Rodney (Balls) Grinter

Agreed, which is why it's peed me off with the media constantly asking " Are Melbourne the real deal?" all freaking season. It's been a long build, the quality is there in the core group and they have now played together for a number of years building cohesion, so why should it come as any surprise? Port Adelaide have also had a similar trajectory to us. Ken Hinkly has no doubt been under pressure at times, but I don't think there is much question that he is the guy pulling it all together.

How could we do that?

Riewldt (whatever his name is?) is such a total [censored]. Even if that's what he told Kossie on the field, no need to go big noting himself like some high and mighty on Slobbo's show about the issue. Should have stayed on the field. Whatever genuine benifit there might have been by this 'elder statesman' type advice on the field was just undone by his somewhat belittling blabbing in the media.

Hi, my name's Kate, I have a business background and grew up loving the Demons. Robbie Flower was my favorite player, but I also use to love watching Rod Grinter go about his craft on the MCG on a Saturday afternoon during the late 80s and 90s. Did I mention my dad was a dentist? ... I'm sure there's more to it than that and I agree by the way. You would actually think she and the board would want to be doing something to promote her profile and let the members get to know her, since she will need to be elected sooner or later, come the time.

Maturity and consistentcy I'd say are a big part of it. ANB has often showed glimpses of good form in the past, only to disapoint with a lack of performance the next week. Someone also said belief and I think that is also a part of it as it is for all of the team at the moment. I also think it has two aspects: 1. Belief in themselves as individuals, that if the stuff something up, they have the confidence and self belief to put that behind them and move onto the next contest/oppertunity; 2. Belief in the team system. I know it sounds like a bit of a clechè, but by buying in and having confidence in doing the team thing that the teams performance benifits, reflects on them and boosts their performance as individuals within that team off the back of the pressure and team efforts gifted to them by their fellow team mates. When you look at premiership sides, they aren't totally chock full of all the best talent in the competition. It's why I'd prefer goers like ANB, Hunt, Spargo, T Mac and Tomlinson over some of the primadonna's going around like Elliot, DeGoey, Lynch etc.

Agree. BBB at his top is an absolute gun and I have little doubt he would make our side better. He's had 2.5 full games under his belt now, so should be cherry ripe, match fit. I know we don't want to mess with form, interupt a winning side, underrate our opposition etc, but I also don't think we will have a better oppertunity to introduce him into the team than the run of teams we have over the next four weeks. Wouldn't be ideal to be finding his feet in the Bulldogs game. We didn't pick him up to be kicking bags of goals for Casey, so I say get him in. I really do struggle a bit to know who to drop for him though. Perhaps if we have someone playing with an injury which could do with some rest, this could be the perfect oppertunity to manage them, to help us sustain a healthy, fit list throught the whole season. It's the kind of luxury that being 6 - 0 affords, so I really think we need to take advantage of that. Now that we've got off to such a great start, I do have a niggling fear that we are peaking too early and could fall in a heap come the pointy end of the season - how's that for a new take on MFCSS that I never saw comming!!

That's the one I thought may have been refered to and I agree I wouldn't say it's a squib either.

I think I recall the moment - in the third quarter perhaps. But the one I'm thinking of there was ANB and 3 other blokes that could have gone for it - another Melbourne player and two Richmond blokes. More a case of miscommunication and misunderstanding between team mates I think. If they had both flown and spoiled each other, I'm sure we could have criticized that too. Even if he squibs every now and then, it isn't a huge trend in my view and in this day and age, players need to think something about self presevation. Remember reading an article written by Brandon Jack of Sydney earlier this year and the extents he would hype himself into to commit to every ball and now has issues with concussion.

This form from Nibbler has been on the build for a while really. Thought his first game back of the 2020 restart was pretty decient and then he got dropped (or was it suspended). His final 2020 H&A game against Essendon was pretty good as well, as was Spargo's. Asides from the hard running and tackling, I think the other real stand-out feature of Nibblers game at the moment is is distribution by foot and delivery inside 50 in particular. Similar could be said about Spargo, only that ANB has been getting amongst the goals a bit to cap it off, but I think Spargo will have a day out in that regards and nail a few sausage rolls as well. Glad to see these guys like ANB, Spargo, Hunt and T Mac have persevered and fought back to find some form again, when they could have almost been on the MFC scrap heap. Shows real character I recon.

Really?

