Chook

Umpiring spot on I reckon.

Carlton smashing Collingwood in key contests, turning the ball over and making them pay on the rebound due to Collingwood being super-aggressive - very similar to the KB game.

Umps are paying heaps of frees, but I reckon they're all there so far.

The old Adam Tomlinson special.

Carlton's entries are low, deep and to a contest, and it's making it very hard for Collingwood to cope with. Collingwood are stemming the potential damage though so far. The Blues are winning the contests though, and that's the key to winning.

I have no idea why anyone thinks Collingwood are "far and away" the best side in the competition.

Sorry for the repost, but still it deserves to be said twice.

There's actually not.

I'm still a little flat about losing to Adelaide in 2021, but one watch of bang bang bang and I'll live.

What fantastic preparation for finals. Adelaide plays a very similar game to Collingwood, and to hold off their charge and come away with the win is so much better preparation than a smacking or a loss. You have to believe we'll be playing Collingwood one or two more times this year and if all goes as expected we'll be likely to be in the exact same spot defending a slim margin in the final minutes then too.

6 Viney 5 Brayshaw 4 Pickett 3 Hunter 2 Sparrow 1 Petracca

We match up poorly on Adelaide and they are a high scoring side. What else do you want?

WOOF! Banana peel dodged.

Anyone who reckons Hibberd has no place in this side needs to have a look at this game. Still the best small defender in our side, as much as I love McVee's composure.

Trent Rivers' run is so so good.

The thing that strikes me comparing this game to last night's is the pure structure of Melbourne's play. It's really professionally done, and I think even the dodgy looking forward entries are built to reinforce and enable this structure. Whether it can hold up and outscore your Collingwoods and Port Adelaides in finals remains to be seen but it's definitely different than their gamestyles.

1) Great to hear - Trac is going beautifully in the forward line 2) Another bit of good news, hoping it comes to fruition and he can get back up to speed in time for finals 3) One more flag and he's a senior coach in waiting, but not until then IMO

I don't think any self-respecting football watcher can say any team has much of a head-start on the flag honestly. Pretty much every top four side has lost to every other combination of top four side, not to mention the 5-8 sides. It's going to be a bloody even last month of football to decide things, and that's great. Go Dees!

They're literally a kick away from losing it most weeks.

lol port and the pies do it again. See you in the qualifying final Pies.

The best player in the comp must be held to higher standards.

Ripping game of football.

Where's Nick Daicos? Another high pressure game vs a top 4 side and he goes a bit missing?

It's not that bad - sometimes it feels like travelling forward in time.

Learn the rules Mason...