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Being in WA, this is nuts. Please Dees, please make the GF. I will represent you all. I will eat 50 pies, drink 4,000 beers and make a dozen cheese boards.

So a few years with us then off to the cats you’re saying?

Cat's recruiting has been made easier by checking whether the player available is only eligible for the AZ vaccine.

I had a little confused churn in my gut when they said we never give up. It's like finding out your secret high school crush has been asking people about you. It's great news but now you have the pressure of actually delivering!

I reckon Clarrie’s lack of votes in previous seasons is telling. Might struggle (also the reason the ‘Coaches votes’ should be the most valued award).

I don't think Max will be the one with two legs up.

This is the definition of optimism. I bought a one way Flexi plane ticket to Perth leaving Sept 9 (with a 15 day window to the GF if it is on the 28th of sept). I'll be double vaccinated by Aug 31 and I've told work if there's chance to get to perth, I'm gone!

Last time they didn’t have Ben Brown to contend with.

The two night slots are the prime time slots. The club and the AFL want us playing in one of them. 7 days is more than enough for us to prepare. If you're of the view that 7 days is light on, how does Brisbane feel? Why give our opponent more time to prepare? And why would you put us on Sunday, the dead zone timeslot - whoever loses that game then would have a shorter break into the semi, despite finishing above their opponent. That would be unfair. You're complaining about the Dogs being "given" the Sunday game. They have no choice but to win it, and if they do they'll then be on a six-day break into their semi whereas we or Brisbane will be on a 7-day break. It's blindingly obvious why we're not on the Sunday. And as to venues, there is evidence to suggest we were offered a choice of venue and chose the Adelaide Oval. Which probably makes sense, given that AFAIK the Melbourne Football Club has never, not once, played at York Park. Do you really want us to go play at a venue we've never played at before for a massive final, against a side who played there just a month ago? Meanwhile just a few weeks ago we were stuck on a plane for a day, then belted the Suns by 100 points, then got put in a hotel for a week, then beat West Coast in Perth with a 95% pro-Eagles crowd. The "choice" was as blindingly obvious as the reason we're playing on Saturday night.

Boy oh boy, wowee!

Brian Lake won a Norm Smith and 3 flags.

MCG to Gill

I had a closer look at the coaches votes and at the end of round 21 this is a summary: Oliver had 16 'minor' votes for a total of 104 and Bont had 4 for a total of 101. As umpires vote 3,2,1 these 'minor' votes are unlikely to feature in Brownlow voting so I have omitted them from the above. Bont has 5, BOG, and 4 second BOG. ie 27 Brownlow votes if umpires see it as per coaches. Oliver has 2 BOG and 4 second BOG ie 14 Brownlow votes if umpires see it as per coaches. I doubt Bont will get votes in rnd 22 and 23. Oliver may get 1 ca vote for rnd 22 and either BOG (which he deserves) or second BOG for rnd 23. If Oliver gets lots of 1 votes from the umpires he might get closer to Bontempelli but those 5 BOG's look tough to overcome. I haven't looked at Wines but he could pip Oliver and finish second. Edit: Did the summary for Wines up to round 21. He has 5 BOG's. 1 second BOG.ie 17 Brownlow votes. He has 33 'minor' ca votes which might be good for a few 1 Brownlow vote. He will probably be BOG in rnd 23 but not get votes in rnd 22. Again those BOG's will be tough for Oliver to overcome, if umpires follow coaches.

Fritsch has played the med forward role so well this year. Injury and age profile aside, do we even need Gunston? I don't think so

Yes. "he is needed on our list we have no other tall forward" - well that's obviously incorrect. "Lets be honest, TMac hasn't been any good for the last 12 odd weeks" - in the last 12 weeks TMac has kicked 3 goals each against the Bulldogs, Brisbane and Port Adelaide, and had a 22 possession + 10 mark game vs GWS where the only thing missing was accurate goal kicking. "the start of the season amazing but has fallen away" - yes he was kicking more goals at the start of the season but his relative form slump coincided with the entire side slumping somewhat in the first few weeks post-bye. "B Brown isn't really setting the world on fire kicking some goals but yet to really have an outstanding game" - Brown's kicked multiple goals for five straight games, has had at least 5 marks in each of those games, and importantly has lifted his tackling and pressure numbers across that period "M Brown isn't getting any younger" - sure, but Weideman also "isn't getting any younger" "Daw isn't a forward" - probably the only part of the post I agree with. Of course, the overall point you're making in general doesn't take into account our forward line as a unit, ignores Fritsch's presence (he was just named to the AA squad FFS), and ignores Weideman's struggles with form when in the seniors this year.

