A lot to unpack in their 31 pages so this week I've split it into two posts.

THE HUBRIS

• get on board, we will spank em
• …we can confidently claim the 17th cup already :D  We’ve already beaten our next three opponents - Dees, Port and Pies - easy run
• We got 'em without McKay/Cerra/Walsh/McGovern/JSOS last time, so this time around I think their outs are more significant compared to ours.
• "High impact" for Martin and two weeks. Wtf... that's bizarre. Bring out the fixer - to the tribunal and the high court if needed. We are Carlton, * the rest.
• i think we’ll be benching Charlie, Weiters, Crippa and Walsh late in this one, what do you guys think?
• If we make the GF, you could put out the AFL Team of the 20th century against us and we wouldn’t lose.
• We can’t do much about Gawn - TDK just needs to compete.  But, shutdown Oliver, Trac & maybe Pickett - and we’ve got the game won.  Bring on the Dees, chalk up the win and make our way to the 17th cup :D
• If we'd played the Dees last Thursday, we would have belted them frankly.  Not to say they're to be taken lightly, but we know what they'll bring...
• Underdogs on paper only.  Having ground one out earlier against Dees, I think we will ride the wave in this one.

 

THEIR INJURIES

• Cripps can’t move, he can sacrifice himself and tag May and Dow can take his spot.
  • Was it heeney who shouldered him across the rib cage??
  • Yes. The little [censored].
  • The way he reacted to a bump from Heeney don't think his ribs will be right till next year
  • Im sure Viney will be giving Crippa's ribs a tickle or two this week aswell
• Acres looks extremely sore at the end and was carrying his arm, would have to be in some doubt. H, Martin and Acres out would be catastrophic for our chances.
  • What's the news on Acres? I thought he look really ginger the last few minutes. Will he play?
  • Vossy in his presser said that he'd pulled up o.k. and should be fie.
• He also confirmed that Harry had entered concussion protocols.
• Is JSOS fit? Did he play the practice game? Would be huge if he is.
• Pittonet is barely halving any contests outside the ruck tap, and I don't see that changing for the better on a dodgy knee with back to back finals.

 

OUR INJURIES

• Sounds like Gawn is hurt so odds shortening that Grundy will play if that's accurate.
• Clayton Oliver didn’t train today and is accordingly in doubt for Friday night.
  • Limping will stop him playing on Friday? Reckon you're having a laugh.  What's the actual injury?
  • Guarantee Oliver will play unless he’s dead or broken his leg in half (even then maybe) imo he’ll play. Tough as they come
• How about Petracca.  That incident with his ankle getting caught looked like it would have hurt.
  • He probably won't be running two-ways, they just might plonk him up forward.
  • Reckon they’ll jab him and Trac will do what he does. Absolute animal
• 2 Dees, Gawn and Fritsch under a cloud I hear.  Even if they make it, nothing wrong with some of our guys trying to find out if their feet actually hurt.  Heeney had no issue asking Crippa about his ribs

 

• 

Before panic sets in that could be guess work from McGuire if he read the DL training thread.

Edited September 11, 20231 yr by Lucifers Hero

PART TWO

 

THE GAME

• If JSOS is fit bring him in and have him play a negative role on Lever, don’t let him near it and let Charlie go one on one with May.
• I rate the chances of us going up against big Max with only one ruck as slightly less than 0%.
• With H out (very likely) and dees having two very good tall defenders, going to be critical that tdk take a few grabs and at the very least split their defence and make Charlie’s life a bit easier.
• The pressure Martin applies in the forward half is insane. We expect him to play on the edge, he plays on the edge...will be missed if suspended.
• Melbourne are a bit soft, I don’t think playing Hollands is as big a concern as v swans and I reckon we could do with some more run.
  • Probably the last word I'd use to describe the Dees. They play a pretty hard style of footy similar to us.  That last game against them was as tough and uncompromising a game as it gets for modern footy.
• Pitto doesn't need to out mark Gawn. Just hammer him black & blue
• Last time we played Melbourne Charlie wasn't really double teamed that much, he was just played really close by May and probably beaten on the night.  You cannot underestimate the quality defender that May is, very strong very capable. Charlie just needs to try and get separation more often because body on body he's got not much hope.
• I hope the Dees overcompensate for their lack of viable tall forwards and pick Grundy. His selection is probably the best way to counter Gawn’s influence.
• As much as I want it to happen, I don't think they will bring Grundy or Schache back in - they are liabilities - and Goodwin seems determined to play Gawn only as a ruck, despite him being their most dangerous marking forward.
• Given their forward line issues, I fully expect Melbourne will line up with Petracca at full forward.
  • Would love for them to throw Petracca up forward, would be a massive win for us. Would be the easiest possible way for us to nullify his influence- starve the forward line by repeat centre clearance wins.
• Defeated Melbourne by 4 points last time with our VFL midfield in. Can’t wait for them to see Walsh and Cerra together!
• Charlie will [censored] may it's actually the team defence that we need to combat
• We will need,to be at our best to beat Melbourne, cannot possibly be thinking about Brisbane.
• Not that this is a free hit for us by any stretch, but there’s a hell of a lot more pressure on Melbourne.
• Going to be another slog.  Both teams going to need to find better forward system and efficiency.  Two things in our way to make a prelim: Petracca, Gawn.
• Melbourne should have beaten Collingwood. We will need the 22 at its best and focused. This will be the biggest challenge this year.
• Regardless of who wins this we'll all be cheering on Brisbane on GF day.
• Similar to the Swans, we have some finals payback to dish out to this mob after losing our last three (1988, 1994, 2000)

