Rodney (Balls) Grinter

Or maybe it's harder to take marks when you're not getting the 3rd or 4th key defender? Kind of hope the good time continue to roll at Freo.

That's quite true. Cox/Cousins/Kerr/Judd only actually played in the one flag together. Even though they played in a team that was capable of multiple premerships. I'd go as far as to suggest that their poor off-feild culture of getting on the gear together was probably the reason they didn't become a great team and win those multiple flags. Gawn is a much better captain than Judd and that the latter bailed to Carlton soon after the 2006 flag confirms Gawn's value to the MFC was greater than Judd's to WC. If we win another flag, I think our mids would easily rank as a better combo than the WC one mentioned. The other midfields that I think would be a more than worthy comparison would be those of the Lions 2000 era, three peat midfield of Voss/ Black/Ackermanis (Clark Keating in the Ruck?) etc and probably the Hawthorn 2010 era great sides, but I can't recall the individual mids they had of such great brilliance Cyril/Lewis/Hodge perhaps although McAvoy was hardly a super star.

Calling out the players by number at the start of the game reeked of American sports hyperbole though - absolutely hated it.

Not sure if it's quite the same thing, but I've seen Viney do standing front/back flips. Perhaps a few of our players could make good professional gymnists or circus performers when they retire from footy?

Thought we did the 'tempo footy' game pretty well last night. Played defensively and slow around the boundary when things were tight and we didn't have the options on, but then flicked the switch and moved it fast when the time was right. There were alot of times the Dogs tempted us into switching across half back, leaving a few of our players faurly open, but within striking distance of their opponents, but we were smart and didn't take the bait. Even in at the start of last quarter when we a good 30 points up, we didn't rush any attacking moves and let the Dog's desperation to score play into our hands and pounced on the turnovers and opportunities that created. When we did attack, I was pleased with our quick ball movement and ability to run back into space. The number of times guys like Chandler, Spargo, Kossie and even BBB had a good paddock to run into because of our willingness to take the game on at those times was most refreshing. Loved that long goal of Melksham's that bounced through - he's a smart and more than capable player around goals and his last quarter cameo last night bought back flashes of his 2018 finals series form.

Made one bad error in my book, missing that goal after the siren under a bit of pressure. But asides from that I thought he was pretty impressive tonight.

He played in a few flags though and that probably means much more in the end. Kossie should take note and sign on the dotted line for the Red and Blue for life!

So many players from other clubs get off for more all the time. If Kossie gets rubbed out for that it will be a travesty. There are players that could (and probably should) get suspended due to the potential for harm based on their actions. The AFL usually suspends based on actual damage done, but watch the move the goal posts for us. Time to hire Patrick Cripps lawyer.

Thought Nibbler was pretty good tonight, along with Spargo and Chandler. Melksham also more than handy when he came on. Could have found himself a role as super sub?

So BBB is finished yeah?

I know Kade is looking pretty buff this season, but he needs to get on the weights hard core if he's to remind me too much of Andy. Chopper was a beast!!

So Kade gets a gig on the ground straight up. Great reward for effort for the guy. Really hoping he puts in a good performance and holds his spot. I'm upping my bid to $2.45 now, in anticipation Chin playing well on Saturday night.

Bulldogs with strong power forward lineup. Best way to combat them without May is to deny them supply. Bulldogs have also lost Hunter and Dunkley. Libby jnr is a year older and not that great the past few years anyways. I'm thinking we have them covered with without Maysy, without even considering our substantial backline depth and capability, but the job still has to be done, so let's get the first 4 points on the board for 2023 Demons. Teams on paper mean nothing it's the consistency of winning that counts.

Couldn't agree more Harmesy, but at the same time, I think the Buldogs are one of the few teams that I see genuinely challenging us this year. Been watching that 2021 GF on repeat again a bit myself of late, along with the 2021 prelim. Can't wait for the contemporary 2023 versions - BRING IT ON I say!! GO THE MIGHTY DEMONS!!

How/where can you get one. I don't recall this being sent out by the club. Along with many others, I hate the electronic ticketing with a passion. For this reason I screen shot the barcodes, so you don't have to compete for the network at the same time as thousands of others do download them at the gate. Phone often gives a message as you take the screen shot that you cannot use that to enter the gate, but it's always worked for me. Was such a pain at the start of last season when you had to go through not only mobile ticketing, but the service Victoria app and get you bags searched entering the ground. Try managing that taking two young kids to the footy and then the crappy late night finishes of all the night games we played. Talk about un family freindly.

