Pates

Given our injury run we've actually done well to ride out done very difficult patches, it's now laid out for us with lots of very winnable games against lesser teams. I'm still not counting my chickens yet, call it MFCSS or whatever, but ultimately it's in the players hands. They have the ability to take it to any team on their day, and their starting to get that synergy that good teams have. Lets show it against the Roos, bury one of the last of those stupid hoodoos, and keep the other top 8 teams on notice. Mess up and we're right behind you.

Tigers winning has thrown the cat amongst the pigeons a little bit, and I feel Richmond can count itself as a genuine threat (although if Dusty gets injured they're stuffed). I'd still love to play them in the first week of finals, the atmosphere would be enormous.

Yeah I think there were about three that he spoiled where I was just like, "oh god what's he doing?" Yeah I got to watch the first half last night (my time), he was right back to his old self. I think he hurt himself right at the end of the 2nd quarter. Up until then he was right in everything, bodes well for the next few weeks if he comes up ok.

Felt that to, very clear front on contact. Honestly the umpiring was abysmal.

And wow Ports first goal, blatant free to Frost. Total gift and of course it goes to that thug Dixon.

So I've just started watching the replay, I hadn't seen the first half, now I'm starting to see why there were so many comments on the umpiring. So many insanely bad decisions or non-decisions. No reward for great tackling, in fact even decisions going the opposite way. It didn't feel this bad in the second half but oh my god I would've been fuming if I was at the ground. Just incredibly bad. The AFL needs to review this game and drop those involved in the absolutely disgusting subpar umpiring.

I'm usually one on the "one week at a time" but I have to say looking ahead we should be playing finals now. We also need to do what a lot of other teams have done, smash Brisbane. That's not being disrespectful to them (and honestly the upsets we've seen this season there are no gimmie games) but by that stage they should be checked out and weary, while we will need the %. North, Brisbane, and the Pies are all "should wins", Saints is a better than 50/50 as it's possible the they could also be trying to squeeze in, and GWS don't scare me but away from home they are a team to be reckoned with on their day. Honestly can see wins from all of them (wouldn't that be something!), but I see us finishing with 13 wins as I feel we will drop one somewhere and I'll jot GWS down as a loss to be conservative. But let's just see what happens.

Agree, there are those that either need to lower their eyes or at least recognise to spots our forward will be running to. Otherwise the defenders get an easy to opportunity to rebound. I haven't had the chance to see the first half (or course when I switch on is when Port start coming back). If Jones isn't right to go then I reckon we go in unchanged. Trenners should be given at least a couple of weeks to prove himself (it's what they have done with countless others), when Vince comes back expect he will make way. But it would be fantastic if he puts a blinder in next week and forces Vince through the VFL.

As long as he gets through unscathed, but good to hear him already getting good touch.

On this we at least agree. He is so much better than that, which is why I allow him this one week returning from injury to be off. Hogan was as well his first game back, today he looked a lot more like the Hogan we know. To me you're original comments seemed to remind me of the original Watts bagging we had for so long, where for some reason his bad games we something of a crime.

I only saw the second half but yes it was a poor game from Jack who's returning from injury. He didn't make contests and failed to have an impact. But wow pretty keyboard warrior stuff there, I'd say Jack would be the harshest critic of anyone so he'll review it and be setting himself for a big one next week. As for worse milestone games, The Ox in his 150 was disgracefully bad (along with the rest of the team), that following week was the infamous pie face from Newman. Not everyone can have a good day out on a milestone. Who cares, we won.

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.

That's good to hear then. Hopefully it's just a niggle which he'll be right for next week.

I only saw the second half, looking forward to seeing the first half. We outlasted them in the end which given the return trip after Darwin is a fantastic effort. Concerned about Maxxy, I don't know if it's just fitness or what but around the ground in (from what I saw) he was ineffective. Rucking at least seemed better though. Oliver looking sore after the siren isn't good either, hopefully it's just cramp or a corkey. Very important win.

Crap, game on.

I've only joined watching the game from half time, Port certainly had the better of the play but only made a little ground. Still they are in this if they get the first goal, squandered some great opportunities. We on the other hand need the first goal or two to kill the contest.

I remember that game very well. Absolutely smashed them.

I'm sensing a Mighty Ducks moment where he walks out onto the G after half time and kicks a bag. (And then we lose the game anyway because he wasn't a named player )

Love that jumper, best design of all the indigenous jumpers imo. I know as usual this is preaching to the choir but we really need every Melbourne fan to make it to the game. It's a massive game for our season, we've got a group of returning best 22 players, and a fan favourite of old back in. I know it looks like it's going to be a gusty cold day but there needs to be a strong show of support for the boys as we edge towards a hopeful return to finals. Our fans need to make some noise!

Feels like the biggest losers in this will be the players playing for affiliated clubs such as Casey. How will it work for these clubs, there have been times we've had project players (most of them not going very far) playing in the development league. Where will they play now?

....celebrate so loud I wake my London flat mates! (And not for the first time)

The club's usually been very clear about communicating these sorts of things if a player has been given time off. Given they've selected him and they haven't said anything I'm taking it as he's a very likely starter. Pretty much the only inclusion that concerns me is Viney. I know he's tough but I don't want him playing if he's not right. I really hope he's not pushing himself too hard to come back. Either way though these are some fantastic inclusions.

It's a step by step process, I'm not putting a ceiling on what he can achieve this year but for me give the amount of time he's had out of the game I'm not expecting anything more than for him to try to stay on the park. I trust that the club has done their due diligence and from what I gather they've ticked him off a little while back it's been more for Gus to gain confidence in himself. Like so many things in football, let's take it one week at a time.

If we want to be genuine contenders we have to get past this bloody Kangas hoodoo. We are better than them, we must win.

Very happy for Jack, I was worried he'd go the whole year and not make it out on the G again. I'm thinking that Jack will move into Lewis/Vince's role as a half back general sort of thing and Lewis may move into Vince's role as a tagger. Salem will be back in the half back line as well for some class and we've got to Hunt and Frost to break the lines. Really looking forward to seeing him out there again, would love him to snag a goal and seeing him arm in arm singing the song at the end. Along with Watts and Jones I don't know that there's anyone that deserves to see success for Melbourne.