Bring-Back-Powell

I genuinely admire your dedication in travelling interstate for a pre season game.

Only Smith would cop a cut foot and still be in rehab 10 weeks later. 99.9% of other players would be back in full training a week later. Starting to think he's cursed.

Wouldn't be surprised if they don't select him this week. He's already had 2 games and they probably want to see T Mac and Weid operate the forward line without Brown. I could be wrong but I reckon Brown doesn't play round 1. T Mac and Weid as our key forwards with Weid relieving Gawn in the ruck. I think having T Mac, Weid and Brown in the same forward line makes us too top heavy, particularly on a 30 degree arvo when we'll need lots of run and inside 50 forward pressure.

I think he plays round 1. Looked OK in the forward line in Marsh 1. Always seems to be on the move to make an option inside 50. Would still like him at the Dees.

Brisbane have been very lucky and had a charmed run with injury last year. However after having an extremely good run with injury in the run to the finals, they lost one of their key pieces in Mitch Robinson for the semi final and proceeded to lose to GWS, a game they really should've won. Brisbane strike me as the sort of side that would collapse in two if they copped a moderate to bad run with injuries.

Jones would easily get a game for us. We're screaming our for run and carry, and sausage rolls. He provides that.

No he's not.

I’d take Spargo over ANB for round 1. Spargo looks to have regained a bit of his 2018 form over the first 2 practice matches while ANB was woeful Vs Adelaide.

Frost will probably have a disposal efficiency of 98% both times we meet this year. What’s that thing about Murphy’s law?

Can 100% confirm WC v Melbourne will be on Fox Footy. Hawthorn v Brisbane will be the channel seven 3:20 Sunday game that day.

Any idea if that was the Perth game or the Alice game, just out of interest? They're horrific numbers.

The compensation should be the fact that they get to play in the comfort of their home ground, not needing to travel and re-claiming the home ground advantage they clearly lost had it been in China. Their CEO confirmed on radio that they would lose some or all of the money if the game got moved to Marvel.

Would appreciate a Gawn and May update, and any indication whether either or both will be playing on Friday night.

I'm not as excited as Viney as I am our other mids, but it's worth mentioning that he polled 14 brownlow votes in 2016, pre injury issues.

At least we’ll get to sing the song 3 or 4 more times than last year.

Is Shiel unable to play this week or couldn't return to the field on Thursday night? If the answer is no to either point, Schofield's playing round 1. You only have to look at week 1 of the Series: M Crouch cops a fine because C Oliver didn't get injured. M Williams cops 2 weeks because E Richards was unable to take anymore part in the game. If Schoefield was wearing an MFC jumper and copped a week, we'd all all be frothing at the mouth like we did with May.

Arguably a better player as well.

Exactly. If by round 4 or 5 he's been poor in the half back position, he either gets dropped to Casey or moved elsewhere. Not 16.75 games late like they did with Fritsch. I didn't think he looked crisp against Adelaide and only got 13 touches. Well below a standard Harmes game. However, he did manage 31 touches against North in rd 23 last year, playing exclusively in defence.

Saints CEO basically confirmed they won't get the money if the game is moved to Marvel. And rightly so. There's talk the game might be moved to Cairns, in which case they'd probably receive a little something.

Have to agree with that.

Very good news. Josh Kennedy looks like he’s back in form, and May did well on him last year.

They need not worry. They’ll still find a way to beat us by under a kick at Bellerive.

Certainly was. It was the highlight of the day.

If he’s not selected Friday night, he’s not playing round 1. And based on yesterday’s performance, he’s not playing round 1. Needs to win back his spot as a half back flanker if he’s to have any future. Probably doesn’t do enough as a forward.

Lockhart would be in serious contention for a game round 1. Another good game as a small defender.