Bring-Back-Powell

One things for certain is that we can’t match Collingwood’s high octane, helter skelter offence. Time and time again they’re just to slick for us. And what was the deal with their desperation in a dead rubber of a game versus our mid February AAMI community series like defensive pressure on display last night? I’m flabbergasted we actually won a game against them last year. Hopefully it’s just once we meet next year.

I can handle losing last night as we had a ton out (as they did too). What I can’t handle is the knowledge all summer that our most talented player with the biggest point of difference will be making his season debut as late as Gather round under the concussion climate that we now live under. We can’t possibly go unscathed against that mob and this particular player struggles with education when it comes to high contact and footballing acts that are obsolete, or at least putting himself in these vulnerable MRO positions. I’m sure this will go as far as the appeals, so fingers crossed we get on the right side.

You could probably say the same about Woewodin.

I actually don’t mind him.

Imagine if GC and St Kilda both lose. We lose dismally tonight. They’ll suspend Kozzie for 4. We don’t go up in the draft order. We get a 7-12 fixture as opposed to 13-18. Happy days.

3 weeks knowing our luck. A fitting end to a garbage season.

Is Darcy Moore injured from the Kozzie incident?

I wouldn’t be shocked if Geelong go out in straight sets. A potential tough interstate assignment in week 1 followed by a Dogs/Hawks/Lions semi. A potential over achiever of the 2024 H&A.

Yeah, I'm not buying into the "hope we lose" to get a better draft pick. If there was an additional first round priority draft pick at stake, per the Richmond Jordan McMahon game in 2009, then you'd have to heavily consider the benefits of a loss. But we're talking about sliding a couple of spots down the order of a deep first round. (the main benefit of losing is actually getting into the 13-18 fixture group should GC win tomoz)

When was the last time we had 3 Saturday afternoon games on at the one time? Has to about 1998 or so?

Well said. Crowd expectations for Friday night? 60K? They got 51K to this game in round 23 2017, but it was Collingwood's home game and they were coming off 4 years of mediocrity.

That's cool that you're related to Luke Parker. I was thoroughly impressed by him last week, and he looks like he's got a few miles left in the tank. Would be worth a look for 2025, but clearly he'll stay at Sydney if the Swans still want him. I still maintain that Hunter was a good player for us in 2023 and served a need for us on the wing. When he was suspended for the Freo loss, we genuinely missed him. He also did some unnoticed 1% ers in the Carlton semi that stacked up in the finals heat. The 2024 Hunter has been a complete bust, and he's clearly not in the same stratosphere as Parker when comparing the two right now..

And potentially Pendles to also miss.

McStay's out for the Pies which is a win for us.

I can see the rationale in not playing ANB this week given we're one year short of the wild card round, meaning this game would be match of the round as opposed to a dead rubber under the wild card format. He's not going to be with us next year, so why accrue another 120 minutes of game time with a player that isn't part of our future. They could give Laurie the minutes that ANB would have received. Laurie should be eying off 20 senior games next year. It's exactly the same dilemma as playing BBB at the expense of Turner or Petty missing out on forward line cohesion minutes this weekend. But I expect ANB will be playing a farewell game in front of the fans.

I'd say he'll just end up staying at Port.

Imagine beating Collingwood this week with the opportunity of playing finals.

I do find it odd that most posters are against it, and yet which club would get one of the most benefits out of it this year? Which club would still be in the hunt heading into this weekend? Which club's supporters would be genuinely pumped up about this week with the chance of still playing in September? Which club's supporters would've enjoyed the GC win with the knowledge that genuine finals implications were on the line, not just a late season 'feel good' dead rubber. I refuse to believe that passionate die hard posters against the wild card would thumb their nose at an opportunity of playing a stand alone round of football with the chance to play finals. I know the club and its sponsors would embrace the opportunity. And lastly, for those that state the wild card weekend rewards mediocrity. It actually places a premium on finishing top 6 which guarantees you a final berth.

We’ll I’d imagine if the Wild Card was implemented this year, we’d definitely get back the 10,000 people that you were concerned about were not going to turn up this Friday, because it was a dead rubber.

Enjoyed his work each week on Fox Footy’s Tackle. Very tragic news.

Collingwood 10th V Melbourne 12th heading into round 24. Winner likely finishes 10th. Next year that would get you a spot in the wild card. That would’ve meant our win over Gold Coast last week would’ve had massive ramifications under the wild card model. A disastrous season actually could’ve turned into September action. Everyone still dead against the wild card?

A club or 2 raises interest in an opposition player that is good. Cutting edge journalism...

The horse has probably bolted on this one, but what an addition he could've been to our club. 60 meter spear passes from half back, or threading the needle with inside 50 targets. Exactly the attributes we're crying out for.

A couple of weeks back, I would've said yes. However, if Goodwin is serious in relation to playing JVR/Turner/Petty as forwards once again next year, then every game counts in terms of building cohesion and continuity with the 3. Therefore it would be a bit of a waste of time and player development in playing BBB to be honest. BBB was fantastic in the last 10 weeks of the 2021 season, and genuinely helped us in the round 3 win over Port this year. But I don't think he needs a farewell game to be honest.

In hindsight the Port loss was the one that got away. Didn’t feel like it at the time though. Had we nailed those late shots in the loss, next weekend would be a hell of a lot more interesting.