Bring-Back-Powell

All salient points. However, Geelong is Geelong. I just can’t write them off in any way shape or form. Meanwhile if the grand final/hostile venue gets the better of some or all of Butters, Rozee, and JHF then the experienced Collingwood side will overwhelm them. I would love nothing more than us being in the conversation in relation to sides that can threaten Collingwood, like you mentioned above.

Because Geelong. Write them off at your peril despite the hard draw you’ve conveyed. Chris Scott’s a freak of a coach that will get his side on some stupid 9 game winning streak, or 10 of last 11. Are the only threat to Collingwood’s flag this year.

Josh Daicos out or under a massive cloud would be amazing for us.

I suspect if Cox test s negative by Monday and is feeling ok, then they’ll play him.

Why are we still debating if Collingwood are or are not a great side? Since round 10 last year they’ve gone 24-5 and have won literally every MCG home and away game during that period. Their only MCG blemish was a 6 point week 1 finals loss to Geelong. They’re a side that is clearly suited to the venue where premierships are won. Collingwood are the best side in the league to date and it would be one of the biggest failures in the history of their club if they don’t win this year’s flag given the high potentiality of a massive home ground advantage over Port or Brisbane in the GF.

As it shouldn’t be paid on Monday. It was just an incorrect call.

The umpires like players will be held accountable for poor performances such as the Baker call and the non holding the ball call against Alir. Thats why finals are generally well umpired.

Is it fair to say that the only way Port or Brisbane win this year’s flag is if they play each other in the GF? Can’t see either overcoming the home state and home ground advantage that Collingwood will likely own this year.

Yeah he’s a big boy, I’m sure he’ll handle it. Doesn’t explain why the opposition supporters boo him for less than no reason.

The JHF booing is just plain stupid. Ofcourse it’s no surprise that it was the moronic Collingwood supporter base that initiated it. It’s no different than say Fremantle supporters booing Oskar Baker in a Freo V Dogs game as a hypothetical example. The only set of supporters that should booing JHF is North.

Top level behind the goals is mostly empty which indicates a crowd of 25k max.

Ok so Butler concussed Blakey who not only missed a critical part of last night but misses a game next week as well. 1.5 games in total. Medium impact. Hunter makes contact with Rozee, who gets up like a Jack rabbit, kicks the winning goal and then goes on to have 27 touches the following week against Richmond. Medium impact. Exhibit A - victim is concussed. Misses remainder of game and a season “in balance” game next week against Brisbane. Medium impact. Exhibit B - Victim is the second most influential player on the ground after the incident and then goes on to have another near BOG performance the following week. Medium impact. How’s that for consistency from the MRP.

In - Hibberd Out - Bowey Sub - Melksham or Jordon to replace Harmes in that role. Not convinced a 5 possession game from Joel Smith should be enough for him to stay in the side in such a big game, but expect him to stay. Surprised the teams are announced on Sunday evening rather than Saturday evening.

Top 3 best post bye performances since 2013: 1) 2022 - 64 point win over Brisbane at the MCG. One of the more complete post flag performances after a mid season slump, on the Thursday night stage. Jackson showed what a dominant first ruck he is. 2) 2017 - 3 point win over West Coast at Subi - The famous T Mac winner. Viney's best ever game with 28 and 3 votes. 3) 2019 - 14 point win over Freo at the G. A rare highlight in a dismal 2019 season. T Mac was the difference with 3 goals and 3 votes. Essendon, 2021, was the other win. Worst 3 post bye performances: 1) 2015 - 54 point loss to West Coast in Darwin. Disastrous last quarter after hanging around at 3 qtr time. 2) 2013 - 35 point loss to St Kilda at the MCG - First game under Craig. Given it was one of our better performances of that horrid year, it pretty much tells you what a disaster of a year it was. 3) 2016 - 22 point loss to Adelaide at MCG. An entertaining high scoring game but we couldn't go with them in the last quarter. The last time we have played Adelaide at the MCG. On reflection most of our losses post bye have been very respectable performances (Port in 2014 in Alice and 2018 AO, Geelong in round 4 2020)

In fairness to the AFL we did get a proper bye in 2020. The only problem was that it occurred after our second game of the season.

It's not out of the realms of possibility that Tomlinson stays in the side for the rest of the year as a defender to support the brilliant May/Lever combo (or is it Lever/May!) This is on the proviso that Petty returns to the forward line and BBB is never seen again.

It's a fair call and is one of the reasons why I don't think the crowd will be as high as expected. I just think some Melbourne supporters will have been put off by some of the Collingwood crowd behaviour of the two matches last year. The USA chant is quite possibly the most annoying aspect of a Collingwood game for a group of supporters that used to bronx cheer the same player that went anywhere near the ball. And their sooking about the umpiring is so much worse than other supporter base, particularly when Ginnivan doesn't get a free for flopping.

More than happy for Carlton to knock them off next week. And you wouldn’t mind drawing Essendon week 1 finals.

Don’t care who wins but todays game has been one of the more enjoyable of the year.

Agree with most of that except for the Sydney bit. Sydney are right in the thick of the top 8 action and may need to beat us in the last game to make finals. And if they are out of the race, it will likely be Buddy’s farewell game and emotions will be very high at the SCG. Therefore I expect it to be a very tough assignment.

The big loser of tonight’s two games is Collingwood. They know that Geelong is their roadblock to their premiership. Nothing surer than Geelong going on a stupid 10-1 run into finals.

And Hoskin-Elliott but probably only a rolled ankle. Who takes the dangerous Ash Johnson next week? Hibberd? He’s already destroyed us once.

Pies by 14 not 114.

De Goey might get a fine if it’s deemed low contact??