Bring-Back-Powell

I think that's a fantastic deal in favour of us. We get a discounted tall forward in career best form and two first rounders to invest in the future. Nothing short of the mark about that.

On that topic, I wonder how easy it will be to get tickets for the Geelong V Dees game. Tickets go on sale to the public on Tuesday but there's reduced capacity.

I reckon Collingwood are a near certainty to make finals this year given their easy fixture, healthy list, form against the top 8 sides and the fact that they just have that damn good look about them this year. I'd consider it a scalp if we can beat them in round 21. As for dropping out, I don't 100% trust St Kilda, Carlton or Sydney. Even we need to win 3 games which requires a huge turnaround in form. So therefore I'm tipping Collingwood to come in and Carlton to come out only because they're getting slaughtered with injuries.

Jackson has been a microcosm of Melbourne's 2022 season so far. Started the season hot against the Dogs and in parts against the Suns. Just went in wins against Essendon, Port, Richmond etc. Then got COVID along with a number of players and has been flat and uninspiring ever since. Looking for a massive 4 week block from LJ but I'm not sure he has the age and experience to take the AFL by storm as of yet. As for trades, if Freo want to do business with us, I'd do a straight swap for Victorian born Hayden Young. Young is an absolute star in the making and I predict will end up having a better career than Jackson. But alas, Young recently re-signed and has settled in nicely.

If we had a Harry McKay we’d be sitting at 12-1.

Give it all to Goodwin. Since Pert announced that Goodwin re-signed for way unders....well you know the rest.

That represents terrible value given our current injuries, form and upcoming fixture.

And Chandler can also shoulder the load.

Turner's gone for 4 weeks.

I know the crowds are down but I can't see a hungry supporter base in Carlton only attracting 35K to this one. I would say 60K.

Agree with all that. The last 3 weeks, Freo, Sydney and Collingwood have all played at grand final like intensity (maybe less so Sydney) and have hunted and harassed us like nothing we'd seen in the first 10 rounds. Contrast that to the St Kilda game with their meek and mild first half against us. As you said, we need to flick the switch, start playing finals type footy and get our methodology right which Goodwin mentioned about 8 times in the post game presser.

It's a far from ideal but Weid needs to come in as the second ruckman, and stay in the side. At least he gets involved in the game as the second ruck We'll have to change our three key forward philosophy and downgrade it to two as Mitch Brown isn't up to it and JVR probably isn't ready. We did the two key forward thing in the first 6 rounds of last year and went 6-0. BBB with Weid or LJ as the second key forward depending on who's rucking. Fritta will need to step up and play as a quasi key forward. Everyone needs to step up if they want to make something of this year.

Very disappointing news re: Max. Hopefully it's more 4 weeks than 8. With regards to the short break, the AFL were always going to put us and Brisbane on the Thursday night (next week) as both clubs were coming off the bye. They couldn't put Dogs and Hawthorn on Thursday night as Bulldogs have already had a 5 day break. I'd imagine they also didn't want West Coast V Essendon as a stand alone fixture on a Thursday night given how terrible both sides are. And there was no way for televise purposes, that Melbourne V Brisbane was going to be anything other than a Thursday or Friday night. The AFL runs an 18 team competition. Unfortunately it doesn't exist just for Melbourne.

People are entitled to feel disappointed if they missed out on seeing a flag live, particularly those that have gone week in week out their entire lives, and purchase their GFG memberships year in year out. On topic, we need to address a number of onfield issues and hope for a change of luck on the injury front if we’re to feature in the second last weekend of the finals.

Nothing selfish about it mate. As good it was for the MFC to win a flag, it was diabolical that the faithful missed out on seeing it in person due to a once in a century event. Nothing aside from a premiership at the MCG will ever make up for it. No doubt one of the Carlton, St Kilda, Geelong or Collingwood faithful will enjoy their spoils at the home of footy this year as opposed to watching in lockdown.

We will beat Adelaide, Port, Dogs and hopefully catch Collingwood on a bad day in round 21. Yesterday most certainly was not a bad day for Collingwood, and Freo and Sydney also played the game of their respective years against us. 14-8 for the year which is an underwhelming result. We finish 6th, play Sydney in an MCG elimination final on a Thursday or Saturday night and it's a flip of the coin result. Goodwin can't beat Longmire (aside from a rare win last year) Really don't want a repeat of round 22 1995 where we have to beat Brisbane at the Gabba to fall into the finals.

I’m sure a delusional poster will start a thread that we’ll put the Lions to the sword. Possibly one that believes that loading is the sole reason why we’ve lost 3 in a row.

Was that the same group of supporters that took the moral high ground after Essendon supporters booed their beloved Pendles

I’ll be doing cartwheels if we got 2 first rounders for him. Would be absolute day light robbery. While he was ordinary today, it was actually one of his better games of the year.

Apparently our mastermind coach reckons Mitch Brown is playing far better footy than Weid so he clearly stays in.

Still need to win 3 games to play finals.

A first round draft pick.

We also wore them against the Pies in 2019.

Here is the lead up to every goal in the third quarter and you and other posters tell me whether Jackson was a contributor or the key reason why we won the flag: Goal 1 - Harmes intercepts, passes to Fritta for his set shot goal. Goal 2 - Oliver centre clearance from a sloppy bit of play from Stef Martin. Fritta on the end of it for a goal. Goal 3 - Trac clearance from a marginal hitout win from Jackson, for a BBB mark and goal. Trac gets all the credit for his blazing clerance. At this point BT asks Daisy "What's gotten MFC back in the game"' Pearce: They've rediscovered their dare, they're prepared to take the game on in the middle. Viney crashing packs etc. Pearce makes no mention of Jackson's influence to get us on level pecking. Goal 4 - Bowey's nice pass to Brayshaw from an inspirational tackle by Kozzie on Weightman. Angus nails a legendry set shot to put us in front. At the 3:35 mins left mark, Jackson gives away a free after a centre bounce to potentially halt our momentum. Goal 5 - BBB's long kick inside 50. Trac picks up an unmarked ball near the boundary for a goal. Goal 6 - English wins hitout. Viney wins contested possession, handballs to Trac, to Olicer to Sparrow for a long goal. Goal 7 - Jacksons lovely clearance to Oliver for a another long goal. Outstanding play by LJ. My contention is that Jackson's influence in the third quarter is a little overblown and we had many other players who did just as much as him to get us back into the game. And that his 2022 season has been underwhelming as evidenced by being named on the extended bench last Thursday which I'm reading it as a wake up call for him.

I agree that he could’ve been given a second chance, and if Turner isn’t up to it yet and our defence is at sea, then we’ve probably made a bad call in hindsight. However on the other hand, he was comprehensively beaten last week against Sam Reid so the coaches presumably don’t have any confidence in him at the moment. He’s at the cross roads given his current pecking order in defence.