Bang Bang Bang

We'd have quite a lot of players with good routines. I'd be comfortable enough with any of Watts, TMac, Petracca, Pederson, Lewis, Jones, Brayshaw, Melksham, Salem and Garlett. Add Hogan if it's within 35m. I wouldn't be able to watch if it was Bugg, Kent or Tyson.

Tyson won't be dropped. Not a chance. Outside of Stretch and Wagner, the most likely in the gun before Tyson would be Harmes, Vince and Hannan. Then maybe even ANB and Brayshaw after that. He is firmly entrenched get used to it.

I think he deserves more credit for getting Melksham. Was a ballsy call at the time and pick 24 was largely considered overs. Find me anyone that wouldn't do that trade now!

It was very Melbourne to limp over the line. It was very Melbourne to let them get back into it in the last quarter. However it was very UN-Melbourne to actually win it. I put it down to the value of experience. Hibberd and Lewis were terrific at the end there, cool and composed. Both experienced ring ins. Compare that to say, TMac, and the gulf in composure was enormous. Jesse fantastic and Pedersen not far behind. I want Frost back and TMac in the forward line next week. Dayne Beames. [censored] hell, it's been a while since an opposition player reamed us the way he did today. Great player.

Haha, that guy was a pathological liar. Lucky I have an elephant's memory and remembered him claiming Dangerfield was 98% a Demon in 2014, thus taking the Rockliff stuff with a grain of salt. kurtneverdied did deliver the Brendan McCartney news ahead of time, so he has some credit in the bank. 1st and 2nd rounder will get it done if he has indeed chosen us. Expensive, but worth it. Lever is in his third year and in AA discussions. Oliver is in a similar boat (although only in his second). What price would we put on Oliver?

Honestly I don't hate Essendon that much anymore. They cheated, but they did their time for that and have ridded themselves of the ringleaders. I still don't want them in the finals but they play a good brand and I'd rather them than the bloody Hawks getting in again. Anyway, watching the Gold Coast tonight reminded me of Melbourne in 2012-14. What a spineless rabble they are. Mad Monday can't come quick enough.

Definitely Port Adelaide tomorrow. I don't have enough faith in us beating both Brisbane and Collingwood. If Port Adelaide win and we smash Brissie, then we're all but confirmed for September. I'd take that. But as I said, I don't consider beating Brisbane a certainty by any means.

From memory Craig Cameron used to post here when he was recruiting for us. He was a good bloke and gave the forum plenty of insight without giving too much away. Worth noting that this was around 2003-2006, before the days of Twitter, smart phones and relentless social media scrutiny. I doubt he'd be doing it these days if he was still around.

And he literally said "Full credit to Melbourne..." after a couple of minutes, before giving us more praise. I find him extremely boring in the media but thought I better check his press conference after that post, as it did sound out of character for him.

Not often I get to attend but was there today and mightily impressed with our composure in what was a mini-final. Whilst being at the game is undeniably better than watching on TV, it's not good for the heart AT ALL. I felt physically ill at three quarter time. And the umpiring was [censored] atrocious in the third quarter, Razor Ray seeing things from 100m away the rest of us can't?!? I honestly don't understand people who come on here and only point to negatives after a performance like that. Were the last two weeks of misery not enough? Each to their own but... My main positives: - Brayshaw. Brayshaw. Brayshaw. To play like that any week would have been a breakout. To play like that in your return game is downright inspirational. Perfect game. - Hunt, a heck of a player when he lowers his eyes. He'll never have the ball spinning perfectly like Salem or Watts but his DECISION MAKING today was elite. - Pedersen, playing like a pro. - Harmes in the first quarter, Hannan in the last. - Jones and Oliver dominating at the coal face. - Melksham the super boot. What a trade! - Jordan Lewis dominating the last quarter when we needed our leaders to stand up. I [censored] hate the Saints. Their culture, their fans, their players. Even their coach bores me to death every Monday. To end their season and be 2-0 this year after a decade of misery is immensely satisfying.

He couldn't have picked a worse week to appear, had it been 7 days ago the posters above would all be saying how impressive he was and how we're in good hands. BTW, I still believe that we are. He was definitely listening in Roosy's seminars on "How to say a lot without actually saying anything". PR was the master.

Pat McKenna is a worry. Pinged a hammy in Round 2 and will now miss the entire season. That was after hip, achilles and knee surgeries while he was at the Giants.

He actually helped us out a little this week. Without his theatrics Greene's hit might have been deemed insufficient force. Now we get to play a shaky GWS without arguably their best player. Thanks Alex!

Next time one of the uneducated bogans from the HS brings up Josh Kelly and Tyson/Salem, make sure the following year's trade is pointed out to them. Melbourne traded pick 23 to GWS for Frost, pick 40 (Neal-Bullen) and pick 53 (Oscar McDonald). The best part? GWS used pick 23 on Pat McKenna, who is now on our list. That has to be the most one-sided trade we've ever done. Anyway, ANB, tracking very nicely. Has gone from panic merchant to Mr. Cool with ball in hand.

I dunno, Vince is averaging just the 20 touches this season, and with that comes the semi-regular brain fades in defence and occasional stray elbow. He has slaughtered Sloane twice but most other mids aren't tagged out so easily. If Trenners can lift his output a little next week (20+ touches), then I'd have no qualms with Bernie coming back through Casey.

Just watched Goodwin's press conference. Reporter: When did you lock Viney in as a definite starter? Goodwin: Monday LOL

Today wasn't one of his better games. Turned it over a lot. But if you're gonna turn it over, gaining 90m in the process is probably the way to do it. The girly headband and flashy style fools opposition players IMO. The guy is no pansy, in fact he's probably only behind Viney and a couple of others as toughest at the club.

From memory Goodwin brought him over with the idea of playing him in defence. That didn't work out, but he's absolutely smoking it in his new role and fast becoming a favourite. All of a sudden I love that punchable head of his. Love his passion too. If you think about it, paying pick 25 for a steady role player in a Top 8 side is probably a fair deal, despite the early kerfuffles. A similar pick for Hibberd was quite simply highway robbery.

My guess is that the big Neanderthal thought Jetta had done his best Joel Selwood impersonation. But who cares. Jetta is the 180cm version of Rance with about 1/10th of the hype.

Who cares if Watts had a stinker? If anything it's a positive. We beat Port's best 22 (literally, they have no injuries. NONE!) with some of our best players either tiring or playing well below their best. We can go deep in September if our cripples regain their touch in the coming weeks.

Hannan is streets ahead of vandenBerg. I liked what AV brought to the side but he was essentially a straight ahead truck with minimal skill. Hannan has an elite skill set, fantastic 1-on-1 and goes as hard as any. Very good player.

Hibberd is recruit of the year. 36 touches, rarely wasted, and that [censored] tackle at the end of the third. We are not worthy. Neville 'brick wall' Jetta not far behind. Put that in your pipe and smoke it Dixon you giant ugly turd.

I actually thought he was a bit stiff last year. Had a solid 20 touches in his comeback, then was one of the catalysts of our amazing second quarter against Collingwood. Did nothing of note against Sydney, but I'm loathe to even count that as an AFL game. With Jones and Vince returns imminent, the pressure will be on, but if he gets 20 touches and lays some of his trademark tackles then he'll give Goody something to think about.

He's a pretty reliable kick from 35m or less and without much of an angle to work with. It's once he gets further out or starts hugging the boundary line that he's fairly useless. We have some pretty reliable shots for goal, Watts (elite), TMac, Jones, Pedersen, Lewis, Salem. JH is a long way behind these guys.

You beauty!