Chook

Was a candidate for the Brownlow but didn't win it, so he obviously is the best player of the season.

Hogan has big shoes to fill if he stays IMO. Tom McDonald to me is in the top 10 best players in the league. A forward who can play ruck, wing, back, midfield (at a pinch), and actually kicks goals not points. Sign him up for 4 years. Oh wait we already did!

"EXTRA! EXTRA!!! READ ALL ABOUT IT!!! CEO views self as most important person in organisation."

supermercado/demonblog should do a 1964-era Bannerwatch segment.

You know what everyone says about statistics right? Fork 'em.

And thank god. I hope this "real footy" thing takes off instead of pressure madness because I love the way West Coast play. They smacked us last week too, so to see them win takes the edge off a bit.

Oh yeah the brownlow. Did Gawny win it? Probably not (it is a midfielders award after all so I'm sure mitchell won). Hot tip…I reckon Gus did better than everyone was expecting...even though he wasn't even invited.

It'll be jolly, and I'm sure very complimentary to Western Australia and West Australians as a people.

Having now read this whole thread, it's bedtime for me at last in the land of the boos. And so my final act is the solemn devouring of the Max Gawn cookie. May it feel as much pain as I did today. EDIT: Dry and tasteless. Should I have expected any less?

I'm gutted too (and as bad as this would have been to watch on TV it was a million times worse at the ground). But let's be realistic We've played 4 blinders in a row but finally hit the wall in the hardest possible challenge. And now it's time for some perspective. This was the first ever finals loss for 18 Melbourne players today. Also, Bayley Fritsch is the only Melbourne player to be undefeated in finals (of those who have actually played one). So we have that at least. Gutted but also proud, at the end of it all, out here in Perth.

In the words of the Eagles fan behind me (after every single Melbourne free)… Aww, ya JOH-king!

GF spot all locked up, 186 could be in danger and the Eagles fans here are still unhappy.

Our link up by hand is non-existent. Never seen so many turnovers.

Just have to laugh now.

Nup. Everyone nervous. Jordie slow as molasses. The run is over. Would be surprised if we got closer than 70 points.

8 mins left and still a fair few empty seats.

Ground announcer going through the wce team. Introduces will rioli as the wiz. Sorry but no. Just no.

EDIT repost (cursed WA internet)

"Please welcome the Melbourne Football Club into the ground " BOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! ...And it begins. Stadium only half full and already they're f-in loud.

3500km and close to a grand later, I've made it. GO DEES!

Feeling very vulnerable in my dees scarf on this train right now. If you never hear from me again I've probably been abducted by Eagles fans.

I got this ticket free from a fellow demonlander. No relation (I assume).

Ticket? Check. Scarf? Check. Signed "Thank you for flying over" card? Check Free $10 food voucher? Check. Commemorative Max Gawn cookie? Check and check. Looks like I'm all set.

I am now firmly entrenched sweep in the bowels of my 4pm Virgin Aus flight, next to a French couple who clearly have no idea why all these freaks around them are wearing red and blue paraphernalia. Radio silence now for a bit.

I ain't eatng my cookie. Imma frame it on my wall alongside a stuffed eagle, hawk, and cat.