layzie

Free kick Port

This is pretty much it for Melbourne. Can’t afford to lose. It’s going to come down to how much they want to play finals this year. I want the burning sensation they felt when we missed out last year to come to the fore. Let’s show that we have arrived!

We get a good attack and the siren goes. Nice

Wingard is a flopper

Must make the most of this purple patch

Bully boy!

Interesting quarter to say the least. Needed a big one and didn’t happen. Anyone’s guess how this will go

Umpire just put the whistle away

Just spurned a sitter

Absolutely infuriating conceding that goal at the death. Seriously the most hair pulling thing is watching that clock count down and hoping we can get away without something like that. Good quarter, tackling well. A T-Mac set shot goal and no conceded one would have made it a great quarter.

Gotta say our tackling is bang on tonight

Broke the deadlock! Hopefully a psychological boost there

Such a dour contest

Pretty pumped but pretty nervous. Hope we can make a statement tonight. Go Dees!

Unfortunately I agree. Too much of a liability. Wish it were different but what can you do?

Looking like Garlett's papers are stamped

Well, yeah, big variable that one.

Certainly can. It started as a labrum tear while playing indoor soccer and then x-rays showed the genetic ‘weird shaped’ hips where there isn’t quite enough room in the joint for the hip to move as freely. This inhibits the natural range of motion to an extent, for example sitting on the ground when you bring the knee up to a 90 degree angle and then pull it over the opposite leg the range of motion is quite a bit less than the average. So had the re-shaping done in the form of a hip arthroscopicy. I was told if there were any issues on the other side that I’d have to have that side done as well but none thus far 6 years later! It’s about 2-3 months off running, hydrotherapy and plenty of exercises to build the strength back up. I remember seeing Jobe Watson when he had his hip issue doing some kind of rehab where he’d throw a medicine ball against a wall side on and thinking what a great idea that was! But I digress. Definitely a good idea to have the procedure done now I reckon.

Was under the impression the winner of his signature would need to offer a 5 year contract and had St Kilda in the box seat UNTIL this news about Hawthorn came about.

I’ve had one of those! They do exist

Like others this appointment left me feeling weird initially. The work that PJ had done to build his club back up really had me wanting a ‘mini-PJ’ understudy who knew the way. Pert, while a credible CEO in his own right I just feel will come in and stamp his authority. The ship needs to sail on to an extent and I did feel that Mahoney was the guy for this. Im warming to the Pert idea more but I really hope we have put our club in the right hands. Big shoes to fill

Barry Richardson the Richmond premiership player and physiotherapist played the majority of his career without an ACL. Said he had to learn to jump off the opposite knee and things like that. Not ideal but possible I guess.

Excellent time to reflect. What do you rate our performance out of 10 to this point? Why? I’d go with a 7/10 and I think that’s more than fair. Haven’t beaten anyone amazing but I have to take into account getting the job done against sides we should beat. I think this is a step forward considering we would have fluffed a few of those games last year. Credit where its due. Which player has impressed you the most? Clarry. The stuff this guy is doing week in week out under 50 games is nothing short of amazing. Jesse needs a mention too as he’s really stepped it up. Which draftee has made the biggest impact? Bayley Fritsch. Had a great feeling about the guy and was stoked when he fell to us in the draft. Looks a natural. What has been our best win to date? Has to be the Adelaide game. We were really on and looked like a side. 4 quarters of great footy. Which player(s) needs to improve in the second half of the year? Christian Petracca. What has been our most disappointing performance? The Hawks game. No contest. Where do you see us finishing? Give a win/loss and finishing position 13 wins, maybe 7th or 8th. Fancy us to still finish Top 2? No I really don’t and haven’t at any point this year. We are a good footy side and I see us around the 6th to 8th mark as a solid final 8 team but I really don’t think we mix it with the big boys yet Reckon we'll fall at the last hurdle again? My head says we’ll make the 8. I think we’ll have the points in the bank to avoid the heartbreak again. But my heart and my guts are questioning why as a Melbourne fan I would think that.

A fair and thought out answer there. I agree Bernie has his moments but surely he hits more passes than he misses? I think the clangers just stick out because when they happen they are completely woeful. I'll admit this supports your argument somewhat. I do agree that the high half back role is one of the easier positions, hence why so many guys retire there. I do see where you're coming from but I still feel Jordan is a required player.

Who are the replacements for Lewis and Vince though? Grape said it on the podcast a few weeks ago and he was right. We ideally would have other guys there but we don't have the guys who are ready to be those composed and steady BP/HBF types. Wanna throw Wagner into that role? Sure, its your funeral.