Bring-Back-Powell

The 2000 qualifying win over Carlton is my favourite win of all time. The three constant “classic” MFC 1990’s game that Fox Footy show summer after summer are the 1996 Friday night game where Carey took us to the cleaners in a 17 goal loss. The 1996 merger game which was admittedly a classic game and a highly respectable loss by the Dees. The other being the 1997 game against the Dogs where the umps assisted them to a 3 point win over us. Frustrating they they can’t find an iconic MFC win from the 90’s.

1) Beat Collingwood at the G for the first time since 2017 2) Beat Sydney at the G for the second time in 13 years. 3) Beat Geelong in Geelong for the fourth time in 25 years. We've become a fantastic footy club under Goodwin but the above fixtures he's had clear issues with, aside from round 23 2021.

For what’s it’s worth - The Dogs knocked us out of the finals in 2020 with a final round win over Freo in Cairns by 5 goals. Hunter was so far clear best on ground that it wasn’t funny with 35 touches (in a shortened game), 1 goal and the 3 Brownlow votes. This suggests that he can step up in the big games that count. Looking forward to seeing what he can a) bring to the table and b) how it affects our recent wing options in JJ, Brayshaw and Spargo (who has no business being a winger).

And I would say Melbourne supporters will show Luke Jackson the level of fondness that Dogs supporters show towards Jake Stringer. I.e - not a great deal.

I’m genuinely staggered that Jackson’s in Bali at the moment. Thought he’d be spending every minute of every day with Mum and Dad to make up for lost time…

Just had another look at the fixture this arvo and some brief observations: 1) First time we’ve played Adelaide the MCG in front of a crowd since 2016 2) First time we’ve played Carlton on a Friday night since 2011 3) First time we’ve played Essendon in the Saturday twilight slot. 4) First time we’ve played Hawthorn as the away team in the Saturday twilight spot. 5) First time we’ve played North on a Saturday night at the MCG. 6) First time we’ve played Richmond in the second half of a season as the away team since 2011 7) First time we’ve played Sydney in the 3:20 Sunday timeslot since 2018. 8) First time we’ve played West coast on a Sunday in Perth since 2020. 9) First time we’ve played Western Bulldogs at the MCG in front of a crowd on a Saturday night since 2014. 10) First time we’ve played North and Carlton twice in the one year since 2017.

Article about how Freo are still determining how the Darcy/Jackson ruck combo will look for 2023. https://www.afl.com.au/news/872016/darcy-growing-in-ruck-battle-freo-plan-still-in-the-works

Barrett's key points as follows: 1. We were a dog ordinary footy side after starting 10-0. (How can one argue with this as we went 6-8 after round 10) 2. The May/Melksham affair proved to be a terrible distraction 3. We wouldn't change anything up as the season progressed. Come finals time we actually couldn't as injuries and fatigue set in. Premiers need to add another point of difference if they want to stay ahead of the pack. It was a very basic analysis but one you can't really disagree with. His co-host Nat Edwards thought that the Dees would go undefeated after round 10. If that was the case, the state of the competition would be pretty dire as we weren't playing particularly well in the first 10 rounds and didn't beat a top 6 contender in that period.

If Gold Coast are re-appearing in the bottom 4, then surely that's it for Dew.

Aside from lacking a great ruckman (and Geelong showed you don't need one), and potentially one key defender short, they have the list to win the flag. Melbourne and Bulldogs have shown that you don't need to contest a bunch of finals series to finally win one. Just one suffices before the club can go and win one. 2022 should've been Carlton's brief finals apprenticeship, with 2023 the year they win it. IMO, that's been pushed back a year due to their late season implosion.

The preview loses 100% credibility by only stating one change to the 8. Has never happened since the final 8 was introduced in 1994 and there is no good reason to suggest it will start happening next year. Hoping it's Freo. Another contender could be Bulldogs and don't write off Sydney as a smokey to miss the 8 given no club recovers after a grand final that was over in the second quarter. It could even be us if Goodwin has a poor season and/or have a bad run with injury. I also predict three of this year's top 6 to miss next year's top 6.

Given he was in the squad of 25 as early as round 4 (V Port) this year, before he got injured, I reckon he's a very good chance of playing senior games this year.

A watch for the future but can't see them getting out of the bottom 4 next season. Sydney Swans were the last side to win 3 spoons in a row (1992-1994) so North supporters would be keen on avoiding that record.

I remember leading into our round 8 game against them, there was talk that St Kilda was going to be our biggest scalp of the year thus far, such was their impressive first 7 weeks. I don't expect them to make finals but I wouldn't sleep on them either.

Certainly a positive fixturing quirk, but a pity we've gone 2-8-1 against them since 2010 at the MCG.

That's the spirit. I'm of the same thinking. Missed way too many games and special moments 2021. Tickets are surprisingly cheap if you want to go to multi games. Be interesting what sort of crowd they get for our game. I presume the crowd will be more for the Port game. Last time I checked, mediocre 3 or 4 star hotels are going for $400+ a night in the CBD. Motels in the inner suburbs are probably the way to go if you want to save some $$.

One of the key items on the 2023 agenda is to fix our MCG performances. I believe we won just 2 of our last 8 MCG games for the year.

I haven't researched this so could be wrong but I think we're 3-20 and a draw since 1990. Absolutely deplorable by both our club and for the AFL for continually sending us down there.

I got a ticket for the Dees/Dons and Port/WB double header - for free. Seems a bit too good to be true - 2 games for $NIL??

Has anyone received an email from the club advising of the code needed to buy tickets for the Gather Round game against Essendon? Tickets are supposedly going on sale 12:30 today.

Six of our last eight games are in Melbourne I believe which is excellent. A complete contrast to this year’s disaster of Adelaide-Geelong-Alice-Docklands-Perth in the second half of the year.

Extract from AFL official statement: https://www.afl.com.au/news/871060 Tickets are not tiered or classified, so prices are capped for all matches in any seat in the venue and for all matches at the Adelaide Oval multi-day discounted passes will be available.

I'm interested in that question too. The media release says each game is free for members or $30 for the public so if you take it on its word, the ticket for the double header does not include both games and that the crowd for the Dons V Dees game would need to vacate the stadium, before allowing the Port V Dogs crowd in. Who knows?

Just assumed that clubs that play each other in Gather Round will play each other again, as there is actually no genuine home team in the fixture i.e. - the home team doesn't collect the gate proceeds. I could be wrong and we once again play Essendon just once.

Guess that means we play Essendon twice for the first time since 2005?