Red But Mostly Blue

Run, Frosty, run! I must have screamed that about a dozen times today. It never got old. We need to make room for him when Lever returns, because he's in our best 22, no doubt.

Frost's ground speed was something else. And much sharper execution as well. I love how even after he sprints and releases the ball, he keeps going to make sure there's another option. Agree, it's been great to watch Harmes' development this year. He really has been able to capitalise on a combination of strength and silky skills.

How good was that?! As always, the usual suspects were great, but i thought Frosty and Weids were awesome! Can't wait to send the Cats packing next in a fortnight! Was at the game today, it was electric!

hahah this is perfect - also pretty suitable for Aussie politics right now (change Goody, Bucks and Lyon to... well, take your pick)!

Man, I'd love for this to happen - but I've the misfortune of watching a few Dockers games this years, and the Pies need to win to keep their top4 possie, so I just can't see it happening. But don't get me wrong, if it does - a clash against the Tigers and a double chance would be AMAZING. We have a great record against the Tigers, and we started strong against them earlier in the year (bit couldn't capitalise) when we didn't quite have our stuff together.

No doubt. They didn't deserve to win either of those games, and there's no way we'll gift them another. We'll beat them when it counts! Yeah, I'm so pumped. I think the somewhat removal of pressure will allow the boys to play their natural style and send a message coming into the finals. I'll be there, can't wait to see it in person!

Watch this space - We'll beat GWS, then knock the Cats out of the finals in triumphant fashion. Third time lucky sort of a deal. ...and it will be so sweet.

Very true. I only ran through the most common scenarios, but this is also possible. It's in our hands, but I'm also hoping GC try to end the year with some dignity haha

Absolutely! Champions. Great image.

If we win, we're likely to play the cats at the G. That's the best possible outcome given that we've had them covered this year, and we will most certainly be out to seek revenge where it counts.

Roos must be emotional about this as well, I reckon. He came to the team at its lowest, and would have seen everything. He helped to pick us up off the canvas. This would please him to no end. Good man.

Yeah, I don't buy that. Maybe Goody is being diplomatic, or Nev wanted to be the bigger guy after it all, but I don't think it was about a mark. Nev was wayyyy too angry.

Oh, me too - but after this week, and with the pies obviously keen to keep top 4, I just can't see Freo winning. I mean, I'll take it haha, but I just can't see it happening.

Couldn't agree more! The losses this year were heartbreaking. They didn't deserve either of them. But boy can we make it sting by beating them when it counts. The look on their faces will be the stuff of sweet dreams for a long time haha

The script looks written for us to knock the cats out of the finals after the heartbreaking losses against them. Would be so sweet!

How good was that! Milkshake is crucial to this club. Harmes was awesome. Jonesy played a captain's game. Gus, Clarry and Maxxy solid as always. Loved the INs. Hannan was fantastic. Didn't hit the scoreboard (kicks were woeful), but I really liked what I saw from Weids. He's going to be a great contributor. Even Kent gave a little in the second half. Modelling for the finals: First good news (from a 'I don't like the Roos' perspective) is it doesn't look like they can make it from here, same as Port as they need the cats to lose to the suns... Yikes. If we win (regardless of hawks Sydney game) we finish 5 and we play cats at G. If we lose and Hawks win, we play Sydney over there. If we lose and Swans win, we play Hawks at G. I really don't know what I prefer. I'd rather win (obv) and knock the cats out of the finals. Can't lose to them 3x in a year, right? Plus, it would be great for the story to knock the cats out of the finals! BRING IT!

Definitely a bold line-up, but that's what it's about right now. We can't keep doing the same things and expecting different results. We won't finish the season wondering, and at the very least we'll know a lot more about who should be part of our 2019 premiership side!

Absolutely!! Out with the passengers, in with some speed and grunt! I'm really interested to see how the Weid will go, and the input of Kent. Hibbo and Melksham are HUGE ins.

Yeah, the same side. Yeah, they get some frees here and there, and some suspect preferential treatment. But they smoked us. Twice. Once when our finals were on the line. And the second when we came back for 'vengeance', with fire still burning in our guts from R23 last year. I was there for both games, and free kicks did not cause the spanking we got.

I agree, they're a big part of the puzzle. But really we've only been without Viney and Lever for the majority of the year (Hogan has been there, and Tom McD has played since R6). Lever wasn't here last year, and we beat (I think 4) top 8 sides last year. So the only difference was Viney? That can't be right. All I'm saying is that, like the Pies (who were way behind us last year), we should be able to adapt and turn in 100% performances. Not some of the BS performances (like Q2 and Q3 last week) we turn in when we need to bring our A game. But I hear you, when we get Lever, Viney and Hogan back, man oh man. 2019 will be a very exciting time (unless you're one of the other 17 teams that will have to play us).

Absolutely! I would have thought there would still be lots of fire in the belly from R23 last year! This is definitely the week to bring the goods, and keep bringing the goods. Because the only way we're going to be taken seriously is if we never turn back.

It will be a huge bonus, but it will also be a fail if we don't given that we missed last year (and beat more top 8 teams last year, as well!) I think we've been unlucky with some injuries (especially Viney and Lever, given that Hogan has played almost every game this year), but that doesn't excuse some of the performances we've turned in, and doesn't explain our games against bottom feeders when we've played with a near full-strength side (like St Kilda). Then there are teams that have had to deal with constant injuries (often to important players), but they're still making other teams sweat (Collingwood, in particular). Remember Collingwood? They finished wayyy below us last year, have been riddled with injury, but they're playing out of their skins. Hogan, Viney and Lever (I feel for this one in particular given that he's the main difference from 2017) are notable absences, but they should not define a year.

I'm always bemused by the number of times people say we'll respond 'this week' because last week was a 'wake up call' (i.e. one of the many moments where there was some hope/expectation and we've fallen flat)... How many times does that phone have to ring? Will we answer the wake up call this week (and stay awake)? NB: I'm not one of the negative sorts, I always think we're one win away from everything falling into place. Go Dees! ...And for what it's worth, I think we'll win this weekend!

I'm hoping this is the case. He may try, but just doesn't seem to do anything particularly well, and some things not so good at all (foot skills, decision making etc.) I'd much prefer Hannan or Kent for the role.

This is perfect, thank you! Didn't realise that Smith might be ready for GWS, but that's great news. I agree, prefer not to risk him, though. Agree with the proposed changes. The Kent/Hannan/Bugg is the most interesting discussion to me (I'm in the let's give Weids a chance camp, because we have to look to the future and develop talent). Kent and Hannan have both impressed to different degrees (Hannan more, in my opinion), and Bugg a little less so. I just want whoever is hungrier, will lay those forward 50 tackles and bleed for goals. I want to see maximum pressure to prevent the ball from leaving our 50 (unless it leaves for a centre bounce post-goal!!). We need to see We need a hungry, desperate goal sneak - and this is the perfect opportunity to develop one!! Who's hungrier? Who will take the chance??