo, Chandler/Bedford(😔) eg) worked their way deeper into the system, and their capacity grew. I can't help but think that this has been an evolution which directly corresponds to where the list is at in maturity (ie: capacity to execute specific tasks/roles, and stamina over the length of both game, and season, rather than a response to being risk averse for the sake of being risk averse into the forward line. I dont know if we will ever get an answer, but (any coaches out there) there would surely be a version of a forensic '5 year plan, looking at what skills need to be developed, and what can occur each time we/the players 'level up', and what do we refine next. Not only from a skill acquisition perspective, but from a tactical perspective taking into account the players increased capacity to hold up to to the demands and rigor of the game. Cheerio, and Go Dees.

Love how you’ve done this in guernsey order.

I didn’t eyeball every player but Chandler is here and I didn’t see Laurie.

Say what you went about Watts, this is to this day in the top 5 live moments I’ve had as a Melbourne supporter:

About time we had another Jack Watts thread.

Let’s go Carlton…. We all know it’s time for Geelong to do this

Darcy, Darragh, and Dayne. Brisbane's ins look like someone tried to cheat on a word puzzle game. Meanwhile, our ins could each stake a claim to being in the proverbial best six at almost any club. It is a little scary. At some point this season our whole team is going to have an 'up' game on the same day and it simply won't matter who the opposition is. (Although personally I'd like to see our two games against Hawthorn reach a combined margin over 200)

Great ins. And TMac named as well. Full strength other than Salem. Lions won't know what hit them. Edit: forgot about Kossie. obviously will come straight back in post suspension.

Nailed cool kid & stoner but say what old boy... isn't that the reincarnated ace fighter pilot Biggles in the middle there??...

Couldn't agree more. Smashing Collingwood in a Grand FInal would be as good as it gets for me but losing to them in one would smash me into a million pieces like waterford crystal. The anxiety this would bring on would be extreme, going through that whole week and the nerves in another stratosphere. Honestly I'd prefer all our grand finals from here on against anyone else or GWS or something.

Maaate, ever since I got into Demonland (start of 2022) my wife thinks I’m an over the top fanatic, have problems and need counselling. Compared to some (perhaps most) on this forum I am a mere amateur. Thanks for the update. I am going to lie to my wife and say you guys have a roster for when we play interstate for someone to go to the airport to see who is flying out. Why? Because I can then say to her that there are plenty more people that really need some counselling ahead of me. Thanks again. GO DEES!!

It's a good reminder to have faith in the current Admin/FD. People were up in arms when we traded out Watts, people weren't happy when we lost Hogan but ended up with May. People (including myself) weren't happy when we picked up Grundy and Hunter but they're looking like inspired decisions. The current FD has earnt our faith and repayed it several times over. Relax, we got this

Today, I stand before you with a message that goes beyond the realm of sports, transcending the limitations of the physical world to touch the very essence of human spirit. Today, I invite you all to become supporters of the Melbourne Football Club, not merely for the love of the game but for the empowering lessons that it offers us all. You see, the Melbourne Football Club, affectionately known as the Demons, represents far more than just a team of talented athletes vying for victory on the field. It is a symbol of perseverance, resilience, and the indomitable human spirit that lies within each and every one of us. The Demons' journey has been marked by numerous ups and downs, trials and tribulations, and moments of doubt that have tested their resolve. Yet, through it all, they have emerged stronger, more united, and more determined to overcome any obstacles that life throws their way. But why should you become a Melbourne Football Club supporter, you may ask? It is because this team's journey offers us all a powerful lesson, a lesson that we can apply to our own lives as we strive to reach our full potential. When we choose to align ourselves with the Demons, we are making a conscious decision to embrace the values that they embody. We are choosing to fight, to persevere, and to rise above our perceived limitations, just as the players do on the field. We are choosing to become a part of something much larger than ourselves, a collective force that drives us to push beyond our boundaries and reach for the stars. As Melbourne Football Club supporters, we are not merely cheering for a team; we are embracing a mindset. We are adopting an attitude of unyielding determination, one that compels us to dig deep and find the strength to overcome any adversity that comes our way. It doesn't matter if you've never set foot on a football field or if you're a lifelong fan; the power of this message transcends the sport itself. When we choose to support the Demons, we are making a statement about our own lives, about our willingness to embrace challenges, and about our unwavering belief in our own potential. Ladies and gentlemen, as you embark on this journey with the Melbourne Football Club, remember that the true power of this alliance lies not in the team's victories on the field but in the lessons that they teach us about ourselves. Become a Melbourne Football Club supporter today, and let their spirit of resilience, determination, and courage inspire you to push beyond your own boundaries and become the person you were always meant to be. Thank you.

And just in case you didn't hear 100 times from BT, it was against the reigning premiers too

Name something better than Geelong losing… other than Melbourne winning 😂

Old age is tagging him

Yeah he doesn’t really offer any insights? He just points out the obvious that everyone can see is happening. Daisy is legitimately the best special comments person IMO. She teaches me things about the game.

[censored] stain Zorko is back. Do your thing Jack.

I'm good with those ins. Feel for Tommo bit he's put his name right in the frame now.

Not being a lock in a defence that includes May, Lever, Petty, Salem, Rivers and Brayshaw is hardly a reason for delisting. David Astbury played in 24 games in five years from 2011-2015 and then played in three flags.

FFS Daz, leave the kid alone. I’m sick of hearing this same comment from you. Once is understandable, but it must be half a dozen times now. The football department obviously see more in him than you do. And with no disrespect, I am placing my faith in them. I just hope Joel gets a good run at it this year and is able to prove himself. He won’t be lining up tomorrow night, but best wishes for the season Joel. Hope it’s your year to shine.

I’m really excited for tomorrow night. A chance to redeem ourselves for the SF loss last year and show we are in fact the much better team. I hope the Lions bring the physicality and lift their intensity around contests and then whimper away when they realise it’s not enough to combat us. We take a ‘Desert Storm’ approach to the game and blow them off the Gabba. 🔴🔵💪

I highly recommend Rex! They have good specials, give you a snack, and have some of the best on time ratings for the past few COVID years. They only do the eastern seaboard really, but very solid service. For example - flew up to Brissy today. I was running late and they helped me get on board and arrived on time!

I think it's dreadful. There is nothing unique to Melbourne in it other than the name "Melbourne" and "Demons". Change those and it could be used for any of the other 17 teams.

Jetstar is worse surely!

Yes it’s a fantasy in many ways

On the day of the 1988 GF, i was rostered to work in the ABC Newsroom. For the entirety of the Match, up until the Cup was lifted, i was locked in a room with 3 Hawthorn Supporters, who just caned me all day. The worst part of this Sickening Memory, was at Halftime all 3 of them started planning how they were going to win the 1989 GF! Meanwhile i was planning the most efficient way to eradicate these 3 hideous germs I am not joking, i have never come across such blatant arrogance. (and the bastards did it) 1989 they hung on This is why the Merger could never be passed. I would never contribute a cent to that Brown Football Club. Bill Guest has a lot to answer for. May they wallow in the gorge of Darkness for eternity and become irrelevant once more Beating them twice in 8 days was glorious in 1990 That was equivalent to a GF Victory (almost) 2 really tough games

Have it on good authority that it has been an unhappy team at the Brisbane Lions over the offseason. Not sure of the cause, or if it was a factor in them starting poorly v Port. But just passing on what I’ve heard.