Just want to keep this here for posterity

There was so much to unpack in that last two minutes, and unpack it we have. But I just wanted to make another point: how cool, calm and collected was Max in that final play?! First that mark, he made it look effortless. If you just saw that mark, not in the context of the moment, you wouldn’t think so much was at stake. His demeanour didn’t change one iota. Then a few steps into his run up the siren sounds, he stops, glances up at the shot clock, walking backwards to recommence his run up. He was so composed, so focussed, so calm. Unbelievably chill. What a legend! I’m sure I’m not the only one who hasn’t come down from the clouds, yet. (Not planning to anytime soon, either. 😊)

If you listen to the Gus and Gawny podcast, Gawn has discussed previously that she’s due around the spring racing carnival and that it will be a tough choice between attending the birth or attending the horse racing. Also this is a very creepy discussion to have. Let the poor woman be pregnant for as long as she needs to be!

Not much of a commentator either.

Surgery is irrelevant if he’s rehabilitated and ready to go. Also, he can play back, forward, wing, he’s just a terrific footballer. Multiple premierships and we’d be getting him for peanuts, so would be crazy not to take him on if he’s keen and fit.

If he gets his body right I can see him playing good footy for us for the next 2 years. Right in our window.

No thanks. Huge no

Leave him alone for now. He does his job with aplomb and carries out the role he is given to the letter. One week at a time. Go dees.

Statistically, we're favoured if there is also lightning. Only team this year with a 100% win rate for games including stoppages for lightning.

On a related tangent, got to love the contrast in how the MFC and CFC management have gone about their respective coaching/football department reviews. The context for this is last season everyone was saying what a great build Carlton were going through, they were a team on the rise and had surpassed everything Melbourne had put together since 2018. We were having a somewhat below average 2020, but probably not that dissimilar to what Carlton had in the first half of 2021, where were compeditive with all the good teams, but just couldn't chalk up the wins on the board. If I recall correctly, mid 2020 there was a short sharp football department review, from which a few coaching positions were shuffled around, but hardly any mass leaks, haemorrhaging and disgruntlement within the club. In fact, post that reveiw the team actually seemed to come closer together, even though we suffered the horror Cairns capitulation. If you hear our playing group talk, they all pretty much unanimously will state that we built on the foundations our current game style and culture throughout the back half of 2020. Contrast that to the drawn out mid season review process that has occurred at Carlton and the affect that has had on their season and position as a footy club. Hats off to Garry Pert and Co, Allan Richardson and Goody for the way they negotiated those challenging times for our club. Similarly, the transition from Glen Bartlett to Kate Roffey has been smooth and undisruptive compared to what's going on at Collingwood. If you look at where we have come from in the past, its amazing to look at what a professionally managed club we have become. Due credit to Roosy and Peter Jackson as well for turning things around from where they were and setting up the foundations. It's often been said that good off feild management and stability is required to produce sucess on-feild and I think that's also a key part to what's playing out for us right now too.

https://www.bigfooty.com/forum/threads/changes-and-discussion-qualifying-final-v-demons.1282559/ Note the thread started before our game vs Cats finished, so one of the first few posts said this... "Cats 40 points up against the Demons, almost certain now to be playing the Cats next week, we are going to need Marcus Adams to do another job on his bunny ie. Tomahawk" Nek minnit... "We might be playing Melbourne after all and that scares me, we don't match up well" 😁 A few more highlights from the first couple of pages... "Keeping Lever occupied is going to go a long way to winning us this game. He'll probably go to Fullarton or McStay (with Petty going to the other one, and May to Daniher), and it'll be important for whoever it is to keep him accountable. He controlled the defensive 50 for Melbourne tonight. The big battle will be the midfield where we were well and truly roasted last time. McInerney needs to do a better job this time in neutralising Gawn in the ruck. Gardiner will be a big in compared to the round 12 match defensively. McDonald ran a bit rampant last time, and the extra lock down defender will be handy" ================== "I still have nightmares about the last time we played them. Probably the best first half we’ve played (taking into account the opposition) followed by one of the best second halves Demons have played under Goodwin. They’re fast finishers and will never give up regardless of how far they’re behind and we’ve been known to concede very quickly against the best sides in recent history. Had a think about how the match could pan out… Footy is a game of momentum so you would almost want Melbourne to lead us at half time, then for us to hunt them down. Probably the most realistic way we’ll get the win over them" ================== "Need to set up better defensively. We looked so impotent when they would win the contested ball and move it by hand. Looked like they had 20 blokes on the field. Just no pressure and our mids don't have the speed to pressure a clean breakaway by hand. So disappointing after that first half but they really worked us out"

You'd trade out Bailey Laurie? Our 2nd pick from last year? Far out there are some ridiculous things said on htis site

Not wishing him any harm but couldn't they keep him in hospital under observation for the next month.

