old55

Our finals chances are totally in our hands - we play all the teams around us vying for a spot - GWS, Port, Dogs, Gold Coast and Collingwood. Only two or maybe 3 if Essendon fall off the cliff, of those 6 make it IMO.

Any chance we can borrow that corpse and warm it up for next weekend in Perth?

I don't think it's certain Darcy plays. It might actually be to our advantage if he does. Jackson alone would dominate the ruck anyway and they could play another runner.

Well we went to Alice last year to watch us lose on the last kick of the day in pouring rain and 8C. This year we went to Perth and saw us get belted by WC who are hopeless. I'm tendering our services to all interstate teams next year and the one who comes up with best travel, accommodation and dining package will receive our services. A small price to pay for a guaranteed win.

Prime him for R24, that's all I ask!

Thanks for taking over from the esteemed Luci, R&BF. Sign Lingers this year and next year looks pretty good - Petty and McVee in that order assuming Gawn, May and Viney all sign. Key year for Howes who hopefully keeps progressing. Hopefully TMac is willing to go one more year too.

Petty is the best replacement for Max's key strength - down the line marking target. He's the next best contested mark we have and was just hitting form in this area against Brisbane when he took 5 contested marks - a very high number. So I'm very happy to see him selected. But he doesn't have to ruck to provide that target and he didn’t against Brisbane, he can play high forward and get up the ground to do it, while JVR, Fritsch and Melksham play deeper. He'll get burned in the ruck and his marking will suffer, or worse he'll get injured because he’s never been robust. We should be sacrificing Fullarton or Tomlinson to the ruck contest and Turner can make way in the 22 because as above, we'll have enough forward targets. JVR and Petty could ruck just 20% each then.

Non sensical selection to me. I'm good with Petty’s selection but not to ruck. I'd rather see Fullarton or Tomlinson sacrificed to the altar - they're both Emergencies. If we think we'd be too tall in the wet then pull Turner out. My only hope is we're doing a Chris Scott and plan a late change.

Hard to reconcile these two points ...

Ease up. You arrived here 5 seconds ago and have made a total of 15 posts, half of them in pointless argument.

Cripps got off on a legal technicality based on the wording of the charge against him - blame the lawyers getting involved ....

I don't read anything into the press conference re Max's replacement. We don't want to telegraph the changes before we have to.

Surely the AFL conspiracy theory narrative has him getting off - Brownlow to a northern state team, or at a minimum a gripping night at the Brownlow.

Two premiership players and a third in Hunt who would have been but for injury. I'll take that every year.

Petty has been building in his last two matches and took 5 contested marks against Brisbane. That's where we'll miss Max most of all, as a long target. Petty must play if fit.

An alternative is Tomlinson for Turner in addition because I think he could come on and ruck longer with his endurance.

I'd be going Fullarton for Max and Petty for Woey in the 23. Turner sub a la J.Smith last year. That means Fullarton for Max and Petty for Turner in the 22 from last week. I think Essendon plays a tall line up and our talls will fatigue with the ruck load spread. An injury to a tall would be a big challenge. Therefore Turner sub.

You're supposed to say "we" IRW, are you Robert Hannsen?

Whomever we're playing this week.

and?

No, they played Windsor straight away because they saw he was ready even though for example to me it looked like Kolt was far more ready at pre-season training, they held Kolt back until he played well in the midfield at Casey and he is doing well now. They didn't play McVee in his first year when he looked miles off but played him round one in his second year when he had shown readiness on the back of a big pre-season. They held back JVR in his first year and unleashed him when he was ready in his second year and he has been a continuous selection every since, unlike KPFs at other clubs who are in and out. There are many other examples. Perhaps you prefer the Jack Watts QB experience or Michael Tucks 100 games in the 2s ...

Barass and McGovern would be putting on the bid and licking their lips. If Petty doesn't get up then Fullarton or BBB are next in line. IMO Jefferson needs to maintain continuity at Casey.

I think the FD has a good record of knowing when players are ready.

Yeah no comparison really - Goodwin a premiership coach with a 58% win record vs Mitchell a rookie coach, yet to coach finals and with a 38% win record. I recall we beat Hawthorn 93-38 earlier this year.

Like JVR pick 19 in his first season with us?