Gator

Disagree. Rowell only had 18 disposals. Sure he had a good clearance game, but give me Petracca's more balanced game any day of the week. Oliver and Petracca were the reason Melbourne won.

Good post, mate. Unlike some I'm rapt with the performance. Playing like that the Suns will beat most up there. You can tell the Suns had really set themselves for this game and I reckon it was one of their best ever performances. We never let them get in front. They drew level but never got ahead. That was significant. Anderson was best on ground. At 3/4 time I wanted Harmes to be subbed on to tag him. He came on but didn't tag him. Anderson was dominating but we just let him run free. I still don't understand why we didn't send Harmes to him. But I'm happy to bag the points and move on. It's easy to forget Geelong won 5 and lost 4 in their first 9 games last year. I'm happy with how we're building.

I must watch a different game of footy. How many players have his influence and numbers under a heavy tag ?

Gawn Petracca Oliver Viney Bowey Sparrow

I only want him if he's good. Who his brother is is irrelevant to me.

He's not rated that highly. He's not in any top 50s that I've seen. But has time to move up across the course of the season.

The club website says 188cm, but elsewhere he's listed at 186cm. Not withstanding his short legs and long torso, I'd be amazed if he's taller than 185/186cm. I realise I'm quibbling over little.

That's just a game you move on from. Fun fact: Brad Scott has coached against Melbourne 14 times for 13 wins.

I listened live. Russell mention Pickett multiple times during this segment and explained that the only reason he was leaving him out was that he'd missed 2 games. He said his next list would have him in.

B: Fowler May Lever HB: B Lovett Hardeman A Johnson C: Alves Wells Flower HF: Lyon Schwarz Gerard Healy F Farmer Neitz Fritsch R: Gawn Oliver Petracca I/C: Yze K Pickett Wilson Jakovich I wasn't going to put Jako in because of only 47 games, but his career was so spectacular I couldn't leave him out. Pickett is a little pre-emptive, but also a certainty assuming he stays. An incredible talent. Including Jako meant one ruck only - sorry Jimmy. Whelan, S Febey, R Robertson, Tingay, Bruce, Green, Langdon, Jones, Hibberd and others given consideration. If I made this team again in a month it would probably be different. Disappointed I've only included 7 x 2021 flag team.

West Coast Eagles vs Melbourne VOTES PLAYER (CLUB) 9 Christian Petracca (MELB) 8 Clayton Oliver (MELB) 6 Brodie Grundy (MELB) 5 Tim Kelly (WCE) 2 Tom McDonald (MELB)

6 Oliver 5 Grundy 4 Petracca 3 McDonald 2 Viney 1 Rivers

Buddy (199cm), Logan McDonald (196), Amartey (197).

Defenders: May, Lever, Hibberd, Brayshaw, Rivers, McVee, Bowey We always pick 7 defenders. Jordon being dropped suggests that Petty will once again play forward. It's this restructure that has cost Jordon his position (along with Pickett's inclusion). If Petty was in his typical defensive role then one of Hibberd or McVee would have made way. In all probability that would have been Hibberd, even though we look better with him in the side. So, I can understand why Jordon has lost his spot, but it is disappointing. I was at the ground last Sunday and he was very good. Viney is a bit lucky. The VC and length of tenure always buys you a bit of time. But gee, his last 2 weeks have been terrible.

I join the chorus. Unequivocally, Jordon is better than Harmes.

Knuckle not Knuckle's'.

I don't believe there are ''rumours''. More likely it's speculation in the posters own mind that's been fuelled by yesterday's Channel 7 tweet. Channel 9 confirmed that May returned to the field and completed the session.

Brayshaw may play midfield, but Hunter won't be playing half back.

The Irish pronounce O'Meara as O'Mara, not O'Meera. Arguably, this bloke pronounces both of his names incorrectly. 😉

That was Parke's 7th game, not his debut game. Great mark Parke. Pity he couldn't kick straight.

You'd think after 18 months the coach would know how to correctly pronounce van Rooyen's name. The captain doesn't know either. I suppose it's up to van Rooyen to correct them. But if in doubt you could always ask.

Gawn played one of his all time best games against them last year. Result ? We lost. Our system didn't hold up despite his individual brilliance. Great teams can cover one or two great players. We can't cover Gawn against Peter Ladhams even though we have Grundy ? I don't buy it. Pickett is a significant loss, but he's one player. I'm not confident we'll win this game but I am confident it's a must win despite a 21 year olds absence.

I reckon a team has about one, or at the most 2, crunch games per year (not including finals). This is Melbourne's. Sydney have not been beaten in 16 of their last 20 games against the Dees. They massively have the wood over this club. Yes, we won in 2021, but we and they both know that that doesn't change the fact that they have our measure as a football club. It's in their psyche and ours. If Melbourne want to reinstate some authority, demeanor, or aura over the competition, they must win this game on their home ground. Not many will agree with my next comment, but I believe if we can't beat this younger and less experienced side on our home ground then we're not winning the premiership in 2023. It's a must win. It's that important. They'll be smarting from their last game on the 'G, but our imperatives are equally important. Am I confident ? A resounding no. But they must find a way. It's never easy to break a dominance, because they're there until they're not. And they can last a very long time. I sense there's still a slight fragility about this team. The flag notwithstanding. I'll learn a heap by Sunday night. It's as crunch as you get.