Pates

Smashing teams would be the next natural progression for us, the wins are coming (how good does it feel!) and now we're in the picture for finals we need to get a couple of big wins under our belt. Obviously no 1 we have to first win and not go into games with arrogance, we've seen how that turns out, but reality is we are better than North and we have to make sure they know it at full time with a big margin. Brisbane as well. Pies will hopefully be mentally checked out in round 23 being out of finals contention but it's the Pies and I'm sure they'd like to ruin plans for us. Bottom line, win first and then smash.

That was a clutch goal at the end, killed any notion of Port winning. Never thought he'd find his place in the forward line but well done to him.

Disgraceful by those clubs. Both teams with traditionally low drawing numbers, maybe that's why their crowds are looking lower this year. Raising them against GC is absolutely ludicrous. As for us, I'd say we're an interesting position where we have enough fans coming out to get solid enough attendances to our games but are still not smashing it. So the powers that be have obviously decided for a little less revenue it's better the keep the fans coming out happy. That said maybe next year a cheeky extra $2 on each ticket except children's tickets for Queens birthday would give us another $50k-100k, it would be tempting. For that matter we'll also have the ANZAC eve match. But for all that I do say, keep tickets affordable. It's one of the best things about our great game that most people are able to go.

I felt that 50m penalty, while silly, was extremely soft and when people talk about Oliver taking a dive they should take a good hard look at how others fall easily from contact after marks. He didn't have a good overall night but he was important in the final quarter.

I know what you mean. When he went off the first time and I saw him grimace I thought, "he's been huge but if he's in pain you know it's bad". Then he came on and was big but restricted, then he went down to the rooms and with no coincidence we faded. I thought, "even with him being on he will be something of an inspiration, but realistically he won't won't be on his game" I was so wrong. I was a kid when Todd played and he was the first Melbourne player I remember thinking, this guy is indestructible. Jack has taken the Viney name to another level, and he was massive. I get this feeling that there would've been a lot of people feeling proud; his dad, Goody, Roosy, and players/coaches that were with him at the beginning like David Rodan. Nothing was going to stop him.

I'd rate him as average for most of the game but the last quarter he stood up with some telling calmness and toughness. He still makes us better in my opinion, he seems to be someone the players look for when it gets manic.

Oliver seemed to fly under the radar this week despite getting high numbers. I think there were quite a few stand out performances that probably lessened his light slightly. Hibberd, Watts, OMac, Pedders, and TMac for me were the stars of the day. Even Lewis with an excellent 31 possie game didn't shine all that brightly.

So we keep ticking them off, as someone said earlier in this thread we hadn't won at Traeger Park before and that's gone. But next week comes a very big one that I'd really love to see us break. Winning in Perth! Round 1 2004 was our last victory in Perth, let's knock this one out!

Hasn't put a foot wrong all year, one of the best recruits I've seen since following the Dees.

Respect. Best game I've seen from him, only one "McDonald" kick for the day. Everything else was spot on.

A player like Lewis won't put two bad performances together. Knew he was poor last week, was good this week.

I feel like people are judging him on one bad performance. He is a very proud man, look out for him this weekend because I would expect him to set himself for a big one.

I was happy but cautious about us getting Hibberd, there was always that unknown after the year off as to how he would go. He would have to be up the pointy end of our B&F count, he hasn't put a foot wrong and again was a calm head down back. As many have said, Watts gets the plaudits (rightfully so it was a clutch goal) but it would never had happened without Hibberds desperate spoil. One of the recruits of the year for any team.

I'll put my hand up one that was less than impressed by OMacs decision making and disposal in the first quarter and I don't think I'm guilty of anything there, there were three passages of play I can remember that just simply weren't good enough. But credit to him, he shook it off and had a very good game after that (under injury duress apparently). His grubby kick to Harmes at the end was very clever and exactly the right decision, which shows he may develop more poise in the future as the heat was never higher than that moment.

He was down, I expect him to bounce back.

Why'd they have to choose the goal against us after the siren first up?! I was shattered when he left, him winning the game against us with a kick after the siren was just the dagger in the heart! But they definitely got the rest right. He was the wizard at Melbourne but Jeffery Farmer at Freo. His 9 goals in one half springs to mind first for me, but 8 goals in a prelim is phenomenal. There are very few who could say they have done that. I was at the game but still in the corridors when he took that amazing mark, he was totally robbed of MOTY but he got GOTY for that run against the Hawks. I think back then you got a car for both so they couldn't give him both!

Thanks for the interview write up, sounds like he's got his head screwed on right. Has recognised he didn't put in a good enough pre-season and is trying make up for it now (how will he be when he DOES do a good pre-season!?), amazing story going from expecting a rookie spot to being taken pick 4. Most top 5 draftees would be already penciling themselves in at potential suitors a fair distance out from the draft, and he was hoping for a rookie spot! Top pick up Taylor!

I thought I saw something that the Port player got the nod for the week. Maybe not.

I could not believe he didn't win GOtW, it was absolutely freakish and I 100% maintain that had it been Betts, Rioli, or another "name" player it would've been given more of a run. Seriosly would've said close to goal of the year.

I feel the boys should be on the look out for future rough treatment on him. When a young bloke gets found to be such an important cog of a team it tends to put a target on his back. Be prepared to fly the flag for the young gun!

My bad, Taylor definitely is the man in the recruiting team.

This kid keeps getting better, and I can't thank Todd Viney and co for picking him. He could be the best of our lot of young lad and given the talent in that group that is really saying something.

To direct it back on topic, the numbers this kid is getting in his second year is phenomenal. Put him in a Collingwood, Essendon, or Richmond top and I reckon he'd be the talk of the town. Personally I'm quite happy for him to keep flying under the radar a bit.

The last three games is exactly the reason why we brought him to Melbourne. To be in those positions and needing his guidance and leadership out there does make it infuriating that he got suspended. That said I feel both he and Hogan got hard done by by one week each. It's been interesting to hear his change in attitude on screen when speaking to Fox Footy. The immediate week he was mostly unapologetic, I think he sort went the line, "it's unfortunate but we move on". After Geelong he started to recognise he felt could've helped, and after Freo he definitely could feel his absence had hurt the team. We've missed him and all the teams we've lost to should be very thankful he wasn't out there because in at least one of those games I feel he would've made a difference.

He's yet to have a game that he takes by the scruff and destroys a team. It'll happen, hopefully against Fremantle. But he does enough for me to suggest he will be an absolute gun for us. Brayshaw I feel could have a bit of Salem's luck about him. We were patient with him and it's starting to pay off, Brayshaw has it in him and I see him being a valuable mid for us in the future.