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JV7started a post "Embrace it" yesterday and as a consequence I have also brought forward my post planned for next week. If we lose it might be too late then and the mood may not be conduicive.. I wish to express gratitude to the following for this season, in no particular order... Peter Jackson - enough said Paul Roos - for bringing an on-field foundation and respect Mr and Mrs Todd Viney - need I mention him Viney jnr.? Enough said Nathan Jones - This is for you Nate The Player welfare group - for looking after Jesse, Jeffy and no doubt many others for us in their times of need Daisy Pearce - leadership and professionalism The Board (and Glenn Bartlett) Simon Goodwin - coach of the year contender and all class. Max Gawn - for continuing the No.11 Guernsey with respect and humour. Robbo- for Hogan's Heroes Tom McDonald - Domain Stadium heroics Jack Watts - QB 17 heroics Jordan Lewis - making us a destination and THAT Carlton match mark at 30 seconds to go. Angus Brayshaw - for listening to your mum. Oscar McDonald - for perseverance Michael Hibberd - Nothing needs saying here. Apologies to many others. I shall sit back and enjoy this weeks game now.

Howe wouldn't want to be back at Melbourne now that Bucks has him playing as a forward.

I hope they lose badly to us but he's kept on as coach anyway. I quite like Buckley - he speaks well & is pretty forthright. Good to listen to I like even more the trajectory that Collingwood have been on during his tenure and I would like to see him continue that fine work

Kelly and Lever and we have a dream team. Even landing one of them would be great. I can't see why either of them wouldn't want to play at MFC. We have one of the best young lists in the league. If Kelly chooses North over Melbourne then I'd question whether he was the full quid.

For those saying the Mac's played badly........Bris forwards kicked 3 goals in their total of 14, Most of bris goals came from their midfielders Close (1) Hipwood (1) Barrett (1) I thought the defenders did a pretty good job, after all the defenders job is to stop their opponents from scoring

Jack Watts: Jack had 20 possessions, including nine contested possessions, 11 marks, three clearances and kicked one goal. I thought he played a significant role on the weekend, particularly in the middle part of the game, where we needed to change some things up in the middle of the ground. He was able to play as a midfielder and give us some composure, plus some fierce ball movement, which opened up and gave us some scoring opportunities. That was a significant move in the day, which added real value in that part of the game. I was happy with his team-first attitude and engagement of VFL footy. He had a big influence on the game for us.

Maybe we can offer them Salem and Tyson. Oh, wait...

Too all those telling other posters & supporters to "stop getting ahead of ourselves", "theres still one more game to win", "we still need to beat Collingwood" I understand all that but let other posters dream of September and talk about it, we haven't had this chance for 11 years and if for some reason we miss out at least we all got to enjoy this end to the season with us still in the hunt. We aren't the players or coaching staff, what we say & post on here has absolutely no bearing or influence on the playing group, coaches or the result of games so just let those who want to know how we buy finals tickets, who we'll play, when we'll play, who'd we play if we won the first final... We are posters on a forum for godsake, let's all just embrace this time were in and if you don't wish to get involved thats fine but don't tell others they can't look that little further ahead and dream of September

And the other 20% is you trying to discredit Oscar in any way you can. It's getting tiresome.

bog in the VFL game last week, unfortunately got suspended or would have played on the weekend, nothing can be more certain that he will be back this week for either stretch or wagnar.

Yep, agree. I'd add that if he doesn't play with the required intensity goody will drop him and he won't play finals. I doubt that will need to be made clear to Watts but i also have no doubt it will be. And Watts will be in doubt that goody is deadly serious. Watts will be selected. And it will be his own personal elimination final. Salem might well be in the same boat.

Time to play our best fit 22. In: Watts must come in and play forward flank. I thought he played quite well in very difficult conditions last week. He is a true utility who can fill gaps anywhere on the ground should things go wrong. He brings players into the game in-particular Garlett. He deserves his chance to prove his spot prior to finals considering what he has been through as a true Dee patriot. He simply must play. Salem: Too silky under pressure to leave out for crunch game. Simply a better player than both Wagner and Stretch. Out: Wagner: Stretch: Both unlucky but best 22 must play. Viney needs two more weeks to be primed for finals. Frost: could come in depending on Match-ups,

Why not, it's a discussion forum after all.

