Tony Tea

6. McDonald 5. Oliver 4. May 3. Jordon 2. Petracca 1. Harmes

We are keeping the footy punditry on its toes as we make them skip from one player's contract negotiations to the next. Each time a pundit writes an article implicitly critical of Melbourne's alleged tardiness in signing a required player, he or she is barely halfway through basking when we sign said player and force the punditry into changing its focus to another player. It's a masterly military performance. The question now is whether we change tactics and concede Weid is expendable and has trade value.

Round 3, 2005.

6. Salem 5. Fritsch 4. May 3. Jackson 2. Langdon 1. Oliver Very hard to pick this week.

Unlikely Melbourne fans would give Howe the same generous reception Storm fans tonight gave Will Chambers who now plays for Cronulla.

It has always upset me that Howe is playing for Collingwood. It has also always upset me that Collingwood is praised for turning Howe into a backman. I'm glad he missed a flag in 2018. He should still be at Melbourne, but would he fit into our system?

Players with significant upside, a year older, a year wiser, a year better coached by a cadre of experienced footy-heads.

If Kane bothered to do any research - or basically just think before he shoots from the lip - he would have seen Goodwin have a quiet word with Kozzie. A slightly over-the-top reaction by an excited youngster calmly dealt with by the coach. Excellent work by Goody.

The original bubble headed booby.

Sticks was important last night, and I'm disappointed I couldn't slot him into the votes. PS: The highlights video missed a fantastic smother by Angus on the outer wing down at Geelong in 2015.

Hibberd - licence to blanket.

6. Petracca 5. Salem 4. Oliver 3. Jackson 2. Viney 1. Langdon

Best style of win since I don't know when.

I'm expecting a loss, but hoping for a good performance. Our defence has been our key by keeping oppositions to scores low enough for us to win by kicking a moderate score. Today our forward line has to show up big time. Simply put: we miss our chances, we lose.

... be surprised. Looking at the recording of the Hawks game, I got a bit disheartened about or chances Saturday night.

I always expect a slump, and we have not beaten anyone yet, but at least we are playing proper grunt footy.

6. Gawn 5. McDonald 4. Oliver 3. Salem 2. Lever 1. Petracca

The noise of the AFL's "game day experience" wore me down a couple of years ago. I've stopped going to games.

I'm not as bullish about our prospects with May out. He's our most important player, and you can't easily replace gun key defenders.

6. Petracca 5. Oliver 4. Gawn 3. Viney 2. Salem 1. Fritsch

The usual big name Herald Sun footy journos, after years of barracking for Kelly in the Kelly vs Salem/Tyson/Hunt deal, slunk off back to their desks when the editor called on Marc McGowan talk up Melbourne's end of the trade. https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/afl-2021-christian-salem-repays-demons-faith-after-draft-gamble/news-story/67410111c25ecb5f0be0068b7fbfaba0

Cam Luke, one of Hutchy's pets.

6. Gawn 5. Langdon 4. Lever 3. Viney 2. Petracca 1. Brayshaw

6. Oliver 5. Salem 4. Petracca 3. May 2. Langdon 1. Jordon

Cardwell had a massive advantage over Taylor. He could pretty much approach any player he liked and offer him a run at a successful club, and every second week on the MCG. And if I could bother doing the research, I'd probably - okay, possibly - discover that lots of Melbourne players retired with plenty of petrol in the tank when the Collingwoods and Carltons and Richmonds got plenty more footy out of their stars. Did we try hard enough to keep our stars? Barassi, anyone?