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How ironic BBB plays his 150th against his former club. But well done to him. I must admit when we used to p[lay aginst him it would bug me with his run up. How things change when he becomes part of your team. He helped us win a premiership and I hope the team win for him against his former club. Congrats on your milestone match.

Steven may is 193cm and smashed all these players week in week out. Height is only one metric.

JVR might be only 193 cms, but he plays like 194 cms.

Great stuff from Nibbler. I have an inkling his impact post-playing is going to be significant, and hopefully in the football world. Future leadership role in football/AFL at a national level beckons. I met him (and his BM Billy Stretch at a Football art exhibition the week of that dreaded prelim in Perth). Was mighty impressive then, as was Billy, interested, engaged, humble and articulate. Not surprised at the player/leader he’s become. Love the NARRM and what it represents - bricks in the wall of respect, legacy and attribution. The massive contribution of Indigenous Australia to football was underappreciated if not blatantly neglected for 95% of its history. Anything and everything that can be done to redress that now is mighty welcome. As a middle-aged white male myself, my question always to the naysayers is - where’s the harm? Yet to hear a sensible answer.

I'd quite confidently back in little-fellas like Lloyd (192), Pavlich (192), Fevola (191), Jonathan Brown (195) and little Davie Neitz (191) to have a pretty solid impact on the game today. Zero concerns about JVR's height; it's all about how you use it.

The intrepid footy reporter known as Skuit is sent along to the mid-week Simon Goodwin press conference. A hot ticket. He completely botches the assignment though, and only manages to ask Simon why humans have pom-poms on their beanies? Like what's the function and when did it become a thing? Is there some deeper meaning? It's a gotcha-question gone wrong, as Simon says that they're not really taking the pom-poms into consideration right now, it's more about the process. Does Skuit take any satisfaction from the fact that a multi-billion dollar organisation in the AFL has finally managed to procure some decent mikes to capture the reporters' questions, or is he left ruing this development? You decide.

Melbourne v North Melbourne History at Docklands Stadium There has been 8 matches played between Melbourne and North Melbourne at Docklands Stadium. The first match between these two clubs at Docklands was on July 1, 2000 (when it was known as "Colonial Stadium"). The next game at Docklands between the Dees & Roos was in 2007 when the stadium was known as "Telstra Dome". From 2009 - 2014 (which was the last year the two clubs met at Docklands), there was a match each year between Melbourne and North at Docklands when it was known as "Etihad Stadium". (Source: https://finalsiren.com/PreviousGames.asp?Team1ID=6&Team2ID=13&Go=Go) The startling statistic is that North beat Melbourne in all of these 8 matches. If Melbourne beat North on Saturday (at "Marvel Stadium" as the ground is currently known), it will be the first time ever that the Dees will have beaten the Roos at Docklands. Who wouldn't want to be there to witness that? I'm there! GO DEES!

Dazzle or someone close to the club could you catch young Rooyen by surprise and run a tape over him to check his actual height.?? And don’t forget to ask him is he still growing this will help reduce our stress levels.😳👍👌🤘🙏

The goal output of key fwds has been dropping for years now and it won’t be long before a mid or small fwd wins the Colman, Key fwds are the dinosaurs of the afl. If JVR can kick goals and do the team things it doesn’t matter what height he is.

I know it is wrong but I can't find any empathy in me for North. It is completely irrational but I worked with a North supporter who used to grind on me every chance he got. His main point was that the Dees were completely irrelevant and even playing them was a forgone conclusion and a waste of his team's time. It used to drive me crazy and he'd dish it out twice over after they smashed us. Unfortunately I no longer work with him. I'd love to rub his face in the current, disastrous state of his club and suggest to him that they be disbanded so as to stop wasting my premiership team's valuable time. I promise I am not normally a vindictive b@st@rd, but I am struggling to let this one go.

I agree with the psychopath. We need to crush them, bury them, salt the earth, plant a tree where they lie, let it grow and then cut it down in its prime. Rinse and repeat. What? It’s perfectly healthy.

