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He's definitely going to play for Melbourne.

Their start proves to me once again that I was right all along, and they are a middle of the road side who snatched a flag via umpiring bias, AFL help, vile fans and a piece of [censored] thug who took out a key opponent in a final. They did not deserve that flag and nobody will ever convince me otherwise. There were at least 3 sides last year who were better and deserved that premiership more. Steven May, YOU WERE RIGHT!

Joel Selwood continuing the trend of former premiership captains who get employed by channel 7- only to have zero on screen charisma, and a dull, monotonous voice.

Inside word is that Petty is definitely playing, but only for the first half of the game given his fitness levels. At half-time, he's going to give his jumper to his doppelganger Jed Adams who will play the second half as a completely fresh player. Only Mrs Petty and Mrs Adams will notice anything unusual.

Cut to the Melbourne supporter in the crowd clearly barracking against Collingwood. Love it!

This kid's hands inside are elite. We have a very good one here. Can't wait to see Tholstrup in the big time as well.

😜

last week's selections were heavily criticised. As it transpired they worked out well. maybe the FD know what they are doing and we should back them in. If they reckon is good to go then get him in is my view. no point in waiting.

Petty to be the sub surely. - Nice way to ease him back in without a full match load - Puts a bit of pressure on JVR and Brown to perform - Flexibility if a key back goes down - Rests both Petty and whichever tall he subs off for a lighter game load ahead of a hectic Adelaide schedule in the coming weeks

Back to the game... I respect Mitchell's coaching, the way he took away our wings a year or two ago, was well documented and showed some tactical flair, so I am apprehensive to see what he comes up with. However one of the things that I liked from Frogs game was the 'paced' attack with players clearly choosing between options rather than following a plan dogmatically. While we won't get 120+marks this game and Billings might not have 15 marks for the rest of the year, our switching between line and diagonal/short will be too much I think for the Hawks to have coached against in a week. And I expect to see some pretty dour defending by the Hawks rather than taking the game on. I also think we play just fine man on man, if they choose that option, we will cut them open, as we have great 1v1 players. Also watching several teams over the weekend I think out leg speed stacks up, Gunston is not the terror he was. Our greatest kryptonite will be injury (like any team), not just because of what certain players bring skills wise, (I think we do use a systems based approach that replacement players understand), but that players like Gawn, Lever and May give us a psychological advantage. I might be delusional but not having them in the team will give teams more confidence to take us on. Not including the Giants in this they are looking very very good. Also re this weekend, having re-watched the game several times now, (because watching long flowing chains of passes is very enjoyable) and paid a lot of attention to Tmac's game. I think he was almost disrespected (and I under-rated his performance as well at 1st, kudos to those that called it straight up) by the Dogs, and they were guilty of writing him off as the weak link. He played a Lever type game and was allowed much to much rope by the Dogs forwards, who were busy trying to work over Rick (and were scared of May). Anyway I don't think Sam will allow Tmac the same freedom this week, but with Rivers, McVee, Howe and Hore, I have great confidence that our backline might really stifle the Hawks this week. And I think Frtisch will get off the chain. Sorry a bit disjointed, sort of meant to be working.

We're now undefeated against Hawthorn over the last 6 years (7 wins and 1 draw in that period). If you could go back in time to 2016 and tell a Melbourne fan that we were going to be unbeaten against Hawthorn for 6 years you would have been ridiculed. We lost 13 straight games across 10 years at one point there, and ended up losing 15 out of 16 games across 12 years.

I find it hard to understand why some are calling for Petty to come into the team for the Hawks. He has had one run in the practice match for Casey where, from reports, he played for 3 of the quarters and did not get very much of the ball. Meanwhile, we beat the Doggies by 7 goals in a meaningful 4 point match with a well functioning forward structure. I would hope that the selectors put together a team to win this Saturday by looking at the possible structure of the opposing team, the expected conditions and the form of the players and their ability to execute the game plans. Petty does not have any sort of form line that would justify selection and I would doubt his match fitness at this stage of his comeback. I would play him at Casey until his form improves as I would a number of other players.

