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Triple M just reported that players sent coaches and staff out of the meeting room. Suspect some sort of pact was being hatched! Players are really owning this - absolutely beautiful!

How good has he been since hes come back to the side!? I've always rated him and was shocked how he wasn't in the team earlier on the year. Fast, powerful, courage, 2nd efforts are just some of the traits thats really stood out this year! On ya Frosty!

Salem is mint. Most underated player in our side.

IN: Hannan, Viney OUT: Kent, Tyson Pretty simple really.

Undefeated during the life of the current Scott Morrison government.

Big shout out to the MFC for embracing and rewarding their members this week. My 8-year old won the ‘Junior Mascot experience’ for today’s game. She’ll be running out with the boys, through the banner! Asked who she’d like to run out with (they get a choice), she said without hesitation, “Clarry, and if not him, Max.” She knows her footy! Great reward for a dedicated young Demon.

Dont agree. Charlie runs all day, gets where the ball is, and he had a hand in a few goals. For a 19yo he is terrific

This is true (Mum grew up in Geelong) but trust me, I 100% bleed the Red and Blue now. Also I hate the cats for that after the siren win, I was there and it sucked. Carn the Dee’s!!!

Lots to like about today: Great tempo management, especially in the third term. Terrific pressure all over the ground. Excellent defence: Looks like we have virtually abandoned the high zone and stopped the 1 or 2 behind the square. Much more 1 vs 1. We are following a more traditional 6 x 6 x 6 game structure. Works a treat! Fantastic effort being 2 down players down. Composure +++ . Add we kept playing till the very last minute Great game plan modifications by coaches and equally good execution by players. Finals @ the G here we come!

I believe he received a severe injury sometime in 1963 . He's still very unlikely to get up for this game so Hannan is probably the more likely proposition.

JKH was excellent. Nothing flash but consistently applied pressure and contests. Flew once against the flight to save a certain GWS mark on the lead. The less said about the “supporters” who bagged him pre-game the better. Super impressed Weid as well. So proud to have always backed him - faith is being repaid. It was the midfield that got it done for us though. The Gawn, Oliver, Brayshaw, Harmes combo has become the stuff of dreams. Adding Viney in there makes it sound frightful.

I think Spargo is underrated a little round these parts. He had a hand in a number of goals today with his crumbing work. As others have stated, with Kent and Tyson both going out, there is no chance that Spargo doesn't play.

For those that state we should drop Spargo because he looks tired. I think it’s because he’s playing footy and runs himself ragged. No chance he doesn’t play.

How good was that?! As always, the usual suspects were great, but i thought Frosty and Weids were awesome! Can't wait to send the Cats packing next in a fortnight! Was at the game today, it was electric!

All those who carped about Melbourne not beating top 8 eight sides can now officially GAGF. We are worthy finalists and will do some damage. Bye bye cats next week. Also all the Jones haters can GAGF - top game from the Captain.

Max Gawn take a bow.

For the majority here who could not see Frost’s value to the team, it is a cop-out now to suggest he is a different footballer now. He is still prone to the odd poor kick, and god forbid, holding the pill. While many supporters focus on these, his closing speed and rebound-inducing-overlap is pivotal to a slowish team. Roos couldn’t believe that he was playing for Casey, as did a few backers here. Lever’s injury forced our hand; and Frost is sticking it up a majority of supporters and a doubting coaching group.

I’m very excited about today. Love watching footy at the G. As promised in last weeks thread I will be happily slotting my $100 into the Salvos tin. Dees by 28 ❤️?

A-game today boys..play it finals style. TODAY. Live rehearsal. No backward steps...no fluffed passing. No missing opportunities. Ramp it up and take no prisoners. The next level campaign starts now. I expect a pretty close battle until about 5-10 into last quarter...then Melbourne by 30 Go Dees....bury the dastards

We hit the finals in 1987 with a wet sail, and proceeded to destroy Norf and Sydney in our first 2 finals. Confidence is worth many goals. This is an important game for more than just ladder position.