I have zero sympathy for other clubs. Nobody cared when we were suffering for decades. North used to smash us constantly and now it’s time to inflict the same pain on them.

He was a whipping boy 2019-20 and was often criticised for not having any ‘weapons’. He’s proof that a good footy-brain trumps most other traits. A very important player.

Really ? Did you see Jakovich or Dunstall play ? I don't think either could be described in that way,. Both had exceptional footy IQ, great strong hands on the lead, beautiful kicks for goal and fantastic at protecting the drop zone when competing for marks one on one. Both incredible talents and both would still do very well today - obviously just my opinion

I don't have an issue with their fans, I just don't feel the need to protect them by going easy and not smashing them by 12 goals. This competition will chew you up and spit you out. It is every club for themselves. Now is our time and [censored] the rest.

For the signing of Charlie Spargo for 3 more years. Signed up until his RFA year. Love Charlie! Only 3 premiership players OOC this year to sign up: Brayshaw, Hunt, Hibberd, Jackson. I so wish Hunt gets another contract or if not goes as a Premiership player. Laurie would be the only other OOC player (excl Rookies) that looks certain to get another contract. Chandler will be upgraded to the Seniors list.

I want Jake Bowey to play over 200 games for Melbourne and go his whole career undefeated.

Pretty pathetic for them to get stuck into Ben Brown who they treated like crap in the hub and while his poor wife lost a baby. Maybe if after 10 years of being a gun key forward for that joke of a club they didn't turn on him the minute he struggled with injury and personal issues, he would still be there kicking them goals and helping them lose by 50 points instead of 100 points each week. If they think he left for money, they obviously have no idea what was happening at their club. He gets paid a lot less at Melbourne than he would have at North. They chose to bottom out and dump good quality senior players. They are where they are because of poor management. Cry me a damn river.

Very impressive interview. He NEVER takes winning for granted

You should have asked him about all three phases in beanie construction

Maybe. But if Bedford is selected, I hope that it's solely on merit and that he is told as much. It would be horrible for Bedford if he thought his selection was tokenistic.

Yes i thought much the same. The fact that they selected Toby to do the club's Sir Doug Nicholls Round video (published on Monday) ratjher than say may or Kozzie reinforces that point i think https://www.melbournefc.com.au/video/1128685/toby-bedford-sir-doug-nicholls-round?videoId=1128685&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1652682034001

There is a distinct difference between key forwards of the past and key forwards now. It's about how you win the football and the skill set needed to be successful at that. In the 80s and 90s, the game was one on one and key forwards had to beat their opponent one on one. In 2022 a key forward needs to beat a system of defenders, so beating your own man isn't enough. Instead you need to win the ball against several opponents at once. The skills needed by Dunstall were to win a strength contest with his opponent to either take the mark or beat them on the lead into space. To do this all he needs to be is really strong and fast on the burst. He rarely had to jump at the ball because all of his work was being done whilst on the ground (pushing, leading etc). In 2022 a key forward needs to be able to mark against multiple opponents, or at least create a contest against them, since there simply isn't the space up forward to be able to get consistent one on one contests. As a result the skills set required is people who can jump at the ball and mark it high in a pack. This means that key forwards are getting taller because this helps them with the skills they need now. Van Rooyen got several one on ones against North because they are terrible (and Majak cleaned them up in the ruck), but he did it well. However he probably wouldn't be able to do this at AFL level because he wouldn't get the space. Weideman took a few excellent contested marks against multiple opponents, which is more of an AFL style skill. That's not to say that Van Rooyen won't be a good AFL player, but it will probably be once he becomes a genuine big body so that he can be more of a super hard working battle axe who is super competitive and halves a lot of contests. More of a Tom McDonald or Jeremy McGovern style of player (up forward).

I agree that Bedford is better as an option for Harmes than Dunstan. Dunstan is a good ordinary inside mid with grunt. He is a replacement for Viney or Clarry. Harmes rarely plays on ball, he plays much more wing and half forward. Bedford gives us pace and the ability to push ANB inside, or Spargo up the wing as needed. It means Sparrow plays more inside minutes and Bedford plays as a half forward. Being Indigenous round only adds to the point that Bedford should play, and the fact we are playing a side that is hardly going allows us to play around with a few positions as needed.

