Swooper1987

And Oliver, god love him, has just about the worst retention rate for delivery into forward 50 in the comp. Meh!

I'm pleased to hear that, because they'd be wrong.

Absolutely. The point is the crowd don't beat us.

Has Bowey ever played forward? Spargo is a great field kick but doesn't get enough of it. Bowey too is a better than average kick. If we could have him delivering inside 50 rather than the continual pounding away of Oliver and Petracca, as highlighted today on the SFS, we might get another 3 or 4 easier shots on goal - in most of the games we've lost that would make the difference. Perhaps Bowey at half forward or on the wing might be worth a try.

seems that Demonlanders are harsh on Gawny. Best on in both the Herald Sun and the Sunday Footy Show.

And yet our record on the road, in the most hostile environments is extraordinary. The best in the competition by a long way. Playing in Adelaide or Perth seems to hold no fear. And I don't think playing at the Gabba in the final game will bother us much.

It should be minimal changes from here. You want a pretty settled side going into finals. I think Goody knows what the best side looks like. He's decided we need to go with the smaller forward line and use Gawn down there as the second tall. I personally don't like it, because we are a much better side when he's on the ball, but it is what it is with McDonald unavailable. It will require enormous defensive pressure from our smaller forwards - something that was lacking last night. Really probably only Bowey would be in serious consideration for a recall from outside of last nights 23. McDonald won't be ready. Harmes for Melksham for mine.

Couldn't agree more. Jackson is a poor ruckman - he barely wins a hitout and when he also doesn't provide a contest it is terribly costly. Gawn was outstanding last night, goal kicking aside and as the best ruckman in the competition he should be playing there as often as possible.

True, but our defensive lines were poorer in my opinion. 13.11 should be a winning score. We average 60 points against when Lever, May and Petty are all in the same side. Not tonight though. The defenders lost far too many one on ones.

He's not a polished media performer. Not sure why the club let him speak, but I doubt it cost Melbourne the game. I think it was more to do with our inability to absorb Collingwood's second half pressure. 13.11 should get the job done almost every week. We leaked too many goals again. Just like against the Bulldogs.

6. Gawn 5. Petracca 4. Oliver 3. Brayshaw 2. Salem 1. Viney

They are a good team. Since 2018 they have gone second, third, sixth, 17th and currently back to second. Last year was the outlier for them. We played well enough to beat most teams tonight, but unfortunately not them. Our defence was poor - possibly bar Salem every defender was beaten. The lack of intercept marks from May and Lever inside defensive 50 was critical. They probably got the rub of the green with the holding the ball decisions tonight, but their tackles stick, ours don't. Jackson played too many minutes in the ruck and that cost us around the ground - being outmarked by Cox resulting in a goal, not competing strongly enough at a boundary throw in where Cameron got it down to De Goey for a snap goal. Some relatively straightforward misses - Gawn and Salem amongst others. When the pressure really came in the second half we went handball silly. Yet I still think we can beat them and do it easily if we get to play them again.

It isn't the main game tbh and I'm sure that at this stage of the season things can become a little compromised. I'm sure all the Melbourne players a focusing in on one thing at the moment. We are very lucky to have players like Oliver, Gawn, Petracca, Viney, May and Lever in the one team at the same time. I'd much rather that than one Touk Miller (who is an absolute champion player, by the way, and would be a very deserving winner).

It's a very hard competition. Finals are hard to make, GF's even harder and to win one requires almost everything to go right. We have put ourselves in a position not at all dissimilar to last year. The difference being we have had more instability in our team compared to last year. Our forward line connection improved dramatically on Saturday night. Any other game we have played sine 2019, 100 points for wins us the match. Defensively we fell to bits and that was partly the lack of forward pressure (0 tackles for the game inside forward 50), midfield not working hard enough the other way and missing Lever's capacity to organise everyone. Ugle-Hagan is a future star of the comp and unfortunately he picked Saturday night to have his break out game. All we can do now is go back to the basics, trust in the system that has so far won us 13 games and work hard one week at a time. The rest takes care of itself.

They have absolutely been hit in the [censored] by a rainbow. I don't recall so many close games going one way ever. Their percentage of 106 despite only losing 5 games tells you everything about where they really are. It will take a miracle for them to win the flag, yet it seems that might be possible.

Geez. The criticism of Gawn on here is beyond ridiculous. 15 hit outs to advantage is almost unheard of. 25 disposals for a ruckman, 8 marks - 3 contested and a huge number of score involvements. English is a good player and played a good game and that can happen - Gawn v Goldstein over the years has often seen both play well. The reason we did so well in centre clearance, and scored so heavily from it was because of Gawn's dominance. Maybe you couldn't see it on TV (I haven't seen the telecast) but at the ground it was obvious.

I was at the ground and Gawn was easily our best player. English played a good game and you know, it happens. Not that many years ago Gawn and Goldstein played on each other and got the 3 and the 2 in the Brownlow. Gawn played a great game last night. 15 hit outs to advantage is an extraordinary figure. 8 marks, 25 disposals and was still trying his heart out right o the end. English kicked 2 goals - the first when he was gassed and just sat back and waited for it to come over the top - May or Petty should've been on him at that stage. The second was just a good goal. Our mids bumbled and fumbled all night; Nibbler blind turning into tackles; Viney trying to break tackles and Petracca in and out when it suited. Oliver gets a pass on the fumbles because he was playing with one hand and as usual busted a gut. 6 Gawn 5. Brayshaw 4. Oliver 3. Fritsch 2. May 1. Hibberd

More decision making than selfishness. He's a good forward and he's a good team player. He's made some decisions that he'd like back but I don't think that makes him selfish. Getting a bit tired of the Fox BS.

With our 13th win we are now assured of playing finals. This is the first time since 2005/06 that we will be playing consecutive finals series. And is only our third finals series since that time. Enjoy it.

I thought it was a decent win. 5 goals up with 5 minutes to play in pretty warm conditions. No Petty, no Oliver, Lever injured early and rendered pretty much useless (was a good effort to stay out there). Mids smashed at clearance, Gawn second up after an injury that most players take 6 weeks plus to recover from and he played an impactful second half. Tomlinson proved that his still capable of playing well at this level. Pickett played a game for the ages. Port are a very good AFL side and were in very good form coming into this game. We'll get better from here

This for me

Pretty good summary Joeboy. Gawn was important in the second half. Salem desperately needs to lift.

A great result. Excellent work Bombers. That will help us though only if we don't drop the next couple of games. Must win the ones we are expected to and at least break 50-50 in the rest. 4 out of 6 will see us top 4.

He does look a bit fumbly since his return. Even against the crows, where he played a pretty good game, he was shaky early. His kicking reflects his overall uncertainty I think.

Super pleased to say that did not age well. Well done Suns!!