This is a genuine 50/50 game.

If we stand up and win it, I think the media will start to really talk us up. If we lose, I think we are rightly back in the pack, with Pies and Brisbane ahead of the rest. 

We need a strong midfield game tonight. I bet we won't see as many rotations as we have seen until now, with Clarry, Viney and Trac to play their usual heavy midfield minutes. 

The ruck situation will be fascinating. I think Grundy will actually be a better matchup for Lycett in the ruck, who is a big boy. Grundy's athleticism might challenge him, which means Gawn could play more minutes up forward, and that means Aliir Aliir can't just peel back, because you can't leave Gawn one on one in the square. He will tower over Jonas.

Also exciting and nerve wrecking to see how Salo goes. I just hope his body holds up!

Going to be that person - my MFC vibes tell me we're going to lose this one.  Our form isn't great and the forward line is crunchy at best.  

We have been playing in the sun, now to see if we can play in the cold at a high level.

This is a tester, set the pecking order.

C'mon mids get first use, run in swarms, and deliver some stab passes.

The defence is humming along, great structure, with hard running during transition from mids and flankers supporting and nullifying, then the rebound. Still worried that Port may slice us and not give us easy turnovers as they are pretty good at using the ball. The defence will need to close the zone a bit, so as to make it to those one on one's. 

Love that Salem gets into the team, compliments Hibbo, and gives us that poise and stability. They worked him harder than any of the others last Saturday at training.

TMac, seems good when returning to the team, it is his second game back where he slumped last time. Hope he impacts and gets consistency week in week out.

The Dee's to play high quality footy, with another blitz in the first quarter. 

Go Dees.

Edited May 19, 20232 yr by kev martin

6 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Ok, slowly coming around to the Salem. Some of you blokes have talked me into it.

Am thinking Brayshaw or Rivers playing as the filling in midfielder?

Anyone really surprised Harmes was selected or not even in the extended 26 squad? Genuinely thought he was a shoe in.

Also, good to see Taj Woewodin as an emergency. Just shows he's getting really close now.

Why would Harmes be a shoe-in? JJ had 10 possessions in half a game last week (35% total game time) and Harmes wasn't in the side. I know there are those who think JJ shouldn't be picked because he had the temerity to put contract talks on hold. If I was him I would have done exactly the same thing to actually see whether Melbourne thinks he's in their best side this year. IMO JJ should be selected ahead of Harmes purely on merit.

3 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Yeah I've had this same thought straight after that Richmond scratch match where he came on and fitted in seamlessly. I reckon they would have chosen Taj ahead of Laurie on the day.

I do know for a fact Mark Williams rates Taj very high for his work ethic and professionalism. 

Makes me wonder whether they're happy to let Jordon seek other opponents with Taj in mind to tale over his spot?

Why would you say that? Melbourne are regularly picking JJ ahead of Taj at the moment. I like Taj and I'm glad he, along with Laurie, JJ & Joel Smith have been named in the 26. Let's see who plays sub tonight. That might give us a better idea of the pecking order. 

16 minutes ago, deegirl said:

my MFC vibes tell me we're going to lose this one.  Our form isn't great and the forward line is crunchy at best.  

Yes.  Well said

Edited May 19, 20232 yr by Orion

I feel a first half game over scenario

I’m sitting in Rundle mall bantering with a bunch of Port supporters and along comes Tracc, Langers, Tmac and Brodie. They slowed down to say hello and since I have yet to get a pic with Brodie I got my phone out and asked these Port guys if one of them could take the pic. They refused! Unbelievable. Anyways Brodie takes my phone and takes the selfie then motions towards the other three. I said, “All good. I’ve already got numerous pics with these guys.” Tmac pretended to be dejected and I said “Soz, chopped liver!” Then Tracc said, “security!” JK, he didn’t really. Anyways, what stood out was how happy Tmac is. He was in a great mood and had quite the spring in his step. He walked past me again, this time on his own and he beamed. I said, “I’m so happy you were picked for tonight.” He said, “yeah, it’s great, isn’t it.” 
Then, just 10 mins ago I was on the phone to my cheer squad room-buddy and along comes Max, Ricky and Salo. I yelled out “HEY MAXY! HEY RICKY! HEY SALO!” It was smiles and thumbs up all around and everyone in the mall stared at me like I’d just sprouted a second head. Gotta love Adelaideans 🙃

Who is going to kick Port's goals?  they are missing 3 of their top 5 scorers this season.

If we kick a decent score, they have no chance.   

just got to break even in the middle

My big call with nothing to back it up. Angus brayshaw as defensive forward on Alirr.

2 hours ago, Lord Travis said:

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.

If we lose we’ll be 1-2 against the top 8. 

I get the sentiment but with limited opportunities to test our game against the top 8, I don’t know if a loss will mean our gameplan has to come under question. 

24 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

This is a genuine 50/50 game.

If we stand up and win it, I think the media will start to really talk us up. If we lose, I think we are rightly back in the pack, with Pies and Brisbane ahead of the rest. 

We need a strong midfield game tonight. I bet we won't see as many rotations as we have seen until now, with Clarry, Viney and Trac to play their usual heavy midfield minutes. 

