Bring-Back-Powell

Saints have a very good defence in Wilkie, Dougall and Battle (albeit Curnow’s getting the better of the latter) As Sydney showed last night, and when we’re missing Lever or May, it’s so important to have your three key pillars down back.

Crowd will be closer to 63,000 than 83,000

Brisbane are flying at the moment, particularly from an offensive point of view as they’ve beaten a range of sides - from premier contenders to mediocre and poor sides. However, can anyone honestly seeing them beating a Collingwood or Geelong in a prelim or grand final at the MCG? I certainly can’t. On another matter, we’re probably going to have to win by about 8 goals if we’re to catch Geelong on percentage. Their apparent demise after round 3 was greatly exaggerated.

Very poor win by Port given the quality of opposition.

You’d have to say Lever- MFC’s next captain.

That is absolutely correct. My concern is that our direct competition for the top 4 in Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon only travel 6 times each, compared to our 8. Essendon only travel once in their final 9 games. That’s a competitive advantage we’re ceding to the other 3 VIC sides from a preparation point of view as well as on-field results if our early interstate form is any indication.

And add in the fact most of the players clearly have no issues with hubbing, per the 2021 finals series. I think we clearly missed a trick and the Dogs were smart in reducing their hectic travel schedule as they had a couple of days in Adelaide post game and then flew to Perth at their leisure. Smart. The Dogs were physically and mentally on. We were physically and mentally off.

Any weekends a good weekend when Geelong get done but at least we could go ahead of Sydney on the ladder if Geelong win, which the should given Sydney’s injuries list.

That was a mostly rushed post on my part to be fair. But I will say this: 1) Had we not sold a game this year and the AFL would stop their fascination with scheduling us down at Hobart every year aside from 2022, we’d have 6 games, which is the same as Collingwood, our direct competitor for this year’s flag. 8 interstate trips is too many IMO and the club needs to seriously look at this, if last weeks flat performance against Essendon is a portent of things to come. So I agree with you that the interstate teams have doubled since 1991 and we should be playing more interstate games, but why are we playing 8 interstate games as opposed to 6 like Collingwood? 2) where in my post did i say the heart and soul can ONLY attend games in Melbourne? I posted that there are less games for Victorian based MFC members to attend games in VIC. Whether they have the time and finances to go to 2-4 interstate games a year is their prerogative.

I’m sure the game goes ahead. Just a bit of hot air from the media.

If the MFC are even half serious about finishing top 4 and ultimately winning a flag this year, we as members should expect the club to decline the offer and associated money attached to a Darwin home game. We play a hard running and disciplined St Kilda at Marvel the following week, and playing in Darwin would be woeful preparation ahead of the game. With that being said, I’m sure this issue will get resolved and the Alice game goes ahead.

Our friends in the west are on track for an 8-15 season which should be around the 12th-14th mark on the ladder. I’ll take a late top 10 pick at worst (after father/sons, academy picks etc…)

They’re playing the worst contested mark in the league as a mainly stay at home forward. That is legit stupid by some highly paid Fremantle people.

So both us and the Dogs cop the Perth-Adelaide double on a 6 day break. One side comes out hungry, focused and wasn’t coming home without the 4 points. The other looked as flat as a pancake.

Freo have Brisbane next week at the Gabba and are staring at 2-5. Can anyone name a club to make the top 8 from 2-5 since 1994, apart from Sydney in 2017?

Freo have been so disappointing tonight. Definitely shades of MFC 2019 whereby they couldn’t handle expectations to back it up after breaking a finals drought.

The Dogs are showing why we should’ve hubbed in Adelaide last week, after round v West Coast. Focussed, determined, hungry, the want to apply defensive pressure. Everything we weren’t against Essendon. For those that don’t know, Dogs elected to fly direct to Perth from Gather round.

Did the Freo faithful just give Jackson the bronx cheers as he took his 11th mark in 6 games?

Good. Move it back to the MCG where we need as much opportunity to prefect our form and game plan prior to finals. We’ve gone from 3 interstate trips in the early 90’s to 8 this year. Our schedule has become way more taxing since we’ve sold home games and more interstate sides have come in, whilst less games to attend for the heart and soul of the membership.

There will be shocks and upsets this weekend. If there wasn't we'd all load up on the punt and get 8/9 winners every week. Wouldn't be shocked if Hawthorn knock off Adelaide. Hawks play their best footy in Launceston and Adelaide have been home for 4 games in a row so will need to adjust to foreign territory. Giants could also knock off Brisbane in Canberra if all goes right for them. North could lift for Goldy?? Not a chance West Coast could upset Port though with their glorified WAFL side.

I noticed Bowey is on the bench. Any chance to be dropped? Despite getting 22 touches, he didn't look invested from a defensive point of view and probably had his career worst performance last week.

Agreed. A good rock solid AFL player that does the fundamentals well. He'd be very frustrated rotating between Casey, starting AFL 22 and sub from week to week. Nailed a very nice sausage on the boundary line last week.

I see Luke Jackson had a good game last week in the the most 'off broadway' of games you could possibly get (GC Suns at Norwood during business hours) Let's see how the contested marking beast goes tonight on the biggest stage of all - Friday night footy!

Surprised if Gawn plays due to the 5 day break that follows. Can only assume they have supreme confidence he can play 2 games within a week.

That is very comforting indeed. Compare that to round 16 - round 23 last year. Travelled 4 times and also one in Geelong.