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Best possible outcome from that incident (excluding no injury at all)….no ACL, no medial meniscus, no joint surface trauma. No legacy either once it’s healed. He’ll be good as new, ready to hoist the Cup (assuming the rest of the team can atone for last night, and play like we know they can). Rehab is straightforward, and lucky for Max, he loves cycling. 👍🏻

That was a fun game to watch. Youngsters really showed their worth. Geez Jefferson can certainly take a good strong clunk. 7 marks and kicked 0.4. Still needs a bit of work but the talent is certainly there. It's a pity poor old Schache copped a knee to the head because on today's form he was absolutely in line to replace Max. JVR didn't do his chance any harm. Just play the kid and get some games and experience into him now. AMW, Howes and Kye Turner were all very impressive as well. Turner certainly provides drive off half back and AMW has a crack. Seston is an unfinished product. Definitely needs to work on his tank and consistency throughout games, but when he does look out. The kid can play.

This is everyone’s light lunch today

Mate - they don't even have electricity.

Miraculously, we won it in 2021 without Pedo. Recon we can win it in 2023 without Max.

If it's an ACL then no point just being down in the dumps. Yep, would be super disappointing but team has to move on. Still confident we can finish top 4 even if Max misses significant time. We've still got the cattle to perform at a real high level. Just remember Richmond lost a 5x All Australian full back in Alex Rance to an ACL round 1 against Carlton in 2019 and they went on to become premiers that same year. What I will say though is that it's time to for Brodie Grundy to stamp himself again. Taking 1 mark in total over 2 games is not a good return so far. Still looked sluggish last night but he's still building his game and fitness.

A bit of calm wouldn’t go astray. Our 2 most structurally important players are Gawn and May. Max allows us to do things other teams simply can’t - including setting up more aggressively at clearance. The other reason we can do that - Steven May. Lose the clearance and he wins the ball back for us. Even the halfwits at Channel 7 said in the commentary last night that half way through the first quarter this was Fagan’s dream - No Gawn, No May. Imagine playing the Bulldogs without The Bont and Naughton, or Geelong without Hawkins and Cameron? The psychological impact of Max’s injury was clearly very profound. We all know how we felt. Imagine how the players felt about their best mate who they see everyday 6 days a week? No wonder they were flat. Last nights game a lot of things conspired against us. The most important thing was the way we regrouped and took control when given the chance in the last 10 minutes. That effort might have saved our season. Keep the faith.

If someone called Satan wished me a safe flight, I'd be a tad nervous 😓

Realistically once Gawn went down the entire preseason structures and game plans went out the window. The psychological impact on ALL players was understandable and realistically a major impact that NO team could overcome.

Just got into bed to discover the cat had spewed all over it. I think he’d seen the clearance differential.

Let me throw a conspiracy theory out there. P.s. physio here. To me the communication was weird From Goody and Alan Richardson. Melbourne and Gawn MAY be considering an no-op management of his ACL (if ACL is suspected). In that case, they would definitely be murky with the results. Bulldogs did this and lied about Giansiracusa and his ACL. They went with a no-op management. The only reason for the consideration would be Gawn's age and premiership window. Whilst the Lachman's test was negative (95% accuracy), nothing was mentioned about an anterior draw. An anterior draw is an alternate test for an ACL, however it's less reliable. A clinical guess can only assume its VERY unlikely he has done his ACL. Technically, Max is a 5% chance of an ACL. Enjoy your Saturday.

I think we had all better get used to the idea of Goody holding up the Premiership Cup with Jack Viney this year.

Jake Lever’s leadership was exceptional last night. He’s been brilliant this season so far.

Demonland right now

That was intense. If Freo has pulled it out of the fire it could have ignited their season. Instead they're deflated and in big trouble Huge game against West Coast next week. This death riding is great fun i have to say.

Just got this baby waxed, time for a ride down Market Street..

Let me say this up front ~ I was wrong Let me repeat- I was wrong And I feel absolutely fantastic about it!

