M_9

Reckon you could add McVee and Disco to that list.

... or change '4' to '10'.

Not that I know of but they do have a 'raffle' tonight where you tip the top 10 in order. All winning entries (there's usually quite a few), go in the draw for about 6 prizes. $10 an entry from memory, so if you know anyone going tonight give them a call with your list and sling them a tenner at some stage.

I'm going tonight and have been to many in the past. To save me calling the club - I don't get a ticket from memory - just show up and I'm on the list?

Does it does free up cap space if a contracted player retires? Say TMac's contract stipulates that he is to be paid $600k next year. I'd think that amount, or a substantial part of it (his payout figure) is still part of our TPP next year. Even if either player was unable to get on the park for a senior game it may be that they'd be many $k better off by not retiring.

If either TMac or BBB intended to retire is there a reason why they would not have announced it by now? An instruction from the club?

I'm no knee expert but: I have osteochondritis dissecans or bone on bone in one knee. It was a result of many years of playing basketball ie. running and jumping on an unsuitable surface (not sprung). Chipped femur bone and cartilage were removed and I was advised not to run again lest I do more damage. If BBB has bone on bone he's shot. Running and jumping would be painful and he'd be risking more damage to his the base of his femur or top of his tibia (my guess) and chronic arthritis (again, my guess).

Cheer squad member when Malcolm Turner was in charge?

When I was in the cheer squad back in the '60's we sang (to Pies tune): Good old Collingwood for never They know how to play the game. Bash, bash. Side by side they stick together To uphold their filthy name, for shame Hear their barrackers a whinging Like they always do For the premiership's a cakewalk For the good old Red and Blue.

Rare for 3 to go to a member of the losing side. Wide open IMO. Agree with Colm’s post above. Goal awarded and Trac gets 3 votes and possibly a Brownlow.

I’m not sure to what extent you can negotiate. If the last year of TMac’s contract is for $700k and he accepts a payout of $500k, which figure counts in the TPP. I’d think it’s the former.

Pardon my ignorance but if we are able to retire one or both of BBB and TMac my understanding is that their salaries for 2024 are still part of our TPP.

See my post re the limited number of GFG memberships a club can sell.

I have been a Redlegs/Platinum/ Legends (name changes every year) for 30 years. I’m not ware whether the MFC allocate three categories of GFG membership but I guess they do. As far as I’m aware each club can only allocate a fixed number of GFG memberships and it’s probably the same number for each club. I know for the Cats it’s 6k. Probably the same for us. In 2000 Legends members got access to tickets the day prior to ‘ordinary’ members. This year when I logged in with my barcode I only had access to Cat 1, 2 and 3 tickets for each of our two finals. I assume that ‘ordinary’ members only had access to Cat 4-7 for the first 60 or so minutes to give Legends a chance. Happy to be corrected on this. The ‘joke’ was that I only wanted standing room for both finals and had to go out and re-enter as an ‘ordinary member in order to access Cat 7.

It’s going to be a big crowd. Queue for MCC walk up is huge apparently.

Can you access the Founders Bar if you have a level one ticket?

I like the idea of Rivers playing significant time in the midfield. To that end I’d have Tomlinson back in (releases Lever). JJ for Brayshaw. BBB or Grundy for Roo. Woey for Laurie (similar attributes but can score).

Im not sure your seating map is correct. On this map https://www.austadiums.com/stadiums/mcg/seating-map the Cat 1 bays on level 1 extend from the 50m arc to the wing. I assume all Cat 1 to Cat 7 seats are split 50/50 as it should be. I also assume there's very few level 2 seats available to (Premium) members as they have been allocated to coterie groups, sponsors, etc. Players are allocated 4 tickets and have access to 6 more (as I understand). Fair chance they're Cat 1.

Premium allocation for the public is Category one. That's 9 bays on level one in the Southern stand and about 32 bays on level 2 (Olympic, Southern and Ponsford stands). The clubs have numerous coterie groups, sponsors, and the like. They get level two seats. Each player is allocated 4 tickets but can purchase up to 6 others. I think they get level two seats. Happy to be corrected. And on it goes. I reckon your chances of getting a Category one seat on level two is very slim.

I'm a premium member and have been for nigh on 30 years. Have been happy to stand in Bay 13 (M9) every MCG game including the 1988 and 2000 GF's. Had a seat in the back row level 4 last week and had to bluff my way into M9 standing as they were checking tickets. Didn't want to risk the same thing happening on Friday night. Got front row N9. The irony.

Staring at the back of a few big heads? Frequently I hope (after we score a goal).

I wouldn't be using a finals game to find out if Joel Smith has any knowledge of ruck play! We're yet to decide if he's best as a forward or back. Grundy plays as a ruck rover, not unlike an older version of Luke Jackson. I reckon he'd be champing at the bit to play against the Pies on the big stage. He'd wipe Pittonet and De Konning and Oscar (if we go to Brisbane). He had 45 hitouts in his one game v the Lions.

We need a second ruck. TMac is useless (IMO) as a second ruck. Smith has never rucked to my knowledge. Grundy's stats not all that bad. Same number of goals as Max (10). GM K HB D M G GA B T HO FF FA CL CG I50 R50 AF SC Total 17 100 143 243 46 10 3 4 49 349 29 29 50 59 46 12 1,275 1,466 Average 17 5.9 8.4 14.3 2.7 0.6 0.2 0.2 2.9 20.5 1.7 1.7 2.9 3.5 2.7 0.7 75.0 86.2

I know Max plays his best footy when he’s the sole ruckman, but it’s a big ask for him to ruck solo for four successive games should we get to the GF. Grundy in means Max plays, say, 50% forward. Would certainly test both Blues and Lions(?) defenders. A bonus if Grundy could snag a goal or two.