Other teams’ supporters being scared to death of us? Hook it to my veins!!!

Please Victoria, please get your [censored] together!

Looks like even the Semi Finals and Prelims could be held in Perth too as the Cats and Dees are both flying to Perth after their games this weekend. I’m sure the Western Demons will do us proud!

They would be MadAsHell to do that.

There is a very real possibility that Weid just doesn't attract the sort of interest that would make leaving an attractive option.

Anyone else got the feeling that Kozzie might have Byrons "big game gene" and absolutely rip a final to shreds? i could see the little fella going nuts and kicking 6

I'd also like the pro-unvaccinated to be excluded from the everyday event called the public health system for any Covid-related illness, too.

The umpires historically haven't liked Clarrie (as Webber referenced). The dislike has thawed but won't be enough to see him win it. Clearly, Bontempelli was the favoured one for much of the season and would have a lot of votes banked.

Lever and May instead of OMac and Frost. No contest. Brown over Weideman. Weid was fantastic in the Elimination Final against Geelong but has never recaptured that form. I have a lot more confidence in Brown. Petracca has taken his game to Elite levels and Oliver has taken it to the level above Elite. Langdon over any warm body played on the wing. Players that no longer play at the club but played finals in 2018: OMac Frost Lewis Hannan Tyson Players Not Currently in the Team but played in finals in 2018 Jones Hibberd Melksham vandenBerg Jetta Weideman New Players to the club since 2018 that are currently in the team to play finals Kozzy Jackson Jordon Sparrow Petty Bowey May Lever (correction - was at the club but out of finals with knee injury) Langdon Rivers Hunt was at the club but did not play finals - currently injured

Stole this from bigfooty. Sam Edmund just said on SEN trade radio that “Melbourne and a number of other clubs have enquired about Brayden Maynard” … “He’s refused to sign an extension at Collingwood until he knows who the new coach is going to be, which others clubs are smelling as blood in the water” … “They reckon he’s gettable”.

You do realise that a recruiters job is to spend the whole year dealing with other recruiters, players and managers to suss out potential trades? They won't pause simply because we made the finals, quite the opposite. We are a destination club and Freo are on holidays. I say go hard, keep it quiet, as you say, and let's see if Cerra really wants success.

Agree with last line but I think we have also selected for oppo teams as well. They brought in Melk to play defensive fwd on McGovern. They brought in Smith to play on Rohan Rich was pressured by Kosi last time, Bowie could take Bailey. No Hipwood is a bonus. Bris like to maintain possession in their defnce (like Geelong) and bring the ball out slowly (ie no turnovers). Then they are happy to go down the line and let their talls contest in the air. With their talls playing higher up the ground they get a lot of running goals out the back. They are a high scoring side with lots of different goalkickers but haven't played the best teams in the last 8 rounds. I think we'll go well.

60+ more games of experience, particularly 60+ more games of playing with essentially the same teammates. The stability of the playing list, coaching panel (albeit with some changes) and admin (again, with some changes, but well managed) has also helped.

Loved on the Gawny and Gus podcast they were laughing about potential speaches if Jackson won the rising star or Clarry won the brownlow.

98% of the improvement has been between the ears of the players and their change of attitude. The other 2% is Mark Williams

AFL website shows Hunt out for 1-2 weeks. However, "The Demons think Hunt is an outside chance of returning for this weekend's qualifying final against the Lions, having originally been tipped to miss a month with an ankle injury. He is the club's only concern heading into September". - Riley Beveridge If not this game then certainly the next, especially if we win this week and go thru to the Prelim. He must have worked awfully hard to get back in such a short time.

Still too soon to be mentioning Simon Eishold in September. It’s only been 34 years. ☹️

Brisbane's last 8 games rd 16 Beat adelaide 52pts rd 17 lost to St K 32 points rd 18 Lost to Rich 20pts rd 19 beat Gold Coast 49pts rd 20 Lost to Hawks 12pts rd 21 Beat Freo 64pts rd 22 Beat Pies 85 pts rd 23 Beat West Coast 38 pts They've beaten up a few sides, had 3 losses and played no one in the 8 Not a scary proposition.

Bring back Hogan then trade Hogan to Fremantle for Cerra.