Josh Jenkins

They were building.

No one expected a great deal from them.

And it took a little while for them to get going to the team we've seen play finals in the last two seasons.

Melbourne, a win-loss ahead of that young Hawthorne team.

Now, it helps when you've got Max Gorn and you've got Pickett, two of the top ten players in the league.

Defensively, Leavers had a pretty decent start to the year.

They've got a couple of these older guys that have actually had really good starts to the year as well as that nice blend of youth.

But does house money get thrown out when you get to round 19 or 20 and you have an opportunity to win a game to get yourself a home final, albeit as a wildcard round or even in the top six?

So that's the interesting thing with Melbourne because the way they play their footy right now is fun, but does it stand up with their youth when games are absolutely at its highest intensity?

Absolutely.

Just on that, though, JJ, house money, I mean, we get to October, and if they lose a wildcard final or win a final, whatever it might be, fans are going to be able to look at this team with great positivity.

But when you get deep into the year and you have an opportunity to play a final or win a final...

Is the house money just get put to the side just for a split second in the actual moment?

Regardless of what happens, it's a season of positivity and going forward, it feels really positive.

But in the moment when you can win games and win finals that aren't easy to do, then you've got to be able to find a way.

All thanks to Osito and the Ford Ranger.

This is Sunday Crunch Time.

Plenty more.

Josh Jenkins and Cam Luke next.

Josh Jenkins and Cam Loop right around Australia.