 

 FAVOURITE?

Not much humour or wit but this gave me a chuckle:

• Let's face it.  McKay needs to see a hypnotist.  All time low tonight.

 

I usually give a prediction but this is too hard to call.  Just 🙏we win.   Otherwise a miserable end to the year that just a week ago was so promising...😢

Edited September 11, 20231 yr by Lucifers Hero

Thanks Luci. A nice selection that provides an insight into the paper baggers "thinking"!

They know that if they kick 6 goals it's probably more than enough to get the win...

I desperately want us to win the flag, but if we come away from this finals series beating this mob and seeing the looks on these arrogant @&$! faces I will get some satisfaction 

Very little confidence this week unfortunately. Hope I'm wrong. 

Surprisingly a lot more modest than the Collingwood BF board. I think both teams will have problems with their forward half on Friday night. Everything will go to Curnow so we'll plan for that. I really hope we bring in another tall for JSOS. That will give Lever free rein to mark in front of Charlie all night. 

 

Edited September 11, 20231 yr by At the break of Gawn

1 hour ago, Bitter but optimistic said:

Thanks Luci. A nice selection that provides an insight into the paper baggers "thinking"!

ha ha, very apt " " marks!!

I detected little depth, intelligence or wit in their "thoughts".

 

ps - Would you like to take this topic back again next week...you did such a wonderful job while I was overseas.  The North WTAS@ thread is my favourite thread of all time 🙂🙃

 

Edited September 11, 20231 yr by Lucifers Hero

1 hour ago, Lucifers Hero said:

 

• 

Before panic sets in that could be guess work from McGuire if he read the DL training thread.

Xander McGuire? Was he the one looking devvo next to Eddie when Shannon Hurn goaled to snatch the 2018 Premiership from the Pies moments before the final siren? 🤔

What a bunch of [censored]! Hopefully we smack’em!

1 minute ago, gs77 said:

Xander McGuire? Was he the one looking devvo next to Eddie when Shannon Hurn goaled to snatch the 2018 Premiership from the Pies moments before the final siren? 🤔

Believe so.  Is he not Eddie's son? 

 

6 minutes ago, Lucifers Hero said:

ha ha, very apt " " marks!!

I detected little depth, intelligence or wit in their "thoughts".

 

ps - Would you like to take this topic back again next week...you did such a wonderful job while I was overseas.  The North WTAS@ thread is my favourite thread of all time 🙂🙃

 

Luci allow me this opportunity to cliche !

(cue @WalkingCivilWar rabbiting on, using some yank dialect, about my misuse of cliche as a verb )

Let's take it one game at a time.

• I hope the Dees overcompensate for their lack of viable tall forwards and pick Grundy. His selection is probably the best way to counter Gawn’s influence.

High water mark for both cheek and accuracy, this one.

1 minute ago, Bitter but optimistic said:

Luci allow me this opportunity to cliche !

(cue @WalkingCivilWar rabbiting on, using some yank dialect, about my misuse of cliche as a verb )

Let's take it one game at a time.

It seems my optimism has suddenly returned!!

But touche for deftly avoiding the question...

7 minutes ago, gs77 said:

Xander McGuire? Was he the one looking devvo next to Eddie when Shannon Hurn goaled to snatch the 2018 Premiership from the Pies moments before the final siren? 🤔

Xander !! FMD!

I think Eddie must have spent too much time watching " Buffy the Vampire Slayer" to stick his son with that monicker.

16 minutes ago, gs77 said:

Xander McGuire? Was he the one looking devvo next to Eddie when Shannon Hurn goaled to snatch the 2018 Premiership from the Pies moments before the final siren? 🤔

how come he went to melbourne grammar and can't spell his name correctly?

10 minutes ago, Bitter but optimistic said:

Xander !! FMD!

