At the break of Gawn

Actually pretty happy with this draw. 

Blues first up will be a good litmus test as to how this season will go, but with our Marvel record and them missing some key targets up forward, even a neutral would expect a win for Melbourne.

Essendon at the G is another good test against a team that is probably around our level. They were very patchy against Freo, so again I'd probably lean towards a win here.

Cats at the G is the best possible scenario really to play them. I'd really love to see us get the win to atone for our woeful round 2 performance last year. This is a 50-50.

Swans at the SCG. We play smaller grounds quite well and without the pro Swans crowd in attendance as well as beating them there last year when we were terrible leads me to expect a win here. 

4-1 would be great, however 3-2 is a reasonable expectation for even the most balanced Dees supporter. 

What’s with needing to fill out a form for each vote? Pretty ridiculous by the media department.

12 hours ago, picket fence said:

Spargo WHY??

3 TURNOVER GOALS

Not and never will be up to it!

Not his fault... MFC Coaching .... down to you SIMON!!

To be fair, he was pretty good against the Hawks in the last Marsh series game. Sadly though, the intensity went up another level and he wasn't able to cope. 

1 minute ago, Satyriconhome said:

Half the team turned up ready to play

Nothing to with the coaches

 

Goodwin never evened up the numbers when we were going forward. He has some part to blame. 

Just now, Jaded said:

Who the [censored] is on Ryan? Is he invisible??

About to post the same thing. Has no opponent.

But on the flip side it also undermines all the work we’ve done this off season on our fitness and over running teams which we demonstrated in the Marsh series...

I was very pleased with Spargo’s efforts tonight. I’ve been a big critic of his, but I think he really put on a lot of forward pressure and did a heap of smart things. I hope he gets selected round 1.

Lockhart was also very good, and definitely is worthy of a round 1 spot.

I’m a bit worried about Tmac’s form, but I suppose his second half against Adelaide was decent.

A pertinent question I think is: Does Viney deserve to be VC?

If he’s that far back in the votes amongst his peers, then he shouldn’t just be a walk up start for VC. 
 

I honestly think it’s great that the administration has given the power to the players to decide, and if Viney isn’t no.2 then he shouldn’t be VC.

1 minute ago, Seraph said:

Viney looks so much quicker than last year.

Have noticed that.

Really enjoyed the second video. Who was the club official putting the hard word on Bennell not drinking? I didn't recognise him. 

Loved Gawny's rev up before the 3km time trial. 

I think a golf score on a Par 3 hole is the best way I can rate this:

Bogey: 9th again - Goodwin probably keeps his job

Par: Finals - first or second round exit

Birdie: Finals - 2 wins and a Prelim appearance again

Eagle - Premiership. 

I wonder if David King had thought he was about to get his old job back... 

To be fair Roo is probably the best of them left. They could have taken a big risk and get Hird back. At least he has, albeit completely tarnished, coaching experience.

Players get demoted all the time from the leadership group, so I don't think it's overly shocking. My opinion is that Viney shouldn't be captain as he needs to focus on his form first and foremost. Also, the co-captain model is no longer in vogue, which is also evident with the most recent premiership winners.

Gawn as (C)

Viney as (VC)

Felt sorry for Billy Stretch being at the rev up from Goody and Burgess and then goes and gets delisted...

10 minutes ago, Lord Nev said:

A more positive-leaning take...

"Melbourne sent All-Australian ruckman Max Gawn for scans after he left the track on the Sunshine Coast with a sore left knee on Friday.

The Demons said the scans were precautionary as it was not obvious what was causing the soreness and they remain optimistic at this stage."

Scans for Demons ruckman Max Gawn

 

I suppose that’s a good sign as most club doctors can normally get a sense if it’s an ACL or not. It’s why most suspected ACLs always become ACLs because the scan often just confirms what the medical team already know.

I’m not going to take much notice of this story until I hear it straight from the club/Burgess. I wouldn’t be surprised if this has been sensationalised by the HS.

Just now, Demon3 said:

What a strong athlete Jones is, physically and mentally. that is a great effort and sign that he is up and about, great work by young Bedford as well. 

I honestly think Jones finishing 3rd is a bit of an indictment on the rest of our young midfield group coming through. Tremendous effort by him though...

Interested to see where Brayshaw finished...

Here I was thinking it’s been ages since we played the Eagles at the G.

I actually think if we win this and go on to have a good season, it’ll be like lifting the curse that was placed upon us at this venue during a Saturday afternoon in September 2018.

I expect the Saints will get the most Friday night games of the bottom 6.

My tip is round 1 is an away game against Freo.

Think he’ll be playing a lot at Casey next year. How he got to 14 games this year is still a bit surprising. Can’t recall a game this year that he was listed in the “best on”.

2 hours ago, Jaded said:

I have no words for the results tonight. Shocked and confused. 

Gawn robbed. Viney? I just don’t know. 

2019 continues to make no sense. 

The most baffling results since Terlich finished in the top 5.

4 minutes ago, america de cali said:

Viney - 21 games for 2 votes

Jones -  22 games for 0 votes.

I was tempted to bet on Sportsbet option of J Viney to poll a single vote but didn’t have the confidence. My doubts were warranted I guess.

No votes for Petracca either which was surprising.

Angus Brayshaw: 2018 - 3rd in the Brownlow

2019 - 0 votes yet played all 22 games.

Mirrors Melbourne in 2019

3 hours ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

I reckon the players voted Walker as Captain of the year for laughs. He doesn’t lead by example on the field and he sounds like a doofus bogan whenever interviewed. Uninspiring. 

Considering the players who have also received that honour, I’d doubt it. He led them very well through Phil Walsh’s death and was v.good for most of 2017. It was the club’s undoing with stupid camps that caused their undoing and Tex has been a scapegoat. 

Melbourne hasn’t had a natural leader since Neitz. One great example was his statement in 2004 after the football world was calling us soft when he ran through Luke McCabe.

I sincerely hope this changes when Gawn is made captain.