Bring-Back-Powell

Love Goodwin’s honesty. If all of us are realistic, we’re an 11th to 14th side with an abundance of question marks in all 3 phases- defence, midfield, and attack.

I think there's a comprehensive match report written by Mike Sheahan if anyone can find it.

At least Essendon have travelled down two times this century. Collingwood conveniently got fixtured a home game against Geelong next year, the year that Geelong starts playing only 1 home game at the G which is against Hawthorn on Easter Monday.

Be interesting to see the quantum of turnovers over at Brisbane, Geelong and Collingwood's training this week, as a few examples. If they're far more crisp than we are, then we should probably be a little concerned. You'd have to expect some sloppy skills pre Christmas.

I wonder if there’s a link between Goodwin confirming Petty will start in defence round 1 and Lever’s rehab?

Are you able to expand on this? I remember two games later he provisionally had 41 touches against the Suns but they officially deducted 1 possession off him (random memory). So in the space of 3 games between the 2021 Gf and round 2 2022 he’s had 39, 38 and 40 possessions in order.

That was definitely one of our more exciting wins of recent years and Nick Daicos putting them 5 points down with 20 seconds left was a complete false economy when factoring in our dominance of the second half. Exactly what you said - "not taking our opportunities" Our crowd was really up for that one and it felt as though we made just as much noise as them. In fact it felt as the whole club set themselves for that one after losing to the Pies 3 times in 2021 and 2022. I also thought the Pies were a bit flat for that game and didn't come out with the zest they usually show against us (2023 Qual final as exhibit A). The Daicos boys had or were recovering from the flu, De Goey just got rubbed out, no McStay and they also looked lacklustre the week before against West Coast in Perth.

Collingwood’s high octane, transition it from one end to the other with ease, is too much for us to counter. Same applies against Fremantle and also would’ve applied against Hawthorn late last year had we run into them. Not sure how we solve that, and Houston delivering the pill from defensive 50 isn’t going to make things any easier next year. I also don’t think we handle the pro Collingwood crowd all that well, particularly away King Bday games as well as that 2023 final. They seem to handle the occasion far better.

Channel 10 sport news did an interview with him which was shown on Tuesday night. Seems like a cracking, intelligent bloke and you can tell that he's genuinely excited to be at the joint. Proudly (in a funny way) mentioned that he probably holds the AFL/VFL record of most times listed as an emergency....by a county mile. He's definitely a more viable back up option than throwing JVR and Petty to the wolves as first and second rucks.

I'm hoping most of these players are scheduled to join the main group by 6 Jan or whenever the club returns for training. Particularly Lever and McAdam.

That's an excellent achievement IMO. Approximate what years or at least decade were you a director?

Disappointing for Fullarton that he wasn't selected for the Essendon and Freo game where we didn't have a ruck. We got away with it against Essendon in the wet but we were annihilated in the ruck against Freo. Surely he could've provided a better contest than Petty against Freo. Didn't see much of Casey this year but did watch him kick 2 goals along with 25 possessions and 8 marks at Punt Road on Anzac Eve which is a solid day's work for a ruck/forward or a forward/ruck. He must have been close to selection at that stage.

No issues for me aside from the 90 minute wait.

Think you nailed the bolded bit. Same could be said about Collingwood.

That Richmond V Collingwood game is now a permanent pre season fixture at Ikon park.

Oh well if nothing else it gives us another look at a team that has absolutely humiliated us since 2020, aside from the odd occasion. It’s gotten to the point where Freo supporters online were disappointed on fixture release day that they only play us once in 2025 because they view us as a percentage booster. That’s simply not on. Round 6 at the G is one day I’m keen on a bit of pay back.

@58er Any reason for the vomit emoji?

Absolute gun baseballer is Juan Soto.

Agreed. They gave him some minutes in the midfield against Collingwood and he couldn’t crack double figures in possessions. He doesn’t scream inside midfielder to me and should remain as our premier small defender who takes the oppo’s most dangerous small forward.

Exactly. I don’t think Brisbane get enough credit for their flag with three genuine best 23 players out with ACL’s and then their gun ruckman missing a GF! imagine if we lost Gawn on GF day. Meanwhile Fremantle miss the finals after being 12-6-1 and their supporters simply blame injuries.

I had a lot of respect for Warner after the 2022 GF. Basically the only player that stood up on the day and could hold his head up high across a disgraceful team performance. But yeah your point stands about their side being overated and then being exposed on GF day.

Happy for him to play both ends depending on match ups and how the game is progressing. And he did play at both ends in the same game this year. (The Port win) And I’ll always remember the Brisbane final in 2022 when they threw him up forward and he almost turned the game with a couple of snags. His versatility is what makes him a valuable player.

Despite being an injury prone player and never getting more than 15 games a season, he’s still good for 1.5 goals a game. I guess our logic at the time of trading for him was that he was a due for an injury free year, he’d get a weaker defender than Pickett and he’d manage a 30 goal season in 2024 I guess that logic still applies for next year.

If someone said to you after round 11 2013: *after another Queens Birthday flogging, *we’re 1-10 with a percentage of about 25 *Mark Neeld just sacked That we’d win a flag in 8 years, but in Perth where the majority of Melbourne people aren’t allowed to attend the game, then you’d have that person immediately institutionalised.

Good call in fairness.