Heart can't take another dramatic finish. Seems to be happening regularly. Prefer we are streets ahead at 3 quarter time.

"When you see a chance, take it" Going into the last round we are sitting 7th. Missing Fiinals from here would be a fail. Nowhere to hide...

Steve, try not to confuse support for Oscar and others as criticism of Lever or an unwillingness to trade for him. Lever is better than Oscar. We know that. But that doesn't support your view that Oscar is no good.

Can we please just make it first

I don't know what's more surprising in the second video... The bannana by Fitzy or the fact Dawes held on overhead mark.

For mine, the team has been unsettled nearly all season. They've done well to be 12 and 9 with everything that has occurred throughout (injuries, , the lack of cohesion and inconsistency as a result. Yes it's frustrating the turnovers, the skill errors. The whole gang looks to be getting back together. Ie. Viney, Watts, Bugg. And Goodwin has versatility at his disposal. Timing is everything and getting your loads done in the lead up to finals is critical. Getting through the Collingwood game with a great hit out, unscathed, and the 4 pts would be ideal.

It's been photoshopped now so it's a done deal. Is that how it works?

GWS.

I saw the Goodwin interview. My read o it was different. Goodwin knows he must play Watts but is carefully managing Watts to get the best return. Simply Goodwin us trying to put a firecracker up Watts. Worked a treat preseason. Goodwin wants that return again. its a clear play. Watts is clearly best 22 and this is the pointy end of the season. We all know we can't go far without Watts at full steam in the finals. Goodwin is doing his thing. Watts to play a blinder this weekend.

Not whilst he's stuck in the two's

Thread needs more Jetta

I'll throw in my 3 children too if that helps.

If you are going to post during trade season, you will need a much thicker skin that that. Harden up mate, and post away! If Norf has actually upped its offer to Martin to 10.5 over 7yrs, they must have given up on Kelly. Welcome to the Dees Josh.

Rumour season has begun. Don't let them put you off @SFebey, some of the best times on here are when we are discussing trade rumours. Only thing that gets my cranky up is when the inevitable moronic trade suggestions come up. 3 x krap for 1 x champion Large or small, true or complete BS, I say bring 'em on.

If we missed finals it would be a failure at this time of season and in the position we are in, simple as that. Also it would suck big hairy donkey balls.

I've decided that we are going to destroy Collingwood this week, it will be a comfortable seven goal win.

I think its really important to reiterate this. Team first, individuals second. Which 22 gets us the win? That's all I care about

A draw would still guarantee our finals spot while also sending Collingwood into mental breakdown with indecision.

Apparently Port didn't read the memo about ruckman 'straight arm blocking' as Paddy also gave away 5 frees on Saturday! https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/max-tax-the-ridiculous-ruck-rule-set-to-impact-paddy-ryder/news-story/ac5459c91203b1bd694b77cb66dc34ff David King is talking sense on this one: “(Paddy) is not really disrupting the opposition ruckman. He’s hanging his arm out, but he’s not really pushing. It’s a protection mechanism and a balancing action.” And amusingly and disturbingly he says: “We saw Max Gawn at training last week and he had his arm in a sling. It is bizarre when last year's AA ruckman and this years main contender are being penalised for a techinque infringement that has never happened before. Umpires should enforce the rules, not change the interpretation 2 weeks from finals against 2 of the premier ruckman. Just ridiculous.

Kicked a couple of clutch goals a week ago. How quickly we forget.

In the AFL.com Team of the Week for the second straight week http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-08-22/team-of-the-week-r22-did-we-get-it-right

Frankly, I would rather sacrifice two first rounders and keep Watts (and Frost)! Watts has been here through the bad times and (recent matches aside) was really showing what he was capable of over the last twelve months. Like Hogan, he can be a game-changer when on fire and I would hate to see that happen with Carlton of all teams. i would rather lose pick 12 this year and (optimistically) pick 18 next year and have both Lever and Watts helping us make a serious tilt at the 2018 Premiership!

