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Max Gawn could be an issue both in the ruck and around the ground. Gawn will destroy him in the ruck and around the ground. Max Gawn will feast this week. Not much we can do about that. Around the ground Gawn actually will damage us. If Gawn does completely dominate centre bounces/stoppages, you play man on man with the opposition players around Gawn to restrict the smallls taking it away with little pressure on them. I hope Archie has been practising his spoils his week - if he's able to mitigate Gawn's marking it'll be huge. Archie has a massive task ahead of him. Almost want him to basically tag Gawn around the ground and not let him dominate in that area. The Demons are pretty much relying solely on the brilliance of Gawn and Petracca and those two are playing that well at the moment that they are quite literally able to carry the Demons. Gawn, Petracca, Oliver and Bennell all fit and firing simultaneously can challenge any side in the league. Everything else I'm not confident about this one. I think Melbourne might surprise a few this season after their terrible start and this is their statement game. I can see Melbourne winning this one. They have no real key forwards of concern but their smalls and their pace generally could worry us at Metricon. Petracca will be the big factor of who wins. Oliver can also lift the Demons and carry them home. I am genuinely concerned that we don’t play Metricon particularly well. I’m really looking forward to watching Harley Bennell. That guys been to hell and back and deserves any success that comes his way. If Harley Bennell can stay fit for the rest of this season and find some form he could be the game breaker for them. Such an insanely good talent. Viney was very good from what I saw last game too. Interesting they brought Jones in. Jones is a big in for us. Old and slow. Our boys in the middle should run rings around him. I don't think the Jones inclusion is such a good thing for us. He is an old head and in a slog, he can work smarter. Key match-ups McInerney & Smith v Gawn & Jackson Lyons v Petracca Berry v Viney Neale v Oliver Zorko v Harmes McCluggage v Jones Robinson v Langdon Bailey v Brayshaw

Yes, I do think he is a wingman, that is why he was recruited. He clearly has a range of attributes that the FD felt would compliment that role. Like all players that are dropped, they're dropped to work on specific things. Is Weideman a forward now (but two weeks ago he wasn't?) What about Jetta? or OMAC? Did you question whether the FD got it right recruiting them, when they were out of the side? I disagree there is enough evidence that he is a bad set shot kicker. He almost won us the game against Geelong. It's not as though he is missing them 30m out directly in front. He provides outlets and is a different style of wingman to Langdon - he is there to perform a range of functions. AND to say he can't get back in after the side has won a couple of matches.. .ergo this means the FD have got the recruitment wrong, just seems to be such a nonsensical statement. There will be a range of factors, perhaps look at bit deeper at the side we are playing against... perhaps the FD have looked at his role compared to who he would likely be up against this week and decided it's a week by week proposition. Perhaps the FD also wanted a settled side... heaven knows if we lost to Hawthorn, Brayshaw may have been in the gun and Tomlinson back in. Essentially, and more succinctly - the fact that he is not back in this week does not mean he is not a wingman, or has no place ongoing in the side.

Lockhart’s pressure acts speak for themselves. For such a young player his pressure act around player & ball are excellent. His disposal efficiency when he does get the ball is also excellent . I’m not sure if you have the AFL live app but you can go to AFL Pro & click on any player & watch their possessions for the game. Lockhart’s reads well so need to persevere as he will definitely get better. Sometimes it isn’t just about possessions!

I don’t think it’s said at all. This is absolutely brilliant that teams are coming together for the greater good.

I walk into this thread thinking there is some relevant news re Jesse Hogan and there is an entire page wasted discussing whether we should target Levi Casbault. Stage 3 restrictions are really taking their toll. Can I suggest we all watch and enjoy tomorrow night's game as what is shaping to be a fantastic contest regardless of result.

i will fair dinkum suntan terry it if o'dea gets traded loves aliesha newman too craziness!

Tmac on a wet deck would be disastrous. Bloke has a turning circle of the titanic. Imagine him on a wet and heavy ground.

