Bang Bang Bang

I noticed he was at the Casey game today with several of his teammates. You'd think if he was planning on announcing he's out in the coming days that he might not be in attendance. Or I could just be reading too much into it. He had a poor year after a bright start (he was excellent in the early rounds and the two Brisbane H&A games). I still hope he stays even if it's extremely unlikely. I just don't see how a Gawn/Grundy combo can work going forward.

It counted for nothing in the end, but Kosi's winning goal against Carlton will stay in the memory for a long time. Scenes at the MCG were wild.

Disappointing but not surprising in the slightest. We were simply not good enough in 2022. We were never going to win the requisite 3 games in a row at the MCG. In some ways it might be better to be hit between the eyes with a straight sets exit so Goody and co can actually change the game plan and personnel in time for next season. The game plan worked in 2021 but got found out this year and I have serious doubts if it actually works on the MCG against good sides. Zorko and some of his teammates (hi Lincoln McCarthy) are absolute germs but I’ll still be cheering them on against the Cats next week.

The Gawn/Preuss forward ruck combo we dreamt up in late 2018 ended up being a disaster, despite both of them being perfectly fine as individual players. Then we got the Gawn/Jackson combo together which has managed to work really well. Can’t help but think the Gawn/Grundy falls into the former category TBH.

I hate Geelong more than Collingwood. Seeing them win a thriller with Gary Rohan playing well makes me sick. Will all be worth it if we knock them out in a fortnight though.

Not the end of the world but I really do feel like we have an MCG problem. We just don’t play well there.

Best game I’ve seen since Carlton v Collingwood two games ago. 2022 has been amazing.

Do we even want to play Sydney at the G? We are basically unbeatable interstate on TV in royal blue.

Kosi is a gift from God.

Few senior players braving the conditions in the stands including Dogga. For a guy seemingly on the way out he does still seem very invested.

Was interesting to see Steven May run all the way over to the interchange bench and have an animated chat with Goody after Curnow’s goal. He ran back to defense afterwards and was waving his arms and communicating some kind of message to Petty and Lever. It’s not noticeable what the message was but thought it was good forethought from May at the time.

That’s the thing though, it’s not based on tonight. The game will start 0.0.0 vs 0.0.0 and our form over the season gives us a big chance. I’d give us not much chance of beating Geelong next week but Brisbane really aren’t that good.

Was at the game tonight. Nearly left when Curnow kicked his goal but figured there was still enough time and one of these coin flip games was bound to go our way eventually. Glad it did. That’s the kind of finish you’ll remember forever. Andrew Leoncelli in Adelaide style if you don’t mind. We definitely have a problem with Ben Brown and key forwards in general, but all we have to do is beat Brisbane (and we can) and we’re very well placed for an assault in September. Might be worth throwing Joel Smith into the mix next week. He kicked 4 on one leg in a preseason game in 2019 and I think the time has come.

Rioli got off for a similar incident in Round 1 but Rowell got up straight away and played the game out. And even decision that was controversial. I think Cripps will get 2 weeks.

Looks like we'll have to win both our remaining games to make Top 4. Some might say you make your own luck in this game, but JUH kicking 5.0 against us, Collingwood kicking 15.4 last night , and barely any other results going our way recently have made things tricky. With all that said, stumbling into September, finishing 5th and then making a GF is still very much possible. That's what the Dogs did last year.

Definitely gets another contract if he wants one. His age shouldn’t really come into it. Half of Geelong’s team are older than him and they aren’t going too badly.

We basically don’t lose when May/Lever/Petty are all in and doing their bit. Petty is becoming an incredible player.

Second time he’s shared contract news on his IG story, he’s just done it with Gus and he did the same thing when Clarry re-signed. Could mean nothing and Luke is certainly a different cat, but it does seem a little odd if he’s out the door.

My key takeaway from Goody’s presser is that he’s gone from “confident” to “hopeful” a deal will be sorted out in the not too distant future. It’s not looking good to be honest. But I’ll still be glad we drafted him and remember LJ’s time at the Dees fondly irrespective of what happens from here.

[censored] Geelong. I guess it will all be worth it when they go to water in September again.

Alan Richardson’s comments on SEN today pointed towards Luke being more likely to stay than leave, although I wouldn’t be putting the house on it.

If that’s true then Freo are silly and Luke would be silly not to take the money. He’s a very good player already and turned the momentum in a Grand Final, but that kind of money should be reserved for a Lance Franklin or Dustin Martin type in their prime. Don’t think Luke is anywhere near that level yet and he may never get there.

So good to see Geelong lose again. That's 4 times now already in 2022, from memory they only lost 5 in total last year (H&A) and that included the Gawn game and they still sucked in the finals. The cliff is coming for them.

He could easily play a Hibberd or even Salem-style role after he starts to slow down. Mid 30s for sure, injury permitting.