Melbourne is the form team in the comp

[donkeypunchd]

Minus JK and Darling, and with a hell of a lot more to play for. The reality of finals is if they play WC again, it will be their third tough game while WC would be coming off a break. I like Melbourne, they are probably a better team than Collingwood or Hawthorn, but they can also be a bit flaky and putting together four perfect games in a row is tough.

We were missing Hogan, Lever & Viney, Hibberd & Melksham were just back from injury, and JKH & Kent had been in the VFL all year when we beat you. You weren’t exactly fielding the East Perth side and we had a lot of outs too.

 

[Macpotata]

I was sceptical given their run, but belting Adelaide at a neutral venue, despite injuries is super impressive.

They are putting on huge scores and still restricting teams. If they keep this up they will be a formidable prospect at years end. WC and Richmond have some catching up to do to match their current level.

They played West Coast well in last years prelim.

Maybe this year they'll get their revenge.

 

[Macpotata]

Collingwood v Melbourne in 2 weeks will be interesting. Winner top 4 contender, loser pretender.

interesting.

 

[HairyO]

2019 flag to go with their 2018 flag ?

 

[Gavin Excell]

As good as a chance as any team to win the flag

 

[Topkent]

Apart from West Coast.


Against you.

We have beaten them in Perth 2 years in a row home an away an most WC fans would agree we should have beaten them in 2016 as well in Perth but their defence was outstanding. ( no darling an Kennedy certainly helped this year )

I think the prelim was one step too far but it was nice to dream. Realistically had we got any of the other top 4 in the semi it would have ended there which was about right

 

[Topkent]

As good as a chance as any team to win the flag

** I think this whole thing rests on whether May an Lever can gel into our backline and make a difference
Last year our key defenders were Omac an Frost, don't compare well to McGovern/Barass/Rance/Grimes

I think one of those 2 needs to be in AA form for us to get in because the rest of the side works

 

[threesixpio]

As good as a chance as any team to win the flag

Very non committal GE

 

[Gavin Excell]

Very non committal GE

I see them in a group of 4 capable of saluting.
Just have a doubt about the mental side of things

 

[threesixpio]

I see them in a group of 4 capable of saluting.
Just have a doubt about the mental side of things

The word soft comes to mind for me

 

[Gavin Excell]

The word soft comes to mind for me

Not so much soft, but more belief etc. Think they may be one season away

 

[Cotchins Hair Piece]

Macpotata why so salty still?

 

[Gavin Excell]

Macpotata why so salty still?

Cotchins hair is amazing. He was at Flemington the other day being interviewed and his hair was almost vertical from his forehead

 

[hk89]

Cotchins hair is amazing. He was at Flemington the other day being interviewed and his hair was almost vertical from his forehead

He was always very Eddie munster. Now with his beard, he is Eddie munster with a beard:

 

[Tulip]

The word soft comes to mind for me

You misspelt 'salt'.

 

[hk89]

You misspelt 'salt'.

Thanks for reminding us that you beat Hawthorn essentially without Mitchell and O'Meara. You also beat West Coast a few weeks before that without Darling and Kennedy. How did you go against those two teams when those four players all played? 67 and 66 point hidings.

 

[Scotland]

Mitchell played more minutes in the SF than any other Hawthorn midfielder and had 24 touches.

Who gives a shit about Rd 4? Hawthorn lost to North the following week, did that have a bearing on September?

Melbourne were 2-0 in finals then shat the bed in the prelim in Perth. Hawthorn were 0-2 and with a side ~2 years older on average with 700 games more experience. Melbourne are on the up. They've got two monkeys off their back in making the finals (as they should have in 2017) and winning finals. I don't think many will be tipping Hawthorn to finish higher in 2019.

 

[the harry]

Mitchell played more minutes in the SF than any other Hawthorn midfielder and had 24 touches.

Who gives a shit about Rd 4? Hawthorn lost to North the following week, did that have a bearing on September?

Melbourne were 2-0 in finals then shat the bed in the prelim in Perth. Hawthorn were 0-2 and with a side ~2 years older on average with 700 games more experience. Melbourne are on the up. They've got two monkeys off their back in making the finals (as they should have in 2017) and winning finals. I don't think many will be tipping Hawthorn to finish higher in 2019.

Melbourne didn't shit the bed, they just weren't good enough.

 

[Tulip]

Mitchell played more minutes in the SF than any other Hawthorn midfielder and had 24 touches.

Who gives a shit about Rd 4? Hawthorn lost to North the following week, did that have a bearing on September?

