Stu

Assuming Sydney beat Brisbane, we will need around a 4-5 goal win if we score 90 odd. Less if scores are lower. Definitely possible. Go swans!

In 2023 we won 7 of the last 8 games, with the one loss against the blues by a margin of one goal line decision. Goodwin said last year there was a focus on playing well at the right end of the season (compared to how 2022 went) and he’s said a lot similar this year. Given how well we’ve played since the bye, I’m bullish about our chances over the next 6 weeks. I think we will at a minimum get to host a final.

You may want to tag this post as NSFW for @binman's sake... this type of heavy statistical talk is likely to get him all hot and bothered 😄

Fixed it for you 😂

Keeping Loan-Value Ratio down under 80% time on ground is always recommended [end of mortgage based dad jokes]

Scott said that in early 2022 when the Cats were hot and cold trying to master their more attacking style (as opposed to the possession, kick-mark, style they'd used up to 2021). They were 5-4 after Round 9 - but Scott knew they weren't going to win anything with their 2021 game-plan so he risked missing it all in the pursuit of a style that would give them a chance (rather than the inverse). This season is so close, and many of the jostling teams all play each other over the coming weeks. If we beat WCE and Essendon there's a decent chance we will be 6th, 5th or even 4th at the end of Round 18. The media narrative will swing and we'll be David King's new "Don't sleep on the..[insert team]" talking point.

Can any gamblers offer insight why the Dees have come in so strongly in the last 12 hours? Do the professional punters have some insider info or is it all sentiment? @binman

We must be the same person 😅

Given that we will announce an extended squad tonight, my guess: Out: Turner, JVR In: Brown, McAdam, Verrell, Tholstrup, Salem

“Master McAdam is feeling poorly”

To reiterate how consistent we've been since 2021, Carlton are the only team to have a multiple game (2) winning streak against us. If we win on Thursday, the only losing streaks we have are single games against Sydney, Brisbane, Collingwood, Fremantle, and GWS. Such a contrast to those losing streaks to Hawthorn and North Melbourne during the dark days.

Interestingly, if the top 4 win their games there will be a two game break (1.5 wins to be exact) between 4th and 5th. Either way, if we win we'll either move up the ladder or get that break on 5th to 8th heading into two games that are well spaced apart against teams outside the 8.

What unearthly time of the morning is that?

He also went off just before half time in the Round 9 game versus Hawthorn with a toe injury (he has bad luck with his feet!). He'd had six marks and 2 goals in the first half before getting injured. The commentators were lamenting that he just started to look like he understood where to lead and what to do before going down. He returned to the backline after he came back into the side (although he was subbed in 2-3 games with a range of injuries), and was then moved forward against Richmond in Round 20. I'm confident that if he is given a clean run at 8-10 games as a forward without injury, within a few rounds he'll be performing more consistently. I think he can average 1.5 goals a game and 6-8 marks a game which would be great given our other forward talent.

The Cats will have a season like the many between 2011 and 2022. Scott is a fantastic coach and will move the chess pieces each round to get the needed wins. Their list management is also first class. But their stars are just too old. They’ll be 5-0 after next week but could easily be 6-4 or 5-5 after round 10. Scott will get them 13-15 wins this year but they’ll be shown up in finals. He’s buying time to reinvigorate the team with some free agency pick ups to have another crack. Here’s to hoping they can’t get any before Cameron, Dangerfield, and Hawkins retire.