45HG

Yet you live in "Melbourne Bitter"?

You'd love to broadcast their smashings to the masses however...

Ah well, our game wasn't going to be live on 7 anyway.

Haven't won in Round 2 since 2005.

Play the way we did last week throughout the season and we won't need to worry about fixturing next year. It's an unfortunate part of the AFL beast. It's not fair. But it's the way it works.

If we win by 60+ I'll be pretty happy to watch the highlights time and again.

First time in 4 seasons - first time it's happened in round one since 2003. Some other good stats in there, as well.

Only found out about this today, I reckon it looks fantastic in case anyone is looking for a variation on the typical tipping comp.

It was Port. Puts an interesting spin on the Wines story - he was essentially their third choice!

What's a "the footy show"?

Just like last year's round one, Jack is in the "team of the week".

I'd literally never sleep again.

Shield Final - related to other thread about "true" extras. It's on the scorecard again because (I think) a Vics official rubbed the ball into the concrete and it gave away a 5 run penalty - after a boundary too, not often you see a 9! Final very evenly poised. S.A. essentially 2-8 with plenty of overs left in the day. If they get the full 28 overs in, Vics can expect to have them 4-5 down with a lead around 100.

Agreed, but I still don't love the idea. With such a powerful midfield, I think they'd have been better served trying to lock the ball in their forward line. I think they knew they needed to flood back because leaving Hogan one out would be suicide but I think we forced them to play beyond what they'd hoped by controlling the midfield.

There is a problem with using percentages for a stat such as this IMO. Each player only needed one more of their disposals to have been effective and their percentage goes about 70 which is fine. DE can be a misleading stat.

Such an interesting game to dissect. A lot has (rightfully) been made of GWS's terrible kicking for goal and how they will lament the loss. I'd have to say though, given the general feel of the game and looking at the stats, we'd have been equally as livid if we had've failed to get the job done. GWS looked handy in patches but mainly on the counter attack. I don't think this is a great strategy and it's one of the areas we fell down in last year and already seem to have rectified. While they turned the ball over in our 50, we are aiming to turn it over much closer to goal. Their dinky little goals with no one around them look like effective ball movement but certainly is not a viable, September-minded plan IMO (and I certainly don't claim to have the strategies of the game figured out). Obviously they were also influenced by Cameron being out. Seeing St Kilda yesterday dominate in the middle and also rely on counter-attack goals yet still get blown away shows the dangers of this style. It's hard to conclude whether we turned the ball over on their terms and we were lucky to get away with the win as it was played on their terms. Or if we simply had to adjust the way we used the ball inside 50 and we would've trashed them. I suppose the answer may lie somewhere in the middle but I'm on the whole happy with how we seem to be moving the ball, playing pretty tough at stoppages and tackling well. If Max Gawn stays fit and we can get a functioning half-forwardline, this could be a pretty enjoyable season.

I was away and missed last year's game v the Bombers, Can someone please console me that we won't again lose to the Bombers with most of their best players out? Thanks in advance.

Could do with missing their minute-long applause for convicted drug cheats and their general arrogance. In terms of a real protest, hopefully the players protest by dismantling them entirely. Memories of 2013 are strong - one of the worst nights I've had at the footy. Not helped by Essendon faithful. Re: crowds - 240,000 extra sounds impressive. You've also got to factor in that we played a game in Alice, a game in Darwin, a home game in round 23 against GWS and a game in Canberra. Almost a quarter of our games played in much smaller stadiums away from our traditional bases. Not to mention we weren't 1-0 going into a match against a depleted arch-rival - pretty disingenuous to suggest we'd be outnumbered 4-1 based on last years averages (which don't support the claim) and total supporter numbers (which are irrelevant. If they were relevant, Collingwood would outnumber us every year 10:1). Also forgot to mention that they get 50,000 more than the average from one game alone.

8.7 to a rushed behind.

I find that whenever Jack has a good game many people talk about it as "about time" or "finally" - always conveniently forgetting his last good match. A career of this and people will only remember one good performance. Perception is sticky, never more so than with Jack Watts.

5.7 to zip since Bruce tried to declare the Saints winners...

This may have been posted by others, but geez I'd be bloody thrilled if this guy could get back on the park and find a way to perform at his peak. It's a long shot obviously, but the character of the bloke and for all he's been through (and been put through) I'd be happier seeing his return than any other I can recall. Good luck Jack!

I'm a bit unco on this stuff. Can I join?

I'm out lads and lasses. Thanks to those who have run the comp over the years. All the best for the year.

Pity Gayle said it.