Nasher

One of the many things that went right this year that previously would have gone to custard and disrupted the season. The board quietly rearranged itself in the background, including a leadership shift. I’m grateful to them all, including Bartlett. It sounds like Roffey was just the leader Goodwin needed this year.

I preferred JJ when it was clear a choice between the two needed to be made, but the footy department showed why they’re the experts and I’m not. Completely looked the part in the finals. He’s a booming and accurate kick, and tough as nails. Played his best game for the year in the Grand Final.

Good insurance policy, and our list turnover is already pretty much sorted with 2 retirements, 4 delistings and 1 “we recommend looking elsewhere”. You’d have to think we’re unlikely to get as lucky with injuries to talls as we did this year, where other than Tommo, we hardly had one. Happy with this.

Even if he wasn't asked to, he probably would anyway. He's at the back end of his career and breaking in to the MFC side is only going to get harder for him from here. Melksham was outstanding in 2018 and instrumental to the competitiveness of the team that year. Happy memories for me. The fact that Essendon fans all seemed to hate him so much made watching him tear games apart all the sweeter. Hope he can eke out another two years elsewhere.

I’m sad. His comeback in 2018 was immense. I remember his two flying shots on goal in his return match- the crowd rose and really wanted to go berserk for him, but unfortunately both missed. Smashed it in the finals and signed on for three years amidst a lot of speculation and good reasons to go, to be closer to the Canberra based family business he was running from Melbourne. Tough, courageous player. Pity we probably never saw the best of him. All the best Vanders. It’s the right call from the club. Hopefully he can find a home at a rebuilding club that needs an enforcer for a year or two.

What a laughably dumb award.

Yep, I was going to bring that up too. TMac and Cordy (I think) were locked hand on shoulder pushing each other. By the time the ball arrived, Tom had just about pushed him to the fence. Great display of strength.

Daniel tackle should have been a free. It was dangerous and out of play. I completely reject the assertion that Gawn hammed it up. The logical inference is that he hit his head on the astroturf hard enough to take skin off on purpose. Okay then 👍 but like I said, just a missed free.

I’m only 37, so I bloody hope not! A yawning void has been filled though, and scars are fading.

Knowing those two I’m surprised they didn’t manage to talk over the top of the cup!

For a guy who is normally so articulate, his first interview while on the lap was completely incoherent, it was hilarious. His brain was scrambled in the same way mine was. It just added to the moment for me.

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/822832/tricks-learnt-in-2020-but-more-to-come-for-fritsch “In the past I’ve probably been a natural sort of kick – I haven’t really had a routine or anything, but as I started to kick points I probably over thought it a little bit. “I think I’ve got a clear path of what it looks like next year and I can tell you I’ll be kicking a lot of goals in the off-season, so hopefully this time next year we’re not having the same chat.” The effort definitely paid off. What a season.

Apparently this was another player-lead initiative, like Gawn vetoing the coaches about taking Jacko out of the ruck. Oliver claimed responsibility for Bont at half time. Selfless.

I normally love basking in the schadenfreude of other supporters losing their minds at their team’s performance, but I think in this case I just want to enjoy the win and leave them in peace. Doesn’t feel right this time around.

I hit the roof (in a good way) when Brayshaw took that mark. He’d busted his butt in the contest leading up to it and deserved to round out the play. It was courageous but also skilful - 9/10 of those marks hit the turf. And as he lined up for goal it never crossed my mind that he might miss. He’s too good a player to miss such an important goal now.

Sounds like it was a calculated dice roll that nobody would have taken for any other game. All’s well that ends well.

Useless AFL Stats’ take on the true turning point:

? How does one “play up” having their head slammed in to the turf in a sling tackle? He must have drawn the graze that was visible for the rest of the game on his forehead on with a red sharpie. Bewildering not to be called as a dangerous tackle.

Wish we could have heard Goodwin give a speech. For me is his just as much a premiership hero as the players. He touched on Gawn being the one to drive the choice to leave Jackson in the ruck. This is why he’s an incredible captain. He’s the best ruckman in the competition who played an all-time great game the previous week, but is still able to recognise when the understudy has grabbed the game by the throat and to stay out of the way. Amazing, selfless, powerful stuff.

A billion votes: everyone

I love this club. I love all of you. I am delirious.

:)

We will reset, and come back. We have all year, and we will now. I trust this team. We’ve got this.

I’m out. Hopefully next time I jump on, we’re premiers. Thanks all for helping me waste the day away and share the moment with other Demons!