Chook

I had the mobile on 5G and the PC on Wi-Fi and got in first on mobile, but timed out trying to sort our 3x tickets. Fortunately straight after that the PC let me in and I managed to get 3 tickets in pretty much the same spot I always go, so I consider that an absolute win.

Whew! Got 'em.

Trac or Fritsch will go berserk this finals series, and Rivers is now settled in his role and in ripping form. So those three at least.

Same. All else fails I might have to jettison the family.

What's the lowest number of AA selections for the team that wins the Premiership? Melbourne with 2 would be up there I'd say.

Totally agree. Yes Premierships do come unexpectedly but you have to have done SOMETHING prior to 1995 to win the flag (future readers adjust for your time-period-of-reference which is roughly 30 years).

I have no idea. From the outside it looks like he is in drop-worthy form but in Fritsch's post-match interview with Channel 7 one of the first players he went to in naming the senior players who got us out of trouble in the 2nd half was Salem. I lean towards Fritsch being out of the loop and Salem being a memory of his 2021 self but there's still that seniority and experience we've so long wanted and now actually have with players like him. Let's not give that up like we did with James McDonald and players of their ilk.

With Melksham out, and admittedly I am a massive McDonald fan, there's just not good reason not to play Grundy vs the Pies imo.

Us vs them, backs against the walls from what I've heard.

Carlton have gotten a bunch of so-called "A-graders" back in the past couple of weeks but have lost a lot of their magic edge. Very close to 3 losses in a row. I hope for Carlton's sake that Michael Voss takes a microscope to the last 3 weeks and identifies which of the big names should play VFL until they can bring what the lesser lights are able to do with such good success for the past 10 weeks.

I'm low-key rapt the Doggies are out of the finals now too. We were even after the prelim of 2021, and in fact I recall the dogs were favourites. Fast forward 2 years and they really need to re-examine what they're doing. I think it starts at the top and they need to get rid of Luke Beveridge. Nothing against him and nothing against the dogs, but he's been there a long time and has a coaching style that wears thin after all the tricks have been used. Interesting offseason for them (yes I'm aware this isn't the kennel but I have opinions about the dogs).

Carlton of 2023 is Melbourne of 2018. If they're lucky they get to skip their 2019, but even so they'll still need some experience and no pandemic to come good next year.

Looking forward to Gerard Whateley's power rankings now. He's been riding the Carlton horse very hard for weeks. Surely it's time to roll back that choice.

Toby Bedford is having such a good year. I wish we could have kept him.

Would be a good investment. I could see Melksham becoming a Senior Coach to be honest if he's interested. Extremely well respected in the football community and has a good eye for club culture. Plus he has seen a lot in his time.

That umpire should have reversed the free to Carlton for a dangerous tackle. The Carlton players held up the game for a minute and drew blood from Toby Greene in retaliation.

6 ANB 5 Petracca 4 Fritsch 3 Viney 2 Brayshaw 1 Rivers

Fritsch, Petracca, Oliver, Gawn all on the bench to ice the game.

Seeing Bailey Fritsch back and kicking goals is making me so happy...

Great kick Hunter.

With the exception of Melksham's injury, this has actually been perfect. Shows the players the intensity required and shows that they can actually raise their intensity mid-game when needed.

Petracca's lifted his intensity in the last 30 minutes. He wants that win.

Fritzel! Never leave us again!

Petracca and ANB do not want to go into September off a loss and they are doing everything they can. And Fritta!! Love you bud!

Jeez how good from Melksham to come back up and immediately start handing low-fives to the bench. The man deserves a flag for all he's been through, and you'd think he won't get one now but that's not stopping him from doing everything he can to help out.