Rodney (Balls) Grinter

If we loose this week to Sydney, I think the lowest we can fall is to 6th place, courtesy of a 4 preimership points break to 7th and our healthy percentage. Other than the beleif factor, it is one of objective reasons that the wins against the Eagles, Dogs and to some extent Collingwood were such huge 8 point games. To some extent, beating Sydney then loosing to Carlton the week after would not be as bad as the other way around when it comes to our campaign for finals... not that I want to loose to Carlton again in a million years though.

I don't remember if he was on the panel this Monday, but go back only 4 weeks and after the North loss, Kingy was definetly stating that St Kilda were ahead of us in development and playing us down big time. The media's obsession making all these outlandish statements and predictions is increadable. Not only is it the career media types like Sheean, but you would think that the so called 'expert' panelists would know better than this stupid flavour of the month band wagon jumping and predictions. One of the few I have developed a level of respect for is Brad Johnson. Carries on like the village idiot a bit and doesn't take himself too seriously, which is what I think I like about him. However you also sense an astute footy brain lurks behind the grin, which materialises in occasional gem of wisdom without getting into this band wagon jumping group think so much. At the start of the 2016 season he made what seemed like the outlandish prediction that Freo would miss the finals after finishing on top or there abouts in 2015 - he was practically laughed at by the other pannelists, but in hindsight was right on the money there.

Am I on the same forum and or barracking for the same team I was 5 or 6 weeks ago when our season was teetering on the presapus and there were still question marks all over Goodwin and over 3/4s of our list internally and externally to Melbourne suporters?

I'd also imagine big Jimmy, Robbie and to a lesser extent Dean Bailey up there with them. Whilst yes he was associated with that now imfourmous period for the club, few have given more heart and soul to the MFC than Jimmy. Still so much water under the bridge to actually winning a flag again, but thanks to Roos, Goodwin, Taylor, Viney and Jackson it's good to be in a position where at least dreaming of these things doesn't seem like a complete farse.

Likewise, Melksham and Harms did some very tidy things in setting up others. Oliver usually contributes so well through the guts, but some of his forward 50 entrys were also sublime - that sidestep followed by the well weighted pass to Melksham, shows that there is much more than winning the hard ball and handballs to this lad.

In all seriousness though, I actually think most opposition suporters actually realise our situation and are happy for us to be having some success again at last...unless we are beating their team of course. I think we would be the absolute fan favorite against GWS or just about anyone else should we make the GF sometime soon, except perhaps against St Kilda and then we would probably split the market a bit.

Lol - I like it.

If anyone does windge about any of the concessions we have had, then tell them that their team is welcome to have the last ten years that we have had and they can have all the concessions they [Censored]ing well want - see howhat many takers you get.

Note quite true. We did get a few concessions, but they were mostly watsed. The biggest gift we could be accused of being given of late was what could be viewed as over compensation for Frawley which gave us essentially the third pick in the draft which landed us Gus Braeshaw, but that's hardly paying dividends right now and might or might not even be viewed as sparing another team a wasted pick if he can not get over his concussion problem.

Viney and Stretch probably would have gone lower were they not father sons, but we aren't the only club in that situation either. No club can match the gargantuan gifts of GWS in terms of draft picks/recruiting concessions. Given we have found so many dimonds in the rough, an undervalued concession that GWS had for a number of years was to have access to an expanded list, which allowed them to have their cake and eat it too. Doesn't matter so much in the end though, what GWS have got in terms of consessions and top end tallent has made them arrogant, with a sense of entitlement. We have done it tough and struggled for many years and that adversity makes us stronger and as much as Viney's athletic attributes and footy skill set make him a good player, it's his passion and love of the club which make him an unstoppable bull of a player.

I'm really just hoping Viney's shoulder and Salem's hammy arn't too bad. We've done very well without Gawn and Hogan, but going without Viney and Jones for too long could be bad news. Getting up next week against the Swans next week will be more of mirricle win than the WC IMHO, that said I'm not writing us off either. So far this season we've been able to prevent consecutive losses which is a real credit to the team. It was a real trate of the MFC teams of the 90s to display bursts of form in which we looked like absolute world beaters only to loose the next 4 or 5 on the trot and have to fight tooth and nail to make finals. Let's hope this new breed is different, the Dogs might have won flags from 7th, but the odds are stacked against winning from outside the top four.

Well, I recon Sookfield did us a favor. From what I recall of the game, Clayton was well held and had little impact in the first half. Getting that little clip had him breathing fire and he was awsome in the second half.

Well, a sequal is always there for the making "Free Jack Viney ....Again"

I was actually worried about how we might need to restructure our foward play around a strong focal point for Hogan when he comes back, but last night proves we can do it. I think Hogan will also be pretty happy with some of the delivery into the forwardline at the moment.

Was as an impressive an effort from a key forward as I have seen in the red and blue for a while. Lead well, kicked clutch goals and provided a presence up the ground as well.

Hopefully he has a preimership photo one to add to it one day as well.

Never ever wanted to trade T Mac and didn't really want to loose Frawley, but not sure the later would actually make it into our best 22 anymore.

This whole business of players faking/exadurating a reaction to an striking incident off the ball is total BS. WC player dosen't strike Oliver and there is no potential acting to be made for a free. WC player (can't remember who it was) is in total control of the situation, was no need whatsoever for him to lash out at Oliver regardless of the force of the contact which did/didn't occur or was intended. In retrospect, I think that Oliver getting that little strike was a bonus for us as it really fired him up and he played a great second half after being well held in the first. Whilst Clayton works wonders with his handballs, his kicking is also pretty darn good and is a real weapon when he gets in a bit of space and can use it. Acting for free kicks during general play is a different matter.

We need to have multiple clones made of Jack Viney, multiple father sons in the making. Could clone a few more Mc Donalds and a couple of Gawn's while at it.

Just as well, because he was quite, without being discracsful before that.

Tommy Mactually - WHAT A GUN!! GO DEMONS

The way things are this season, being somewhere on the ladder means nothing until things progress and open out a bit more, such that there is a game or two break on where we are. It's also a good year to have a healthy percentage, which thankfully at the moment we have.

I'd forgotten it was only pick 29 we traded for him. What a total bargin. Hadn't really taken much notice of him at Essendon, but can certainly see now why those on here who had were putting so many tickets on him and justifiably so.

Agree the selection of Stretch seems like a good move. I'm actually surprised that it has taken so long for him to work his way back into the side, because I would have probably had just him above Bugg and Nibbler on skills/ability. I guess the form of others when they have got them selves into the side has made it hard to select Stretch back into the side. As much as I do actually rate Stretch for his hard edge, I'm not sure he has the bullocking power to be a direct replacement for Jones in the guts. Guessing that others such perhaps Nibbler, Bugg, Trac and Bernie will spend more time rotating through the midfield. A real pitty that Vanders is out injured, as he is one that would have been good to inject a bit more grunt into the guts in the absence of Jones.

Red back clash I'd definitely the way to go over white and I'm certainly glad we wore it on Sunday Vs the dogs, but was watching the replay last night and whenever a Melbourne player faced the camera front on I was left thinking - where was the clash between our traditional jumper and the Bulldogs current home jumper in the first place. There is a huge contrast between the royal and navy blue and I really think this shows the way for other dark jumpers against which our traditional jumper, it's either navy blue V on red or red V on royal blue ar la 80s retro, none of this white crap. I fear we will wear our white jumper this comming week against the Method Coast and I will cringe and convolse at the sight of it.