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I'm positive that's exactly how he would spell it.

Anyone else notice Luke's cheeky new tatt?

Makes no sense to me on any level other than financial.

more likely a hydroponic unit.

A lot of alpha-male sports media jocks projecting their views onto Brodie - I don't think he's like them.

Who remembers when Gawn had a serious knee injury at the start of the season and we thought he would be out for a year? No one in the media was questioning the Grundy trade then.

I hate this idea, more than most of the AFL's other yuck ideas. Hate it so much. We don't need 10 out of the 18 sides making finals (because let's be honest, this wildcard round isn't a chance to play finals, it is an extension of finals). We don't need a side finishing 10th (that's in the bottom half of the league) getting a shot at knocking out the side who finished 7th. I hear some say "but it incentivises finishing 6th". We already have that - 6th gets a home final. We also already have massive incentive to try to get up to 4th. Right now we have a league where the evenness of the middle of the ladder makes for an exciting last 6-8 weeks of the H&A season, but that is largely because of the scarcity of finals spots. It's exciting because we know that only three of St Kilda, the Dogs, Essendon, GWS, Carlton, Adelaide and Richmond are going to make finals. Allowing 9th and 10th to join in renders these last six weeks less exciting - they're all going to make it anyway.

Okay, I'm going to go full rant mode here. I'm sick to death of the media discourse around Brodie Grundy at the moment, and the so called sports journos' tendency to stick the knife in, having him being traded, it hasn't worked, etc etc. It was always Melbourne's plan to have Brodie as a ruck/forward combination, and it was always the club's intention to have him play some VFL games to strengthen his forward craft. The only thing that delayed that from happening sooner was Gawn getting injured and waiting for him to get back to full strength. This has now happened, hence Grundy was named for the 2s. To say the Gawn/Grundy combination isn't working and it's all Grundy's fault is, pardon my French, complete [censored]. As a ruck combination, they outrucked Cox/Cameron combination, they outrucked the Jackson/Darcy combination in Fremantle. In fact they have consistently outrucked the opposition throughout the season. If there was ANY reason for lack of efficiency, it could be put more down to the fact Gawn's knee injury at the start of the season prevented him from being his best. Not Grundy. In fact for the weeks Gawn was out injured, Grundy was invaluable, he proved his worth in my books. Grundy isn't going anywhere. Media hacks, lay off. We know how much these so called "professionals" hate Melbourne. They've moved on from Oliver onto a new target. And it's not fair on Grundy. Rant over.

Probably the most boring read of any game preview I've come across. Up to page 12 and still not a word for next week’s game. Their fans have all but given up on the season and now turning on a few of their players. Thank you Rory, you've been a wonderful player, but shouldn't be selected again Changes??? I couldn't care less anymore. The only changes I'm interested in are changes at the end of the year. Continuity matters. Still mathematical finals chance. No change. That will absolutely loose me Why bother even starting this thread. when we know that sloane, sholl, murphy, mchenry are going absolutely fxxkn nowhere. they wont be dropped. Not a fxxkn chance. I would think so highly of Rory if he announced his retirement this week. Or that he didn't want to be picked, and will play 2s for the rest of this year. And maybe next. I have no idea what they can do with Sloane. He's miles of it, but there seems to be some delusion about where he's at. Powaa has no problem dropping their captain. Sloane isn't even captain and the club is scared of the reaction from the Facebook brigade. Fmd. I can't wait for next February where we argue which spud deserves his spot in the best 22 only for the happy clappers to talk about what amazing depth we have. We push Murphy from the forward line up to the stoppages because it's the only thing he's good at.. The other team doesn't care about him because of his poor skills so we gift them an extra in defence. If Crouch or Himmelberg are playing on Sunday I'm not going Poor Rory!! Imagine if we had talked about Jonesy like that. No respect being shown to Sloane. I'll check back in a few days and hope they have something more interesting to say.

No thanks. He can't kick. We have enough of those. Besides, Geelong get what Geelong want. Wonder if Bailey wants a hobby farm.

I'd be extremely surprised if he asked for a trade.

It makes finishing 7th or 10th basically irrelevant. Why not just make it a top 10? or a top 6? Hell lets have North and West Coast compete to make finals. The pre finals bye is there because teams going into finals desperately need it. Nobody finishing 7th wants to play yet another game to try and win the flag. You are basically ensuring that a team outside the top 6 will never win a flag again.