The Ox + his son Cooper watching on. #RaiseHell #AFLDeesGiants

We did it! What a glorious day at the football. For all of you who have been rocking up week after week whether at the game or even just with emotion, this ones for you. Was an interesting start to the game, a few guys had the blinkers and once GWS got it to the outside they were piercing us. Very few teams have the midfield ball use they have. We weathered and we’re able to get a few from sheer effort surging forward. After half time they meant business, everyone raised their intensity 5% and you could see the confidence grow in a few of them. Pour midfield core is growing game by game. Brayshaw was super all day, Oliver seemed quiet but I think he’s set the expectation so high that a good game like this gets overlooked. The one that stole the show was Harmes. Seriously this guy is playing out of his skin right now, if there’s a 50-50 ball and he’s coming for it you do not want to get in his way! Max was incredible. When the game was in the balance he was so important with his marks and even at one point rebounding out of the back line! I like Lobbe but he got completely schooled by Max today. The stand out performers were great but I want to make special mention of the contributors as this was a major team effort. AVB brings something we didn’t have before and will really make opponents earn possession. Milkshakes used it well for the most part and Salem continues to be a surgeon off half back, I think he missed his first target in 3 weeks today! Hibbo was solid and so important, as was Lewis. Oscar and Frost were outstanding, especially Frost who has got a bit of head wobble about him now which is great to see. Jones was serviceable, it’s great how he doesn’t have to have a pearler every week now. Trac built up and looked like he might tear it but had a decent game. And T-Mac, Mr reliable. The tackling: Absolutely unbelievable! From everyone. It almost looked like Richmond and we were stocking everything. I can’t remember many times in the second half were the dubs were able to get to the outside. An unbelievable team effort. Im so proud of this team! The growing in the last two weeks is amazing and has been very telling. I’m so proud of all our fans who just love this footy club as much as I do. There’s nothing better than being a Melbourne fan. Bring on September! Cannot Wait! Let’s do this!

Players should put this up on the walls this week, absolute [censored] of a human

I can’t believe the elevation of Harmes this season. He’s playing A grade football right now.

Harmes full sprint one hand pickup in the third that led to a goal was nirvana.

Up yours Judd.

The last time we won a round 23 game was in 2015 vs GWS. That game was also on a Sunday, Benny Newton kicked three but it wasn’t enough to save his AFL career. It’s a bit of an odd feeling the season not being over after today’s game.

Anyone notice the amount of times Jetta tackles someone and wraps his arms, legs and whole body around them? Has been my long time fav player this man. Nev has to be one of the most underrated players going around. Once he gets you, will never let go!

On the email from Jordy, Viney was on mmm today and just mentioned Lewis sent an email to the boys saying boys its time to get to work and you don't get satisfaction from making finals you get it from winning them so lets get to work. Was asked if there was some banter or jokes about it but Viney said it was serious and when Jordan get serious you don't joke with him. I guess that's why it helps having a 4 time premiership player in your team to feed off and get info off.

What a great run from vanders to be entrenched in that side. Amazing. If Tyson is done then Viney and Hannan. JKH survives as he is serviceable and is more use than Bugg.

What a win. The injuries weren't ideal but after the first 15 minutes we smashed them off the park. Everything about this game screamed that we are finals ready. The contested ball, the defence, the class, the synergy... it was beautiful to watch. We had winners all over the ground. Maxy dominated again and should go close in the Brownlow. Our young midfield - Oliver, Gus and Harmes in particular - are sensational. Harmes has had a brilliant second half to the season and he beat Kelly and won plenty of the ball himself. Our defence was excellent. Frost was terrific and our older heads in Jetta, Hibberd and Lewis marshalled the troops superbly. It took time but our back half is working so well now with Lever not there. Melky and T Mac were great up forward and Trac provides the X-factor. Little Spargo, while he still makes mistakes, had a hand in a number of goals with class plays that put his tremendous footy IQ on display. I can't wait to take on the Cats in a fortnights time. We are a better side than them and I'd love nothing more than to pull their pants down and send them back down the highway. DEMONS!

