Rab D Nesbitt

I think I might end my bike ride today by whipping out the beanie and running a few laps around the Whitten Oval as a warm down.

Of course he shouldn't OD but the 12 day protocol is an arbitrary number introduced this season and there is no way he could have been assessed properly in the 80 seconds that were left in the game.

The dogs are a very good side and will no doubt be thereabouts at the pointy end of the season but last night they almost had to squeeze their way through the few gaps they could find in order to hit the scoreboard. I thought they did well to get 59 points. I know the 12 day concussion protocol is there for a reason but I don't understand why they wouldn't just have Lingers sit out the last minute on the bench instead of triggering the sub, just to see how the week plays out for him symptom wise. I think that it will be Sauce that is likely to come in to replace Lingers as like Harry Petty it's the role he's been trained to play for all preseason. Big shoes to fill mind you but it would be nice if it ends up providing the same embarrassment of riches on the wing that we have with our big forwards.

Made the dogs look like a dog's breakfast. Next! ?

Maybe I can get some of the locals to join the cause and start a demon báhn mì army.

Disappointed at not being able to attend but happy the game will go ahead. The karma train has caught up with the tigers and the dogs are set to miss out on a $300k windfall tonight so we're not doing too badly all considered. I don't mind the dogs but it would be nice if I can strut around my 5km radius wearing the club beanie tomorrow, even if I can only go as far as Wefo.

Not the week to have a positive Lingers story I guess. Or anyone else for that matter.

Apathy ?

I’m sure the Dogs weren’t thinking they were premiership material after round 10 of 2016. Let’s just enjoy the ride and see where it takes us.

Just watched Goody's presser and I thought it was pretty classy. Complimented Adelaide straight off the bat and played the deliberate out of bounds question beautifully. He did drop the L word (that isn't a word) once but that aside after a big swim this morning to boost the serotonin levels I now feel like I'm ready to put this one behind me and move on to the Dogs game. Sunday is the first day of the week isn't it ?

Just home from the pub. For a while it looked like the decision to swap IPA for gin late in the third quarter was going to work but alas it was too little too late. Outwith two umpiring howlers at the death I think we can all agree that the outcome was in our hands throughout and it's one we'll regret letting slip irrespective of how the season pans out. I feel sorry for the fans that travelled that now have to have a sh!tty night over in Shelbyville. I think I'll need a few early laps of the local pool then some Vietnamese coffee before I can start to put this one behind me.

Hey ‘Rax. Yeah just rocked up here now for the game. I remember DRW from our last game in the top end and it’s slim pickings for sure. Enjoy the game regardless.

I’m very envious of all the ‘landers that have made it over the border today to watch the boys live. Perfect autumnal weather today for 10 in a Row. I’ll have to make do with watching us on the big screen at The Rose. First though it’s time for some coffee and the chilli scrambled at Bentwood on Napier St. Enjoy your day everyone and I’ll catch you on the post match thread all being well.

Hi Pates. My comparisons are based on the bigger body of work from both where one has finished runner up in the Coleman in two of the previous three years and the other as you've mentioned played really well in a final three years ago.

Probably the first week where I'm a little disappointed with the ins and outs. I trust Brown more than Weideman and would've preferred Chandler to have got another run in the side.

The significance of 9 wins in a row is one thing but being 3 games clear in the top two is equally important. If for example we go 7 - 6 in our remaining 13 games to finish with a modest (on current form) 16 -6 record, any side currently sitting third to seven will need to go 11 - 2 from here on in to gain 17 wins and overtake us. Richmond will need to go 12 -1 to overtake us. The chasing pack all still have to play the following: Brisbane: Richmond (twice), Geelong, West Coast. Port Adelaide: Geelong, Sydney, W Bulldogs. West Coast: Richmond, W Bulldogs, Sydney, Brisbane. Sydney: Port Adelaide, W Bulldogs, West Coast. Geelong: Port Adelaide, W Bulldogs, Brisbane, Richmond Richmond: Brisbane (twice), West Coast, Geelong Any of our games we also win against these opponents effectively become doubly valuable in this context. A 16 win season is likely to see us play an entire finals campaign at the MCG and only have us leave Victoria three times after June 4 until the end of September.

That's good to hear BDA. I'm watching the first half of yesterday's game on Kayo before On The Couch starts so didn't see 360. I do remember Goody once saying that Hoges was 'a Melbourne person' as well though just before we facilitated his move back west.

Hi there Dazzle. No, the talk about Sam took place whilst he was chatting at another table from memory. The consensus being that they'd be disappointed if he didn't stick around for at least another year to see if he can establish himself in the senior team. Particularly with the work the club have put into his development.

Hi Nasher. I was still living in Canterbury, Kent at that time and was over here on holiday for a month. I went to that game and felt the same way as you did that night. The funny thing is that about three months later I was doing the graveyard shift with another guy at the Samaritans (it's a suicide hotline) where I volunteered. During a lull in calls he started to tell me about his recent trip to NZ for his daughter's wedding and that he'd stopped into Melbourne on the way home, spending a week or so here. It turned out he had also been at that same game and I spent the rest of the shift apologising to him for the MFC ruining his trip.

Only now getting the chance to watch the replay and I can see why so many are talking about BT. Between him and James Brayshaw I don't know who is the bigger bellend. Was lucky enough to meet Kelly O'Donnell, Peter (Max) Maynard and Mark Weideman in the bar during the game (a friend of a friend knows them). Not withstanding the horse trading with Adelaide, Rick Lever had pretty much agreed to come to us months before it could actually be announced. It's common knowledge of course that we were into him before he was initially drafted. As for Weids there is little chance he'd end up at Collingwood even if he did want out at seasons end. Their salary cap is still a complete mess apparently. His dad was wearing a Melbourne scarf by the way.

Wouldn't be the worst result to have the Dogs win tonight. Ideally we want to keep any interstate sides out of the top two positions to avoid an away final. If results go our way we can be three games clear in the top two this time tomorrow.

Geez the Q Clash is absolute dross.

Afternoon TC. There'll be no perambulations for me today but the scene you've set sounds divine I have to say. I've never really acquired a taste for whisky or any spirits for that matter but I'd like to include a place called Whisky & Alement in Exhibition St on one of my next post game wanders and perhaps The Elysian on Brunswick St for a pre night game warmer.