old55

Keen to hear your assessment of "the rugby player"?

AFAIK Smith was on Cameron and was well beaten but he wouldn't have been Robinson Crusoe. Bowey was caught twice by the increased pace and pressure of finals and looked vulnerable, but I liked the way he backed himself in the last quarter and played some good footy. I think Hunt comes in for one of them. TMac is not having the direct impact of the first half of the year but he provides structure and allows Fritsch, Brown, Jackson and Gawn freedom. I don't think we need another small forward with ANB, Kossie, Spargo added to by Sparrow, Harmes and Viney. I'd persist with TMac. Sparrow has made it very tough for JJ, Jones and VDB.

Just far far superior.

Must be suspended for a long term. Disrespect of umpires is the greatest blight on our game. GF umpires, the best in the country, get booed onto the ground. That was blatant aggressive contact. Totally unacceptable. Massive weeks.

The teams are very even, but one cause for MGC optimism is that we have Jack Viney - it's his season now.

Brisbane are two years older and more experienced, are in their prime and into their 3rd consecutive top 4 finals campaign, if we win it will be against the tide ... Average Attributes Melbourne Attribute Brisbane 187.4cm Height 188.4cm 85.8kg Weight 88.3kg 24yr 8mth Age 26yr 5mth 93.4 Games 119.3 Total Players By Games Melbourne Games Brisbane 7 Less than 50 5 2 50 to 99 5 10 100 to 149 5 3 150 or more 7

Agree. There's many types of back surgery from laminectomy (I've had one) through to fusion. All back surgeries are definitely not equal.

Yeah, how about it eh?

May you and @Pennant St Dee be there to plant the Grand Old Flag!

You're over thinking it. Jones will be in if some of the fringe selections have a poor week or we get some injuries in roles he can fill.

You've made your choice and that's fine but I would have been royally peed off if you were in the queue yesterday ahead of my 24yo daughter who has waited all this time for the recommended vaccination.

Quite correctly too.

How about because it's the truth? Jones, Melksham, Hibberd and VDB are in the frame for selection Goodwin is publicly recognising Jones for his continuing dedication to the cause. Players in the 23 know and are reminded there is genuine selection pressure on them to continue to perform.

Want to get fired up to win - take a deep breath and have a look at this - about the most disappointed I've been after a match (Tuohy goal after the siren now erased by Big Maxy heroics) https://www.afl.com.au/video/670516/last-two-mins-melb-v-ess-ef-2004-bombers-last-finals-win

In the behind the goals footage I saw when O'Connor was running back inside 50 he bumped Max into the prime position for the mark on his way past to man another MFC player in the pocket. It was sort of like "stand there Max"

Nice to watch the last quarter. So to take my medicine I went back and watched the 2nd quarter again - here's my breakdown of Geelong's 8 goals and I think there are some key themes: a lot of Geelong long bombs deep May outbodied by Hawkins 3 times Cameron ground ball separation on Petty twice Selwood and Dangerfield clearance brilliance Oliver's direct opponent at the stoppages often very influential The commentary team said Oliver didn't touch it in this whole period Harmes not defensive enough twice 1. 7:15 Cameron goal Throw in outside Geelong 50 Gawn-Stanley Oliver-Parfitt Sparrow-Dangerfield Harmes-Selwood Shallow throw-in bounces short of the ruckmen, Selwood gets a handball clearance to Simpsopn who bombs long to Cameron who marks in front of Petty. Key factor: Selwood brilliance, Harmes not close enough to him, long bomb 2. 12:18 Hawkins goal Geelong chipping around Long Menegola bomb from outside 50 to the goal square Parfitt outbodies Max in the marking contest, ball goes over the back Cameron gets separation on Petty but fresh airs the off the ground. Hawkins outbodies May and kicks it off the ground Key factors: Long bomb, Max outbodied, Cameron separation on Petty, Hawkins outbodies May 3. 19:59 Hawkins goal Geelong chipping Henry long bomb Hawkins outbodies May from behind to mark Key factors: Long bomb, Hawkins outbodies May 4. 23:55 Hawkins goal Throw in outside Geelong 50 Gawn-Stanley Oliver-Selwood Petracca-Guthrie Harmes-Parfitt Selwood clearance and handball to Guthrie handball to Parfitt long bomb forward Hawkins outbodies May from behind to mark Key factors: Selwood brilliance vs Oliver in the clearance, long bomb, Hawkins outbodies May 5. 25:15 Dangerfield goal Centre bounce Gawn-Stanley Oliver-Selwood Harmes-Dangerfield Petracca-Parfitt Stanley gets first possession Holding free to Selwood vs Oliver Selwood chip to Dangerfield Dangerfield runs and bombs from ouside 50 goal Key factors: Selwood beats Oliver, Dangerfield brilliance, long bomb 6. 26:15 Close goal Centre bounce Gawn-Stanley Oliver-Dangerfield Harmes-Holmes Petracca-Parfitt Selwood hits the contest from the defensive side at speed and the ball spills forward Dangerfield with separation on Oliver runs onto it, Selwood shepherd on Harmes Dangerfield handball to Parfitt Parfitt handball to Close inside 50 Close's opponent Rivers ran at Dangerfield Close goals Key factors: Selwood impact, Dangerfield separation on Oliver and brilliance 7. 28:12 Rohan goal Centre bounce Gawn-Stanley Oliver-Dangerfield Harmes-Selwood Viney-Holmes Oliver runs the contest from the defensive side but the ball goes over his head Dangerfield gathers but is well tackled by Viney Dangerfield gets a backwards handball to Selwood who has separation on Harmes Selwood handball to Viney's man Holmes Holmes long bomb inside 50 Rohan has separation on Lever and marks and goals Key factors: Dangerfield beat Oliver, Selwood beats Harmes, long bomb Note at the next centre bounce Max took it out of the air and handballed long forward jus to break the chain of Geelong dominance 8. 33:53 Cameron goal Geelong chipping To Simpson who bombs to the square inside 50 Gawn and Lever spoil Rohan but don't get it across the line Cameron has separation on Petty and crumbs on the goal line for a goal Key factors: Long bomb, Cameron separation on Petty

Like your idea to sack Goodwin when we 9-0?

I'm not convinced we play better at the MCG than Adelaide Oval. If I had my pick for us to win I'd play at Docklands.

I like this idea. Petty-Daniher, Smith-McStay, May-Cameron TMac gets another go around. Sparrow or JJ won't make a big difference either way. The only time Bowey comes out is after he is chaired off in his 300th.

That's the greatest win I've seen by MFC. The most painful loss was 2018 down there at Kardinia Park when Toohey kicked a goal after the siren when we had been in front all night - yes in 60+ years following the club. That just completely erased it - MAXY you GOD!

Boak won that for Port. Dogs hard to like with sulky Bont, Libba, Smith, Weightman.

1964-1

We'll win this week, win next week and go on to win the flag and everyone will say "well that was obvious wasn't it - they are the best team"

I think we need to look at the big picture re finals home ground advantage. The GF is played at the MCG every year (except last year and this year), it's our own fault we haven't taken advantage of this in the past like Hawthorn and Richmond have.

Surely if the GF in in Perth and players have to go over a quarantine - say at the Joondalup resort - they will be able to take their immediate families with them if they want to, so the family members can at attend the ground?