Bring-Back-Powell

Looks like the Suns are employing the same strategy as the Dogs did last week by going tallish up forward. They've brought in Zac Smith as a recognised ruck in order for Burgess to go forward along with King, Corbett and this new fellow Jeffrey who kicked 9 snags last week in the 2's. Clubs are clearly working out that to beat Melbourne, one of the first things you've gotta do is quell May and Lever and force them to match up on talls, particularly Lever.

And one of those 3 kicks was gift wrapped with a ribbon to his direct opponent in Tim English.

Perhaps they brought his prior games at Metricon Vs GC into account which have been pretty damn good it has to be said. He kicked 4 goals in 2016 and was pretty decent in the 2019 game. Clearly he’ll have a role on Miller, and if he fails that, then I’d imagine it will be curtains for his season as he’s been really poor recently.

Surely they’ll defer this policy until months after the additional vaccines come into Australia. You can’t promote getting vaccinated but not yet have the product available for all. It would be absolute discrimination for that cohort of society (under 40’s) to be excluded from the event and should be challenged.

Call it an omission then. Jackson could’ve been dropped rather than rested.

Can someone confirm why the best kicker at the club can’t get a game? Clealry we’re not interested in giving Jackson or Rivers a clearly needed rest.

I agree with your comment. You're allowed to be upset and angry that Victorians MFC members (ie - the bulk of us) may miss out on a rare opportunity to see their beloved club play in a finals series. Hopefully COVID goes away for at least a couple of months and finals will go ahead at the G. A Perth only finals hub would be the ultimate middle finger to all Victorians who have put up with so much since March 2020.

Pretty sensible and logical view by the sports minister. How can you implement a "No jab No entry" policy if there's not enough vaccine to go around?

I get all that but it really is an extreme example of jeopardising you top 4 hopes in exchange for finances. GC, Perth and Darwin in the space of 3 weeks is just next level imposition. Couldn't we seek 2 home NT games next year to balance things out??

Adelaide is currently at the MCG, but regrettably looks like it may be moved to Darwin.

We must be near insolvent and ready to hand the keys back to the AFL if we're voluntarily agreeing to host Adelaide in Darwin given the following factors: 1) Home quarantining from Thursday lunch time to Saturday morning in preparation for a game day arrival for Gold Coast. 2) Hub/quarantine in Perth for a full week in preparation for the West Coast game. 3) Play Adelaide the week after in Darwin in energy sapping conditions just 3 week prior to finals, while at the same time alienating Melbourne's heart and soul (VIC crowds could well be 25% on 14 August) who have had just 7 opportunities to see their side play since round 1 2020 despite paying good money for a membership. 4) Then facing Geelong at the most difficult venue in the AFL in a presumed top 4 win or bust game - with the likes of Jackson, Jordon, Spargo, Rivers, and Pickett being physically and mentally destroyed after a 3 week circus over the country. I just cannot fathom why our club would be jeopardising everything other than that we are near broke and diabolically need a cheque from the NT. Struggling to grasp this news.

True on both counts but if the next 2 weeks remains stable in VIC, there will most likely be crowds at the G in round 22.

Can you please advise if there's any truth to our Adelaide game being in Darwin in round 22?

Winning is the only option despite any adversity we'll face in the coming days. If you're losing to Gold Coast Suns, you're not making top 4.

There should also be a crowd in Melbourne during that weekend.

What a way to alienate the majority of your membership. This game was probably going to have crowds at the G and now there’s talk of all finals being played in Perth if you believe the media. GC- Perth- Darwin- Geelong. Great preparation for finals… We must be near broke if we’ve initiated this.

This game will be at Metricon. They’ll find a way to play the game up there.

Aunty Annastacia might put the slows on the GC V Dees game going ahead with this development?

Interesting you say that. I went to the recent Dogs V Sydney game at Marvel where the Dogs won the free kick count 29-16, but the side itself put on a pretty ordinary performance overall in a 3 goal loss. I couldn't believe my ears when I was in the car park lift post game and I heard a few Doggies supporters directly blaming the umpires rather than their sides performance for the loss. Their supporters are going to be in for a rude shock when the tables turn and they lose a final via a controversial free kick.

You couldn't script that luck. As mentioned before I expect our CEO to have negotiated for Melbourne to receive half the proceeds if this game is in Darwin, due to: a) Losing our contract for the Alice Springs game in June. b) Being the bunnies that have to cop a Darwin game whilst we're in a critical phase of our season.

I'd be flabbergasted if it isn't at Metricon.

Luckily we have no home games for this next 2 week period. We play Adelaide on 14/15 Aug so hopefully we can have crowds by then.

This makes no sense to me. No sense whatsoever. The AFL are using Perth as a contingency plan for finals. You know the state that locks down on the morning of game day without any notice. How can the AFL possibly take that risk on grand final day? With regards to out lockdown ending today, we should be able to have a crowd for our game against Adelaide in round 22, if the easing of restrictions are consistent with lockdown 4, which they appear to be at this stage.

The free kick may have been even but perhaps one side got awarded all the marginal calls and the other side missed out. Certainly appeared that way last weekend.

Can anyone recall if we got crucified in the round 11 game against them? The free kick count of 16-15 would suggest not.