Harvey Wallbanger

That's good news if the MRC are OK with us - however it's a hollow comment, as they have no say in our project. Our plan does not involve any money for building grandstands for the MRC. The MFC plan does not envisage any grandstands at all - because our ovals are inside the track.

In the wild card round 7 plays 10 and 8 plays 9. The two winners take the 7 and 8 slots and the finals continue as per the AFL Final 8 system. So we are in the first elimination final 5 v 8 in two weeks' time.

Yes, finishing fifth should give us a home final against the lower-ranked wild card winner, so that will be either Williamstown, if they beat Collingwood: or if Collingwood win we will play the winner of Richmond/Giants. And we get a week off of course.

Kolt was excellent, particularly in the second half - won lots of contested ball and his disposal was superb...

In fairness, Jeffo had treatment on a foot injury with taping across the top of his foot, and played very little of the second half.

Meahan is correct. She has been on the MFC PCNR (in case you're wondering, People, Culture, Nominations and Remuneration) Committee since April, so she'll be on the Board soon....

Right in behind Ghosty. WOMEN Of the named 21, no Lauren Pearce (but that's not unusual for Loz). Molly O'Hehir on the bike, in trainers and didn't train but another trackwatcher chatted to her and she said she is playing (perhaps a corkie from training yesterday?). Kate Hore also did not join the main group but was moving more freely than on Wednesday. I reckon she will still be a "test" for tomorrow. I reckon if either of the two don't get up perhaps Goldie comes in? No soccer balls for the women but they played short-field American Football! Loads of rehabbers working away. MEN The named team all present and didn't spot any of the emergencies - Billings, Adams or AJ - maybe they will all have preferred a full training day with Casey? No rehabbers.

Not what he said - he said it was "just a normal meeting - normal presentation". Perhaps he should have been more "on the front foot" because he said he would have liked a chance to re-present. All of us can speculate as to whether his card had already marked, and so that would have been futile.

Not quite what I heard - I heard (all very politely of course): You need stability and alignment to have success. Then referenced how that (stability and alignment) existed when Peter Jackson was there, implying it does not exist currently. Clearly believes the Board's decision was wrong (but you would have to ask them for the rationale - apart from the "new voice" line). And finally he said "Gary, you've got Greeny's number - why don't you give him a call?" Also said he did not see the decision coming because there had been a normal Board meeting post the St Kilda loss, and he would have preferred to have had a chance to pitch a rationale for staying if they were inclined to sack him.

I did not spot any train-on players today - perhaps because the final list cut-off has occurred. As mentioned earlier Jacinta was present. Reports indicated that Goldie might be "given some time" off her Irish campaign, but I wouldn't be surprised if she was straight in....

Yes, still on the inactive list for 2025 because of her back. But still getting around the team and Coach Mick was doing some craft work with her today.

The Club has announced that Molly O'Hehir (pick 3), Maggie Mahony (pick 21) and Laela Ebert will debut on Saturday night.

Forgot to mention that Goldie was back and in great spirits after the Gaelic win with Dublin. Reckon it will be hard to leave her out of the Round 1 team!

Our last main training session today prior to Round 1 on Saturday night. All present other than Aimee Mackin (who, with Jacinta Hose, are on the LTI list - Jacinta was present working with the physios.) Based on the injury report yesterday, ruled out for Round 1 are Tahlia Gillard (in a leg brace) and Beasley, although Grace was working freely with the mids today? Also unavailable are Gall (ankle) and Colvin (MCL). Seemed to me that Maeve Chaplin and Saraid Taylor would also be doubtful. Kate Hore (bone bruising) did not work with the main group today (worked extensively with the physio) and I expect would also be a doubtful starter for Saturday. Although the report suggested she was OK I think Blaithin might also be in the doubtful category. Of those also under a cloud, Harris, Rigoni and Campbell also trained fully. In short, quite a few "niggles" for our women, but of the active list of 30, just Tahlia Gillard in the medium term out category. Nice to see Riley Bonner at training - seems his development role extends to the women's program.

Has there been a release of interim financial results? Revenue up? I guess we had both the Richmond and Collingwood (KB) games as home games.

Fantastic stuff Ghosty. All present today bar Lever, Hore, McAdam and AMW. Windsor present doing some light stretches, after his hamstring injury on Sunday. As usual Tom Campbell didn't do much and looks to be carrying a lower leg or foot problem. Hendo coping with a groin issue - but I expect both of them still to be available for Casey. Xavier Lindsay was running laps and did not join the soccer. Fritter also running laps and TMac did not do much. Good to see Sestan there. The mood was certainly much more update than last week's Captain's Run. We'll get the official injury report shortly.

The President can be changed at any Board meeting and is a matter for the directors, not the members. The change of President is not a matter for the shareholders'/members' meeting - no voting takes place at the AGM, unless a resolution is put to that meeting by shareholders in advance. Last year's announcement by Brad referred to a proposed change of President at the end of the AFL season. Given that our men have not made finals that would normally be interpreted as the end of August (or September - given that we did not know whether we would make finals at the time of that announcement). If Caro's reporting is correct there has been a change to the "Kirribilli" agreement.

That week is 15-19 September. Today is the 11th of August.

Just another shout out to Wheels. Always the last off the track - picking up cones and balls and helping the staff. Rusted on!

Grundy into concussion protocols - will miss this week. Might help a little.

I wanted to follow up on these comments - more a comment than a question re the Stats. We had pretty amazing transition numbers this week, which goes to the new game plan. Just as well that clicked yesterday because we were smashed in clearances (-15) and Inside 50's (-15): normally that would lead to a bigger loss than that. Amazing pressure in the third quarter drove the resurgence after half-time. I get the experiment with Windsor in the middle but Richards and Libba killed us inside. We needed Jack's game from last week this week. Petty's game was enormous and Max continues to be unbelievable.

After today's VFL results my calculation is that if we beat Box Hill next Sunday we finish anywhere between 5th and 8th, depending on other results (Brisbane -away to Frankston, Collingwood - away to Port M and Richmond - away to Williamstown). If Willy win, they knock out Coburg from 10th). I'm backing both Frankston and Willy to win and we finish 6th - miss the wildcard round. If we lose, we finish either 8th or 9th.

6 Gawn 5 Petty 4 Culley 3 Langford 2 Turner 1 Bowey

Stats also confirm what an impressive game Petty had. Played like a good old-fashioned CHF today.

The finals series will again be played across five weeks and will conclude with the 2025 Smithy’s VFL Grand Final on the weekend of September 20-21. Finals series to commence with Wildcard Finals on the weekend of August 23-24. The format for the Wildcard Finals remains unchanged, with the team that finishes in seventh place on the ladder to play against the team that finishes 10th, while eighth will take on ninth. Unless we make it into the Top Six (and that's still a chance), we will play in the wildcard round - on current ladder position (almost certain to chnage though) we would play Williamstown at home and GWS would play Richmond. The two winners then slot into positions 7 and 8 and the usual Final 8 schedule then kicks in.