Bring-Back-Powell

Very pleasing news. However he needs another gun forward to partner up with him over the next 5 years. JVR alone isn't enough. As per last Thursday night, he's not going to be the player we want him to be if he's not getting support from his forward colleagues. 0 marks to 3 quarter time between Petty, Fritsch (his early goal was a free not a mark) and BBB who are supposed to be there to support him and pick up the slack is a disgrace on their part.

No issues with the verdict. I assume if/when Max, T Mac, Trac and Oliver all cop their first suspensions at the MRO, they will be able to present their "200 games without suspension" pass to the tribunal (the latter two will get to 200 soon).

With Salem, Bowey and most likely Hore missing from our defence, I don't think we have the luxury of moving a good defender in Rivers into the midfield. Hopefully Oliver gets up and joins a midfield that on paper should be too good for a Richmond midfield possibly missing all of Taranto, Hopper and Prestia (the latter 2 might be line ball to get up?)

This is why Max is the best player at the club. We put in our worst performance since the Port loss in 2020 and yet he’s still clocking up coaches votes.

The media will be in hysterics over Geelong’s 5-0 start but it’s worth noting that their opposition has a combined 5-20 record. They have Brisbane and Carlton coming up.

Carlton’s luck continues. Sam Taylor looks badly concussed (hopefully he’ll be ok) Guess who Carlton are playing next week?

Yep, if you think it about, it’s silly to need a rest after 5 games. Forever and a day we’ve had our first rest in mid June. Why all of a sudden do we need one in mid April? Has the Carlton praccy match and the opening round compounded our fatigue? I think we were just mentally flat the other night. Most of the group would’ve seen the Adelaide double as a major milestone achievement and sense of accomplishment. Teams can’t be up every week and I’m expecting GWS, Geelong and Carlton to each put in a stinker over the next month when nobody will expect it. I’m also giving all the credit to Brisbane. They obviously came in with a plan, executed it perfectly (first time I’ve genuinely noticed Fagan having a big tactical win) provided elite pressure and were able to cruise in the last quarter due to having an 8 goal lead. There were also other factors which have been discussed which ended up causing the perfect storm.

My first excuse for Thursday night is we’re tired and badly need a bye after 6 games. And yet last year we played 13 games without a bye and beat a couple of last year’s top 4 sides in the 12th and 13th game after 5 interstate trips. Last year in our corresponding 6th game we gritted out a win after coming home from a Perth-Adelaide double and had a total of 3 interstate trips as per this year. Why are we in so desperate need for a bye this at this time of the year, where as last year we went on a dominant patch between rounds 6 and 9 (albeit against lower teams). Or are we just too quick to use it as an excuse for our poor loss the other night? Max played like he didn’t need the bye.

Brisbane's pressure was the number one factor and then you can work your way backwards with your factors which are all correct. I can't recall a game which we've been pinged for holding the ball as much as last night and it happened from start to end. They would not allow us any easy possession whatsoever and inevitably stopped any promising MFC chain until the last quarter. I would be surprised if we encounter such high pressure again for the rest of the year. And I would be surprised if Brisbane bring anything near that pressure next week.

Not that affects us but Charlie Cameron got a week for his tackle on Lever. I reckon they can argue that down to low.

If we're half serious we should be winning this one by 6+ goals with all their injuries. They have an obscene injury list at the moment.

- 33 in the pressure rating (Fritsch with 1 pressure act in an entire game of AFL footy) - 29 in tackles. That's a disgrace on our behalf but it showed how much this game meant to Brisbane. If Brisbane applied half the pressure they did last night in the 2023 grand final, they'd still be celebrating a premiership. Instead they were minus 20 tackles to Collingwood and conceded a ridiculous 63 points in the first half of a GF.

I would be flabbergasted if he left Brisbane. Rock solid citizen that appears loyal to his club. Plus there's been absolutely no noise that he's looking around. Zurharr from North (who isn't having a good year) might be gettable and could solve some of our forward line woes.

Anyone know the record of holding the balls paid against a side in a game, because I reckon we witnessed history tonight. Speaks to Brisbane’s hunger tonight. Unfortunately it was a statement game from them.

What did he do?

The boys must have thought the game started at 9:30 rather than the scheduled 7:30.

The TAB has the line at 26.5pts so if we can get the final result under 4 goals then the night won’t be a complete disaster and we’ve salvaged a bit of percentage.

Was thinking exactly that. Gotta make a move when absolutely nothing is working up forward.

Petty, BBB, JVR and Fritta a combined 0 marks between them.

Shaping up to be our worst performance since the Port loss in 2020 at the Gabba.

You would imagine so with May, Lever and T Mac in defence. We still have smalls to contend with such as Cameron, McCarthy, Rayner and Bailey, so no need for Petty down back. I think our forward line needs a maximum of 2 of JVR, BBB and Petty at the one time while the third player is either in the ruck (JVR) or on the bench.

And for those looking for an MFC weekend game in Melbourne, sorry none available in the month of April.

Think you've nailed that. If the Pies are in the hunt, I can't see that round 24 game being anything but Friday night. The AFL will need weigh up the following Friday night options as follows: Round 20 - Carlton V Port or Melbourne V GWS Round 22 - Melbourne V Port or Sydney V Collingwood. The Eagles game will clearly be an off Broadway Sat arvo or Sun 1:10 game.

Given the common sentiment that debutants shouldn't debut as sub and Woewodin badly needs minutes, I can see these changes: In - Tholstrup, Laurie (sub) Out - Pickett, Woewodin. However I'd prefer either Woewodin or Tholstrup to start as sub and Laurie to remain at Casey. For such a big game this week, Laurie simply hasn't shown enough evidence that he's up to the task yet. If there was no bye next week, I reckon BBB would have been rested.

Lachie Neale's 250th. He's 4/4 in milestone games.