1 minute ago, praha said:

Finals may well be played in Tassie and Geelong, deev. TBH I can't see finals being played in front of a crowd until at least the Prelims. And finals won't be played in empty stadiums. We won't come out of lockdown until all cases have been insolation for their infectious period. My conservative prediction is August 24. Absolute worst case scenario. That is before the weekend of the pre-finals bye. You have to expect 2-3 weeks after lockdown ends before crowds can return. That puts us in the week leading into Prelims. So it's a tight timeline.

Cant they just give us the cup now after lasts night's effort.

41 minutes ago, Jaded said:

Mate really? 
Dogs won’t lost to Port at home firstly. Secondly winning games is never a disaster. We cemented a double chance last night. The rest is irrelevant 

Yeah I was taking the micky a little with labeling last night a 'disastrous win"

But you'd have to agree it would be a bit of a top 4 booby prize if we copped Port over there in week 1.

3 minutes ago, leave it to deever said:

Cant they just give us the cup now after lasts night's effort.

I was totally against winning a flag by default but with all the COVID uncertainty and the fact that 99% of our membership base probably won't see a final live this year, I now say bring that idea on.

On 8/8/2021 at 7:41 PM, Jaded said:

Look there’s nothing surer than us blowing up this incredible opportunity we’ve been handed. #MelbournedoingMelbournethings

Adelaide looms a la Collingwood of 2017

It's possible that 3 of 4 games in the first week of finals could be replays of round 23 games. Us v cats, port v dogs and Brissie v West Coast. Would be a strange week 1 if it falls that way.

1 hour ago, Demonland said:

 

I see we're back to the "it's bad to be top" thing again.

55 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Yeah I was taking the micky a little with labeling last night a 'disastrous win"

But you'd have to agree it would be a bit of a top 4 booby prize if we copped Port over there in week 1.

Port would have to beat the Dogs at Marvel for this to happen.

Port is 2-5 against the top 8, with one of those wins vs GWS (the worst side in the top 8).

It's not probable.

Everything is in our hands now. If we beat the Crows, the game against the Cats will be a play off for the minor premiership. I wouldn't mind losing that to be honest, as it's very possible we'll play them again in the first week of the finals. I'd love to leave something up our sleeve for them when it counts.

In saying that, I also don't mind belting them, then belting them again. 

I think we should target top spot as it means most likely opponent is Port in a qual final. 

1 minute ago, BDA said:

I think we should target top spot as it means most likely opponent is Port in a qual final. 

Also because we haven't won a minor premiership since 1964 and it would be a really nice thing for the fans.

We have beaten every in the top 14 at least once. Who else has a better record than that going into finals? 

1 hour ago, titan_uranus said:

Port would have to beat the Dogs at Marvel for this to happen.

Port is 2-5 against the top 8, with one of those wins vs GWS (the worst side in the top 8).

It's not probable.

I'm a believer that if you throw a bunch of darts on the board, eventually you'll hit the target.

Hence I think Port are well overdue to beat a top 4 side in the Dogs, and I see that game as a 50/50.

As an aside, did we trade any first (or second) round picks in this year's draft?

1 minute ago, Timothy Reddan-A'Blew said:

As an aside, did we trade any first (or second) round picks in this year's draft?

We hold:
Picks 31, 38, 54 at this stage (give or take a spot or two after ladder movement in the final couple rounds)

2 hours ago, titan_uranus said:

Port is 2-5 against the top 8, with one of those wins vs GWS (the worst side in the top 8).

Sorry, not convinced GWS are/Will be the worst side in the top 8.

*  Brisbane have been puss over the last 4+ weeks since loosing a few players

*  West Coast are complete puss anywhere but Optus

*  If Richmond fall into the top 8 almost by default, then they will be every bit the battle weary, flaky side, just ready to fold like a pack of cards against decient opposition.  They might pull one out first week of finals, but will be found out in subsequent weeks.  Haven't had what it takes to string together consistent form and wins against good sides this season.

17 minutes ago, adonski said:

We hold:
Picks 31, 38, 54 at this stage (give or take a spot or two after ladder movement in the final couple rounds)

Thanks, Adonski. So we did trade future picks? That's proving to be another list management win!😃

2 minutes ago, Timothy Reddan-A'Blew said:

Thanks, Adonski. So we did trade future picks? That's proving to be another list management win!😃

Sure did. Traded IN: Picks 18 (Bowey), 19 (Laurie) & a 2021 2nd rounder. For picks 25, 68, 69 & 2021 1st rounder. An excellent trade in hindsight. 

Current top 8 record against the current top 8:

1. Melbourne: 7-2
2. Bulldogs: 6-3
3. Sydney: 5-3
4. Geelong: 4-4
5. GWS: 4-5
6. Brisbane: 3-4
7. Port Adelaide: 2-5
8. West Coast: 1-6

If all finals are played in Perth it would be so fantastic if WC missed out.

Winning the flag in front of those campaigners the only time it's ever played there would almost compensate for not being able to go.

4 hours ago, adonski said:

Sure did. Traded IN: Picks 18 (Bowey), 19 (Laurie) & a 2021 2nd rounder. For picks 25, 68, 69 & 2021 1st rounder. An excellent trade in hindsight. 

not bad, very good in fact 

effectively we get 18 + 19 + 30?  for   18? + 25    (ignoring 68, 69)

2 minutes ago, daisycutter said:

not bad, very good in fact 

effectively we get 18 + 19 + 30?  for   18? + 25    (ignoring 68, 69)

Yeah we fleeced the Lions. 

Will be interesting in the last round with us playing the Cats and the Dogs playing Port. It could work out that after a week's rest the same teams line up again for the first week of the finals.