Pates

The other 3 I can understand but there are players who you need to treat with higher respect when going through these decisions. The way we handled Junior Mac taught us that lesson. Harvey is a [censored], and at times a borderline cheat, but he is still a very valuable player and I would say in their top 5 currently. His age shouldn't have much of a bearing on the decision, if he's still playing at a higher level than a younger player that can immediately fill his shoes than I would think he'd have a place on their list. The talk around him continues to centre on him "taking the place" of a younger player. If Melbourne and Carlton have taught the competition anything it's there is a huge value in having experience out on the field to guide the young players and force them to play at a higher standard to get into the team. Gifting spots gets them nowhere. There is also the baffling decision to do this now. Was they're thinking to get this over and done with before the finals? Just seems really bizarre. I hate North and I hope this decision rips the heart out of the club!

Despite the improvements we have made this year we still struggle with the favourites tag. Now I know surely the players don't focus on it but it's hard to argue with the fact that when we've been favourites this year we have either struggled to get the job done or just outright been pathetic. Seems like an obvious thing to say but the players better start getting used to it if they're wanting to figure in finals as chances are week to week we will become favourites more often than not (if up is truly where we're heading). The team is young, so yes prone to lapses in concentration and form but it really seems to coincide with lesser teams rather than the best. Will be very interesting to see how they finish off, cats will be out for blood to bolster their percentage so it's up to our players on how they respond and finish the year.

I'd be happy for this game to occur if it was our home game. I can't remember our last home against them so bugger em. No doubt chose us because we always seem to choke against them.

I classified the Essendon loss as loss the spured us on. Is was disgraceful a slap in the face to the fans but it seemed to wake us up. After that we didn't lose to anyone I'd really classify as below us (Saints are on par/above us). Until Carlton. I felt the benefits of losing to Essendon was that it taught the players to be on they're game no matter who the opposition and will themselves over the line, even if it's ugly. But they still haven't learned. I don't see this as a loss we had to have, this is (yet another) wasted opportunity and seemingly a very dissapointing finish to a mostly positive season. Worst of all the momentum we gained the last couple of weeks to potentially take into 2017 has been wasted away. I still look at 2017 with positivity, but no doubt it's brought a lot of us back down to earth.

I'm going to start by saying I haven't seen the game (can't imagine why I'll chase it up either). We have made great strides this year, that can't be denied, we've found some players and others have stepped up well. But there are still some big issues between the eyes for the team. Nothing else can explain the losses to teams that are worse than us. Certainly we can't use injury as an excuse this year! Is this a leadership issue? Is it a preparation issue? Is it poor selection and game plan? These questions need to be addressed over the off season. I honestly didn't think we would make finals but the buzz that was around Demonlanders made the club feel relevant again. To have those hopes taken away in a must win and should win game is extremely disappointing. I predicted 10 wins for the year, we've got that so for me the year is a pass. But we haven't turned the corner yet, Goodwin's got a lot of work to do over the summer. Shame that Roosy's final game for us at the G was such a pathetic effort.

Started listening to it, feels like a time warp of the old Melbourne. Many of us wanted finals, if ever there was proof we aren't ready this is it. From 4 games versus Essendon, Carlton, St Kilda. 0 wins. Terrible.

Ah the joys of being overseas and waking up half way (or in this case 3 quarters of the way) through the match. I've had good moments of this, West Coast and Hawks being the main one. This week had danger written all over it and don't you worry I was one getting swept up in the finals possibility, but I had this familiar feeling (though not as strong) that we were coming into the game with the same mindset against the bombers. FFS Melbourne.

The cold hard numbers you would look at say yes, not making finals this year would be better preparation for 2017. More time for recovery, better draw etc But cold hard numbers fail to take into account the experience we'll gain. The fact the club will be buzzing with finals intensity for the first time since 2006. I honestly feel there is more to gain from making finals that missing out. There are some things that aren't measurable.

I guess this simply goes back to what Roos was saying earlier in the week. We stay focused on what we can control. Let's beat Carlton and beat them into the ground, come next week we can assess it then. Swans got the win over North so we're still alive.

3-4 rounds ago a fair few commentators were bemoaning the fact that this season had become predictable and boring. The events of the last few weeks have really shaken things up, if the rest of the results this week go the way they're expected the final round could have implications in most matches.

