Ash35

For whatever reason, the Saints don't impress me. Their midfield isn't very dynamic, their backline is solid, but their forward line appears hit and miss. They don't seem to play at the MCG a lot, so that should work in Melbournes favour. Provided the bottom hasn't completely fallen out of Melbourne, I really do think the Dees get up this week. Essendons chances against Adelaide are diminishing by the day. West Coast should beat the Blues, so you may have to wait a week to get back into the 8, but a decent win against Brisbane the week after, and it's all set up for some finals action. Could be 1987 all over again, with 3 or 4 teams heading into the last round a chance to play finals.

It's good the be Cotchin. Whether Dangerfield or Grundy should be suspended is one thing, but what was the difference that got Danger 1 week and Grundy 2 weeks? Does Grundy have a previous record?

I think like a lot of teams that can't play finals, they get to about a month to go and they "target" a game to really get themselves up for. Unfortunately for Melbourne, I reckon North had last week as their "last hurrah" for 2017. They have this amazing record against Melbourne, and playing in Tassie, they had a real crack. The North Melbourne I saw Saturday night against Collingwood look like they have checked out for the year.

I've got Melbourne and probably the Bulldogs making up the top 8. It seems form can be lost or found pretty quickly this year. Bulldogs – Tough run home. GWS at Etihad, Port in Ballarat, then finish with the Hawks. Could win all of them, or none of them. Should probably at least beat Port, which gives them 48 points at the very worst, beat the Hawks and they should make it. Essendon – Adelaide this week is tough. Fantasia out, Zach Merrett likely suspended. I can’t see Essendon winning, a smashing at the hands of the Crows means a significant loss of percentage. Should, and I repeat should, win the last 2 games against Gold Coast and Freo, but funny things happen when Essendon play crap teams. 2 wins there give Essendon 48 points. It will all depend on the % lost this week to the Crows as to whether 48 points is enough. WCE – Will beat Carlton at Domain this week, but then have GWS at Spotless and finish with Adelaide in Perth. At this stage, I’m giving them 1 more win, leaving them on 44 points. Melbourne – Remarkably could lose to Saints and still make it. Play Brisbane and Collingwood to finish, both at MCG. I reckon Collingwood is a really tricky game to finish with though. But if they won both of them, including a big win over Brisbane, they finish on 48 points, with a % boost from the Brisbane win, they could leap frog both Essendon and WCE. Win this week against the Saints, and are just about in the box seat to make it. St Kilda – Due to their poor %, they really have to win all 3, which would include beating Richmond in the last round. Obviously a massive one this week against Melbourne, but will beat NM next week.

Show some class? What about my posts was unclassy? If you read my post in the game day thread you see I gave a positive spin on Melbournes finals chances. I still have you winning your last 3, Essendon will lose to Adelaide next week and you guys should replace us in the 8. I have not gloated today, or anything along those lines. Why would I, we are no better or worse than Melbourne, I've never come on here to start trouble. That's not what I'm about. But when I see an absolute rubbish post like the very first one I replied to, I will reply.

Quality post, thanks for your input. Just to be sure, I'm only allowed to post here when Melbourne win? Or is it only when Essendon lose?

Sorry Bloke, don't mean to annoy. I was just replying to an uneducated baloney post about Essendon playing 6 games in a row in Melbourne because we took drugs 5 years ago. The poster failed to note that Melbourne started this season with 7 games in Melbourne while in the same time Essendon had already travelled 3 times, so these things even out. Just ignore my posts if they annoy. Enjoy the video games tonight.

Yep, the 6 day breaks Melbourne have copped this year have been ridiculous.

Yep, the pick of the remaining games this round is definitely tomorrow

I honestly don't see the link between the Supplements saga and our 2017 fixture. We play 6 interstate away games this year, just happens that 5 of them were in the first 14 rounds and only 1 in the remaining. Melbourne on the other hand only have to play 4 away games interstate this season. It's not Essendons or my fault if your club have decided to play home games in Darwin. Injuries and suspensions are probably the main factors as to where Melbourne are now, not the "tough" fixture.

Positives : you have 3 very winnable games at the MCG to finish with, whereas Essendon and WCE for example have Adelaide. Eagles could well lose tomorrow as well. Despite the loss of Hogan, you are starting to get a few soldiers back. Jones will be better for the run, Gawn is regaining form, and hopefully Watts gets some form soon. Today wasn't great, you probably won't get GWS again without Greene, Cameron and Patton, but I honestly think the Dees still have a bit in them this year. Goes without saying, next week is vital. Beat the Saints, and I reckon you are as good a chance as any to play finals.

