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Unless we get a godfather offer or another key forward coming in we should hold him to his contract. Even if we end up getting less for him at end of 2025 it gives us two more years to have a crack at a flag with him while Gawn, May, Viney are still around. You gotta strike while the irons hot, no point planning for the future when now is the time to win flags.

I genuinely hate AFL. I barely watch games that don’t involve Melbourne anymore and for the first time in my Melbourne supporting life, I’m skipping away games where I know the opposition crowd will make the experience unbearable (eg- Kings birthday). It’s no longer worth it for me. Umpires, score reviews, MRO, the fixture, academy picks…there is not one element of the league right now that I don’t think is a sick joke. I am as die hard and footy mad as anyone I know, but my love of the game has diminished so much in the last few years, and something was permanently broken after the Maynard debacle. It’s a good thing I am so proud of our club and where it stands, because otherwise I don’t think I’d be interested in the game at all anymore.

Well, it is the day for it.

We haven’t beaten better opponents though. Hawks are a bottom 4 side, and Dogs will be lucky to make finals. This game will be a better indicator of where both sides are placed for the season.

Look at what they’ve done to the draft. 20 years ago it was a very simple process that was fun to listen to on the radio. Now that they’ve americanised it, you need to set aside 4 hours for the first round alone. It’s all big business. Aussie Rules is a great game. The AFL is doing its darnedest to ruin it.

They deserve to be favourites. Which, if we lose, is worth remembering. But as I posted earlier, 1.46 is, in punting speak, unders (under the true odds). Forget battle of the midfield, it will be a battle of defences. They will look to go fast from the back half, and push up aggressively. Tough to stop, but we are best placed in the AFL to do so. Particularly if we can minimise Alirs intecept impact (i reckon fritter might get the job, after doing such a great job on Sicily) But if we can move the ball quickly and spread hard, their defence will struggle big time to stop us kicking a winning score. Hell, they couldn't stop the tigers, who butchered the ball all game, scoring almost 100 points. If I was pricing it, port would be 1.70 favourite.

Viney is a genuine tough footballer. He is no sniper, nor is he a choose your moment hard man. He plays the same way all game, every game - see ball , get ball regardless of who is in the way. He provides team lifting , match winning moments by example. Every team needs a Jack Viney. Thankfully he is a red and blue blood.

That's 2 Collingwood wins in a row where I've turned off the TV right before the final siren so I don't have to see their smug faces or hear that god awful song.

One more soft free to Carlton and I’m going for a walk. That’ll show the AFL.

I think Casey is not as strong as last year, with regular players like Moose, Kye Turner, Bell, Ellison, Valentine, Buntine and Grey leaving and also AFL listed players like Harmes, Dunstan and JJ. Then when combined with the Smith and Gus losses and the long term injuries to Melk and Disco, with the result a lessening of the talent available to Casey.

They've obviously seen enough in Port's hard fought victories over an experienced Eagles side and a premiership contending Tigers outfit. But in saying that the bookies obviously think May is a massive out to our system and going to be hard to replace, they might also think Lever might be a bit ginger and propy. That price will balance up significantly come the first bounce i would say, money will come in late for us.

Strange night for adjudication. The official free kick count was 30 to 20 in Collingwood’s favour for a total of 50 free kicks on the night. I recall quite a few holding the ball decisions being paid that were of a kind let go in last weekend’s Hawthorn v Melbourne game so I checked the stats from that game (20 - 17). That’s 26% less and I’m wondering if the AFL has issued a directive to the umpires about enforcing the holding the ball rule this week? I guess we’ll see as the round unfolds.

Melbourne

Forgive me for being a softy, couldn't help posting this: https://x.com/AFL/status/1773583829720056292?s=20

Me too Jaded. The people I sit with decided we won't go to another away KB game. At least until the club include the cost of a rabies shot in a tridents membership package.

The fix for a Carlton flag is so obviously on. The AFL got their wish with the Pies last year. It’s Carlton’s turn this year

It's not always the frees they pay, it's the ones they don't, Cripps constantly throws the ball, two handed

We've been there.

Curnow is the most blessed forward in the comp. Can’t breathe on him.

What's with the outfits these two teams are wearing?? If they'd both just worn their traditional jumpers, there would be no clash! I just don't get it! Aren't the teams proud of their jumpers any more??

Karate chops can cause immense damage. No fist required. Gut punches/ belly taps have no place in the game. They are NOT footy actions and never should be

It's hard for betting agencies to tune odds early in the season. A lot of it is gleamed from last year's performances. That's why I believe these are odds are good for us. I believe we are more of a chance than they imply. Of course there is the home ground advantage ( but we do ok in Adelaide) and May out but we do have significant defence depth. I believe like the Hawks game our mids will dominate and we get the chocolates. Port should be worried about all our smalls firing too . Anb, Kozzy and Chandler look to be very dangerous. And even if you tag Oliver than Tracca or JV will just pull you apart. Bbb seems to moving quite well and Tmac has shown some of his old defending form. We have looked more like our 21 team of late.

No way was HQ having the Pies 0-4

Fox Footy commentators saying just now in response to Pendlebury's hit on Neale "its ok to whack players in the solar plexus for the next 12 months". UNBELIEVABLE. I'l say it again. Pendlebury needs to be suspended for 2 weeks for that. DOG ACT.

