rpfc

I don't understand why so many people are complaining about the fact that we are discussing the "list management" or "tanking" issue. This is the dominant story for YOUR FOOTBALL CLUB. The actions of the match committee over the next 7 weeks will define our next decade onfield. It is as simple as that. If you don't want to discuss it, pick a thread out that doesn't discuss it. But for me, and a lot of others, this is the overriding drama that will engulf my life as a MFC supporter/member for the next two months. Garry Lyon put it best, and I hope we can get it on YouTube, to replay it for those who are struggling themselves with this difficult issue: his head says no more than 4 and his heart wants wins, but he knows that his heart will be gladdened all the more when we are that much better thanks to the 2 picks we need to get. (I have already said that I see a very bright future for the players we already have, but the opportunity that presents for the club I WANT TO SEE WIN A FLAG is undeniably attractive and within our grasp, and could be the difference between top 2 and top 4, or top6 and top 4 etc.) I am very knowledgeable about my footy when I rock up to games, and I hate the feeling of going to games in September and knowing that we have little chance of winning the flag. It's deflating. It hurts. It hurts more than tanking. Or 'list management'...

He's already got it. And weren't you the bloke who said we should delist Petterd about a week ago? You didn't hit your head on a brick wall by any chance? Tounge in cheek, but, jeez, what a bad call...

He's 23 on Grand Final day. Is that too old? Has been very good though, have followed him closely... Yes, because of Supercoach...

I couldn't think of a worse way to bring up a milestone game, playing against an angry bunch of pussycats down at the cattery. He runs a marathon every week but must be happy to do what he did on Sunday and play off a HBF for his remaining years. Good luck on Saturday...

He's been great. He's also, and this is where PJ is in some trouble, he imposes himself on contests.

2 best players: Ablett and Scarlett.

You can't start a thread and mention that you can't talk about a point of view and mention that it's a crap point of view. Because that in itself is talking about that point of view. ROTA should start a thread and not mention THAT point of view that he can't stomach. This is directed at some of you - I love this footy club, I want the best for the now, the medium term future, and the long term future. Wanting to lose 6 more games is me wanting the most for my football club.

Is Scully and Morabito worth 6 more losses? That is the only question I can see. Carlton saw Kreuzer and Judd and lost 8 on the trot. And the answer to the question is abso-effing-lutley.

Vanlo has just ruined the Cougar nickname. Back to LJ for me; short, simple, elegant.

True, but we do have to lose to the Tigers. That will be one game I go to that I will hate to be at. I hope Richo is back... And Tambling continue his emergence... And Mitch Morton goes nuts... And Jack Riewoldt stops being awful...

I don't care what his bloody nickname is: he had 12 touches, 4 contested marks, 4 assists, and kicked 4 goals. The best game by a forward since Neita.

You said yourself after the Tigers loss (I saw it in a bumped thread) that you saw Scully in Yellow and Black. The colours may changed to purple, green, and white... We must lose the Tigers game but its Green's 200th, and LJ's jumper presentation. It's going to be hard to lose. And we can't get much younger - Casey has only Watts, Bail, and Cheney up and running. The rest are injured. God, I hate PA...

Well said, 45H. He's a baby folks. So stop posting like trolls.

Excuse me, Rhino but I was not one of the hennypenny crowd that emerged due to the three awful weeks starting with Collingwood. I maintain a positive outlook for our medium term future but have always said that, like yourself and H and others, that two picks in the top 4 would be the best outcome for the season. I'm not going to rattle off the names that make me believe we will be a flag chance in 4+ years time but I believe we can be even without the PP. But the PP is desired and Bailey should bring back Watts, Cheney, McKenzie, etc for the Tigers game. I hate saying it - but we have to lose that game. It would be a big win for our future.

I was thinking about the 'brackets' and whether it might be misinterpreted. Didn't mean it as a slight, more of an aside. But it still pathetic for a side like PA to let two 20 year olds get 8 goals.

I don't know if we have the ability to do that... Freo for mine is a lock. We can lose to NM at the worst stadium in the world. But Round 18 we play the Tigers in a game that both teams would love to lose, but it will be Green's 200th and before the match Jurrah's jumper will be given to the Yuendumu community. Lot to play for... YM is right - we look to have enough talent to challenge for a flag in 4+ years time. Hannabal is also right - the health of the list demands we lose to the Tigers, to give ourselves the best chance to win that flag in 4+ years time. We will see, but I have already predicted a win today would mean no PP and I stick by that prognostication. It's frustrating but Bailey and the club will have me as a member no matter what the next 7 weeks hold. But, [censored], I want a flag...

...they didn't. And because they didn't we get an artificial win against a middling side that will mean 5 wins and no PP. I don't blame the coaching staff; we are as young as possible - only Watts and Cheney are fit kids that could have made us younger. Who knew that PA would be so pathetic that two 20 year olds (one from a non-football state, and the other from a non-english speaking community) would kick 8 between them and win us the game?

Great stuff from Ricky. Our forward line is coached very well by Mahoney; several times Petterd, Jurrah, and Robbo had one-on-one contests with space to work in. Really pleasing.

You are either underestimating us, or overestimating Rich and Freo. If we beat PA, we will not get the PP. Simple as that. HT is right. It would be a bittersweet victory. I would enjoy it, but driving home, I would realise what it means.

It should be 'who has missed the most games from a generally agreed starting 22?' Hawthorn would be streets ahead but we wouldn't be far behind with Grimes (4), Green (4), Jamar (9), Garland (21), Maric (9), Buckley (9), McDonald (4), Whelan (2), Wheatley (8), Wonna (14?), and Bate, Warnock, Rivers, Jones, and Frawley all missing a game (People can make their own judgements on whether Buckley or Maric were in the 'best 22' at the start of the season, Buckley certainly did play Rd 1). That is 89 games all up. We have only 5 players to play every game of the season. And now, just when we want to blood some kids - Garland, Meesen, Maric, Blease, and Strauss are out for the season, and Buckley, Wonaeamirri, Spencer, and McNamara are struggling with injury. For those upset that Dunn will come in and not a youngster, the only fit kids younger than Dunn are Watts, McKenzie, Cheney, Bail, and Batram.

You better turn up PA...

It's pretty sad. All that bloody talent. The 2nd and 3rd quarters against Adelaide in that SF... And we got away with grand larceny it seems... Lethal Leigh did them a huge favour on his way out...

No offence to JB but this encapsualtes why I'm not a fan of the '3 word analysis.' I mean, why three words? Do we all have ADHD? Short attention spans? We can't give a sentence on each player? 10 words will do, pure adjectives would be fine. I know there is an audience for them and that's great as JB's OP generates discussion. Although a lot of the follow up posts by JB are 'qualifying' posts explaining his 3 words. So give a bit more JB in the OP and you will have to write less explaining your assessments. Anyway... Grimes named as rover? Probably a good day to give him half a game in the guts.

Good deductions. Obviously the only one with a chance of being dropped from that extended bench is Bennell and I would think he would stay.

Hear hear. I want as many people as possible to come back to the club, especially those involved in the unpleasantness in '96. But if are not a member because of the away strip or the colour of the shorts, you're not worth getting the welcome mat out. Seriously, buck up. You want us to be the Demons? Start with yourself, and HTFU.