Red But Mostly Blue

Self-loathing? ... Yeah, that's when you're in the last couple of days in the world as you know it, and still subject yourself to this torture. I deserve no better. I'm going to watch this until the end, and then count the sheets on my few remaining toilet rolls.

Guys, it's all about the forward connection!

He hasn't been himself for quite some time.

When we're all in lockdown/self-isolation, maybe Goody will run out of Mad About You reruns, and finally watch 'that' prelim, and maybe this game, too. For lolz, of course, because it's clear he doesn't know what to do about it.

Ah, that's what happens when two of our 'defence' can't be stuffed manning up. The old double ditcheroo.

After watching the first half, I'm certain the team has the coronavirus. The symptoms are all there: - Fatigue (walking around) - Coughing (up the ball) - Fever (explains the poor decision making) Hoping for a full recovery in time to make the finals this year...

I blame the feral crowd, influencing umpire decisions etc.

I hope Gil calls the season right now. At least we can say we COULD have won this/improved this year etc.

If we lose this, and the season is cancelled entirely, we would finish winless - which, to be fair, was a distinct possibility if we continued to play like this.

To hell and...

It's early, but 2020 reminds me a lot of 2019, except for Corona. I guess i50 entries wasn't addressed in the off season? On the upside, Langdon looks great. Kosi and Trac exciting, too. Also, we're being out coached again.

Not all perfect, but it didn't have to be, and we did something we haven't done in a long time, take control and run a game out! We actually look fit. So many positives. Fritter, Tomlinson, Trac, Langdon, Lockhart, Lever, Milkshake. Like what I see of Jackson and Bedford. I think we'll beat the Eagles in R1. We're coming in with some form and by the looks of it self belief. Can't wait!

Loving this setup. Fritter needs to stay up forward. Tomlinson and Langdon look great. Trac awesome. Like what I'm seeing from Bedford and Jackson up forward. Great signs! Harmes needs to stay in the middle.

Wait, so the whole team is responsible for on field leadership... making each person as responsible, accountable and empowered and as the next?! Preposterous! (I love this)

This is fantastic news. No unnecessary, confusing shared captaincy gig, and the right man is now in the role. Jack can focus on being a bull, Gawny inspires the troops. Now let's get to winning that flag.

I feel sick in my guts agreeing with Cornes. But I do... Last year we started underdone, lazy and with an air of entitlement, which contributed to the outcome. This year we're doubling down on that stupidity with a pre-emptive success story. It takes balls, or unchecked levels of ignorance and arrogance to do something like that. Kane said it well, we need to read the room. Anyway, I don't know why, especially after the horror of last year, we don't just fly under the radar. Say absolutely nothing in the preseason. And I mean NOTHING. Not just some straight bat responses, but a "thank you for your question, but we're dedicating all our energy to combating the horror or last year, together with our recent, substantial, history". Then come out at first bounce, stealth like, and wallop everyone with all the skills we mustered, and show off the fitness results from Burgess etc. They'll never see it coming because as of right now, we're still a basket case... ... And we said nothing! THEN we make/release the documentary. #stealth

I hope they take lots of notes!

Haha sorry @chook fowler that was a bit of a riff on this discussion, in relation to the video showing some of Harley's highlights.

I'm feeling pretty good about this! It's risky, but a potentially hugely rewarding thing for a (finally) forward thinking MFC to do! This would be caviar on the cake.

Works hard, improves every year, and loves the club - GREAT OUTCOME! Even more exciting is that with some depth in our midfield, he can be used better (stop roles when necessary etc), which means that he'll continue to grow. I can see James holding up the cup one day, beaming with the unique joy of a childhood dream being realised.

So we've possibly narrowed this down to 3 cities? Haha (I appreciate Harley seems to have indicated that he wants to play in Melbourne).

Looks good, although he could mean the scG (incidentally, what do Sydneysiders call their ground? Ours is the G because there's no point in saying the M bit, so surely it's the same in Sydney). All that aside, I think we're looking pretty good. I hope Harley sees the promise and genuine excitement in our future, and not the dark cloud of potential basket case that seems to look above us every year.

Totally agree, although to be fair these 'lowly' teams looked (and finished) a great deal better than us this year. While we're clearly capable of a lot more and should correct it next year, from the outside, these guys are probably wondering whether we'll be a basket case again next year and therefore avoid us, and choose one of the teams that are on the up. But still, would love to see this get done. I think we'll have a great year and Harley would be a pretty exciting part of that.

Pretty low risk here, but the potential reward is huge. We're a club with nothing to lose and everything to gain, so why the hell not? Worst case is he doesn't get on the park and can hang out with Vanders in the gym?

I think it's great that we're playing the Eagles away first up. If this year was an aberration, and the boys put in a massive offseason, and we truly mean business in 2020, then this is the perfect way to start the year. We can punish the team that embarrassed us in 2018 and get other teams asking questions. A lot of IFs, I know - with the entirely possible outcome being that we get thumped (Kelly with 4 goals and a bajillion assists), but I actually think we'll come out on top and it'll kickstart our premiership season. It's been a long day, dream with me. Look out yonder.