Would normally be a bit more confident, but I feel recent changes to our lineup and gameplan seem to suit the MCG more now. A change from 2021/22 and I’m worried Adelaide Oval may present some challenges.
Just a feeling… I am often wrong which is a good sign! 

3 minutes ago, Orion said:

Not confident at all

Normal service resumes? 😇

This will be one of those games where we hold out an arm and they flap around trying to get close. 30 points, comfortable, lets go.

Got to stop both Aliir in the backline coming across and intercepting, which is why they might have picked TMac over say Melksham, with his height he demands more respect so should be trying to force Aliir away from the contest as much as possible by continually moving (Tom's old strength). Isolate the resting ruck and JVR against Jonas and McKenzie and there should be plenty of scoring opportunities. 

Also got to stop their mids scoring, with their outs, their forwards are inexperienced or mid-sized (outside of Finlayson who May could easily take) so I think we'll have them pretty well covered, but Butters, Rozee and even Boak can be very dangerous going forward so we need to beat them defensively at the source. 

Think it will be a tough one and it's probably all going to start from midfield. Butters and Rozee have the potential to give us serious headaches and if we aren't careful will slice us up, the Boakster can get off the chain easily too. 

Lycett comes in for one job and one job only IMO, disruptor. Excellent record at razzing Gawn and we need to be onto it quickly.

The Salo inclusion is surprising but we don't need him running marathons his composure and target hitting is what we need. Trent Rivers to go up yet another level and feature in Brownlow votes. 

How does the saying go?  You don't use a Ferrari to plough a field?  Love Salem straight in.

Is goody wanting BBB to play at Casey to get him into form and play him towards the end of the year getting him ready for September?

Because I thought before he hurt his back he was in good form.

3 minutes ago, BigFez said:

How does the saying go?  You don't use a Ferrari to plough a field?  Love Salem straight in.

Something like "You don't park your Ferrari on the street so why would you drop your fine Rolex watch into a drawer?" 

Sorry I think I just made that up.

Hopefully with narrower ground that Adelaide oval is we look to the corridor a bit more for those open players.

Finlayson is on fire at the moment and could be again that match winner.

Hopefully Chandler has a much more productive game than he has the last few weeks and really give them some headaches in our forward 50.

Not sure whether it matters being a possible wet game but what's everyone's thoughts on our current Game plan of conceding clearances to win the ball back in these conditions?

9 minutes ago, layzie said:

Something like "You don't park your Ferrari on the street so why would you drop your fine Rolex watch into a drawer?" 

Sorry I think I just made that up.

I don’t have a Ferrari or a Rolex, so I wouldn’t know…..

I reckon Viney will run with Butters.

One of the most informative players in thr competition. Their midfielder is the bigger worry for me. Butters, Rozee, Wines, Boak, Drew, Lycett are capable of matching it with ours.

1 minute ago, Ollie fan said:

I don’t have a Ferrari or a Rolex, so I wouldn’t know…..

You call yourself a Melbourne fan 😝

Seem likely that Brayshaw or Rivers will take on the Sparrow role. Brayshaw is the safe option in that we know he can do it. However, I would rather see Rivers in the role tonight to see what he makes of it. With no disrespect to Sparrow, it's better to find out now whether Rivers can do it than be forced to find out when one or more of Oliver, Petracca and Viney are missing. 

13 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

I reckon Viney will run with Butters.

One of the most informative players in thr competition. Their midfielder is the bigger worry for me. Butters, Rozee, Wines, Boak, Drew, Lycett are capable of matching it with ours.

Agree with this.

We will need more Gawny than Grundy attendances at the 666 bounces, *the opposite of last week, if we're to win this imv.

*Approx 62% Grundy, 38% Maxy

Also more attendances from Viney, Tracc & Gus vs some of the more fringe fellas that we've been trialling through there of late.

The break we've been giving the more usual core players at 666 is surely being (partially) done to save them for more attendances in matches like this?

Not sure where Clarry is at in middle 666 bounces.  He was nowhere near it last week.  He will need to get involved alot more and be the other extractor to provide an assist to Max & Viney. 

Those latter two can't do it all on their own all night for mine (against this oppo anyway....lessor ones yes as we saw last week).

Edited May 18, 20231 yr by Demon Dynasty

It will be a matter of ground ball for mine.  If we can keep up pressure across the park and force them to contest their possies , we have the marking power to go above/around them.

