GawnWithTheWind

I need a positive spin on this, otherwise its too hard to get out of bed every morning.

We cannot sugarcoat it, 2017 just missed the mark. A pass was to play one finals game, anything above that was a great year, anything below was a failure. In all of the doom and gloom of the past 48 hours, thanks is due to a few of the Melbourne family for some excellent achievements thus far; First of all, to the members/supporters, thank you. We broke our membership record this year, and also our games attendance record. That is a massive achievement, to step up and support such a frustrating team is no easy task. Thank you for showing up and supporting your guts out. Watching the MCC side of the G erupt due to a goal or a bad umpiring call is showing the rest of the league how passionate our supporter base are. Secondly, to PJ and GB, thank you. Both of you were instrumental in getting our off and on field structure/foundations right. You have dragged a hopeless team out of the gutter and made us relevant again. You said you would do it, and you delivered. Thank you. Thirdly, Paul Roos, thank you. The easiest thing PR could have done was to stay in the media. He would have made enough of a salary, and kept this coaching record up there with the greats. He took a risk with Melbourne, poured his heart and soul into the club, and lived up to his word by making our club 'competitive' again. You have build the foundations to allow our football department to be very successful. Going from 4 wins to 12 in a mighty improvement. Michael Hibberd and Jake Melksham; thank you. Watching both of you play for our club this year has been a pleasure. You have both thrown your bodies on the line, on numerous occasions and have completely bought into making this club successful again. Thank you for choosing us, and thank you for working your buts off. (If there is any doubt on Melksham, talk to any bombers supporters about how much he has surprised them this year, he has been massive) Jesse Hogan, thank you. No one would have challenged you, or complained, if you wrote off this year after your fathers death, your cancer scares, your shoulder, or anything else this shocking year has thrown at you. Thank you for working your butt off to get back into the team, and winning games for us. Without you last week, we wouldn't have even been able to dare to dream this weekend just gone. Thank you for not giving up. Clayton Oliver, thank you. Second year players normally go through second year blues, and are always forgiven for it. However, you didn't allow this to happen. You stepped up when you were challenged on field, off field, through a fence, and put your name into superstar status. You showed 43 other players on the list what consistent football is, even when being heavily tagged. Thank you for showing us supporters you have a lions heart. There are more players who deserve a thank you, including Jayden Hunt, Jordan Lewis, Nathan Jones, Jeff Garlett, Cam Pedersen, Christian Petracca, but I'll leave it at that. Onwards to 2018.

And we still managed to be the laughing stock of the comp

Dunn and Howe showed their true character yesterday after they won. They were going berserk, acting like they won the flag. Disrespectful towards their old friends and their old home. I certainly won't be celebrating either player as an ex Melbourne player from now on and I hope the club turns its back on them. Beating us was enough, they should have kept their excitement about ruining 20 of their mates dreams to behind closed doors.

As I said earlier in the week, and got shot down by most, WCE will beat an undermanned crows team. Talia and Walker are now out and watch Sloane and Jacobs pull out on Sunday morning. Tomorrow is our biggest game since 06.

Is this our biggest game for the club since 06?

I think Viney will play for Stretch. He will see this week as a crucial match, and knows that if we win, he will get another week off to rest. I also think Salem will replace Wagner. Salem racked up the footy in his one game for Casey, and showed his class. Watts will be line ball. I can't see who he replaces. 12 marks on the weekend shows a huge workrate. Hannan has been down on form lately, and might make way for Watts. If he does, someone will need to step up to replace the pressure Hannan puts on in our forward half. -------------------------------------------- My thoughts on the team: FB: Jetta - TMac - Hibb HB: Hunt - Oscar - Salem C: Vince - N.Jones - Lewis HF: Trac - Hogan - ANB FF: Garlett - Pedo - Harmes R: Gawn - Viney - Oliver I: Tyson - Brayshaw - Melksham - Hannan/Watts

Can't believe people are already talking about week 1 opposition for finals. We are no lock to beat the Pies, and West Coast are due for a good game at home. I would say they are a 50/50 bet to beat the crows at home. GWS will struggle to beat the cats at home, so the crows will have very little to play for and will probably rest a few stars as they already have the minor premiership locked up. I would say if we lose to the pies, we are a fair chance to finish 9th and WCE take our spot. I hope the players aren't thinking more ahead than Saturday afternoon...

