Deeoldfart

Now I know why everyone refers to Tommy as a pest.

Totally agree. Our boys will have to run off the 'G' after the final siren, and change into our proper colours before the premiership medal presentations team photos.

Congrats Goody. Loved hearing in your acceptance speech about your love for the game, and your football and people values, It's clear that you have brought these same qualities and values to Melbourne Football Club. Long may they be prosper and be rewarded.

Both Smiths , but still a bit light on. Based on this, the off season will be another very important one for our list managers to capitalise on our current (seemingly) strong position.

We have plenty of medium HBs. I'd therefore look to develop Joel Smith as a big bodied mid starting from now, and over next pre-season. Then let Jason Taylor and Todd Viney to do some more magic with the draft. A pacy / classy mid should be high on the agenda.

I enjoyed that one too Lucifer's, but I liked this one from the same article even better: "After a decade out of finals, it was plain to see in the white-eyed aggression and desperation of Michael Hibberd and Nathan Jones that this Melbourne team is as driven and as selfless as any in the league." How good were Hibbo and Jonesy's acts (?), but the real beauty is that they typified the approach of our entire team throughout the game. Never in a million years were we going to lose, because we would simply go to another level at the slightest hint of a challenge. As a former great of our Club once said: "Whatever it takes". Love the Dees!!

6. T.Mac 5. Salem 4. Hibberd 3. O.Mac 2. Jetta 1. Watts Outstanding team effort ........ another dozen unucky. That's brilliant!

Outstanding!! (three goes to type that word, my hands are trembling so much). Go demons, I live ya!!

I have a very strange 'gameday' feeling this morning. Calm and quietly confident that we will put in a good 'four quarter' performance, and be sitting in 5th spot on the ladder at the end of the round. Uncharted waters, but we are building, and will take a lot out of confidence out of last week.

If I go back and 'like' your earlier post, will that make me good too?

Well, on tonight's form to half time, we don't have anything to worry about with either of these two ............ but the qualification is very important.

I'm no doubt 'intoxicated' with optimism after the Queen's Birthday triumph, and went with 13. I'll stick with that and enjoy it until at least next Sunday arvo, when a the beginning of a 'hangover' is a very real possibility.

Agree Drunkn. Very tough and unfortunate initiation for Bull, but he is made of the right stuff. He couldn't be at a better place than the Melbourne Football Club, where he'll be given every opportunity to make it.

I'm exhausted (mentally drained), damn hoarse and very proud to be a Demon tonight. The drive back to Canberra tomorrow will be sweet.

6. Jones 5. Petracca 4. Watts 3. O Mac 2. Hunt 1. Hibberd

Nope. Focus is100% on football today mate. Go Dees!

G'day hardtack. We'll be at the march and look forward to catching up if our paths cross.

Drove down from Canberra to watch this one. Been walking around the streets of Footscray since first light this morning, just to ease the tension and reflect what might be come 6:30 this evening. Amazing to see Bulldogs scarves and beanies still adorning letter boxes and front fences after last year's success. Makes me envious and tells me that occasionally dreams do come true! First steps first. A win today is the first priority. Kill 'em Dees!

I totally agree LH, but once he crosses the white line he's fit and ready to go. Take no prisoners Melbourne!

Unbelievable goals, unbelievable memories (many from a very forgetable era). Thanks for all the hard wwork Ash.

What did Brad Green say that for?? There was a putrid stench about the place back then, and internal power struggles tore the heart out of our Club. I suspect many people were culpable, but we will probably never know the full story. What I do know however, is that each and every one of us loyal supporters were cut to the core. We were foremost amongst the innocent victims! There was no longer any pride in being a Melbourne supporter. It took far too long, but thank christ we have finally left all that behind. Hope has been restored, and with it some excitement and positive expectations. It's good to be a Melbourne supporter again! I can't thank the architects and builders of our revival enough!

Mitch has some x factor to go with his talent (a quality that can separate the top forward lines from the rest), and he's becoming harder to match up on as he becomes more comfortable at the level. I have a hunch that he might become even more dangerous when Jesse returns and is up and firing. A tantalising prospect imo.

I agree re Bugg doing most things right except kicking goals that he is paid to kick. IIRC he climbed back into the seniors on the back of a 5 goal game for Casey, so he has goalkicking somewhere in his repertoire. Just needs to find it!

No, Yes and No from me. At the start of the season I was hoping for 7 and 3 or 6 and 4 at worst, given a favourable first half draw. Given our youth and inexperience, I thought we needed to take full advantage of the draw to stake a strong claim for a finals berth. Who could have foreseen the loss of (arguably) our two most important players for a large chunk of the season so far. In the circumstances, 5 and 5 is only barely a 'pass' from me, especially given 'what might have been' if we had beaten the Dockers, Tigers and Hawks. The win over the Crows did put a bit of credit back into the bank however. Playing our best football consistently, we are finals bound for sure, and maybe even top 4. However, we haven't been able to play the 'consistent card' at this point of our development, and I don't think that's about to occur. This, combined with a tougher second half draw, and the fact that it will probably take Max and Jesse a while to fully hit their straps when they finally get back on the park, makes finals a tough ask for this year imo. Of course I'm still dreaming 2017, but I think we might have to wait until 2018 to play in September.

Not sure I'd be comfortable playing an underdone Hogan and Gawn on Queen's Birthday. Having said that, I'll be very nervous throughout Maxy's first game back, no matter when that might be.