P-man

lol they're taking the loss particularly well this year. For the record I have no qualms about alternating it as a home fixture to shut them up. But I'd be equally pleased to see them [censored] off altogether. We can play the Bummers instead. No dramas.

What a moment that Watts sealer was though. Brilliantly encapsulated by @Ron Burgundy. Far better than what Hamish could muster up. I too have lost count of the number of times I've watched the replay. Emotional stuff. Redemption looked like it tasted very sweet.

Made even better by Chris Scott calling him the number 1 draft pick

So this is what it feels like to have the umps on your side. Gotta say, I could get used to it Great win nonetheless. Great fight. I love Jack Viney.

I catch myself chuckling at BT sometimes. "Open another pop up!" And Bruce is Bruce. Love or hate him, he's an icon of his field. The rest on Seven are pretty awful. Basil Zemplas may be the worst commentator in the history of sport. Certainly Australian sport. And I'm convinced Leigh Matthews doesn't watch a minute of football outside of the games to which he is assigned.

If ever there was a Captain Obvious it's Ling. He provides no insight whatsoever outside of "Mummy is such an imposing figure" and "You just gotta love the way Joel Selwood plays the game".

What is not about me at all? I don't follow. Sure they'll have worked through a number of options but it keeps them on their toes. That said, I doubt that's the actual reason.

He was good against very average opposition. But you can only beat the team you're facing etc. I have doubts, but I don't actually doubt his ability to produce high level games. He proved he could that at his previous club. The question mark is around consistency. Which at this stage of his career and as a senior member in this team he needs to be producing.

Gotta love Pencil being named on the extended bench after Goodwin was explicit about him not playing I'm choosing to believe it's being done to mess with their heads. That's the explanation I like best. I'd say JKH is more a recognition selection. Would be surprised if he makes the final team.

He didn't exactly double down on what he said: "I certainly wasn't trying to insinuate we're a successful football club, because I haven't played a final yet and as Bernie mentioned, we haven't really done a whole lot, which is more than fair enough." The horse has already bolted though. He'll have a target on his back come Monday.

Interesting take. Given you've got Gawn ranked no.2 I'm assuming this is not based purely on this season but more a rating of the list as it currently stands. Below is mine (OP rankings in brackets) 1 Max Gawn (2) 2 Jack Viney (4) 3 Nathan Jones (1) 4 Clayton Oliver (3) 5 Jesse Hogan (11) 6 Michael Hibberd (6) 7 Jordan Lewis (7) 8 Jayden Hunt (6) 9 Jeff Garlett (9) 10 Christian Petracca (12) 11 Jack Watts (8) 12 Neville Jetta (14) 13 Sam Frost (10) 14 Tom McDonald (13) 15 Christian Salem (16) 16 Dom Tyson (17) 17 Bernie Vince (15) 18 Cam Pedersen (30) 19 Alex Neal-Bullen (21) 20 James Harmes (18) 21 Jake Melksham (19) 22 Billy Stretch (22) 23 Mitch Hannan (20) 24 Joel Smith (NR) 25 Aaron vandenBerg (NR) 26 Dean Kent (25) 27 Tom Bugg (26) 28 Josh Wagner (24) 29 Jake Spencer (28) 30 Ben Kennedy (27) 31 Oscar McDonald (23) 32 Jay Kennedy-Harris (33) 33 Sam Weideman (31) 34 Tim Smith (32) 35 Mitch White (34) 36 Corey Maynard (35) 37 Declan Keilty (36) 38 Dion Johnstone (37) 39 Liam Hulett (38) 40 Mitch King (39) 41 Lochie Filipovic (40) No ratings Pat McKenna. Jack Trengove Col Garland Angus Brayshaw

Saw a snippet on Fox. Looked very much like a presser.

Vince's presser still not uploaded that I can see. It can't just be a resources issue. Why do they think people go to the website? Burgo's think pieces?

Heart sinks a bit every time I read this in a report.

No way I'm ruling it out when Richmond are a top 4 side. Richmond ffs.

Just imagine Robbo's reaction if some other public figure had made that tweet. Soapbox would be set up. Pitchfork would be out. I've long thought Robbo's public and private views don't align. All the arm waving in the world can't mask his insincerity on social issues. Now we can add mental health to the pile. He's just an ignorant oaf. If he was any dumber someone would have to water him.

