Dee*ceiving

Good call on Brown. In hindsight though with what we saw from Ben in 2022 - 2024 we were fortunate to have the BBB we did for those last 3 games of 2021. That mid season mini pre-season was a masterstroke. No fault of Ben's but he wasn't able to get his knee right since.

Fritta was frustrating for a big chunk of the year but when you look at the stats 41 goals is a good return. He played a majority of the season with Petty at CHF unable to do a job, though he was much better the last 6 games IMO, JVR in the ruck also causes a problem for Fitsch as he gets the number defender who is often much bigger. Jack Billings 4 goals 8 behinds. Played 16 games this year, that would be too many next year We weren't full of elite ball users but, Angus definitely above average. Salem was 2 levels better than now and was definitely and elite kick at the time. Salo also lost a yard or two since then IMV. Bowey was a deft kick out of the backline and Harmes had his peak year. A pretty good kick, tough and strong overhead. Sparrow should be at that level by now, but isn't. Our tall forwards were also better set shots than what we have now, BBB and TMac. This is leadership!

TMac & Tracc?

Plus they blew a golden chance to stick a knife in Carlton. Agree with others Jackson hasn't turned out to be a surperstar, he might still though, very young in ruck terms. How much had Gawny achieved before turning 23? We didn't really need him to a superstar, just competetive in the ruck and around the ground. He was the perfect foil for Max, faster, good at ground level and enthusiastic. As a one / two punch they would grind every other ruck pairing into the turf.

A lot of work to do but 11 wins after a disasterous end to 2023, unrelenting media pressue, the retirement of Gus, Loss of Smith and lack of preseasons for Oliver, Petty and a few others it's somewhat remarkable it didn't turn out worse. Particularly when you add in injuries to May, Lever, Salem, Tracc and Gawn. Hopefully the spirit we saw in the first 10 rounds is the real Melbourne despite the pressure that was put upon them and it just became to hard to fight against the wind in the second half of the season once injuries mounted amid continued media pressure.

On Petty I wonder if it would be worth trialling him as a 4th tall defender? Could he do a job on small/medium forward? Does he have sufficient pace/dexteriety to match and then use his strength & height as an advantage? If he could play that role, could TMac then be a relief ruck option from out of the backline (or maybe too much to ask...)?

Any opportunity to leave the filth disappointed & desolete must be taken

Great highlights. Wow, different times but a kings ransom for an 87 goal forward in 2025! Can't believe when his height and weight stats popped up he was only 82 kg. Surely that was what he he weighed on his first day at the Demons (and the scales were broken).

Goody was pretty clear in the presser. We'll do everything we can to beat the Pies on Friday. Resting ANB, playing Hunter etc, doesn't improve our chances of winning. Personally I win or lose I really hope the boys play with agression and positivity. We were manhandled and bullied on KB, IMV. Hard but fair.

Jake lever on SEN 21/8/24 https://www.sen.com.au/news/2024/08/20/what-petracca-told-his-melbourne-teammates-and-how-the-playing-group-reacted/

Yes, atrociuos

Best of luck Staff. Successful or not I am sure he tried his hardest. 11 years in one place in AFL football is an eternity

I'd be pleased with that if fences can/have been mended

I'd support the wildcard if it reduced the length of the H&A season. A widcard weekend of 4 teams would at least save 3 otherwise meaningless games

Billings has another year on his contrac as does Fullarton. TMac will sign on for 1 more I reckon, why wouldn't both parties want that after this year> Known exists: Gus Smith ANB BBB Hunter Schache Maybe exits Tomlinson - suspect he'll look elsewhere but will stay if insufficient interest? Sestan - has he shown enough to stay on the list, perhaps retained in a rookie spot? Re-signings: AMW (to main list from rookie) Melksham +1 (not sure if we can rookie again or needs to move to main list?) TMac +1 Hore +1 K Brown Kentfield Verrall KFW (not sure if we can rookie again?)

I think AMW comes in and Juddy spends more time in the midfield.

Clever & fast!

We went as a family in 2022, spent a week in Adelaide and overall it was a great experience. However, if I wasn't alreayd convinced South Australians hate Victorians I was convinced by the time we headed to the pub for dinner on night 1. Then the game, I can remember vebatim the quotes from my 9 year old daughter, all before quarter time: Why are they saying those rude things about Gawny? What they saying Fritsch's hairtcut looks like? We don't use those words do we daddy? Dad, I don't feel very safe here! She was very quiet after quarter time. Silver lining, we won by plenty and we all got ice creams to celebrate 😊

Agree with this. We've allowed ourselves to be bullied too often. On and off the field. This Friday is a perfect time to put a stop to onfield bullying.

Old school Kevin Nash getting a good ron on DL lately! 😄 Hopefully no one breaks out the Magic Mike version.

To that end Tyson Stengle leaves a nightclub in an ambulance on a saturday night and it's crickets...Bizarre, master manipulation by Geelong or controls applied by the AFL Overlords?

Jack's played 115 games now. Not a kid...stats not overwhelming (whelming maybe) but he looks to be full of talent when I see him on TV. Maybe not Dimma's type?

Assume AMW get's Tom Sparrow's spot on that performance? Andy Moniz-Wakefield 1 behind 23 kicks 12 handballs 25 disposals 9 marks 3 tackles 130 dream team points Out of interest, was it: 23 kicks, 12 handballs 35 disposals, or was it 13 kicks? Lukosious has Jack Watts type skills and more pace. Must be struggling with his role and/or fitness, would be a good get. Moyle too.

He's a freak athelete Gawn. Built for endurance and with inspiring leavels of resilience and mental strength. We should also consider that Max played very little footy between 17 and 22 due to injury. Plenty of gas in the tank, though I'd prefer he only play 16 - 18 games in the H&A season. If we can find him am effective long term understudy he could go on another 5 years. Every player is only one injury away from retirement whether 21 or 31.

Great work WCW (as always)...You've set some hearts and minds at ease, for now at least!