2 hours ago, Rod Grinter Riot Squad said:

Was so happy to see Alex Johnson get through the game, just great to see him playing again after all he has gone through.

His father, a top amateur footballer with Uni Blacks ,is(? Was) a dead keen Demon man....so I have a soft spot for him, though I hope he has a downer next week.

Probably only Tigers and Eagles safe. All clubs from 3rd to 10th play - in most cases - 2 other contenders. 

We get three after Suns.  

Gotta win a few if we’re serious. 

Really like what Chris Fagan is building up there in Brisbane and loved the footage of him consoling Rayner after their loss to Nth.  Their playing list now seems genuinely invested in the club and they’ve moved miles ahead of Carlton who were at a similar stage on their rebuild.

 

1 hour ago, brendan said:

Had us beating suns, Swans and giants 

lose to giants and we slip to 7th 

too 4 has really opened up for us now 

This was the close to scenario I was talking about. We win all four and swap with GWS and the path to the GF becomes harder. Crazy - but we need to drop one of our matches. Even sixth could end up better than third.

8 minutes ago, TeamPlayedFine39 said:

Really like what Chris Fagan is building up there in Brisbane and loved the footage of him consoling Rayner after their loss to Nth.  Their playing list now seems genuinely invested in the club and they’ve moved miles ahead of Carlton who were at a similar stage on their rebuild.

 

Hope they pinch a couple cos they play Eagles, Pies and Suns

2 minutes ago, Skuit said:

This was the close to scenario I was talking about. We win all four and swap with GWS and the path to the GF becomes harder. Crazy - but we need to drop one of our matches. Even sixth could end up better than third.

Tanking never does anyone any good  - unless you mean a Play “Casey” team scenario. 

Didn’t North make 15 changes one year? Think Freo and Hawks “managed” final rounds as well. 

 

5 minutes ago, radar said:

Tanking never does anyone any good  - unless you mean a Play “Casey” team scenario. 

Didn’t North make 15 changes one year? Think Freo and Hawks “managed” final rounds as well. 

 

The last potential finals ladder manipulation occurrence that springs to mind was I think 2015 and involved us. The memory is very vague, but my recollection is that if Freo tanked against us in the last home and away round they could play the Eagles in WA in the first round of the finals rather than travel to Geelong.

They didn't tank, and went on to score a rare win at Kardinia after playing exceptionally well. But it was maybe Blight who suggested in the lead-up that they should tank - and that speculation alone is an incredibly bad look for the AFL and exposes the flaws in the current finals system.

I've been banging on about the potential of a higher-placing finals travel disadvantage for years as to our nation-wide competition and 'double-chances'  - and I'm horrified that it may be us who cops the exact worse scenario this year (placing behind a WA team in second with a Vic team in fifth against an interstate or weak team in 8th). 

That Jenkins goal was obviously a goal.     Hinkley and the Power trying to claim a  win under false pretenses... pathetic. 

We may need to win 3 of the last 4 games to make it now.  14 wins may be the threshold for 8th spot..  but who knows,  upsets should happen.    A win today takes us to 4th on the ladder. 

I wouldn't care if we had to play on the moon in week one of the finals, I must want to see the team play a God Damn final for once in my life.

4 hours ago, Skuit said:

This was the close to scenario I was talking about. We win all four and swap with GWS and the path to the GF becomes harder. Crazy - but we need to drop one of our matches. Even sixth could end up better than third.

In no way is finishing 6th better than finishing 3rd.

Finish 3rd and the path is easier...  win Week 1 and your straight into a Prelim.... lose and you get another crack at it the week after.

I would back us in week 1 on West Coast or the GWS home turf. We will prove our credentials in rounds 22 and 23. Perfect rehearsal.

25 minutes ago, BigFez said:

I wouldn't care if we had to play on the moon in week one of the finals, I must want to see the team play a God Damn final for once in my life.

I’m paddling the same boat as you, could care less if we finished top 4 or just made the 8th spot by %. Just please Dees make the finals. Play who we play and get amongst it.

Sheesh....it was hard to sleep last night after watching all those games yesterday. The last 3 Saturday night games on 7 have been a treat for the neutral. Hint, hint AFL. 

If Freo can throw a curve ball today and knock off West Coast.....well....strap in folks. Eagles travel to Port next week. 

Edited August 4, 20186 yr by Dee Zephyr

I love Buckley playing the sympathy card saying injuries hurt them. After 4 years of massive injury lists it’s not bad luck it’s bad player management. Get some new fitness staff!!

10 hours ago, trout said:

Sydney and Buddy finding form just in time for us. Buddy was moving like a busted old man last week this week back to his scary best.

Perfect scenario for us (assuming we win today of course). 

I was worried if they lost badly and Buddy played poorly today that we might take them lightly next week which is something you should never do where the Swans are involved.

With Buddy back to his best yesterday, hope he plays like a busted old man next Sunday. 

 

I can't believe people are suggesting we tank Round 23 when we haven't taken a scalp this year and there is still the real possibility that we end the season in 10th. 

