titan_uranus

I agree re Clarry. If any other club thinks he can get back to his best, then we should too, and we should be backing ourselves in to bring that version of him back. If not, then why would another club want him? No one wants this year’s version of him at his current contract.

Both can be true. It would speak to a poor relationship between club and player, likely poor communication too - he thinks he’s unvalued when that’s not the case.

Maybe he’s just doing what we expect of Melbourne players who want to go back to their home state and saying he’ll go to any Vic club that can satisfy Port…?

On the same day the Oliver story resurfaces… Sigh. Insert the “here we go again” meme.

Not saying you’re wrong, but McClure said this: “According to two sources close to Oliver, who wanted to remain anonymous to speak freely, Oliver has increasingly felt unwanted at the Demons this year. That feeling has peaked in the last two weeks as the trade season approaches.” That surprises me, but there are posters on here who would know better.

4-7. They were 1-6 until Round 6 this year.

Good on him. Not ideal for us unfortunately.

In that same segment Edmund said that we’re not necessarily giving up on Houston and that we’d consider trading two first rounders…

Not sure this is right. Brisbane historically have struggled at the G> Going into last week's prelim Brisbane were on a 6-1-30 streak at the MCG since the 2004 Grand Final. Narrowing that down, they were also 2-13 at the G under Fagan, with the two wins being against us both times (2022 SF and Round 6 this year). Sydney had a poor run at the G last year (0-4) but under Longmire were 20-1-20 at the G before yesterday.

They need to find a better key forward than McDonald or Amartey. When you add Grundy to that mix, you just have no marking firepower, and early on they could not get themselves out of trouble nor could they find anyone to stand up inside 50. It's OK when Warner, Heeney and Gulden are ripping opponents to shreds in the middle but when they can't dominate, those talls aren't going to get you to a flag. They also probably need to find a key defender a bit taller than Rampe, who has always done well for someone his height but he's been around a long time now and was flogged today, to the point where I'm not sure he's going to be able to keep playing above his height too much longer.

Yeah but I've seen both Campbell and Fort at AFL level and I reckon Fort's demonstrated much more capable ability at the higher level. But I still am in favour of us taking him, assuming there isn't anyone better available who is willing to be that player on our list.

Three wins...and a draw...and 24.4%.

This is all true. But they also had the easiest fixture of all finalists (they played just one of their six double-up games against an eventual finalist, in GWS) which is unlikely to happen again next year. Despite the above injuries, they also had 11 players play every game this year, including Zorko, McCluggage, Dunkley, Cameron and Daniher. That's also unlikely to happen again next year. There's talk Daniher might retire, after a career-best season, and Hipwood still plays plenty of shockers. They were also 44 points down to GWS with 8 minutes to go in the third and if the umpire had paid a push in the back to Sam Taylor late, they might have lost the SF with questions being asked about whether Fagan can get it done. It's a fine line in the current competition and with the last four premiers all failing to win a final the following year, three of whom didn't even make the finals, there are no guarantees for Brisbane next year at all.

I don't think either of these reads are correct. Grundy racked up plenty of easy stats but was no better than break-even against Fort when the game mattered (i.e. the first half), a player he should have dominated. Offered nothing aerially, let Fort get some really clean looks at stoppage, and let Fort drift forward too often. Jordon, meanwhile, started on Zorko and did fine until McCluggage went berserk in the first, so they moved him to McCluggage and took him right out of the game. It was remarkable that they were flogged in the second quarter despite McCluggage being quiet, really. Wasn't Jordon's best game and his flaws stood out a bit (slow decision-making with ball in hand, got caught too many times), but his primary tagging role was largely a success.

They also both had Josh Dunkley, who was eligible to be a father-son pick up for Sydney but they passed on him.

There's actually an interesting debate to be had in this. Can the core of this group actually get to another GF and get it done? Or are they so deeply scarred they may never do it? Rampe and Lloyd are now 0-4 in Grand Finals, Parker's 1-4. Papley and Heeney are 0-3. Almost all of the rest (everyone else bar Jordon, McDonald, Amartey and Roberts) are now 0-2. They've just come off a largely dominant H&A season, finished 1st, two home finals, against a 5th placed interstate side who had travelled three weeks in a row, and they couldn't do it. Can they get themselves going again? Can Longmire? Or do they need a harder reset?

Sydney have their 2025 memberships for sale. They were advertising them today. What the [censored] are we doing?

Then watch how it played out. Didn’t just neutralise Grundy but IMO slammed him. Tom Campbell’s not at Fort’s level but the theory is plain for all to see.

Apparently he was injured…

11 players played every game. Consistency helps. But they also had the depth to cover for McInerney, Coleman and McCarthy (plus Gardiner and Doedee). Fantastic list management and fitness. Not a coincidence. For Sydney, when the going got tough they fell apart and you’d think the scars of 2022 has something to do with that. Their tall forwards are barely better than ours and they couldn’t compete aerially against Brisbane’s defence.

The story no one spoke about all year IMO was Grundy’s poor form.

Amazing from Brisbane. Disgraceful from Sydney. Mental scars for sure. Probably my favourite out of everything was Darcy Fort. Won the ruck IMO but as soon as the siren sound he went straight to McInerney.

They also mentioned we’re one of a few clubs targeting Peatling.

I called the club last week to ask when they go on sale. They told me 1 October. They also said that was because of AFL rules or something, but other clubs seem to have their 2025 packages for sale already.

Eagles, Chiefs, Bills