The ruck situation will be fascinating. I think Grundy will actually be a better matchup for Lycett in the ruck, who is a big boy. Grundy's athleticism might challenge him, which means Gawn could play more minutes up forward, and that means Aliir Aliir can't just peel back, because you can't leave Gawn one on one in the square. He will tower over Jonas.

Also exciting and nerve wrecking to see how Salo goes. I just hope his body holds up!

If we lose, Port will have beaten us, Brisbane and the Dogs. They may well deserve to be in the same conversation as Brisbane (no one currently is in the same conversation as Collingwood IMO).

7 minutes ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

I’m sitting in Rundle mall bantering with a bunch of Port supporters and along comes Tracc, Langers, Tmac and Brodie. They slowed down to say hello and since I have yet to get a pic with Brodie I got my phone out and asked these Port guys if one of them could take the pic. They refused! Unbelievable. Anyways Brodie takes my phone and takes the selfie then motions towards the other three. I said, “All good. I’ve already got numerous pics with these guys.” Tmac pretended to be dejected and I said “Soz, chopped liver!” Then Tracc said, “security!” JK, he didn’t really. Anyways, what stood out was how happy Tmac is. He was in a great mood and had quite the spring in his step. He walked past me again, this time on his own and he beamed. I said, “I’m so happy you were picked for tonight.” He said, “yeah, it’s great, isn’t it.” 
Then, just 10 mins ago I was on the phone to my cheer squad room-buddy and along comes Max, Ricky and Salo. I yelled out “HEY MAXY! HEY RICKY! HEY SALO!” It was smiles and thumbs up all around and everyone in the mall stared at me like I’d just sprouted a second head. Gotta love Adelaideans 🙃

I hope T Mac has a ripper tonight WCW, I feel he doesn't get the respect he deserves from some. He has given fantastic service to this footy club over a long period of time. I'm thinking there's some fight still left in him.

Edited May 19, 20232 yr by Dee Zephyr

3 hours ago, SPC said:

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! 

I'm not confident but we should win.

Aside from our awful display against ESS we would have one of the best records at this ground of all visiting teams in the last 5 years.

19 minutes ago, Pipefitter said:

My big call with nothing to back it up. Angus brayshaw as defensive forward on Alirr.

I'll go with Salem having a run through the middle at some stage.

.

Edited May 19, 20232 yr by Orion

Correct me if I’m wrong but I don’t know where this wet talk is coming from, looks like 0 rain in Adelaide today 

Hibberd on Powell Pepper should be fun to watch

Good old fashioned footballers going at it!

Tonight’s game will be decided on one thing alone. Effort.

If we are hungrier than them, we will win. But I get the feeling that Ken will get them all riled up so we have to match it and better it. 

4 minutes ago, Neitz the Great said:

Correct me if I’m wrong but I don’t know where this wet talk is coming from, looks like 0 rain in Adelaide today 

?

um, 5.4mm today  is hardly equal to 0

9 minutes ago, Orion said:

Yeah and the one win was against Sydney who've been ordinary 

Dogs!

Just now, Hellaintabadplacetobe said:

Dogs!

Yeah I thought you meant last year's top eight

2 minutes ago, daisycutter said:

?

um, 5.4mm today  is hardly equal to 0

BOM says 0-3 in late morning/early arvo 

weather Channel says less than 1

32 minutes ago, titan_uranus said:

If we lose we’ll be 1-2 against the top 8. 

I get the sentiment but with limited opportunities to test our game against the top 8, I don’t know if a loss will mean our gameplan has to come under question. 

If we lose, Port will have beaten us, Brisbane and the Dogs. They may well deserve to be in the same conversation as Brisbane (no one currently is in the same conversation as Collingwood IMO).

I agree, Pies are the inform team atm, but it’s May and you know what they say about premierships.

We  need to show something tonight - Port are getting close to contender status - a win for them tonight will definitely give them the belief.  We on the other hand  need to take a top 8 scalp to show that we are not downhill skiers. 

Edited May 19, 20232 yr by Gawndy the Great

13 minutes ago, Neitz the Great said:

BOM says 0-3 in late morning/early arvo 

weather Channel says less than 1

willyweather says only 10% chance of rain from 3pm thru end of game ... so promising

55 minutes ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

I’m sitting in Rundle mall bantering with a bunch of Port supporters and along comes Tracc, Langers, Tmac and Brodie. They slowed down to say hello and since I have yet to get a pic with Brodie I got my phone out and asked these Port guys if one of them could take the pic. They refused! Unbelievable. Anyways Brodie takes my phone and takes the selfie then motions towards the other three. I said, “All good. I’ve already got numerous pics with these guys.” Tmac pretended to be dejected and I said “Soz, chopped liver!” Then Tracc said, “security!” JK, he didn’t really. Anyways, what stood out was how happy Tmac is. He was in a great mood and had quite the spring in his step. He walked past me again, this time on his own and he beamed. I said, “I’m so happy you were picked for tonight.” He said, “yeah, it’s great, isn’t it.” 
Then, just 10 mins ago I was on the phone to my cheer squad room-buddy and along comes Max, Ricky and Salo. I yelled out “HEY MAXY! HEY RICKY! HEY SALO!” It was smiles and thumbs up all around and everyone in the mall stared at me like I’d just sprouted a second head. Gotta love Adelaideans 🙃

You would have stood out because they have three heads don't they?

We got this.

 

42 pts