Bring-Back-Powell

The problem with that is we have a stack of winnable game in the first 8 weeks against the likes of North, GC, Essendon, Richmond and WC, and accordingly we can’t afford to drop these games due to “teething problems” as he clearly articulated last night. (Well we can afford a slow start if it’s privately a rebuilding a year)

Planning for the injured Charlie Curnow 🤔

Maybe they’ll announce it tomorrow given we’re the Sunday game and they may not have finalised their squad until late today. OR, no debuts. AJ and Sharp to start at Casey and Langford and XL not AFL ready??

Apparently 80,000 tickets have been sold for Carlton’s open training session tomorrow night at the MCG.

At this stage Sunday is looking like the wettest day we've had in a month. Not sure if that helps or hinders GWS...or makes no difference.

A move back to Melbourne the city, or Melbourne the club. I assume the latter.

This is the only way I'll accept the club letting Kozzie go 2 years early. Not for 2 or 3 late first rounder picks spread over years which is the best Freo will offer. He'd be a terrific third forward for us next year that can cause chaos in the ruck when Max has a breather. And you'd more than comfortably rest Max every and now and then by giving Jackson the keys. I'd feel better about our chances on Sunday if hypothetically Jackson played an 80/20 forward/ruck role this Sunday. His goal kicking is very solid.

You can't make that stuff up. Well, you kind of can when it comes to the MFC.

I was unpleasantly surprised about GWS last weekend. I thought they'd start the season slowly given their injuries, pre season form and potential scarring from the finals last year (make no mistake their 2024 finals campaign was more humiliating than ours in 2023). Full credit to them in beating a Collingwood side who I'm still bullish on in finishing top 4 (due to all their MCG games coming up) and GWS are clearly going to be one of the best sides this year. Accordingly, I don't expect to win on Sunday although there is a slight chance that GWS could come out flat after an emotionally driven win to silence the critics. I gave us a chance prior to GWS's performance last week, but I now see them as a class above us in defence and attack. Midfield we have the potential of winning due to Max's expected dominance, but geez they bat deeper than us, particularly with Green likely back and Bedford being able to successfully tag. Even if we lose, I'll still be buoyed if the following happens: 1) the lead ebbs and flows all day and the game is up for grabs with 5 minutes to go. I'm not interested in an 18 point loss after being 36 points down earlier in the day. 2) I don't want us kicking something horrible like 8.16.64 while the oppo gets out of jail by kicking 13.5.83. We win the honourable expected scoreline but lose the 4 points. It's absolutely soul destroying and I want to head home with the knowledge that we did all we could in relation to conversion. 3) a game plan that we can be excited about for the season ahead with the inclusion of Kozzie in round 4. A game plan that focuses on scoreboard pressure while withstanding premium offence and defence from quality opposition as the standard of AFL is getting so much faster by the year.

Definitely open minded about Turner and he's the type of player that can turn a game due to his above average goal kicking and ability to take a mark. However, his pre season series was underwhelming (maybe due to the conditions as you've pointed out) and further to that he was never really commended in any training/match sim reports over summer which was interesting after an encouraging season. Maybe we lower our expectations with him, in terms of him being a young player still learning his craft. This is where I see Petty being important to our forward line if Disco doesn't work out early days.

The idea of Jefferson is brilliant considering we're crying out for a key forward to assist JVR who is going to be expected to take the number 1 key forward week in week out. However, Jeffo doesn't look ready aside from a 5 minute cameo in the second quarter of the North praccy match. AJ will debut on Sunday IMO and be subbed late in the third quarter to allow a smaller type player to play out the remainder when the game's broken open.

Oh heck no, they won't be postponing another game! The so called heat policy has longer breaks and extra water carriers etc...I'd say it will be in effect on Saturday afternoon given a temperature of 35+ is expected in Geelong. At this stage our game is looking cooler - low to mid 20's with possible rain.

Agree with all that except your prediction and the McVee and T Greene comment. Greene got a hold of us last time with 3 goals and 16 touches. Definitely agree with your comment about Kozzie for sure.

If you’re making the AA squad then you’re a bona fide A grader for a year or 2 after.

What temperature do they implement the heat policy? Our game on Sunday won’t exactly be played in arctic like conditions either.

Any idea If Bedford’s more likely to tag Clarry or Trac? One of these 2 might be having a tough day at the office to start the year.

Yes and I still do.

But they did kick 18.1 against Richmond in the praccy.

True, but I feel next week’s a statement game against a quality side, and will provide a bit of an insight as to how we measure up this year.

I think we all know where we are heading if we can’t knock off a depleted GWS on our turf (albeit Kozzie out and Green to return)

If that’s a concussion then Max is going to have an absolute field day next week.

I’d scrap opening round next year and implement a split round 1 so you don’t have early season byes. Have these 5 games on the Labour Day weekend: Thursday night - Optus Stadium Friday night - Adelaide Oval Saturday twilight - Gold Coast or Brisbane Sunday arvo - Sydney or GWS Monday afternoon- Dogs V St Kllda at Marvel to give these clubs a slice of the public holiday action. Then have the remaining 4 games on the following weekend, including 2 big games in Melbourne and the other 2 in the Northern States.

There are some appallingly double standards that Lachie Whitfield and Idun are free to play today and next week. It’s easy to throw the book at kids and no names who were involved in the skits but when it comes to a star player like Whitfield who should know far better, the AFL didn’t have the knackers to suspend him

Great point re: Turner capable of playing back. As Hawthorn have shown with Sicily, versatility in-game is key and the likes of Petty and Disco can be switched either end in game.

I suspect Collingwood will finish top 2 this year given their recruits and injured players returning, and therefore won’t finish lower than GWS.