Need good taps to advantage in the centre, and post clearance pressure is key.

They will have moments, but think if we turn up we will win by about 4 goals.  We will know which Melb side shows up in the first 5 min (ref Bris and Ess disasters).

13 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

I reckon Viney will run with Butters.

One of the most informative players in thr competition. Their midfielder is the bigger worry for me. Butters, Rozee, Wines, Boak, Drew, Lycett are capable of matching it with ours.

I’m thinking Oliver ..Trac..Viney..cameos from Brayshaw.. Rivers..Kozzie & then the Gawn & Grundy combo will be giving them plenty of headaches. We are building so much flexibility into our gameday team that we are becoming very unpredictable & hard to play against. A lot of our players can be swung anywhere if needed. As every footy fan knows ..if you don’t bring your A game even the best teams are in trouble & that would be the only reason we don’t win quite comfortably tonight 

6 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Seem likely that Brayshaw or Rivers will take on the Sparrow role. Brayshaw is the safe option in that we know he can do it. However, I would rather see Rivers in the role tonight to see what he makes of it. With no disrespect to Sparrow, it's better to find out now whether Rivers can do it than be forced to find out when one or more of Oliver, Petracca and Viney are missing. 

I'm with you on Rivers, break the shackles and give him a stint in there. Can always rotate Gus through for bursts during the game.

Rivers is in good form, his confidence can go to another level here. 

Good test for us tonight. So far this year we've beaten up on the bottom teams, but lost to other top 8 teams.

Port are entrenched in the top 8 and have 6 wins in a row. If we win tonight, it will show good progress for us to handle the pressure of the best teams. If we lose tonight, you have to wonder if our 2023 gameplan stacks up against other finalists.

Dees by 22.

2 minutes ago, buck_nekkid said:

It will be a matter of ground ball for mine.  If we can keep up pressure across the park and force them to contest their possies , we have the marking power to go above/around them.

Need good taps to advantage in the centre, and post clearance pressure is key.

They will have moments, but think if we turn up we will win by about 4 goals.  We will know which Melb side shows up in the first 5 min (ref Bris and Ess disasters).

BN who concocted that avatar?  Looks like a mix of Clarry, the little mermaid, Rapunzel and a 70s troll doll!

We have a car load of dees supporters hitting the road in Mildura at 1pm to get there and cannot wait!

Saw us play the power at Adelaide Oval under lights a couple years back and the atmosphere was amazing.  We didn't get the chocolates but it's still an amazing place to watch football from.

We'll be perched up with the commoners in the GA standing area under the scoreboard knocking back frothies in our dees kit..... please pray for our safety

1 hour ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

It’s 6 degrees here, raining and cold af. And only 12 hours ‘til game time!

Good times 😳

think that’s bad, we have to wait an extra half hour for the game to start over here!

no spoilers!

1 minute ago, Deeko2 said:

We have a car load of dees supporters hitting the road in Mildura at 1pm to get there and cannot wait!

Saw us play the power at Adelaide Oval under lights a couple years back and the atmosphere was amazing.  We didn't get the chocolates but it's still an amazing place to watch football from.

We'll be perched up with the commoners in the GA standing area under the scoreboard knocking back frothies in our dees kit..... please pray for our safety

Nice one mate! Safe trip and try not to get mauled by the crud bucketers! 

1 hour ago, titan_uranus said:

To be fair, their midfield is full strength. Butters, Rozee, Horne-Francis, Boak, Wines. With Lycett back they’re now also playing a proper ruckman so that’s our big challenge, although when Lycett’s off they have to run Finlayson against Gawn/Grundy. 

I’m also worried about Aliir doing as he pleases against TMac/JVR and setting up their scoring chains from the backline. 

their midfield is good no doubt. but Boak is certainly past his best, Wines is curiously out of form and Lycett has been dropped for Teakle.

Butters and Rozee are their point of difference. Dynamic, attacking, clever players

We have to win and knock off a good top 8 team. 

People are saying we haven't beaten anyone and we can only beat who we've drawn but we did lose to Essendon.

Hopefully we make a stand tonight 

4 minutes ago, Deeko2 said:

We have a car load of dees supporters hitting the road in Mildura at 1pm to get there and cannot wait!

We'll be perched up with the commoners knocking back frothies in our dees kit..... please pray for our safety