A lot of this thread is grappling with the question of what the appropriate level of flogginess for us to adopt is now that we're good. My approach is to pick certain teams and mates who were pr!cks when we were no good to really go after and act magnanimously with the rest. So that means I really carried on at the Essendon game, and really nail a few select mates 🤣

I have longed for the days where we don't have to be the laughing stock of the footy world. I have suffered the insufferable - particularly Hawthorn and Essendon supporters. I hope that I have learned my lessons. Always support they boys and hope they smash opposition. Don’t be a smarty pants or goad opposition supporters. Commiserate and have some empathy. I hope we play really strongly and smash them, but my focus will be on what we do, rather than ‘how bad’ the other mob are. At the hawks game, one of their numpties was carrying on like a peanut, goading the dees supporters around him, being derogatory towards our players. He soon shut up, but lord please never let me be that [censored] ever.

I too would happily burn them to ash then put those same ashes in a rocketship and fire it into the sun: their 5 supporters were among the most derisive of us when they beat us for a decade and a half, payback time

Likewise! I’ll be there also. GO DEES

I think Chandler has been treated unfairly by the MRO I found some footage of tackles similar to Chandler's as a visual comparison August 2021: Hawkins tackles Joyce (concussed). MRO decision: NO PENALTY August 2021: Cordy tackles Koschitzke (played on) MRO decision: $2000 PENALTY May 2022: Chandler tackles Foley (concussed) MRO decision: 2 WEEK SUSPENSION Footage below: https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/chandler-hits-foley/video/c180b325d3e3589d2116f5f72310ac56 As I said, I think Chandler has been treated unfairly by the MRO. MFC should appeal.

Take it easy. a great player but not possibly the greatest

But not an indictment on us for offering him up for nothing?

I don't recall any sympathy when we were at our lowest. Only scorn, contempt, slight regard, a desire for us to fold & go away, and anticipation of a percentage builder. It's our time at the top and we should exploit it to the fullest. If North are in the road, they get flattened.

One point he made, which I think is absolutely spot on, is that the younger players coming through don't need to do the 3 years o cultural change that ANB, Gawn, Petracca, Oliver etc etc had to do. They are now learning 'on the tools' from these guys, which I think is the key to a successful club and dynasty - look at how the Swans have stayed up for so long. You think about the likes of Garland, Trengrove, Sylvia, Watts etc - really, they never stood a chance to learn properly.

Fabulous interview. Honestly, I thought at the end of 2020, he would be on his way out. Since then, he has become one of our most important players - I thought he was the player we missed most in the Hawks game. His endurance and toughness has ensured that our game plan works from the front. Superb individual.

Seems to have a hand in every goal

Without Viney we don’t win the Flag. His work in close at the Center Bounces was exceptional. The definition of “Extractor”

Hi, Not one to normally start a new thread, and this could possibly have found it's way into an old Jack Viney thread maybe, but I just felt it's worth giving credit where credit is due. Jack had a solid year in 2021, but I believe he has lifted even more this year. With his history of foot injuries he has looked slow and his field kicking frustrated me in recent years. I always felt he was well behind Petracca and Oliver and I questioned whether his body had let him down and would he be able to hold down the midfield role for much longer. However I think in 2022 he's improved significantly, and dare I say it looks quicker and more comfortable running over the turf. Resulting in his output both in running lines and his disposal looking a heap better than I can recall from prior years. He hasn't lost his aggression and love of tackling hitting the player hard. Whilst his possession count isn't up at the possession rate of Oliver and Petracca, Viney just seems to be making the right decisions in games more often and not, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him right up there in the B&F count to this point of the season, just does the things that the coaches would love! He's becoming exciting to watch within out team, and that's something I never thought I'd say :)

