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Awful news. One of the true excitement machines of the AFL when he's up and running, wish him all the best.

Melksham has been selected on merit, and isn't getting gifted a chance to play his 200th. The last 2 games he's played against WC rd 22 last year and the Hawks this year, he's played well. And he replaces a half forward in Harmes. Bedford was only selected for our starting 22 when Kossie was out. Those arguing that Bedford should be selected because he's younger are barking up the wrong tree. It's like those who continue to argue that we should be resting players against weaker opposition. Goody once again stated in his presser that we are still trying to perfect our synergies. When Viney was out, Dunstan came in. Selection has always been like for like, especially when we've had a ready made replacement in form.

You’re 100% right ‘Daz’. I will continue to say what I think and not follow like the sheep proclaiming a promising player with some upside as the best thing since sliced bread. My mail on Mac is that the Suns are pretty happy with his development where he’s being used as a key defender and with mixed results to date. No hurry and no immediate plans to use him as a senior player. I might have a look at him tomorrow at the AFL site’s live stream of Footscray VFL vs Gold Coast game. Cheerio!

Coaches have mentioned trying different game tactics in games. Maybe Melksham is to experiment with ball movement into our fwd line. The # of points we kick says our fwd work isn't as good as the rest of our game. And, by now other clubs have done their homework on us and working out tactics to counter our strengths. If we change up our mid to fwd ball movement it helps make their ideas less damaging and give us better scoring accuracy. Good timing to change aspects of our game with Freo, Sydney, Pies and Lions over the next month. Even if Melksham doesn't hold his spot if we are trying something new and it works the selection will be a success. Lets not look at Melksham's stats but at the role he plays.

Well neither of these teams will challenge this year. Defense wins premierships, and neither of these teams can defend against momentum to save themselves. Pray one of them finishes fourth so we get a free ride into the prelim.

Exactly my first thought too: probably the closest like-for-like option available. I don’t mind it. Good luck to him, hope he gets to 200. He’s been an excellent servant of the club since coming over from Essendon.

If we gifted games - jones wouldve played in a granny Bedford is not a mid forward, Dunstan is not a mid forward, Laurie is not a mid forward Melk is - he can play a role and will make way when needed

Can’t wait to smash these pretenders

Anyone who thinks the umpires or Sydney have anything to do with this doesn't know what they're watching I said it after our pre season loss and will say it again now - if you watch Carlton closely they have found a formula. Contested stuff off the chart - ride tackles as well as any team, serious serious front half pressure, killer key forwards - that's all obvious. But watch their contest stuff - they outnumber, they space well, and they've reached the tipping point good teams do where they have so much confidence in winning the contest they're taking risks while teammates are getting tackled. Intangible stuff is high too - a team in unison, working for each other, clearly in sync. 3rd year I think under Andrew Russell - they've found the running power that takes a few years to build. Doing it ATM without their #1 ruck, Coleman medallist, and a host of others - there's serious depth there. 8-2 - not had the easiest draw - they absolutely have to be taken seriously. Anything less than a prelim is a failure for them. Hope it's not against us (serious 2018 Richmond v Collingwood vibes) as they are genuinely the only team that could overpower us both in the midfield and particularly with Curnow, McKay and their honest worker small fwds. How they go in Finals is the only unknown - with Voss at the helm and the way they're playing I don't think anything will scare them. They'll be there right to the very end. Don't you just hate to see it

Why the pejorative comment? As someone who is “older” I find that quite offensive.

Maybe below the cockles, maybe in the sub-cockle area

We're not... We're posting about a young man going through a difficult time. He's a joy to watch when he's not playing us. Plays with great flair and spirit, I wish him all the best and hope to see him back out there. ...and if he's not, then at least be in a good place with his life.

What world are we living in. Never thought I'd live to see the day.

Carlton fans are feral

Just starting to sober up after last year 🙃

Was all for a night grand final, but, after last year, I think I'd prefer day. The wait was too long for me, had to walk the streets listening to pan flute music straight out of Karate Kid to relax.

Are you thinking there might be a bigger story? If I were an Essendon supporter, I'd want to know why McKenna, Daniher, Saad, Fantasia and now Walla all wanted to leave in a relatively short period of time. Each may have had a personal reason for leaving, but losing 5 players like that in a short period of time might also hint at a bigger problem. I hope Walla lands in a happy place for the rest of his life.

What an absolute joke is the AFL - complaining in the one hand that the umpires are not respected, then show them this degree is disrespect themselves by not offering appropriate training facilities. And then of course introduce the absurd disrespect rule that only serves to engender disrespect further What a lack of amateurs - highly paid of course.

Demonland:

Jack Viney has hamstring soreness and has been replaced by Luke Dunston. Chance for the ex saint to show his colours.

Umps terribly one sided. They are gifting this game to the Blues.

Players and Coaches don't care: Anytime. Anywhere. Anyone. Sponsors do and Pert may need to explain what the AFL is up to.

bigger punishment for the seniors. Hawkins won't even be finished his EPO transfusions by then

Good to have you back old55!

