At the break of Gawn

Given the weather forecast is expecting rain, what do we need to do differently to ensure we can win this time? I worry about our ability to score in wet weather if our smalls have quiet games. If you take the Carlton game for example, our smalls struggled to fire. Collingwood has superior forwards in wet weather games. Miocek (pretty agile player), Elliot, Hill, McReery will all trouble us.

I’m glad we didn’t take him. He would have been just a prequel to Scully. Stay for 2 years then leave. 

We all know Watts never lived up to his potential, but I’ve often wondered if shipping him off due to his lack of professionalism sent a message to the group which led to mass buy-in from this group on professionalism. I also think with Watts’ lack of competitiveness, the recruiting staff made that a real focus for future picks. So all in all, I wouldn’t change a thing as we might not have had the 2021 flag.

1 hour ago, Wodjathefirst said:

My biggest fear is the weather 

Same. I hope the forecast changes because at the moment it’s 0-5mm of rain. If it rains, we’re doomed. 

Good re-signing I think. We definitely need the depth. We can’t rely on Tmac/BB while Grundy’s mgmt will seek a trade it seems.

With another pre-season under his belt at Melbourne, who knows, maybe he’ll surprise us and grab an opportunity in 2024.

Tom Stewart making the team is an absolute joke. Has had an average season and Geelong’s defence has been ****house this year. I genuinely hate Harris Andrews and I’m no Weitering fan, but to have Stewart before them is ridiculous and the AA selectors are just playing favourites.

7 minutes ago, joeboy said:

Nothing more certain: if Max wins the bog we win the flag

100%. If he dominates, I can’t see us losing.

1 hour ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

My understanding is the highest ranked team hosts the Friday night prelim.

If Collingwood beat us, they will host the Friday night prelim.

If we beat Collingwood, Brisbane (or Port) host the Friday night and we get the Saturday prelim.

Either we’ll be playing the Saturday prelim should we get there.

So Port get a 6 day break if they lose and we beat the Pies?

Ideally I want to see:

A 100+ score on the board

keeping them to under 60pts

no injuries

oh and Port to win.

1 hour ago, The heart beats true said:

Jon Ralph is very confidently reporting we’ll play Thursday night. If we get a concussion tomorrow I will literally riot Monday morning at AFL HQ.

Can someone please explain the rationale for this? Surely the Brisbane game is the obvious choice? Brisbane last year on the Thursday night worked well so I just don’t understand the reasoning here. You’ll see a smaller crowd on Thursday night at the MCG.

4 minutes ago, Redleg said:

It wasn't inconclusive. ARC said you could see gap between ball and fingers, it was conclusive.

Yet there was a gap with Marchbank’s? 

Did anyone see Big O’s goal soft called a behind by the umpire as touched, but despite inconclusive evidence, the ARC overturned it? Funny how things change…

12 minutes ago, Glorious Day said:

Total myth that the Gabba is slippery, it's dry from early/mid July onwards. Playing in Brisbane is like playing in Melbourne, just with possibly higher temperatures. Totally different story at the start of the season.

Exactly. It’s why we belted them there last year and why their second half of the season record at the GABBA is worse.

8 hours ago, layzie said:

But also, in the last round of the 2011 season Geelong smashed Collingwood by nearly 100 and won the flag. 

Will see how it goes.

That game was a dead rubber as Collingwood had already sewn up top spot and rested a couple. Still, it wasn’t an ideal lead in for them. I think us playing Sydney is a great lead in as they’re a high pressure side and will have a home final to play for.

Just a reminder that Geelong had a 100pt win in round 23 in 2018 and then went goalless in the first qtr against us and lost their elimination final.

We also had a 10 goal victory in round 23 last year at the GABBA and then got rolled in the QF.

So take the Collingwood win with a grain of salt.

I’m going to channel Binman here and give a positive spin.

Perhaps Turner can be our Bowey of ‘23 and go on a winning streak to the flag? Goody and co must see something in him and I’ve never really been sold on Tomlinson this year.

Tmac to be the sub.

In better news, the Sydney weather has done a 180 and the weather looks perfect for Sunday!

Awesome news! This will [censored] off the former President even more 😁

It was really upsetting to read this. What a terrible tragedy, and I feel so sorry for his family.

I’m proud that the Melbourne football club gave him a wonderful week and showed so much care for him and his family. His parents will remember that week forever. 

RIP Charlie and my condolences to his family.

14 minutes ago, Katrina Dee Fan said:

Just a note about next week, does it matter if we lose to the Swans?  We're locked into the 4th spot, I'm just concerned if we win, but either Brisbane or Port lose, we'll be playing an interstate final first week.  Scenarios as they stand - 

Scenario 1 - Al 4 top 4 teams win, we play Collingwood at the G (same as if all 4 lose)

Scenario 2 - Collingwood lose, all others win, we finish 4th, but Brisbane finishes top, we go to Gabba.

Scenario 3 - Either one of Brisbane or Port lose, all other teams win, we finish 3rd, and play either Port or Brisbane interstate.

Scenario 4 - Collingwood and Port or Adelaide lose, Melbourne and Brisbane win, Brisbane goes to top, Collingwood, 2nd, us 3rd, Port 4th, we play Collingwood at the G.

Scenario 5 - Melbourne wins, Brisbane and Port lose, we finish 2nd, irrespective of how Collingwood perform, and we host a home final to either Brisbane or Port.

I think there's also scenario 6 which is all 3 teams above us win but we lose to Sydney. One good thing about the time of our game on Sunday is that we'll know by the time the game starts who we'll play if we win or if we lose. However, with Goodwin's philosophy we'll absolutely be trying for the win. 

The Schache sub was just weird. Gave him about 10 mins of game time so didn’t really allow him to show much. I’m still not sold on Tomlinson but he’s a better defender than Smith.

Also, I’d prefer Hibbo over Bowey, just think we need that level of desperation in finals.

In: Fritsch, Hibbo

Out: Bowey, Laurie

Sub: Tmac or Schache

1 minute ago, layzie said:

Petracca is having a bog of a game and not the good kind.

Worst game since he had the flu game last year.

13 minutes ago, No. 31 said:

The Hawks can have their moments (and have had them in recent weeks). They can also dip and put in poor performances (that is why they are 16th). Expecting a solid Dees win.

This is what I’m hoping for. For every 1-2 good wins, they put in a shocker. 

1 hour ago, Jaded No More said:

If you don’t turn up today and choose to watch on tv instead (and you’re in Melbourne obviously), then shame on you. Final home game of the year. In the race for top 4. Captain Max playing his 200th. Weather is mild. 
Don’t be the sort of Melbourne supporter everyone laughs about. Turn up, make noise, and let’s bury those Hawks!

Has junior footy finished as well? From memory it normally ends late August.

3 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

We'll win comfortably. 

God I hope so.

1 minute ago, ANG13 said:

Sydney smacking the Crows in slippery conditions. 

Makes tomorrow’s game more important really. I don’t like our chances against the Swans at the SCG.

I hope the Hawks take a leaf out of Essendon’s book tomorrow.