‘Attacking themselves from the inside’: Can the Dees turn it around?

This week on the Real Footy podcast, Michael Gleeson, Jake Niall and Caroline Wilson discuss the on and off-field issues for Melbourne after a third consecutive loss.

The Magpies were simply too good as they won their fourth on the trot, but the omission of Steven May via a club suspension didn’t help the premiers. Max Gawn was battered and bruised, while the Demons’ talls at either end of the ground were smashed in the aerial contests. Will the club’s off-field issues linger as the club tries to turn their form around?

Collingwood’s form can’t be underestimated, and the Magpies look en route to finals in 2022. Mason Cox has been the surprise packet, so where does he fit in when Brodie Grundy returns?

The other big news story of the week was, of course, Bailey Smith’s illicit substance indiscretion. Does Jeff Kennett’s call for zero tolerance have any merit?

The Bombers’ pre-match celebration of 150 years was fantastic, but unfortunately it was the same old on the field from Ben Rutten’s men. The coach made strong post-match comments on Jake Stringer, and Caroline Wilson responds to those.

Jason Horne-Francis’ frustration boiled over in his side’s loss to the Giants, as the Roos slumped to 1-12. Are they the AFL’s biggest basket case? And where to for Horne-Francis, who reportedly wants to return home to Adelaide?

Niall, Wilson and Gleeson debate whether Tom Jonas and Zak Butters should have been tested under the AFL’s concussion protocols, whether Nat Fyfe makes Fremantle a better team, and whether the Saints are too reliant on Max King, as well as answer some listener questions after another bumper round of football.

All that and more in this week’s edition of The Real Footy Podcast.

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