Grundy will be in the team for finals and he'll be in the team next year and beyond. Bookmark it.

Source, is pretty disappointed with not getting much of a chance at the top level. In my opinion l don’t think he’s up to it anyway

And each time it goes in our favour I think of that tiny tiny nonce called Peter [censored]! And laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh laugh and laugh and laugh laugh and laugh and laugh, wipe away a tear or two…. And laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh laugh and laugh and laugh laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh laugh and laugh and laugh laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh laugh and laugh and laugh laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh laugh and laugh and laugh laugh and laugh and laugh…

This is my favourite thread! It means nearly every game has a bearing on our draft hand and therefore creates interest

From the article: "Demons legend Garry Lyon has conceded he thinks its “unlikely” Brodie Grundy will remain at the club next year after he’s fallen out of favour in his preferred No. 1 ruck position..... Given the nature of Gundy’s exit from Collingwood, former Magpies coach Nathan Buckley suggested the dual All-Australian would have his head around the nature of the business. “One thing that we know is Brodie Grundy is not under any illustrations about how cutthroat and professional this game is,” Buckley told On the Couch." I think they are drawing the wrong conclusions

Petracca has adapted well to his forward/midfield role but IIRC, he spent the 2019 season as our best forward playing as a High Half Forward In the off-season (2019) the story was that he wanted more midfield minutes The other part of Petracca forward is that Brayshaw gets his attacking midfielder's role back - slotted straight back in too (on Friday he also played the double role of tagging Neale) And when Oliver returns Gus will stay in his current role you'd imagine ... with Sparrow & Jordon rotating through to help out Oliver & Viney If we can get our KPF's firing, we are cooking with gas

I'd only bring him into the team if Hunter and Langdon shear him

I don’t think coca plants grow out Geelong way…

*you're

FMD this is such short sighted garbage from the media, as per usual. At 32, the days of Gawn dominating 20+ games a season or rucking solo are gone. What if he does an ACL tomorrow? What if we win the flag this year and he calls time on his career? Grundy has a 4 year contract, and will be the #1 ruckman for probably 3 of those years. While Trac, Viney and Clarry are doing what they are doing, we have to have a strong ruckman working with them to keep our window open. The club knows that, which is why they targeted a top quality ruck to come into the mix. Everyone just needs to CALM THE F DOWN.

While his game was great and he got the rising star he hasn't got nearly enough credit for his 1v1 job on Cameron. Charlie had 7 possessions for two goals and McVee saved a couple of certain goals, there was a moment in that first quarter where Cameron beamed off a lead to a reasonable delivery with at least an 80% chance to mark overhead and Judd managed to get enough of a hand to it to effect the contest. I was so impressed because it was an open 50 and he HAD to make that play. If it were Tom Stewart they would have talked about his game on all the shows.

I can, they're a good young team who like to move the ball quickly. We should be able to account for them but it won't be easy.

Terrible idea. Defeats the purpose of getting the job down during the H&A season.

Coaches Votes for Melbourne players, 2023 https://www.wheeloratings.com/afl_stats.html Votes Matches Polled Matches Christian Petracca 84 14 17 Clayton Oliver 40 9 10 Jack Viney 36 6 16 Steven May 26 4 15 Max Gawn 25 6 14 Jake Lever 17 4 16 Brodie Grundy 12 2 16 Kysaiah Pickett 12 2 15 Ed Langdon 10 2 17 Angus Brayshaw 8 3 17 Kade Chandler 6 2 15 Trent Rivers 6 1 17 Lachie Hunter 5 3 16 Christian Salem 4 1 8 Michael Hibberd 4 1 9 Jake Melksham 3 1 7 Bayley Fritsch 2 1 14 Tom McDonald 2 1 6 Jake Bowey 1 1 15 Round-by-round votes Votes 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 15 16 17 18 Christian Petracca 84 5 • 7 9 1 1 10 • 10 • 8 10 1 5 2 7 8 Clayton Oliver 40 2 1 9 8 • 2 7 7 2 2 Jack Viney 36 • • • • 6 • • 7 • • • 10 3 9 • 1 Steven May 26 • • • • • • 1 • • 8 7 • • 10 • Max Gawn 25 5 • 3 • 3 • • 2 • 2 • • • 10 Jake Lever 17 9 2 • • • • • • • • 5 • 1 • • • Brodie Grundy 12 • • 6 6 • • • • • • • • • • • • Kysaiah Pickett 12 9 • • • 3 • • • • • • • • • • Ed Langdon 10 • • 6 • • • • • • • • 4 • • • • • Angus Brayshaw 8 • • • • • • 5 • • • 2 • • • • 1 • Kade Chandler 6 • • 1 • • • 5 • • • • • • • • Trent Rivers 6 • • • • • • • • 6 • • • • • • • • Lachie Hunter 5 • • 1 • • • • • • 2 • • • 2 • • Christian Salem 4 • • • 4 • • • • Michael Hibberd 4 • • 4 • • • • • • Jake Melksham 3 • • • • • • 3 Bayley Fritsch 2 • • • • • • • • • • • 2 • • Tom McDonald 2 • • 2 • • • Jake Bowey 1 • • • • • • • • • • • • 1 • •