I'm just getting a bit jack of the phrase "are Melbourne the real deal?" Also find it amusing that Fox Footy has it's power rankings and dispite us sitting 2 on the ladder most of the season, their ranking still only puts us in 4th or 5th. My only real critisim of the way that we have been playing is that while we've been winning, we don't seem to have quite fully clicked and got our system together and should be winning games more easily at times, so just watch out once we do.

Quite like Hawthorn winning today. Helps keep their draft picks in the 4 - 7 range that puts them out of the running of the creme de la creme.

Don't fret too much P2J, I recon Weid will turn it on at senior level at some point soon given the chance. Still plenty of years left in Tommy Mac and BBB hopefully too for us to find a KPF when the right oppertunity arrises. In the mean time, I think it's still a good thing that we have been able to find multiple avenues to goal and spread the scoring around without a dominant KPF. We are stitting on 2nd position and so must be doing something right up forward. BTW, I also I do like the appeal of having a KPF. We have had so many hits and misses and potential super starrs in this area over the years. Lyon, Bennett, Jackovich, Pike, Cuthberson, Schwartz, Neitz, Robinson?, Cook, Clarke, Hogan, T Mac.

My sister was telling me this morning that a Richmond supporter woman sitting in front of them got all upset and had words with my sisters 12 yo son, because he was saying Richmond's ruckman was crap. Lol.

I'd just be happy if they stop this "Is Melbourne the real deal crap". The Bulldogs have been the real deal since Rd apparently. In a sense, they can underrate us all they like, as long as we keep winning, but it does grate on me a bit.

Don't mean just to add to the pile on of replies to your post (the staying humble part I somewhat agree with), however Re Kossie, watching the TV telecast, it looked like he copped fair a punch to the nuts in the first quarter and I suspect there was other niggle going on throughout the game that would have gotten under his skin. Being the gun player he is, he's probably copped this crap his whole playing career and will no doubt cop much more in the years to come as well. How he and the MFC learn to deal with this are going to play a fair role in how much output we can get out of this game changing freak (meant in the most endearing of ways). I personally like that Kossie has an agressive 'take no prisoners' mentality and long may it continue. I also liked seeing his teammates like Jonesy and Clarry come in and stand in his corner when things escalated as well. No more timid MFC that the bully teams can push around and if we can do a bit of bullying of our own from time to time, then so be it, it's an agressive, compeditive game and it's about time we become the ultimate winners.

I hate this stereotype of MFC supporters so much. Myself and my diehard Demons family are all from middle/working class roots and have gone to support the club on match day through the horror years that were 2007 - 2016. The hitting the snow slopes upper class MFC supporter might have been a thing 30 - 50 years ago, but I think it's pretty much a myth these days. Those supporters all jumped ship to clubs like Carlton, Essendon and Hawthorn long ago.

Gee Adam Tomlinson is looking like a great value FA right now. Still has the occational brain fart, like kicking it 20m out of a pack straight to the opposition in defense 50, but on the whole he has been super solid. Is often able to get a good fist on around the body of a player on a good lead. Lever is in some pretty rare form as well. I feel that May has been a little off the blistering pace he set in the first game or so, but that was a pretty high benchmark. Hunt killing it. Rivers is getting better and looking more confident and mature each week. Salem has been bloody brilliant. Hibberd getting the job done. Our defense is pretty much the envy of the comp at the moment and there would have to be 3 or 4 AA players there right now.

Classy. But what else do you expect from someone corrupted by that filthy black and white jumper.

So tired, and really need an early night, but just have to watch those 2nd and 3rd quarters again!

I'd actually like to see him get amoung the goals a bit. Certainly got that in his game and could be even more damaging to the opposition if he could float through half forward on the odd occasion and slot through a few sausage rolls.

T Mac was quite awsome tonight. Really stood up and took big marks and kicked big goals at a time in the game that solidified our lead and put us in a winning position. Back to his 2018 best IMHO. All those that wanted him traded at the end of last season, give yourselves an upper cut.

Agreed. Even when they jumped us at the start of the game, I still had confidence that we'd peg those back without letting them get a huge run on and the game getting away from us. Controlled the game almost entirely after that.

I know you're letting the maid go, but surely a good spanking would complete this night?

Well done Gus. Love your work. Has been putting on some great spoils and taking really courageous marks dropping back into defense with the flight of the ball. How about getting your brother to come play with us as well??!