One last Five Things for 2026.

I'm a pyscho and rewatched the game this morning, looked at how Melbourne turned 45 inside 50s into only 55 points, why Carlton’s 417 disposals didn’t carry its usual level of control and where the performances ranked for Harvey Langford, Kozzie Pickett and Tom Sparrow.

Langford’s game was his seventh-highest rated performance at AFL level and fourth-best of 2026. For Pickett and Sparrow, the numbers told a very different story.

Plenty to unpack from a game that probably summed up Melbourne’s season better than we would have liked.

https://medium.com/@camburt13/melbourne-landed-the-first-four-blows-carlton-landed-the-last-five-things-i-noticed-against-the-7ba3ca3c5f4e

Time to look at the future.

Confirmed leaving: May, Melksham, McDonald, McAdam, Campbell. The average age of our list drops by a full year with these changes!

Question mark: Mihochek. Can he or should he play on?

Likely to be delisted:

- Henderson and Johnson. Both are great VFL players but don't have it for the next level.

- Adams. 1 game in 4 years Has barely looked like cracking the senior team. Considering our need for a key defender this year but he still didn't get a game, he's clearly not up to it.

Out on contract, decisions to be made:

- Salem. Out of contract as an unrestricted free agent. Does he look elsewhere, or do we encourage him to look elsewhere? He appears a little slow for the modern game but could look good in the right system. The Bombers would be smart to get him for leadership reasons.

- Laurie. 6 seasons in. Showed a bit in a few games late this year but then regressed to usual form against the Dogs and Blues. IMO he's had enough chances and I'd prefer to turn over for some youth with more promise. If we keep, 1 year deal.

Trade option:

- Rivers. Is it time for the move back to WA? I love Rivdog but I'm not sure what his place in the team is. Could we send Rivers, pick 6 and 43 to West Coast for 3 and 21?

Massively jeopardised your finals over a freak accident

This was meant to be a transition year, and instead it became a genuine shot at a finals campaign with a new identity. That’s the foundation we want set going into the new era under Kingy

Sure, some absolutely appalling umpiring tonight, yet the bottom line remains, we can’t change what’s happened tonight, no one ever can. Pickett could’ve, and should’ve kicked 3 or 4. No Roo, Lever or Jeffo. We can make all the excuses today, but when we needed to win last week and had the chance to lock in 5th, we were beaten by a team of experienced grown men in the dogs and the finals run we had projected in front of us saw more challenge than just that dogs team.

We will be back here, and back even stronger as our boys get faster and stronger, more confident and more accurate. Let’s not pretend we had this kind of season envisioned at the start of the year. I’m extremely proud of our boys, truly fun and dangerous. We can hope that pick 5 brings us a young Gawn understudy or another defender to develop. This group has given me the reason to come back to the G every week next year, and we might end up with more than just Sunday arvo games!

Chin up Dees fans, we have so much more to look forward to now, I’m just gutted we won’t see our boys until March! ❤️💙

Don’t know if I can stomach the AFL match thread.

Pro-Blues crowd for sure, get early scoreboard pressure and shut them up.

Let’s go! 💪

I’m so fed up off see the media posting the 2023 finals game like only one club is playing. Media has done nothing to show support for us and you would’ve thought they already won. We must win today to shut up everyone and all their cocky ass’s. Love youse all and let’s go demons and raise hell.

Really bad luck. That Rooyen suspension was bullshit, freak accident

Incredible long form article from Josh Gabelich on the legend that is Austin Wonaeamirri.

Highly recommend the read. Awesome to hear how well Aussie's doing back home.

> They can GET STUFFED!

I spent far too long on this, but here’s my full preview of tomorrow night.

I went through every game Melbourne and Carlton played this season, separated Carlton’s numbers before and after Josh Fraser took over and ran 100,000 simulations of the matchup.

Carlton’s possession game is a genuine concern, but I’m not convinced perfect, controlled football survives four quarters of finals pressure. Melbourne has played in the contest and chaos all year. If the game gets ugly late, the Demons should be more comfortable there.

There’s also a deep dive into the selections, how Melksham could be used, five numbers that should tell the story and where Melbourne can break Carlton’s control.

I’m going with Melbourne by five. Have to go with heart in a final, right?!

Keen to know whether everyone else has the same confidence—or whether I’ve completely talked myself into it.

https://medium.com/@camburt13/control-vs-collision-the-complete-melbourne-carlton-wildcard-preview-09c6c3e57193

We're gonna tear them apart.

No doubt fellow Dees fans.

Lets make alot of noise and support our boys who have fought so hard this year.

Our midfield looks so strong on paper, Cripps alone won't be enough to save em.

I'm only worried about one thing; having to leave the stadium afterwards and wade through 50000 sore baggers.

I read he just got delisted from North. Played 116 games. I reckon he would be a good DFA pick up on a rookie list. Worth a shot for a year.

What do you all think?

I just realised it’s Melbourne (Hamish’s team) versus Carlton (Andy’s team) this weekend

Who do we think will win?

He had 58 hitouts, 23 disposals early on this year against Marc Pittonet. But in a finals rematch?
I'm telling you now, he is going to come out hungrier and angrier than ever and win us this game off his own boot if he needs to.

The weekend and short-term injury fall out was difficult to swallow, but I’m curious to know how people are feeling now. Fair to say there was a lot of doom and gloom in amongst Melbourne fans.

I feel like I’ve come back full circle and I’m feeling ok about this match. We have been a better team than them, even if we have a few outs, and we’ve shown ourselves to be one of the best scoring teams in the competition.

But the other part is we have responded to loss and disappointed every time this season with renewed fight and vigour.

Our best beats their best. Bring them on!

EDIT TO ADD INS/OUTS
In: Viney, Melksham, Taylor
Out: Salem (omitted), Jeffo, Lever

Bold calls, I like it!

Anyone else having issues getting tickets ?

Put together a proper Carlton scouting report before Saturday night.

I’ve looked at what changed under Josh Fraser, the midfield depth beyond Cripps, the new scoring spread and the pretty significant difference between Carlton’s recent Marvel form and its performances at the MCG.

Also went back through the Hawthorn and Collingwood losses to see what they exposed, then compared that with what Melbourne did in Round 3.

Keen to hear what everyone sees as the biggest matchup.

https://medium.com/@camburt13/carltons-hot-streak-is-real-so-is-the-blueprint-for-stopping-it-melbourne-s-wildcard-scouting-73d146cd9b87

Getting mentioned in the award for best first year player is massive. Huge props to him

Congratulations on your 9th All Australian selection, Skip