Rubbish. I will never relinquish sheer anger and disdain at the Filth.

Opposition fans clearly booing Maynard for the 3rd week in a row. It’s so good. I hope it gets so bad the AFL has to comment on it. What are they going to say?

I’m still stuck in the car park. HELP!

I was silly enough to involuntarily volunteer myself to put up the bones of what will hopefully one day become something useful, on this forum. Yes, a comprehensive list of the nicknames of those players who occupy a position in the 2024 Players List. I’d like to see this pinned to the top of the forum, and not just for this year, but to go on for years to come. I cannot take all of the credit for this (in fact, I can take very little credit), as the list that has passed to me for the compilation of this final list, was created by the hard work of @WalkingCivilWar … I have rearranged it to be in alphabetical order and added the players numbers in brackets next to each name. EZPZ. Thanks WCW!! Anyone who knows the nicknames of players without one below, please feel free to pass it on or mention it in the comments, for inclusion. THE LIST: Jed Adams (26) - Jack Billings (14) - Jibba, JB, Jubba Jake Bowey (17) - Bowsa Angus Brayshaw (10) - Gus, Gussy Ben Brown (50) - BBB Kynan Brown (41) - Pup Kade Chandler (37) - Chin Kyan Farris-White (43) - Bayley Fritsch (31) - Fritta, Fritatta Tom Fullarton (33) - Cream Max Gawn (11) - Maxy Marty Hore (27) - Blake Howes (22) - Howesie, Halfway Howes Lachie Hunter (12) - Hunts Matthew Jefferson (21) - Jeffo Ed Langdon (15) - Lingers, Langers Bailey Laurie (16) - Bill Jake Lever (8) - Rick, Ricky Steven May (1) - Maysie Shane McAdam (23) - Tom McDonald (25) - Tmac Judd McVee (4) - Knuckles, Juddy Jake Melksham (18) - Melks, Melky, Milkshake Andy Moniz Wakefield (45) - Alex Neal-Bullen (30) - Nibbla, Nibs Clayton Oliver (13) - Claz, Clarrie Christian Petracca (5) - Tracc, Tracca Harrison Petty (35) - Petts Kysaiah Pickett (36) - Kozzy Trent Rivers (24) - Riv Christian Salem (3) - Salo Josh Schache (19) - Shaq, Diesel(?) Oliver Sestan (38) - Ollie, Sesso J Smith (29) - Smithy Charlie Spargo (9) - Spargy Pants / The Little One Tom Sparrow (32) - Spaz Koltyn Tholstrup (39) - Kolt/Colt Adam Tomlinson (20) - Tommo Daniel Turner (42) - Disco Jacob van Rooyan (2) - Roo, Rooey Will Verrall (28) - Jack Viney (7) - Vines Caleb Windsor (6) - Duke Taj Woewodin (40) - Joey? (Offspring of Woe Snr)

Let us schadenfreude for one night please.

Daicos is going to struggle to win the Brownlow if they don’t win a match.

My wife: Are you just sitting there smiling because Collingwood is losing Me: Yep

The replay showing that ball clearly out of bounds makes that goal even funnier.

Sidebottom sprays a snap shot across the face which is marked by st kinda “magnificent attempt” - BT

Happy Birthday to the 🐐

Jed Adams (26) - Adamsy Kyan Farris-White (43) - Whitey Tom Fullarton (33) - Fullartony Marty Hore (27) - Horey Lachie Hunter (12) - Huntery Shane McAdam (23) - McAdamsy Andy Moniz Wakefield (45) - Wakesy Will Verrall (28) - Verrally

Tonight’s game. was it anyone on here? Legend

do the pies have a culture problem?

Sidebottom and Pendlebury have been so good for so long, but they both look like they stayed at the fair for one ride too many.

TOP MARKS TO THE DEMON SUPPORTER On camera with 8 minutes of play to go (roughly the 19 minute mark) giving a berserk hand-slamming clap for the Saints.

