Great Northern Summer

The colour of your jumper? We'll have to don the royal blue if recent encounters is anything to go by, even though there really is no clash at all

Home final? It's a home final for both clubs Record against us? We beat them the last time we played Some 'experts' think their ceiling is higher? More 'experts' i've heard think we are the best side in the comp Take away the travesty of justice in the Carlton game, we would have won 8 in a row. I think we've got more going for us than they have for them. They're without Daicos too, their best player.

I'd rather play on the Thursday and those sides play on the Friday. If we lose, we get an extra day preparation. How would you feel if it was the reverse and we had one less day's preparation?

How are Collingwood favourites for the Qualifying Final? Is it simply because most punters are supporters of those sides and there are more Collingwood supporters? I don't get it. Surely at best for them it should be dead even in the odds / Premiership race, given finishing 4th is the same as 1st this year (because of the venue). Not sure wearing white shorts and a royal blue jumper will inhibit us...

12 days is more than enough time. I’m not sure what the issue is. If we win, we get a minimum 15 days off; if we lose, we get a minimum 8 days off, and at least an extra day to our opponents.

Tex was very getable too at the end of 2022. No club wanted to touch him though for PR reasons after that incident which saw him banished and publicly shamed. We should have offered him a contract, he would have come knowing it was a more likely route to success in the final stages of his career.

Likewise. The umpires’ darlings from 2016-2022. Had almost 50 more free kicks to their opposition in the 2016 finals series, the Grand Final itself being the tip of the iceberg, especially in the last half when the game was on the line. The one Premiership I genuinely look back at and think, that wasn’t just.

Would be even sweeter seeing GWS win tomorrow after the Bulldogs pulled off their best 1/4 in weeks to win tonight, if it comes to nothing

I've seen multiple 'behinds' overturned this weekend into 'goals', which were no more 100% clearer than the Petracca kick against Carlton. I suspect they've been given a directive since then. Shame the AFL don't have the credibility to admit an error was made.

They are 1/2 the side they were when they don't get their customary 10 extra free kicks a game. Big reason they've struggled this season. The umps finally saw through them. Only took them 8 years to wake up.

funny to think he played for us in the first game I watched us play live! Probably because 1/3 of the stadium is a building site still...

Exactly. Not only is their win/loss record not as strong in 2nd half of seasons (and finals), their winning margins are a lot tighter because the conditions are dry and like playing anywhere else. No adverse humidity, dew and moisture. Just have to look back at this year - they've been unbeaten at the Gabba but only marginally won most of their last lot.

My predictions for what it's worth... Luke Dunstan - Will be delisted. No chance he stays on the list if he couldn't get a game all year based on his Casey form. Michael Hibberd - Unsure. Can see him retiring if he plays in a Premiership this year. Whether he gets a 1-year extension (if he wants it) all depends on his September form. I suspect he will probably get an offer if he wants one. James Jordon - Will actively seek a trade, with the club's blessing. Jake Melksham - Will almost certainly be offered a 1-year extension, which I suspect he'll accept, even if he's offered two years elsewhere (as it would be a dud club not in contention). Andy Moniz-Wakefield - Seemed to show positive signs at Casey. I'd be surprised he we didn't retain him. Josh Schache - Ordinarily, I would have said he'd be delisted, but we won't have anyone else as emergency back-up if Grundy leaves and Brown and McDonald retire - even if they don't retire, I can't see them offering much in 2024 onwards. I think the club will explore who else is out there to fill this void, if they can get someone they have more confidence in, he's gone; if not, he gets a 1-year extension. Deakyn Smith - Given he's been around for 3 years without making his debut, and without setting the world on fire at Casey, I cannot see how he survives. I stand corrected if there's a reason for this. Kye Turner - Probably delisted, maybe rookie listed? Not really his fault, as he can't get on the park, but we need list spots.

'Earned' on the back of an incorrect goal umpiring call in the Carlton v Melbourne game a fortnight ago, you mean.

Exactly right! I've said that many times before here but people still fall into this myth. It's the reason their finals record at the Gabba is average too!

Total myth that the Gabba is slippery, it's dry from early/mid July onwards. Playing in Brisbane is like playing in Melbourne, just with possibly higher temperatures. Totally different story at the start of the season.

even stevens!

Exec MBA

He’s never coached his own team before, the only candidate that hasn’t. Could be what stops him getting the gig in the end, who knows. If it is the reason, he’ll no doubt look to do this asap, as candidates regularly publicised only have a small window to capitalise and get a gig, especially with so many assistant coaches in the system, so he may well be on the move anyway… I remember Brian Royal came second about 4-5 times and eventually was off the potential candidate list never to coach at the highest level. Peter Sumich also a number of times.

In other words, I need to get a life and find more passions than AFL (hence my knowledge) 😂 Those examples are almost a quarter of a century ago too so you make a very good point, it doesn’t really happen.

Richmond lost John Northey to Brisbane Bears. Geelong lost Garfield Ayres to Adelaide.

I suspect McDonald will come into the seniors this week either in the 22 or as sub. Given the game is a dead rubber, the match committee will want to see whether he’s up to playing finals. Not sure Tomlinson will be dropped from the seniors either, yet.

From memory 2005 and 2006 were opposites from each other. Swans lost the QF but won the flag in 2005, vice versa in 2006. Let me guess the three though in that time period… Tigers lost in 2020 to the Bears. Hawks lost to the Eagles in 2015. Cats lost to the Saints in 2009.

Suspect you may have cut and pasted that post from last week… unless you expect Adelaide to launch and succeed in Supreme Court proceedings overturning the Sydney loss. Adelaide ain’t making a semi final let alone the finals. I totally agree with your point and logic though. St Kilda probably replace Adelaide though in your comment…

Yep spot on. He only plays again this year if Gawn goes down injured. He’ll 100% seek a trade at season’s end which will be granted.