Clayton van Oliver

Tussle of the big cats Media narrative: Tigers are a top 4 team wearing the cloak of a bottom-half-of-the-8 team. Lions hAVe nO heARt. My prediction: close game, Lions will come out on top because they are a better team, playing on their home deck and probably have a more calculated fitness base for this stage of the year. Zorko to tell Lynch he smells funny but it's ok as long as he is being himself. Brissy by 9 pts. Canberra cup Media narrative: Syd-nay an amazing unit, playing two years in front of itself, well drilled and led by a tactically brilliant coach. The Dees are a quiet juggernaut, seemingly ramping up towards the sort of finals form that made the entire competition wet itself in fear 12 months ago. However Sydney can win because they beat us by two goals 3 months ago. My prediction: Sydney to show up and a very hard fought game for the first 4 minutes. Dees to put on 5-8 goals in each of the first two quarters and keep Sydney to 56 pts over the match. MFC by 48 points. The backyard battle twix bird and beast Media narrative: GFC are the greatest institution to ever exist, Chris Scott is some sort of demi-God wielding a troop of the greatest warriors to ever walk the earth. How can we be so blessed to witness such greatness? Pies the young, up and coming list full of verve and audacity, both of which they have acquired through heavy gumption training sessions. My prediction: Geelong are bloody good and I reckon they will smash Cwood, but also largely cos the pies are like us in 2018. They will run out of legs. That being said, they are a way more experienced team than the narrative around them and there is a chance they can take their run one game further. Honestly, if this game wasn't being played at the G, my favoured result would be the entire stadium collapsing in a giant sink hole at half time. It kind of makes me sick to think about these two teams at the same time. Puddy-tats by 37 pts, AFL to order a pyramid be built next to Science Works, dedicated to Chris Scott and a raft of tissue injuries for Geelong. The 'why can we not send them further west?' Trophy (aka the Docklands derby) Media narrative: 🦗 My prediction: At some stage on Sunday evening we will remember that this game happened, check the scores and find that Freo have dismantled the dogs. This is because Freo are a very good footy team and will make their way to a prelim, if not a GF. Also, on the other hand, the Dogs suck. Purple monsters by 25 pts

Beautiful. Estonia in late summer with the sun doing what it does and the harvest imminent, bliss. Sounds like a great trip

As an Estonian passport holder this makes me very happy. Get to Tartu if you can!

QF in Olhao, Portugal on WatchAFL

No change with Salem still on the sidelines. Nibbler would almost be first name on team sheet. Unless a better user comes along who can do the gut running of ANB, he will be a 200+ gamer for us. A true, underrated star.

Yep! Defo. He led the Melbourne chant and was unknowingly a pretty major figure in my childhood

In the 90s there was the bloke who ran the cheersquad, the name Hokko printed on the back of a Dees hoodie comes to mind but that could be misremembered through the fog of time.

I am loving this sequel!

What a cracking match. The tape can go straight to the pool-room. Put it in a soundproof box, though, so we don't have to listen to Hamish whatshisface try and ruin an all time classic MFC win on the bell with his bemoaning the fortunes of the losing team's supporters. He can [censored] right off. I still can't understand how any Dees supporter can't be absolutely rapt that this is what we are living through. Onwards. Go Dees

Stoked for you! In September I'll get to see my family for first time in 4 years. That's a decent contract's worth of time, Jacko

Brisbane's chance to win a flag was the only year in history when the finals were/will be played in QLD. Not sure where they go from here. Back to QLD, I guess.

We are relevant, talked about, hunted, 2nd on the ladder, in it up to our eyeballs and not scouring potential draft picks in July because we are looking at a 2 win, 50% season. [censored] stoked and loving this season/era. I feel blessed that we made it out of Mordor and am intrigued watching our supporter base struggling to follow a good team.

Or for Tracc and Clarrie to supply Weid properly

That'll be a long commute to Casey

Man, was this a journey

Geelong can be July premiers, that's fine

When we were a crap team it never occurred to me that our supporter trauma would be most on display after we'd become successful.

Can't imagine our standards allowing one player to not train, all the while being paid more than most on the list. However, as a playing-forward coach, two years to teach JVR... it's a tempting thought

Been using it for years. Works a treat.

Yea but no May should be taken off him 🤦‍♂️

Good, gutsy effort. Our midfield is just mint. One of my favourite moments of the day was David King saying that Steven May needed to be dragged or taken off Walker. Gave me a good laugh, that did. Oh, and club record intercepts marks 👏

The kind of deep analysis all other channels lack. Bravo

Of all the news about our club this year, this and the whole 11-3 part are the two surest indicators of what's up. Absolutely rapt. Clarrie til 2030. Just massive.

It's a fair point, but personally I would put the connection Tasmanians feel towards a team they rightly deserve as more improtant than the so-called dilution of the talent pool. The existence GWS and GCS automatically negates that being a major issue. Not like we will stop watching footy if each team gets a bye. I would personally also aim for a NT team a few years later and pump money into developing players and social programs in the top end (as well as Tassie).

Don't worry @Nasher, I got this... What have you got against Tassie? Tassie don't want them.