Tom Dyson

Almost entirely agree with this post, well written. Not sure if you would agree but I thought our first quarter last night demonstrated some really daring ball movement, players had no hesitation to bite off the inside 45 into the corridor and we had pace on the ball coming out of d50. Steven even sent a kick in up the guts which also led to another inside 50 (and probably a behind). But we went into our shells from this point forward, long down the line, and long into the forward pocket. A directive from the coaches? a mental thing within the playing group? lack of confidence? I've got no idea why but if we had maintained that throughout the game (among other considerations), could have gone differently.

I am now utterly convinced that we have to try Petty in the forward line. He is elite in the backline, no question about that, but our forward line looked more dangerous in the last three minutes of the game when Petts was down there than it did for the preceding four quarters. We know Tomlinson can play that third tall role in the back line, so I think unless we can acquire another genuine key forward, the question has to be asked.

Most of those afl listed dees players were playing like people with a point to prove, with hunger and dare. Why the dis-connect between the afl and vfl sides, if the boys played with that much desire last night the result I reckon could have been different. If there's one thing we need to recapture over summer, its got to be going back to playing for each other.

One interpretation of holding the ball for Brisbane, a completely different one for us.

Something about Sydney and Collingwood, our system goes to absolute tripe against these two clubs. So disappointing we continually serve up absolute rubbish against the swans.

Already been said I think but it's still awesome to watch how we transitioned the ball from D50, the dare and speed we had on the ball and the courage to go quick through the corridor was phenomenal. As Goody would want, that was as ruthless a performance as we have dished out this year. Can't wait for finals, go dees!!

Jayden Hunt and Michael Hibberd were absolutely superb as well, great dash off half back and very strong defensively tonight.

If you would have told me melky would have been our best forward in rd 22 at the start of the year, I would not have believed you. chocolate milkshakes for all my friends!!

I had forgotten how feral pies fans are.

Not sure if anyone has mentioned it but I loved Melksham pulling down the Jacko freo jumper at the start of the game. Not sure whether to interpret it as maintaining respect for the club, or respecting the fact that Jacko is still a Dees player or just outright not copping shït from freo fans, but loved that from the milkshake. I could also just be massively reading into something that has no merit, either way I'm pumped with the win and stoked with how Melbourne like that performance was.

Jack Viney is our barometer, those stats are astronomical. That should be the standard of pressure and contest for the whole team for the rest of the season, great win!!

looking back at the highlights and a bit of the replay, sunday's performance wasn't perfect by any means but it certainly looked like a step in the right direction at both an individual and team based system level. Big Ben was continuing to clunk marks and and present on the lead with authority. The small forwards definitely looked more damaging and influential, obviously Kozzi was off the charts incredible but the others were definitely better. Defence was pretty solid, Steve is out of form but most others performed well against what is a good forward line. The junk time goals were very frustrating as was the territory we gave up from clearances but some of our transition from d50 was much improved. Hopefully this is the start of an exponential trend of improvement but regardless of where you sit, the closing rounds of the season will give us the perfect indication of how we can rate ourselves against other contenders.

All I ask is that Ben Brown, Fritsch and Dogga/Max compete strongly in the air and bring the ball to ground for the small forward brigade. Port's backline will feast on our long high bombing entries if we choose that avenue consistently. If milkshake can deliver those entries from 80m out or so and hit some people lace out on a lead, he'll have played his role perfectly. There are others that are stiff to miss but I hope all three inclusions have a great game.

Laurie, Chandler, Hunt, Rivers should be in selection contention. Weideman and Dunstan potentially also. Always a good thing when people in the 2s are performing.

Out: Bedford, bowey, In: Chandler, hunt, Spargs and Sparrow could also make way. Also need to find a way to go a bit taller, weideman should definitely be in calculations.

Some observations, Plenty were culprits but vines and harmes in particular kept trying to break tackles when it just wasn't working. An extension of this point was that every dees player thought they had a lot more time and space than they did, some efforts looked very lackadaisical when the players should all of known how hot the contest was. Bombing inside forward 50 DOES NOT WORK, this problem continues to persist and I'm not sure why we havent seen a tangible difference in this area. Complete inability to win clearance and smashed at stoppages. This is our bread and butter and yet geelong always had the spread or outlet handball, it was really frustrating when this persisted throughout the whole game and we never covered their spread. Small forwards were all pretty much non-factors and when they had a chance to assert themselves on the game, kozzy's missed goal, bedford spending it before he had it, spargo kicking the ball to the one geelong player surrounded by 4 dees players. ANB was the one small that showed one iota of chase and intensity and even then he was far from the ANB we all know. Steven had to be sick or injured because there is no way on god's green earth, he is playing that badly fully fit. did someone spike his pre-game red bull because I was lost for words at his performance. As is usually the case, the team with the better bottom 6 gets the win, sparrow, jordon, bowey, bedford, kozzy, spargs just so far off it. Max and Luke looked underdone, both weren't quite themselves. Fitness looks a far-cry from what burgo built last year, collectively as a fan base we went from knowing we would run over the oppo in the last to being unsure whether or not we would make it through the last. Just so many bad individual performances and not how a Melbourne game should look, big week on the training track please.

I've heard that geelong fans will be torching some ford falcons in celebration tonight.

If I never have to lay eyes on that dump of a ground or that degenerate fan base ever again, i'll be a happy man.

Carbon copy of the dogs game at the g last year. get close but overrun late because you can't get away with it when a lot of your team are well off their best.

Back 6 need to majorly switch on, start winning some more contest and clearance and lower the eyes inside 50. Geelong fans make me 🤮

as was the case with our game, the interpretation of holding the ball only applied to one team. The adjudication of prior opportunity and incorrect disposal has been bafflingly inconsistent today.

geez, gold coast really hard done by, umpiring very favourable to collingwood in the last.

Can we give clarry a 7 year extension every week??? Played a blinder!!!!

From dogga's most recent insta post, is bowza secretly a demonland poster as well????

What struck me in the interview the club posted today is that when he was asked what his goals were over the next couple of years, he instantly went to team success as opposed to individual milestones that he wanted to accomplish over his career. (He's going to keep racking up personal honours but that goes without saying) Hopefully this is indicative of where gus and dogga are in there contract talks! #Rangasdoitbetter