Bring-Back-Powell

Hope you’re right and I’m wrong but I feel as though they had an off year by their standards (aside from taking care of business against us twice) and will be far more consistent next year. If Brisbane are hungry for 24 rounds, then they could realistically finish 1st by 3 or so games but it’s hard for a reigning premier to be up for so long the following year.

My early prediction is predicated on the following: At least 3 teams must go and in and out of the 8 each year. I hate Collingwood as much as the next person but it would be unacceptable if they don't finish top 2 given their recruitment for the now. One of Carlton or Bulldogs must miss the 8 due to at least one elimination final loser dropping out the next year (since we became an 18 club league in 2012) People will blast me for this but I expect us to miss the 8. Far too many question marks heading into 2025 and so many things need to align for us to win 14 games or 13 with an excellent percentage. 1) Collingwood 2) Brisbane 3) GWS 4) Fremantle 5) Adelaide 6) Hawthorn 7) Carlton 8) Sydney --------------- 9) Geelong 10) Port Adelaide 11) Western Bulldogs 12) Melbourne 13) Gold Coast 14) St Kilda 15) West Coast 16) Essendon 17) North Melbourne 18) Richmond

Agreed that Adrian Anderson has been an appalling representative for us over the last couple of years. We need to try our luck with someone else next year. However I could have sworn we had a major victory with Anderson at least once. Was it as long ago as Jack Viney winning his appeal against Adelaide in 2014 or JVR’s appeal in 2023 Vs GC?

Thanks Redleg for the clarification. My take is that the AFL wanted at least 3 weeks as a starting point, and sending it to the tribunal showed how serious they treated the incident. At worst they could have initially cleared him, which IMV is worse than putting up a flimsy argument at the tribunal. Anyway, what's done is done. Terrible outcome.

Don't disagree that the case put forward by the AFL wasn't overly great in the tribunal hearing. But the facts remain that the MRO in conjunction with the AFL suspended Maynard for at least 3 weeks, and it was Collingwood's right to appeal the suspension under the system available to them. And their defence team got the job done, unfortunately for Brayshaw and the MFC. https://www.afl.com.au/news/1030973/live-blog-collingwood-magpies-defender-brayden-maynard-faces-afl-tribunal-over-melbourne-demons-angus-brayshaw-bump COLLINGWOOD'S Brayden Maynard was staring at a ban of at least three matches as he faced the Tribunal on Tuesday night but had his rough conduct charge for the controversial bump on Melbourne's Angus Brayshaw overturned. the Match Review Officer and executive general manager of football Laura Kane graded it careless conduct, severe impact and high contact, referring him directly to the Tribunal.

Agreed. Everyone around here blames the AFL for Maynard getting off but he was initially suspended for the grand final. What more do you want?

Sparrow also kicked as equally good a goal in the 3rd quarter of the 2022 qualifying final Vs Sydney, but you’re right about THAT goal. He also kicked a very difficult set shot to seal the game against Essendon in mid 2021, so he can certainly kick a crucial goal when required. Doesn’t change the fact that he’s at the cross roads.

Love Goodwin’s honesty. If all of us are realistic, we’re an 11th to 14th side with an abundance of question marks in all 3 phases- defence, midfield, and attack.

I think there's a comprehensive match report written by Mike Sheahan if anyone can find it.

At least Essendon have travelled down two times this century. Collingwood conveniently got fixtured a home game against Geelong next year, the year that Geelong starts playing only 1 home game at the G which is against Hawthorn on Easter Monday.

Be interesting to see the quantum of turnovers over at Brisbane, Geelong and Collingwood's training this week, as a few examples. If they're far more crisp than we are, then we should probably be a little concerned. You'd have to expect some sloppy skills pre Christmas.

I wonder if there’s a link between Goodwin confirming Petty will start in defence round 1 and Lever’s rehab?

Are you able to expand on this? I remember two games later he provisionally had 41 touches against the Suns but they officially deducted 1 possession off him (random memory). So in the space of 3 games between the 2021 Gf and round 2 2022 he’s had 39, 38 and 40 possessions in order.

That was definitely one of our more exciting wins of recent years and Nick Daicos putting them 5 points down with 20 seconds left was a complete false economy when factoring in our dominance of the second half. Exactly what you said - "not taking our opportunities" Our crowd was really up for that one and it felt as though we made just as much noise as them. In fact it felt as the whole club set themselves for that one after losing to the Pies 3 times in 2021 and 2022. I also thought the Pies were a bit flat for that game and didn't come out with the zest they usually show against us (2023 Qual final as exhibit A). The Daicos boys had or were recovering from the flu, De Goey just got rubbed out, no McStay and they also looked lacklustre the week before against West Coast in Perth.

Collingwood’s high octane, transition it from one end to the other with ease, is too much for us to counter. Same applies against Fremantle and also would’ve applied against Hawthorn late last year had we run into them. Not sure how we solve that, and Houston delivering the pill from defensive 50 isn’t going to make things any easier next year. I also don’t think we handle the pro Collingwood crowd all that well, particularly away King Bday games as well as that 2023 final. They seem to handle the occasion far better.

Channel 10 sport news did an interview with him which was shown on Tuesday night. Seems like a cracking, intelligent bloke and you can tell that he's genuinely excited to be at the joint. Proudly (in a funny way) mentioned that he probably holds the AFL/VFL record of most times listed as an emergency....by a county mile. He's definitely a more viable back up option than throwing JVR and Petty to the wolves as first and second rucks.

I'm hoping most of these players are scheduled to join the main group by 6 Jan or whenever the club returns for training. Particularly Lever and McAdam.

That's an excellent achievement IMO. Approximate what years or at least decade were you a director?

Disappointing for Fullarton that he wasn't selected for the Essendon and Freo game where we didn't have a ruck. We got away with it against Essendon in the wet but we were annihilated in the ruck against Freo. Surely he could've provided a better contest than Petty against Freo. Didn't see much of Casey this year but did watch him kick 2 goals along with 25 possessions and 8 marks at Punt Road on Anzac Eve which is a solid day's work for a ruck/forward or a forward/ruck. He must have been close to selection at that stage.

No issues for me aside from the 90 minute wait.

Think you nailed the bolded bit. Same could be said about Collingwood.

That Richmond V Collingwood game is now a permanent pre season fixture at Ikon park.

Oh well if nothing else it gives us another look at a team that has absolutely humiliated us since 2020, aside from the odd occasion. It’s gotten to the point where Freo supporters online were disappointed on fixture release day that they only play us once in 2025 because they view us as a percentage booster. That’s simply not on. Round 6 at the G is one day I’m keen on a bit of pay back.

@58er Any reason for the vomit emoji?

Absolute gun baseballer is Juan Soto.