Previously known as LITD.

Win or lose, it's a great day for a great cause. But I do hope we kill Cwood.

Really.... you need to read the room a bit better. Was feeling great until I read your post. Thanks heaps.

We have this. Dees by four goals. Kozzie to kick five. So excited for this one. I hate Cwood.

Maybe not

I guess it's not this one.

Yes tbh, I was a little conflicted. But you can't take away everything.

Despite two of my least favorite teams, it's a cracker of a game.

So excited for tomorrow. Still seems strange to call it Kings birthday. This and the Anzac eve Tigers becoming almost as big as the day game are two premier events of the season. Let's own them both.

Great 15 seconds of fame there umpires.

I always find myself barracking for the underdog but caught myself just before willing bombers comeback here.

Cats defender Tom Stewart cleared from a bone rattling bump. To be fair, he didn't leave the ground. But at 190 cm, he's a big bloke, so players of his ilk are always going to get a lot of players higher up. It seems a tough area to adjudicate on. Didn't look to have eyes for the ball and certainly took the recipient out. Basically now the precedent is someone like Max could "bump" a small player and totally clean them up. But I'm sure they will flip flop. None of us want to see the game become too sanitary in this area , so maybe they got this one right. It's a tough game AFL. Maybe there's a bit of bloodlust in a lot of us. Well not wishing for permanent harm but I think we all do enjoy seeing a little bit of physicality in the game. Let's just hope for some consistency on this issue. And a few decent bumps against the pies tomorrow.

I do wish AJ and Viney were playing this one.

Ditto. Very much so. He's had his downturn early. It happens. Watch him come back and be a more than a solid player for a good deal of time. Has the skill, attitude and the passion. Probably needs to just find his enjoyment of the game and take off what could be self imposed pressure. At 22, he's been written off well too early by a few here. Not like he hasn't shown what he can do . And credit to him for fighting back in the twos. I think he just needs to improve his marking a little. Not hit the ball so hard with his hands. It's just timing and technique. He certainly gives his all. Tackles, chases leads , crashes packs well and runs miles. At 22, he will still fill out a little more and hopefully get some of his confidence back. I get the feeling from his body language at times, he feels he's let his teammates down at times and then he starts to fade out. Maybe I'm wrong but I think it's mostly a mindset with the bloke because he certainly has been very good in his first season. So much so, we have all been waiting for his breakout season. Okay, so it hasn't happened. Sometimes players even great ones, take a while to get there. Max didn't set the world on fire in his early days. And while they are worlds apart, it's not to say Roo can't start all over again and be a much better player. And maybe he got the nod over Jeffo to help Max out, but I'd argue that Jvr having to keep changing positions in a game has probably interfered with his development as a fwd so there's that. So he also adds a lot more than just a fwd. He could quite possibly become a good player in both these forms and there would be a fair bit of pie to be eaten around these parts when it happens.

I fear Tmac may have caught a case of ATS. Could be a worry.

It's tough for Laurie. Seems the proverbial bridesmaid. Good to see him firing though. And Billings. Id almost forgotten about him. Is he good enough for a chance yet?

Yep. I get we want a fit and firing Lever in our backline but he's a fair way off at present. Needs to really lift tomorrow.

At least maybe sub for Jeffo. Jvr is there for Max. But your not alone in being over Petty. But that's probably too much change in our fwd line. But Petty doesn't mark enough for me or goal either. He's a very good defender due to his athletic abilities but he's not a forward despite the many chances he's had. This is what frustrates me with Goody. Maybe Turner will go forward instead. I'm tipping Roo to have a solid comeback. Turner, Jvr, Melksham and Fritta would be a decent forward line and all are usually accurate. Gotta feel for Jeffo though. He'll get there. But here's hoping the previous four make it tough for him.

