Bring-Back-Powell

I agree with you. There’s no home ground advantage, and after begging and pleading to finish top 2 all year, I don’t really care anymore. Saturday night is a dead rubber unless we have to win to avoid Port over there in week 1.

If we’re hosting Brisbane or Dogs I’d say we’ll choose Adelaide Oval. If we’re hosting Port I’d say we’ll choose a SE Queensland venue. Other options: Can’t see us choosing Hobart due to the wind factor. We could lose the toss, be down by 7 goals at qtr time and our campaign could be in tatters. Launceston maybe? Can’t see crowds allowed in Geelong. Too close to Melbourne and all it takes is for someone up the highway to do the wrong thing. Doubt Perth would be an option due to onerous quarantine and travel requirements.

Stop it, you’re making too much sense.

A) Win on tv . Attending the Essendon 2000 grand final was a humiliating feeling that stuck around for years. B) Hard question, but as we can’t attend the GF, I think I’d rather lose a prelim, get the pain over and done with and reload next year.

I hope your mail’s right. As mentioned above, I can’t fathom how Perth is an option given their absolutely zero tolerance to COVID.

No. Immediate family members will not be permitted in the state at this stage Everything is on McGowans terms and the AFL should look elsewhere.

Finally some common sense from a member of the media and it came from Craig Hutchison of all people. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?ref=search&v=1235356780219049&external_log_id=56450b80-b880-41c1-b1da-6efd107b84d6&q=footy classified Whilst the entire media are infatuated with the Dream Time and the bells and whistles that Optus Stadium would provide for a grand final, Hutchison correctly points out that McGowan will shut the grand final down on the back of one case - ONE CASE!!! Even it hits on the morning of grand final day. How can the AFL possibly take such a risk hosting our show case event in the most risk averse state run by the most risk averse premier. It would be an absolute farce if the grand final was played behind closed doors after weeks of hype and excitement. Plus the fact that he won't allow player's families to come across for the game will be sure to upset the player and club fraternity. Play the GF elsewhere or the league could find itself in the most embarrassing of situations.

Exactly my thoughts too. The club should dig their heels in ensure all they can to host week 1 at the G (if we finish top 2) rather than listen to Gerard Whately and most other commentators who are infatuated with crowds. We finish top 2, we host at MCG as far as I'm concerned. I would not risk T Mac until finals if there's any doubt with his back. IN - May, Viney Out - Smith, Sparrow Hibberd's lucky that Hunt's injured Melksham's lucky that T Mac might not be risked.

There's speculation that crowds will be allowed under scenario 5. I suspect there will be lot of MFC fans that will suddenly convert their Ocean Grove and Torquay properties from holiday homes to principal place of residence.

I would, but certainly not as much as playing Port or Brisbane.

Whaetley and Dunstall on 360 are adamant our week 1 final should not be at the MCG under any circumstances, should we finish top 2. They’re saying that we must sacrifice our home ground advantage in the interests of a crowd. Should we be willing to “host “ Brisbane at Metricon in order to get a whopping 6 or 7,000 to please the commentators?

Victoria would have to be downgraded from medium risk to low risk to even have that opportunity to quarantine for 14 days in Perth prior to GF day. At this stage Victorians need a special exemption to enter the state, and then they still must isolate for 14 days. Well that’s my understanding anyway. I would be surprised if fans could get over for the GF in any form.

Very similar to Rivers in that he hit the ground running on his debut and looked absolutely comfortable at this level.

At which stadium? Remarkably, the AFL and MCC are still in discussions to have 50% at the MCG, as much of a Hail Mary that proposition is.

What happens to the grand final if COVID hits Perth during grand final week and McGowan orders the game to be played with no fans. It's happened twice this year. What's the continency plan then?

Gerard Healy has been very strong on us since early 2020 if you listen to his evening show with Scoop McClure. Has seen the potential in us for a long while. David King was the original believer in us back in 2018, but these days he jumps on and off us depending on what color jocks he's wearing on the day.

The media are really pushing the "MFC are winning the GF" fairytale. Eddie was banging on about it in the telecast yesterday.

I predict Fristch will end up with 56 goals and fall just short of McKay. Hawkins could go past if McKay provided Cameron doesn't take too many goals off him. A fantastic effort nonetheless by Fritter, and an inspired bit of trading/drafting to use the pick we traded for Jack Watts for a 45-50 goal a year mid forward.

We haven't won the thing yet and I have to keep reminding myself of this. But, yeah it's a cruel twist to send the GF to a state where VICs will not be able to attend under any circumstances (unless you can quarantine in TAS or NT and then risk wasting your time and effort if we lost a prelim) . Mind you if cases persist here, we won't be able to travel to any state regardless. QLD and SA would typically require 14 days without community transmission and WA a full 28.

If you had to choose between the two for finals, you'd be choosing Jordon due his body of work throughout the entire season. However, he has not been good for a month and his spot would be under some sort of question when Viney returns.

Unless your Tony Lockett that kicks 150 goals a year, in modern day AFL you get BOG if you kick 7 goals. 6) Fritsch 5) Langdon 4) Salem 3) Gawn 2) Jackson 1) Petracca I really should be putting Oliver in the votes but his goal kicking fiascos are annoying and concerning for finals. So I put Petracca in there instead who bobbed up at the right moment to either kick them or set them up. Lever incredibly stiff too.

Agree with your sentiments. Watching games on TV rather than attending week in week out just isn’t as good. Although, with our list profile, our gun mids under contract, our key defenders at the peak of their careers and our exciting 18-20 year olds who are taking the AFL by storm, we’ll hopefully have a sustained crack at premierships rather than a once and once only crack at it in 2021.

This is so unfair on Geelong. So on that basis, it should be moved to the MCG.

Two unusual observations: 1) We’re winning the free kick count convincingly. 2) We actually have more goals than behinds.

I would think yes, given the events of the last fortnight. This would be the textbook “flat week” if ever there’s one.