If Vanders was fit, no way he would have been dropped The team walks taller with this bloke in the team

I hope that Jonesy gets to his 300th and is then respectfully and honourably transitioned into our coaching team He deserves the best treatment possible Unwavering loyalty and professionalism One of the Melbourne FC greats

Maybe a wet track but I live up here and you can't rely on the forecast. At this stage only 1-5mm expected with sunny breaks. I suspect it will be fine by start. With Jones, I agree he has sore shoulders over the years, carrying most but i want to see him run back hard when they have ball instead of jogging through middle.

Jones is a very proud man, he is rested, super fit and obviously in form, big game coming up

Be one tip up because it seems no other bugger is as confident as me.

This figures are guess-timates. I’ve seen about 80-90 contracts in my work capacity in the past 10 years. The contracts are formed on the criteria of - Base salary. ie. If you get injured and play zero games , you still get this amount - match payments (AFL, VFL) - number of matches played in season . Example: if you play more than 10 games, if you play more than 20 games - performance based. Club best and fairest - awards based. A play like Brayshaw would be on base $250k then around $15000 a match. If he played 20 matches and finished say 8-10th in B&F, he would probably earn around $600k.

AFL stats pro actually has vision of every involvement of each player in the game. And alongside the vision it defines what that that involvement was. I assume that is how AFL.com generates.all its match and player stats. (By the by a techy out there might know - am I right to assume that the process is automated. Or does a human have to code every involvement?) So in addition to possessions there is vision of one percenters (eg spoils, pressure acts, tap ons, smothers etc), tackles, marks, frees for and against etc. So with Lockhart's vision you actually see that he gets involved in the game more than you might think. Lots of one percenters.

Can’t believe they don’t rate Gawn.

Nice but shouldn’t it be Vulture Street?

The big Porterhouse will get the job on Hipwood I suspect, which will be an important role. Hipwood was pretty much the difference between us and the Lions last year at the Gabba I recon. Last year, he had a big day out and kicked something like 5 goals, a few of which were big long bombs from 50m or tight against the boundry. Was a real purple patch for him and although it's hard to see him repeating those kind of heroics, it will be an important contest between Oscar and him. Another vivid recollection from last year's game was the chemistry between Frost and May, or distinct lack there of. I quite liked Frosty as a player, but I get the distinct impression that both he and May wanted to be alpha males down in defense and it didn't really seem to work, where as Oscar seems to just put his head down and get to work in a business like manner and help that back six to really gel.

Probably do Tommy some good to get down into a scratch match and just clunk a few. i get the impression he's felt the pressure to be the spearhead and now he can kinda see he's not even a lock for the best 22 i feel like a return to his best form won't be too far away.

He only signed on for one year at the end of last season, I could be wrong but I couldn’t imagine he’d be all on that much.

People are going to be disappointed during trade period this year. It is doubtful that Melbourne will be heavily involved. Why? Compromised draft: we have already given away our 1st round this year to be able to select Pickett last year. At the time the club said that the compromised draft in 2020 meant picks were not in equivalent value to 2019. Why would we then try to trade back into the same compromised draft? If the 2021 draft is less compromised, then we may try to trade for future picks...leave that to Jason Taylor and the experts. Existing list: There are players who we haven't seen or barely sighted to this point. Jordon, Sparrow, Rivers, Nietschke, Baker, Petty, Chandler all look to have something to offer, but can't get a game, because of the strength of the list ( or injury). If list sizes are reduced, there are a good number of others outside this group who can be discarded, so apart from the required number of draftees ( 3 at the moment) we really don't need any more. Since it is difficult for players outside our top 22 to get a run at the moment, there would be a chance that other clubs may be interested. However, you are not going to get a high draft pick for those players. e.g Sam Frost got Pick 50 and Hawks’ future second-round pick - GAVE AWAY Picks 42, 61 and Demons’ future fourth-round pick. Again, what is the point of 2nd, 3rd and 4th rounds picks in a compromised draft, and which we probably don't need or want in any case. Unless a really good player comes to your club under FA arrangements, you have to give up the equivalent or more to get them. Gone are the days of "stealing" talent from other clubs. Even Gold Coast are keeping their high end talent these days.

