Bring-Back-Powell

If Daw can sort out our goal kicking woes then bring him in. It's demoralising watching the Gawns, the T Macs, the Petraccas, the Weidemans, the Picketts etc miss set shots week in week out, quarter in quarter out.

Not 100% against this idea. At least you'll know he'll get more than 4 possessions and 0 marks this time around. (or at least you'd hope!) However, would prefer a proven 60 goal a year forward to come in.

Why? He's the best set shot at the club and has kicked a tidy 42.20 over his career. We lost a game directly due to our disgraceful kicking for goal on the weekend. Wouldn't it be a good idea to address that issue and play someone who's competent around goals?

Hunt’s the most accurate set shot for goal at the club. He should stay forward and BBB and Melksham should come in to sort out our disastrous set shots for goal that have plagued us for most of the year.

They also never say thank you to the water boys/girls after receiving a drink. You watch a player receive a drink after a goal is kicked across the league and they never acknowledge the staff member. But I'm more offended in relation to the on field footballing matters that took place on Saturday.

On a side note, was our dominant last quarter (aside from the scoreboard) due to the following: 1. The Burgess factor 2. GWS tiring after 3 outstanding quarters by them 3. Us finally taking the game seriously

I'd say his career best form was way back in 2016 when he was averaging 25 touches a games and received 14 Brownlow votes - 3 of which came against Hawthorn in a 39 possession inspiring performance. He'd have to massively step up his performance from the GWS game if he's going to have any say in a win against Port. If he didn't have the surname Viney and we had integrity of selection he'd be on the chopping block this week. Perhaps he should've played 2 Casey games from return. It's not as if he had much influence in the Essendon win and the less said about his performance on the weekend the better.

We've been really poor against Port of late. Last year was a disgraceful no effort contest. Round 1 2019 we ran out of gas after halt time and it was preview of a terrible year ahead. 2018 (in fairness) we had a red hit crack over there but failed to kick a goal in the last quarter and a half to lose a close one. Despite our perceived solid form at Adelaide Oval over the years we've only beaten Port once there since 2011.

One of the anomaly's of the final 8 system is that while 1st place has the advantage of playing the 4th ranked team in week 1, the second place team actually plays the 4th ranked team in the prelim if all week 1 and 2 results went according to ladder position. For example, Port who finished 1st last year ended up playing their prelim against Richmond (#3) rather than the lower ranked Geelong (#4) and lost accordingly Therefore if there was a massive gulf between #3 and #4, it's the second ranked team that actually benefits come prelim week assuming they win their qualifying final...if that makes sense. Moral of the story is that there is absolutely no difference between finishing 1st and second. \ Secondly, we're not playing like a top 2 side at the moment. Thirdly, I'd rather not have the hype that being top of the ladder provides.

As others have mentioned I wouldn’t mind Hunt playing as a forward this week. Unlike most of our list, Hunt can actually nail a set shot and takes a good mark while leading at out at full pace inside 50. Our inaccuracy finally cost us a game of footy and blokes like Hunt, BBB and Melksham can assist in this department.

Yeah fair call. Pies were certainly the better side on that day too. The point I was trying it make is that I can handle losing to GWS more than Collingwood as they’re a flat out better side than the Pies.

Have a sneaky feeling we’ll be playing GWS in week 1 finals at the G - 5th v 8th. And I’d expect we’d win that game.

Full credit to GWS. Can you remember them giving us any easy uncontested possession? The 3 holding the ball calls against Hunt in the last qtr were a clear reflection of their defensive appetite throughout the game. Unlike the Pies and Adelaide games, we were flat out beaten by a better side on the day that brought defensive intent and superb skills, as per Kelly and Whitfield goals.

Exactly. If we want to win a flag this year, we need to finish top 2. Finishing 2nd and playing Brisbane at the G is so much better than finishing 3rd and travelling to Brisbane. Therefore winning a game when your $1.20 favs is simply not negotiable.

Parish is a gun. Super impressed with how he’s going this year.

May was on Toby Greene at stages in round 3 and had goals kicked on him in the last quarter after Greene gave Jetta a bath. Finlayson needs attention. He’s an absolute dead eye around goals. I think they’ll really make us earn the win today and I hope we don’t them lightly. They’re a highly talented midfield on paper.

5 day break into Port would explain why BBB didn't get selected this weekend.

Essendon V Adelaide on a Friday night eh. Makes complete sense.... As this rate they'll be putting the Essendon V Sydney game on Friday night in preference to the Dees and Dogs in round 20.

12-14K. It's going to be a very small crowd. The fact that we're continually in and out of lockdown and constantly under crowd restrictions is really turning the non "die hards" off this year. Plus the ticketing issues and the fact that many people have gotten into a routine of watching at home since 2020. No club will be selling out their games anytime soon. Essendon couldn't even get 20K to their game last week which is surprising given their supporters were as up and about since their glory days of 2000.

Channel 7 news reported last night that our game is in the box seat for Friday night, but I take your point that Thursday night may be an option. Are Thursday nights locked in for the rest of the year? With clubs reluctance to play on 5 day breaks, perhaps we won't have many or any more.

Channel 7 news last night. Either Tom Browne or Stevo reported it.

Interesting that the AFL wants Dogs V Sydney to be the Friday night game next weekend rather than Port V Melbourne. However the Dogs are refusing their second 5 day break for the year meaning that Port V Dees will most likely now be the Friday night game. Clearly the AFL and/or channel 7 consider the Dogs as the more attractive side to put on prime time despite Port and Melbourne being closer on the ladder together than the Dogs and Sydney.

If the club thinks BBB isn’t AFL match fit, then why is he an emergency?

B Brown didn’t get selected

I wonder if Jess Hogan will be returning this weekend. 8 goals from 2 games he's kicked.