We're onto a winner. I thought we reached for type when we drafted him, but already I know I was wrong and he's going to be special. JT is a genius. We drafted him due to his pace and ability to link up and hit targets going inside 50. He's shown that already. Love the bit of play on the weekend where he marked at HBF, field was stagnant ahead of him, he short passed to teammates towards corridor then ran on for handball receive bursting forward and kicking forward. Gained us about 80 metres out of a stagnant field and gave us the exact type of drive we lack from the back half. He's also already showed glimpse that he's got elite potential on the inside. His ability to shrug and turn through tackles is great, and he's got quick strong hands. If he can add more strength to his upper body, he could become the most rounded midfielder we've got. I'll get blasted for this, but most clear comparison player for me is Chris Judd as a youngster when he was more outside and pacy before his OP took away his burst and he moved more inside.

If Harry (Tom) Petty is ready to go he plays. Stop draggin' my heart around. Otherwise we could be Free Falling. I Wont Back Down on this. He plays until the End of the Line.

58er, I’ve done a lot of excellent posts, sure this was a good one but some of my early work was, dare I say it, groundbreaking.

Round 1 his 2nd game. Good snapshot from the Age footy … Howes stands out for Demons Lost in the wash of how bad the Demons were in Opening Round was the quality of the debut of Blake Howes for the Demons. He was even better on Sunday against the Dogs. He is so clean with his ball use, particularly by foot. He was denied a brave and clever mark running back with the flight when Jake Lever pushed Cody Weightman under the ball, but he shows he has an aerial side to his game. He has composure with the ball and makes the right decisions.

Can’t wait for the McCrae presser. We’ll start seeing his dark side now. Beware the nice guy…

It’ll never get less painful until, in 3 years time, I watch Steven May in his last game pre retirement, a grand final mind you, run from FB all the way to FF, to do an Entrecôte special on Maynard as the final siren blows and we walk away with a 100 point victory

Brian Taylor commentary How is he allowed to continue weekly

Eat a bag of [censored] Pies

How on earth is BT chief commentator? So biased Can they not find anyone better?

where’s that [censored] chant now?

Sidebottom and Pendles should have retired!

Both teams suck.

Might be fairer to grade his management after the game. As BDA notes his selections last week, much ridiculed on here, turned out to be very good decisions.

Yeah all a bit perplexing! Petty is so valuable to the team you may as well take your time. Three weeks ago he was limping around Gosches like a 70 year old! BBB and TMac both did a good job last week. We don't need to take a risk.

Weird vibes about this one. Actually can't figure it out at all. Round 0 was the poster boy for underdone players.

My best memory of VFL Park is my first. It was in 1971 when John “Diamond Jim” Tilbrook made his debut on a wintry day against South Melbourne. He was a big man - 184cm and, dare I disclose this in these nanny days, he weighed a massive 94kg. When he ran out onto the ground in the gloomy conditions, he looked like Superman. He was wearing his Melbourne colours but he might well have worn a cape and had an S on his chest. When he took his first kick, he was on the wing and went bang unleashing a monster 70 plus metres kick that almost sailed right through the big sticks. The Dees won easily and I thought we had a new messiah. Sadly, it didn’t turn out that way.

Unless they cotton on of course

I saw a lot of Flower. Nothing of Windsor reminds me of Flower.

Kosi is definitely leaving Melbourne to go somewhere colder and further away from his family. I hear Trent is already packing his bags too 🙄

No urgency for Kalani White to make a decision. He should just go out and have fun and play footy. Learn to develop his skills. No pressure at this stage. However, I do hope he does choose the Demons though. It would be a wonderful Melbourne Demons tradition to continue with the Father-Son rule and his Father Jeff White would be incredibly proud. I can imagine it being an amazingly emotional and memorable moment to see Kalani get handed his Melbourne Demons guernsey by his Dad too! 🥺

The honeymoon period will be well and truely over and we might find out another the other side of Craig McRae's personality. Starting to get very prickly. If you look at their team squad front to back in totality, it's truely amazing they have snuck a premiership There is only so many wins you can have under a goal before the wallpaper and luck run out. Worse team along with the Bulldogs to win a premiership in the last 30 years. Carn the Sainters.