I think I found it.

Tonight at Adelaide Oval. Get your [censored] together Victorians. Wear a [censored] mask. I want to go back to the footy.

If we’re to play finals we need to pull out wins against quality opposition, we lost to West Coast, Geelong, and Richmond albeit the cats one was close and I great chance to snatch it. We simply have to win one of this week or next week. I think we face Brisbane in an interesting time because they are in form and we are just starting to find some confidence. The Lions fans aren’t wrong about a couple of things, Gawn and Petracca are a large reason for our form but also the way we’re playing around the ground is a lot more reminiscent of 2018.

Brisbane are in great form and are one hell of a rapidly developing team. We've beaten Gold Coast and Hawthorn the past 2 weeks. Hardly giant killing form. A win over Brisbane will tell me that we are serious. Expecting a narrow loss.

Dee can’t sing to save my life but if we win you will hear me (and my kids) belting out our song through the effects mics on the ground ?.

Loving the Lockhart commentary in this thread everyone. Very enlightening. His development isn't that dissimilar from Nev's. Started up forward, but then moved back. Didn't get a heap of it, but was solid. Thought he struggled with the tempo against Richmond (or was it Geelong?), but since then he hasn't seemed to have coughed the ball up. Seems like a good coaching move to me.

Structure. He's a hard runner and get's himself into positions that help lock down the ground.

they're pretty much on the money. if Gawn and Jackson dominate as much as they should and we don't just bomb the ball long and high to Harris Andrews we're a big chance. pretty simple. Win it in the middle. Lower your eyes.

Surely the club has learnt from the Junior experience. It's hardly like we are top heavy list age wise. Having a few more experienced heads around the club would provide some good stability to the place. I suspect that when it becomes obvious to them that their time is up, all of Jones, Jetta and Hibbard could be trusted to make the right call and do things on their terms. Jones apears to have taken his absence from the senior side for the past month on the chin and with the team first attitude that made him such a great player and captain over the years. Would be great to see him play some good games over the next few and lock in his place in the side. Still think he has something to offer.

Backing Tom to return to best 22 form and selection sometime very soon.

The commentary is laughable...and not just Bruce. They're making a farce of the game. What's going on boy's? why can't GWS get the ball inside 50? It's not all about lowering the eyes. GWS are playing a depleted Richmond and are barely in front. They still can't seem to get the ball inside 50 often enough to be a real threat. What do the need to do? What are Richmond doing to stop them? Come on, give us a clue... We can only guess with the camera angles not letting us see what's really going on. I know, it's not going to happen but man the standard of special comments in our game is appalling. Add that to the ball by ball commentary and it's just pathetic.

2020 in itself has been weird, but Omac being in the best 22 over Tmac is not something most DLanders would have predicted!

One of the things I loved about the game against the Hawks was seeing Pickett getting frequently involved and getting to good places in support, whether or not he was rewarded or even got a stat out of it. It shows a little in the 'goal of the week mini-video on the main Demonland page at the moment - he was weaving in and out of the action ready dragging players with him and even closing in on the hot spot as the goal was being kicked. But the moment for me that really shone (and made me feel like we were definitely going to win) was a passage of play I think late in the third quarter where through sheer manic attack and slapping and bundling along Pickett was largely responsible for moving the ball forward about fifty meters despite Hawks outnumbering Demons for the length of the scramble. He must have physically touched the ball five times in ten seconds but statistically wouldn't have had a 'touch' to his name. Sums up why I think we've got a winner in this kid and why I'm going to enjoy watching him for years. Can I make a special request to anyone with editing skills for a mini-video of that ridiculous passage? Might be hard to find because it didn't result in a goal or anything special as an outcome, except Hawthorn once again were knocked back up the ground, out of an attacking position, and left with no options except to kick long to Gawn! It is also the perfect reminder that Pickett's stats are completely ignorable - he's doing his thing and it is definitely not bureaucratic!