More greed on behalf of the AFL. I honestly hate sitting on level 4. At last year's Anzac Eve game there was no GA on level one and it was either Richmond members or reserve seating and a lot of it was empty. The MCG has soo much capasity, yet so much was already reserved for AFL members, MCC members, to not give away club members and or some general public access to decient ground level seating is pretty rank. Further, at most MFC home games there was usually some GA and or away member seating available on the ground level. That we are not afforded the same by other clubs is an awful practice. This sort of might is right of the power clubs and being for the average punter is what the AFL and Gil were supposedly all about. What a bloody hoax.

Never noticed before - he's got a strange set shot kicking action. Really stools down a bit before the ball drop. Not a criticism as he seems to slot it through the middle well enough, so whatever works for him. Just looks a bit weird.

We smashed them 2020 at the Gabba. Honestly, I'd just put alot of it down to [censored] luck on our behalf that they've beat us in recient years: 2021, was just about our first loss of the season and we'd copped them the week Buckley was sacked; 2022 we got them at just about or lowest injury point on Queens birthday and when our form started to dip through injuries and fatigue late season and we still nearly beat them. Before that we were mostly just [censored], but I do remember a year we beat them convincingly Queens birthday during our horror years, when Gawn kicked a bag.

Will there be a freindly competition between him and Max for most goals kicked and/or most hit outs to advantage?

I recall reading in Leigh Mathews book that his view is that while good coaching and good player management gets you into the position to play finals and GFs, so much of winning premierships still comes down to luck and having a fit squad come the GF. Even then, calls need to be made on key players carrying injuries of some description. I can't recall which Lions GF or the outcome, but I remeber something about a huge fitness test for Jonathan Brown one time that if it were any other game he would have been rested, so this hardly a new issue or one that's unque to the MFC. Similarly in retrospect, Steve May probably shouldn't have played in the GF in 2021, based on him having a huge tear in his hammy that could be seen on the scans. But he got through ok and we won, so that doesn't get negatively scrutinized. It would have been a difficult decision to leave out Maysy due to his pivotal leadership role and huge presence in our defense. I also think he's a guy who really earnt his piece of premiership glory, so I'm really glad he played from that perspective as well. I think Roos and Goody both preach the right mantra that it's all about having a list and playing/coaching mindset of having a team that can genuinely compete in finals over a period and that will hopefully translate into multiple premerships in that time. I think it's well recognised that we have one of the best lists and well coached team defense systems in the league, but the competition is so close that you only need to be half a pace off at the wrong time to miss out on the ultimate prize. Here's to hoping all the planets align for us in 2023 because I'm still craving being there in person at the G when Gawny and Goody raise's the cup again!

I'm glad we didn't throw JVR in the deep end during finals last year. In the preseason games I've seen him to date, he's not made much of an impact at senior level, while being quite dominant at the level below. That indicates to me his time will come soon, but he should be given an opertuity to find his feet at AFL level before we rely on him to make a substantial contribution. IMHO, we had better options in that game against Brisbane that were not triggered into action. Petty forward earlier might have given us a few goals from our entries and kept us in the game.

For want of a better live thread, does anyone know what's caused the absence of Fritta from preseason games to date? Has he had a delayed preseason to let him fully recover from the knee injury mentioned at the start of this thread or is it something else which has occurred since?

I thought it was Tyrrell's Wines, but apparently in 2021 and 2022 it was Bleasdale. We might as well just go through them all I recon. Second the punter who suggested we need an official cheese sponsor as well.

It was Bleasdale that made the 2021 MFC premiership special edition. Got a bottle for Christmas a couple of years back and never tasted a better wine. https://www.bleasdale.com.au/wine/2021-melbourne-football-club-premiership-wine Can't wait for the 2023 Pentfolds version! P.S. I nearly spelt edition as addition 😉😂 @Demonstone

I tend to agree, but as far as things go, this is probably on the pretty low end of the scale of things posted on social media these days. If it were most other people it would be - meh, yeah ok, so what. But it's not necessarily the most tasteful message to share with the world either. I guess it's something of a sign of the times in a good way that the AFLW players now actually have a public profile this would be noticed by someone and actually become 'newsworthy'. Perhaps the AFLW players need to be a bit more self aware about what they post to social media these days? Perhaps the media need to get a life and stop picking small personal moments and blowing them up like the Sky is falling down too.