Bang Bang Bang

Spargo doing it to Selwood himself and getting a free in the Round 4 game was the highlight of the year for me. Don’t like it generally but every club has a player that does it, and it’s been rewarded for years, so we may as well get with the program. I actually thought Kosi did this as well as I’ve ever seen a couple of weeks back against the Eagles. With his height and perfect technique, I’d argue there was absolutely nothing Yeo could have done except give away a free kick (goal).

Honestly think they nailed the Dees players this year. Minor premiers always get the lions share. Thanks again Max! I would anticipate Lever, Oliver, Trac and Gawn are locks for the 22 and should start getting their suits ready. May should a have a suit on standby. Fritsch and Salem needn’t worry but fantastic years nonetheless.

In my 33 years on this wonderful planet, I've never ever ever ever had a feeling like that. My [censored] goodness.

I definitely remember there was a big shift after we actually selected him and his post draft highlights came out. But apologies for painting everyone on here with the same brush. I will unashamedly admit and I didn’t want him at all.

There may have been some exceptions but this board was definitely cold on Jackson. I remember that much. His pre draft highlights vid was pretty ordinary plus all the reasons I listed above.

I can still remember the commentary on here in October/November 2019. NOBODY wanted to draft this guy. I struggle to remember even one poster who did. It seemed like a ridiculous call to take him. We had a prime Max Gawn who'd just got his third AA guernsey, Preuss was only one year into a lucrative four year deal, and this Jackson kid would take five years to come good if he was going to come good at all. Then we had the potential go home factor as the cherry on top. Fast forward not even two years and he's already a crucial part of our premiership tilt. I'm sure not even JT could have predicted he'd be this good, but he deserves enormous credit for making such a ballsy call. He was right and we were all wrong, again.

Probably the least invested I've been in a game since 2019 but plenty to take from it. The Gawn/Jackson combination at the moment is just poetry. Most sides would kill for one player of that quality. Fritsch is going to be hard to ignore for AA based on this performance. Kicks goals in his sleep. Still a lot to work on. I'm not totally convinced by the form of Sparrow and Jordan. As frustrating as Viney can be, I think he clearly offers more at present and will be straight in for one of then. I also like Melksham and have him as an "In" for the finals but that free kick he gave away was disgraceful.

Joel Smith being a late in and randomly playing the best game of his career is exactly the kind of thing that would happen against us in years gone by. I’m starting to believe.

Funny how BBB was one of my most hated players in the competition 12 months ago and now one of my favorites for doing the exact same thing.

Good player and I’m sure he behaves that way deliberately but [censored] I hate Cody Weightman.

I don't normally pay attention to player interviews as they are ridden with boring cliches and straight bats. But Steven May has long been an exception to the rule and I'll always make sure to tune in when he's on. This is his best one yet IMO. https://player.whooshkaa.com/player/playlist/show/1919?visual=true&sharing=true&episode=889928 What a fantastic acquisition this guy has been, and arguably the most important piece of our premiership tilt.

We were right into him in 2019. Probably would have bid for him if Jackson wasn't there. JT was seeing them like beach balls that year, given the three we ended up picking and the interest in Georgiadis/Green. They are 5 of the very best players from the whole draft. I think one of the reasons we were so big on Green though was his tremendous character, and those sorts generally don't go chasing coin after two seasons. So I'd give us little chance of landing him. Would cost a decent draft pick that we don't have in stock too. One player I'd love to see us go after is Mitch Wallis. This guy is out of favour but tore us a new one at Metricon only 12 months ago, and was doing it to teams regularly up until this year. Would give us more firepower and a point of difference to BBB, TMac and Fritsch. Approaching 30 but this age demographic fits in with a sustained flag push and he wouldn't cost much.

There's a good chat up with LJ on the Gus and Gawny podcast - about 30 minutes in total. Amongst the banter and the "getting to know you" kind of stuff, two things stood out to me: 1. He said was 91kg on draft night and has already hit the ton. 2. He could not have said "Nup!" quick enough when Gawny went serious and asked him if it was tough living away from Perth. He even thinks Melbourne has overtaken Perth as a city (despite being COVID-ravaged for most of his time - as Gawny pointed out) He's a ripper.

Something that might be overlooked because it was a behind, but Trent Rivers effortlessly kicked a 75m drop punt. Not convinced there was a gale blowing like Richo said (from Melbourne studio). The guy just hits them pure.

Would love to dig up some of the posts on here from October 2019. I don’t think there was a single person who wanted to draft him (myself included). Imagine if you’d said at the time “This guy will be an important cog of our 2021 Premiership tilt”. You’d have been laughed out of here. But that’s what he is.

Surely we can get all smug and “manage” Pickett and Rivers for this game. With top 4 set and finals venues largely irrelevant due to Covid this game means [censored] all. Love these guys but they are second year players who might be tiring a bit. I’d include Jacko too if he wasn’t contributing so much.

For those having an aneurysm about the last part of the game, take solace in the fact we have not one but two full games to enjoy without any pressure whatsoever. We’re in the Top 4. It’s padlocked. Think the real hardcore fans on here have earned this.

Good [censored] on you Alex Neal Bullen. Best on Ground in your 100th game. You deserve this!

FMD Garry Lyon is a miserable campaigner. Was a great player for us but not convinced at all he's still invested in the club.

Who would you actually have faith in to kick after the siren for a win ? I’m convinced we have nobody trustworthy. I used to have faith in Tmac, but he hasn’t flushed one in weeks now. Even BBB missed a soda yesterday! Maybe Tom Sparrow would give me confidence, but he can’t get a game. Fritsch is pretty solid under pressure these days but he still wouldn’t have me confident. It’s a big concern for mine because if we win a flag, we need to win at least 3 games and you can be sure at least one of them will go down to the wire.

I always cringe when I see odds of $9.50 for Hawks to win and people on here talking about percentage and a “10 goal victory being a pass mark”. Clearly not enough people follow this team forensically. I wish I didn’t. The two points may prove to be very handy, but this team is taking months off our lives every time they serve this porridge up.

Geelong are the biggest bunch of sooks in the game. I can still remember in late 2013, Geelong were having their usual cry to the media about their home finals needing to be played in Geelong. Fremantle were their opponents in Week 1 and Ross Lyon was asked at a presser for his thoughts on where the game should be played. "Who cares? We'll play them in a carpark if we have to." was his blunt response. Fremantle went and beat them at Kardinia a few days later. I expect our attitude towards the rest of this season will be more in line with Ross Lyon's and not the sooks down the highway. They are also the only team with players and coach openly sooking to the media about the length of quarters. Just shut the [censored] up and be prepared to win anywhere, any time. Muppets. As you may have guessed, this current vintage of Geelong is my most hated AFL team ever.

I tune in to watch the Cats every week so I can barrack against them. Absolutely hate them with a passion. A lot of weeks they get lucky with umpiring decisions or inaccurate opposition teams. They shouldn't be 12-4. But... not one team has stunk the joint up against this mob like Freo have done tonight. My God, they've been awful. I'd be embarrassed to support them.

After the Giants loss, I was fully expecting to be 5th by now. Instead we are a game clear on top and 2 games and % clear of 5th. Shows just how important Thursday's win was (and perhaps not to overreact after a loss - every team has them).

A bit disappointed about this. I'm happy enough to be making up a game in the NT but why can't it be in Alice Springs? It's a beautiful ground there, and it's always a great game of footy. Darwin is generally a [censored] spectacle with the high humidity and slippery ball. Also in the past Melbourne teams generally haven't shown up the following week due in part to the fatigue of Darwin games. Can only assume there's a clear reason why the game can't be played in Alice.