At the break of Gawn

That’s a weird take by Scott. Optus stadium is very similar to Marvel and a fair bit closer to the MCG rather than GMHBA https://turfmate.com.au/boundary-sizes-to-be-reduced-at-gmhba-stadium/ Since 2018 at Optus: Melb: 2-3 Geel: 3-4 In 2021 Melb: 1-0 Geelong: 2-0

Would be 5-0 if Lions had won…

Port would be licking their lips. Those two teams played a proper final and both got banged up. Unfortunately for us, we’re playing a team who had a Sunday stroll last night with an almost standard home and away game.

I watched a Jeremy Cameron interview after the game last night where they asked him about playing Melb next week and what the round 23 game meant. He said there was lots of learnings from that game which will help them this week. I think that’s what it’ll will come down to. Who learnt the most from the round 23 game. I’m confident that Goody would have spent a lot of time on that 2nd qtr and they’ll analyse it again this week.

This may be my MFCSS running around in my head, but does Geelong have an advantage in recently play a game in Perth so they are a bit more familiar with the ground? I know we only played there 4-5 weeks ago, but I feel the fact that Cats have been in Perth the same time as us, played at Optus stadium and now have a 7 day break erodes some of the advantage we have in making the PF. I honestly think if Melbourne had been given the choice, we would have picked Adelaide Oval again.

I agree with this, but I think Rivers can take Rohan. There’s only a 1cm height difference between the two, and rivers has good wheels. I think it’s going to be: Hawkins - May Cameron - Smith Esava - Petty Rohan - Rivers Close - Lever Bowey - Miers Menegola - Salem

No way. To say that we equaled the achievement of 2018 would be a choke of the highest order. 2018 we somehow stumbled into the 8 and won two finals on a wave of momentum. We came up against an experienced and formidable opponent who had their sights set on bigger ambitions. We have barraged our way to the top of the ladder, been there longer than any other team this season, and disposed of another top 4 team with ease in a qualifying final. A loss next week would be equal to Essendon’s 1999 season. I bet you won’t find many Essendon supporters who would be proud of what they accomplished that season.

You do realise Ratugolea was dropped to play us in Rnd23. All our defenders will need to do next week is not get out marked (which they’re pretty damn good at). There’s no Charlie Camerons, or Zac Butters, or Fantasias, or Weightmans running around. We have a faster spreading and superior midfield… and they’re also still missing their best defender who glues it all together. If we can’t win next Friday, then we’re clearly not ready yet. Like the rest of you, my MFCSS is absolutely raging but I’m trying to think logically and take in some of the commentary I’ve seen from neutral supporters.

I’m surprised Scott brought in Ratugolea. Melbourne’s Achilles heel is when the ball hits the deck in our defence, but the Cats literally have no dangerous small forwards (Close is the only one but he’s only kicked about 10 goals for the year). After that performance, they’ll keep Ratugolea. The cats dominated centre clearances in rnd 23 during that 10 min period, and scored easy goals. Optus stadium isn’t as easy to score goals like that. Our only worry is Hawkins and Cameron. I expect Gawn to play a lot behind the ball next Friday to ensure Lever gets a free reign intercepting, because unfortunately Ratugolea will need to be minded.

Would have loved for the Prelim to be on a Thursday night so the Cats only get a 6 day break.

Jack was one of my favourite players but it’s obvious now he didn’t have the drive to be a truly elite footballer. Jack liked the idea of the lifestyle of an AFL footy player more so than the actual hard work that’s required to be successful at it. People will ponder things such as what if we had drafted a player like Jack 10 years later than what we did in 2008. I’d argue that we wouldn’t have because his lack of competitiveness would have been identified earlier. I’m all for our club recruiting diverse personalities, and people will always have different vices outside of footy, however when it comes to applying your trade, you have to be 100%. There would be players out there who would put more effort into their footy who are also balancing life with 3-4 kids than what Jack was doing.

Obviously I have no idea of your financial situation, but for roughly $200 to guarantee a chance to see our first premiership in 57 years…that sounds like a steal to me.

I’m not sure what it is, but I really don’t rate Port. They barely beat a top 8 side all year, we made them look like pretenders, and then they went and beat an out of form WBD to clinch 2nd spot on the ladder. Geelong played one of the worst games I’ve seen them play on Friday night. Port were good, but Geelong had a horrible night. What Port do have on their side is a home ground full with their supporters - something Melbourne won’t have in the PF

I was thinking about starting a new thread but this current topic is pretty much the same. My question: When was the last time we were unequivocally the best team left in the finals series and favourites for the flag? From my limited recollection: 2018 - Richmond/WCE the clear favourites 2002/2004/2005/2006 - Certainly not us. 2000 - Essendon hands down. 1998 - North 1994 - West Coast/Geelong 1988 - Hawks 1987 - Carlton? 1964? I’m of firm belief that this flag is ours to lose, and anyone else who wins it is the underdog.

That would be the dream scenario. Cats still worry me too.

I’m not sure it’s been mentioned earlier in the thread, but I thought Chris Fagan’s impromptu comments at the end of his presser about Melbourne was a nice touch. To summarise, he said full credit to Melbourne, they are a wonderful footy team and are very hard to beat. I can guarantee you that you won’t hear those sort of comments from Chris Scott if we roll the Cats a third time this year in the Prelim.

Brayshaw had a good game but he really has to improve his decision making when he has the ball inside 50. Always looks to be in two minds and sometimes I think he should just have a ping.

I think I prefer to play the Giants. Their forward line isn’t as much of a worry, and they also play a contested game which I think we can beat them at. I know we lost to them earlier in the year, but I think we were struggling with our scoring and clearances which we’ve fixed up since then. With the Cats, I worry how easily they got a hold of us last time. Cameron and Hawkins can get off the chain and kill our premiership chances. Their over possessive ball movement can work really well for them at times. The reason we won last week was because they just couldn’t get their hands on the footy at all in that last qtr. The other factor is that, yes we’ve beaten them twice this year already, but beating a quality team like that three times in a year is difficult to do. If we do end up playing the Cats and win then we’ll be certainties to beat Port/Brisbane the week after I feel.

Surely if we play the Giants then Hibberd comes in for Smith to play on Greene?

Reckon Petracca just needs to kick a goal and then he’ll explode from there.

Some of them look super nervous.

That is an impressive list of highlights!

Every HS tipster apart from one person and the Kiss of death tipped us to win. In the age, no one tipped the Lions. 😬 We’re red hot favourites no matter how you look at it.

They actually won their QF final last year but then lost in the Prelim. Funnily enough, so did Port. The two grand finalists from last year lost their first QF. I feel this year is different though without the bye, so I’m desperate for us to win tonight!

Haha jinx!!