Hopeful Demon

Wow Tmac is in the top 3 after round 15. I think that's deserved though. His first half of the year was close to All-Australian quality.

I imagine that Oliver, Petracca, Lever, Gawn and May will be our top 5. Oliver should finish first based on consistency. I'm expecting Viney to finish in the top 10. He may have missed some games due to injury but he's rated very highly by the club.

Petracca's obviously more explosive and more exciting to watch in significant games (e.g. Anzac Eve and the finals) but I feel that Oliver produces his best football on a more consistent basis. That being said, the Petracca/Oliver debate is probably redundant. We should just feel really lucky to have both. They're easily the best midfield duo I've ever seen.

Yes Garland was an underrated player. He didn't have many superstar attributes but his commitment was excellent and he was actually fairly versatile. I remember in Neeld's first year he was a major influence on our upset win over Essendon with his two goals in the last quarter. Pity he played for us when we were at our lowest point.

I don't see why we'll have a flag hangover. We have a very mature playing group. The way in which the team conducted itself during the finals series was impeccable. Instead of getting too carried away by each victory, they resumed focus and kept training hard. That sort of attitude was a major reason why we ended up winning the flag. The main thing that we should avoid is injuries. If the team remains fit next year, we should be well-placed to win another flag.

Quite possibly my favourite player at the moment. His first 10 weeks or so were All-Australian quality. He went through a slight form slump in middle of the year but he thankfully returned to his best just before the finals series. His goal in the last quarter of the Grand Final deserves more attention. His ability to run all the way from the backline to the forwardline and take a mark was unbelievable.

I never understood why he copped so much criticism in the home and away season. When players return from foot injuries, it can take some time for them to get back to their best. His performance during the finals showed why the club rates him so highly. He was easily in our best 3-4 players across the entire finals series. We're clearly a better side when he's in the team.

As he should have. His only season that was well below par was 2019, when the entire team was struggling. He actually showed glimpses in 2020 but kept getting dropped after one or two ordinary games. I think 2021 gives the best indication of how good he really is. He was excellent.

Oliver's 2020 season: AA squad and top 10 brownlow finish Buckenara: "Oliver is replacable." Petracca's 2020 season: AA midfielder and top 2 brownlow finish Buckenara: Lists Petracca as a b-grader I get the vibe that this guy has never watched Melbourne very closely.

He was one of my favourite players. He was easily the best small defender in the competition during his peak years (2017-2018). He was one of the most brave and loyal players we'll ever see and his field kicking was elite. Jetta and Jones retiring in the same year feels like the end of an era.

Fritsch is a star. Had an outstanding year. At the end of last year people were critical of his inaccuracy in front of goal but he addressed that issue very quickly. 59.24 is a great achievement. Also worth remembering that he kicked 12 goals in our three finals games. You couldn't really ask for a better finals series than that.

Brayshaw was simply inspirational in the third quarter. His composure on the wing was a major reason why everything started going our way.

Words cannot describe how amazing this feeling is. We are easily fielding our best team in decades. Petracca is an absolute superstar. He's been incredible the entire finals series. Langdon and Brayshaw are surely the best wing duo we've had in a long time. Fritsch has become a genuine star forward. We're just a great team.

Those were probably the best 15 minutes I've ever seen from the club. I'm really proud of the way Brayshaw has come along lately. He's really starting to become an excellent wingman.

Seriously? He kicked 6 goals in the first two games of the finals series. He was poor this quarter but to say that he's been poor the whole finals series is just wrong.

"What a success story Tom Mcdonald has been. On the trade table at the end of last year and has come back firing." "They could use Hunt's run and carry from half back." "The ball magnet Jack Macrae." "What a comeback story the dogs have had. Coming from fifth on the ladder and putting themselves in a position to hold the trophy."

How Fritsch only got one vote in that game is beyond me.

Tonight is really showing that Salem and Langdon don't get as much attention as they deserve. There have probably been three games so far in which they both deserved votes.

It would certainly mean a lot to me. The period in which I've supported Melbourne hasn't been pretty by any means. I started following Melbourne in 2009 and since then we've only made the finals twice. It took me such a long time to see what success looks like. I'd consider this the first year where I've actually had the chance to watch the team be dominant on such a consistent level, so winning the flag would be the icing on the cake. Losing the grand final this year obviously won't be the end of the world, but I think most of our supporters have been waiting long enough for us to break our drought.

Yep. If Goodwin and Yze are isolating then none of our players should get sick, so I don't know why people are predicting disaster just before we finally get the chance to play in a grand final.

He will never be forgotten. He was our only shining light during our dark years (2009-2014). The fact that he was one of our few senior players who refused to leave during that period showed how loyal and committed he was to the club. While it's a pity that he hasn't been able to participate in the finals this year, there's nothing wrong with playing your final game in a win against Richmond in front of nearly 80, 000 people. I will always remember his match-winning goal in the 2018 elimination final against Geelong.

Brown has been crucial lately. His contested marking ability has been excellent and I've noticed how reliable his field kicking is. Our forwardline clearly functions much better when he's in the team. He's been the recruit we needed.

Easily the best win I've ever seen. I loved every minute of the second half. Max Gawn is a total champion. His third quarter was absolutely freakish. Jack Viney is a fantastic finals player. He never fails to stand up in really big games. It feels like a privilege supporting this team at the moment.

I guess you could say we're a chance of winning this.

Selwood accusing other players of diving is so ironic in many ways.