So after the hubabbaloo and preseason excitement and clueless prognostications, to me there are two games of interest this year. Us vs the Swans and Us vs the Pies. Both looked like silk ready to go. Now I will admit to being a little caught up in David King's analysis on Wed AFL360, but what he had to say was already in line with my own thinking about the Pies. Personally not scared of Buddy, as I feel his defensive pressure is not the weapon it was, a bit like CR7 back at MU v2.0. 

For me what to savour about us versus the Pies, is their use of corridor versus ours, we hit a few more diagonals, where as their rebound and what Nic Bl00dy Daicos brings, is pretty special as well. Going to be an epic match. And as a warm up there is us versus the Swans, How well have they got over the GF, pretty bloody well, I see a team that is humming with synergy and am by no means confident, compared to say the Brisbane match which should be us by 40+, (I also think Horse is tactically astute and will have a number for us as well) I wish we had Pickett for this game. I also only want a really fit Salem back for either game, feel speed out of the backline will be key for both games.  

What game are you looking forward to this season? While we may drop games for various reasons, in terms of peers, I think it is clearly Pies and Swans, is also funny, I really enjoy watching Collingwood, heathen words I know, and my family have a biological hatred of Collingwood going back more than a 100 years. Now my vitriol is reserved for Essendon and Carlton, with the Hawks, Adelaide and WCE mediocre in the extreme. The Swans to me are a bit like the All Blacks, you have to respect that they have been a serious outfit for a long time even if you want to beat the tar out of them.    

Do we even have regular rounds anymore?

While Kings B'day is the obvious one, I'm nominating Round 3 V's Sydney.

Our big test for 2023 to see how far we've advanced from last year is the Sydney game next week.

We've lost 8 our last 9 games against Sydney at the MCG and that one win was a close one in our premiership year.

People will say that a lot of those games occurred were when we were rebuilding in the Neil Craig and Roos era, however we've still lost 5 MCG games to Sydney under Goodwin.

If we fail to beat both Sydney and Collingwood at the MCG yet again, then I can't see how we can go into September with any real confidence.

Edited March 23, 20232 yr by Bring-Back-Powell

King's Birthday but I can't say I'm counting down the days. It's more like please just win it for a change, sick of my birthday week being ruined by magpie poop.

Sydney is a huge measuring stick. How will we adapt to a team and coaching style that makes great adjustments in game? That's what I want to know. A win there would resemble the Anzac eve win over Richmond in 2021 for me in terms of what it would mean. 

I look forward to Adelaide games a lot now. Since that plucky 1 point win by the Crows in Adelaide I just want to beat them every time for the rest of my life. 

 

Edited March 23, 20232 yr by layzie

Right now Collingwood (Rnd 13) and Sydney (Rnd 3 & Rnd 24) look like the main rivals for the premiership so they will be games of interest.

Two games against Carlton will be interesting for getting their measure. And, no, I don't think anyone has any idea of how Carlton is actually going and if someone pretends they do, don't let them suggest a place for dinner either.

I'll be keen to see us raid the coasts and go all Lindisfarne on Geelong down at Goomba stadium, ideally putting their season in a final death spin.

But for me, the most tantalising prospect is doing a full 186 on Hawthorn in the second-last round. Who knows, maybe they'll even be in a kind of late season 'showing some promise for the future' mode and we'll get to crush that hope as well. A full demonstration of ruthlessness pre-finals is always welcome.

Anzac eve for mine 

It is a combination of tremendous game, fabulous atmosphere and the prospect of putting an early dent in Richmond's finals ambitions

If you've never been, do yourselves a favour  

Looking forward to tonight's clash and next week against the swans. Revenge for knocking us out last year and somewhat of an insight as to how much we have improved. Also round four with Kossie back in. I guess every round is exciting when we have a team like this. I really think we can win a flag again this year. For some strange reason I wasn't devastated missing out last year. I think I was still happy with the 21 win. Maybe the team was as well. But now we are all hungry again.

Edited March 23, 20232 yr by leave it to deever

Tonight then after that next week then after that the next week.

Sorry, but I'm one of those one game at a time people...

37 minutes ago, pineapple dee said:

Anzac eve for mine 

It is a combination of tremendous game, fabulous atmosphere and the prospect of putting an early dent in Richmond's finals ambitions

If you've never been, do yourselves a favour  

Yep. Credit to the Afl for doing this. Has a great patriotic/ spiritual atmosphere with the phone lights/ candles and could possibly become bigger than the traditional day clash. Beating the tigers is some nice icing too. Well worth going to.

Edited March 23, 20232 yr by leave it to deever

A few years ago would have been Richmond at the G. Now I think we can rest 3 guns and still ‘do them slow’. +1 swans and the Royal Grundy show.

1 hour ago, pineapple dee said:

Anzac eve for mine 

It is a combination of tremendous game, fabulous atmosphere and the prospect of putting an early dent in Richmond's finals ambitions

If you've never been, do yourselves a favour  

Agree with all of the above. Credit to both clubs for creating a brilliant event 

I'm really looking forward to playing Essendon in Melbourne.

Oh, wait...that's not happening this year because of the Gather Round. Stupid programming from the AFL.

Anzac Eve because it's the first one I'll get to this year.

Kings Birthday because we owe those [censored] after last year.

The one where we sew up the minor premiership, hopefully round 23 against the Hawks, that would be sweet.

I'm looking forward to a King's ransom on King's birthday. 

Howe gone is a big loss to Pies with run and carry. Daicos will start to get touched up and Moore can miss.

Around about the bye we will know and don't write off the two Adels, They just need the speed.

7 hours ago, pineapple dee said:

Anzac eve for mine 

It is a combination of tremendous game, fabulous atmosphere and the prospect of putting an early dent in Richmond's finals ambitions

If you've never been, do yourselves a favour  

Agree - I love Anzac Eve. It make my hair stand on end when the lights go out and the horse enters the stadium. I never fail to shed a tear.