Of course French, only French.. we aren't savages!

Listening to this on radio due to poor wifi is a killer. Same old Melbourne, got in front and can't handle the pressure of being favourites. Season defining quarter. Scary stuff.

Are we in big trouble?

If they are being careful with Watts and Tyson, I'd say we will almost go in unchanged. The only change may be JKH/Kennedy in for someone who is a bit sore. This game is 30/70 chance of winning regardless, so preparing the team for success in the remaining games of the year seems like a good resource management strategy.

For these reciprocal games at the G, where do our members usually all sit? Behind the goals at the city end?

Who plays on Simpson and Docherty? All of their attack starts from HBF and its in the hands of either of these two. I can't see Hogan, Trac or Pedo playing a defensive role... so its down to Hannan, Kent and Garlett? I'd say Hannan gets Docherty and Kent will get Simpson.

Ins: Hogan, Garlett, Kent Outs: Viney, Bugg, White --------------- FB: Jetta - Frost - TMAC HB: Hunt - Oscar - Hibbo C: Stretch - Lewis - Vince HF: Kent - Pedo - Trac FF: Garlett - Hogan - Hannan R: Gawn - Tyson - Oliver I: Harmes, ANB, Wagner, Melksham ----------- Its not a completely horrible team....

Jack Jonesy Viney?

Statement saying Tyson is a test is a positive sign. Good PR comms release the negative news together, rather than spreading it across multiple days. It means that positive news stories for the rest of the week can restore the faith in the supporters etx. I'd say Dom will be off legs until the main session, and if he gets through, he will play. Let's hope Jesse, Dom, Jack and Jeff are all good to go this week. If they are, we stand a good chance.

Are we certain that both Viney and Tyson won't get up for next week? If Viney hasn't snapped the tendon, does he play through the pain? Tyson may have only got a bad impact knock to his knee, and is on crutches to keep the recovery process as smooth as possible. Id be very shocked if Hogan doesn't play, and I wouldn't be surprised to see Jeffy be right for the game. Watts is 50/50 too.

Tommy made a mistake, that's for sure. It was a 2 second long brain fade and he will carry it with him for some years. Lets not forget the good mongrel he has given us this year, he's played the villain role constantly and it has paid off for us on numerous occasions. Tommy must be going through hell at the moment, the abuse he is coping on his instagram is ridiculous. Landers, if you have some time, send him some love on his social media pages. Even some small messages of support may help him deal with his stupid mistake.

No Hogan, Watts, Salem, Garlett, Nath Jones? Thats 5 of our top 10 most important players. I can't see Caseys fwd line kicking enough goals for us to win this.

Seems like he has a close group at the dees, not out of our 22, part of an up n coming team and is a local boy. Tell me again why he'd wanna leave? Training camp was too hard? Spare me..

WCE at home is no easy feat, infront of their nutbag crowd and on their unique sized oval. I personally think we might cop a 30-40 point smacking, and wake some of our group up that finals isn't a lock yet. Hopefully I am wrong, because a win over there without 2 of of our top 5 players is a HUGE statement.

Anyone know if there is GA seating on level 1 too? Or is it only level 3?

Shuey ran past the ball and bumped high. It will be careless, intentional and low impact resulting in a week for sure. Mitchell barely got him. He will get a fine at most. If Shuey and Kennedy both don't play, we are a big chance.

Ins: Gawn Outs: Oscar -------------------------------------------------------- He was great, but we cant go in too tall on a quick surface, and TMAC will go back with Gawn coming into the ruck. We can only play two genuine tall defenders. --------------------------------------------------------- B: Jetta - Frost - Hibb HB: Hunt - TMac - Salem C: Vince - Jones - Lewis HF: Trac - Watts - Bugg FF: Hannan - Pedo - Garlett R: Gawn - Oliver - Viney I: Tyson - Melksham - ANB - Harmes