Smokey

I see what you are saying, but don't think it takes a "super human" to be taught to block out distractions and focus on playing your role for the team. In fact if a player can't be trusted to do that simple task, maybe we'd be better off not having them on the list, no matter how talented they are. Pretty sure Goody has weeded out the individuals that fit this profile now (YOU READY, @nocontractrenewal)

The game has grown quite a bit since the 90's man. Players weren't expected to be anywhere near the level of professionalism as they are today. Footy ain't a part time job anymore, and players are now coached accordingly. Training isn't just physical anymore, players also have their minds trained. This is why I find it hard to believe that a professional footy player these days would take any cues whatsoever from myself or any other fellow fan of the club. In fact that just sounds downright insane to me. With all due respect, I think your MFCSS is so deeply ingrained that this feeling of expectation from the team simply doesn't compute with you, and your mind is desperately looking for ways to prove to yourself that this will all come undone and we will soon return to mediocrity (which you may strangely feel more comfortable with). Clutching at straws would be a huge understatement here if your honestly trying to convince me that my arrogance could start a chain reaction that would see the Melbourne footy club back on its knee's.

I get it. My point remains - if players are seen to be becoming comfortable with our position and "believing the hype", then I have an issue. Fans sharing their opinions on DL has no bearing on how the team will perform, therefore it's not up to you to tell people what they should and shouldn't think. Have your opinion (which you obviously feel strongly about), but allow to others to have theirs. I choose to be arrogant and I'm enjoying every minute of it!

And please accept my apologies for the over-the-top sanctimonious speech I agree with this, and would be concerned if I saw any indication that the players were showing signs of arrogance. The original comment in question was around ET saying he thinks we'll win by 10 or so goals. How have you decided this is "arrogance" and what metrics are in play here? Are we not being a little sensitive here?

Wattsy may also require surgery to a damaged septum. More to follow.

Yes. Comments on an internet fan forum have a direct correlation to how the team will perform. The players probably look to DL to gauge how confident they should be and we therefore have a great responsibility of ensuring we never get excited or portray any sort of confidence whatsoever in the boys. Thanks for handing us a round 1 loss with your irresponsible comments @Ethan Tremblay. Calm down and stop trying to be everyone's dad Sydee, we are allowed to be excited and expect greatness this year. Enjoy the ride, or at the very least, allow others to be excited if you insist on being a wet blanket.

if you are actually offended by this, you live an utterly depressing life and I feel sorry for you.

I live rural near Bungendore in NSW and am forced to use satellite based NBN services. For the most part, it holds its own and only sometimes do I experience temporary drops in picture quality. I normally watch sport on my big iPad, so I can't speak to the quality of accessing the service over my connection via a browser.

Have been giving kayo a whirl for the past few weeks watching NCAA football. Foxtel has now been cancelled permanently. Highly recommend this service, it's simply incredible.

Surely Natalie Portman is in the conversation if we’re talking about pre season form

5 year contract with an "are you the right guy?" clause which allows the club to question his ability and chastise him in a public forum for a period not exceeding 1 week after any loss

What exactly do we need reassurance for?

Watch what the Weid does next year. His kicking action, pack crashing and contested marks are far superior to Hogans and I reckon he's gonna rip it apart in 2019. His body is ready, and the supply from the midfield will be as good as its been in decades I reckon with Kolo in the frame. Sure, he'll never be able to cover ground like Hogan did but who cares, he's a true KPF. Someone else can run the park. Top 4 regular finish and playing a GF is my pass mark (and why not, we've been upwardly trending for years now, no reason that cant or wont continue just cause we're at the pointy end now)

So you’re saying he didn’t do his best, but he couldn’t have done any better. Right.

Yes please

Completely agree. We have struck a great balance in the force this trade period.

Good result. Well done Mahoney and co.

You’ll never find less of a watts fan than I - but lacking in talent he was not. Highly talented in fact. All came down to work rate with him, which is starting to looking the same with hogan in some ways, but hogan has already far surpassed anything we ever got out of watts.

"We need to stick to our guns - 2x first rounders or nothing" Not sure if anyone has said this yet so I'm throwing it out there

I can’t believe people actually think Tyson is in our best 22. He is depth only with a full strength list. Straight swap is fine. Ruckmen don’t grow on trees. Inside midfielders do at Melbourne however.

Yeah my mistake was thinking Sydney for some reason

It’s much closer actually. Roughly 90 mins flying time.

Yes that’s what the club should start doing - act like his dad and tell him he cant have a holiday after a hard years work because some people online are wondering if he’s going or staying

As opposed to notionally living in Perth

That actually doesn't make any sense whatsoever. My point is - saying things along the lines of "who cares if Tmac goes down and we don't have Hogan, we'll win the game out of the middle" is ludacris. Football is not that simple.