If we finsh 9th in a season, then yes. Are Richmond pork barrelling this idea?

I don't usually get bothered by media narratives... But this 'Brodie is and never will be a forward... what are Melbourne thinking' really bugs me. a.) No s***t sherlock b.) All the FD have said is that he needs to go back to forward on his "forward craft". Who has said straight up that Brodie will only come back in as a forward? Its nonsense. The plan signing Brodie was to work in tandem with Max throughout the season in the ruck and rest forward at times. The combo hasn't been tearing game apart or anything but there's been positives: Its helped Max with in game fatigue/recovery post as he's not the only ruck getting beat up like he often does Brodie stood up as the sole ruckman when Max was out He was also a more effective ruck in many games which resulted in goals. He gives us a different look at stoppages as an extra mid with his follow up The only knock against Grundy is he hasn't performed well while resting as a forward. So the FD made a smart decision to get extra time up forward in the twos to build his form and confidence. I realise the media want to run with this. But starting talk of where he ends up next year because he's been asked to work on a few things at Casey is just so over the top.

In McVee we have found Hibberd's replacement. Did as good a job on Cameron as Hibberd has in the past. And he has tamed a few other small forwards this year. Moves like a gazelle and its a joy to watch him weave through traffic with lowered eyes, taking his time looking for the best option. As an East Fremantle product, Freo must be ruing they didn't take him in that rookie draft. They could do with a gun defender who is a star in the making.

I have a better idea 17th v 18th. Winner gets to play Melbourne in the Grand Final

Would take him in an instant as long as we didn't pay the farm. His marketing value for our club alone would be worth it. And he is a gun at top flight. Whilst his kicking is left to be desired at times, his gut run and speed is a huge point of difference. Big moment player and I could see him, Trac and Oliver tearing teams apart. Would happily have him.

My biggest concern in all this is Geelong. I don't want them coming in hot. Even if they don't over take us inside the top 4, if they go on a run like they did last year, it could end as badly as last year did. I want the Lions to smash them this weekend and destroy their faux confidence.

We're only 3 wins behind Port and their percentage is very ordinary for a 2nd placed team with 14 wins to this stage. Port could very well lose their next 3 games (Pies, Crows and Cats at Geelong) and then have an improving GWS at Adelaide Oval to contend with. I admit it's unlikely they drop that GWS game, but if they do and the rest, there's a chance we could go 5-1 from here and still take a home QF. This weekend is huge.

