P-man

Makes a change from all the votes going to Jones. Pretty accurate reflection of where we are at. Few standouts and the players with the ability to give the Brownlow a shake (Oliver, Petracca) are still in the making. Viney had an injury interrupted year and would've otherwise been a strong candidate to poll the highest. Pedo was a bit unlucky to poll in only two games (I was going to say "Pedo was a bit stiff" but thought against it. Although I've done it now).

He will be cleared. As he should be. Clearly going for the ball. The AFL aren't going to deprive Cotchin and the club as a whole for a hit like that.

Deliver every single week? Are we talking about the same Motlop who is one of the most wildly inconsistent players in the league? His poor games are absolutely dreadful. And not uncommon.

Please god just let Adelaide win. We will literally never hear the end of it if the Tigers go all the way. Must give credit where it's due though. I had them pegged for mid table with bottom four a real possibility. Hardwick struck me as a reactionary coach. Certainly not an innovator. Not that suffocating the opposition with forward pressure is revolutionary but his disregard for the need of a second tall forward, let alone a third, has reeped clear benefits. I think an experienced head in Neil Balme has made a big difference, and Leppa returning as an assistant has seen their return to being a genuinely hard team to score against. Keep in mind that Rance credits his career elevation to Leppa. He's now waving his wand over their other defenders. This along with Cotchin having 25 meaningful possessions rather than 40 sideways chip kicks and Martin being worth three players on his own has meant their big names are making a serious difference in performance and leadership. One main take away is that if Richmond can do it, why not us?

Was listed as a midfielder. Ridiculous decision on the part of those responsible. Would've [censored] it in as a forward.

I'd be equally happy to see Port get belted. Maybe moreso,

And in addition to 1, Sydney massacre Richmond in the Semi. 100 points would be nice but I'd settle for 50..

Interesting he said that McCartney told him to pick a player as a mentor to help model his professionalism. He chose Billy Stretch.

Congrats also to Petracca who came in third behind Menegola.

Thanks for passing on. Can't say it wasn't deserved. Lewis' influence and experience will be massive in bouncing back from this.

Sauce?

Lewis on 360 says it was unusually quiet in the rooms before the game, which in retrospect was a bad sign. What were the leaders doing to get them in the right headspace?

Finals or bust for sure. No grey area next season. I know people won't like hearing it, but it is still the third youngest squad in the league. The two that were younger than us were fighting to avoid the wooden spoon in Round 23. Depth almost always comes into play so the age of the entire squad is relevant. Whilst it is four years into this rebuild they haven't all been there for the entire four years. Oliver in his second year. Petracca essentially in his second year. Brayshaw in his third year after lengthy concussion interruptions. Hogan still a youngish player with numerous setbacks. Lewis and Hibberd brand new to the system. I'm not wanting to make excuses but these things need to be noted when talking about where we are at and where we should be at. There is no excuse for how they finished the season, but it's worth nothing there is a lot of scope for improvement. We will be extracting the last drops out of Vince and Lewis next season as best 22 players. Pending on who we replace them with, there will be a gap in experience left in their wake. Their time is now. I'm happy setting 16 wins as a pass. Even if I think it probably won't be reached. They must aim high and they must let 2017 be a lesson that is never repeated. When everything is on the line, play like it is.

I'm looking at it this way. If that mother of all f*** ups doesn't motivate them to perform next season, and by perform I mean being switched on for every minute of every quarter of every round, what will motivate them? How desperately close do they need to fall short? What amount of pain do they need to endure? It has to burn in the guts and it has to be as powerful a motivation as you could hope to find for next season. It has to.

The kicking we are getting all over social media is actually kinda helping. The hate feels good.

Hold the phone. He liked a post of opposition players celebrating a win after essentially knocking us out of the finals? That surely can't be right. Extremely poor form if so.

Right between the eyes as always Steve. I think your point 2 gets overplayed. We have long bemoaned Melbourne players being programmed differently to players at other clubs in terms of professionalism and the weighting they attribute to football in their lives. I honestly don't think we're that different to any other club in terms of the mix of personalities and attitudes to football. There was a time where we were found lacking in professionalism and some of the examples you name are valid, at least from an external perspective. I don't think it rings true to the same degree now. In the new generation I see players who are hungry for success. They aren't all going to be Jack Vineys who live, eat and breathe football but you're not going to get that at any club. Gawn seemed to enjoy his public profile last season just as much as he does now, maybe even moreso, and it didn't affect his performance. I can only speculate that the dramatic drop in form is somehow linked to his extended time off and he just needs a solid pre-season to reset. There's little doubt the end of the year revealed the mental fragility that still exists at the club. But I don't think that's necessarily a vocation vs lifestyle issue. Nor does it erase the number of games where we came back into the contest where in previous years we would've just rolled over. Gains have been made in that aspect but confidence and resilience as a group takes a while to build, and my hope, wishful thinking or not, is that the calamitous end to the year adds some extra desperation in 2018. For all of them. Irrespective of age and time at the club. I agree re players being out of position although I see scope for improvement in ANB and Brayshaw that includes a greater capacity to play in attacking roles. Certainly Brayshaw's disposal is a concern. His ball drop is just plain ugly and needs addressing. ANB has grown this season I believe he will continue on that trajectory while Tyson's kicking and decisonmaking has gone the other direction and it hurts us on a weekly basis. If he's not being played in the guts then he's a liability. The example of Richmond points to why there will remain a role for someone like Bugg who will chase and tackle like his life depends on it (although his radar needs sorting out). Re the supporters, I'm reluctant to sink the boot into a group that has put up with so much from the club and its ongoing failings. This was yet another false dawn and kick in the guts. If supporters lower their expectations to playing finals or even just showing signs of improvement, it's because they've been burned too many times to do otherwise. The players and coaches are the ones in control of fate on the field. Not the supporters. We are the observers and dreamers who care way too much about something that is all but completely out of our hands.

Probably out of embarrassment after the article on the website talking about finals as if they were locked in, emails sent to members about finals tickets etc. I expect supporters to get ahead of themselves. I don't expect the club to be doing it. The whole thing has been a shamozzle.

Oliver has to be one of if not the worst ever omission from a squad. The second ranked player in the league for contested possessions. Farcical. But it's Melbourne so you can never bank a player for AA selection.

I hope they feel foolish. They blew it. Completely blew it. There is no excusing that first quarter effort yesterday.

Of all games to pick apart votes, surely this is one of the most ridiculous. It's not exactly a game where we are spoiled for choice. That said, very few stood up in that first quarter but I thought he was one. I notice you left out his two goals and 5 tackles (equal highest). That's handy. I also would've thought you have to be highly rated in order to be overrated. Please direct me to all the threads raving about Neal-Bullen because I haven't seen them.

Meh. 6. Petracca 5. Oliver 4. Hunt Hm.. 3. Jones Hmmm... 2. Neal-Bullen 1. Melksham

We probably will get brutalised but I'd still much rather make it than not. All good experience. My longstanding concerns about McDonald being a liability in a finals type game were horribly realised today. Although the umps definitely don't like him much. And his whinging put them even more offside.

Over to you Crows

Biggest let off of the season