In Harmes Way

We kicked more goals than behinds.

Just like the song. Dude looks like a lady. with a moustache.

McAvaney?

Doggies having Tim English in the ruck again tonight is a big weakness. Lost the hitouts last week 55-15 and centre clearances 10-4. Port playing both Lycett and Ladhams who are both quality (comparatively). I can see them losing it tonight in the guts, but hope I'm wrong.

Hopefully you mean the Qualifying Final froggy. Otherwise you've written us off week 1 of finals.

Nice work LDVC. I have to say I was pretty grumpy with you for a while yesterday!

That would have been awful. It wasn't much better the next day mind you. Did you get to the Oval to see the Dees play Adelaide? That was a good day.

Just worked it out. Thanks to Mazer for the clues.

I did. The replay the next afternoon.

I was at the 1988 grand final, so I'd definitely rather watch a win on TV instead. Although the streaker in the third quarter was a highlight you won't get on the telly.

I can't see the WA government agreeing to any games in WA excepting the Grand Final, with only the two teams plus essential support staff and coaches allowed to enter the state under strict quarantine. This means the AFL would need to engineer a whole finals series outside of WA, trying to introduce crowds where they can. I'd rather they just tack the grand final on to whatever they do weeks 1-3, and tell the WA government to get stuffed. I wouldn't be surprised if McGowan stipulates it has to be a night grand final as part of his conditions, just so it's on the TV at midnight in the eastern states. There's no guarantee there won't be COVID in WA within a month anyway.

Last week I saw a bloke in Ivanhoe on Channel 7 news had painted a mural on his house of Gawny, Kossie and Trac. His daughter put him up to it (are you on DL????). It was magnificent. My wife told me not to get any ideas, but I could totally see my house painted in red and blue (they are my two favourite colours after all)

I’d agree with you Adam on Smith who I thought was excellent, but Goody wasn’t OTT with his praise for Smith in his post match presser. My take was he was disappointed with Smith cramping up in the 3rd and the lengths they had to go to to get him back out on the ground. I think he’ll be dropped for May.

Even poorer than that decision was the next one where the ball hit the point post (or didn't) with both the goal umpire and the boundary umpire within 3m of the ball. Ridiculous it even went upstairs for review. Maybe they were afraid we were going to lose by a point due to an umpiring mistake. #wouldneverhappen

There was a graphic on Fox at half time in the game that showed next week's game at the MCG, but I think this was a typo. On First Crack just now it showed the game in Geelong.

Interesting stat on First Crack just now. Over the last 6 weeks, the top 8 teams have been measured in defensive tendencies without the ball, on a 1-18 rating (1 being best). The four areas measured included: 1. Hold up as a defensive 50 when the opposition bring the ball in 2. Whether you can stop the coast to coast 3. How often you win the ball back between the arcs 4. Flat pressure rating Dees rated 1 in the comp in all four areas. The graphic shows the top 8 with accumulated scores. King’s view is that it’s the team that performs the best without the ball wins the flag. He reckons these stats make us not just a favourite for the flag, but a dominant favourite.

I didn’t realise paying hundreds of millions for tv rights also allowed Channel 7 MRO voting rights, but there you go.

I feel sorry for Joel Smith who would normally be a shoe in next week based on a game like that, but unfortunately will make way for Maysy. Didn't put a foot wrong.

FYI, the TV guide is showing Ch 7 is showing Gold Coast vs Essendon

Clarko doing all he can to improve the Hawks’ draft position before he leaves!

Given the lack of under age footy both last year and this, the draft is fast becoming a chook lotto with respect to under age talent. I can fully understand holding in to known depth that is ready to go if needed versus a kid you haven’t seen play anywhere near enough to take a punt on.

We’ve conceded the fewest points across the whole league this season. It already is a backline to remember.

Don’t pay the Perryman. Don’t even fix a price.

This one's easy. They all played for Melbourne.

I'd have happily accepted posts from 10 years ago stating "Out - Melbourne, In - Casey" this week, given the last couple of weeks' travel burden and potential for the pre-finals bye to be abandoned; but Goody is a man of his word when it comes to not flirting with form and picking his best 22 every week so I don't expect wholesale changes. I wouldn't be surprised if he gives Vanders another run given Monday night wasn't ideal conditions for first game back for a long while, and will give him a second crack to prove himself. Hibbo for Hunty, that's it for me.