Chook

Petracca is polling very well, even scoring votes in a loss (e.g., vs Port)

Trac leading after round 4. Call off the voting now.

Strap yourselves in for the longest night of the year everyone...

Carlton's 2023 is so reminiscent of our 2018.

I find the #6 has been an interesting one, if not legendary. It has seen the following players Scott Thompson 2001-2004 Matthew Bate 2006-2012 Chris Dawes 2013-2016 Jordan Lewis 2017-2019 Luke Jackson 2020-2022 Brodie Grundy 2023-2023? With Matthew Bate the only one-club player on the list in the past 20 years, and playing just 102 games, it feels to me that this number has become the designated jumper for players who are not long for the MFC. Luke Jackson did it in reverse, starting with us then nicking off after a flag but the idea remains.

Actually they're a perfect example of Darwin's theory in action. Pack animals that stick together, multiply like rats and succeed despite any moral objections from anyone else.

Hogan you ripper!!! And kicks it!

Umps are absolutely torching GWS right now.

I never really personally hated Collingwood until 2 weeks ago. I hated them out of vague obligation, but now I truly truly personally hate them and everyone who supports them and enables any successes they achieve (no matter how small).

Bedford has had a couple of almost-chances and not quite gotten it right.

The Pies pressure has dropped off as it naturally has to (can't play with that ferocity for 120 minutes), and the Giants are starting to capitalise just like we were able to - only they're kicking goals and we couldn't

So unbelievably frustrating to throw away two rolled gold tickets to this weekend. I hope the players are watching and thinking about why they're not here instead of blocking it out on a beach somewhere in Fiji.

Horrific commentary. The game is an absolute cracking Preliminary final with insane pressure and BT is rabbiting about crowd size, 19th men and bench antics. This is the kind of content you wheel out at 1.10pm on a Sunday in June to find something to say, not on the 2nd biggest game of the year.

Not sure Bedford or Hogan have had a possession so far this game. Hogan has made a contest and Bedford's tackling pressure has been good, but they'd want to represent the ex-Dees club a bit better. Howe has been excommunicated and no longer deserves ex-Demon honours.

Watch him next year. He's got all the assets and hasn't been able to put it together so far.

Toby Greene doing what no Melbourne player could do and hit a target inside 50.

McStay is an absolute gun injured this year and has performed massively in both finals. Of course I've mozzed him as he misses a goal.

Except Maynard hasn't KO'd Coniglio yet of course, so on balance GWS are ahead of where we were last fortnight.

People talking about an easy pies win have gone a bit early imo. This start is no different to the start in the QF between us and them.

Rare you see a 50m penalty that's actually disadvantageous to the team that receives it. Giants were 100% out there and had a man out the back. Umpire should have paid advantage there, though I'm not even sure they're allowed to.

Any team's supporters could do it, they just can't be bothered which says a lot. Pies fans put in the effort to cheer their side while other supporter groups sit on their bums getting cold waiting for a goal.

McStay is exactly the forward Petty needs to be for us next year.

Yup.

Just sick that we're not there right now. I'm not going to lie, I flipped the bird at my TV screen when Maynard and Cox showed up on my screen during the anthem.

I think we'll contend for the next 4-5 years but we haven't realistically been the best side in the comp since about round 10 last year. That's over a year and a half ago now. Something will need to change with the personelle on the field and gameplan-wise. I also think there are psychological issues with the side that will need fixing, and that will require a coaching panel rejig. Here's my plan: 1. Develop Petty + JVR into the best forwards they can be (coaching) 2. Trade/recruit a skilful winger who can go into the middle (recruitment) 3. Fix ball movement going inside 50 (coaching) 4. Stop panicking when games are close, which leads to poor conversion and inability to close games out (psychology/coaching) 5. Pray Gawn and May are able to prolong their careers for another 2-3 years, or else recruit replacements or alter the gameplan to de-emphasise the importance of those positions in our side. It's a lot to get right. And even if we do get it all right, we will also need your standard luck with injuries + good form at the right time of year that every flag side needs.