If Jonesy is named medi sub it'll be form based and because the coaching team think he can play his part if called upon. I just don;t believe we would let sentimentality dictate his selection.

9 minutes ago, Nasher said:

I kind of hope Goody gives Jones a clear no go and he goes home to be with his family for the birth of his twins. Feels cruel to string him out when we can all see he’s probably not going to play.

Maybe Nathan wants to be part of it, in the team or not?

1 hour ago, jnrmac said:

I have a sneaking suspicion that Henderson is sore...

Sore neck from watching goals being pounded over his head. 

43 minutes ago, Demonstone said:

I like arguing.  What's there been to argue about this year ?

We should all give up football and instead follow track and field.  Discus.

I hear from a close friend in the know that Bicavs used to be a good long distance runner

Vanders would kill it at the hammer throw

1 hour ago, titan_uranus said:

Don't know if this has been posted on here yet: https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/teams/melbourne-demons/afl-finals-2021-melbourne-vs-geelong-preliminary-final-mental-scars-2018-prelim-vs-west-coast-will-schofield-comments-news/news-story/22b7e75c5968ee20a3d0079db4ccd8d8

Will Schofield is a [censored] but the insight into how West Coast treated us with absolute disdain in 2018 is interesting.

Was expecting a heap of angry replies to this, but I notice all but 1 person completely ignored it.

That is painful reading, but it's exactly the mindset that a "winning" team takes into the big games, especially against a team that has consumed its own bathwater in the past. They identified our weaknesses and used they hype about us as mental ammo to push them to crush us and it worked a treat. Can't argue with a word he said.

The only way to stop sides thinking about us like this is to win the big games. Flags bring respect.

14 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Too many arvo beers?

Breakfast beers

12 minutes ago, Skuit said:

Just went and bought all the requisite snacks and drinks for tomorrow night now, so no need to be out in public in the lead-up to the game. My local Woolies had boxes of Cheezles on special for $1, which I haven't eaten since 1988, so I took it as a redemptive omen. Should make any Gawn-yawn interesting though if I lose my nerve before kick-off. 

Good deal on the Cheezles, I will have to head out in the morning. Woolies also have Lolly Gooble Bliss Bombs, which have been requested by the daughter as the celebration snack!!!

2 minutes ago, DubDee said:

I hear from a close friend in the know that Bicavs used to be a good long distance runner

Vanders would kill it at the hammer throw

Steeplechase!! However, I have never seen a Steeplechaser with a hairband!

I think this is the best team we can put out at the moment and that is fantastic for us. 

Feeling confident
 

Its good to hear some are pretty relaxed and Im nervous as anything, will be lucky to get 5 hours sleep tonight.

 

 

Just some dust in my eye.

Love this club

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/video/1014855/message-to-the-members?videoId=1014855&modal=true&type=video

 

 

 

Strawbs coming on the Front Bar now

58 minutes ago, Jaded said:

Needs less teeth. 

Yep, someone grab a black texta

1 hour ago, Demon17 said:

The story is an intetesting piece of self promotion. Look how clever we were.

The heart of the story is really about schofields propensity for his own mental scarring and fears on gf day.

In that gf in 18 josh Kennedy dragged them over the line. 

Schofields gf record:?

In 2015 gf. 5 kicks in 92% tog

In 2018 gf 7 kicks in 100% tog

Huge contibutory gf record - not.

Good read though.

But he won one.    But the psychological games are interesting.  Plus we were near the end of our physical effort by the PF in 2018, WC were fresh off the break and on a tough home deck. 

Strawbs looks like he could still play.

2 hours ago, titan_uranus said:

Don't know if this has been posted on here yet: https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/teams/melbourne-demons/afl-finals-2021-melbourne-vs-geelong-preliminary-final-mental-scars-2018-prelim-vs-west-coast-will-schofield-comments-news/news-story/22b7e75c5968ee20a3d0079db4ccd8d8

Will Schofield is a [censored] but the insight into how West Coast treated us with absolute disdain in 2018 is interesting.

FWIW, the word ambush is absolutely the best way to describe what happened to us that Saturday afternoon. This is exactly what we need to do tomorrow night to the Cats and put it away early.

1 hour ago, DubDee said:

I hear from a close friend in the know that Bicavs used to be a good long distance runner

Vanders would kill it at the hammer throw

Yes, one of the commentators favourite go-to lines along with Pendelbury having a basketball background as a junior.

Not sure if many on here watched 360 earlier but the the interview with Garry Lyon right at the end was actually very good. You can tell how excited he is and he genuinely believes this is our year. 

Joey Montagna again talked about Melbourne’s defence and how Geelong’s defensive 50 to forward 50 transition was their worst in round 23 for the entire season which underscores how well we defend ball movement.

Kingy talked about Geelong’s physicality. No surprise to many on here, Geelong are one of the best tackling teams and also one of the best at breaking tackles. Viney is going to be absolutely key to us tomorrow night to try and match that. King also said he believes Jake Lever is the most influential player tomorrow night and depending on how he goes, will shape the result.

