Bring-Back-Powell

According to the injury update Jones isn't a certainty, has an Achilles issue.

We'll probably still get walloped in the free kick count - 27-9.

My guess would be 22-25 minutes per quarter, as opposed to the 28-32 range.

Being a die hard Melbourne supporter I'd take it, but I wouldn't enjoy it as much as every other year. I've been waiting 30 years to see an MFC premiership live at the G, and being unable to be there to celebrate the moment would sour the achievement IMO. I'm sure others that go weekly would share the same view. Maybe later in the season, if we're in the hunt to make finals and possibly top 4, my view may change. I hold out hope that crowds will be allowed back in if the season extends into October and November. China may be resuming a little normality in April which is a flicker of hope.

If you offered me the flag this year I wouldn’t be all that excited in taking it, if every single game including the Grand final were lock outs.

Devastating financial effects outweighs optics IMO - assuming the government and medical fraternity believe it's ok to play.

Jennings should be held in higher esteem around here. He did guide us to our maiden AFL X premiership.

The most basic level of fundraising is to not bother the club for a membership refund.

But aside from the above minor questions, it’s pretty much business as usual heading into the season.

I’d take option 2- play 4 weeks without fans and then take a break.

A bit of a win is that we finally don’t have to play St Kilda twice for the first time since 2014. A team we chronically can’t beat. After the inevitable mid season hiatus, does anyone have a gut feel if crowds will be allowed in or is it essentially a write off for the entire season from that perspective.

Anyone heading down to the main training session before the teams are announced?

It's a pity I can't find a full replay of the 2018 Geelong final on YouTube. And yet on the weekend I found a full replay of some random round 1 1988 Panasonic pre season cup game. Go figure.

They swear like drunken sailors out there if they make a blue or are ignored by a teammate. Kids are going to learn some wonderful new words through the TV!

100% spot on. Round 2, Saturday arvo at the G on a beautiful sunny autumn day, and we can’t see our boys play - is when this thing really is going to sink in.

I’m tipping AFL crowd lockouts and even postponements until July. China has been locked down since the end of January and is expected to resume normal services at the end of April. Some critical industries are set to resume ASAP. Hopefully all this will blow over by July and we can get back to normality.

Great result, if it actually goes ahead.

That's a pity. Would've been a cracking early season Thursday night game.

If they postpone the season for say 6 weeks, does that mean we open the season on Sunday 3 May against Essendon per round 7? OR We still have to play WC over there and round 1 gets deferred until early May? I guess we'll find out soon enough.

Would be a real "cross roads" moment for Weideman if Jackson is selected ahead of him for round 1 (if it goes ahead). I can't see both of them playing.

Yeah, most of the Marsh games were called in the Melbourne studio. To Fox's credit, you couldn't really tell the difference and the commentators did a solid job.

Yes.

They just had Brett Sutton (the bloke that makes the call on cancelling Vic mass gatherings) on Whately’s SEN show. He hinted that AFL games could be played in empty stadiums in about a month- for months not weeks!! So enjoy the GWS game as that could be the last time we get to see the boys live - if we even get that far.

No crowds from round 3 is my tip. Mass gathering bans in 4 weeks is the latest word.

Was always going to happen. Why they scheduled a 3:20 game when 50% of the days in March in Perth are 30 + degrees is just beyond me.