And then travel up to the Gold Coast the next week. See previous post

Wow, probably the most uneducated comment I've read in a while. Essendon played Swans at SCG in Round 14, so only our 6th game in Melbourne in a row, Not a bad run, but probably makes up for playing interstate in Rd 2, Rd 4, Rd 7 & Rd 11. Four interstate trips in the first 11 rounds, 5 in the first 14. But yep, that's why we won, not because we had 8 more scoring shots, kicked poorly, and escaped with an 8 point win. Agree with Brendan, looked like no one wanted 8th spot today.

As long as you guys beat North, which you should, purely from a Melbourne perspective, surely you are wanting Hawthorn, Gold Coast and Saints to win. Freo beating the Giants would be a real bonus. Bulldogs vs Essendon result is kinda irrelevant to Melbourne as only one or neither will make finals, and would think Melbourne don't fear either. Melbourne should be aiming for top 4, so obviously Richmond, Sydney and Port Adelaide losses are at the top of the wish list this week.

Wanted to mate, but I was caught between seeking retribution and making sure my girlfriend was ok. When she told me she wanted to leave, we left. I'm realistic enough to know this low life would be in the minority. I haven't let his actions affect my opinion of the Melbourne FC or the majority of its supporter base. But I guess it highlights that every single club has supporters that can give a club a bad name by their actions. Once you wear the colors, you area representing that club.

You see Sir, you are tricky. I said last night I wasn't going to talk about this anymore, and you suck me back in. No, I want answers too. But I'm realistic in that we aren't going to get them. So instead of letting what has already ruined a good few years of my football following life consume me more, yeah I guess I have chosen to try and move forward, focus on the club in it's current state, and do what I can to improve it's position as a supporter. I'm not proud of the clubs efforts over that period, it was an awful time where the club made error after error. If me trying to move forward makes me a bad person, so be it. Not to say that yes, I still want some answers and those responsible to be punished, I just don't expect it. We can debate about all the cover ups you want, but one man, Stephen Dank has the information we all desire. Yes it was Hird and Thompson who got him to the club, and the players should have asked more questions, and the Essendon Board of the time have walked away untouched, and Demetriou this, and David Evans that, but in the end, the main guy, numero uno for the cause of this is Stephen Dank, and he isn't talking. It's terrible that Essendon can't definitively say what the players were injected with. Or maybe they can and chose not to. That would be worse IMO. But why the authorities or whoever needs to haven't been able to get Stephen Dank to produce his paperwork, is beyond me.

Uncalled for by Sheeds. He has done a lot for the game, but I don't think this is one of his finer moments.

For about the 4th time, not trying to change opinions, just replying to posts with my point of view. Your friend is entitled to do what he did. Not many have taken that path, and that's just the way it is. As you say, everyone is different.

Yep, all of the inaction by the AFL justifies that low life scumbag Melbourne supporter physically assaulting my girlfriend that day. It almost sounds like you are hoping there is birth defect somewhere along the way just so Essendon can be punished again.

Frost has surprised me. Didn't think he was as good as he is. What a great asset to have a bloke who can play tall, but also provide run and dash from the backline. And Hunt is a gem. He is the sort of player that I can see, like Johanansen last year, winning a Norm Smith one day.

My exact quote is : But still amusing that the same posters go into Essendon hating mad drug cheats frenzy when the Dons are mentioned. I find some of the reactions on Demonland amusing, the actual saga itself, very serious and not amusing to me in the slightest. But you read what you want to read. Any excuse to get stuck into anything Essendon I guess. Yep, Windy Hill was a tough place for the opposition supporters, especially in yesteryears. A story I have, a bit more recent was from Round 6 this year, at Etihad Stadium. With Melbourne 6 goals up with about 2 mins to play, me and my partner decided to head home. On the way out as is tradition with her, win lose or draw, she buys a player badge from the Merchandise Shop. As we were leaving the Ground Level shop she was hit in the back of the head by a football thrown at her, by a Melbourne supporter. He then said to her "Cop that Drug cheats". As I was about to have a real physical go at this [censored], she stopped me and just said "Let's go". She wasn't injured, but very shaken by it. Luckily not life threatening like the old Windy Hill days. Every team has w*nker supporters, but obviously no one deserves to get smacked in the back of the head with a footy just cos they barrack for the drug cheats. I guess you would be the sort of person that would argue the actions of Essendon FC was the cause of the incident, but that low life crossed the line that day in my eyes.