From Bigfooty: More doom and gloom. Doesn’t matter. They will kick a cricket score against us next week. Could 186 be under threat? 160 points. Brown will kick 10 They are at least on a 6 day break coming back from Perth. Hopefully they can take it easy on us. Forfeit the round and send the boys on the Kokoda Trail. Lets get everyone on the page, then give them an ounce of coke and 15 boxes of booze. Go! Unless they go easy on us, our infamous Fitzroy defeat of '83 is in danger and BBB will beat his 10 goal haul. If they bring their A game this will be a 150 point margin. I think they'll ease off tho. No point going harder than you need to be. Will be satisfied with anything under 70 points Genuine question - what would people prefer:- total 18 player flood defence leads to final score where we lose 80-13 or play the more traditional structure and lose 166 - 52? The only way our forward structure will score 52 against Melbourne's defensive structure is if they take half a dozen blokes off the ground in pity. But to answer your question, I'd take trying to play proper footy and losing 52-166 any day over not even trying to score for a whole match and still getting thrashed. I literally can't name one player from our team yesterday who would be regularly getting a game for them. If they are at all serious they win by 100. If they put the foot down then it will get very very ugly. Can we just forfeit? Please? Hopefully the D’s just go through the motions and get a routine 80 point win, no injuries, fanfare etc just like we used to for 10 years. Lets pray they’re not in the mood for one of those ‘we owe these campaigners‘ a bloodbath type slaughter fest wins My favourite: If we forfeit the round it will actually increase our percentage!!!! Perfect week for the godees to rest …The whole side I reckon we can beat WC score. We have been living rent free in opp fans heads. I would say the same can be said for opp players and coaches. Not many would fancy their chances against us.

Apparently we are 0-8 against North at Docklands. We really need to give them a good hiding.

While I do believe it would be worthwhile for the club to cast an eye out for a young ruck understudy to Max Gawn and Luke Jackson, I tend to agree with this. There doesn’t appear to be as much ruck talent around in mid-season draft calculations and, if the MFC entered the MSD, it’s pick would be too far down the pecking order to get Sandringham Dragons’ ruckman Max Ramsden who should be taken in the first two or three picks. Other than that, we can fill our needs from our current ranks so I also am swayed to the view that we’ll sit this one out and bide our time till November to find some ruck talent.

I know it has already been mentioned but anyone reading this thread who hasn't seen his interview on the Gus & Gawny podcast needs to watch it. He speaks about how he used to be an endurance beast but due to his injuries he has never been able to get it together for an AFL season. This season, finally fully fit and showing his full capabilities.

All he did wrong was pin the arms other than that it was a perfect tackle. Stiff to get 2 weeks. Hawkins is a protected species.

Carey, Ablett Snr, Judd, Voss, Buckley just for starters. Dusty maybe the best big game player but I think those others have him covered for consistency and longevity.

I have. Robbie Flower and Gary Ablett snr.

One of my favourites. Just goes about his business with little fuss but plenty of polished. Great re-signing

Based on the fact that we have not beaten them at the Docklands in around 10 starts suggests that we owe them time and again for the next decade. I have a Kangas friend who jumps on when they are winning and off when they are losing - the worst sort of fan in my opinion. I hope we put the ton on them but fear it will be closer than that. No sympathy!

Disappointing. Well we at least hold some records for MRO/Tribunal penalties. Only club to have a player suspended for 4 matches for a sling tackle ( twice - ANB and Jack Trengove) Only club to have a player suspended for rough play, without actual contact with the opposition player ( Brent Moloney ) Only player to be suspended for an elbow on the throat of an opponent ( Viney ) One of few if any other clubs, to have a player suspended for 2 matches, for an otherwise legal tackle, that became illegal, only as a result of the opponent being concussed. Only club that has had a player suspended for standing still, while a player ran into him, bounced off and got a whiplash concussion without head contact ( May ). I am sure I have missed a few other records we hold at the MRO/Tribunal.

ANB is an excellent example. I am still truly amazed at how far he has come over the last 1-2 years. His skills and split second decision-making/creativity has been great to watch. On top of that, he gets in the right places, applies a ton of pressure and generally kicks the goals. Results.