Engorged Onion

Yep - and hopefully we are the exception to the rule. Our defence allows us to kick at 45% and win (most of the time). That's what is quite amazing.

Traditionally I'd root for the underdog considering we've only been in two grand finals in my lifetime. But, this year, that's flipped on it's [censored] head... We're the anointed ones. So traditionally when we are favourite, I pace furiously around the room expecting us to lose, with an 8% beer in my hand quarter after quarter. My wife wants to know if I'm up for watching the Grand Final (she doesn't really care for Football, but understands its an annual ritual in our society and likes to honour it) ... I don't think I could bare to watch the match with anyone else in the same room - if we get to the Grand Final...

I look forward to TMAC's trade value going up with a premiership medallion. *I have no knowledge of anything. Although currently he is useful structurally, I think he has currency if he is traded out, and feel that he is slightly drifting to the very average TMAC, that we have had for a few years...

can anyone give me a timestamp of Sparrow's bump please?

Yep.. he takes another body, and although marks didn't stick, his mobility causes backline structures to fall down and creates space for Fritsch. He is important to our structure...and his worth to how we play is greater than his possession /goals output.

Anyone have any thoughts on the vibe around choosing to have Gawn, Petracca, Oliver and May on the bench for the last 5 or so minutes? Resting/Protection? Proving that the team can perform without them? Revelling in watching the lads?

Content to peruse on the last Sunday winters morning for 9 months. Magnificent Melbourne - The Roar (Match Review) Talking Points - The Roar. What Did We Learn? - Mongrel Punt

Yep, my only moments of frustration about Brown was when he took marks around about 65-75 out and slowly ambled around in the last quarter when Harmes was clearly free if he just popped it over, and another time it occurred with someone else streaming in. But perhaps it was a policy to just eat up time...

28 scoring shots to 15. Absolutely smashed em.

Enter 'squeeky bum time'.

Disagree @Demonland- Plenty of evidence on the contrary from Oliver To Viney to Pickett to ANB to Tmac - but Melbourne of 2001-2019 - yup.

Keen to know whats on your menu tomorrow night @Chook

Often when folk have a near death experience, they reflect in an existentialist way about life, become more reflective, connect more deeply with their values, tone it down a bit... hmmmmmmm

That'd be super super tasty, if that was to occur.

Some fine pedantry there 😍 Does anyone know how many other occasions we have had after the siren?

I like the font mostly.

Feels like there is a weight of evidence that our system works... and aside from few minor tweaks... our system stands up well. I've said it once and I'll say it again... we've played finals football since Round 1. It's sustainable attritional football and we are built for finals. Even in our 7 goal comeback - it wasn't chaotic as some people spoke about, it was a considered approach with a tweak around the clearances... and to be perfectly honest, that 15 minutes of football where Geelong got 8 goals, was marked by weird inconsistent umpiring, or many non calls.

AFL.com - on who'll win in 2021.

Yep, totally understand the role, more about how it always falls to being Gus's side. Is it about Gus...or is it about something else about our system?

Can someone please educate me on the notion of the 'defensive wing' What is it explicitly? Is it the wing that we don't like going to? Is it defensive, because it's Angus's? Or is it defensive because it's not Ed's? (so is it about the individual playing there?) Or is it defensive because we prefer to kick to the left from a behind been scored? (Nominally Ed's wing).

Mine

Bingo. I noticed that too. I've commented a few times how when I cared for the EPL - Frank Lampard would do a 45-90degree kick to Ashley Cole belting down the wing, whilst looking the other way., nailing it every time. I assumed because of the vagaries of football, that it couldn't be done - but clearly at certain times, it can be. *Also, watch Lever chose to deliver the ball, just as Stanley turned his head behind. Very very clever.

I actually think Lever sees Gawn pointing and kicks the ball - just as Stanley turns around - quite deliberately if that is how it played out, that is pretty incredibly clever.

Ahhh, you're riffing on those that drop off when we succeed... sure sure. It's all about weight of evidence. we've been in EVERY SINGLE GAME (aside from Collingwood, which felt surprising, perhaps GWS) - > no other team plays like us or has the consistency of us. There is enough evidence to say, yep we are the real deal, and probably will be in the finals for the next 4-5 years barring injury other another version of an Act of God.

Does it mean that Taj will or will not have a chance of getting drafted if he is not invited to an event called the combine?