In Neeld's defence (a strange expression in itself), Roos very rarely had to deal with 100 point shellackings. There was the match against West Coast in his first year but outside of that I can't recall too many, whereas Neeld was on the receiving end of them almost every week. There's only so many lines you can use and excuses you can roll out before they and you start to sound hollow. Not saying he was great in post match, but routinely addressing something that was often completely indefensible wouldn't have been an easy gig for anyone, including Roos.

With respect, I think this is a little outdated. No-one has been more frustrated by Watts than me over the journey (okay, ProDee has), but he has gotten better with the body contact stuff. It's been a slow crawl but he's getting there. Taking on ruck duties in particular has furthered his development in that area. He still needs to work on things like getting his arms out in front (enough with the chest marks already), but there's way too much to like about what Watts now brings to the team to even contemplate trading him for mine. He's probably our best kick along with being our smartest player. They don't grow on trees.

Daniher has every right to feel dudded by that offer. It's worth keeping in mind that in Essendon's case there was the $4.5m in compensation payments to banned players which was counted by the AFL as falling outside of the salary cap. So players were being financially compensated and then entering into separate (in principle) contract renegotiations. New contract amounts were not allowed to fall under the market rate, but it would be naive to think that the settlements paid to players did not factor at all into those renegotiations. "Loyalty" may well have been a factor there too. Essendon's ability to retain so many of its returning players and have enough left in the kitty to chase Dustin Martin is enough to raise an eyebrow. Meanwhile Daniher, who was not one of the dozen banned players and therefore has received no additional compensation, seemingly has to accept unders. That doesn't pass the fairness test. However they have chosen to sort this mess out, Daniher shouldn't be the one getting the short end of the stick.

I think the head explosions over Oliver not being in everyone's votes were a bit OTT. Of course you could mount a case for him being in the best 5 or 6 players. Similarly though I thought the likes of Harmes and Hannan, the lesser lights, deserved some recognition for the role they played in the win. Hannan especially has been a tremendous pick up and is playing his role well. Then you have Melksham who I am not a fan of but played his best game for e club so far by a street. That deserves recognition. After that you're left with Jones, Garlett and Hibberd. All excellent on the day. Oliver will probably win it at this rate. It's not as though he's not polling well. And I think the vast majority of Melbounre supporters are well aware of the talent he possesses and how lucky we are to have him.

Eade didn't give Hibberd a vote? Come off it rocket. Interesting that if you break down the votes, in the case of either Garlett or Oliver, one coach gave them BOG and the other coach gave them 1 vote. Impossible to say with both on 6 votes. Could argue a case for either. Also one coach gave Lewis 4 votes and the other gave him none. MELBOURNE v GOLD COAST9 Nathan Jones (Melb) - 5/46 Jeff Garlett (Melb) - 1/56 Clayton Oliver (Melb) - 3/34 Jordan Lewis (Melb) - 4/02 Jack Leslie (GC) - 2/02 Jake Melksham (Melb) - 0/21 Michael Hibberd (Melb) - 0/1

Pretty handy looking side* *except for Brandon Ellis

Best game so far: Duh. Worst game so far: The first half of the Essendon game rivalled the first half against GC. In fact it probably topped it. Daniher wearing the wrong boots is what kept us in the game and the extra day off clearly didn't hurt in being able to run over them in the second half. We were putrid in the first half. The fact we ended up winning doesn't change that. Most improved player: Can't go past Oliver. Freak show. A player who needs to lift: Kent. Big time. Looking like he's almost at a crossroads. Who is currently leading the Bluey?: Oliver. Best recruit: Hibberd aka the player who I first suggested in April last year as a potential recruit and received a total of 4 likes. Mainly tumbleweeds. Reasons for not wanting him included "we have Melksham". Will we make the finals?: Pretty much pull an answer out of a hat for this. Who the hell knows. I probably see us just missing out again but improving ladder position to 9th. We could sneak in but injuries to key players means lost opportunities in the first half of the season playing at home against ordinary opposition (Freo, North etc). The problem with this season is actually determining who are the good teams. Seems to be a whole bunch of middle of the road teams, of which we are one. So anything is possible.

I agree with majority that Wagner and Bugg are in the firing line for Salem who is a must in. Wagner was a little better on the weekend and Bugg is doing a lot right especially off the ball. Can't really question the endeavour of either player. I'd go Wagner. Buggy would get another week but if he still can't find the big sticks he'll have to make way. O Mac for Hoges/Gawn I'd be more than happy with.

So true. Whenever I see the ball in Watts' hands between the arcs my immediate thought is "okay, we're on here". He waits, sizes up the options, then generally hits the most dangerous one. How difficult it is doesn't matter.