Chook

Leaving that game I overheard a father consoling his young son wearing a Hawthorn jumper. Dad was consoling his boy saying "there's always next year." For a moment I pitied that young man, born too late to experience the flags and success of the 2008-2012 Hawks. Only for a moment.

I know the percentage is way different but the Dees have now only lost one more game than the Western Bulldogs, who some are tipping to win the flag... Food for thought.

Am I crazy but were there some serious echoes of the 2021 GF in that game. From Salem to Petracca from 50, to Sparrow's goal, to the absolute landslide in the 3rd quarter. It felt like we're "back" (obviously not back to 2021 of course but there was something in the air).

Correct me if I'm wrong, but this is the first match this year with both May and Lever in the side? If so, expecting to hold Sydney to 0.0.0 of course, despite May being not quite the player he was. In actuality I'm a bit worried about the odd couple being back together - this isn't exactly the 2021 version of them, or of Melbourne. I worry they'll leave us a bit slow in defence. We'll see how it plays out.

Yep. Who does he have to actually learn the craft from?

Langford is looking like the 2nd coming of Angus Brayshaw and it's something we've desperately needed since Gus had to sadly leave us all too soon

I'll believe it when I see it. I don't think they've got the mettle to get it done on the big stage.

Loving this doggies feast on the Essendon carcass!

Imagine losing your identical twin to suicide. How could you go on? I believe it was their shared birthday recently, which would have been even harder to deal with for him. Horrible situation, and you wonder what made it too hard to go on for both of them. I hope the family can share their story one day so it can possibly help others in a similar situation.

If I were Selwyn Griffith, I'd be embarrassed as hell, even if I didn't think I'd done much wrong. It's just a really bad look for a fitness coach to have his team consistently trounced at the end of the match.

I hope the Footy Classified panel is watching this pre match for Spud’s Game.

Glad we're not playing Collingwood because I think we all know what would happen.

Has Luke Jackson won possession at all so far tonight? He's always buzzing around contests looking vaguely like he's doing something but never seems to actually impact the play.

Losing Viney is a big loss given his form over recent weeks, but with Oliver coming in and the lack of pace in our midfield that happens when all three of our big boys (Trac, Oliver, Viney) are in the side, I think it's ok balance wise for one in one out. Melksham out and JVR in has me far more worried. I can see our forward line absolutely stinking up the joint again on Saturday now we're basically back to the failed mix that saw us 0-5.

Exactly. The football media landscape's rinse cycle is as follows: 1. Journalist provokes or extracts a comment from a player/coach/associate 2. Media performer 1 comments on that reaction 3. Media performer 2 reacts to the comment 4. Media outlet broadcasts for maximum engagement: "Listen to what media performer 2 says about media performer 1's comment. Do you agree?" Rinse and repeat for 52 weeks a year. Once you see it you can't unsee it. I hate that I'm even tangentially getting caught up in the rinse cycle this time around. 1. McLure extracts "Clarry isn't happy with game time" from some unnamed associate of Clarry 2. McLure comments on that 3. Lyon reacts to McLure's comment 4. SEN broadcasts the Lyon/McLure comment/reaction. "What do you think footy fans? Isn't this fun?"

The media isn't a force of nature. It is a group of people acting according to a set of norms. The way to fix this is for the AFL to publicly chastise media outlets and ban reporters from access to clubs if they behave unethically.

I can imagine it would be fairly easy to diffuse those stop-and-chats. Just hold out your hand and say "nice to meet you, what's your name? My name is Clayton. I know you're working at the moment but would you like a cup of coffee. I have to go to training now but we can meet at [Geelong Coffee House] after and we'll get to know each other more better." Then don't show up.

I know this is a Melbourne forum, but even I'm surprised there hasn't been a post in the past 3 hours in the Non-MFC thread while the game of the year and potential finals preview is going on at the G. #Proud

Turner and Petty are currently engaged in a low-key battle to the death to see which of them will be our go-to defender-come-forward. Looks like Turner is ahead by a nose. EDIT: Auto-censor picked up a "naughty word".

He knows which side his bread is buttered, that's for sure.

lol did anyone else see Tholstrup almost tackle instead of lay a shepherd. He's an eager lad.

The cope from the commentators trying to make excuses there is so telling, after trying their best to get Melksham suspended for what was arguably a mark.

The cope from the commentators trying to make excuses there is so telling, after trying their best to get Melksham suspended for what was arguably a mark.