3 hours ago, Stu said:

Our record against the Swans since 2021 is WLLWWL or 3-3. The win in Round 3 2023 (JVR's debut) was excellent. Sydney had come off two huge wins and looked angry and ready to atone for the 2022 GF. I loved May's huge tackle on Warner on the MCC wing in the third!

Sydney were also the beneficiaries of having Kozzie out suspended for the early season meetings of 2023 and 2024.

Unfortunately for them they won't have that luxury on Sunday.

Interestingly in both meetings above Gawn was either out injured (rd 3 2023) or was reportedly playing ill (Rd 0 2024).

Again, Sydney more than likely won't have that luxury on Sunday as Gawn in in objectively career best form.

1 hour ago, binman said:

By the by the favre doc provides an fascinating insight into how fanatic green bay packer fans are and how important team is to Wisconsin. There was a bit about the response from many fans to favre joining the arch enemies, the Minnesota Vikings - pretty full on.

Do you still livein the states? If yes, do you go to nfl games regularly?

Nah I’ve lived down here for several years as my partner is from Melbourne but I try to get to a game or two at Lambeau (wearing my cheesehead, of course) when I visit family.

The Packers are genuinely like a religion for Wisconsin—the roads are completely empty and some businesses even shut down during the games. If the Packers lose the entire state on Monday morning has a very similar vibe to post-loss Demonland.

But one of the many, many things I love about living here and supporting the Dees is that I never have to ask myself “do you love this team enough to go sit on a concrete bench for 4 hours when it’s -20C and snowing?”

(I will shut up now and we can go back to talking the Sydney game, everyone)

Edited May 23May 23 by Disco InTurno

11 minutes ago, Disco InTurno said:

Nah I’ve lived down here for several years as my partner is from Melbourne but I try to get to a game or two at Lambeau (wearing my cheesehead, of course) when I visit family.

The Packers are genuinely like a religion for Wisconsin—the roads are completely empty and some businesses even shut down during the games. If the Packers lose the entire state on Monday morning has a very similar vibe to post-loss Demonland.

But one of the many, many things I love about living here and supporting the Dees is that I never have to ask myself “do you love this team enough to go sit on a concrete bench for 4 hours when it’s -20C and snowing?”

(I will shut up now and we can go back to talking the Sydney game, everyone)

Its funny yiy shkuld say tbe packers are like a religion in Wisconsin l

One of the interviewees, a Wisconsin sports journalistin (the context was the failure to call favre to account for his reprehensible behaviour) said 'Favre is a God here, almost literally'.

2 hours ago, Disco InTurno said:

Nah I’ve lived down here for several years as my partner is from Melbourne but I try to get to a game or two at Lambeau (wearing my cheesehead, of course) when I visit family.

The Packers are genuinely like a religion for Wisconsin—the roads are completely empty and some businesses even shut down during the games. If the Packers lose the entire state on Monday morning has a very similar vibe to post-loss Demonland.

But one of the many, many things I love about living here and supporting the Dees is that I never have to ask myself “do you love this team enough to go sit on a concrete bench for 4 hours when it’s -20C and snowing?”

(I will shut up now and we can go back to talking the Sydney game, everyone)

I only live in Wollongong so I can get a fix of a game in Sydney or spend the necessary dollars and get to the MCG if needs be.

As beautiful as it is living in a giant tree ( pole ) house surrounded by trees and wildlife in the rainforest a few minutes walk to the Ocean, missing footy games in person are something I lament about.

I have a few mates here that support Sydney but nobody apart from my daughter to watch games with.

This is why I enjoy DLand.

I thought with streaming services I would not miss it so much but nothing beats going to the MCG on a cold winters day in the rain, paying 20 dollars for a couple of light beers, burning the roof of your mouth on a pie and training it back home with a bunch of drunken Cwood nutters. I genuinely miss it so very much.

The words Tom McDonald and omitted shouldn't be anywhere near each other given the service he's provided since the start of last year.

Tmac out

Lever in

Once again our selection committee with the unpredictable mind boggling choice

T Mac omitted. WTH?

Just now, Yarra Valley Demon said:

Tmac out

Lever in

Once again our selection committee with the unpredictable mind boggling choice

Talk about stiff!

Well

did not think Tmac deserved to be out, but they all need a rest

2 minutes ago, 640MD said:

Well

did not think Tmac deserved to be out, but they all need a rest

Well then we could easily have said he was being managed, like we did with Melksham a few weeks ago.

This is as surprising a selection decision as I can think of, and that’s saying something given recent history.

If Tmac is being managed that is fine. He’s no spring chicken and it’s a long season. But if he’s fit and healthy and simply dropped, then that is madness. Our best defender this season!

1 minute ago, 640MD said:

Well

did not think Tmac deserved to be out, but they all need a rest

They should have said managed then. Hopefully they don't play him at Casey so he can actually get a chop out.

If not being tested, its an insanely tough call - tmac has been by far our best, most consistent key defender tgis season.

Pretty obvious we need to start getting games into Turner as a KPD, can’t play all four of Tmac May Lever and Turner so the 32 year old gets omitted, harsh but it’s keeping one eye on the future.

Did not see that coming.

If anything May is the one who looks like he could use a rest. Been battling injuries all season.

Tmac better not be lining up at Casey this weekend.

WTF? Disappointed in this. T-Mac has been great down back this year.

McDonald getting dropped is bizarre, he's arguably in All-Australian form. 2nd in the competition in one percenters, 2nd in spoils and has more contested defensive one on ones than any other player in the comp while winning 80% of them

Edit: 3rd for one percenters and 3rd for spoils.

Edited May 23May 23 by burnthefushias

Spargo must have pics 📸

before this tmac was on track to play his 250 on the saturday night vs carlton in a dozen weeks also clarry’s 200 the same game :(

The match committee would be wanting Jake Lever to have an above average performance more than anyone else.

You're bringing back a defender that's missed 8 consecutive AFL games while dropping a match hardened fine defender.

You have to wonder what the selection committee had for lunch today. The most bizarre change that I can remember for some time. We return a player who has been out for 2 months after Ankle surgery and played 2 20 minute quarters last week for a player who has been the rock of our defence for the whole year.

Plot twist TMac!

Oof, a little stiff, but I can only imagine he's been given a well-earned rest, and we have too many talls down back.

Big call though, TMac has been very reliable down back this year, and Lever has obviously lost lots of game time through injury (fair enough), but also inconsistent in the games he did play (to be fair, everyone was terrible at the same time).

These next two games are important to ensure we get to the Pies at 6-6 and tip this season back in our favour.

2 minutes ago, old dee said:

You have to wonder what the selection committee had for lunch today.

special brownies, from down the highway!

Wow,

I'd argue that 32 year old Tom McDonald currently offers more to this team than 29 year old Jake Lever, the latter of whom has been very patchy since 2021. Very stiff. I understand we're top heavy down there but did not expect this.

And look, Sharp tries hard and could be an AFL player with a different skill set, but how many chances does he get? Spargo deadset lucky too.

LOST AT SELECTION! (getting in early)