Bring-Back-Powell

Top 4's looking good. We can actually sneak into the top 4 by only beating North and Hawthorn if all of the following very possible events occur: 1) Collingwood beat Carlton 2) Collingwood beat Geelong 3) Dogs or Carlton or Port beat GWS which are all away games. 4) Brisbane or Richmond or Geelong beat St Kilda 5) Port or Dogs beat Richmond 6) Geelong beat Dogs in Geelong But who wants to limp into finals losing to all of Richmond, Carlton and Sydney? Beating Richmond next week will almost seal the deal. Unfortunately Brisbane are looking good for top 2 if they can won one more than Port. They have a good run home aside from Collingwood at Marvel.

Yze says North. Goodwin suggest 2-3 weeks away. I would say he'll be back for the Carlton game which gives him 3 games under his belt before finals. That would be a good result. We have no business losing to North, regardless of the Clarko factor and the game being at our bogey venue, so I'm happy for them to wait for Carlton.

I wonder where he will sit in the coaches votes leader board tomorrow night, as he’ll be receiving high end votes in this game.

Good interview with Yze just then on triple M. 1) confirmed Trac will play 80/20 forward. 2) Actually gave a bit of solid info about Clarry. They’re targeting the North game for his return. Trained well during the week. 3) Wants to put his name in the hat for the Richmond job.

The Collingwood supporters I speak to would rather play us than Geelong in the finals, despite our win over them.

And a Collingwood.

Curnow 43 West Coast 15 Lucky the bottom team are rich and not say North Melbourne.

Chandler in.

Thanks for sharing that. Not surprised in the slightest about BBB and Lever. Both come across as ripper individuals.

More than happy for GC to beat GWS. I'm still stinging from our preventable loss to GWS and it would be kind of good to see the Suns play in their first finals series. Plus the added bonus of them staying above Freo.

Looks as though most of you are getting your wish as the CEO's provided a luke warm response to the idea. Oh well, back to twiddling our thumbs during the pre finals bye instead of having two blockbuster games on TV and potentially getting 80,000 to the MCG for one of the games. What a silly idea that was.

Are you referring to Casboult beating Tomlinson? I don't believe Tomo played that day. He did get a hiding against the Essendon forward line in Adelaide.

That's a key reason as to why it shouldn't happen.

Obviously every game is important, but this one is hugely important for our top 4 chances. Should we get the win and Geelong loses, we would only need to go 3-2 to finish top 4 with two bottom 3 sides to come.

Top 2 is not critical. We just need to focus on the top 4 and go 4-2 to finish the season provided Geelong loses just once. The last time first and second both made a grand final was 2014. One of the grand finalist is invariably 3rd, 4th or 5th.

Clearly Sydney beating Freo and Brisbane beating Geelong are my picks from the menu. We need Geelong as far away as top 4 as possible. Top 2 is not critical in my book. The last time first and second both made a grand final was 2014. One of the grand finalist is invariably 3rd, 4th or 5th.

Understand if you don't want to give too much away but would you like to share who the other players are aside from Melksham who have appreciated the banners more than other players?

Last year it was released 26 July, but given it's a week later this year, I would guess this year's release will be the first week of August. I predict either Saturday 7:25pm or Sunday 3:20pm.

Is is it possible we and the media overrated his performance against Collingwood? At the time it appeared as though it was one of the stiffest omissions of recent memory. Maybe the coaches weren't satisfied with his performance and didn't have the confidence to continue with him irrespective of Petty who was injured at the time. He'd slot in really well at North as one of their key defender if he's got the stomach to digest a 3 to 5 win season.

I’m guessing the same group of people who are vehemently against the wild card round also lost their marbles about the introduction of the final 5 in 1972. It will be an exciting addition to the AFL calendar and nobody will think twice about it by year two.

Some other modern day 1 point wins to add to the collection: 2020 v's Carlton - lock down game at Marvel. The first game upon resumption of the season. A poor win if we're being honest after nearly blowing a large lead. 2019 V's Gold Coast - The Marty Hore and T Mac 7 point play at the death to perform twilight robbery on the Coast. 2014 V's Essendon - Salem goal with 10 seconds left. A remarkable win over the much higher fancied Bombers. 2010 V's Port - Nearly blew a 33 point 3 quarter time lead in Darwin. Brad Green kicked the last goal and I think one of our blokes rushed an own point to win the game. 2008 V's Brisbane - The game where Jimmy and Aussie W's Dad were celebrating together in the MCG stands. One of only 3 treasured wins for the season. Miller went nuts with 4 snags. 2005 v's Geelong - The greatest ever Kardinia park win if not for Max's goal in 2021. A 17 year hoodoo was broken after conceding a 6 goal deficit. Those who made the trip down were rewarded in spades. 1999 V's Hawthorn - A Friday night close call at the MCG. Recall Robbo thumping through a rushed behind to put us in front in the dying seconds. A rare highlight in one of Melbourne's most disappointing seasons in the AFL era considering our 1998 spectacular year. 1991 Vs St Kilda - Our final ever game at Moorabbin. Jakovich kicked 8 and I recall we had a comfortable 3 quarter time lead but only kicked 1 goal in the last quarter to fall over the line. I didn't attend but I suspect the Dees fans at the ground would've been pumped with that one.

The only time this thread lost the plot was on the 1st day of July when posters actually wanted the Dogs to beat Freo which therefore had them equal on points on us in the pursuit of top 4. Top 4 > a couple of draft picks higher up the board. I wonder if posters will be cheering Brisbane and Port to beat Freo if top 2 is still a live chance for us?

Brilliant idea for what's currently a dormant weekend of footy. The pre finals bye is a joke. Friday night - 8 v 9 Saturday night - 7 v 10. Two exciting clashes. What more do you want. Plus it gives clubs more of an incentive to finish top 6. Sixth position will essentially be the new 8th. Absolutely in favour of this idea. And I think it will happen.

Bring it on if it means there's football during the week between round 23 and week 1 finals. The pre finals bye (and the pre season bye before round 1) is the worst part of the AFL calendar.