Pates

It was interesting to hear that Marc McGowen seemed to think he could go as high as top 5, I will admit I know little about this guy but it sounds like he’s being pumped up beyond what he should be realistically looked at. I hope he’s not going to become one of those players that the media hypes and hypes, when really he should be going 2nd round and given 3+ years to develop his craft.

For me a momentum shift of the game was when he asked for the ball from Martin (I think it was) and shanked the kick which ended in Brayshaw’s goal. Up until that point he’d been almost as clean as Salem and was providing a really important springboard for them off HB. After he shanked that kick I don’t he did much that was super positive for the dogs. Killed his confidence and his teammates. He had an awesome first half but faded to nothing after Brayshaw’s goal. I’m sure it’s been mentioned but there are little team things through the game from players that didn’t play their best that ensured they still contributed to the win. Kozzie harassing in the first quarter allowing Spargo to get on the end of it, and his hard shepherd that let Trac kick his dribbler. TMac blocking Sparrow’s goal through. Max letting Jacko have his run in the ruck and providing a foil up forward. It’s a testament to the team first mentality.

I was actually thinking this, how good would a twilight Saturday night match against Brisbane be against perhaps Brisbane (another contender from the year but interstate). The most likely scenario would be Saturday night (which I would prefer), request the game be half an hour early and have a really good build up to it. I don’t mind playing the dogs round one, but I’d rather we hold onto the rematch as a bankable windfall.

I like the bullish request, getting the grand final replay out early and saying bring on our rivals. I do wonder whether we could save the replay for later as another bankable attractive game to get bums on seats. We could play GWS and the MCG will still be packed for the unfurling of the premiership flag. I would personally love say Essendon in round one as our home game, I hate them so much and it would be satisfying to present the flag to our members in front of their arrogant fans.

Yep now the we’ve won the premiership I see no reason to mock the Saints decision. They needed/desperately wanted a forward and Paddy had good reason to be picked at number one, much the same that we picked Watts at number one. Glad the saints went down that path, sucks for them it didn’t work out. I know that there are a few on this site that would happily watch the saints drought go for a while but they can be next to end their pain (after we’ve had our dynasty 😜). Hawks, Cats, Essendon, Carlton, Collingwood can have a drought now. I’d say 50+ years in the wilderness is about right.

His role this year was super underrated by some, focusing purely on statistics and not the body of work he put in and how much of a sacrifice it was to shift into a role that was unfamiliar to him. What he did all year allowed Langdon to do his thing on the other side His game in the Grand Final was huge, loved his passion when he scored his massive goal.

Fair to say, worth the picks. What a gun.

I’ve seen many talented players come through Melbourne, none have excited me more at such a young age than Jackson. The depth of his talent is incredible, his move into the ruck in the Grand Final helped change the the game and win it for us. How many 19yo players in the history of the AFL/VFL can say that? If he ends up being a one club player he could go down as one of our greatest of all time.

I cracked it a bit where I slammed my hand against the armrest sending the cat into a skittish run out the door but held myself down thinking the margin isn’t the worst we’ve had to come back from. When we hit to the front and were a goal up I thought “ok let’s hold this and regroup for a massive last quarter” so glad the the players got their killer instinct and powered on. I could not believe how quickly it changed!

I would say sorry to Spargo and ANB, Nibbler in particular. For Spargypants, I felt he had just about toasted his career with us with the 2019 round 1 game vs West Coast. He had an improved second half of the year which made me rethink his position at the club (and I knew the club rated him highly) but I had him as a player that fell into the best 25 category, and would be in and out of the team for most of this season. I was totally wrong about that, and I realised that in the early rounds. He's a total gem and crucial to our forward line, I was genuinely worried when I heard he'd hurt himself in the scratch match. So glad to say he's a premiership player. For Nibbler, where to begin. He's been a whipping boy in the past on D-Land, and I have joined in the chorus of people saying his NQR. He is the best example of how important your bottom 6 players are to a premiership team, he doesn't do anything flashy or super silky like the Petracca's of the world, but jeez you can never question his passion and his work ethic. I had thought 2018 was his ceiling and that he couldn't replicate it, but he's someone that just goes about his business and gets the reward through that effort. Felt he should've been trade bait this time last year, so happy he wasn't. Also a small apology to Fritta, only because I felt his inaccuracy (last season) would mean he would only become a decent bit part forward. FMD 6 goals in a Grand Final, couldn't be more wrong!

Great piece from the club, well cut. Would've loved the "It's Coming Home" line from Max in there though.

Very true, I’d be happy if he decided to stick around for another year. The more players that know the system and buy in the better we get, it’s a tough nut to crack the best 22 but Bowie showed that once you get that chance if you keep your form it’s your spot to lose.

Didn’t Majak just re-sign a 1 year contract with us? Hibberd will get another year if he wants it; Hore, Baker, Bedford I would offer two years, the others I’m not fussed about.

There are going to be some players that were on the border of selection that will have a fire burning under them to get involved. Melk, Hunt, Smith, Weid, and Tomlinson (missing because of injury) should all be backing themselves in to make a push for selection. Really happy Melksham is staying with us.

Wish it hadn’t been the pies he was going to but I wish him nothing but the best. Treat him well Collingwood, you couldn’t have landed a better person. Love you Nev.

It was a good thing he didn’t stick around in Victoria as some (including me) suggested we try to get him into Casey.

The only types that I see us picking up would be back up to KP forward and defenders. Tomlinson and Petty will have healthy competition with each other (throw in Smith as well) but one more level of depth would be good. TMac had a great start to the year but tapered after his back complaint. Hopefully he’ll get back to his early form but if not our current depth for that position would be Weiderman and maybe Majak Daw. Another level there would be good. Aside from that I think we’ll look to improve our draft position to look to the future. Who will be coming up behind the likes of JJ, Sparrow, LJ, Pickett, and Rivers? What will we need at that point?

His reaction was my favourite of the night, it meant so much to him.

Oliver’s goal at the end of the third quarter, it was the one the really broke the doggies back and it was a fantastic team goal with Viney scrubbing it forward, Jackson with the clean hands and perfect handball, Clarry with the finish. What a site to behold.

Yep same guy that said Jackson wouldn’t make it as a ruckman…🤣

If I were fans of the other clubs I would’ve taken note of our finals form, that is the closest to our best we’ve played and we never put in a 4 quarter performance. I wish we had Burgo for our off season recovery.

Our combined losing margin is outrageous, we went through period where losing by that much in a week would’ve been standard (and accepted). The Adelaide game was our “we was robbed” moment, a draw would’ve been fair that night. The Hawks game we should’ve found a way, but didn’t. GWS and Dogs we kicked ourselves out of it. The Pies game was for me our worst performance, we looked slow and disinterested. It was the only time that I was concerned the old Melbourne could return.

Good fun watching watching those highlights, that’s now almost the standard Max Gawn game he’s set the bar so high for himself. Of course something he has improved is his kicking for goal after the siren!

Funny you say that, does anyone do a “team of the finals”? Clearly it would be dominated by Dees players but would be interesting to see someone’s take on who the top performers were across the ground. I still pinch myself at how cool and clinical Fritta was with his set shots at pivotal moments in the game. Ice in his veins!

Definitely think there should be a multi-part documentary made. Perhaps history of until 2020 (large focus on the dark days), 2021 pre-season to 9-0, then round 10 to perhaps round 22, then round 23 and finals series. I hope they’ll at the very least be doing a season review DVD/downloadable content. But this story deserves so much more than just the usual effort.