Right. As funny as the loading jokes are, I wasn't making a case a factor in the crows form is fatgue - though I believe that to be the case (i watched the whole gws game and it was crystal clear halfway thru the third they were out of gas - and they basically stopped to a walk in the last. They had a 17 point lead at 3 quarter time and were always going to get reeled in - they lost by 14, meaning a 5 goal turnaround, and could only manage 1 scoring shot, a point, to the giants' seven scoring shots). I was making the point that an article that discusses their drop in form that doesn't at least ask the question if fatgue from loading might be a factor is doing crows fans a disservice. Particularly when Burgess is their fitness guy. I mean c'mon. You have at least had the opportunity to consider if fatigue from loading is a factor because of the discussion on here. And you have decided it isnt. Which is your prerogative. But surely if you were a crows fans you'd like to get a sense of the possible causes of their drop off. The closest that article comes to positing any theories of the cause is 'the declining form of Rankine and the undisciplined actions of Rachele' and noting Tex didn't get a touch in the second half of the gws game. Otherwise it is just a typical shopping list of stats that point to the symptoms not the cause. Maybe you are right, and the issue is simply that the Crows are not that good, their talent is young or very old and that fluctuates. Maybe, despite the fact you could see with your eyes they were gassed and the clear parallels to the impact of loading on the dees under Burgess and his acolyte,Selwyn Griffith (eg accuracy drop, scoring drop, losing games when fav etc etc) you are right and fatigue from loading is not a factor. But surely it is worth including the possibility it might be so readers can decide for themselves and perhaps do what you have done and reject the idea loading is a factor. Or perhaps think, gee that's interesting - I'll give that some thought Otherwise it is not even in the conversation.

And top 4 against each other: Port - 2-1 Melbourne - 2-2 Brisbane - 2-2 Collingwood - 1-2 Assuming Collingwood beats Port this weekend, we'll all be 2-2 against each other, with only one more game to come (Collingwood v Brisbane).

I thought this 8-10 week loading program was about getting top4 teams to peak in finals - why would Burgo do that for the Crows? Sorry, B, but I literally laughed. Someone needs to replace don Quixote’s windmills for loading programs…

How about we just have an 18 team finals and hand out participation awards. Seriously there is no reason to do this other than to have more games for the sake of it. Maybe the AFL should focus on a fairer fixture rather than spending time talking about wildcard rounds. Absolute peanuts.

Works well in the NFL because a small number of teams qualify for the playoffs. You need a very good W L record to secure a wildcard spot. Playing finals after winning 10 games would demean the competition.

McVee to put Rankine in his pocket, after what he did to Charlie I want him on Izak

No worries. Luckily for me I was studying and then Gough got in and sent me a card I still keep, which read “ your services are no longer required”. Never received a better sacking. On a serious note, I have the utmost respect for the men and women who served and continue to do so. Their bravery is truly admirable.

Current top 8 record vs each other: Port - 8-1 Collingwood - 5-2 Geelong - 4-2 Brisbane - 4-3 Melbourne - 4-4 St Kilda - 2-4 Bulldogs - 1-6 Essendon - 1-7 Port the clear leader here, Collingwood next, with Geelong, us and Brisbane all sort of even but Geelong having two fewer games and Brisbane one fewer game than us so far. Interestingly though, 3 of our 4 wins have been our last 3 wins, in our last 5 games. Similarly 3 of Geelong's 4 wins have been in their last 6 games. Whereas 2 of Brisbane's 4 wins were in the first month and 4 of Collingwood's 5 wins were in the first 6 games. Bear in mind these figures will change on the expectation that Carlton or GWS will likely replace St Kilda/Essendon/the Dogs.

You’ve got 24 rounds of football to earn the right to play finals. If you’re not good enough then you’re not good enough. I hope the clubs treat this idea with the contempt that it deserves.

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Can’t see Grundy or the MFC requesting a trade when he’s just won a premiership. He’ll stay for the next one.

If he wasn’t ex filth there would be less interest. These one hit pieces are ckickbait for the filth fans who want to believe that getting rid of him was a good move. So woe is the MFC, and they are treating the old beloved son poorly. not once have I heard a gripe from Grundy on any of this. Not once have I heard any negativity from the club. Brody is a very intelligent dude. I’m sure he has had the conversation with club and knows exactly where he is at.

Stop ruining our game for the sake of a bit of extra revenue. FFS! Putrid idea that makes a complete mockery of the sides who worked their butt off to make the 8.

Or the finals. How about we just own the decision to drop him - we just don’t know what will happen from here this season?

You have maliciously disparaged those adaptable and industrious 6 legged creatures Jaded, you can expect legal action from The Royal Society for the protection of Cockroaches.

Apart from his dash, elusiveness and lovely kicking skills (to position) he has a great ability to get the vital punch/spoil in Positions himself beautifully on the right shoulder for that spoil And then the run on gather after the spoil? This bloke is a beauty! As Nasher said above, a natural defender

Awarded the rising star nomination for round 18. Demons' quiet achiever earns Rising Star nod - https://www.afl.com.au/news/981905