old55

It's a line in the sand game - if you can't see that then you need a visit to the optometrist. There was absolutely no way Max was not going to play. No players are at "100%" at this time in the season - all are carrying some sort of niggle.

Preferred outcomes: In Perth without West Coast in it OR In Brisbane and West Coast lose it to Brisbane

Vaccine should not be made mandatory but those who refuse to take it and therefore put society at risk should be excluded from other health benefits provided by society - e.g. no access to Medicare.

Martin Pike mkll?

A win this Saturday

Yes your claim to fame is that you think Oliver is a great player - genius!

Lynch charge for punching Hurley in the throat dismissed! "I was only doing what Dimma and Wally did in the 2000 GF" Someone needs to fix him up good!

Daniel McKenzie at St.Kilda was mentioned on the AFL site, can't break into the Saints 22 because: "But the rapid growth of young defenders Hunter Clark, Ben Paton and Nick Coffield – along with the transformation of Ben Long into a damaging half-back – have the No. 36 just on the outer." Here's a story about his re-contract and he sounds like he has some attributes we could use - toughness, pace, lock-down. https://www.afl.com.au/news/132083/saints-lock-down-no1-competitor-for-three-more-years Richo would have the necessary insight.

In: Gawn, Rivers, Jordon (if available) Out: Preuss, Sparrow, Spargo (if Jordon is available) I'd move AVB from the wing to the forward line to increase our tackling pressure there. And I'd move any one of Hannan, Melksham or Fritsch to the wing - I can make a case for each of them: they are all strong overhead and therefore can provide a target and all can deliver well inside 50. I'd move Viney forward for a significant amount of gametime and I would backfill his and Sparrow's midfield minutes with Harmes. If you want to see what Viney can bring inside 50 look at 2:27 in the highlights video: https://www.melbournefc.com.au/video/799313/rd-13-match-highlights?videoId=799313&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1598080461001 As above, I'd move Harmes into the midfield to backfill Viney and Sparrow and bring in Rivers to the back 7. If Jordon is available (he wasn't mentioned in the Scratch match vs St.Kilda) I'd bring him in for Spargo because I think he may offer more midfield depth grunt and I already have 7 forwards with Weed, TMac, AVB, Viney, Pickett and 2 of Hannan, Melksham or Fritsch.

Agree, but we are still on the improve, we're not going to lose anyone critical out to age - Nev and Jones, and Jackson, Kossie and Rivers can make us better. Key elements of this outfit haven't played all that much together yet. The Dogs are the same age bracket as us but are a bit better, I'm confident they'll win flags.

The Dogs are a very talented young side, they're better than they were in 2016 and they're back to full strength with Hunter and Naughton in the side. They were better than us because they probably ARE better than us, particularly with Maxy out. They wouldn't have been able to get away with that ruck set-up against Max and it's true we weren't able to adjust to it. They haven't got their game going until now this year, it's going to be interesting to see how they go against the Cats and the Eagles in the next two. We can't win the flag but we can still make finals.

Full strength highly talented Dogs line up will be our toughest test for the rest of the season IMO.

Close friend of my niece's husband. He's definitely a competitor on the field.

I believe you are correct. Even worse!

Taylor Adams is a good bloke too.

Good clip - Schwarta took on 3 of them and then slammed the great Bomber hero Jimmy into the turf. Looked like he knew how to take care of himself.

I think teams are name Friday night. I think the AFL has shifted permanently to the day before the match for the rest of the season.

Agree, I hope the Smith and Hunt experiments with athletes is over.

I thought it was a very good likeness - particularly height-wise

Hardwick - what a scumbag. Wallis fractured Brad Green's larynx and sent him to hospital and Long nearly paralysed Troy Simmonds and that scumbag is lauding this as some kind of great example! Lynch is a sniper and a sook - very hateable.

Agree, if we lose to the Dogs but Max is 100% for the rest of the season it's still alive. Beat the Dogs but Max out for 6-8 with a PCL is less desirable IMO.

If Max and Brayden are both out then Brown has to play IMO and do some rucking with TMac. The other alternative is to play OMac and move Tomlinson Fwd/Ruck but I like this less.

Mmmm Tyson for Preuss

Agree, a pick is useless at the level Preuss would command (i.e 3rd round+) in a highly compromised draft when we should be in contender mode. It would have to be for a useful player that fills a need we have and is excess to the other team's requirements, e.g. like Butler from Richmond.

I picked the Dogs for the flag this year - they are highly talented (clearly better than they were in 2016), have a fit list and Beveridge is a very good coach. They will be an all mighty test for us this week. I reckon if we win we're guaranteed to play finals and it will indicate to me that we can give the flag a real shake.