Bring-Back-Powell

Whilst not as confident as you, you're not wrong about GWS's efficiency and accuracy. The last 4 weeks they've kicked 61.25 or 71% accuracy which is so far above AFL average it's not funny. It's also unsustainable if they think they can win a prelim or grand final by relying on accuracy and less scoring shots. They could well be accurate again this week, but the tide will eventually turn for them. Re: Billings, he deserves to stay in the side this week. The problem is he's failed to play 2 good games in a row all year and can't be expected to help much on Saturday night.

Whether you like or dislike Simon, it’s clear to everyone that he has a clear tactical issue against Fremantle. Specifically our ability to defend turnover and transition, as evidenced by Freo’s numerous walk in goals from the goal square. And furthermore it’s undeniable that he’s struggled to get his team up for game day, far more than most of his previous years. How many times has the warning signs been up in neon lights at quarter time. Brisbane, Carlton, West Coast Fremantle x2, Collingwood.

At half time of the Alice game I thought Freo couldn’t play any better and we couldn’t play any worse. They got better, we got worse. Definitely the same vibes about this game aside from Freo’s inaccuracy. Will be interesting to see if we can make some inroads in the second half or just let the game get out of control per round 12. We’re definitely playing with one hand tied behind our back with the ruck and clearance issue.

We always deal with the Dogs in the first game. It’s the return game we have troubles with.

Port only beating Richmond by 41 is actually a minor win for us. Given Richmond sent a VFL side over to Adelaide, Port really should’ve won by 60+

After all the talk of a wet weather game, the forecast is 0-3mm. Doesn’t exactly scream a wet weather slog of a game. And I’m not sure we’d benefit from back to back wet games heading into GWS off the back of a 6 day break from Perth.

Well that result certainly gives us more options. Great start to the weekend.

I can't recall a game in recent memory where we are playing a side that literally has all of its best 23 available. How fortunate are Fremantle going. Edit - Johnson's out injured...

Clearly Adelaide winning would be ideal but without Tex and Rankine I can't see it happening. To Essendon's credit they've bounced back all year from a poor performance. GWS/Gold Coast and Hawthorn/Pies are hard ones to pick, in terms of what suits us better? Hopefully Sydney beat Brisbane, Geelong beat Dogs and Richmond get within 50 of Port.

The main concept of the wild card it to reward the top 6 and make 7th and 8th an "also ran" in reality. I don't think that's a terribly bad thing. Furthermore, the weekend off between round 24 and week 1 finals is a joke IMO and needs to go. What league in the world closes down just before finals?

Yeah I've always liked the NFL playoff systems. The best 1 or 2 teams in each conference get the week 1 bye, but after that they have to win to stay alive.

It would place a premium on finishing top 6. I don't think that's a bad thing. For those against the wild card, unfortunately the AFL are keeping an eye on the USA leagues. The NBA have introduced their wild card/play in in while the MLB and NFL have continually expanded their playoffs. As if we're not going to follow what's going on over there if there's a buck to be made.

The only reason the club would be prepared to trade him is the rise of Trent Rivers into the midfield which simply means that Trac replaces Clarry in the midfield. But for Kane to suggest that we trade Clarry AND our first round draft pick is a bit of an insult. That’s right, we trade our first round pick, not receiving a first round pick.

The Port V Richmond game could be an issue. Richmond are bringing over a VFL side which reeks of a percentage booster for Port. A 70 point win to Port takes their percentage from 104 to 108, while ours is at 105.

BRING - IT- ON. It’s the most obvious thing that’s going to come into the league in the next few years. In fact, the day after the grand final the wild card weekend should be announced for 2025.

Freo have clearly been better than us in 3 of the last 4 meetings.

Fair points, but you'd suspect the air in the tyres will be deflated if we drop the next 2.

The head says that we should keep the NT game due to the money on offer. The heart says play the home game at Marvel as 15,000 - 18,000 MFC fans can attend and create a genuine home ground advantage as opposed to the neutralised crowd at Alice. In fact I'd venture to say we get out numbered most game in Alice.

If we don't quite get over the line this weekend, we still should be as high as 9th provided Dogs, Suns and Pies lose (or have a small win) The good news is that Port play Carlton at Marvel next week which you'd favour them to lose. So if we beat GWS next week, we should be back in the 8. Dogs and Suns both have tough games next weekend against Sydney and Brisbane respectively. I'm of the opinion that if we lose our next 2 games, then it's curtains for us.

Because it wasn’t at the MCG. Pure and simple. I haven’t heard the media devalue it but many of the average fan on social media has.

He's been a very solid coach of the Melbourne Football Club. That is not up for debate. I've been impressed with how he adapted to injuries in the second half of 2023 (Fritta, Petty, Melk) and how he's dug our club out of an absolute mid season hole this year. The way the under 23's are currently performing is an absolute credit and endorsement to Goody and his development staff. To call him an MFC legend is, however, up for debate in my opinion. As it is for Bevo and the Dogs who are both comparable coaches IMO in terms of the ultimate success and quantity of finals wins.

It’s a good question. You’d imagine Trac resting up for the entirety of July and most of August would be sufficient recovery time to have him back training in September. However he’d be so un match fit for a final so one would think we won’t see him again. Whether we can go anywhere without Trac remains to be seen. Our injury list is in otherwise good shape, touch wood.

So it basically confirms that Gawn will be available for GWS which is massive.

Does he get first crack on the "starting to get into a bit of form" Toby Greene next week?

None of the lads on First Crack have predicted us to make the 8. That includes Joey Montagna who's been our number 1 fan and defender the last 2 years and King who was the first analyst to jump on the MFC bandwagon (and the first to jump off) in 2017/2018. I think this group will enjoy the tag of under dog going into the final weeks. We already saw it in the first 5 weeks of the season when everyone wrote off us due to our culture, but we responded with a 4-1 start and a magnificent Adelaide Oval double. I can't explain what went wrong between the Carlton game through to Kings B'day. If we are to make the finals, and play an elimination final (particularly interstate), I think there will be less pressure on the boys this time around. There won't be that fear of going out in straight sets and that might help in their conversion around goals which was the main reason we didn't win a final. If the Freo game doesn't work out, then the GWS game is essentially last chance saloon due to our percentage.