Not the team, I have been following. For three years in a row we finished top four. Pretty consistent for me. In 23, We would have beaten cwood and won another flag had Gus not been knocked out. And Jake Melksham playing his best footy went down before our finals, and he was probably our best fwd at the time. 22 was a decent follow up from our flag. It was then our fwd line issues began to appear. I felt that Jackson had already checked out and gave us little in those finals along with BBB playing on one leg. Tmac who had a stellar year in the first half lost his form as a fwd in the second half and didn't play finals. So those three talls out or down were the main reason for straight set losses. The year prior explained above for me. I'll acknowledge our last two years have been inconsistent but we have had a tough run of injuries and other factors. And some strange recruiting of players that had already played their best. But I am on board for a change in coach. It's just about fresh thinking and possibly some new enthusiasm. Simon does get very set in his ways and I think we could use a coach that takes more risks. I guess after such success our standards have changed and two years of no finals, assuming the worst this year, is a litmus test for a new coach for me. But credit must be given to Goody for the success we have had. If we don't make finals this year then he will most probably be unceremoniously dumbed next year. It's not the end of the world if he is still there next year but, on balance the grass is probably greener with a new coach. Some of his selections lately have been questionable and ultimately our forward line issues have to be accounted for by someone. Then again, I really believe we will win tomorrow and maybe, just maybe he will turn things around. ( Again).

Ball.

Eagles borrowed our playbook for this round.

The open mike with Mark Jackson was the most interesting one.

I really believe the team will rally on Monday and win this. Its obviously a last ditch chance for finals. Goodys back is against the w All we need do is just bring our best , it will do. I'd like to some decent physicality against this mob that bullies us and gets away with it all top often. Both Jake and Kozzie to have a big day out.

I concur with your hope in Jvr He has shown great talent in the past , so we know it's there. I've seen him get down on himself after an error and he may struggle to keep his mind on the job. I've never questioned his resolve and commitment. I think being dragged into ruck duties hasn't helped him focus on being a fwd. At least for the time being but it's why he may get the nod over others at times. He seems to have toned down his aggression and I wonder if that's had an impact. I've always wondered if he hits the ball at too much speed with his hands. Perhaps needs to just "drop" them back a millisecond prior to marking to cushion the impact. And your right, he's still young. His body will mostly fill out some more and he will learn more tricks of the trade So no astute supporter would write this kid off. And I do hope he comes back in such away to stick it up so many here. Finally, has he played with Melksham in the fwd line yet? I'm wondering if with other fwds firing, it would take the pressure of Roo so as he can maybe just enjoy himself out there and be less anxious about being our \main scorer.

Yes we can't expect Max to fly solo and Jvr is the best back up. Maybe Jeffo as the sub as he definitely sounds like he deserves a go from the reports I've read. Form must be rewarded. It's hard because Fritta has improved a little and Jm stays. Can Jvr play in a defensive capacity? Why we didn't find a proper back up for Max that can play forward after we lost Jackson and then Grundy is a mystery. I also think Jvr being forced to play in the middle has impeded his ability as a fwd at times. We went from twice having two premier rucks to just one. And despite Max being as fit as he is, it must take a toll on him. The club has been caught napping in this department.

We have demonstrated on a few occasions this year our best is as good as the top teams. We are capable of beating the pies . The question is which Melbourne will turn up. We will have to work even harder to compensate for our atrocious goal kicking. Win this and we are a small chance of playing finals again. But only just. And of course, lose it , and it's all over. Huge game. I hope the boys really show up and give the pies some stick although if Viney and AJ aren't playing, I'm not sure who will do this. I also think this game will determine in part, Goodys tenure. I think missing finals two years in a row will be the end of him and probably good for the club. I find his stubbornness frustrating and not an asset. Petty kept as a fwd is a prime example. He just isn't. Maybe a handful of good games there, but he doesn't average more than a goal a game. I think it's 0.7. That's nowhere near good enough. Let the bloke excel where he always has. In the backline. Credit to Goody for trying him there but now it's become a mistake and one he keeps doing. Own it Simon. Change it. Let's play Turner or May fwd and see if we can kick a big score. And before anyone cites the Swans and lions games that was down to KP and JM. I mean it's not like we have a great deal to lose at this point in time. We need a fwd line that can take a least a few contested marks. Petty isn't strong enough in his legs to do this. Fritta takes high marks or goals out the back.Melksham on the lead.Jvr the same. And given our penchant for bombing the ball in so much, a strong player that can take a pack mark is a necessity.Snd while Max can, he can't be everywhere and he's not the most accurate set shot. So please Goody mix things up.