Chook

Has anyone got an explanation for why this is the case? Culture? Lack of success? Dumb chance? Opportunities outside football for Melbourne players luring them away earlier in life?

How does this compare to Cam Pedersen's percentage? I feel like we won every game he played for us there for a while.

I've got my mum and her partner coming. She's usually a strictly-finals type. She's not seen much live footy these past 15 years.

Brown and Petty came in and did OK, not great. Weid and May (who have both been in the side for long stretches in the past) will be significantly better, even before you consider their improved talent/physical traits when compared to Brown/Petty.

"Watch out for the birds." Melbourne to be knocked out of finals by the Eagles again: confirmed.

….be surprised, but a heck of a lot less surprised than most years. This demons side is as legit as I've ever seen, and it's a wonderful thing to experience. But win or lose I won't go read too much into it. Beating both grand finalists in April would be nice, but I'd rather beat them in September.

Every day that passes is another day closer to our next loss. Luckily the same can be said for Richmond.

Very eloquent is Tom, and he made a lot of sense as heard through the mike. Not that the umpire would ever be expected to listen.

Great interview with Jones On the Couch if you get a chance to watch it.

Ideally we should never kick a behind...

The best 19yo talent I've ever seen at Melbourne, and the perfect player for right now because he complements Gawn so well. This bloke will be anything…as soon as he starts taking marks.

Available for selection does not mean good enough for selection. I loved Ben Brown when he was flying for North Melbourne, but now that he's on our list and we're flying I have my doubts about his movement and place within the side...

No way I'd draft Petracca before Gawn if I had to make such a cruel decision. Lucky for me I don't.

If you're unsure, then you don't trust them. That's OK. I get it.

Yes let's do. I reckon he's leading our B+F (captain excluded because he's the best player in the comp).

Agreed. When a player redeems early mistakes within the same game as ANB did today, you don't drop them.

I think the conservative thing to do is: Wiedeman in, M. Brown out. The high-risk, high-reward thing is: Wiedeman in, M Brown out Ben Brown in, McDonald to wing, Melksham/Spargo out.

OUT: Petty, M. Brown, Melksham IN: Jetta, Wiedeman, B. Brown McDonald to wing, with a defensive mindset if the Tigers get on top, but an attacking mindset if we're controlling the ball.

6. Gawn 5. Langdon 4. McDonald 3. Lever 2. Hibberd 1. Petracca

Pretty simple. Do you?

Oliver's not a team player.

The Melbourne players in the final quarter against the Hawks players:

Leaver leaving his man to take that mark in the middle of the ground was so smart. His man was out of the play, so he left him and took the mark. Langdon you star! Who said you couldn't kick.

After an awful 1st quarter, ANB holds his spot this week you'd think.

Welp, if Brown kicks 4 in the last quarter we might have to fit him in next week too.