Chook

Imagine coming into a finals series knowing we've beaten 2/3 other top 4 sides twice. 'Twould be nice.

No clearances though. He did get back off the mark well, though perhaps overdid it at times, especially when kicking for goal.

Classy goal from Nev Jetta receiving from Vandenberg. Vanders is a smoky for AFL yet this year.

Makes that a 5th with an over the top receive from Vandenberg. The running power of McDonald and Brown will be hard to stop, although Brown should stay pretty deep most of the time to provide a leading target.

Brown marks another on the lead and converts. Is that 5 now for him? EDIT: 4 and a miss he would normally kick.

45 degrees, 40 out on the right hand side looking at the goals I'd say. Umpire did not move.

Essendon supporters are the absolute worst. Anyone remember this classless display?

I could see Fritsch out, Ben Brown in. But equally, Fritsch kicked 6 when Brown was in, so he would really benefit from not being the 2nd biggest target. I think our best structure includes 2 talls based on the ridiculous kicking into the forward 50 we saw tonight (putting it on Spargo's head won't win a Grand Final).

The heat on Oliver in this thread is quite unexpected. 3rd best on ground for us after May and Langdon IMO.

I was 50/50 on whether I wanted to see Brown back. I was curious as to what our small forward line setup would look like, but it's pretty clear we've gotten used to the 2 tall setup, and we're playing as if we're expecting McDonald to be there for the long kick in, when he's busy running up and down the ground. Brown in next week regardless of the result for mine.

What's the result if we beat everyone in the 8 but lose 2 games to lowly cellar dwellers (not that that would ever happen this season).

This game really feels like the first of a new era. Goodwin’s 100th game, top of the ladder but coming off a loss, after a week off to reset. A talisman of the club in Viney back in for the first time in a while, on our home deck after a month on the road, playing a team that could easily scalp us. So many factors at play. Are we just early season front runners, or are we in this thing for the long haul. Tonight will tell us all so much, and set this club on one of two very different paths I feel, depending on the outcome.

Viney is a force of nature and Ben Brown is a sideshow, bub.

In case you're being sarcastic, Gary gave us Neeld.

2 things: 1. Geelong won't do anything in September 2. Joe Daniher is a spud

Absolutely loving this game right now. The Lions at the Gabba is the purest football I've seen this year. Melbourne must avoid that visit in finals.

Uh, we have Jack Viney in this week.

My body is SO ready for a Thursday night footy event that promises to be a great clash.

THE UNIVERSE: Halfway through the year your team is on top of the ladder but lost two winnable games to crap teams. Are you happy now mate? ME: Hell no who'd we lose to? I bet it's probably Adelaide and a team whose coach has just quit wtf man, this sucks!

I'm not normal, but I'd follow Lever. I'd be afraid of Jack, and not trust his judgment. EDIT: I should add, I'd follow Max above both of them.

We've been playing with one hand tied behind our back with Wiedemann. I'm not sure Brown is the answer (he might be). I'd love to see us go back to one permanent tall (McDonald), with Gawn and Jackson rotating in there.

lol imagine the hubris of calling the result that keeps your team on top of the ladder "terrible"

Not until we win more clearances.

Melbourne supporters faced with the prospect of a game against Essendon in Geelong: