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Scenario 1 – Melbourne (1) v Port Adelaide (4) Melbourne will host Port Adelaide in a home final if: Melbourne defeats Geelong AND the Western Bulldogs defeat Port Adelaide. Scenario 2 – Melbourne (1) v Brisbane (4) Melbourne will host Brisbane in a home final if: Melbourne defeats Geelong AND Port Adelaide defeats the Western Bulldogs AND Brisbane defeats West Coast and make up 1.8 percent on the Dogs (approximately a 30-point differential eg. If the Dogs lose by 10 points, the Lions will need to win by 20 points). Scenario 3 – Melbourne (1) v Western Bulldogs (4) Melbourne will host the Western Bulldogs in a home final if: Melbourne defeats Geelong AND Port Adelaide defeats the Western Bulldogs AND Brisbane is defeated by West Coast, or Brisbane defeat West Coast but fail to make up 1.8 percent on the Dogs. Scenario 4 – Melbourne (2) v Western Bulldogs (3) Melbourne will host the Western Bulldogs in a home final if: Geelong defeats Melbourne AND the Western Bulldogs defeat Port Adelaide. Scenario 5 – Geelong (2) v Melbourne (3) Geelong will host Melbourne in a home final if: Geelong defeats Melbourne AND Port Adelaide defeats the Western Bulldogs and make up 1.3 percent on the Cats (approximately a 20-point differential eg. If the Cats win by 10 points, the Power will need to win by 30 points). Scenario 6 – Port Adelaide (2) v Melbourne (3) Port Adelaide will host Melbourne in a home final if: Geelong defeats Melbourne AND Port Adelaide defeats the Western Bulldogs but fail to make up 1.3 percent on the Cats.

Clayton Oliver’s lead cut just a little. 216. Clayton Oliver 195. Christian Petracca 130. Christian Salem 108. Jake Lever 102. Max Gawn 81. Luke Jackson 77. Steven May 66. Ed Langdon Tom McDonald 51. Bayley Fritsch 42. James Harmes 31. Kysiah Pickett 27. James Jordon 25. Alex Neal-Bullen 20. Jayden Hunt 16. Harry Petty 15. Angus Brayshaw 14. Jack Viney 11. Charlie Spargo 10. Trent Rivers 7. Michael Hibberd 5. Ben Brown 2. Jake Bowey 1. Adam Tomlinson

Round 23 updates (all times EST): Western Bulldogs vs. Port Adelaide will take place at Marvel Stadium at 7:50pm on Friday, August 20. The AFL, together with the Western Bulldogs and Port Adelaide, have agreed to strict travel arrangements and other protocols as approved by the South Australian Government. Port Adelaide will fly-in and fly-out for the match via charter flight. Sydney Swans vs. Gold Coast SUNS will take place at Marvel Stadium at 1:45pm on Saturday, August 21. Richmond vs. Hawthorn will take place at the MCG at 1:35pm on Saturday, August 21. Brisbane Lions vs. West Coast Eagles will take place at The Gabba at 4:35pm on Saturday, August 21. Geelong Cats vs. Melbourne will take place at GMHBA Stadium at 7:25pm on Saturday, August 21. Carlton vs. GWS GIANTS will take place at Marvel Stadium at 7:40pm on Saturday, August 21. St Kilda vs. Fremantle will take place at 12:15pm on Sunday, August 22 with the venue to be confirmed. Essendon vs. Collingwood will take place at the MCG at 3:20pm on Sunday, August 22. Adelaide Crows vs. North Melbourne will take place at Adelaide Oval at 4:40pm (4:10pm local) on Sunday, August 22. The AFL, together with the Adelaide Crows and North Melbourne, have agreed to strict travel arrangements and other protocols as approved by the South Australian Government. North Melbourne will fly-in and fly-out for the match on Sunday via charter flight. Friday, August 20 Western Bulldogs v Port Adelaide at Marvel Stadium, 7.50pm AEST (SEVEN) Saturday, August 21 Richmond v Hawthorn at the MCG, 1.35pm AEST (FOX) Sydney v Gold Coast at Marvel Stadium, 1.45pm AEST (FOX) Brisbane v West Coast at the Gabba, 4.35pm AEST (FOX) Geelong v Melbourne at GMHBA Stadium, 7.25pm AEST (SEVEN) Carlton v GWS Giants at Marvel Stadium, 7.40pm AEST (FOX) Sunday, August 22 St Kilda v Fremantle at TBC, 12.15pm AEST (FOX) Essendon v Collingwood at the MCG, 3.20pm AEST (SEVEN) Adelaide v North Melbourne at the Adelaide Oval, 4.10pm ACST (FOX)

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Who is the composer?

Only if it's organic to the conversation.

Has not been confirmed but I bet my right nut it's in Geelong. No reason why it wouldn't be considering it's there home game and was originally scheduled there.

Pre Finals Bye Officially Scrapped.

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It was a game of great significance for the Melbourne Football Club. A win would see them keep top spot on the ladder with one round remaining. To achieve top place in the Round for Reach when we are all inspired to “Be Like Jim” and reach for the stars was a great way of honouring one of our heroes. All the better given that it was done by way of an emphatic 41 point win against Adelaide! It is worth remembering that, but for the umpiring mistake in the previous encounter with the Crows, the Demons might well have had top place for the season already sown up. As in that game, Adelaide sought to bring Melbourne down to its level with scrappy contested stoppage ball, a tactic that worked for a good part of the game with the Demons only leading by nine points at ¼ time. While they extended that to 21 points at half time, they only managed to increase the margin to 23 by the final break. In fact, during the third term, the margin was brought back to three points after the Crows scored the first three goals. At this time Max Gawn simply decided that enough was enough and began to pile on the pressure. By the end of the game he had amassed an incredible ten clearances, most of which were penetrating kicks into the forward line. This came on top of his 27 hit-outs. It is fair to note that Adelaide were without their first line ruck in O’Brien and could only put up Strahan who was playing his second game. In addition, Melbourne’s second ruck in Luke Jackson was equally damaging and matched Max’s game with 19 hitouts, 16 disposals and two goals. His athleticism is extraordinary and with this performance has surely sewn up the AFL’s Rising Star award for 2021. Melbourne blew the game wide open in the final quarter, which was not unexpected, save for those people seriously affected by the negative supporter’s syndrome. It was almost a repeat for Adelaide who last week held Port until 10 minutes into the final quarter then collapsed. This week the collapse came courtesy of one Bayley Fritsch who kicked Melbournes last five goals to finish with seven for the game and reach a total of 46 for the season. To put that in perspective, he’s on only four less than Geelong’s Tom Hawkins! The backline was less settled this week, following the late withdrawal of Steven May who was replaced by Joel Smith. Smith did an okay job, but without the marshalling of May and his direction to fellow defenders, things looked a bit frayed around the edges. The defence lost the kick-in surety and distance of May, around which it has built its strategy for exiting the defensive 50m. Fortunately, Adelaide lost its main target in the first quarter in Himmelberg, and of course without Tex Walker, the whole job was left to Fogarty who finished with 3 majors. Next week and into finals, Melbourne can’t afford to give the opposition that level of freedom and May will be a certain inclusion for the next game. Some degree of slack was picked up by Bowey, Rivers and Petty, none of who are yet to hit 21 years. Bowey 18 touches, Rivers 16 (15 kicks) and Petty with 11 of which 8 were intercepts. Christian Salem looked to be more at ease physically, and he racked up 29 touches with 20 of those being his customary accurate kicks. And Jake Lever was always thereabouts with his exquisite intercepts. The mids did what they had to do, but went through phases when there simply wasn’t enough pressure. James Harmes will surely lose his centre bounce role to Jack Viney next week, as he struggles to keep control of his man when needed, and his kicking and skill level was simply sub-standard in situations where there was zero pressure. However, he is unlikely to be dropped as Tom Sparrow had a shocker as well, although putting on seven tackles. But this can only be expected of a young player. He will be better for the experience. Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver were their usual starring selves, and did what was needed when required. Petracca finished with a couple of goals, and if Clarrie could improve his kicking in front of goal, he would have jagged a couple as well, but put them to the wrong side of the big sticks. On the wings, the game might as well have been played to the old VFL or the AFLW rules, with 1 less winger. Langdon and Seedsman on one side totaled 63 touches between them, and it could be argued who was the most effective. Up forward, we have mentioned Fritsch, who has simply blossomed with the presence of Ben Brown. Not having to take the big defender leaves him free, and Brown is a master of running first class forward leading patterns. No small wonder Fritsch finds himself all alone or one on one with the number 2 or 3 defender. Kysaiah Pickett chipped in for a single along with Charlie Spargo and both were busy and workmanlike. Unfortunately, Jake Melksham reverted to type with half paced efforts resulting in only 7 touches for the game, and conceding stupid frees, the likes of which will cost the side dearly in the pressure cooker environment of finals. Tom McDonald should take his spot in the side for the coming game. Something special is now within reach. Still there is work to be done next week, to guarantee that home final (wherever that may be) rather than a trip to Adelaide Oval. All the side can do is keep winning, and continue to honour Big Jim and reach upward for the stars. MELBOURNE 3.3.21 7.4.46 12.7.79 16.8.104 ADELAIDE 1.6.12 3.7.25 8.8.56 9.9.63 GOALS Melbourne Fritsch 7 Brown Jackson Petracca 2 Melksham Pickett Spargo Adelaide Fogarty 3 McAdam 2 Lynch McKay Murphy Seedsmam BEST Melbourne Fritsch Jackson Salem Petracca Langdon Oliver Adelaide Seedsman Sloane Keays Fogarty Laird INJURIES Melbourne S. May (general soreness) replaced by J. Smith Adelaide E. Himmelberg (hamstring) REPORTS Melbourne Nil Adelaide Nil SUBSTITUTES Melbourne A. vandenBerg (unused) Adelaide L. Sholl (replaced E. Himmelberg) UMPIRES: Chris Donlon Leigh Haussen Robert Findlay Official Crowd 0 at The MCG Support the Reach Foundation - https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/999089/get-your-be-like-jim-badge