Hopefully North get a full yardstick this weekend

The thinking seems to be if Viney, Oliver or Trac are out then Dunstan comes in to directly replace them. If Harmes, ANB or Sparrow are out then it's Melksham. BBB, TMac, LJ and maybe Fritta (we haven't seen that yet) then Weid gets a go. Kossie or Spargo then it's Bedford into the 22. One of the tall defenders goes out then it's Tomo. However, if one of the running/smaller defenders goes out then shuffle Brayshaw or JJ back - so I can't wait for Salem and Hibberd to be available to see what the plans with the team are then? My guess, Salem comes back in, probably for Rivers or Hunt depending on form or even if we need speed or stronger defence more. The Salem, Gus and JJ all play a hybrid wing/half back roles, rotating with one on the bench the whole time. Salem might stay closer to the backline initially but as he builds back to full fitness have the same licensee to run as the other 2 do at the moment. Of course Langdon just does his thing on the other wing.

The abysmal AFL attitude to umpires is highlighted in this article: football-s-forgotten-figures-the-umpiring-crisis-threatening-the-game They have been shunted from reasonable (sort of) training facilities to virtually nothing. It is a blight on the AFL who surely aren't serious about improving the lot of umpires if they continue to treat them as third class stakeholders.

What a [censored] joke. Maybe have them train on someone's nature strip? It's grass after all. Opportunity here for the mighty MFC to curry favour and invite them to train at Casey, or Gosch's when it's ready.

I'd argue that Brown joining the club has had the sort of impact that rivals the impact of us getting May and Lever. He was made to earn his spot last year but ever since he's been a 'best 22' player we've been a considerably better football side. Absolute gun 🔫 and a nice bloke Hope he kicks a bag on the weekend

Great OP. Seems a lifetime ago that theose message boards were full vastly different discussion! I will never take last year, or any other successful campaigns, for granted

If Milkshake gets off the chain against this mob could be the difference between a 60 point win and a 90 point win. Bit of downhill skiing didnt hurt anyone. Until it does.

Jones was gifted his last half a dozen games

Geeze lots of carry on for an undefeated team making 1 change.

I have a mate who is an AFL umpire and I gave him a gentle ribbing and said the dees would have won more than 15 straight if it wasn't for the umpires. He opened up about it and said their training hours have been halved for them They can no longer train in Carlton which had the appropriate facilities and they need to train at Marvel where they are not allowed on the turf and are made to just stay on the Astro outside the boundary line. I'm often critical of the umpires but they have to make split second decisions, unlike the MRP who have the opportunity to watch as many replays as they want but are still inconsistent. From what I understand there a number of umpires retiring at the end of the year and the AFL is panicking and hence bought in you can't throw up your arms rule if you disagree with a free kick. Pretending they care.

Port Melbourne's home ground

I'm OK with Melksham playing. There could be many reasons for this selection but perhaps he got the nod over Dunstan and Bedford due to a concern that we're not really kicking large scores, even though we're winning. Melksham provides a better forward target and a better forward distributor than either Bedford or Dunstan. The latter two provide better on ball work and probably better defensive pressure, but perhaps we use Neal-Bullen more on ball this week to compensate for that part of Harmes's game that will be missing.

Only if we do the hard metres, put kilometres into our legs, have a gram of luck, centimetre closer to a win, watch the kilojoules and go the whole 8.23 metres.

So we will be 2022 Premiers a few hours earlier than I was anticipating.

The Red Sherrin lives!!

Shame. Number of things more important than footy tho. Loved watching him play.

I saw this morning they’ve added Narrm caps as well (which I quickly added to my cart). I’m really hoping in the next AFLW season they make the Pride round jumpers available for purchase. I’d like nothing more to show up to the footy in my pride jumper with my Narrm scarf and hat on. My social justice outfit would really annoy some people - which would just make the footy so much more enjoyable for me.

Terribly sad news. He was a highlight machine and one of the few Essendon players I genuinely loved to watch. Wish him all the very best in the future.

Twilight Grand final looks like being announced today. I'm a traditionalist and like the Saturday afternoon. But I must say we have never lost a Twilight GF and nobody else has ever won one.

Essendon are soft and should be more like the dees. Id love to show 15yo me this content!!

Harmes is out for at least 2. A defender will come out for Salem, most likely Rivers. Unless Melksham is beyond terrible or gets injured, he’ll play #200 next week.

Milkshake is a solid, low risk choice and probably a better Like for Like replacement for a Harmes than Bedford or Dunstan.

I've had worse. Melksham should be the absolute last resort of selection. The point of being selected when we have multiple injuries. He's well past it at nearly 31 years of age and not in the club's future plans. He shouldn't be in the team robbing games off Bedford who actually deserve to be rewarded for his consistency of form in the VFL but also the perfect opportunity to see what he has to offer at AFL level with a string of games while Harmes is off injured.

Not your finest work, dazzler.