ShaneJ

A failure we can learn from.

St Kilda had their chance for a Flag in 2009 & 2010. Dees haven't even been in the finals since 2006. We were the first club, suffering the longest flag drought. If there's a movie featuring an AFL underdog, it should be about us. St Kilda is my second team so I understand the appeal. But my heart beats true.

Demons minus McDonald and Viney. Yes, I think it could have gone better for us today. But a complete failure?? I guess you don't rate the Cats at all. They'll be finishing outside the 8 right?

It was a 3 point loss to Geelong in Round 1. It wasn't embarrassing. It wasn't a bad, low scoring performance. We lost by more to Geelong last year. I'm not saying it was a good day for us. But it wasn't a bad day for us. Max Gawn's miss HURT, but it wasn't "depressing". I know following this club is hard. But our year isn't defined today.

Great game! I was there and was enthralled throughout. Cats had the muscle but we fought back to get into the contest. A straight kick from Gawn would have won us the game but it was not to be. A 3 point loss is a loss for sure, but Geelong are a first class team and coming up a little short in round 1 isn't the defining moment of our season. Looking forward to what's ahead, and am still appreciative that the dark days of 2013 are behind us.

Joined.

1. Port Adelaide 2. Richmond 3. Sydney 4. GWS 5. Melbourne 6. Adelaide 7. Essendon 8. Western Bulldogs 9. Geelong 10. Collingwood 11. Fremantle 12. Gold Coast 13. West Coast 14. Carlton 15. St Kilda 16. Hawthorn 17. Brisbane 18. North Melbourne

We Drew with Sydney in 2011.

The team's form is way off. I don't know what's happened. I still feel though Collingwood were weak opposition and for us to come out with that first quarter ... I felt like it was 2013.

No, we were definitely good against Port in the opening half. The Swans game though was a massive drop from the previous weeks.

Where was the team that smashed Port and St Kilda in recent weeks? On vacation? Next year it is no longer acceptable to just get over the line against teams we should be smashing. We should have smashed Collingwood today. We got beaten because our guys aren't willing to do more than the bare minimum. Adelaide are basically tanking tomorrow. Season over for us.

What are you insinuating sir?

I'm not soft. I judge whether the year's a success on the year and not whether we make the eight. 2007 was a failure. Dean Bailey era was a failure. Mark Neeld era was a failure. Every year from 2014 onwards we've gotten better on field and therefore it has been a success. Not to mention off field. Saying this year is a failure is like saying Simon Goodwin didn't have a good first year as coach. I mean, are you kidding me??? The guy's been fantastic for us. We've had a HORRIBLE run with injuries - seriously this has been the season from hell on that front. Meanwhile our young bloods keep developing and AGAIN in 2018 I guarantee we will be better again. If we aren't, then it's a failure for sure. Of course I will be screaming and disappointed if we fail to beat Collingwood on Saturday, but in terms of the bigger picture I'm happy with Melbourne's year and where we're going regardless of the weekend's outcome.

Well, what if we lose to Collingwood but Adelaide beat West Coast and we make the eight. Are we undeniably a failure because we didn't beat Collingwood in Round 23, or are we a success because Adelaide won and we made finals? I'm not basing our entire year on who wins out of West Coast vs Adelaide.

It would make next week a failure but I wouldn't judge the entire year off one game.

Missing the finals won't be a failure because we'll still finish with 2 more wins than last year, which means whatever happens on the weekend, 2017 has been a step forward. Thinking about how far we've come since Roos arrived puts things in perspective.

I personally didn't find it horrific and was proud to get involved in member activities, but it certainly could have been handled better.

I had a different experience via Member Appreciation. Email said to be at Gate 1 at 11.40 so I was there at 11.30 and got my wrist band - clearly it seemed plenty had been there much earlier than that. Jack Watts was in the foyer area inside gate 1 for a couple of minutes taking photos with the fans, but then he was gone. We stood there until around 12.15 which we were then directed to go down a lot of steps to underground where the players run up. We were all behind a chain separating us from the main runway. We were there from 12.20 to 12.55. During that time the Demon officials said to step back away from the chain and not to speak to any of the players. Way to get our hopes up - but alas it is the BRISBANE LIONS team that runs up the ramp by us with a lot of awkwardness from everyone. We wait till they've warmed up, run back down and then right about the time our legs are falling asleep it's time for our lap of honor around the ground. Except it was really only walking around half the ground. We all sort of walked up, some of us with our flags, waving sheepishly, not really knowing what was going on. The OP was probably getting handed Tyson's jumper at this point but it was hard to tell what was going on because there was no explanation and the ceremony and introductions already had begun before we were even on the ground. Five minutes later and without any handshakes or thank yous or any signs of any players we are herded into the absolutely packed level 1 seating behind the goals. I raced through that lot and rushed out of gate 5 at 1pm with ten minutes till game time. Our usual seats are Gate 1, level three so by the time I get there I'm out of breath and only a couple of minutes before the bounce. Strange experience.

I was there and definitely noticed the smaller crowd. But we've had really good turnouts overall for the year. I wouldn't be getting upset over one week.

Seriously, this win was so good it made up for Fremantle, Hawthorn & North and I wasn't even at the game. Adelaide win was massive and surprising, but this one was something else. I am so excited.

T Mac is a phenomenal full forward. He's overtaken Jesse. I can't wait until they're in the 50 together. Will be raining demon goals.

What a great video. Jones's passion and commitment to Melbourne has been eclipsed by none. He really makes the star players who left their clubs for better cash & flag chances look like a bunch of pretenders.

Brendan McCartney was acting as if it was no big deal for Brayshaw in the New Members Function before the (north) game. Said he was just unlucky. Certain to play again this year. Not even the slightest doubt at all.

I was at the New Members Function before the game. Brendan McCartney was there and wouldn't stop talking about the Adelaide win. He brought up how Oliver is 15 percent the player he will be, Trac is 10 percent, Viney a third... And the win against Adelaide is an indicator of that etc. Even when Trengove and Stretch came out, their first bunch of questions was about the Adelaide win. I get it was a great win, but 4 points is 4 points... What we saw from Melbourne today was the exact same performance we gave against Hawthorn. Everything went according to script. The team was not switched on. In every single game we've been starting favorites this year, we haven't turned up. Yes we beat Carlton, but compared to what we showed against St Kilda in the first round, we were not On that day. And we weren't today. This was a problem last year as well.

Best to worst: St Kilda Richmond Geelong Essendon Fremantle Carlton