Bring-Back-Powell

Lovely of the AFL to schedule us down at Mordor on a Thursday night, two years in a row.

In fairness WCW, we played Geelong at the MCG in 2020 (never mind the fact that nobody could go to it).

I've never been a fan of the week off between the final weekend of practice matches and round 1. Ruins any momentum and hands the NRL a free kick so to speak in terms of ratings, media exposure etc.. Do the clubs truly need a week off after just one full game and a hit and giggle the previous week? They could look at having a split round 1 where 3 or 4 games are played over the labor day weekend and the balance the week after so clubs are still getting that week off. What I think will happen in the coming years is that we'll go to 24 games (25 rounds) with round 1 commencing labor day weekend and a couple of lower profile VIC clubs will take part in the public holiday game.

If the last 12 seasons are anything to go by, then one of Richmond or Bulldogs will miss the 8. Ever since 2011, at least one of the previous year’s elimination final losers goes on to miss the finals the next year. Essendon have been a chief culprit in that department. Kind of have a feeling it might be Richmond that misses.

Yeah I’m a subscriber to the epically tough second half of the season we had in terms of quality of opponent and excessive travel for a Victorian side: Adelaide-Geelong-Alice Springs-Docklands-Perth in the space of 5 weeks. These factors may have left us mentally and physically fatigued come finals. I’m particular pleased this year that 6 of our last 8 games are in Melbourne this year.

By the sounds of the article I think we need to project our round 1 sides without Fritsch and Viney, but expect them to be key ins for the Brisbane game. After what happened last year and the talk of playing underdone/injured players, I can't imagine the club playing Fritta with literally no practice match or match simulation for probably a month leading into the Dogs game.

It's a great question and we need to be weary of Lobb who destroyed us last year as a Docker at the G - albeit May went off at quarter time and then out defensive structures fell apart. Infact Naughton defeated May in round 1 and JUH destroyed us in round 19 so they're all very capable. Whilst all 4 of their talls may start in the forward line at the opening bounce, there will be times when only 3 of them are in the forward line at the one time, because English will need to be relived in the ruck when he's on the bench and the 4 forwards themselves will need some bench time throughout.

Played his best ever game as a Bulldog in defence against us in our 2021 loss to them. Could be considered as back up defender if we have multiple injuries down back. Schache is elite around the big sticks, but I don't see him as an overall upgrade on Weideman at this stage.

David King reckons it's a stupid idea and should be re-directed to the soft cap to pay under paid assistant coaches. Agree that the timing is a little frustrating given we would've been $1 million richer the year before it was introduced.

Fair enough. I saw T Mac's game differently and was considering putting him in the hypothetical "Demonland" votes. I agree Brown was poor until the last quarter, and looks half the player he was compared to his peak North years when he was banging home 60 goals a season. I'd still play him as he takes a key opponent away from T Mac, Fritta and the resting ruck and his long range set shots are like rolled gold. Your man JVR will get his opportunity. BBB and T Mac won't play all games.

You realised he kicked 3 goals and looked to be a viable option throughout the game?

Despite the perception that we have the stronger list, I definitely see this game as a 50/50 affair. You only need to look back at the recent meetings between the two clubs from 2020 onwards - it's a 3-3 split. Just when you thought we had the wood over them with early season wins (2021 and 2022) and the grand final, they come back and beat us in the return game of seasons 2021 and 2022. They also beat us in 2020 despite us being in better form at the time. In terms of changes from the selected 23 I see Laurie and Woey both making way, but the latter looked like he could handle the tempo of an AFL game and can see him featuring in the seniors during the season. Two out of Fritta, Viney, Jordon and Hibberd will come in for Laurie and Woey depending on availability. I think Chandler and McVee will retain their spots. The lineup gelled really well Vs' Richmond so you'd imagine changes will be at a minimum. Can't wait for the game, and can't wait to see us playing improved footy at our ground.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/880178/match-review-makes-call-on-cotchin-de-goey-incidents Cotchin's good run with the MRO/tribunal has continued with a fine he'll be able to pick up from the car ashtray, Although in fairness, if it was one our players we'd probably say it only deserved a fine. De Goey got off too, and probably fair enough.

I've been listening to Gerard Healy every night on the way home from work since 2012 and can absolutely confirm that he has been extremely positive about the Dees for many years and had identified our potential as a genuine premiership contender since the late Roos/early Goodwin days. He definitely does not come across as a bitter former Melbourne player, and his close friendship with Nathan Jones has probably had the opposite effect, in that he was quietly hoping we'd eventually taste the ultimate success.

Yes that would be the far better scenario, but if Freo play Collingwood in the prelim (and we're good enough to get to the GF), I'd much rather play Freo in a GF and have the crowd on our side rather than the alternative being Collingwood.

I have no idea how JVR performed yesterday but there is vision on YouTube of him taking an imposing clunk at half forward at the Southern end in yesterday’s game. Something to look forward to at AFL level.

Not a bad punt. Hopefully Freo win that, and we’re in the other prelim!

6) Petracca 5) Gawn 4) May 3) Hunter 2) Bowey 1) Oliver

Slight breeze (8km/hr ) favouring our end in the first qtr.

Yeah I don’t mind this Grundy fella. 3 contested marks for 2 goals.

We’ll start with a player that got 12 Brownlow votes for St Kilda in 2021 and absolutely ripped up a VFL final prior to the senior finals. A fit Weideman on his night could’ve made a difference over an unfit BBB. You’re probably right in that nobody from below would’ve made a huge difference. However, we could’ve gotten inventive, brave and proactive at selection but we went with the same combination that ran out of petrol against Sydney in week 1.

And yet we had a dominant Casey team full of competent AFL players that our coach had no faith in. Sydney also failed dismally at selection by selecting players on one leg for a grand final.

Richmond only missing Graham, Pickett and Tarrant so it should be a good hit out.

Can only imagine Lever’s ankle is 100% cherry ripe. Be unlike the MFC to take a risk.

Channel 9 news reported about 9 days ago that someone trodded on his foot at training and that he was ruled out for the Saints game but the club expected him to play some minutes against Richmond. Hopefully it’s just precaution, he’ll play some minutes in the VFL next week (if there is a praccy game) and be ok for round 1. Anyone attend training this week and can advise of his progress?