Bring-Back-Powell

He was good for Collingwood in 2018 and 2019. Played 50 games and kicked 27 goals over those two years.

Yeah noticed that. Sarah Jones pulled up Dunstall on this. Credit to her.

According to David King and the boys: Melbourne V Brisbane: 9 September 2022 - 7:50pm. MCG. All they’re talking about is how Brisbane will go against Gawn and Jackson without a recognised ruckman.

Happy with that. Really didn’t want to play Richmond next Friday night (if tomorrow ends up going south)

In fairness to GNF if you’re going to make stuff up, you’re going to give more exciting stuff than Mitch Brown 50/50 to get another year or Hunt listening to other club offers.

It was chronically severe sarcasm on my part re: Blease, but them getting Smith and Holmes over us was annoying.

I expect Geelong to get Grundy over us as per tradition: They stole Brent Grgic and Sam Blease off us. (*slight sarcasm*) They convinced Isac Smith to choose Geelong over us. They selected Max Holmes literally one selection before we were about to pick him (not that I'm complaining about Bowey but right now you're taking Holmes over Laurie)

Have to agree with this. If we can't win without our 16-23rd best player, it's not going to be a very enjoyable September. He will be missed though if he's out, or off his tucker if selected.

On first thoughts, this is a massive blow as he was so important to our structure playing the non Langdon wing and was often used as an option to pass to coming out of half back. Having said that, he can’t be that critical in the eyes of the coaches given he was dropped for round 23.

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!