Chook

I'd feel a lot better if Tomlinson and Viney weren't injured...

Ben Brown's thoughts on his debut (watch for a little cameo from Christian Petracca at the end there):

Goldy gets in Gawns head somehow I reckon. Every time Gawn talks about good ruckmen he always throws Goldstein's name in there as just about the best he's played. Whether it's true or not, Gawn obviously believes it, and doesn't dominate like he usually does as a result.

We're top of the ladder undefeated, won (finally) at a graveyard location against a team that has had our measure for years. Why do I feel so flat? Lots of uncertainty about our backline all of a sudden, and Brown didn't fit all that well into our forward line if I'm honest.

6. Jackson 5. Pickett 4. Fritsch 3. Salem 2. Langdon 1. Rivers

Get the razorblades out everyone.

Dunstall didn't complain when Hawthorn brought in their 3rd tall. I like Dunstall but he has absolutely no respect for Melbourne whatsoever, and sticks the boots in at every opportunity. There are plenty out there in the media who would be very happy for Melbourne to sit at the bottom of the ladder forever. Well I've got news for them.

I really hope we're just being conservative with Viney and it's not a 4 week injury as has been reported. On the positive side, it will be great to see how Baker fits into the side. Who knows, maybe he will show something that forces us to keep him in the side longer term.

Brayshaw should go nowhere now that he's finally found a good spot on the wing. Perhaps we can try it when the game is done and shift McDonald to the wing to see what that looks like, but our best side has Brayshaw on the wing.

As a regular G&G listener this is correct, and explicitly brought up on the podcast. This was a club-mandated week-long break, but they'll be back, celebrating their top of the ladder status I'm sure.

Don't you feel it Jaded? This is it. There's something in the air, and for the first time in 50 years it's something GOOD!!! Just go with it, because if you don't then it might not happen.

I'd buy the 25 disc set (only on Blu-Ray though).

Rested. There's no need for him to mosey on down to Tasmania to beat the Roos by a lot.

Was worried you had had a falling out or something. I'm glad nothing more sinister than gainful employment is the culprit.

You're thinking of the old Melbourne. We don't talk about that Melbourne anymore.

Me and my entire generation of fellow Melbourne supporters are probably more scarred by that month of football than any other in our lifetimes. I know I was for a long time. This year might wipe it away.

We can go top if we draw! Here's hoping.

I remember exactly what I did that day too. I played kick to kick with myself in the back yard until the sun set, dreaming of what was to come. I had to wait longer than I thought I would that evening..

Boy, Lynch has some mental demons in front of goal. Couldn't happen to a better bloke.

Tigers look to be spent after last week. I know it's early and you would've written Melbourne off as a neutral at this point last week, but this is threatening to be a smashing.

Lynch is getting ample opportunities but can't take advantage. Credit to Tomlinson for not even giving him a look in last week.

Probably should've got into third or fourth given he's trying to break into a premiership threat AFL side. Weid was good, but showed absolutely none of the intensity required for AFL level.

We threw in a clause that lets him play backyard basketball as much as he wants in the offseason.

Brown is untried with Melbourne clearly. He has runs on the board at AFL level, which puts him ahead of Wiedeman.

Brayshaw won't shift forward. He's a key defensive player for us. I'd go so far as to say he'd be keeping McDonald out of the wing position because of how well he plays the defensive winger role for us. Wied just can't come in while McDonald is playing so well and Brown is untried at this level. Brown is ahead of him on runs on the board, so we have to try Brown first. One of Wiedeman, Brown or McDonald will have to be at Casey each week, and McDonald is the one the other two will have to force out.