Pates

Bring finals pressure and we win. Simple as that.

Hmmmm I would personally go with VDB in for TMac if there is the late change but I can see them giving Sam a go and give him simple instructions to get to as many contests as possible and bring it down to crumbers.

Who are our emergencies? If TMac is out then there’s a school of thought to go smaller but then we also need those tall players to ensure the ball comes to ground.

Against the bulldogs one of the big things that cost us dearly was we didn’t take our chances early. We had some relatively straight forward opportunities at goal that were missed while they pulled some flukey ones out their [censored]. Scoreboard pressure is the best kind of pressure. We get goals on the board it shuts up the crowd and builds confidence.

Losing to the Giants isn’t as embarrassing as I think we felt it was at the time. When they’re on they can really mix it, for a soulless franchise they actually have some real ticker. I’m more annoyed about Adelaide (particularly as we really should’ve had the chance to snatch it/draw it) and Hawthorn.

GMHBA would be the best result ever, where are the Giants keeping themselves? If it’s in the city’s west then it’s definitely handy for them and I know it will annoy Hardwick more.

I’m always of the opinion you want to see the opposition have their best line up because you want the best competing against the best. So it’s really sad for Bruce and I hope he is able to recover from this knee injury.

The treatment of Woey was a culture killer, I’ve got no doubt about that. It has shades of what the Pies have don’t to Trelor, but even worse was the way we went about it. No class at all from us.

Massive day for the club, the opportunity to secure a top 4 spot with 2 rounds to go is an absolute rarity. I feel like WC will come with a bit of fire today, they will have copped it in the media and they have the luxury of a crowd (good luck to the Perth Demons flying the flag!). A big round of upsets, we have to be the ones to get the job done.

This is the number one issue as to why it’s so frustrating with how good the bulldogs run is, it seems that whenever there is a 50/50 decision it goes their way. I don’t know how it happens and I’m not suggesting a deliberate plot by the umpires but it just seems to happen too much to ignore. For me both those decisions are stone cold HTB.

Watch all the cats fans complain about the injuries and blame them for any dips in form, completely ignoring the fact their footy department made that choice to back in their ageing list.

Ok the results this week make tomorrow MASSIVE for us. Being able to sew up top 4 AND go top of the table with 2 rounds left…please Melbourne just get the job done!

I was glad we reach out to him, and I’m glad he stonewalled us. I want player who want to be at the Dees, not guys that see a pay check. I said it in my last post, he and Carlton were made for each other.

Trickiest part for dropped players is there’s no way to push for selection with the VFL comp turning into a farce. Hibbo was good early when he returned but had earned being dropped with some really poor skills and mistakes. I reckon he’ll play finals though, his experience and toughness puts him right in the mix.

Like many I was one that suggested he should be traded not too long ago. He’s manage to carve out a really solid career with Melbourne through hard work and perseverance. He’s passionate about the Dees and gives his all. Well done Nibbler!

This is where the old system actually had it right, two bad but not suspendable actions should equal a one week stint. Call it the culmination rule. Either way you look at Selwood’s action, he lines the player up. There wasn’t any interest on the ball, his clout and standing in the game has protected him once again. Where are the commentators who condemned Viney last week saying it was a dirty act and not a good look?

Yep we gotta get the win on Monday, firstly (most importantly) that sews up top 4. But secondly we simply have to keep touch with the others in the 4. Port being in the top 4 is a joke, not since Hawthorn in 2018 is there a team in there that just isn’t that standard.

That Max King miss could have massive ramifications on the season. The amount of AFL footballers that miss from point blank is embarrassing to the league.

I just can’t work out how after last week with Viney, the optics not the injury to the player get examined and therefor gets a 2 week ban. But then this week a bump which frankly looks worse and even more deliberate just gets such a weak as p!$$ response. Michael Christian needs to be removed as MRO.

I was happy for us at the time but I really didn’t think Fritta should’ve got off, I feel like fend offs are an excuse players use to take people high at times. Personally I think for consistency he should get off, but acts like that should be given one week into the future. I can’t work out how Selwood gets such a nothing fine, those are the exact acts they should be trying to stamp out.

I think Melks has a lot to prove, his form before he was dropped was very poor but I can see the theory for bringing him in. He’s a good ball user going inside 50, but we will need a higher impact from work rate.

If anything was to sum up the BS of the MRO, this is it. One incident happening in the action of a fend off with ball in the hand given 2 weeks, the other a blatantly dangerous and dirty act given a weak as p!$$ fine. Micheal Christian needs to be replaced.

It’s curious going onto the AFL app that you see the article “Is Greene in trouble for this high elbow on Dangerfield?” Yet interestingly there is nothing at all about Selwood’s much more reckless bump. It’s hard not to make you think…. EDIT in the match report article towards the bottom there is a mention of Selwood’s bump.

Add in that the player he made contact with was subbed out with concussion (so will miss next week). Should be minimum a week, but I’m sure he’ll find a way to get off free.

I agree with this, I think Melbourne would like to keep him for if nothing else coverage. He would have to consider whether he would feature in the Melbourne line up in 12 months time on a regular basis, assuming he is both fit and showing form. Aside from Jackson our forward line is ageing so if he believes in himself I think he can do it. Brown getting into a little form at the pointy end of the season isn’t great for him though.