Redlagged

'Can someone lift my spirits?' We have won 14 games in a row, including a Grand Final by 12 goals. Does that help?

Can I interrupt and say what a great game by Viney, first game post-Covid? A great Melbourne player.

The team is better with Petty playing.

Have a drink, and relax.

Well said. And spot on. 14 in a row - and a few people are whining. Hawthorn is very capable, by the way.

The team still looks good...but a bit old! Oldest team we have field for a while.

Yes. Its all about the squad - you need 25-30 good players. (Which we have). Premier League teams regularly swap several players depending on the fixtures coming up. West Ham has a big European match coming up tomorrow morning; in preparation they rested nearly half the side for a League match - against a strong Chelsea. (Lost 1-0 late in the game.)

Yze talked about yesterday. JViney was doing some training today, and will be there tomorrow.

Correct. Team looks pretty good on paper. Would rather not lose any more, however.

It has. But all the players there know the defensive system. There's no weak link. They miss Salem. Petty too - but Smith can do the job.

FFS. Can people calm down?

Have some sympathy for your view about Smith: the club rates him too. But dropping Hunt would be a travesty. Was really excellent against Richmond, on his 100th. Did it without fuss and without histrionics. Appeared in some of the votes. Hawthorn has some nippy types. He's needed, and he's in.

Couldn't agree more. Think people are just seeking novelty. Dropping ANB? Jordon? Bizarre. Why not pick away at the fabric of the team, for the sake of it? Dunstan - accomplished, smart, and tough - will be very stiff. But I think they like him around, so perhaps he'll the sub. Smith will also be a bit stiff. One shocking mistake, but otherwise I thought he was pretty good. Tom McD is too good to be in the VFL, and can play just about anywhere if needed. But there's no spots just now.

Correct. Put in all night, in a lot of traffic. Missed a couple of very easy ones. Had he got those, he's in the best few.

Good to see Hunt get some recognition. Maligned player - he was very good last night. Think he sometimes gets mixed up with Langdon (confuses the commentators too). Spargo I thought was really good, all night. Petty - superb. May too. Best full back we've had since Tassie Johnson, and we've had several excellent ones, including when we have been lousy.

Yep. But one goal from 12 games last year. Hardly matters - more importantly, he averaged 25 disposals and 6 clearances! Let's hope he nears that tomorrow. And if he kicks one or two, all the better.

Not sure that Dunstan is much of a goalkicker. Looked at the stats a while ago and I think from memory he may have kicked one goal last year. Viney has been kicking a goal most weeks this year. Nonetheless, Dunstan is no mug.

Doubt Dunstan. Sparrow will put in more on ball minutes to cover Viney. His big chance. Also Brayshaw....

Certain he will.

put on repeat

Sparrow - two ordinary games

Doesn't take long for the hyenas to start moving in.

Beveridge needs counselling. Seriously. The pre-season speech citing Rosa Luxemburg and Guevara was comical - and a bit weird. The Chopper Read mo (and the manner to match) needs to go. He's going to find this hard to live down. Every presser from now on will be tense.

Three in the top 5? In such a ruthlessly competitive competition? That's extraordinary. So is 7 in the top 50. Let's not whinge about it. Totally subjective, after all.

Petracca is a superb example of a certain kind of player. Oliver is unique. Anyway, comparisons are odious. We're bloody lucky to have them both.