old55

No drought breaking flag team has gone back to back since Adelaide 1997-8 and Brisbane 2001-3. Before that, you need to go back to Essendon in 1984-5. Plenty have missed this century - Port, Sydney, Geelong, Hawthorn, Collingwood, the Dogs, Richmond. We're seeking to create some history. We've landed the fixture from hell. We'll likely finish 5th, but we can still win it from there. Enjoy the journey - we're reigning Premiers.

At present these gems are spread out over hundreds of separate topics and that makes them too hard to reference in our time of need.

I think this is worth considering - at least for next year over the summer. Weid struggles to stick contested marks but that's not going to be an issue down back - just needs to neutralise the contest. He can learn the trade from May and Lever. He's a very good kick and his groundball handling and handballing are good. It would solve a heap of list management problems if Weid could make it as a KPB and Petty as a KPF.

I think their careers would have panned out differently if they arrived at MFC now. All could play.

Josh Mahoney is Dodo's boss I've heard he's a pushover in trades.

Excellent analysis thanks.

True that. They have been very inconsistent. Essendon aren't as horrible as they were earlier and playing some good footy now, I think they will beat Collingwood this week.

I think Sydney will go 5-0, they'll start favourites in each match and just beat Freo in Perth.

Good post, but I'll be amazed if Port play finals.

With Naughton coming back in it will be interesting to see whether the Dogs go with English and Sweet. I hope they do.

Good to see you channeling your inner Pollyanna. It's going to be fascinating to see what happens. It does feel different now that we're Premiers, I have equanimity. I know now that we can do it, but I don’t have angst that we won't.

Or us. We need to go 3-2 minimum to lock in top 4. We need the beat the Dogs and they will be primed for us.

Melksham - 7 tackles including 2 great run downs. Kicked a goal and unselfishly gave one off to Ben Brown.

The VFL bye may have been co-ordinated with our Alice Springs game so the whole squad can travel there for community involvement.

Amazed that some people are putting stock in Max and Kossie's position in the named side. It means nothing. Brayshaw won't be playing on the wing and Harmes won't be playing at HB too.

Tomlinson, Dunstan, Hunt in?

Grand Final preview, 'stone?

Hibbo has been very good but he's near the end. Unless Joel Smith spends summer at Lourdes it's hard to have faith in his body, and I expect Jaiden will playing in different colours next year. I really rate Rivers but he's not the versatile medium defender that Hibberd is. Maybe there is a future there for Rosman. It depends on what Gus does. If he re-signs it is hard to see McVee and D.Smith both being retained.

POST IS MISSING ALL CAPS!!!!

WCE 1st and Jack Darling for Luke Jackson and our 2nd would be a reasonable deal. The AFL would probably sign off on that.

Jordon has been great on the wing and Gus has been great down back. I wouldn't change this. Maybe Rivers or Hunt in more defensive roles for Bowey and let Salem free a little more. Sparrow was down last night but he too has been playing well. I prefer him to Dunstan. Amazing how including Bedford against Brisbane two weeks ago was genius but now many want him out. I think we need to stay the course there and look for more from Jackson and Max forward. ANB has been in good form. Maybe Chandler for Spargo, but it's not a major game changing difference.

Max Gawn stand under construction

Or they might be named in number order ...

Geelong simply cannot afford to lose this match, we're already living rent free in their heads after last year. If we win again this time, we'll own the place.

Three times old mate!