Smartipants

I've been there quite a few times, have always enjoyed the experience of going to the last suburban ground. A lot of the games have been painful to sit through (fortunately I missed 186) but I was there for the 1 pointer, the draw, and last years amazing win. I suppose it's a bit like anything to do with Melbourne. The downs have been close to traumatising, but ups give you an insane euphoria! Who was the last team to win twice in a row there?

We should. We're Melbourne. Nothing is certain. I feel that Michie is in many ways playing for his spot on the list. He's been a disappointment for me since crossing, I'd read quite positive things about him but he's rarely shown more than just being an accumulator. I'm hoping we hold onto ANB but I wonder whether this might be an opportunity for us to show off some depth and get some interested parties looking our way. I would love to see us monster a team, put the competition on notice for 2017.

I was definitely surprised when they picked Weeds for his first game against Hawthorn but it worked out. I read that Hogan missed training this week because of illness but completed the session on Friday. Hopefully he's fine so we can finally see the Hogan/Watts/Weeds combo. The closer the game gets the more I feel the players will need to be fully switched on in the first half as Carlton could come out with some real hardness.

Given how well the team is going and how well the club is presenting itself I'm frankly astounded at the venom being directed to Lumumba. Read through my posts earlier in the year and you will see I was not a fan of his, I saw him improving with the team but then he started getting his concussion issues. But ultimately that is totally beside the point. All you can take on this issue (unless you have inside knowledge) is what the club is presenting at face value and that's that his concussion related symptoms are ongoing. Logically that means retirement must be on the cards. Whatever you feel towards him think about this: he got those concussions representing Melbourne.

Gotta say after 3 wins on the trot I'm surprised with 3 players being dropped. I'm not really against any of the inclusions, Michie and ANB have been in top form for Casey, and Weeds showed some great attributes against Hawthorn. I just usually expect Roos to fall on the side of minimal changes if it can be helped. Good opportunity to all 3 of them, and Garlett's form has been very up and down the second half of this year.

Whatever your opinion on him or the trade his health is the biggest issue here. Concussion injuries are a big problem in professional contact sport and the industry is still only scratching the surface of what we know for sure. All the best H, whether you don the Red and Blue again or not.

I suppose the reason/positive from the Cat B rookie is that it's a very developmental position that isn't required or expected to give immediate and tangible results. I like the sound of this guys attitude though, looking forward to further updates on him.

This is definitely out of the blue and left field. Interesting that we haven't been the only ones chasing him, anyone hear about him at high school level? Was he generating a lot of interest? I wonder if the fact his brother trains just down the road influenced in decision at all. Its different, out there, and I like it. Welcome to the Dees! (Just to add, you have to believe that his recruitment must have been backed by Cross, not too many people I'd like more to have his support)

Haha the only other teams I've found that with is GC and GWS! They should be concerned with their list, many pundits have been predicting it in the last few years and fair play to them they managed to keep going but I see their fall being as dramatic as Freo. At least Freo got to a GF though!

For some reason in my mind I pictured all those questions being posed like a classic radio play cliff hanger with dramatic sound effects. Only thing you'd need to add would be a line like, "all these questions and more will be answers in another dramatic season of the....'Australian, Football, League!'"

For now the Watts experiment is working and we have Pedo in there currently to back them up, if one of Watts, Pedo or Hogan was hurt I would strongly think about it though. Play him as a bean pole forward/ruck. I don't think we can take an attitude of resting or preparing for Geelong. We had that sort of cavalier attitude for Essendon and it could well cost us finals, it's a cliche but one week at a time. Focus and prepare for Carlton as if we are playing Hawthorn again come out with all guns blazing.

He had a very good first half to the year after round 2-3 but has tapered off. Fortunately the teams form has been good so there hasn't been a light shon on him. That said he's still learning his craft and was always going to have more attention this year.

I was at that game. I felt like the Essendon loss shocked the team into waking up from the delusion that it was just going to happen and the Kangas loss showed them how good they can be when they are switched on (and how bad they can be if they aren't). That second quarter was incredible, and the first time I saw the boys completely tear a team apart. Your absolutely right, inexperience got us in the end. There were some extremely interesting calls, particularly related to Boomer, but mostly they got over the line because they knew what to do in the clutch. If we make finals we deserve to be there and should be there, I'm not afraid of us getting to the finals and being a joke. I just can't see the boys allowing that to happen.

If all the dominos fall that way and it does rest of North v GWS I reckon that would be hilarious for a group of Melbourne fans to set up a second cheer squad right next to the North cheer squad. I also think (less confrontational) there could be a group set up next to the GWS fans. Would probably be a larger group! But plenty of water to go under the bridge first.