Bring-Back-Powell

In fairness, 15,000 people are expected to attend the Ballarat venue this weekend. The trouble is that the number will be spread over 3 games.

Yes we kicked ourselves out of the contest and only have ourselves to blame that night. (Pies were too good for us the week before as evidenced by a 5 goal lead at 3 qtr time) Walsh playing one of the great finals in recent years really didn't help matters though. If Walsh plays 23 games this year, I see Carlton making top 10 at a minimum. He's an outstanding midfielder.

RIP performances like Jack Viney getting 3 votes in the Wanganeen Milera like games. Obscure performances getting 3 votes - those days are now over IMO.

It's a good point you make. The article just says 4 times. 4 times in your career or 4 times in a season? Adam Cerra had to go to the tribunal last year for making contact 4 times - over multiple years, NOT in 2025.

Anyone know the MFC players that have already been done 2 or 3 times for umpire contact? 4th time will be a suspension. My understanding is that Rivers got done twice last year, so he'll need to make a concerted effort to avoid umpire contact going forward.

Firstly, you do realise Walsh has put in a little more body of work over his career than just the 2023 semi final. Secondly, clubs like Geelong, Hawthorn and St Kilda have gone super hard for him to suggest that he would’ve gotten a very long term contract elsewhere in order to turn his head. Thirdly Amartey isn’t in the same stratosphere as Walsh as a player. One player has the runs on the board. The other plays a couple of good games a year.

I assume the person that put the team together didn't see the game or is hiding under a rock. L Pickett's in the side for round 1. Not only is he going to make our side better than last year but he's been highly marketed by the club.

Sam Walsh beat us in the 2023 semi final with 34 touches and 2 goals on his way to a Gary Ayres medal for player of the finals series. I'd look at others if you're going with the overrated, mediocre, or half as good as Kozzy tags.

I 100% admit I didn't read his article. If a player needs to perform at A grade level for 2 seasons, then that's McClure prerogative. And to play devils advocate Kozzie was still having the occasional 3/10 game last year that the likes of Bont would never have. Think the earlier St Kilda and late season Hawthorn games of last year where he couldn't or wouldn't get a sniff of it. If the occasional really bad game precludes a player of attaining A grade status then I can understand that. My criteria of an A grader from achievements of the prior year: *Player gets in All Australian 40 squad *player kicks 50 goals *player gets 20 or more brownlow votes And you carry that A grade status for the following 2 seasons. For example Jack Viney had a brilliant 2023 making the AA 40 squad and polling 24 votes. In my book he was an A gradeer until the end of 2025. Now he's lost that status due to achieving none of the above in 2024 and 2025.

I agree with Sam about not having Kozzie in the side. A player that just got selected in the All Australian and had three x 5 goal/24 possession games isn't A grade worthy.

The agenda is that the Bulldogs have pulled out of 2 or 3 Ballarat home games, therefore leaving a shortfall for other clubs to pick up the slack by way of 2026 pre season games. Weirdly enough the club that should be picking up the slack is afforded a home game this weekend at their training headquarters. I know it's a crazy idea but how about having Melbourne and Richmond play a game at Princes Park on a Saturday afternoon so 10,000 to 15,000 can attend as opposed to having the game on during business hours at a severely hampered venue. With respect to Kozzie, as much we all love our weekly fix, he'll probably be rested this week due to playing 2 full games already.

100%. You can see it coming that the long term outcome will be Casey.

I have them down for 4 certain losses if that’s any help. Geelong away Adelaide away Hawthorn in Launceston Brisbane at the GABBA.

McVee continued his underwhelming form into yesterday’s game v WC. A couple of Freo posters on Bigfooty questioning whether he’s a lock for round 1.

Paul Curtis was missing and he troubled us big time last year with about 7 goals in the 2 games. He’s the sort of small-medium forward that we have had trouble containing post the Nev Jetta era. But yeah, him missing is not the reason they lost by 80 points.

I had no idea Kentfield was initially going to play for Casey but then effectively replaced Mihocek after he was concussed. So he may have forced his way into round 1 by accident (at the expense of Jeffo).

I do remember that game well. We all thought 2025 was his redemption year on the back of an amazing pre season game. Re Friday - I might add that aside from each centre bounce, Collingwood left him completely unaccountable and enabled him free access to the footy.

Just a from a pure compensation point of view I hope Trac succeeds more than Clarry. We got a tremendous deal out of Trac. Trelly, Taylor (who I only needed to see a quarter of to know he’s got it ) and hopefully someone decent next year for a 30 year old who has 2 great years left. Meanwhile we traded Oliver for a 2 piece feed at KFC. (One of the pieces may have been traded for Steele but you get what I mean) Know one knows what happened behind the scenes with Clarry and perhaps conceding a Clarry 30 possession game to GWS is outweighed by the relief of not having him at the club anymore? I’m sure by round 5 Clarry will be an afterthought for most of us.

As a poster earlier in the year said: “I hope they paid upfront”

$2.50 for a drink is a bargain in this economy.

Thanks mate. I wonder if Kozzie and Rivers will have a full game against Richmond next week. That would be a solid work load for those two heading into round 1. They have a similar issue to the Dogs IMO - their defence. It's what will hold the Dogs from making the top 4 and North from making the top 10 in my view. Wardlaw, McKercher and Curtis are key outs for them. Obviously we have our fair share too. And Melksham out for us. I wonder if that's a little sign that he's not in King's immediate plans.

Kozzie and Rivers playing after Origin duties?? Was wrongly under the impression that the trio (including Max) would sit this one out. The game will be televised live on Fox Footy and Kayo. It will not have Fox commentators nor the Fox graphics.

I know he had very little influence in his senior games last year, but you can tell there's a little something there. For example in the GWS and Carlton games he was able to step up to the plate and nail his set shots in the last quarter of those close games, which shows he can rise to the occasion. We didn't win the games, but he put us in a position to win them. He's out of contract this year so he'll need to be having something close to a 15 game/25 goal season IMO to be absolutely assured of another contract.

Looked good last night against Brisbane. I can see why we were interested in 2024. I’d imagine we would’ve still been interested in 2025 if we were able to trade May off the list. E Hollands is a very talented player (with known issues) but if I were Carlton I’d go with Derksen.

Woeful lack of attention to details. It’s almost the “you’ve got one job guys” scenario.