Melbourne were 2-0 in finals then shat the bed in the prelim in Perth. Hawthorn were 0-2 and with a side ~2 years older on average with 700 games more experience. Melbourne are on the up. They've got two monkeys off their back in making the finals (as they should have in 2017) and winning finals. I don't think many will be tipping Hawthorn to finish higher in 2019.

'Without O'Meara '. Apparently he makes them a 10-goal better side.

Melbourne didn't shit the bed, they just weren't good enough.

Nobody's saying we deserved to beat you, but the scoreline was a massive outlier in terms of our season.

 

[master bate]

Melbourne didn't shit the bed, they just weren't good enough.

That's like saying West Coast didn't shit the bed as the Pies kicked the first 5 goals of the grand final, they just weren't good enough.

Overall Melbourne weren't good enough. Didn't have the key defenders, needed some class on the outside and still need some better pressure forwards to beat the Eagles at their best.

But the way Melbourne were beat up around the ball from the first bounce in the Prelim was a side with a number of mentally and physically tired players not being mentally prepared for the contest and environment and getting blown away. I know the Eagles took the foot off the gas but the 2nd half was at least some form of contest once the shell shock (and result) was decided. Credit to the Eagles for stemming the flow half way through the first quarter of the Grand Final, they had the talent, leadership, physical and mental ability to get things turned around about 15 minutes in. A lot of sides don't.

 

[Lolbert]

That's like saying West Coast didn't shit the bed as the Pies kicked the first 5 goals of the grand final, they just weren't good enough.

Overall Melbourne weren't good enough. Didn't have the key defenders, needed some class on the outside and still need some better pressure forwards to beat the Eagles at their best.

But the way Melbourne were beat up around the ball from the first bounce in the Prelim was a side with a number of mentally and physically tired players not being mentally prepared for the contest and environment and getting blown away. I know the Eagles took the foot off the gas but the 2nd half was at least some form of contest once the shell shock (and result) was decided. Credit to the Eagles for stemming the flow half way through the first quarter of the Grand Final, they had the talent, leadership, physical and mental ability to get things turned around about 15 minutes in. A lot of sides don't.

Agree, Melbourne losing wasn't shitting the bed, the scoreline definitely was. Looking forward to seeing how you guys go this year. I've tipped you as minor prems

 

[hk89]

'Without O'Meara '. Apparently he makes them a 10-goal better side.

Without O'Meara AND Mitchell who had to play 3 quarters with a busted AC-joint, and was hurt badly enough that wouldn't have been able to play the following week. Given we arguably had the shallowest midfield of any of the top 8 teams, yes those two out or injured in the first quarter was worth a lot of goals. Probably not 10, you had a few players back in your side from your first humiliating loss to us, so it would have been much closer either way, but it was going to be hard without O'Meara, and then Mitchell with 1 arm for 3 quarters pretty much sealed out fate. It wasn't surprising you got thumped by WC the next week when you only managed 3 more scoring shots against a midfield that was essentially led by Shiels after the first quarter. Hopefully both sides go in full as close to full strength as possible when we play this year, should be a good contest.

 

[Scotland]

'Without O'Meara '. Apparently he makes them a 10-goal better side.

And Mitchell who had to play with a sore shoulder. But they're going to be A OK this year even though he won't feature at all.

 

[Tulip]

Without O'Meara AND Mitchell who had to play 3 quarters with a busted AC-joint, and was hurt badly enough that wouldn't have been able to play the following week. Given we arguably had the shallowest midfield of any of the top 8 teams, yes those two out or injured in the first quarter was worth a lot of goals. Probably not 10, you had a few players back in your side from your first humiliating loss to us, so it would have been much closer either way, but it was going to be hard without O'Meara, and then Mitchell with 1 arm for 3 quarters pretty much sealed out fate. It wasn't surprising you got thumped by WC the next week when you only managed 3 more scoring shots against a midfield that was essentially led by Shiels after the first quarter. Hopefully both sides go in full as close to full strength as possible when we play this year, should be a good contest.

Agree it will be a good contest when we next play. Reason this whole discussion started is you suggested the Dees are a soft touch. Contested footy is our biggest strength, particularly when compared to say our dash out of defence, or trying to replace Hogan.

 

[JackOutback]

Melbourne didn't shit the bed, they just weren't good enough.

A little from column A, a little from column B. Obviously they weren't good enough overall, but neither should they have been goalless at half-time and spanked by 66 points, given their team. They panicked a little under the pressure, they will better for it this year, you'd think.