Copuchas

Good points ProDee. Hope that doesn't make him borderline laconic though.....

The subtext in Ox's obvious observation is all about avoiding complacency ie improvement is not a given and will need to be fought hard for, more so if there's any adversity on the injury front. Just messaging for the young bucks in the playing group....from that wise old owl the Ox!

How many you expecting to bat for Brayshaw Self ? !! Is it 3 strikes and you're out? !

I just emailed them noting that rule one of crisis management is you can't say nothing!! I'm really surprised they didn't have a contingency plan in place for this eventuality and that they didn't convene yesterday evening to work out when to launch it. It's a bit embarrassing to be honest.

This is just semantics Ungarie boy. Losing because there's not enough on the line to push for a win is akin to not showing up mentally. No doubt they'll probably run out this afternoon wanting to win but it may well be wanting to win conditionally ie so long as we don't have to put our bodies on the line / risk injury. If however, for some reason they have a preference for playing either Richmond or GWS at home next week (and wherever the balance of the finals draw likely heads after that), we have afforded them the possibility to pick and choose and obviously our fate swings with it.

Hey @Ungarieboy only three out of the selected Crows side so far! But there's no way they're flirting with form against WCE right?

In the fwiw category, interesting discussion on the Pies Big Footy board about the merits of losing against the Dees so as to finish 13th and get an easier 2018 draw (obviously assuming the Hawks lose tonight). Some even see the Reid general soreness out as being indicative of this being a consideration.

For those who dismissed the prospects of Adelaide not going as hard as possible against West Coast, they've seen fit to pull Walker and Talia out of the selected side. Don't leave anything to chance Dees.....

For all those in attendance tomorrow, please remember at the appropriate point in the game (assuming things go to plan!!) to: - ask Taylor Adams if this is what a successful club's footy looks like - ask Dunny and Howie if it's enjoyable playing for a successful club - ask if it's time for "Press Red for Ed" - ask those in the black and white around you if they're enjoying THEIR grand final. You'll hear me on lvl 1 of the MCC!

@Petraccattack @Deemented Are Go! Gents, I did look up some of the earlier rounds this year and there was an instance where he tipped us. But only one and certainly not any time in the second half of the season! So he definitely has an issue!! Collectively, the Dogs have lots of issues I guess!

see my posts in the Match Preview thread

TMac and Hannan formed the rehab group initially (but joined in general training later on). No Viney. Everyone else was there (other than the long term injuries). Vandenberg was wandering around the area early on. Everyone looked up and about except for Frost as noted

Back slaps for Watts and Salem at training this morning after the huddle in the centre of Gosch's Paddock towards the end. They are in the team. Frost prominent in terms of a bowed head for much of training - the separate thread on his future may well have some currency.

Indeed. We are around 28 points worth of percentage ahead of West Coast currently. It would be good if after today that was 70 points, meaning that a 20 point loss to the Pies would still require a 50 point win by West Coast to dislodge us. Better still Dees, let's just win the last two games unequivocally! This site is a good place to follow the equation: http://www.liveladders.com/AFL/

The words quoted in http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-08-18/dees-hopeful-skipper-will-be-right-for-round-23 are "we're really positive" The article makes it clear that the injury is different location wise to the plantar fascitis procedure but makes reference to recovery from it so one wonders if this latest injury is referred in nature due to Viney favouring the recovery from the pf operation. Do we know if it's the same foot?

Perhaps it's a legacy of having grown up as a Filth supporting [censored]???? !!!

Has anyone else noticed that Bontempelli ALWAYS tips against the Dees in the Herald Sun footy tipping? What's that all about? !!

I'm really feeling confident as I note David Rodan's in goal!

I'm not as confident that Port beat the Dogs in Ballarat in 9 degs. Also, I don't think you can write off a Dean Solomon coached Suns quite so quickly for the week after, at least not in terms of the probability of a 100 point loss. In fact, I'm not dismissive of them taking it up to a Hurley-less Essendon on Saturday. I concur with Clint's take on us not beating Sydney or GWS.....at least not up there! But if we can avoid them until the last game of the year, we might be a chance on the G! Two trips to Adelaide and a MCG Semi against the Tiges would be a heaven sent September program for the Dees!

Casey v Williamstown is live on Ch7 at 2.10pm Saturday so an opportunity to observe the cases being put by those who don't end up in the team for Sunday.

Binman, I think it's principally about the match-ups again (as you referenced). On the face of it, I think Frost is our best match-up on Hipwood. And whilst Goodwin acknowledged Weideman's contesting work, the reality is that his impact was minimal. I think the match committee's challenge is that after a period of 3 and 4 changes or more a week, it's time to settle the team ahead of finals.

I concur with the sentiment Binman but would have thought that the words "if" and "give" in my post make it clear that it's just an observation! Totally share your perspectives on Frost and have read the Justin Plapp player review since writing my post and it appears very likely Watts does another week at Casey.

Frost in for Weideman, TMac forward. Stretch for Viney (if he doesn't get up). Give Watts another week at Casey and bring him back for Collingwood. Anyone at training today?

Agree to disagree. Adelaide's interest is clearly best served by having the greatest number of weaker teams make up the bottom half of the top 8 as possible. They don't know at the time they're playing West Coast whether they'll win their qualifying final or not and hence who they will play in subsequent weeks of the finals or whether they get a week off. They do know that Melbourne beat them comfortably on their home deck. Being the last game of the home and away season, if there is a preference to finish first or second to set up a preferred qualifying final and/or there is a possibility to keep out a feared competitor, they avail themselves of it. Jay Clark from the Herald-Sun obviously as clueless as me: JAY CLARK SAYS: The premiership favourite looks set to get two home finals and can rest players from the Round 23 trip to Perth if they want to. Box seat.

Perhaps. But the other scenario is they throw the game because they'd prefer to have West Coast (who can't get a home final under any scenario) in the 8 instead of the Dees. And remember, it is the last game of round 23 so all the permutations of week 1 finals match-ups (and beyond) will be known. So I reiterate, we need to beat the Lions and the Pies