Pates

Watching the second half now 😄 Fritta just kicked the first goal of the avalanche. We were really on the ropes, the Dogs were marking everything and we just looked like we needed a goal out of anything. The change is incredible. Considering that all year we weren’t exactly a team that got goals from centre clearances, then suddenly the Prelim and GF! Dogga huge!

I like Jack a lot and overall he had a really good game with his hardness and approach. He had a couple of costly brain farts through the piece but more than made up for them in the rest of the game. Being a son of a legend he’s been able to create his own legacy now, well done to him. Zero doubt he’s a vital cog to our machine.

Ridiculous to do it solely from 3, 2, 1 of each game. Stick your neck out and say who was the best player. Trac by a country margin is the player of the finals because in every important moment he stepped up and got us to the premiership. I don’t think Trac will lose a moments sleep from it though.

His kids are there, COVID must have made things even trickier than usual, he's helped build the fitness of the club to the point that we have broken a 57 year drought. I can honestly say thank you, and good luck to him with wherever he ends up. And if he wants to return to Melbourne for whatever reason he should have an open return ticket! Thanks Burgo.

I’ve been thinking about our finals series and if I were fans of other teams in the AFL I would be getting very nervous about Melbourne’s prospects for the next few years. Aside from a couple of games through the H&A year we never really destroyed any teams, we just always did what was needed to be done. So come the finals series we went to a totally different level to any team in the competition this year. Now I don’t know if that was a Burgess masterstroke or what but what we produced when our backs were against the wall in the second should scare the crap out of teams for next season. I have never seen a Melbourne team produce such pure awesomeness, and to do it in the grand final makes it even better. Aside from TMac, who’s second half of the year was definitely a drop, especially after he hurt his back, and maybe Brown was well being the age he is, I don’t see our lines declining in the next 2-3 years. If anything they could get better. I will also say this, thank you to the footy gods for finally giving us a good injury run. I have no doubt that the medical and support team deserve all the credit, but it was about time we got a run of good luck as well.

I’ve just started watching the replay, it’s possible I won’t sleep tonight. I would’ve preferred to just watch the second half I guess this will do. I’m still just so happy. Congrats to Trac, well deserved Norm Smith. Fritta, simply amazing. Jackson, this may seem OTT but I thought him taking primary ruck duties in the third quarter changed the game. He is something special. Salem, brilliant and cool as ever. Max, captain my captain. So much love. I could go through the whole list but I’m just going to sit back and enjoy it. What I will say is thanks to this club for bringing it home, would’ve been special to be there but they did it for us. The Perth crowd were fantastic, thanks to everyone there. Some time in the future we will all be together to celebrate this properly, but for now I will just enjoy watching the replay and once again say thank you to everyone.

I love you Dees. I love every Melbourne fan. I’m in shock.

I think I might have just squeezed in 5hrs, woke up at 4:30 and barely slept after that.

Yep I just woke from a dream sequence of two Dees goals. First was a coast to coast that was just shear will power of keeping it moving forward and pressure in the forward 50 ending with Kozzie getting the finishing touch. Then the second was to TMac after a brilliant run from Max draws a player so Tommy gets it out the back and snaps the goal. That was enough to wake me up. I honestly don’t know if I'm going to sleep much more tonight.

I couldn’t open the HScum article but didn’t he fairly recently extend his contract? I wouldn’t even close to entertain trading out Dogga, the guy looks like he could be once in a gen sort of player. I know similar things were said about Hogan but it was a lot different with him, the talent was (still is) there but the mind and body just didn’t look like they were coping. Jackson on the other hand looks like he’s got a good head on him, his body is holding up well, and FMD can he play or what! Tell them to suck a fat one.

Cody Weightman is definitely a contender, Bailey Smith I’d throw in as well. I’d also love to see one of our defenders smash Hannan (very fairly though) I’ve got no hate towards Mitch but it’s about letting him know that while you have mates off the field at the Dees, on field it’s fair game. I think I’m right in saying there’s practically no Melbourne player left in the squad who played with Stef Martin.

My brother passed onto me (not sure how accurate this is) that Hunt had a quiet game in the practice match last week. With that in mind I can’t see Hunt as the sub. Sad for him, he’s had a good year. I don’t think anyone expected to take his spot and literally run with it so well.

