Bring-Back-Powell

If there was one week to rest Gawn, it would be this week against West Coast rather than the following week against North. WC don't have a recognised ruckman where as North are well stocked for them. I'd like to think we can get the 4 points this week without Gawn and we need to preserve him throughout the year so he's fit and firing in the finals. A rest this week, the bye week, maybe a late season game and then the pre finals bye should be good to get him through the season. If he's got a niggle, then rest him.

It's a yes please from me if we can afford him.

Agreed. Wished the Brisbane game was on a Friday night, but the AFL were always going to give us the Thursday night slot as both sides have a bye the week before. I don't mind the 4:40pm Saturday though.

Carlton will be our only hope of 60K IMO. That game has the potential to have a big crowd but unfortunately won't be on a Friday night as Marvel host three games that weekend. That is unless they do a Friday night double header - St Kilda V Brisbane and Melbourne V Carlton, but they won't do that. I don't think Collingwood will be in the hunt by round 21 so their supporters won't turn up in droves to our home game. (They will for QBday though). Sydney game could get 45k Freo game could get 30K Brisbane game could get 35K The last remaining home game is against Port in Alice which will get about 6K.

35K is a good crowd considering it’s the average attendance since 2000 between the 2 sides at the MCG, and then you factor Mothers Day.

I don’t have the breakdown handy but I believe St Kilda have won 8 of our last 9 meetings at the G.

We’ve beaten this mob once at the MCG since the 2006 elimination final. Saints on an 8 day break should have recovered from their Cairns trip. Really hoping we can bank this win as we have some tough fixtures between rounds 11 and 15. Would love to be 10-0 before we face Sydney and Freo at the G. We can afford to lose 4 games this year IMO in order to finish top 2. Would rather not use one up today.

I’m not buying the Saints will be “buggered tomorrow” narrative. They’ve had good a 8 day break and the resources put into sports science these days should see them recover just fine.

I guess it’s all relative. Freo had 6 COVID outs and had their 2 key forwards out and yet still won by 13 goals when the margin really should’ve been about 7 goals. Perhaps North are really that bad as you pointed out. Freo passed their first passive test of the year against Geelong. If they go 1-1 against Brisbane and MFC, then I’m prepared to label them the real deal.

They were getting somewhere in the second half of last year. Had a 3 week stint in Hobart where they beat GC, put 14 goals on GWS in a draw and put in a respectable loss against Brisbane. They also kicked 17 odd goals against Carlton in a classy display at Marvel. They’ve gone massively downhill to start the season, and are desperately missing Cunnington as you pointed out above. Noble could be in trouble if they fail to win another game this year.

The clear answer is no. Not one coach could be as bad as MN.

Are Freo a young flash in the pan side that will run out of gas by round 19, or are they going the distance this year?

Yeah I feel a bit for him. Shouldn't be dropped on that performance but unfortunately for him he's down the pecking order. Hopefully all the boys coming back are fully fit and we don't regret bringing back anyone that's under done. We're playing a good side this week.

Good ins for them.

Prestia ought to cop a bit of heat for heading out on the town given he was under an injury cloud. I thought there was a strict no drinking/going out policy if you're injured.

I hope they do as Brisbane would be forced to play 15 straight games without a rest.

Brisbane's win over Sydney was an excellent performance and silenced their critics who claimed that they can't win the big games away from the GABBA. If you're 40 points up on the Swans at the SCG, you're got something going for you.

I've been watching the Dees since 1989 so can't comment on any coach before Northey, 1) Goodwin 2) Northey 3) Daniher 4) Roos 5) Balme Goodwin is first by default as he's won us a flag but I'd like to see him achieve consistent final appearances and win finals in consecutive years like what Northey achieved in 1987-1991. We have the longest drought in the AFL in terms of winning a final in back to back years, and Northey is the only coach to have achieved this since the dynasty of the 50's and 60's. I couldn't sneak Neeld into the top 5.

All energies must be focussed on re-signing the absolute champion of our footy club and the possible 2022 brownlow winner on a 5-7 year deal. If that means that Jackson won't be offered the $800-$1M a year he's asking for, then so be it and he goes to a club that won't be playing finals for 5 years. And I can't see how West Coast can satisfy us with a trade given they can't trade their current first rounder. We would have to accept a future first rounder and a current second rounder for LJ. Maybe Freo have better assets to trade with?

I know they won't but it would be great if they postponed Brisbane's game this weekend and made them play it in their bye week - round 14. Then they'll be completely gassed by our round 23 meeting after 14 straight weeks of footy. Much like our fate in 2020. (If you can't tell I see Brisbane as our major threat and concerned that this is the year they finally taste success after a few misses)

I recall that the MFC may have given free tickets away to international students that day, or some other like promotion. That game was also the only time we've beaten St Kilda at the MCG during the 2007 - 2021 period. We have a remarkably bad record against St Kilda at the MCG.

If Brisbane are fare dinkum this week then they’re percentage will be miles ahead of ours after this weekendz

Anything less than 30,000 will be unacceptable for this Sunday against St Kilda - a clash of two top 4 teams. The average crowds for Melbourne V St Kilda games since 2000 are 35,000 and obviously some of those years involved one or both sides being complete rubbish. I'll knock 5,000 off for the Mother's Day factor , but I still think it's an average excuse not to turn up to the footy on a decent 16 degree non windy day and your club is 7-0. Yes, we're playing during the lunch time slot, but last time I checked there are two other meals during the day to celebrate, and also the Saturday if needed.

Salem straight down back. Rivers out. His form hasn't been up to his 2021 standards.

I'm guessing here but he's probably asking for a big pay day. And rightly so for what he achieved last year.