Jaded No More

Can vouch for that too. Have seen him out and about a few times and my god he is such a lovely, down to earth guy. Really struggles taking a compliment and just so humble. Definitely one of the nicest footballers I've ever semi- socialised with while out.

He played his 38th career game last night. FFS how much more development do you want from a basketball convert, who started late, and has played FB, FF and now ruck? Unrealistic expectations are unrealistic.

THREE AFL GAMES PEOPLE!

Brilliantly insightful post. Thanks!

Just like Judd, when Scully wins a flag he'll give a single fist pump and then go off the ground to work on his kicking. He doesn't strike me as someone who enjoys anything too much. Steely resolve to get better.

Did anyone see Bailey grab Tom's face post game and give him a big happy scary stare and hug? I said to dad that he is probably saying "good game but if you leave I'll hunt you down and break your other kneecap" God I'll be heartbroken if he leave.

Collingwood by 45. Let's be realistic people, we won tonight and it was good, but Collingwood are miles ahead of us.

He has really struggled over the last few years, but he has had a very good season to date and an absolutely sensational night tonight. Vintage Rivers. I think for him it's all about having the right match up. He isn't very fast so he can't play on someone who will cut him up on the lead. I actually think he suits FB more so than CHB because when the ball is coming in high, he excels due to his ability to read the play.

Mitch Robinson should stick to doing what he does best, being a hack.

Great to see young kids coming in and backing themselves. Nicholson looks a touch classier than Evans for mine, but god Evans worked his butt off. He ran constantly to present and spread. Both didn't look at all out of place, and neither did Howe or Gawn to be honest. And for Nicho to come on and play so well after being the sub last week and again this week, was a sensational effort.

Tonight proved once and for all that skills and talent trump experience. Give me Evans, Nicholson, Howe and Gawn over Bate, Newton, Warnock and Petterd every single day of the week and twice on Sunday. Tonight also proved that a good midfield can make up for an undermanned defence and an underdeveloped forwardline.

Trengove's overhead marking is as good as any midfielder in the competition, and he has just enough [censored] in him to make him a real competitor. Watts I've always loved and never doubted, so no surprises there. F*$% the haters!

LOL! Funny how it took him 3 senior games to actually do something. Bloody hack. B)

Kidding yourselves if McKenzie isn't the top vote getter people. 6- McKenzie 5- Rivers 4- Gysberts 3- Martin 2- Trengove 1- Scully The game was won in the middle. Rivers also saved the day and was simply sensational. Harsh on pretty much everyone else who missed out. Especially Beamer, MacDonald, Watts and Evans who worked exceptionally hard!

I was sitting pretty high up, but he didn't make any real mistakes by foot for me. We're not talking a 70m spear pass, but when he kicked it, he hit targets and he did it well. Unless there was another giant out there that I was confusing him with Put it this way, when he has the ball I'm not thinking "we're all going to die".

With the exception of that shot on goal, his field kicking was actually surprisingly excellent. I spent years screaming "handball" to Jamar, but I don't feel the need to do that with Gawn. Exceptionally athletic and coordinated for a giant. Hopefully we can find a way to get plenty of game time into him this season, even if it's mostly as a forward. He actually took a grab against Dustin Fletcher+1. I fail to remember the last time we saw any Melbourne player take a contested overhead mark in the goal square against two opponents (save for Jurrah taking a speccy). Massive win that!

Hands down, improver/surprise packet of the year. We actually have more than one ruckman now. Hooray! I say when Jamar is back, straight to FF.

The Good Playing hard contested footy Having a forward target for the majority of the game Stemming the tide when Essendon were pressing in the last Watts Scully Trengove's marking and 1st quarter after which he got tagged! Gysberts Rivers ripping Essendon's forwards a new one Strauss' defensive game Martin killing it in the ruck Green up forward Evans and Nicholson using their speed Howe The Bad Sylvia's injury The Ugly Gawndog's goal kicking The bloody beautiful J. McKenzie 13 tackles Bailey's post game reaction The 'made me swallow my words' moment Morton backing back into a crucial contest on the wing!!! Well done son!

Gysberts says hello. 30 disposals again and elite hands in close. As good as Scully's. Those 4 playing together = win contested possession = win games. But for me tonight McKenzie typified what we have been lacking. He worked like a maniac and hunted that ball like his life depended on it.

Makes me proud to be a Melbourne supporter. Gun. Discuss.

Hardly make or break, but I am definitely looking forward to watching the midfield tonight. For the first time probably ever, all of Scully, Trengove, McKenzie and Gysberts are playing together, with the added bonus of Max Gawn in the ruck. They probably won't win the clearance count, but it's a glimpse of our potential premiership midfield.

Now let's hope he can get some big stats. And I'm done with the cheesy lines now.

You know what they say about big man.... B)

Do Port count as a legitimate footy team though? I suppose we live in a house made of poop so we can't sling crap at them, but realistically Essendon are miles and miles ahead of Port. It would be a large miracle if we win, but who cares, at least I get to go watch the future perform, as opposed to getting angry with the same old players who are not up to it. GAWN gives me much excitement. I will probably cheer like a crazed Justin Beiber fan every time he goes near it

Absolutely. Experience and age helps, there is absolutely no denying that, but quality will always beat (games) quantity. Give me 4 players with 30 games experience between them who could turn out to be stars and can use the ball well, over 4 guys with 300 games experience who can't kick, make stupid decisions and are soft. I think we have many better choices for captain, but the club decided not to take a punt on a younger player, like Grimes. While I don't necessarily disagree with that decision, I firmly believe that we won't have a decent leadership group and captain until we bite the bullet and appoint a young captain. Sadly, given the age and experience gaps on our list, it seems like one of Grimes, Trengove, Scully etc... will need to step up into the role before they are absolutely 100% ready. It's not completely fair, but great leaders excel under pressure. Our current leadership group craps itself regularly and has given us nothing in the past 4 weeks, when times have been tough.