Great Northern Summer

My ticket cost $90 + booking fee. I couldn't see any tickets below $80 that became available to the general public after the GFC members passed them back. Not sure how people were able to get cheaper ones.

Don't implicate Bruce in it. He was a legendary human being. He had nothing to do with it.

Because we lost to ourselves basically - missed 9 set shots - that was it

Now is the time we need to actually manage our list in our last ten games, especially given we almost have a full list to select from. I suspect we won't only be going into every one of these games favourite, but most clear favourite. We have a good run home. We need to be smart. This is a far cry from last season, where we played top 8 contending teams almost every week. We need to move towards a 'list mentality' rather than picking the same team every week (baring injury). If we win this week, no reason why we shouldn't finish top 2, given Port Adelaide and Collingwood play each other, and both have harder runs home.

Can't wait to watch Bazball! Very exciting!

He said he would if we beat Collingwood today. Sad to know that I know this, I know. I need to spend the valuable time I have in my life listening to more relevant people that offer something useful.

Collingwood have been average the last three weeks. They beat Carlton easily on the scoreboard but inaccurate kicking cost Carlton, should have been a lot lot closer. North got within 5 goals or thereabouts and West Coast were only two goals down at one stage in the third quarter. They’re just going along and are tired. I think they’ll drop a few games now, including tomorrow. There are no excuses from us.

I realise i'll be mocked here for saying this, but what about offering Jesse Hogan a two year contract? I understand he's out of contract at end of season. Surely this would be worth the risk? He seems like he's been more switched on over the last few seasons and improved his discipline.

Sorry? Trying to work out the logic of your 2nd and 3rd paragraphs. You’d rather finish 5th than 3rd? 😲 You think if we finish 3rd, we’d have 0% chance of beating 2nd? If we finish 3rd and win the qualifying final, we are straight through to a home preliminary final. If we have no chance of beating 2nd in a qualifying final, regardless of where the game is, we are no chance of winning the flag and we’re just making up the numbers.

Although they came good in the third quarter against us, and out scored Port in the last half last week. Cause for optimism

100%. Never been this evident.

Garfield is Gary Ayres. His other nickname :-)

Garfield was not a thug thank you. Just because he won a Norm Smith against us, doesn't make him that.

I had the same thing many years ago, a few weeks before I was about to run the London marathon. The GP said 'you can't run for a month now, there's major risks exercising with an infected blister'. I went to get a second opinion from Doc Reid, he said 'you're an [censored], of course you're running'

Also has us as Premiership favourite by some way. I get how it uses some formula to predict finishing positions after H&A season based on opponents and current ladder position, but how on earth does it determine likelihood of finals matches outcomes?

Would’ve been dropped anyway

Yep and Collingwood are seemingly making the same mistake we made last year - not resting players when they have the golden opportunity to. They could leave half a dozen of their big names home this weekend and easily account for WCE. % is irrelevant for them anyway as they're likely to finish clear 1st after the H&A season - doesn't mean much if they aren't able to peak come the finals, which I suspect is what will happen

I agree. We will win. But he's right in saying the result isn't the 'be all and end all'. I suspect both sides will make the top 4 regardless of the result - it's all about peaking, being most fresh and ready when it matters in September.

Not controversial at all. Should have been a 7-8 goal win. Being at the ground, our structure looked as good as it's been for a while, we dominated all key KEI's except free kicks, we were winning clearances. If the win was 7-8 goals, people would be saying how we're back.

Teams like us and Geelong, both know it's not about peaking now and looking a million dollars. It's what happens in three months time. Geelong learnt this the hard way over many seasons, and we did after last season. The teams right up the top now are those that haven't achieved anything yet, with their current groups of players. Like someone said the other day, Saturday felt like a repeat of the GWS loss in 2021. We all know what happened after that. I'm therefore confident we will turn things around when it matters. We have a great run home; in fact, still second favourites to finish top 4 (by nature of our fixture, no doubt). Things are different to last season, where we basically played a finals contender every single week before the finals. This week is crucial, but i'm still confident we'll be alright.

and that's why BBB isn't getting a game, because he only gets the ball with silver service - which doesn't always happen with our game plan anyway. He's useless at ground level, gets out-marked, no good at chasing his defender running off him. I totally get there's pros/cons with each of TMac and BBB - I suspect the match committee have come to the conclusion that TMac has fewer deficiencies than BBB even though he's very very limited.

The difference between them is TMac makes a contest, BBB doesn't. I suspect that's why they've gone for TMac.

What history? I've been to almost all Melbourne games over the last 30 years. Stop attacking one of your own. You have a different view to me which is fair enough. That doesn't warrant attacking me - grow up.

Who exactly? You're calling me clueless? Grow up

He was meant to create a precedent about stating his intentions before a season ended? Really? Something that never happened before? Yes, I clearly don't get that!