Demonland

Collingwood v Richmond at Ikon Park, 6.40pm AEDT COLLINGWOOD B: Darcy Moore, Brayden Maynard, Oleg Markov HB: Billy Frampton, Isaac Quaynor, Nick Daicos C: Bobby Hill, Jordan De Goey, Josh Daicos HF: Tom Mitchell, Darcy Cameron, Lachie Schultz F: Will Hoskin-Elliott, Jamie Elliott, Brody Mihocek Foll: Mason Cox, Steele Sidebottom, Patrick Lipinski I/C: John Noble, Finlay Macrae, Jack Crisp, Reef McInnes, Beau McCreery, Harvey Harrison, Ash Johnson, Charlie Dean Emerg: Nathan Kreuger, Jakob Ryan, Joe Richards, Lachlan Sullivan Notable absentees: Scott Pendlebury, Jeremy Howe RICHMOND B: Dylan Grimes, Tylar Young, Josh Gibcus HB: Jayden Short, Nathan Broad, Daniel Rioli C: Kamdyn McIntosh, Dion Prestia, Marlion Pickett HF: Seth Campbell, Liam Baker, Shai Bolton F: Jacob Koschitzke, Dustin Martin, Noah Balta Foll: Sam Naismith, Thomson Dow, Tim Taranto I/C: Tom Brown, Jacob Hopper, Jack Graham, Samson Ryan, Ben Miller, Jack Ross, Steely Green, Mykelti Lefau Emerg: Hugo Ralphsmith, James Trezise, Kane McAuliffe, Maurice Rioli jnr Notable absentees: Tom Lynch, Nick Vlastuin, Toby Nankervis, Rhyan Mansell

Who are you tipping?

That's the recommendation: The Match Review Officer (MRO) has graded the incident as careless, severe impact and high contact and has recommended a ban of at least three weeks.

Ben Brown is prepared to earn his spot back in Melbourne’s best side in 2024 – and he could prove the answers to the Demons’ biggest problem. Since joining Simon Goodwin’s team at the end of 2020 Brown, hasn’t found his best football, with 30 goals in 2022 his best return. The 31-year-old key forward spent much of last year in the VFL and could only manage seven AFL appearances. A persistent knee concern has also played a role. But after off-season surgery, Brown says he’s feeling as good as ever. “I had a little cleanout on the knee about four weeks ago, so I’m still building back. I’m due to return in a couple of weeks which will be great,” he told SEN Tassie. “The aim for me this year is to try and get my body in the best place it can be. I am 31… but I’m definitely aiming to get back and playing the best footy I can. “My knee is the way it is and I’ve had issues with that ever since a young Jimmy Webster ran into me at UTas (University of Tasmania) Stadium years ago playing for the Tassie Mariners. “It’s one of those things with footy, everyone has their own little battles they go through with injury and those kind of things. At the end of the day, you put yourself out on the park and you’re just another one of the 22 players out there.” Brown largely found himself stuck behind fellow talls Jacob Van Rooyen, Harrison Petty and Joel Smith as Melbourne scored the 5th most points across the 2023 home and away season. But as the Demons’ availability waned towards the end of the campaign, so too did their accuracy. Melbourne kicked 28 behinds across two narrow finals losses to Collingwood and Carlton to kick themselves out of finals. Brown is a proven goal kicker, having kicked over 60 goals in three consecutive seasons while at North Melbourne, each year at over 65 per cent accuracy. Bayley Fritsch was the Demons’ leading goal kicker in 2023, going at 60.3 per cent accuracy. “I’ve got to get myself to a point where I can really be competitive. I definitely think I’ve got some good footy to play this year,” Brown declared. “I’m definitely looking forward to it. I enjoying my footy at the moment as much as I ever have, which I think is a great mindset to be starting the year in, so I’m coming into it with the right attitude and really looking forward to the year. “Step one ticked, step two get the body right and get out on the field, I’m trying my best to get to that point.” Given his recent surgery, Brown is unlikely to be available for Melbourne's season-opening clash on Thursday March 7.