I said it earlier in the thread, you reckon any commentator would be calling it a love tap or a fine if Toby Green did that…

Finlayson 197cm Marshall 198cm Dixon 200cm McDonald 195cm Lever 194cm Hore 190cm Significant height issues down back if Petty is forward. Add in a sore Lever, who is better as an intercept than man defender... not hugely confidence. I don't like Tomlinson but at least you can give him a job and it gives Lever more freedom and/or allows Petty to play forward.

In Adelaide against Port?😀

North can't take a trick. They're playing Coldplay after every goal the score.

According to the club lists published in Smithy's VFL List Update - 2024 Season, these are Casey listers coming back from last year - Riley Baldi, Jack Bell, Paddy Cross, Tyler Edwards, Tom Freeman, Max Gregory, Ned Moodie, Charlie Muley, Harvey Neocleous, Charlie Peters, Tom Sheridan, Roan Steele, Ziggy Toledo-Glasman, Ryan Valentine, Mitch White Jack Bell and Ryan Valentine are both still on the books, if this is to be believed. I understand they do have some connection with clubs in the VAFA which allows them to play over there if not selected in the VFL. Corey Ellison moved across town after the 2022 season and played for Williamstown last year. I believe he’s still at the Seagulls. These are the newcomers - Riak Andrew (Berwick/Dandenong Stingrays), Jack Behnk (St Bedes-Mentone), Leo Connolly (St Kilda), Max Coughlin (Hampton Rovers), Andrew Green (Cranbourne/NT Thunder Academy/Palmerston), Campbell Hustwaite (Collingwood VFL), Eddie King (Richmond Juniors), Caleb Lewis (Footscray), Kobe Shipp (Beaconsfield/Dandenong Stingrays), Brayden La Planche (Rowville/Eastern Ranges), Mitch Szybkowski (Frankston), Kai Windsor (Box Hill Hawks). In addition to the above, it was reported recently that Oscar Van Dam, a promising young Tasmanian from North Launceston and the Tasmanian Devils has also been added to the list.

Very best wishes, Bill. You've been given a golden opportunity to prove your worth. Don't stuff it up.

Heart & Soul red and blue demon for life, the kind of club man that comes along rarely (and we have had two with Viney & Brayshaw). The great thing about our game is having to execute finesse-touch skills under immense physical pressure. JV7 plays the tough footy we all love to see. And his best footy has been in the last 4 years. Best 2 JV7 moments? When we got annihilated in his first season (can't recall the opponent), and at 18 yo gave the team a spray after the game. Speaks volumes about his natural character and leadership credentials even from a young age. In the 2021 GF, when he flew at Jack McCrae at the centre bounce and absolutely flattened him. The tone of the game weas set and he played in beast mode for the rest of the game. Congratulations Jack, and thankyou.

Can we pretty please have someone pay close attention to Butters this time? He destroyed us last year in a close battle, he was clearly the difference and I struggled to identify who his opponent was. 41 touches, 2 goals. I suggest Sparrow goes with him. Not necessarily a hard tag but certainly tracking him and not letting him run free, he is far too dangerous!

Some photos just sum things up so well. This is Jack Viney. Wouldn't have been a sniper hit, just HARD. One of my all time favourite footy photos

Looking at the Sportsbet odds, Port at $1.46 and Demons $2.66 indicates punters see us as a significant underdog. I don’t recall odds like this since 2020.

Let’s just stick with the hypothetical and not touch anything under investigation. This is what happened when two Collingwood players were tested positive for a substance banned by WADA.

He’ll get a week and the Tribunal will accept Collingwood’s plea that it was a football act that Pendlebury couldn’t avoid and that it be downgraded to low impact (despite Neale collapsing and suffering bruising). 😎

Intentional. More than 5 metres of the ball. Medium impact. Likely to cause injury. DOG ACT PENDLEBURY. Your Mum told you that the retaliator always gets caught. 2 weeks suspension I would think: Pend on Neale.mp4

Viney's Grand Final Highlights

Sunday was a fantastic gig Rob. We had Richard Burgman from the Saints and Sunnyboys sitting in on guitar, Paul Field from an old 80’s band called The Cockroaches doing a bit of singing, Murray from The Wiggles (Paul Field used to manage them), playing some guitar, as well as a bunch of other people. So much fun and I am pleased to report that my energy levels lasted out the whole gig. Next one is coming up next Saturday at Smith’s Alternative in Canberra (6th April).

Good idea to death-ride Adelaide, just in case.

Dog act from Pendlebury. Dangerous hit off the ball more than 5 metres away. Pendlebury hit Neale with full force with the ball of his hand to his solar plexus. Pendlebury said it was retaliation in the interview and the retaliator always gets caught. He should be suspended for 2 weeks. Dog act.

Great chat between Gawn and Vines on the milestone:

Petty has trained with the backs this week. he will 100% be playing back

My guess is that Woewodin will be the sub and Hore Lever and Tmac will start down back. Petty will only swing back if it’s all going to hell without May.

Maybe it is. Salary caps mean not all our players can be stars. Just maybe he's the best player available at that price range.