Pates

I don't know the full details but I believe the we (with the AFL's assistance) successfully argued to the MCC that given the high number of MCC members who were MFC fans they were potentially hurting revenue for the club and so provided us with compensation.I believe it was a one off payment. As for the other payments from the AFL, I think that was largely to dig us out of the hole we'd put ourselves in. I also think they played a huge part in helping to recruit both PJ and Roos, basically providing assurances that they would keep a watchful eye on us if needed. But once they took over it really doesn't seem like it's been needed.

Incidentally I'm pretty sure I heard the commentators say something about the pies being 0-8 playing on Thursday nights. Keep giving that time slot!

It's funny, I tipped Richmond but them winning went almost exactly as I expected. Collingwood shooting themselves in the foot, Richmond having good enough flashes to get he job done. I doubt either teams fans would look at this and feel confident for the year. Happy I got the tip though!

This could be the week we see the dual rucks experiment, if Max pulled up a little sore from his smashing of Hickey last week it might be s good time to bring Spencer into the fold. Having said that if he's fine I wouldn't want to mess with a winning team. In: Tyson, Harmes Reports say he was close to BOG, let's give him a crack. He can play both ends of the ground (although I prefer in the forward line) and I'd like to see him rewarded for form.

An honestly incredible record and one I'd imagine few people would know existed. I think so many fans are focused on round one that once that is out of the way it all just bleeds into one. But this is definitely an important record to break, we need to back up last week's promising performance and approach this game as if it's all started again. First game at our home and first opportunity to get on a roll, the Blues will be stinging from last week's start to the season and wanting to prove their doubters wrong. I was concerned last year, but we were clinical last week. If we bring that same professional attitude then we will win very comfortably. I feel Oliver will pick up where he left off and will start making a name for himself very quickly. Would dearly love Hogan to kick a bag as well.

In some ways I think it's important that period of mismanagement is fully recognised by all parties involved, while some would say it's just dredging up the past I'd say owning up to your failings is important. The club was poorly run in all aspects. I love Jimmy and he saved our club so that is his ultimate legacy with us but his and the boards decision to stick with CS over Bailey was definitely a mistake. It is what it is. Honestly at the time after THAT game, I didn't think Bailey should continue as coach either. Those dark days are behind us though, we are a completely different club. Roos and PJ have managed to show us how to be a real club with everyone pulling in the same direction and we can put that dark period well and truly behind us.

I think that's the thing, all indications are we should win and win easily. Last year against Essendon all indications were that we should win and win easily. Losses like that are burnt into our supporters brains, that won't change for quite a while. I will say this though, there was something different about the team last week. Once we got in front we just looked comfortable, like whatever the saints sent at us we'd just shrug our shoulders and get on with it. The win last year against GWS was arguably very lucky, there was nothing lucky about our win against the saints. We were good, and we didn't allow them to be good.

He was definitely a player well loved by the Melbourne faithful but probably not well recognised by the wider AFL community. He was rarely beaten and played a big role in mentoring Aaron Davey, I was felt if Flash was ever feeling the brunt of the opposition it would be Wheels who'd be the first there to defend him. Anybody know what he's up to now?

Jones might be a touch unlucky but it was a superb performance from Clarry and it probably won't be the last time he gets into TOTW.

Silly hit from Bernie. Unnecessary, pointless, and cheap. 1 week is fair and I wouldn't mind the leadership group pulling him aside and giving him a clip. Don't need to go far with it but Jonesy could just chat behind closed doors and just say, "c'mon mate, you need to be better than that".

For the long suffering fans I think there's genuine reason to excited but as a few have said I don't think many fans are going overboard. Ultimately our attitudes should have no baring on the players, it's down to them and these games (ie winning against a quality team and the now coming up against weaker opposition) are the ones we have made some fatal errors in in the past. Lewis will be important through this week as will our leaders Jonesy and Viney to drill into the boys this is a first battle won in a larger war. I remember being extremely nervous going into the bombers game last year, our attitude was poor everywhere. As much as I would love a demolition job of Carlton I'll also be happy with a calm and comfortable win.

Really I thought the highest we ever got under Roos was 9th, always just missing out on the 8.

As an aside when was the last time we were in the 8 at the end of a round? Did it happen in 2010, it didn't happen at any time during Roosy's years as far as I know and it definitely didn't happen during Mark Neeld's tenure.

Well apart from beating North Melbourne (god I want that one gone this year) we're into the business end of the records. With finals and things that have us at the northern part of the ladder. I say we keep ticking them off until we get to the all important one.....

Nah I'm just happy the Hawks fans are unhappy. Them and the Cats fans need a good few years out of the 8 to remember they have no rightful place in the finals. Bombers fans are going to be painful, you'll quickly get through this troubling period in your life.

Very conflicted on what I want to happen in the Hawks v Bombers game, the Hawks have been so good for so long so seeing them lose is always a good day. Although bombers fans will be insufferable if they win.

That is incredibly disrespectful to a guy that has laid the foundation for us having success. By Goodwin's own words he reinforced the message that has been drilled into them all summer, it's not like he pulled out a clipboard labeled "plan B". What we did after quarter time was lower the eyes and spot up shorter kicks because it was St Kilda's game plan to have a loose man behind the ball, too often in the first quarter we blazed away and kicked it long which played into St Kilda's hands. I get the feeling that match day for a coach isn't so much about pulling good ideas out of your butt, it's about drilling into the players the structures and plans they've worked on and tweeking them through the game with certain players.

Could see a pretty decent rise in membership numbers this week, both from bought at the game to a few signing on following the win.

Would've love him to nail that goal at the end of the second quarter, he had it all in front of him and done all the hard work. Loves a goal too!

I've tried firefox, chrome, and safari. I've tried downloading Silverlight (I think that's what they use). Just a grey area. I've loaded videos during the JLT series, maybe it's high volume of people using the website but I just want to see the song!

Anyone else having trouble loading the team song?

With the team Roos built. Interesting though the commentators brought up that last gasp loss which Roosy was coaching, clearly still stings!

Well well well. I would not have picked that listening to the game at quarter time. Take a bow Simon Goodwin, you didn't panic and you managed to lift the team and get them playing OUR style of football. We completely controlled the game after quarter time save for some 5 minute patches and the final part to the last quarter. Really could have won by more but I ain't complaining! Jones, Vince, and Lewis showed sensational leadership. When the ship needed steadying they stepped up. Clayton Oliver is a gun! I don't think I need to say more. Gawn came back at Hickey big time, revenge is sweet. Hannan, honestly I knew NOTHING about him but he played very well for his first game and kicked two important goals. I could go through the whole list but I'll just finish by saying the team worked together today. We worked to the areas where the ball carrier knew to look and we executed (for the most part) very well. Oscar McDonald is the only one that concerned me today, he's young and will hopefully improve but if he can't get his disposal and decision making in check than he will need a spell at Casey. But I've had the belief that if the year we got over this road block in St Kilda and the "hoodoo" was the year that we will have finally turned the corner. I barely count the GWS win at Etihad a few years ago, this was a real win at Etihad against a team that's had the wood over us for a long time. Go Dees!

One more quarter to go, I would love nothing more than for us to get the first 2 goals to ice the game. We probably could've had another couple of goals that quarter.

Well that was quite the turnaround!