I had my Melbourne loving daughters with me on the weekend. Melb vs Port and Ess vs NM was on simultaneously, so there was quite the battle as to which game we were watching and when. I saw about 50/50 of both games. We happened to be on the Melb/Port game as it was getting close when Melksham kicked the sealer. I said to my 11 year old as he was lining up, "Melksho will kick this". She is quite switched on for a 11 year old, but wasn't as confident. After it sailed through and the celebratory dance had finished, she asked me why I was so confident he would kick it. Said that I was at a Friday night game in 2013 against Carlton, we had come from about 5 goals down to pinch a win, and it was Melksham who had kicked the goal to put us in front. It was a set shot late in the game from about 50m on a bit of an angle. Very similar to Saturdays but at the other end of the MCG. As you said, didn't look to pass it off, just went back and kicked the goal. I said to her I just had a feeling he would do it again He is a good kick. Turn overs are a problem cos he often tries to bite off a bit more than he should with his kicking. Was drafted as a midfielder, but I don't think he got enough of the ball as a mid, so was eventually tried at half forward, but struggled to find consistency, would be in and out of the team. Too good for VFL, but didn't have much of an impact at AFL level. Goodwin has found what looks to be the perfect position for him as the defensive forward. He does it better than Bugg in my opinion. Goodwin wanted Melksham for a reason, and now we know why. To be honest, he probably needed a fresh start, not just because of the thing I am no longer going to talk about, but as I said, was struggling to find consistency, which can happen. So while I was a fan, I wasn't too disappointed to see him go, unlike Hibbard, who was in our best 12 players before the 12 month suspension.

Not trying to convince or convert any opinions here. Just responding to posts as they pop up. I get accused of finding the drug saga amusing by someone who obviously can't read or comprehend, and to be honest, whose opinion and views are so irrelevant to me, I don't why I bother even responding. But I did, and things have just gone from there. The absolute last word I would use to describe the Supplements saga is amusing. I was then told that I should have just walked away from supporting my club, so again I just responded. I'm seriously not here to try convince anyone of anything, I'd have more chance of teaching a monkey to play violin, I actually would have loved to just talk about Hibbo and Melkshams form. I sort of disagreed with the original post about Watson having sour grapes about Piggys form, whereas I actually think Watson was praising Hibbards performances, and it's taken off from there. Happy to no longer talk any Supplements/Drugs saga going forward.

Unfortunately we probably won't get what both you and I want. I want to know exactly what was given to the players. I want to know why the club let a rogue like Stephen Dank in. But I doubt we will ever know. And I can't see those involved ever coming out and admitting anything. Jesus, I still don't even know if Bomber Thompson has paid his fine to the AFL yet. And as for the supporters, you tend to only hear from the ones screaming Hirds and Essendons innocence from the roof tops. The passionate "We Stand By Hird" lot make the most noise. But I know of many many Essendon fans that are bitterly disappointed with what the club did, and wanted Hird removed as coach. I'll always love him as a player, and some of the recent event have bordered on tragic, but he has done his time. There were plenty of others that are just as much to blame, so I won't ever point the finger just at James Hird.

The club is more than just those responsible for this saga. Why shouldn't I support players like Daniher, Zach Merrett, Fantasia and McD-Tip, players who weren't even at the club in 2012. People in charge of the club in 2012 made awful decisions, individuals, you really want me to walk away from a club I have passionately supported for nearly 40 years of my life because individuals made shocking decisions. The names don't matter, in fact I didn't want Hird to return to coach us after his 1 year suspension. I will support my club so it can get better. If you think me being a member means I'm condoning what happened, not the case. The club is under new management, trying to move forward and improve. The club has probably just gone through it's lowest point ever, so while I hated what has happened, and in no way support what happened, I'm proud that have contributed to getting the Essendon FC back on its feet. The people in charge of the club now had nothing to do with the 2012 program, so why shouldn't I support them. As for the players involved, everyone has their view. Whether you see them as blatant drug cheats who knew exactly what they were taking and were happy to break the rules knowing that it was illegal, or a bunch of young men who were told one thing and given another, they have done their time and I think they should be allowed to play football with my support as they are representing the Essendon FC. Hibbard and Melksham deserve the same from the Melbourne supporters.