Done more for the Hawks than Vickery

G'day all, Long-time reader, first-time poster. I know stats aren't something to get bogged down in, but after watching recent games and noticing certain patterns emerging, I decided to investigate some specific stats. Namely disposals vs disposal efficiency. We currently No. 1 in disposals (great to be at the top of something!) yet 14th in disposal efficiency. To me that says "doing everything the hard way". The handball-at-all-costs thing is sometimes very effective, but it seems to be the default mode of play, even when it is so painfully obvious that it isn't the right option. I know yelling "kick it" at the TV often flies in the face of what the team should actually be doing at the time (maintaining possession). It's an amateur piece of advice. But man, I'm yelling it a lot lately. Oh and what I said about it being good to be No.1 at something, unfortunately we're also No.1 in clangers at present ? And languishing at 16th for contested marks. We are sorely lacking in mid-field targets. I can't help but feel these are the things holding us back from being a league-conquering team. That, and just being a bit [censored] sometimes (sorry boys, I love ya. 43 years is a long freakin time to wait for a flag though, so I'm allowed to give you some [censored], right?)

What website am I on?

So it should be a good game to prepare us for the finals. If we don't win, shows we aren't ready for the finals. A good win this week would build some momentum going into the finals. If Watts & Salem come in for Stretch & Wagner as many suggest, will improve our skills and hopefully after their spell in the twos will also help lift their intensity!

Simon and the Lads will be most happy to hear of that. Done deal

This just in.... AFL provides illustrated guide to new rules:

Hannan is no chance of being dropped. Stretch and Wagner need to come out with Salem and Watts to come in, Watts to play more up the ground.

It's time to start the love and appreciate how resilient this team is, there's been many times I thought the club was going to fall apart this season, the gawn injury could have stopped our season before it began, and then when Spencer went down it almost felt like another straw on a camel's back, but that was a blessing in disguise Pedersen didn't win many hitouts but he might have been the form ruckman of the year with his possessions around the ground, we have had just as many injuries to key players as Collingwood has, Fremantle has not been able to win a game without Sandilands, West Coast are unable to put a decent score without Kennedy in their side, everytime this side gets knocked to the ground it gets straight back up, the sign of a good side is not how well they succeed but how well they bounce back when they get knocked to the ground, it's time to stop the negativity on this thread and start the love, for this most resilient Football Club in the AFL, and who would have thought it's the Demons.

12 clearances from our single season clearance record currently held by Beamer. Not sure if clearances in finals count, or if it's for just the 22 weeks. Highest possession average for a season is held by Jones in 2016, and stands at 28.05 for 22 games. That's 617 touches. Clarry has 629 and broke Nathan's record in the third quarter on Sunday. If he gets 31 touches against pies, he'll crack 30 for the home and away season. And he hasn't even started planning his 21st.

Yes a week or two in footy can change opinions hugely. Frost is still young and we have praised him most of the year untill loss in form. Personally I was afraid Brayshaw would never make it back as classy as he did and so soon. Watts has been a match winner many times and we can't seriously expect to gain anything short term from dealing him to help us in our window. He is reaching a mature peak. Pedo perfect example. Personally I would give 2 first rounders for Lever. Not a player. For starters Lever is one of the first rounders, and we will likely finish high next year so say pick 13+ we would be giving away. We are in the window now for many years to come and a young Lever can be a pillar for the next decade of that.

I'm not sure I can emotionally handle us playing in a final. I get so angry watching normal games

Look it certainly beats talking draft picks at round 22 that's for sure!

I love Jeff Garlett and live in Europe, but my neighbours probably wonder why the odd foreigner downstairs keeps screaming out 'Pedo' so joyfully every Saturday morning around 6am.

Very harsh on Hannan. The stats don't do his game justice. I watched him a fair bit today. He times his run off the centre square perfectly to be the first reserve at the contest (better than the others). He got burnt a couple times in the 50 when open (when it went to a contest at the square). And his forward pressure was excellent, for example Brisbane were out on the members wing. He ran hard to stop the man who took the mark from taking off, forcing him to chip kick to the second guy out. Again Mitch ran hard to prevent the second from getting out up the field. They were then forced to kick it to a contest that went to ground as he had bought the team enough time to set up defensively. For this Mitch didn't get single stat but solely prevented them from getting out and up the field as we saw too many other times today. That's just a couple examples. I rated him today.