old55

Reigning Premiers and in the hunt again. Seriously - what's not to love?

Win the next two and we will finish minimum 4th. I think that's what happens.

Absolute rubbish. Like the complacency he showed in the 3rd qtr of last year's GF?

There is NO way JV ignored an option to LJ because he’s leaving for Freo. Viney wants MFC to win more than anything. May and Brayshaw in robust discussion was totally fine. Brayshaw was first to May to console him after his clanger intercepted by Bont. There's no evidence of endemic cultural issues. We've got a envied culture.

Completely agree, 4th is the best place to finish if we can't finish 2nd.

Of course you'd think that, because if doom is in any way possible then you'll embrace it fervently. At the time I posted both Freo andd MFC were at $1.92 for the win, right now it's Freo $1.98 and MFC $1.86. https://www.afl.com.au/fixture?Competition=1&CompSeason=43&MatchTimezone=MY_TIME&Regions=2&ShowBettingOdds=1&GameWeeks=20&Teams=1&Venues=13#byround

The odds against Freo are even and if we beat them in Perth we'll be favourites in the last three. So no.

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.