Webber

Unfortunately, an MRI scan very very rarely comes back negative for an ACL rupture when the clinical tests show patent instability. They are almost flawlessly predictive when there’s a clear positive. Two tests - the “pivot shift” test, and the “Lachman’s” test. Look ‘em up on YouTube if you’re interested. S**t luck for the big boy, as it always is of course.

Depending on how many “get out of jail free” cards a team gets per season, we just burnt one. Shambolic first half, much better second half, except when they played the first half of the last quarter like they were protecting the lead - all of 12 points - which was always going to backfire. Thankfully Cunnington (he is and always has been a mighty footballer) kicked the goal to prove that was true, and we woke up ...... mostly. Just realised they couldn’t have played any of Harmes (the obvious one) Sparrow, Chandler etc as replacement for Viney, cos they played two days ago. Bad luck for Tommo, bittersweet to see such genuine emotions....there’s a lot of investment out there. BBB .....hmmmm.

One of the most frustrating things about being a Melbourne supporter is that we give the football watching world legitimate reasons to ridicule us. This is why. It’s not crazy to say we’re the only club who consistently offers up these opportunities. Unless we come out with something perhaps even more extraordinary, we ARE going to lose this game, and it COMPLETELY negates any argument that we are flag contenders. We simply can’t be.

If it is, it’ll be against a club with only 27 players available on their list, no wins, a percentage below 50%, and who are likely the worst team since Fitzroy before they were shifted. Make no mistake, it would be the most appalling loss we could possibly have.

This is why we can’t be trusted. Embarrassing lack of pretty much everything.

There was a point in 2019 when we held the AFL record for players (games experience) unavailable through injury. It was the main reason that year derailed, and why it’s taken til now, with players accumulating ‘games together’ to see our true potential.

It’s the least reported, or perhaps commented on fact in AFL footy. If we can keep banking wins whilst the list is so healthy, we’ll ideally cover the injuries that will inevitably (hopefully not) come. That, and for once we appear to have good depth on all lines. Having said all that, I seem to remember that for Richmond’s first flag of their run, they had only one player from their entire list unavailable.

If I went away in Oct ‘18, and came back to watch this season, then to be told that Kosi, LJ and Rivers had all played less than 20 games each, I’d be asking WTF?!!!

Loving all the love on here. Two things stood out for me last night beyond the 6-0 on-field goodness - the massive cheers for Chunk every time he touched it, or came on and off; and the sheer good-willed enthusiasm of the Dees supporters around me. No narkiness, no oppo-bashing, just delighted energy. More please!

It’s ONLY Demonland who are questioning TMac’s value, or lack thereof. The external footy watching world are rating him as one of this season’s best performers. Not only does he stay, he’s one of the first picked every week. Selection dilemmas do NOT include him. Just as obvious is Mitch Brown going out, and slightly less obvious is Petty (he’ll be back) for May (if ready). The rest (Weid, BBB) is a selection headache of the best kind. Glad it’s not my job.

Yep, my bad.

Wondering if Jordan might be given a week’s rest, or maybe get the sub gig. Have loved his debut games, but he was less involved in the Cats game. Petty needs the reward and incentive, and deserves the call-up. Petty for May, Sparrow for Jordan.

I was sitting ground level, southern wing on Sunday, so had a close-up experience of Ed Langdon’s game. What struck me, other than the sheer mileage and fluidity of his running, was his absolute calm command. Even in the tighter keepings-off type stuff that happens near the boundary, he’s never panicked, always seems to know how he’s going to create best effect with his disposal and positioning, and executes brilliantly. He’s right there with Alves, Tingay and of course Flower as a pure winger, a joy to watch, and the kind of player who makes our game.

90% luck.

The idea that some are suggesting we shouldn’t be celebrating a 3-0 start, without any game being in doubt in the last half of the last quarter, considering we have our two first choice tall forwards out and 5 players who’ve played less than 10 games, is frankly mind-boggling. Or incredible, I dunno. What did you honestly expect?!!!!!

Need to play above the umpiring. Don’t let them control key moments in the game, which unfortunately they are. Clarrie will open it up this half. Too strong and fit not too.

The truth of football, particularly early in the season, is that ANY team can beat ANY other team. If you’re a bit off and the oppo are on, it’s even likely to get ugly. Momentum is EVERYTHING, and if it can be sustained, it breeds confidence like a virus. Likewise the converse will make you look slow, unskilled and lacking method if you're trying to come back from a margin of perhaps 5 goals. Beware teams with nothing to prove or significant expectations to meet. If the Dees should be aware of anything tomorrow, it’s that. Not confident. At all.

The Weid’s ‘stressy’ sounds like femoral neck, given he has hip pain. Should be on the quick end of healing (fit, young, best care) but as off-loading is the required management, getting back to full loading ‘match’ fitness is the time swallower. 12 weeks at absolute best, think more 16+. It’s much simpler than a stressy of the foot, so there won’t be complications. Just time. On the plus side, he can go nuts on upper body.

Agree. Petty looked very good up forward in 2019. Great hands, aggressive, straight kick. And then there’s Joel Smith!

The assumed rotating of players will be exercised on a case by case basis. Biometrics (distance covered, time spent in heart-rate zones) will be taken into account, but the overriding qualification will be based on subjective reports of recovery. Thus, players will have to be brutally honest about how they’re travelling in the days post-game. With our lack of injuries, we couldn’t be better placed. Hopefully that remains the case.

Petracca is RIDICULOUS!!!

According to Max ‘On the radio’ (MFC app), Oscar is the best defensive reader of play at the club. This guy has been underrated (a lot of the stuff said about him on Demonland is shameful) his entire career. The very definition of a whipping boy. Max also said that neither of the McDonald brothers ever read anything ‘external’ about their performances. Ever. And just as well.

If the current NSW Covid cluster takes off, things are going to get tricky for the NSW hub. This flexibility the AFL talk about might soon have to be acrobatic.

Hmmmmm.......not a single moment of that suggests we have come anywhere near the corner we need to turn. Still, a win’s a win, and it’ll give them some confidence. In what, I just don’t know.

Honest to God, our ability to self-destruct attacking opportunities is like nothing I’ve ever EVER seen, often hilarious and sometimes spectacular. If it weren’t so hair-pullingly frustrating, it would be hilarious. Neutral supporters must have a whale of a time watching us [censored] it up so reliably.