Pates

I was surprised that we were forced to wear our all white top v Eagles. At the very least we could've worn the one with the Red back on it.

Pretty much what I'd go with and to be honest given the short break and the travel anyone coming back with niggles with hammy's, calves etc should be definitely given a week. Jeffy is important to our year so I'd absolutely give him a week. Questions for Jeffy's replacement is do we go with Kent or JKH. Kent is more damaging in the forward line whereas JKH seems to have worked really hard for quite a few weeks to be involved in the game. I think we've got to reward JKH's hard work and consistency, Kent has only done the pressure acts this week, if he backs it up then a recall could loom.

It was moving Frawley to FF (something we did a few years later anyway) and Paul Johnson to defence to cover Nathan Brown that raised eyebrows. My biggest annoyance with that whole saga was we got done when I honestly feel Carlton threw the Kruiser Cup match against us the year before. If we got done they should've too.

I feel Hogan's is the closer parallel, all of us at the time thought there was nothing in it and the more you look at it the more you realise Rowe wasn't faking it. [EDIT] I still think 3 down to 2 for Hogan was a disgrace, at worst 2 down to 1. But then we don't get luck with the tribunal.

Look if he had his time over I think he wouldn't have gone down so easily. It sounds strange but I think he thought initially it was worse than what it was and he almost dropped himself to control the fall. The criticism he's copping from everywhere is poor though, anyone who's watch his career so far knows he loves the hard stuff and is no diver. And he's in his 2nd year for crying of loud. Ultimately I think the people he'll cop it most from (in a funny way) will be his teammates. I think they'll give him a bit of push and shove and call him out on it at training, that will be the best way for him to move on from this. Interesting that the AFL has said they won't cite him because there was definitely contact, does that mean that Schofield might actually go for it? Oliver might be forced to choose between his pride (saying he copped it and it was bad enough to drop him) or the players code (say it wasn't as bad as he first thought and he didn't need to fall).

I just noticed after Pedersons big mark and goal he tapped a black arm band (he was the only one wearing one). Is anyone able to shed some light on that?

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 said on the match day thread that we needed more from Pedders for the last quarter and boy did he deliver. In a game where WC had dominated the contested marks, Cams big pack mark and goal was as big a momentum swing you could hope for. He was big at the end, I know Weids had an excellent game vs Box Hill but until Pederson puts in multiple bad games I hope Weids is forced to continue to dominate teams at VFL level. Cam is doing his job and has earned his spot.

The commentators even said, "he had had to go for the contest" none of them seemed to think it was a malicious act just one of desperation. Could be down to the medical report again, but really that shouldn't be stamped out of the game. It was a game defining contest between the captains. If you're not allowed to go for it with your sole focus the ball then when can you?

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.

Anyone else in London? I just wanna find another Dees fan to hug and sing the song!!!! Wearing my club polo so if you see me let's get it going!!!

Jack Viney's game tonight is one of the most courageous performances I've seen from a captain in Melbourne colours. He is toughness personified, he will get all coaches votes and should have it double. Tommy Mac, wow. What a night, 5 goals anywhere anytime is good. Against the eagles on their home turf, amazing. What a game!

That is incredible! I didn't think we could run it out, massive massive win!

THAT. IS. BIG!!!

Win or lose this is one of the biggest games I've seen us play.

Viney is having a captains perfomance, win or lose.

Tommy Mac!!!! And Pederson, been quiet tonight but having a BIG final quarter!

If we get the next goal game we'll and truly on.

Hibberds worst game this year but Tyson sold him into trouble there. We now have to do everything right.

I feel like we're cooked.

We're running out of legs.

Still going Dees, great determination!

And Petracca!!!!

First goal of the final quarter is huge. We're going to have to dig very very deep, they've had the longer break (and no 4 and half our plane ride), the umpires are giving them their usual free ride, and we've got injured players. Someone is going to have to make a big stand for something to happen. Tom Mac could be the man up forward (words I never thought I'd utter), he's easily been the strongest, Pederson has had a quiet game so we need more from him, our ball winners in the middle need to start kicking to advantage more, and we need to stop the silly mistakes. Lewis and Hibberd down back need to be cleaner as well.

Lewis just copped the most obvious in the back ever!!! No free kick of course!