DEE fence

Trust the club, but personally want Melksham to come back from his ACL, couldn't see McAdam being a 3year proposition, and he would have to buy into the defensive aspect of the role. Like others if he didn't get on with Burgess I'm wondering?

Not that you need to be a father to be a good bloke, (ANB is a stirling human in this space), but have often wondered, we seem to have a lot of young fathers amongst the playing group, and wondered if this is something that helps with the high emotional EQ the playing group seems to have. Anyway BBB is one of many 'good blokes' we have (and congratulations to him), but with the team it seems to go beyond the usual PR/media relations gimmicks. Now I know that their 'job' is to play football and not be social white knights. But jeez they make it very easy to be very proud of this club.

As Ross Lyon would say, 'fingernail deep' analysis by Hoyne, the effectiveness of Salem's tackles was much better, not that he is a slouch, but he really pressured the sydney players with the ball, and unlike a lot of games ,where he is a fraction late (and gives away frees) he was really motoring to ensure he effected his tackle legally (and with venom) I thought it was effective enough that it made uf for his kicking being a little more floaty, Salem will be just fine.

Lever is such a gun, loved Cross, Bernie, Hibbo, Melksham, Garlett and Jordon coming to the club, but when we got Lever in 2017 it was a marker that the club had turned a corner, we weren't getting a star on the wain or tainted, we were getting an up and coming player who was a hot property. It clearly meant the perception of Melbourne as a place to go had changed. Since then May, Langdon who are elite have joined, but 2017 and Lever arriving at the club really made me think the club's fortunes had changed.

KISS, bloody hell I was listening to them in the roller disco, Mornington in 1982, the world has turned. I am old, but it doesn't mean I need to see someone playing from my vintage. It needs to be Australian, however the best of our stadium rockers have gone past it, in terms of live performance (Oils try hard though). Midnight Oil, AC/DC, Barnes, Crowded House, Nick Cave, would hate to see them have a go and just reflect faded glory. So I reckon Hilltop hoods, while not rock, have a big sound and a couple of songs that would suit: (1955 is a favorite for a reason) but read to the lyrics from 'The Thirst'. We have the thirst We have the hunger We dive head first into the wonder We have the thirst We have the hunger We dive head first into the wonder

@Demonland Andy, please could we rename the thread, ‘Bailey is fine’, fair dinkum it ages me seeing it with new posts. When there is something to worry about, then adjust accordingly so that I can hyperventilate as required.

It's no disrespect to McVee, everyone loves him. Hibbo has serious credit and apart from being injured occasionally has shown no sign he is past it, i.e. the Richmond game. For sure he has been affected by injuries and this has impacted his stats, which are down about 20% on his averages for us. But his ability to shut down a good small forward is still elite. I am quite happy with McVee rebounding along with Rivers and Salem, as their disposal is better and Hibbo keeps being an excellent stopper a'la the mighty Nev Jetta.

@Engorged Onion love your post and agree with the sentiments. My knock on Schache is not that he does not have Aggression/Hunger etc, but two fold from watching his games for us, I have seen hesitation to commit to an action and to my eye at least, does not maintain the fwd 50 defensive structures, I think he is easy to play off/through. This used to be my complaint about Melksham and why I was floored when he came back into the team and absolutely played his role, it was a stunning transformation. I know Schache has the technical skills, but the hesitation in a high octane game plan is a killer. By way of example, I don’t think McVee comes across as aggressive but his sense of timing and ability to act instantly either creates time for us or shuts down an opponents options. But lastly, if he has been given another year, I have every reason to trust the match committee. I just worry that we have to have a minimum turnover and I’m not sure who goes, and i think all of the kids have looked promising.

Not thrilled with this. Have been thinking he was an easy delist option. As I think some of the juniors at vfl level need more time.

Agree, have said the same elsewhere

I have developed a different take on the All Australian selection. And as such here are my arguments for Simon Goodwin being the AFL 2023 CotY. 1. We have after the H+A season the equal best defensive/offensive metrics, i.e. the best balance. 2. We don't have a single defender or true forward listed in the AA. 3. In the last 3 years have been the only team to be in the 8 the whole time. 4. Simon has remained calm in the face of egregious personal attacks 5. Across his journey he has adapted and evolved in a number of areas, selection, tactics, and is renowned for empowering those around him (Burgess feedback) 6. Remained focused on the team first and not let media narratives detail him. Of course I get that Lyon and Kingsley have had good years, (even Voss (vomit at saying anything nice about Carlton) deserves some credit for turning that self loving ship/t of a club around), but the consistency Goodwin shows should have universal recognition. So glad he got the contract extension btw.

You got my vote!

FU, am trying to work here, not over this at all.

My brothers and I have been for surgery after errant motorbike handling niggles with parents none the wiser. No need to worry mum whether 25 or 45.

Bloody Collingwood fans winding me up with fake insider info, @WCW really relying on you here.

He would have to be close to a walk on start at any club in the league, hoping his 2nd year is as good as his first.

I like that 28 players out of the 33 that have played have polled, says good things about the depth of the squad. would have though Viney would have been closer to Trac though.

Never loved Melksham so much (and he has done some extremely sexy things this season) as when he was sitting on the bench not feeling sorry for himself and being focused on the team and those around him. Just spoke volumes about his good character that has nothing to do with PR or media training. Am now his number one fan for him to get well and come back. Sloane did it, so can Melks.

I think Luke has been really stiff this year, has worked super hard, played very very well in the 2s and thought he’d be a chance to replace Sparrow on more than one occasion. Really hope the club does the right thing by him, and having said that we did with Kolodjashnij.

For sure I couldn't be a selector as am hopelessly biased, but considering where our squad is and our competition wide defensive benchmarks, I would have in the squad: May, Rivers and Brayshaw as well. I still think Gawns' best is extraordinary as well, and the effort the rest of the comp goes to neutralise him shows where he is at. He missed a bit but had some amazing games, squad at least. And tell me if you are picking two teams to play from the entire comp, don't BS me that he is not picked in the 1st 10.

Can we skip interviews with other players until after the grand final, let’s not risk any Jinxes.

6-Viney-Epic, could have played footy in any decade in the last 100 years and would still be the toughest guy in it. Fritsch-5 goals on return, is a movie plot you wouldn’t believe. Trac-power through traffic. ANB-in any starting 18 in the league. Brayshaw-working so hard. Rivers-hard to split with McVee but just. Apologies to Langdon and Clarry and Sparrow and May Clarry did lots of work, but felt like he is not releasing other players as well as he normally does.

WTF (why not what) do I read the game day thread. Please someone with a real clue give me an update on injuries, freakin' the ef out here, and I live in a war zone.

We are a well run club, everything suggests Lamb & co are forthright and Grundy no fool, maybe there is a plan, I also think Grundy is a cultural fit with the Dees. I really didn’t know how to read the comments made on the podcast. I do think Grundy fits our style with his follow up work.

Anyone listening to Gawn talking about his 200th game on G&G would think he is either trying to wind us up, or the end is nearer than we can bear to think about. Grundy might just be the insurance we have to have.