Bring-Back-Powell

Very unimpressive. Stewart made us all feel sorry for him after his unreserved apology to Prestia last year, and had us convinced it was just a brain snap. However that act on Viney confirmed his character, at least on field (he might be a ripper bloke off it??)

Great result but the whole adjudication of the dangerous tackle is confusing and inconsistent.

I don’t hope Essendon win tonight. They’re nipping at our heels for a top 4 spot and I expect them to beat Port next week (post bye theory) and then Adelaide at Marvel. Then their easy fixture commences shortly after.

Unpopular opinion here but I hope Fremantle win tonight. Essendon have a joke of a fixture in late July/August (Nth, Wc, Syd, GWS) and are a legitimate chance to take our spot in the top 4.

Not against this. Blokes that know where the goals are, have proven forward craft and will assist in fixing our accuracy woes. Ben Brown won’t fluff around with his set shots. I’d be looking at Melksham as sub on a regular basis on the run home.

Sadly I don’t think he’ll be making the flight. GWS are $4.70 and off the bye. We’ve got no business losing this one.

Yes it sucks to drop a spot. However, it’s an indictment on us if an Essendon, Dogs or Adelaide knock us out of the top 4. Its our spot in the top 4 to lose given our reasonable run home in August.

Darcy Fort’s a worse sub option than Spargo.

I thought you were intimating the struggles post bye. Every “fresh” club has lost thus far, including Brisbane’s loss to Hawthorn. Those 3 games I mentioned for next week, I’m sure at least one or two outsiders will salute based on the post bye theory.

Very early days but the iPhone weather app has Sunday week in Alice at 15 degrees. Hopefully we might avoid a warm one.

So based on your theory you can get some serious value next week on Essendon beating Port, Hawthorn beating Carlton and Fremantle beating Dogs. All underdogs. Multi paying $18.

It was the turning point of the game. We had a 6 or 7 point lead at the stage.

Fritsch cleared of the tackle. All good for Sunday week.

It’s allegedly going to be 12 degrees next Friday in Alice. Hopefully we may have dodged a 25 degree day like last year.

We’ll find out within the next hour or 2 about Fritsch and the MRP. There wasn’t any malice in the incident and Kolijasni got straight up, but head did make contact with ground. A real 50/50 proposition. In order to avoid handing out so many suspensions where players aren’t hurt from sling/dangerous tackles, the less serious incidents like Fritsch’s should be graded as low impact rather than medium and hence a fine rather than suspension. Like the umpire dissent being relaxed, I predict next year that they’ll be more lenient on the dangerous tackles.

And they beat Sydney who also had a bye, so that doesn’t really count. We play GWS next week off their bye so hopefully the tend continues. On the bye theory I’d be backing in the following games for this week and next. Sydney to beat WC Freo to beat Essendon GC to beat Hawthorn Brisbane to beat Richmond Adelaide to beat North Freo to beat Bulldogs Hawthorn to beat Carlton Essendon to beat Port

A few random thoughts: 1) The Tomlinson omission was a flat out terrible call from Goodwin and company. I would’ve understood it had Petty actually had an impact but all it achieved was upsetting a player coming off a near career best performance and have players questioning the selection integrity of the side. 2) there is a wild misconception around here and across the AFL community that Gary Rohan is a dud. Go and watch last years finals win over Collingwood and even last week and you’ll find that he’s a fantastic and dangerous third forward. 3) How often do Geelong actually lose at GMHBA. It’s the most dominant home ground advantage in the league and I can’t think of any other side that loses 1 home game a year on their turf. We were always up against it.

Going to be a very exciting finish for 3rd and 4th spot. Brisbane, Melbourne, Essendon and the Dogs are right in the hunt, and if St Kilda win tonight then so are they. Can even see Geelong giving it a late shake but have probably lost too many games. I know we were craving top 2 but we might have ended up playing Collingwood even if we finished top 2, hence the home ground advantage being nullified. Conversely, we’re a good chance of finishing 3rd or 4th and playing Collingwood which would be no different to finishing top 2 and playing Collingwood - if that all makes sense…

Agree that we’re a poor wet weather side on the evidence. However, last night we played our best footy at the end of the first quarter and the middle 2 quarters when it rained non stop. Arguably Geelong didn’t handle the wet as well as we did. In the first 15 minutes when it was dry and the last quarter when the rained cleared, Geelong were the side the dominated. Their tall defenders and Stewart got on top of us when it was dry. On that basis I think it would’ve been a more comprehensive loss had it have been a dry night.

It will either rain or be 27 degrees and we’ll be cooked for St Kilda the following week at Marvel like we ran out of gas against the Dogs last year. But hey - It’s good for the community I guess….

Fritsch would have to be at risk of copping a week. His opponent’s head hit the ground unfortunately and this seems to be a text book 1 week suspension this year. It’s a shame as he’s the one forward that actually knows what he’s doing out there in terms of forward craft.

Heading down the highway again where I hold a 2-11-1 record in terms of MFC success. What's the definition where you keep doing something and expect a different result? Highlights include watching us kick 4 goals in an entire game of footy in 2013 in pouring rain, Getting beaten after the siren, getting beaten by 80 points the following year where we all thought we were flag contenders and fare-welling the coach that got us back to AFL relevance with an 111 point belting. (by some sheer stroke of luck or destiny I pulled out of 186) Other than that I'm supremely confident.

A bit too cute at selections IMO. Tomlinson flat out did not deserve to be dropped on any measure. Integrity of selection queries right there. If anything he should’ve been dropped when McKay beat him the week before. Will be even more curious if Petty goes forward and we’re back to our previous issue of 1 key defender short which doesn’t allows May and Lever to flourish.

Full credit to any MFC supporter that makes the trip down the highway on back to back nights.

We're 10-0 since round 1 2021 when May, Lever and Tomlinson have all played in the same side. I wouldn't be in a hurry to get rid of Tomlinson. Petty should return to the forward line.