The football world began to sit up and take notice of Melbourne when it took Geelong to task on a wet afternoon in Round 4 MELBOURNE B: N. Jetta 39 S. May 1 J. Lever 8 HB: J. Hunt 29 A. Tomlinson 20 T. Rivers 24 C: A. Brayshaw 10 C. Oliver 13 E. Langdon 15 HF: K. Pickett 36 T. McDonald 25 A. Neal-Bullen 30 F: C. Spargo 9 L. Jackson 6 B. Fritsch 31 Foll: M. Gawn 11 C. Petracca 5 J. Viney 7 I/C: N. Jones 2 J. Jordon 23 J. Melksham 18 C. Salem 3 Sub: T. Sparrow 32 Emerg: K. Chandler 37 M. Hibberd 14 H. Petty 35 No change GEELONG B: L. Henderson 25 M. Blicavs 46 Jed Bews 25 HB: T. Atkins 24 T. Stewart 30 J. Kolodjashnij 8 C: I. Smith 7 M. O'Connor 44 Z. Tuohy 22 HF: M. Duncan 22 G. Miers 32 L. Dahlhaus 40 F: S. Menegola 27 T. Hawkins 26 B. Close 45 Foll: R. Stanley 1 C. Guthrie 29 J. Selwood 14 I/C: J. Clark 6 Z. Guthrie 39 J. Henry 38 Q. Narkle 19 Sub: M. Holmes 9 Emerg: C. Constable 18 J. Jenkins 11 In: B. Close Z. Guthrie S. Menegola Q. Narkle Out: C. Constable (omitted) F. Evans (ankle) S. Higgins (thumb) B. Parfitt (hip soreness - late withdrawal)