Ranked by Channel 9. 10. Oscar McInerney - Brisbane 9. Reilly O'Brien - Adelaide 8. Kieren Briggs - GWS 7. Jarrod Witts - Gold Coast 6. Luke Jackson - Fremantle 5. Brodie Grundy - Sydney 4. Rowan Marshall - St Kilda 3. Sean Darcy - Fremantle 2. Tim English - Western Bulldogs 1. Max Gawn - Melbourne Can Melbourne's no.1 man retain his spot at the top of this list? Club captain Gawn has truly done it all, guiding his side to a flag in 2021, their first since 1964. Some teams figured out just how big his impact was in 2023, but Gawn still had his way with most of his opponents in the air. The Demons have been struggling with off field questions surrounding the club's culture, with Gawn quick to step up and defend himself and teammates. "We have issues galore at our football club... We have a leadership meeting every week, and we have since I've been at the club," Gawn said. There will be many eyes on the 32-year-old, but he knows he's able to perform under pressure.

I've put it in my diary for 2028 which is the next time the 11th of March falls on a Saturday.

We're not the only club making babies. What do you want the club to do forbid the players to have relations during their careers? In any event look at the brightside; our 2024-25 team could be stacked with talent.

Bring back Mike Sheahan

A whole heap of Open Training Sessions have been put up on the MFC website. https://www.melbournefc.com.au/teams/training-times Gosch's Paddock Tuesday 27 February 8:30am onwards Saturday 2 March 11:45am onwards Saturday 11 March 11:45am onwards Saturday 16 March 8:45am onwards Tuesday 19 March 11:45am onwards Friday 22 March 8:45am onwards Monday 25 March 11:45am onwards Casey Fields Times will be updated here when available.

Revealed: Where your club sits on AFL’s $276m ladder... and who’s getting the most help

Readers's Top 50. 50. Jamarra Ugle-Hagan 49. Zak Butters 48. Luke Jackson 47. Keidean Coleman 46. Lachie Whitfield 45. Brayden Maynard 44. Oscar Allen 43. Luke Davies-Uniacke 42. Stephen Coniglio 41. Matt Rowell 40. Noah Anderson 39. Jai Newcombe 38. Taylor Walker 37. Jordan De Goey 36. Nick Blakey 35. Zach Merrett 34. Josh Kelly 33. Sam Taylor 32. Will Day 31. Charlie Cameron 30. James Sicily 29. Jack Viney 28. Charlie Curnow 27. Jeremy Cameron 26. Jack Sinclair 25. Rowan Marshall 24. Sam Walsh 23. Shai Bolton 22. Caleb Serong 21. Jacob Weitering 20. Harris Andrews 19. Darcy Moore 18. Dustin Martin 17. Hugh McCluggage 16. Patrick Cripps 15. Connor Rozee 14. Touk Miller 13. Tom Green 12. Tom Stewart 11. Josh Daicos 10. Errol Gulden 9. Jordan Dawson 8. Lachie Neale 7. Nick Larkey 6. Max Gawn 5. Clayton Oliver 4. Christian Petracca 3. Toby Greene 2. Nick Daicos 1. Marcus Bontempelli

50. Will Day 49. Jamarra Ugle-Hagan 48. Brayden Maynard 47. Josh Daicos 46. Matt Rowell 45. Jack Viney 44. Luke Jackson 43. Clayton Oliver 42. Dustin Martin 41. Rowan Marshall 40. Hugh McCluggage 39. Nick Blakey 38. Shai Bolton 37. Keidean Coleman 36. Jacob Weitering 35. Jack Sinclair 34. Caleb Serong 33. Zach Merrett 32. Stephen Coniglio 31. Oscar Allen 30. Taylor Walker 29. Nick Larkey 28. Jai Newcombe 27. Touk Miller 26. Lachie Whitfield 25. Josh Kelly 24. Jordan Dawson 23. Patrick Cripps 22. Darcy Moore 21. Harris Andrews 20. Max Gawn 19. Tom Stewart 18. Luke Davies-Uniacke 17. Charlie Cameron 16. Noah Anderson 15. Connor Rozee 14. Sam Walsh 13. Tom Green 12. Errol Gulden 11. James Sicily 10. Sam Taylor 9. Lachie Neale 8. Jeremy Cameron 7. Jordan De Goey 6. Charlie Curnow 5. Christian Petracca 4. Toby Greene 3. Nick Daicos 2. Zak Butters 1. Marcus Bontempelli

The September excuse will now be "tired brain" after a long season.