Bring-Back-Powell

T Mac a confirmed IN according to Mitch Cleary. Hibberd a possibility.

The BOM has updated for Thursday. It's gone from 2-8mm to 1-4mm. 20 degrees at lunchtime. 14 at the first bounce. The iphone weather app (yeah I know LOL!) is saying that all the rain will occur from 7pm to 10pm.

Assuming we make it to a prelim (fingers crossed), we'll be definitely playing on the Saturday IMO. If the Pies beat us, they'll obviously get the Friday night prelim being the #1 seed. We'd travel to Brisbane or Port to play a likely Saturday twilight. If we beat the Pies, Brisbane or Port will host the Friday night prelim as they're both higher seeds than us. We'd play a Saturday late arvo or twilight game at the G. The higher ranked team always hosts the Friday night prelim.

We only had one wet game last year, Vs Freo at Optus.

Definitely due a warm GF this year. 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2022 were all either 14 or 15 degrees in Melbourne. (Even the 2021 GF day was a cool day in Melbourne if memory serves...)

I’d love to claim credit for my top 5 B&F call for Hunty back in June, but as long as an Eagles player was upright and available week in week out, then he’d be a fair chance for top 5.

I think McVee will be perfectly suited to Ian Hill given his form on the 175-184cm small forward. Some serious consideration would be given to Hibberd, however Hibberd played both games last year against Collingwood and Elliott ran riot in both games.

I sincerely hope the NBA isn’t flirting with the idea. But, yeah here’s an article from 2020 https://www.nbcsportsboston.com/nba/boston-celtics/should-nba-allow-higher-seeded-teams-to-choose-their-playoff-opponents/341551/

As you should be. He kicked a combined 7 goals against us in our two losses to them last year. This year he missed our Kings Bday win against them.

This gem from the Collingwood board: “Given this year's scenario, why not have Cwood v Port at the MCG?- Cwood get advantage for finishing top and Port still play an interstate final. Brisbane v Melb at Gabba - Brisbane get home final and Melb don't get any advantage”

A Collingwood supporter on Bigfooty campaigning that the AFL should intervene and make a last minute change to the 2023 finals structure: Given this year's scenario, why not have Cwood v Port at the MCG?- Cwood get advantage for finishing top and Port still play an interstate final. Brisbane v Melb at Gabba - Brisbane get home final and Melb don't get any advantage. Hopefully that “woe is me” attitude permeates through their club.

So N Daicos started running today and will be playing a critical final 4 nights later. Righto.

We’re 0-5 in the wet this year. What’s that saying that if you throw a bunch of darts at the board… Weirdly, we only played 1 wet game last year and actually won it (Freo-rd 20)

If he does leave, hopefully it’s a mature and professional departure where both parties are happy. I’d rather not see 7 Brodie Grundy articles next year where he Cans the club at every opportunity.

Full forward for the Dees next week 😬

Wouldn’t be too crook on Casey. There are way more recognisable AFL bulldogs players than our lads, just as Rylee West snaps a goal.

Interesting that the last two years, the minor premiers in Geelong and Melbourne got the Saturday week 1 game.

That's good news if true. I've been impressed with Murphy's year. If he's only half fit, that can only be a positive.

I'm really reluctant to go in with the Gawn/Grundy combo after the results of last 4 games (1-3) that they've played together. However, if you cast your mind back to our pre mid season bye rounds, the combo wasn't a complete disaster in a few of the games. Round 1 V Dogs - Gawn got 5 coaches votes, Grundy had 17 touches and a goal as they easily defeated this year's All Aust ruck. The combo was at its best on opening night. Round 7 V North - Grundy had a very impressive 18 touches and 2 goals. Round 8 V GC - the combo kicked 4 between them. Gawn got 3 coaches votes. Round 11 V Freo - Gawn got 2 coaches votes. Grundy had a solid 19 possession 1 goal game. Bad loss though. Round 13 V Collingwood - Gawn got 2 coaches votes and Grundy kicked a clutch 3rd qtr goal to put us in front for good. So there has been a smattering of games where the combo has worked to an extent. However the most recent 4 games were terrible for the combo, but 3 of those games were wet weather footy which we lost. Name me a ruckman in the comp that is flawless in wet weather. The one game we won was under the roof V St Kilda, but Marshall was near BOG and the writing was on the wall for Grundy. You'd imagine Goodwin will adopt recency bias and not play Grundy

Each AFL member nominates a club of choice at the start of the year, and a few bucks goes to the club. For the GF, AFL (full gold) members of the competing clubs get priority access to reserve a seat over the other club gold members. If it's Collingwood V Carlton, only AFL members for those 2 clubs would likely be catered for. If it's a Melbourne V Brisbane GF, there will be plenty of GF tickets available for non competing full AFL members I think in the 90's it used to be walk up and first in best dressed in the AFL reserve.

The whole entire point of the AFL reserve/membership is for the neutral supporter to go and watch all AFL home and away and finals games at MCG and Marvel, not just their own. And the point of difference between AFL membership and club membership is that AFL membership enables you to attend all finals, including the grand final. Cannot agree with your point.

If Butters plays anything like he did against us round 10, then I'd have to agree with Barrett. Aside from Ablett kicking 10 against us in the mid 90's, I've never seen an opposition player have such a direct influence on a game of football than Butters did against us. he was even nailing 55 metre set shots in driving rain. Also agree with your comment about Petracca's potential to rip September apart.

That's fantastic news for Jake if he's back by July in time for hopefully another finals campaign. I wonder what differentiates a 'good' ACL injury from a 'bad' one?

Very fair comment and the exact same should be said for AFL membership (although in fairness they give priority access to club supporters of competing grand final clubs) The (harsh) counter argument is that if you want to ensure you get a ticket to see your club play a final, get a club membership rather than an AFL or MCC membership.

That's a heck of a lot of quality to come back for them...unfortunately.