Every team has feral supporters. I'd classify the type of feral like this: Refined feral (likely to have a wine and some cheese pre-game, and criticise someone's earning capacity) Melbourne Adelaide Fitzroy/Brisbane Self-important feral (thinks they're better placed in society than they actually are) North Melbourne Port Working class, and weirdly humble feral (will abuse you but then apologise and say, "Nah you're alright you're my second favourite team") Bulldogs Living in stolen cars feral (can be found at your local Magistrates Court) St Kilda CFMEU-brand and high vis-wearing feral (will abuse you simply for existing) Collingwood Calls-in-sick-every-Monday feral (drinks. a lot.) Richmond Loves smell of own farts feral (came from money and lives in a nice suburb but lives paycheck to paycheck) Hawthorn Essendon Doesn't-realise-they're-feral feral (thinks drinking an espresso at Brunetti makes them better than you) Carlton Isolated feral (confused when they visit Melbourne and shops are still open past 4pm) West Coast Freo Academic feral (unnecessarily wears reading glasses) Sydney Racist, smells like cow dung, entire wardrobe from K-Mart feral Geelong

Chris Scott discovering they’ll face us again in two weeks...

He is also a big effing unit and uses the whole apartment.

Spargo was great! No chance he misses.

I reckon today we found the game plan to win at the G. In fact we smashed it at the G. Huge, huge confidence game.

Harmes was fantastic. Smashed Kelly and collected 29 disposals and a goal himself (Kelly with 19 touches).

If you asked me if I’d be happy to finish fifth at the start of the season I would have said yes. Good stuff.

Ours would be better....

Watch the highlights and look how many goals Spargo was directly involved in ... he is a silent assassin. So many important touches. With two weeks to freshen up he will play vs the Cats.... not bad playing your first final at 18 years of age!

Make no mistake, we would be 2nd on the ladder if Sam Frost had been picked when he should have.

That is the most complimentary 3 word SUMMARY ever !!!! I agree with all except Fritsch, because he floats around and rarely makes a mistake with his timing and disposal. A real find.

IMO that was our best performance all year. Two down on the bench, coming back from Perth after a hot game and one fewer day's break than our opponent, at a ground we've at times this year struggled at, against a side which plays football the way which usually troubles us. And we didn't just win, we dominated for all bar maybe 15 minutes and won by 7 goals. The development of Harmes this year has been out of this world. I doubt anyone on here saw this from him. His one-handed pick up at full pace on the members' wing in the third was special, he works harder than anyone and he does it all whilst defending key mids from the opposition (Selwood, Kennedy, Shuey and now Kelly all have lost to him). We were on the back foot a bit early, both in the clearances and across half forward, but I was incredibly pleased to see us learn and adjust. Bodywork at the contest got better, our spread improved, and we wore them down (despite losing Tyson for a half). Most interesting to me was that we started 6-6-6, instead of having one forward run off the back of the square. They dropped a defender behind the ball so they had the extra man, but I was intrigued with us coming into the game not using that runner. Looked good, I thought. Frost, Oscar and Weideman all played with more confidence than I've seen from any of them. If Frost keeps playing like that he's going to become a key weapon. Weideman is playing better than most would have expected and his marking and leading up at the ball are getting better. Still have room to improve - Spargo is struggling IMO, and we still make some poor errors at odd times. Petracca's set shot kicking is getting worse, not better, unfortunately. But IMO we're peaking at the right time of year, and I cannot wait to take on Geelong for some redemption.

Run, Frosty, run! I must have screamed that about a dozen times today. It never got old. We need to make room for him when Lever returns, because he's in our best 22, no doubt.

We are the form side going into the finals. Last 8 games: Freo +54pts WBD +50pts Geel -2pts Adel +13pts GCS +96pts Syd -9pts Eagles +17 pts GWS + 45pts Thrashed the teams we should have. Played 4 of the finalists. Won 2. Lost only 2 by a total of less than 2 goals. Bl...dy good form!

Exhibit a: how to acknowledge you’re not a fan of the player but get behind him anyway. Exhibit b: how to throw a selection tantrum and throw in some unnecessary name calling for good measure. Support Melbourne.

Perfect example of the classic 4-6 decade injury.

Haha oops! its a new tactic to throw them off