Tom Dyson

Smith the best player, Danger the best story. they'll give it to danger.

Pains me to say it but i guess isaac smith did get the flag he was after, still a [censored] in my books.

Confirmed, teams can only win the flag if shannon byrnes is their runner.

Sydney lucky to not be further behind.

I hate both teams so really don’t care.

Murdered by the umps but well and truly in the hunt. Carn here scorps

Sort of satisfying that the close game specialists lose two finals by a goal or under

gee collingwood's ball movement through the corridor is very impressive.

I can’t decide in my mind whether we would have given Geelong a much closer contest or also got thrashed ourselves. either way it’s embarrassing watching this Brisbane performance knowing they just knocked us out.

Brisbane fans were disgraceful last night, thought they were better than that but that was absolute tripe from them, hope Geelong send them packing, bunch of arrogant tools. How they could find it in them to boo petts is beyond me. The fact anyone can defend Zorko as a captain is utterly contemptible.

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.