I just found out that a very old Mate has Cancer. Max’s knee will be repaired. The rest of our list and coaches all have to look each other in the eye and say “How hard are you prepared to work” Smash adversity and Keep Fighting… and Yes, He is a Demon Supporter…

I feel almost exactly the same without the feeling bad part.

Literally stopped caring about last night’s putrid showing 2.2 seconds after I read Gawny hasn’t done an ACL. Rest up and see you in 6 weeks Maxy you big beautiful magnificent beast!

I'm supposed to call the doctor about recent CT scan results on my lower back but I'm more worried about Max's results.

I think Tmac’s busted foot disagrees. He looks cooked. He says himself he’s playing with pain and needing management. Rucking is literally the last thing I think his body can handle.

It’s all about effort and mindset in any endeavour. Those that predict comfortable wins every week should keep that caveat in mind. And don’t give me the Gawn excuse. I am sorry, it didn’t make Clarry blast away or Langdon miss handballs or or or… They need to mentally show up - that’s a prerequisite to competitiveness - and they didn’t. Deal with it.

This will be a huge game for Schache. An opportunity to put himself forward in our dark hours without Max. Go Josh, grab it with both hands.

On a positive note. Benny Brown is equal leader of the Coleman Medal.

Griffin Logue outperforming Luke Jackson must be sending Freo fans absolutely mental.

I cannot express my relief at this news. I felt sick last night and feared for Maxy's career this morning as the consensus was settling on it being an ACL. That would have had huge ramifications for our season and would have been a tragedy for Max's career. If we go deep this year and he recovers in the 4-6 week window, he could still crack 200 games this year. Fingers well and truly crossed. He is so important to our team and our club.

Worst. 20 hours. Ever.

Tom Browne is for sure in a bin somewhere outside the clinic

Get them emailed to @Webber and @RyanD and publish findings to 'Land immediately. CC @Goody.

Have heard unconfirmed rumour of 6-8 weeks from an apparent close source. Hope its true I'd take that.

Headline I’d like to see in 4 weeks. “Selection Dilemma for Dees. How to Fit Max Back in After Schache Finally Realises Pick 2 Potential.”

Noah has been named for his debut for the Oakleigh Chargers this Sunday against Brisbane Lions Academy. Game is played at Highgate Recreation Reserve in Craigieburn Starting at full forward.

Viney and Fritta looked like players who hadn’t played for 6 months. We need to learn, stop bring in players who haven’t played. Play them for a half at Casey the week before, both looked so out of sync.

A few days ago we didn't know who to drop, now we don't know who to promote.

Don't fear Brisbane one bit. Give us Kozzie, May, Salem and Gawn back in and we beat them comprehensively.

personally, i'm a bit [censored] off that maxy texted bernie vince before demonland

If he wants “ genuine worry” he should come to this site not speak to the MFC.

I like this reply: Replying to @Thomo_Grant You’re pathetic Grant, Max has had multiple knee injuries & has every right to spend some time processing what has just happened. Your idea of leadership is protecting someone like Milne & adult men sleeping with school girls.

His first job is clearance and stoppage he/we got smashed in these areas. He got a lot of cheap ball and blazed distance. Whilst rare for him, it was close to one of the most low impact 30+ possession games you could see.

Feeling sick. Just plain sick. One thing helping me not panicking is a few years back at on of our preseason qld camps maxy hurt his knee. He was devastated, with vision of him looking similarly dejected ad he was sure he had done his ACL. Turned out he was wrong.

I was going to write up my thoughts for the game, but i can’t do better than Deegirls one line summary.

Good teams have bad nights. It happens. Our top liners will not be as bad again. no need to over analyse or over think it. Shake ourselves down, get back on the horse, prepare well this week and perform as we know we can against Sydney. If we deliver another insipid performance next week, then start pulling things apart. Edit: And no changes this week other than for injuries (and May if fit). The same team needs to be given the opportunity to atone.

Named co-captain for Oakleigh Chargers this year.

Let's ride

Brutal competition, we’re not just going to waltz through the year without drama…bad night for the boys but we will reload and go again next week