Pates

We play him at Casey after one week off from a bruised knee and the media will be all over it and probably send dozens of camera's to the VFL like they did Cloke. Barrett will claim it's a falling out with Goodwin and the sky will be falling. Ok maybe a little dramatic but the fact remains he isn't a VFL player, he's an AFL player and our most damaging forward. Things like accuracy outside of 40m can't be improved at Casey, he's going to have to work on it in the off season. I also think there have been games where he might not have been dominating the scoreboard but he's been working his butt of to make space for forwards that are doing better on the night. If he's fit he'll come in, if there's niggling doubt I would like them to er on the side of caution.

North I honestly feel out of that game it was 50/50. They came out on top with experience (and some curious calls from the umps). West Coast I agree we shot ourselves in the foot with poor kicking on goal, but over in Perth it would be a good effort for almost any team. That we came so close and ended up being our own worst enemies is strangely heartening. But Essendon just should not have happened. Simple as that. Credit to them, they came to the game with fire. But our players came to the game with a level of arrogance that none of them and certainly our club hadn't earned. We should have at least found a way to fall over the line. I was so disgusted with the team. But certainly out of those 3 we should have had at least one win. I think in a bizarre that was a bit of a turning point for us. Yes we've put in some average performances after that but I'm sure they got an absolute roasting from Roos, and they probably did some internal soul searching. We lost to a VFL team that day.

When a team is in the position that we are it's very simple. We can only control what we do. We win the games we need to win and the rest will sort itself out one way or another. That said, if we beat Port this week and North lose I reckon the club should just quietly start a #daretodream hashtag. Would be kinda cool to have a final round where there was at least the possibility of it happening. All Dwayne Russell kept saying was 9th as our best possible finish. If we miss out by one game I want every Melbourne player that was out there against Essendon to be burning with rage.

I would imagine best weekend ever for him! I wonder what you could've got at the betting for the double on him winning Gold and Melbourne beating Hawthorn! Congratulations Mack!

I don't think it's offensive at all. I think it's a reflection on how far Watts has come in the last 12-18 months. I haven't seen anyone say "sack Jones as captain" just put forward their ideas on who the next captain could be. I reckon Jones will captain for as long as he likes because the boys love him, I see it being about another couple of years before we seriously have to worry about it.

I wonder whether we were sitting in the same area, I was only 11 but I feel like I remember that. Of course it was satisfying watching the Wiz continue to destroy them! Thankfully I don't feel like those flogs would last a second at the ground this day and age.

Difficult call. If we're picking the team to win and no other thoughts I think Weeds goes out for Hogan. Weeds had a very productive first game but Pederson was better and I think he and Jesse would combine better. If we are picking the team with one eye on the future then Pederson for Hogan. Weeds and Jesse are (hopefully) going to play plenty of senior footy together for a long time and the sooner they can start working together the better. Thats just my opinion on it. Either way one of the them will be unlucky. But Hogan comes in if he's fit because he is our best forward, I don't even know how there could be a debate on it.

I believe the club will offer Trenners a 2 year contract at likely to be a similar lower rate to this year but the conversation will go something like: "Jack there's two years on the table at Melbourne, but we expect you will be be in the depth category for most of it. You will likely play quite a few games at Casey but when you do play we will expect you will be able to step into your role as if it's where you play every week." The second year might even have trigger clauses. Jacks a smart guy and he would be reading the direction of the club. If he wants to have a crack at playing consistent AFL footy, I don't think it will happen with us barring injuries (which by the way we have been very fortunate on this year). I don't think after the hard work both he and the club has gone through with him that we'll just ship him off. I think it'll be on whether Jack is content with a lesser role at the club. I would not begrudge him moving on. Max King, Grimes, Terlich, Newton, Garland or Dunn (I feel like we'll keep one with Col my pick), Michie (disappointed with him) are my picks to be delisted. Dawes and Pedders are both on the chopping block as well but like Garland and Dunn I think we'll hold on to one. If I was to pick I would keep Pedders, I have a nasty feeling the match committee likes Dawes more. Maybe the Hawks game has swayed it back in Cams favour. I know quite a few people want Matt Jones gone, at times I am one of them, but I think he's staying put. He's coverage and seems to play his role when he comes in. Look at Cheyne at Hawthorn, he's not a world beater but when he comes in he plays a role.

Viney all the way for me as next captain but 100% will be a key figure in the leadership group next year and possible co-VC. I feel Jones will go around again as captain and Watts could be co-VC to Viney or deputy VC maybe. But Watts's leadership has been outstanding this year.

I'm watching the replay now and loving it! But just had the Rioli vs Oliver incident, the commentators were loving it. Now ok I agree in essence that it was good having the bump back but I guarantee you if those roles are reversed its a free kick to Hawthorn. I don't like to get into the whole #freekickhawthorn thing but it's hard to deny it. Particularly when 3min Rioli did a clear high tackle on Jetta and no free kick against but 5min later Rioli ducks and gets a free kick!

I'm overseas, is there anyone that can recommend how I go about watching a replay of it? I want to live every second of this incredible win!

