Bring-Back-Powell

He'll have his big moments and games this year but it's fair to say his engine hasn't started yet for the year, aside from the AAMI game.

In addition to Weid, I wouldn't mind T Mac stepping up a gear as our number 1 forward. He hasn't played a game of note since the Port game in July last year. He's only averaged 3 marks and less than a goal a game since round 18 last year. As others have mentioned, really hoping BBB is available for next week.

Petty's very injury prone. He chose a fantastic year (2021) to stay injury free.

Can someone advise why Weightman’s so hated around here. The kid’s an absolute gun, kicks clutch goals and I’d love him at Melbourne. A star of the future.

To cater for the late starting Adelaide V Port game.

I know we've come a long way since the early rounds of 2019 but I'm a still bit wary from Friday night round 3 2019 - Dons 0-2 and kick 20 goals on us.

Low 50's. Before the season started I expected this game to have a bigger crowd than the Dogs game due to the timeslot and Dogs fans don't go to the MCG. However not so sure anymore.

Last year he went off like a rocket in rounds 3-5 as he picked up 7 Brownlow votes. There might be a masterpiece just around the corner.

If he’s that keen to play in WA then I just hope we can eek out a final 2 year extension before he heads home. This would coincide with our premiership window being wide open for the 2022-2024 seasons. Perhaps after 2024 we might be heading down the other side of the hill in terms of contending and therefore the loss of Jackson by then might not hurt as much and we get some big draft capital coming our way. Desperately hope he re-signs for 2 years. Can’t see anything more.

Handy out I guess.

Look you're probably right and they're not quite a flag contender, but if they beat Hawthorn, GC (a) and Port (h) in the next 3 weeks then I'll start getting Richmond (2017) and Melbourne (2021) vibes about this group. I really do think they've built a contending list through aggressive trading/FA and generational player drafting in Cripps, Walsh and Curnow when he's out of the rehab gym.

Bedford's out of the starting 22. Dunstan can still yet replace Bedford as the designated sub.

It's more about GC than Melbourne. We are on channel 7 for 5 of the first 6 weeks so one can't really complain there. The Suns did not have an ounce of respect in the industry coming into the season and were accordingly given 0 FTA games in the first fully scheduled 9 weeks of the season. If the networks chose their games on a weekly basis, the GC V Dees games would've been channel 7 I reckon given GC won last week and have some positive press about them. And lastly, Fox Footy show more games than channel 7 each week, so it's inevitable that we'll be on Fox Footy from time to time.

Carlton have joined us, Brisbane, Sydney, Port, Geelong and maybe Dogs as a genuine premiership contender. Not sure what more they could have done so far this year and have another vital midfield cog in Cerra to come back in.

Carlton are a genuine flag contender, not just a top 6 side that might scrounge out a finals win. They remind me of Richmond (2017) and Melbourne (2021) in that they have a highly talented list that finally discovered a magic formula and group buy in over summer, just like what we did last summer. They’re an extremely impressive and dangerous side thus far.

I had a feeling something was up with Dusty in last weeks game. With the game slipping out of Richmond’s reach, Dusty could only muster 2 or 3 touches in the last quarter and surprisingly spent much of the quarter out of the guts. In his prime he would’ve dominated that last qtr.

Kind of similar to the media referring to every second player in the league as a star. Trac, Salem, Oliver, Viney, Jackson were flag heroes as they had a direct influence on the win, whether it be to get us off to a solid start, leading the charge in that dramatic 3rd qtr turnaround or dominating through the entire game. I would not label Rivers a GF hero and I don’t recall him having a particularly great game.

Yeah, can't believe he's out of contract at the end of the year.

In his post game presser, Goodwin gave me the impression that Lever was no chance last week and touch and go for this weekend.

I don't expect anyone to return from the injury list as it's too early in the season to be making 50/50 calls. In - Bedford (elevated from sub) Out - Salem Chandler to be this week's sub. There will probably be a few around here that will measure this week's success on how much percentage we can gain against GC. However, I'll be ecstatic just to get the 4 points. GC are a proven dangerous side in March/April/May up at Metricon and do not resemble the rabble that we faced at Marvel late last year. We also haven't lost to them since 2014, so their time is due to beat us.

They’re a terrific home and away side.

Sounds like this is almost as bad as the PCL scenario in terms of weeks missed. Was hoping for 4-6 at most.

T Mac tore his meniscus that day. Funny (not funny) that he finally played a ripping game that year and then his season was over. As for Salem, 6 weeks or under is a good result here. Rather he out at the start of the year than the business end.

I know it’s extremely early days but we host Carlton in round 22. If the Blues are in finals/top 4 contention by them, that game could be an absolute monster crowd on that Saturday arvo or night. (Can’t be a Friday night as Marvel have 3 games on that weekend)

They looked super impressive against us on 3 March and carried their form into tonight. Carlton’s clear point of difference is their ability to smash their opposition in clearances and have big bodied high possession midfielders that kick multiple goals. For example Cripps and Kennedy have kicked a combined 10 goals across the AAMI game and rd 1. I know it’s early as you pointed out but I’m impressed thus far.