Kev

I mean unleveled because, they don't play each other twice. Also, if they get a very weak team twice, that influences the percentages, which may have a big say on position. Those with big home advantages seem to have bigger percentages at the end of home and away. Gives a bit more evenness to that anomaly as well. Teams will continue to improve or underachieve, from one season to another. The draws can't predict this, and the consequences throw the attempt to level it, out of whack. it's the last chance for an even'er-uper. When 19 or 20 teams, it will still be approximately 50/50 on home and away performance. ["The lower you finish on the ladder the better access you get to higher-ranked draft picks"] Free agency disturbs this a bit.

I imagine the team finishing higher get the home ground advantage. Unless you mean, that the extra game without a week off, makes it that they won't have a chance to make or win the grand.

I am a yes. Evens up a unleveled fixture a bit. Has the game more focused on the end of season form, so teams can build and try things earlier on and still get a chance to play finals. More teams stay alive come the end of the season, so less going through the ropes, and keeps more H&A games relevant. Top 4 get an even greater advantage with week off. If they are good enough they get a chance. More do or die footy.

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/teams/training-times They haven't been good at posting open trainings though. My guess for training is: Monday review run, 11.00 or 11.30 am, either Casey or Xavier. (Possibly Tuesday) Day before game, a captain's run at Xavier, 9.30 am. The main training out at Casey at 9.30 am, Wednesday or Thursday.

I think Xavier it has been resurfaced.

I support your sentiment. Never have I thought they make poor decisions deliberately, I put it down human nature. My two cents worth. When the umps enter the oval and the broadcaster ask us to welcome them, I am regularly the only one in the area to applaud them. I would have thought, given the hostility they face by some of the spectators, that more support would be gained. The parents, I would expect to at least show something, in order to install in their young ones a sense of respect. I am continually disappointed. I guess they come from the school of Boo's. The umpires do a tough job across all levels, and we wouldn't have a game without them. They need our respect and less derogatory calls towards them. My moto when a howler happens is, we can win without the benefit of frees. Though inconsistency can damage the entertainment. Keep up the support and sensibilities Macca, I am on board with you.

When I looked on google maps, it appeared that the oval was being refurbished. Perhaps it has a beautiful surface, and a great gym, now. Any DL's are Old Xaviens, attend or have teenagers there?

I think our facilities in AAMI are for the World Cup and Gosch's is being used by the Collingwood FC.

Watched the replay. We dominated the last quarter, those saying we got lucky or stole it, are wrong I reckon. Four misses early on, continued pushing, played desperate, and had belief. We opened the forward area well, and that gave us the ability to compete and score. What I would like to see us develop, is the ability to clear the ball out of the backline. The Saints held it in and Brissy did it for those two quarters that we lost. They forced multiple entries on us, as we struggled to get the ball past the centre. We fell off their players and our zone got picked because we didn't have time to set it. We need to either find a boundary, a releasing mark, a corridor or maintain possession, when exiting. Can't let the oppo put that much pressure on our backs.

I noticed that our training is still occasionally in the city, at Xavier College, 135 Bakers, Kew. Looked like they had a captain's run there, before the Brissy game.

Melky has now cemented his name in the 22. Looks like a rejuvenated man, his dream of playing in a GF, if we get there, is alive. That is, if consistency is his friend. I also reckon he is important with regards to his relationships with our younger brigade. He would have helped steered them through their growth and have been supportive, during the Casey time. Knows there strengths and weaknesses, and possibly, he is helping to keep them grounded, professional and having an impact.

Apologies to the Brissy supporter who was having a meltdown and I asked him is there anything I can do to help. I think it was the straw that broke him. (A verbal is close to a posting)

I was talking about society in general. Mexico city, I'm not going down the area the police don't go. Paris, I'm not going towards the racist ranting at a person from Nth Africa. If I see the crazy yelling at police, I walk away not towards. A night out in kampala, Uganda. I'm not walking out to where freedom fighters hang out. Harran, Turkiye, I'm not going into the fundamentalist area. Though those drunks, rambling and raving worry me, I really do cross the streets to keep away from that inebriated, uncensored rabble. All I have learnt from experience. Could keep giving examples if you want.

I believe some of that antagonism comes from a sense of separation. The games build up by MC's and advertisers also encourage us and them. I believe in the AFL community as a whole, and not as separate tribes. A bit funny aren't I. Sing both songs, applaud both sides, though heavily invested in MFC as well. I also understand why there is a need to keep away from it. I am often cautious and will walk on the better side of the street and not into the more dangerous areas.

Only if you can afford it. The biggest separator we have.

What a great start. What a great finish! What's the stoppages about. Scragging everywhere as we try to get the free player to the rucks feet. Again the oppo play the man and no support from the umps. Looks like the coaches are able to switch things up these days. Some over-handballing along the boundary. I guess the worst that can happen is a stoppage. BBB will start clunking them, got hands to many, and helped the crumbers. After Woeys goal, thought we would put the foot down. I had to wait. Thought Viney was looking banged up, then snatch, wow. A team building finish, sets us up for a good run with belief and momentum. The oppo fans giving it to Melky earlier. What a presence, gee they didn't like that. What a good weekend.

Agree with the substance use in the dry area. What hope do families have so that drug isn't a highlight.

Why? Division is hurting this world. Let's all just get along. Buying your way into separation, wow. Like the lotus flower, growing out of the muck, and believing the muck isn't there. An illusion that some believe membership can solve. Personally I like both sides of a debate.

Oh, the Brissy supporters around me were feral when the siren went. So one eyed, I cannot believe they don't love good footy.

What H&A dreams are made of. Way to take the heat off us and put it squarely on Brisvegas. Vineys steal and Melky's finish. Dominated the first 15 and the last 15 minutes.

Had a quick look on the Web. Romance novel, new experiences and the life of the rich and famous, dealing with serious life issues like illness, death, loss, family crises, and ... Not too far from the MFC experience. Go Dees

Do they end well for the good guys?

The wind has dropped off as the cloud cover cleared and night begins to fall. Still the occasional gust. Will be a cold night, though.

A change in a pressure system looks like it will pass over Melbourne soon. I can see some blue sky. The gusty winds may abate.

I don't want a slow start. Gee them up, Mark and Co. After that video posted by WCW, in Viney I trust, big time. Things I also want to see are, playing infront, and beating them to the ball, plenty of scoring from turnovers, no over-handballing, which has been an Achilles heel this season, smart footballing, good tempo decisions, some corridor footy and sticking our tackles. Hope we can hold it in our forward area and not play off our backline, as it puts too much pressure on the backs. The backs are much better when playing high up the ground. The backline hate even one goal against them. Hope they keep there heads up if Brissy get a roll on. Love our young players. Go Dees.