Bring-Back-Powell

We got smashed in the tackle count last week by a pathetic 29. As soon as Laurie got 20 tackles in the VFL (the seniors had just a combined 53) he was always going to be in the frame for selection. If was down to Tholstrupp or Laurie for the final spot, you’d probably be selecting the latter based on the former’s debut last week.

Would’ve had to have been dropped rather than injured or rested. I think he had about 50 metres gained in an entire game of footy last week which is deplorable. Mind you Petty is lucky we don’t have any decent key forwards putting pressure on him for selection as his game was actually worse than BBB’s. IMO our forward line is what’s going to stop us from getting to the promise land, or even prelim weekend.

Good effort by Trac and Max to be top 5 after the first quarter of the season. Heeney probably should be working on a Brownlow speech already, provided he can maintain his form for the majority of the season.

In 1988 we got knocked out by Fitzroy in our first pre season night fixture. I think that was in 1989 when we beat Geelong in the pre season Panasonic Cup. Hughes and Wight missed the first 2 and 6 games respectively that year. We ran out of steam in 1989 losing 5 of our last 6 home and away games, had a nice win over the Pies in the elimination final at Waverley but were badly beaten by Geelong in the semi when we had 10.10 put on us in the last quarter. Conversely in 1990 we ended the season in a blaze of glory, winning 8 games in a row heading into the semi final Vs West Coast. Not sure what happened that day but as you said we were right in the mix in 1990.

I’m confused about the positive press GC are getting. They’ll be 3-3 at the end of the round and their 3 wins have come at home against bottom 4 sides. I’m pretty sure they could’ve managed 3-3 under Dew.

North were a bit silly in beating GC in round 24 last year. They had Harley Reid secured after the Eagles gifted them 18th spot in round 23 with a Hail Mary win over the Dogs…. However, they (North) somehow put 20 goals on GC in front of a whopping 4,000 people down in Hobart in a game nobody will care to remember. Net result - 17th finish. No Harley Reid.

Are people on this forum still adamant Carlton aren’t the real deal and can’t win the flag? Just beat the league leaders with a ton of injuries and are flying at 5-1. Are the #1 seed thus far with players to return.

Pies won by 11 goals last year against Port. At this rate they’ll give that margin a nudge today. Very poor by Port not to stem the bleeding.

I'm off to the game too given we have a bye and I'm an AFL member. It's far too early to ladder watch so I reckon we go for Port and leave Collingwood reeling at 2-4. They'd have to then go 14-3 to make top 4. Have no interest in hearing that obnoxious Collingwood chant tomorrow. Hearing it at Gather Round after their poor win against Hawthorn was plenty enough.

Yep the Saints had 3 games in 11 days while we had 3 in 13. For Melbourne supporters solely or mostly blaming our recent schedule for our loss to Brisbane, then I think it’s more than fair that those same supporters absolutely excuse St Kilda’s performance last night.

After the Sydney loss I think we all agreed "never again" However, given we're struggling to kick a score at the moment he should be in consideration to at least keep BBB and Petty on their toes after a disappointing fortnight from the pair. Hopefully Turner could provide another option up forward. Sounds like Jefferson is miles away with a 2 kick/0 mark game.

Very pleasing news. However he needs another gun forward to partner up with him over the next 5 years. JVR alone isn't enough. As per last Thursday night, he's not going to be the player we want him to be if he's not getting support from his forward colleagues. 0 marks to 3 quarter time between Petty, Fritsch (his early goal was a free not a mark) and BBB who are supposed to be there to support him and pick up the slack is a disgrace on their part.

No issues with the verdict. I assume if/when Max, T Mac, Trac and Oliver all cop their first suspensions at the MRO, they will be able to present their "200 games without suspension" pass to the tribunal (the latter two will get to 200 soon).

With Salem, Bowey and most likely Hore missing from our defence, I don't think we have the luxury of moving a good defender in Rivers into the midfield. Hopefully Oliver gets up and joins a midfield that on paper should be too good for a Richmond midfield possibly missing all of Taranto, Hopper and Prestia (the latter 2 might be line ball to get up?)

This is why Max is the best player at the club. We put in our worst performance since the Port loss in 2020 and yet he’s still clocking up coaches votes.

The media will be in hysterics over Geelong’s 5-0 start but it’s worth noting that their opposition has a combined 5-20 record. They have Brisbane and Carlton coming up.

Carlton’s luck continues. Sam Taylor looks badly concussed (hopefully he’ll be ok) Guess who Carlton are playing next week?

Yep, if you think it about, it’s silly to need a rest after 5 games. Forever and a day we’ve had our first rest in mid June. Why all of a sudden do we need one in mid April? Has the Carlton praccy match and the opening round compounded our fatigue? I think we were just mentally flat the other night. Most of the group would’ve seen the Adelaide double as a major milestone achievement and sense of accomplishment. Teams can’t be up every week and I’m expecting GWS, Geelong and Carlton to each put in a stinker over the next month when nobody will expect it. I’m also giving all the credit to Brisbane. They obviously came in with a plan, executed it perfectly (first time I’ve genuinely noticed Fagan having a big tactical win) provided elite pressure and were able to cruise in the last quarter due to having an 8 goal lead. There were also other factors which have been discussed which ended up causing the perfect storm.

My first excuse for Thursday night is we’re tired and badly need a bye after 6 games. And yet last year we played 13 games without a bye and beat a couple of last year’s top 4 sides in the 12th and 13th game after 5 interstate trips. Last year in our corresponding 6th game we gritted out a win after coming home from a Perth-Adelaide double and had a total of 3 interstate trips as per this year. Why are we in so desperate need for a bye this at this time of the year, where as last year we went on a dominant patch between rounds 6 and 9 (albeit against lower teams). Or are we just too quick to use it as an excuse for our poor loss the other night? Max played like he didn’t need the bye.

Brisbane's pressure was the number one factor and then you can work your way backwards with your factors which are all correct. I can't recall a game which we've been pinged for holding the ball as much as last night and it happened from start to end. They would not allow us any easy possession whatsoever and inevitably stopped any promising MFC chain until the last quarter. I would be surprised if we encounter such high pressure again for the rest of the year. And I would be surprised if Brisbane bring anything near that pressure next week.

Not that affects us but Charlie Cameron got a week for his tackle on Lever. I reckon they can argue that down to low.

If we're half serious we should be winning this one by 6+ goals with all their injuries. They have an obscene injury list at the moment.

- 33 in the pressure rating (Fritsch with 1 pressure act in an entire game of AFL footy) - 29 in tackles. That's a disgrace on our behalf but it showed how much this game meant to Brisbane. If Brisbane applied half the pressure they did last night in the 2023 grand final, they'd still be celebrating a premiership. Instead they were minus 20 tackles to Collingwood and conceded a ridiculous 63 points in the first half of a GF.

I would be flabbergasted if he left Brisbane. Rock solid citizen that appears loyal to his club. Plus there's been absolutely no noise that he's looking around. Zurharr from North (who isn't having a good year) might be gettable and could solve some of our forward line woes.

Anyone know the record of holding the balls paid against a side in a game, because I reckon we witnessed history tonight. Speaks to Brisbane’s hunger tonight. Unfortunately it was a statement game from them.