Who’s the player we hope Jack makes cry in the granny? I’d hope that early match he lays a strong tackle on Bont that has us feeling the aftershock tremors here in Melbourne.

@Colin B. FlaubertFrom the sounds of it the good options were drying up so it was down to him throwing himself into the DFA market place or going for a bit of certainty and back himself to force his way in. For us, it gives us coverage and the knowledge that if one of Tommy or BBB have a form slump we can have Sam breathing down their necks to take their spot. If he’s signed on for a lower wage as well then it’s low risk. There’s been far worse than Sam we’ve kept on the list.

Am I right in saying Matty Whelan missed our 2000 grand final as a late withdrawal? As you say every year there’s a hard luck story, this is why the calls for a squad wide recognition is absolutely fair. He contributed strongly to us getting to this point even if he won’t take the park on the day. Well done to all, fingers crossed Spargy and May are completely good to go. Am I right in saying it was Kade Chandler that did the tackle last Saturday? Cheeky him being on the bench.

I’m happy to hear this personally, if nothing else this is coverage for Brown and TMac who both aren’t getting any younger, and this gives Weid a chance to change the narrative on his story. Keeps our current forwards on their toes knowing there’s someone snapping at their heels.

I disagree that JJ is more flexible, he can cover the midfield and perhaps a small forward role, but if a defender goes down then we’re left scrambling for cover. At least Hunt has had experience in almost all facets of the ground (bar ruckman, and inside mid). I think JJ will be the sub, I’m not against it as he has done well this year, I just personally would prefer Hunt.

I’m with the OP, I think having a role-playing mid as the sub limits flexibility. Hunt has experience in practically all areas of the game and has also been a critical cog at times through the year so he is well versed with our “system”. I also agree that the player should be able to have an impact with an injection of something different. Hunt has pace and a spark that could give the team a lift. He’s also a surprisingly good kick for goal.

I lasted 5min watching it when they got onto some little piece about how the medal gets made. It is such a dull night.

Picking Toumpas over Wines will always go down in history as one of the bigger drafting stuff ups by the club, but as many have said here it's a sliding doors moment for the club. If he comes to us maybe we're better in the short term but don't get the opportunity to have the mix we have now. Well done to him, he's had an excellent year.

I mean this was exactly what I was praying wouldn’t happen. All for a strong hit out but really there needed (I would’ve expected) a conversation at the start to say tackles at 50% and not to spin and dump like that. I know Bedford’s trying to put his name in the calculations but F-me May could see in the background it was too much. Fingers crossed for Spargypants, he’s been massive this year.

No injuries, Jack dial the tackles back, big question is will May be playing or is he taking all the rest he can get?

This is what the On The Couch lads were saying, there needs to be a shift in belief from the players to recognise that the club gets that that position because of almost every player on the list. TMac plays better this year because he know Weid is breathing down his back. Sparrow and Jordon take their chance knowing that Jones was ready to step up when required. Petty takes his chance after Tomlinson plays incredibly early in the year and does massive jobs in massive games. A squad medal would never feel the same as a premiership medal but in no way is it a participation award. The way I picture it the premiership medals would get presented on the day, the squad medals at the celebration event the next day. Get them up on the stage and hear the cheer from the fans.

When I was in Shepherds Bush Belushi’s in ‘18 there was a fair contingent of Dees fans watching the elimination and semi. The Prelim was on at a shocking time and I was away for work so not sure if they showed it. But anyone near W12 I can recommend them. Challenge laid down to Dees fans in London, get as many shots of iconic landmarks with red and blue on them? (Or near them, don’t want anyone getting arrested!)

The champions league football in Europe is an interesting one, players can play a certain amount of group matches, then ditch the club in the summer transfer window, and if the club they left wins champions league their entitled to a winning medal. Almost happened a few years back when Continho left in summer after the group stages (in which he was incredible) and had they beaten Real Madrid he would’ve got a medal sent to him! I do think there should be a distinction between who plays on the day and who played through the year. Premiership squad medal recognises the contribution the player makes through the year to get them to that point. Grand Final winning medal for those who played on the day recognises they were there at the end. I get people not seeing the staff should get something but as an example Yze and Williams in particular stand out as people that have had a strong influence on the list, should they not get extra plaudits?