Amazing, every week waking up on the other side of the world I have no idea what to expect. Two weeks ago was frustrating, this week was such a ridiculous roller coaster ride, this week is just amazing. Well done boys!!

Probably the best advert for Auskick ever. Mini Max is awesome. Surely all those players should do a photo shoot with all those kids.

So happy for Maxxy. He seems like a ripper bloke and has had to work really hard to get where he is. Touching to hear that he still thinks about Jimmy.

It's an interesting move bringing him in against the Hawks for his first run. I have to say I wasn't really up for it but it'll be good seeing him out there with other young guns. Hopefully the combination of Hogan/Weeds will be a regular thing for the next 5-10 years! Good luck young man.

What do you have to base these beliefs on? Any time he's spoken about the club he has sounded very positive and committed. He's a very strange cat, and at times he seems to a lot about himself, but he has come across as someone with high moral fibre and wouldn't be the sort of person to take us for a ride. As for his value to the club going forward, could be quite dependant on the off-season recruiting. If we do end up getting Hibberd I would say they play fairly similar roles as running half backs who break the lines. Add to the fact that Hunt has shown great dash at times and a few of the other younger boys have been given roles in defence it could make things difficult for H to be a regular going forward.

Don't totally disagree, but there have been many times we've shown better skill and execution but come away with a loss, I feel like these "painful wins" can sometimes be a reward for effort from other games. I would say a lot of the boys would say four points means a lot more the SFA.

Roos should open a school for sports media performance, knows how to tell you something without letting the media blow it up too much. His job wasn't like other ring in coaches who are meant to take a team to the next level and get them to the premiership, his job was to build the FD from the ground up and rebuild the playing group with professional attitudes and belief in themselves. It would have been a much easier job taking on the role of foundation coach at GC or GWS because our culture was poison when he came in, and he and PJ had to almost reinvent the club. Was I hopeful of finals in his final year with us? Yes. But what was more important was the stability we had under him. He was unsackable, and he was also bringing in our next coach so therefor the path was laid out in front of us and the players. I hope the players go and go and go until the very end this year (hopefully GC will be the exception) I'd love to see us send Roos off on a high. And just on that I have wondered whether it might be an idea to have the Carlton game as his last game and hand over the reigns for the final round. Not like it would be a massive shock to the players, but I like the idea of the him being sent off in front of the MCC and more Melbourne fans.

Seeing that clip he looks like something we can definitely use down back, particularly as our current users of the ball down there can't seem to hit a target. As for what we give up for him, yes the option of the DFA is there IF he is annoyed enough with Essendon and wants to come to us. I say offer them a 2nd round draft pick or a player, tap Hibberd on the shoulder and say get him to play hardball with them. If he is happy to do the DFA option then go for it! Stuff em!

So I haven't been able to watch much of the game but managed to watch the goals on the MFC website. Gotta say if that was the "highlights" then I can't imagine how frustrating watching the actual game was. I also got to see the montage Fox Footy's put together of the mistakes in the 3rd quarter. My god, I don't think I would've been able to last without drinking A LOT of alcohol. What a ridiculous game. Was it our worst for the year? If so I guess we can take something from the fact we still managed to win. We play like that next week and we're in for an absolute bloodbath.

Agree with Vince for Clarry, if Bernies injured then give him the week off. If he's not he almost cost us the game and should be sent to the VFL to show everyone their spot isn't safe. Garlett out for BenKen I can work with, Jeffy's had a really poor second half to the year but I think he'll be given another chance. Harmes for Terlich? Can't see it happening, I just can't. Terlich is.....Terlich and I don't think the selectors even have his magnet for the board anymore. Unless Harmes doesn't pull up well from his collision I think he'll stay. Hogan for Spencer I can definitely work with but Gawn is our no 1 ruckman, he's actually the player we can be chatting about in the elite category in his trade. He rucks, Spencer plays as a pillar up forward and chops out for him. Weeds is the other option if Jesse doesn't get up, but I'd rather him make his debut against Carlton or Port and not feed him to the wolves.

Hoping it'll be better than seamless. I sort of wonder sometimes if Roos is our get out of jail free card. Largely his tenure at Melbourne has been without controversy or discussion. I wonder at times if it gives players a bit of an out. This will be Goodwins team next year and I really hope the boys are able to play for him the same way the Hawks boys play for Clarkson. Its unkown but honestly I'm intrigued and excited.

I haven't seen the game so I'm not necessarily saying this based on today's performance, but I think we should make the Carlton game Roos's last game as coach and give Goodwin the reigns for the last game. Not much to lose from it and we get to see Roos off at the G. I'd just like to see what he's got before next year.

Managed to listen to the last min, just in time to hear them say, "Lynch takes a huge mark, plays on, WATTS!! Great mark. Oh Vince terrible turnover, Lynch to kick after the siren. He's missed!" you listen to that and think, great game. Bloody hell sounds we used a get out of jail free card there. Without seeing any of it, well done Watts. The last couple of minutes is a testament to how far you've come. Leadership group next year?

Taking a different spin on the result today, last week we deserved to win but didn't but this week it sounds like a horrendous game but we just need to get the job done. Time for the leaders to stand up and be counted.