10 hours ago, trout said:

Sydney and Buddy finding form just in time for us. Buddy was moving like a busted old man last week this week back to his scary best.

He was playing on a first gamer after Darcy Moore went down with a hammy.

Buddy will get Frosted next week.

2 minutes ago, Petraccattack said:

He was playing on a first gamer after Darcy Moore went down with a hammy.

Buddy will get Frosted next week.

He had three on Moore at Qtr time, he was in the zone and when its not against the Dees I love watching him play like that. It will be interesting too see who we play on Buddy, Frost has the speed but his turnovers could gift him a bag.

13 hours ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Absolutely. We hold our own destiny. 

Great round of footy. 

Terrific round of footy! Helps us if we can control ourselves in the sunset of the home and away rounds.

Due to unforeseen results across the weekend, our best position is to make 4th in the top 8 teams should we crucify the Suns today; it must be stressed that percentage is critical to position.

Let's hope that we can also maximise our talent base for each game - limited experimentation with 'possibles' and clear standards of winning football including the strategic use of the bench (talent, form, experience and asset-driven returns). Hibberd, Viney, Pedo, AVB, Hunt, Harmes, Kent, Frosty, Wagner, for example, back to form, fitness and impact.

We have to play 'nasty' and keep it up, too, in order to cement an impressive footprint on the game that might force other teams against whom were are directly competing to concede surprise and unmanageability onfield.

Exposure to solid football and its related confidence of intent will also assist us to negate the White Brethren interference in the outcome of games that we play and the unchallenged nature of such interference at a time when, thanks to this week's round so far, the AFL is under massive public scrutiny for decisions in the plural that it has used this year - in particular - to underwrite the success of certain teams.

The MFC must play football akin to the toughness of the Cats and the Hawks in recent, previous years. Now, let's friggin' well go for it across what is left of this season and into the finals. Take no prisoners. 

Edited August 4, 20186 yr by Deemania since 56

I'm not so sure North will make it. 

Next two games are Bulldogs and Adelaide and based on yesterday's results their run home looks harder and could easily drop both games.

Higgins will be back for them which will help but I wouldn't count North in the 8 just yet!!

10 hours ago, Wadda We Sing said:

Ive said it before but......in Formula 1 you can see the rubber coming off car tyres at 300kmh.......if your gonna have a score review, get separate high def cameras on the friggin goal posts!!! Its not rocket science surely....Seriously its a billion dollar industry.....do we have to pass the hat around for you afl and buy some cameras?

It's not even the technology. Their whole approach is back-arseward. Even with their existing cameras that they got out of a Hollywood Director Barbie box, they will overrule calls where there is no evidence to support it, and (like last night) will uphold calls where there is evidence to overrule.

Until they fix their method, high res cameras will probably only increase the magnitude of the stuffups.

Im not sure Port will make it either, West Coast and the Pies in the next two weeks and could drop both games.

Edited August 4, 20186 yr by Jibroni

25 minutes ago, Mazer Rackham said:

It's not even the technology. Their whole approach is back-arseward. Even with their existing cameras that they got out of a Hollywood Director Barbie box, they will overrule calls where there is no evidence to support it, and (like last night) will uphold calls where there is evidence to overrule.

Until they fix their method, high res cameras will probably only increase the magnitude of the stuffups.

I doubt a tech solution will ever be 100% (though it could be a lot better than now).

But there's an alternative: Just do what we did for 100+years and rely solely on the goal umpire's call.  No video checks. Goal umps may get it wrong from time, but that happens all over the ground with probably more effect on the outcome of matches.

7 hours ago, Skuit said:

This was the close to scenario I was talking about. We win all four and swap with GWS and the path to the GF becomes harder. Crazy - but we need to drop one of our matches. Even sixth could end up better than third.

Disagree. A double chance has to increase chance of winning the gf. For a start we could beat ?

9 hours ago, Skuit said:

Third will be a horrible spot to finish. A likely trip to Western Australia - the second in a month - and then a potential return to play 5th spot - possibly vs Collingwood or Hawthorn - at 'home' - possibly again after one of these Vic teams played the same venue vs 8th spot the week before without having to travel. Finals format is flawed. 

We need to take it easy the next few weeks. And a tank may be on in round 23 if third spot is in play. 

Can't agree with this.

Firstly, the loser of 2v3 gets the winner of 6v7, not 5v8.

Secondly, you have no idea who will finish 6/7 - could equally be Port.

Thirdly, if Collingwood fails to make the top 4 and slumps to the bottom half of the eight, it will solidify what people are thinking about them already, which is that their injuries are catching up with them.

Fourthly, if we finish 5th we could easily cop a trip to Port, West Coast or GWS in the second week of the finals, how is that a good thing?

Fifthly, it it happens we'll have beaten Sydney, West Coast in Perth and GWS in consecutive weeks, then get a rest. Why wouldn't we be able to back that up with another strong performance in the first final?

I went to the Poos/Wees v Drug Cheats match yesterday. So many turnovers/skill errors!!

Hawks won because they had 2 classy forwards - Breust and Gunston.