Bring-Back-Powell

We've averaged 38,000 people for Melbourne V Sydney games at the MCG since 2017 when Goodwin took over. However, that average is brought down by a deplorable Friday night crowd in late 2019 when both sides were planning their end of season footy trip. So, you would hope and expect a minimum of 40,000. @FearTheBeard any indication if the top level of the Warne stand will be operating on Sunday? It will be nonsense if they close it as Sydney have a strong following in the AFL members.

How good is it that 2 weeks running we've had two first year players that you could legitimately stake a claim as being the Rising star winner. These two fellas are genuine AFL ready and we could and probably will have two top 5 place getters by season's end. Lalor is the most talented of the group and Reid has been consistent but Langford and Lindsay are well and truly in the frame.

Knock on wood here, but we've had a good recent record when our boys have played their 200th. T Mac - win over St Kilda in 2022 at the G Gawn - win over Hawthorn in late 2023 at the G Viney - close win over Port during the "business trip" of 2024. T Mac and Clarry are scheduled to play their 250th and 200th on the same night against Carlton (or maybe the game before or after??) Salem will play his 200th during week 1 of the finals 😀

I reckon Brisbane supporters are hoping Jake Melksham retires before next year. The last 2 times he's played Brisbane, he's been the key reason behind our defeat of them. In 2023 he kicked 2 of our 4 goals in the last quarter, including the winner with 30 seconds left. And obviously on the weekend, he was the dominant forward from start to finish. Incidentally, we lost to Brisbane twice in 2024 in his absence. He may have been the difference in the 6 point loss at the GABBA.

Ken Hinkley farewell game against us? You just know we'll be the bunnies.

If we had the accuracy of North Melbourne we might go places as a side. 5.0 already today. Their ability to convert is elite and they’ve only had one game that they’ve kicked more behinds than goals.

We average 22 scoring shots a game this year. Imagine, in a parallel universe, if today we respect our set shots a little and end up with a score line of 13.9 rather than the 7.15 that we’ll actually score. The last quarter might end up interesting.

We average 22 scoring shots a game which is essentially what we managed last week against a good Hawthorn side. I wonder what would happen tomorrow if we pay a bit of respect to our set shots (after the player has had a 20 second breather) and end up with a scoreline of 13.9.87 I would imagine we‘d be looking at a very exciting last 10 minutes of the game.

Yes 100% agree. It’s purely on the umpires that JVR has gone backwards at a million knots an hour this year.

If we’re lucky enough to hold onto Kozzie next year, LJ won’t be with us IMO. Surely, Kozzie is the central piece in a potential Luke Jackson trade to us?

Definitely in the mix to win this year’s flag. However, I’m not sure they could win a prelim against Brisbane at the GABBA or Collingwood at the MCG (I’m assuming Demonland posters have moved past the absurd assumption that Collingwood aren’t contenders)

It’a called a coach that is at the top of his game.

I will never get over the Carlton semi final. Absolutely the one that got away, although we wouldn’t have beaten Brisbane in the prelim, particularly with no Kozzie, Melksham, Petty or Brayshaw. The Collingwood final was absolutely the one that did NOT get away. They lead for 100% of the game, and essentially lead by 4-5 goals throughout the third quarter. Just because we outscored them in the last quarter doesn’t make it one the got away IMO. They were the better team on the night. I wonder how we would’ve gone in a parallel universe had we finished third and played Brisbane at the GABBA in week 1 and potentially GWS at the G in week 2 rather than the 65,000 rabid Carlton and Collingwood supporters that we had to endure.

Amartey has to simply be suspended under the matrix. No ifs, buts or maybes. Careless, medium impact and to the head = 1 week. It has to be at least medium impact because Boyd was escorted off the ground by his doctor. Handy out, if he is indeed suspended.

"We feel we're building some form within our footy club but we got to do it for longer" Simon Goodwin, 16 May 2025. An obvious quote by Goodwin but why can't we do it for longer? Why has it taken almost half a season to still sort this out? Is it fitness? is it mental? Is the coach's 3 quarter time message not getting across to the players? Is the game plan too taxing to play 4 quarters? Answers that really need to be addressed by the coach if we're being realistic. Ps - surprised he even made the slightest comment about Luke Jackson other than the typical 'no comment' line.

I have no idea how Luke Jackson gets in the door if Kozzie isn't traded back to them unless Essendon kindly want to donate the first round draft pick that's tied to us. It would have to be our 2026 and 2027 first rounders (assuming 2 years in advance is coming in this year) or one first rounder and a proven commodity in Rivers or McVee. That's a lot of capital to give up for a known flight risk who appears unsettled from the outside looking in.

No issues with Lever having multiple weeks in the VFL. I assume a half this week, a full game next week and then back for the Alice Springs game V St Kilda. We seem to rush some players back (Tholstrup and Spargo and they don't perform well) while we're correctly patient with others (McVee and Lever).

I have no idea why he was rushed into the seniors after a very long stint on the sidelines. You're giving his development an absolute disservice and he should have been given a month at Casey.

Feels like we've got the bye this week. Most posters seem really flat about this one *game's out of town (although people travelling and the locals will be pumped) *it's a probable loss *people are livid at Goodwin, Griffiths and our overall season to date *people are gravitating towards the Luke Jackson news There's just such a meh feel about this game. Hopefully we're in for a nice surprise.

I think this is a good result for the rank and file MFC supporter and member. There's a nice variety of timeslots across Saturday and Sunday to suit most members, and we again avoid Sunday 4:40pm in Melbourne for many years running. I'm not fussed about attending Thursday or Friday nights. Prefer weekends. The club and its sponsors would think differently though.

How on earth was our Marvel game against West Coast not on a Sunday twilight? It’s actually at the civilised time of Saturday 1:20.

Tomorrow’s been reported as the big day for all the fixture nerds.

Training in an outer South Eastern suburb does not explain Fritsch missing a goal badly from 15 metres out on a slight angle and Windsor missing the most elementary 30 metre set shot directly in front on a perfect windless early afternoon game before the dew has set in. A lot of the boys couldn't handle the pressure on Saturday.

A player hasn't been suspended for years for a tripping offence.

True, but if fit and available he'd be their number 1 key forward. I'm sure Hawthorn are planning for Lewis in September. We had the biggest drop off members in 2024. Two years in a row is a massive concern.