I think Eddie must have spent too much time watching " Buffy the Vampire Slayer" to stick his son with that monicker.

his real name is alexander, uncle 

3 minutes ago, daisycutter said:

his real name is alexander, uncle 

Well dc  that makes it even [censored] sillier to call yourself Xander ! 

What the [censored] is wrong with Alex?

8 minutes ago, daisycutter said:

how come he went to melbourne grammar and can't spell his name correctly?

Melbourne grammar boys cant spell.  Sauce: am one

3 minutes ago, Bitter but optimistic said:

Well dc  that makes it even [censored] sillier to call yourself Xander ! 

What the [censored] is wrong with Alex?

Alex isn't 'hip' enough...

Edited September 11, 20231 yr by Lucifers Hero

2 minutes ago, Bitter but optimistic said:

Well dc  that makes it even [censored] sillier to call yourself Xander ! 

What the [censored] is wrong with Alex?

quite, or even just al 🤣

2 hours ago, Lucifers Hero said:

A lot to unpack in their 31 pages so this week I've split it into two posts.

THE HUBRIS

• get on board, we will spank em
• …we can confidently claim the 17th cup already :D  We’ve already beaten our next three opponents - Dees, Port and Pies - easy run
• We got 'em without McKay/Cerra/Walsh/McGovern/JSOS last time, so this time around I think their outs are more significant compared to ours.
• "High impact" for Martin and two weeks. Wtf... that's bizarre. Bring out the fixer - to the tribunal and the high court if needed. We are Carlton, * the rest.
• i think we’ll be benching Charlie, Weiters, Crippa and Walsh late in this one, what do you guys think?
• If we make the GF, you could put out the AFL Team of the 20th century against us and we wouldn’t lose.
• We can’t do much about Gawn - TDK just needs to compete.  But, shutdown Oliver, Trac & maybe Pickett - and we’ve got the game won.  Bring on the Dees, chalk up the win and make our way to the 17th cup :D
• If we'd played the Dees last Thursday, we would have belted them frankly.  Not to say they're to be taken lightly, but we know what they'll bring...
• Underdogs on paper only.  Having ground one out earlier against Dees, I think we will ride the wave in this one.

 

THEIR INJURIES

• Cripps can’t move, he can sacrifice himself and tag May and Dow can take his spot.
  • Was it heeney who shouldered him across the rib cage??
  • Yes. The little [censored].
  • The way he reacted to a bump from Heeney don't think his ribs will be right till next year
  • Im sure Viney will be giving Crippa's ribs a tickle or two this week aswell
• Acres looks extremely sore at the end and was carrying his arm, would have to be in some doubt. H, Martin and Acres out would be catastrophic for our chances.
  • What's the news on Acres? I thought he look really ginger the last few minutes. Will he play?
  • Vossy in his presser said that he'd pulled up o.k. and should be fie.
• He also confirmed that Harry had entered concussion protocols.
• Is JSOS fit? Did he play the practice game? Would be huge if he is.
• Pittonet is barely halving any contests outside the ruck tap, and I don't see that changing for the better on a dodgy knee with back to back finals.

 

OUR INJURIES

• Sounds like Gawn is hurt so odds shortening that Grundy will play if that's accurate.
• Clayton Oliver didn’t train today and is accordingly in doubt for Friday night.
  • Limping will stop him playing on Friday? Reckon you're having a laugh.  What's the actual injury?
  • Guarantee Oliver will play unless he’s dead or broken his leg in half (even then maybe) imo he’ll play. Tough as they come
• How about Petracca.  That incident with his ankle getting caught looked like it would have hurt.
  • He probably won't be running two-ways, they just might plonk him up forward.
  • Reckon they’ll jab him and Trac will do what he does. Absolute animal
• 2 Dees, Gawn and Fritsch under a cloud I hear.  Even if they make it, nothing wrong with some of our guys trying to find out if their feet actually hurt.  Heeney had no issue asking Crippa about his ribs

 

• 

Before panic sets in that could be guess work from McGuire if he read the DL training thread.

Is Max OK?

 

I'd love to win this although I don't think many of us can see a win at the Gabba a week later.

Just couldn't take being bundled out by the filth and then this mob.

There are limits fgs.

Just now, leave it to deever said:

Is Max OK?

We don't know.

A reliable poster mentioned that Cox stomped on Max's foot, that Max had scans and had been wearing a moon boot.

He didn't wear the moon boot at training.  Whether that is because he is ok or to not draw attention to an injury we don't know.

12 minutes ago, Bitter but optimistic said:

Well dc  that makes it even [censored] sillier to call yourself Xander ! 

What the [censored] is wrong with Alex?

You've been strangely  quiet Uncle.  Still reeling from the loss?