 

2 hours ago, In Harmes Way said:

I'd be comfortable with him coming off the bench and icing a game with a goal like the semi vs Hawthorn 2018.

I would be even happier were we not to need the midi sub. 

2 hours ago, Deemania since 56 said:

Yep, Hunt is vital to so many of our yardage clearances, and in catching opponents on the trot with the ball, striving for some glory. This is a blow to our potential to rip the Cats apart. His linkage work with the backline, the outside mids and into the forward line is going to be missed.

Hibberd may well be spent by 3/4 time. 

 

I guess Hunt not being even on the extended bench is an honest appraisal that he is not fit to play his rôle..

1 hour ago, DubDee said:

I hear from a close friend in the know that Bicavs used to be a good long distance runner

Vanders would kill it at the hammer throw

Well your friend ain’t as much in the know as you think. Biclavs was one of those dudes who ran long distances but also jumped ditches and hurdles but never actually caught the steeple.  May his quest once again tomorrow be denied. 

Edited September 9, 20213 yr by monoccular

2 hours ago, titan_uranus said:

Don't know if this has been posted on here yet: https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/teams/melbourne-demons/afl-finals-2021-melbourne-vs-geelong-preliminary-final-mental-scars-2018-prelim-vs-west-coast-will-schofield-comments-news/news-story/22b7e75c5968ee20a3d0079db4ccd8d8

Will Schofield is a [censored] but the insight into how West Coast treated us with absolute disdain in 2018 is interesting.

Interesting article and it scares me a fair bit the talk I've been hearing about Melbourne being 'the best team in football' and having 'one hand on the cup' this week. Seems a bit disingenuous to me. Whether we like it or not our recent history has seen things get very ugly when it's not on our terms. This years team looks different but Geelong are going to hit every one of them hard tomorrow night...this could be the making of us but there is a lot of history to overcome (186, 148, Essendon VFL side, 2018 prelim for example).

There's been lots said by lots of people over the last few weeks but ultimately its going to come down to who can absorb and apply the most pressure over the 120 mins tomorrow night. Not much between these sides if pressure/intensity is taken out of the equation. 

11 minutes ago, At the break of Gawn said:

Kingy talked about Geelong’s physicality. No surprise to many on here, Geelong are one of the best tackling teams and also one of the best at breaking tackles. Viney is going to be absolutely key to us tomorrow night to try and match that. King also said he believes Jake Lever is the most influential player tomorrow night and depending on how he goes, will shape the result.

For a start the result will not depend on how one player goes, that is just stupid.

As for Geelong's physicality, well listening to Brendan McCartney a few weeks back he thought we physically beat Geelong up around the ball in round 23 and they knew it.

Kingy's analysis is so erratic, it's hard to get a handle on where he's coming from.

...but he's always been one to be sucked in by the hype and BS, it was Rossy this Rossy that a few years back and Rossy still hasn't won a flag. Now it's Bevo....FFS

I'm predicting the Gameday thread to be formed on the stroke of midnight.

4 minutes ago, rjay said:

For a start the result will not depend on how one player goes, that is just stupid.

As for Geelong's physicality, well listening to Brendan McCartney a few weeks back he thought we physically beat Geelong up around the ball in round 23 and they knew it.

Kingy's analysis is so erratic, it's hard to get a handle on where he's coming from.

...but he's always been one to be sucked in by the hype and BS, it was Rossy this Rossy that a few years back and Rossy still hasn't won a flag. Now it's Bevo....FFS

Nailed it. King has no real opinions. He's like a rolodex plugged into a Champion Data server.

19 minutes ago, At the break of Gawn said:

Kingy talked about Geelong’s physicality. No surprise to many on here, Geelong are one of the best tackling teams and also one of the best at breaking tackles. Viney is going to be absolutely key to us tomorrow night to try and match that. King also said he believes Jake Lever is the most influential player tomorrow night and depending on how he goes, will shape the result.

In Round 23 we won the tackle count 70-61 and tackles inside 50 20-6, won clearances 47 -40, and CPs were even at 140-140. We also took 12 contested marks to their 2. We also had five of the top 6 pressure act rated players in the game.

In Round 4 we won the tackle count 82-74, with tackles inside 50 even at 18-18, won clearances 46-35, had more CPs at 167-148, won contested marks 12-8, and had three of the top five pressure act players.

42 minutes ago, Darkhorse72 said:

But he won one.    But the psychological games are interesting.  Plus we were near the end of our physical effort by the PF in 2018, WC were fresh off the break and on a tough home deck. 

Brendan McCartney noted to a friend of mine , his next door neighbour, that the team was exhausted after the Hawks game.

Just another example of the QF winner winning their next match in the PF. The odds are huge against lower 8 teams winning a prelim.

Comparing the Dees position in 2018 to that of tomorrow is chalk and cheese.