The Herald Sun is running an article today around who the highest paid players in the AFL are. They are looking at the players from 51-100 at the moment. Here is where some of the Melbourne players are: 86 - Angus Brayshaw. Estimated salary between $600,000 - $650,000 66 - Christian Petracca. Estimated salary between $650,000 - $700,000 59 - Tom McDonald. Estimated salary between $675,000 - $725,000 56 - Jack Viney. Estimated salary between $675,000 - $725,000 Thoughts everyone? Happy to share info on other clubs if you want it.

I think we will win. The team balance is far better than the early games and players are finally playing in the right positions.

Jackson is literally the opposite of a dinosaur, he's extremely agile for his size. He's an infinitely better option in the wet than TMac.

Hey EO. Most weeks I obtain the info from FB, supporter forums similar to Demonland and BigFooty. This week it was mostly BF. https://www.bigfooty.com/forum/threads/round-8-melbourne-versus-the-brisbane-lions.1243439/page-7

Go watch the replay. AVB was our best at pressuring hawthorn. Absolute key to stopping their keeping a off game. No way was he getting dropped.

Yeah, an interesting one Deeman. I would have thought Vulture Street as well. The address according to their website is Stanley Street.

Stoked to have Jonesy back and I think he's a great addition in place of VandenBerg. Expecting much better disposal and decision making, and to be honest I'd have dropped AVB if he wasn't injured.

We need a small defensive stopper to replace Jetta, possibly a second wingman, a second natural small forward and a mature back up key forward. The question is whether we believe these players already exist on our list and the importance of filling the role vs $$$ we’ll spend. If Saad is any chance of leaving Essendon he is where I would prioritise. Possibly the best pound for pound defender in the game and also provides great attacking run. However as raised we dont have draft currency to make it happen. I am a massive fan of Zach Williams and he could also fill this role and provide great variation across our midfield but I question his durability. He is a free agent so we could make it happen if we could convince him and shuffle the cash. Otherwise with list reductions and lower spending I would just be looking for the right player that maybe is not getting opportunity at his to fall our way. Whilst In contract one that I would look at Is Jack Sinclair at StKilda. Seems to be on the outer, offers good carry, speed and polish and Is quality both on wing and as forward, Richo would Also be in the known. As far as tall forwards go I am comfortable to invest in a combo of Weid, TMac, Jackson, Petty and not spend the cash. It is showing more that there is less need to spend big $$$ on your big forwards to gain success.

Of course its good that teams are coming together. We all expected that. But we're long way off until we seen the rich tradition of having Saturday or Sunday Casey reserves playing. I miss tuning in to see how our VFL side was going during game day.

First off the Pickett decision to pay a free was an error, the umpire made a mistake. Both in that the only player he interfered with was Tomlinson, and second he got a hand to the ball, so no real point examining this one against how these should be adjudicated. But what you suggest is basically what they are meant to allow, with touching the ball being the indicator of 5 metres concept. They allow rule violations, mostly high contact but also technical push in the back, and shepherding with the ball more that 5 metres away (if you do the physics maths, the ball in flight will almost always be far more than 5 metres away when first contact is made for a hanger), if the player almost marks it. “Unrealistic attempt” is just the umpire saying “I’m not allowing you rule immunity on this occasion” but a bit quicker. I think all these blind eyes to rules in a marking contest is great as it encourages a unique and spectacular part of the game, but gee it makes the umpire’s job even harder (not in this case, seemed to be my pet hate of guess what probably happened rather than look at what actually happened).

Just bizarre how footy has come to this.. Quite sad actually.

Was 50-50 at Blundstone - plus all the added effects of travel. Now 80-20. Makes a big difference in an 17-round season.

I’ll let you all know on Sunday ........the maid is still recovering from our win against the Dorks !!!

quietly contemplate taking the lid off after we beat Port.

Jones to Birchall. We'll call it The Old Man Tag specialty role

Great to see the champ back !!!!

I'd rather chase Zac Williams. Would be cheaper and fill a need coming off half back/wing.