Bring-Back-Powell

The pre finals bye should be a wild card weekend, whereby 7th plays 10th and 8th plays 9th. This clearly disadvantages 7th and 8th as it should and at the same time puts 2 exciting games on the footy calendar. No footy before the finals, and before round 1 is simply a free kick for the NRL. Last weekend was simply not good enough to not have football on in late August. On another matter, can someone explain why we have the bye week before round 1? Clubs have played one micky mouse scratch match and one dress rehearsal and then need a break before the real stuff even starts? (Although in fairness the NFL have just implemented a pre week 1 bye, either this year or last)

Running 12-15 Ks in an AFL game the day after copping a bout of gastro can't be great preparation.

Fair call for sure. I would be more confident of 80,000+ if the public and/or AFL members was sold out. Factoring in that there will be a few thousand no shows with COVID, personal issues, late change of mind etc... Also bear in mind that Carlton V Collingwood 'only' got 88,000 despite the AFL members and public selling out. Our game neither area is sold out yet. 75K IMO.

This post is going to age really well by 7:30pm Saturday if both sides salute in week 1. Would take a catastrophe for either side to not make the GF if they both win this week.

To all the theorists out there who think the umpires/AFL blatantly favour the Dogs or even cheat, how do you explain us winning the free kick count 19-13 over the Dogs in the most important game of the 2021 season?

Given that a fair bit of the the top level of the AFL members is currently unsold, that's an indication that we won't be getting 80,000 +.

All roads leading towards Salem in for Bowey. Meanwhile JJ ruled out for this week and possibly the season? Confirmed surgery as per below link. https://www.afl.com.au/news/832700/dees-wingman-has-surgery-star-defender-given-all-clear

Agreed. Need to make the G sound like the 2018 finals series again and let Sydney feel the raucous and intimidation that we copped in the Perth 2018 prelim. We most certainly won't get this luxury if/when we play Collingwood in a prelim or a GF. The last quarter of the round 12 game V's Sydney felt like a Dees away game, particularly in the AFL members. Even when we got on top at stages throughout the night, I thought our crowd was a bit lackluster.

Christmas has come early on Saturday afternoon. At least one of Geelong or Collingwood will lose an important final!

It's next level worse than anyone else. Trust me.

Excellent effort you've produced. You certainly can't accuse the MFC of being a choker in finals over the last 35 years. Touch wood. Do you have the record of Melbourne V Sydney games at the MCG from 2002 - 2022. It's quite frankly horrifying.

Also puts the narrative to bed that Collingwood are a young rebuilding side.

Is this a stock standard Dunstan VFL game, because he’s been very impressive. Should be playing AFL for someone.

This is where the finals structure is flawed. Geelong (the minor premiers) plays a team with a percentage of just 104 in the week 1 qualifying final. However if they win that, they potentially play the second or third ranked side (Melbourne or Sydney) in the prelim with percentages around the 128-131 mark. Clearly, all things being equal Melbourne and Sydney should be a tougher match up on paper than Collingwood to win a prelim. History suggests there’s a good chance Geelong has a comfy win over Collingwood but then fall over against a higher ranked Sydney or Melbourne in the prelim. We did well last year in that out prelim opponent (Geelong) was a tougher matchup than our qualifying opponent (Brisbane).

Can someone please explain to me how hamstring injuries work? How does Jeremy Cameron only miss two weeks despite a confirmed strain and be available for the Pies final? I thought players typically miss 21 days with a strain, no matter how light? You never really hear of a player missing 2 weeks with a hammy strain. Oh well, it’s their risk to take. Could backfire and see him miss the rest of the finals.

I'm already at the G after watching that video!

They did. It came in during the 1986 season.

And what happens to T Mac if Casey wins next week and we don't select him for the Sydney final?

One hopes that 82 year old drought WON'T be broken on semi final weekend.

I realise 1987 was ages ago but the last time the Dees and Swans met in a final we got 80,000 at the MCG. Not without a chance to get mid 70's IMO.

https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1987/111619870913.html Won by 76 points but were actually trailing at quarter time

Reading the above article it makes you feel as though Sydney didn't really have any intention in chasing a 50+ point win to get second and play us at the SCG. Longmire just wanted a win. Sounds like Sydney are backing in their 10-2-1 record against us at the MCG since 2002 and then get their prelim at home. Hopefully we have other ideas.

The beauty about Geelong V Collingwood is at least we get to see one of DL's most despised clubs cop a loss in week 1 finals. If we win on Friday week, I hope Collingwood also win so we avoid Collingwood in a prelim. Would much rather Collingwood in a GF than a prelim where there's more neutrals and corporates.

Particularly his game against Port in Alice. He needs to find another club if he's desperate to be a 22 game a year player next year.

The best movie of all time IMO.