Kev

Great for our young players to get a go at it. Give them hell, Jackson, River, Bowey, Pickett, Petty, Sparrow. Spargs. Surprised about Smith, thought he may have been a bit underdone. Hoping he is match fit after only a few games. Tracc has been setting himself for the finals, (guessing). I expect a dominant performance. May will be in the same boat Langdon and Salem could be the difference. C'mon big game players, step it up. Go Dees.

Why settle down @dazzledavey36? I can give my opinion without statements that are derogatorive. But, if that is your way, then good luck to you. Just mentioning why I think MCG would have been a better venue for us. So the Lions can have a normal build up and we sit at home talking about the game on zoom, then being let out for a run and back into isolation, and when in Adelaide we are locked in for 24 hrs . Are the Lions locked in as well? There is also a good chance we are on the road to Perth after SA and therefore away from home for the entire finals series. Makes sense to me that we should have stayed in Melbourne for as long as we could.

I think I heard on 360 AFL fox show, that we have a different quarantine regiment to that of Brisbane. We get locked in when we arrive and are in isolation already. The same as Geelong. Did not hear them talk about any restrictions on the Lions. There is an uneven playing field that favours the opposition.

Thanks for taking the time to discuss. I think prime time is more relevant in the home and away series. Finals however, all the games are interesting at whatever time. I still advocate for Sunday. We seem to play better with some adversity. So I am not overly concerned, more disappointed that we don't have any advantages from finishing top. Hoping we can jig and fine-tune our game for a finals series. May and Lever to dominate and lead our backline in an extremely stingy display and to rebound everything.

That is right, the script is for the benefit of the AFL not MFC. My argument is not about the effect on this game but on the finals campaign. We are on an even playing field against Brisbane. That is why I feel the Dogs get a hand up. Nine Days to prepare for the next phase of the season. I wouldn't be surprised if they turn their form around and give the finals a shake. I understand the choice for Adelaide. The beautiful stadium, neutral crowd, accessibility, but it still involves that quarantine. Which again disrupts our pre-finals preparation. You can keep saying, my arguments are obviously wrong, but it is my opinion. We are being shafted. The last 4 weeks of Home and Away were tough, good teams, excessive travel, quarantines, we did alright finishing top. Though, no benefits what so ever, from it. My preference would have been, play Brisbane at the MCG on the Sunday. Allow fully vaccinated spectators in, or no crowds.

Yes understand that. Though would like to win. An extra day will have have given us more time for the team to recover from niggles and to prepare for the final series (a small advantage). If lose, then we are in the back of the pack and 6 days is fine, given we would have had more prep time for the final series. Again, what did the Dogs do to get such an advantage going into a final series. They will have more time to refine problems and allow sore players to benefit, Nine Days, no quarantine! We have been subservient to AFL Corp, no benefits at all, for our position on the ladder. As Bobby1554 said, Zilch!

The Dogs got 9 days. They also don't have quarantine procedures, fly in fly out. Would prefer at least some advantage to being top of ladder. We have had flown a fair bit in the last 3-4 weeks. I care! Why did we not get the Sunday game?

Of course will not happen. Gee, it would make a big difference to the eastern area and one of the worst roads (Punt) in Melbourne. Would still like to see that artery buried underneath the existing road.

Bandwagoners won't deminish my experience. If we become dynasty, perhaps we will get some more true believer's. Share the joy.

With such a hectic finish to the home and away and there are not many privileges for a top of ladder. How did the Dogs get an 8 day break going into the finals?

I watch on afl overseas, a fox stream. There was no pre-match lead up to our game. The change up from the end of Bris v WC, had me a bit exhausted, after the 1 point to get the percentage above the Dogs. Then straight to the bounce of Dees v Cats. Would like to see games every day/night of the week eventually, so the clashes don't occur.

Cloud 9 or maybe 11!

Agree, you can only see his intent for it, but to have any control of a fast ball that bounces off the deck and hits the chest, wow.

The MFC players looked so happy at the end of the game. What a beautiful release valve for this seasons challenges. How about Williams jumping into the songs huddle. Knows the moment and gees them up for a celebration. My guess is a day off and back to business Monday.

Spargs, Pickett, Brayshaw, BBB, Rivers, Bowey, Sparrow come to mind as doing a bit. Harsh judgement on the team, I reckon.

Roped the dopes. Great momentum and belief to take into the finals. Top of the ladder, woo hoo.

How do the Cats get away with constantly playing the man, they push, block, hold, and scagg, at most of the contests and in their forward area? Our backs have to play in an uneven contest.

Good start, BBBB (big beautiful Ben Brown) great hands and finisher. Oliver everywhere, backline doing ok, Viney is fighting for everything. Sparrow can't kick into the mark twice! Pickett is dangerous tonight. Mids want the ball.

Can't agree, the change to coaching staff and associated game plan options has been a revelation for us. We now change up the structures, style and mindset during the game. The maturity is shown by our capacity to get back on top when teams get a run on. The players have "bought in", and trust the game plans. We have a few different gears, can go defensive and now we can be offensive (good timing to get this part of our game rolling). We can hold the ball, rebound it and get that important answering score. Get some of our contested and clearance work consistent then we are a very well rounded team. One trick was in the past (see and get ball, move it quickly). The game tonight will be primarily about the coaches. Will they show all the different strategies so keep the opposition guessing as to which style or will it be one style for the entire game? I suggest it will be a very defensive style, dogged and dour, with the occasional flair to get some score on the board. Though would love to see us take it on all game, so we have a hard hit out. I presume they will be saving something in the tank and mindset for the final series.

Not to bad for us. We have some incentive now to beat the Cats. Not sure if the Cats play well at home without their usual crowd. Must feel like a training drill for them. We have been winning and it is good form to go into a final series with winning form. Hoping we are too fast, fit and skillful for the old Cat. We could break them tomorrow, (as we have done to a few teams this year), and put their finals campaign in doubt. Great to see the Dogs fall, they have been called the team to beat, up to round 20. We have been the ones that they couldn't trust.

Will be a wrestle, as their skills have gone missing. Belt each other!

Wow, fumbles from many of the players. The B+ players are making lots of errors. Cannot find space or execute under perceived pressure. Alir Alir is playing well as is Daniel's and Easternwood, Bont is in and out of the game, expect more in the third from him. Treloar clean footy. Dogs backline holding well. English and Naughton well off. Gray to impact in the third. Port missing gettable goals is giving the game to the dogs, they seem to fall apart under pressure.

Changes from the coaches. Can see the Dogs controlling the ball, instead of going quick and Port looking to get access through the centre, maybe!

Dog's starting well. Port can't get the ball. If they do, they can't keep it, and don't make the best of their chances.

Such an interesting end to the home and away season. The Dogs and Port will be bashing hard into each other. Hoping Dogs get it, so our game against Cats hasn't got as much riding on it. Other than Dogs getting the mojo back on (not good for us), would not like the Port to get home finals.