Pates

Bringing him back quickly must be taking a toll, I really hope it's not doing him further damage. Courageous as he is.

Interesting that if we do win our last two games then we will only be 1 win off what we achieved in 2000 when we made the granny. Plenty of water to run under the bridge this year though, keep it rolling Dees!

That's what would go with. Minimal changes, none of this "resting" players like Petracca. He's a class player and we need him to win both these games.

Needs to be played more as a forward, maybe rotate him with Hannan for patches. The best footy he's played this year has been predominantly as a forward, he certainly didn't look like he was in the game this week.

He competed but for me he was mostly ineffective at ground level, and when he got the ball he looked uncomfortable with it. It wouldn't surprise me if we give him another go to get some experience but truthfully I think we can do better with the players available.

I was keen for us to hold him back another week, I, happy to admit I was 100% wrong. What a game from him given everything he's gone through, AND that he copped a knock during the game. I'd essentially put a pen through his year, expecting him to come good for Casey towards finals. He has more than shown why he was pick 3. Could not believe there were people actually contemplating trading him.

Love the little ginger nut but I would like him to kick it more, his fast hands are amazing but when he's got time and space he should look to kick it rather than handball. Other than that he's having a phenomenal year for a guy playing in his second year.

Agreed, both were crude but lucky that the players weren't affected. Had both players come from the ground assisted (even if they came back) they would've each got at least a week. MRP works on injury result, not the action. Greene's a rat, but I think it would be a slippery slope to suspend him for that. A misconduct charge is fair, maybe the fine is a little lean but it was a reflex action in my opinion.

Looking at the crowd on the coverage it was fantastic, even better that they introduced 7000 people to our great game without it totally inflating the numbers. Great work Dees and well done to all the Dees fans for making it a loud and passionate crowd! I hope we've won a few extra fans!

Looking at the video 1-2 weeks is about right, I agree with other people's assessment, more clumsy and crude than malicious. Definitely take the 1 week, he will struggle to return to the seniors though. It's a shame, he's had a mostly good year. Aside from the suspensions and recent drop in form I'd say he'd be having a fairly productive year, probably would've been back next week were it not for this suspension.

Bloody hell I've been listening online, we've managed to stuff up such a great start. Sounds like St Kilda have brought the pressure and we haven't matched it. The 50/50's have gone their way in every respect (looking at the umpires). We need to lift, leaders need to stand up. It's all to play for.

Just going on what I'm reading. He's a class player and should dominate VFL, maybe there were boxes he needed to tick and he ticked them. I guess we'll see with next week's selection.

Just going on what I'm reading. He's a class player and should dominate VFL, maybe there were boxes he needed to tick and he ticked them. I guess we'll see with next week's selection.

I know we shouldn't be barracking for results to go or way but would be awesome if both Essendon and WC lost tonight. Ultimately though I just want us to win tomorrow (and the two weeks after), the rest can sort themselves out however they want.

Disappointing to hear Watts didn't play well, given where the club's at (finals a possibility) you'd think he'd play out of his skin to get back into the seniors.

It's an effective tactic when you win the ball and are able to stream it forward together. By having the players come off the backline and into the contest we have forward momentum which means we can move the ball quickly win numbers around for support. I also feel there is also the theory that it prevents opposition from streaming it forward quickly as we have guys on the defensive side of the pack. Where I feel it falls down is when we win the ball in a tight struggle and the only option is the quick kick forward. We are hugely outnumbered in the forward line and it allows an easy gather for the opposition teams. From what I've seen recently this in particular is where it's been falling down. We need composure to get the ball out to those runners to move it forward effectively but we seem to have lost it in the last 4-5 weeks. I am concerned that teams are working us out with this, it also seems to rely on out ruckmen to tap effectively to the correct spaces. I do wonder whether Goodwin has a plan B completely separate from this. I see he has been willing to throw people around at times (TMac to FF, Hunt into the forward line, Melksham forward), but as to whether he has a solid plan B the players can work to, I'm not sure. For that matter I feel that is common with most coaches. But to the original posters beliefs that the players starting behind the ball is a defensive tactic, it most certainly isn't. That isn't Goodwin's style, he is attack not defence.

As long as we get in I honestly couldn't care less who/where we play.

The ins aren't inspiring but truthfully we have most of our best team available so there's no excuse. I would've personally given Watts another week to prove himself or get dropped, I feel like he's got runs on the board from last year and earlier this year, but it's probably less about the fact that he isn't having an impact and more to do with how he's been going at it. It simply isn't competitive enough. Weids has been in good form at Casey and is the future, bringing him in at this stage is a big call but could be huge for his development. We've seen what he can do, I really like the look of him. Hannan has been excellent this year for a player having his first year of AFL footy, and as for Brayshaw I'm like many others. I would've personally held his return another week, but he was a star for Casey last week and his one of the most talented players on our list. It will be great to see him back out on th G. I know I've said it and a lot of others have said it, but this game is huge. I really hope we bring it.

Wow didn't see those changes coming. Frost in particular has had a very poor second half of the year, while Salem hasn't been able to capture any form since returning from his injury. Not a bad kick up the bum for some. The ins are an interesting one though, not really sure how it will all pan out. Will Watts be dropped? Personally I want him out there, he's still one of our best ball users, make this the week he stands up or gets dropped.

I wouldn't be against him being selected but for me I think given everything he's been through it would still be prudent for him to continue at Casey. His position isn't something we're in dire need of at the minute and I think he still needs time to feel confident in his body again. Much as I would love to see him out on the G again.

I feel like the key to this match is Gawn getting back to his best. If he can win us the clearances I feel our game plan will lock back into place. That said we also have to use the ball intelligently out of the middle. I feel like we've been doing far too many bomb and hopes in recent weeks. This is one of the most important games in our recent history. I bloody hope the good Melbourne turns up. I really want finals!!!

I will say this, St Kilda have been just as if not more inconsistent than us this year. They've had some good wins, but some terrible losses. I feel like Saints fans will be feeling as unsure about which side turns up as us. I will also say because this season has been crazy and it's a chance, if we somehow end up on 13 wins but miss the finals that will be a pretty successful failure. I'll be disappointed but also pragmatic, knowing that there has been significant improvement. But for now it's just what's right in front of us. Win this week Melbourne, prove to us what David King (prematurely) said that we are not the Melbourne from the past.

Haha I like the idea! Let's get a future prodigy! Good on her, fantastic effort.

The difficulty for us Melbourne fans if we've been through all this before we can almost write the script. We hit rock bottom, get good kids in, start to build what looks like the beginning of success, finals are laid out in front of us as long as we do what's expect of us, only to falter at that final step. We come crashing back down and start it all again. I'm not necessarily saying that's what's happening here but there's no doubt this week is a crossroads for us. Last year we had the idea of finals taken away from us when we lost stupidly to Carlton, and now on the back of losing to the Roos and getting our asses thoroughly handed to us by GWS it could well happen again. The match this week is a 50/50, we win and finals are again on the cards. We lose and it's another year our fans get their hopes up only to have it snatched away. I would think players like Watts, Jones, Viney, Gawn and all others that have been at the club for a minimum of 3-4 year to be playing out of their skins at the prospect of finals.

There's improvement, no doubt. Our best has beaten the best, but our worst has had us losing to the worst. The is year we set ourselves for finals, so if we miss out then yes it's been a failure. We can point to injuries and circumstances but the fact of the matter is if we had beaten the teams we should beat we would be close to a lock in for September action. Instead we're now in a dog fight for the final two positions against teams who are in better form and seem hungrier. 3 games left to prove to the fans we are not the same old Melbourne.