Vipercrunch

If we don't win the ultimate prize it will be cold comfort, but I rate this seasons H&A as better than leat year.  Shorter comparative preseason, more injury impact and a much harder draw and still only 1.5 wins less is a wonderful achievement.  

7 hours ago, picket fence said:

Brayshaw a good player, but Clarry is supreme! Get on the Clarry Choo Choo Brownlow Train

 

I agree and Clarry is the best in the league imo, but unfortunately plays alongside 2 other once in a generation type players in Petracca and Gawn, plus some other extremely good players (Gus, Viney, May, Lever and I could go on).  3,2,1 voting systems don't work for teams like that.

I can’t see a Melbourne player winning it.  Too many stars taking votes off each other.  The 3,2,1 system really hampers players playing on star studded teams.  A 5,4,3,2,1 system would be better but it can’t be changed now.

The AFLCA award is the only one the really counts for anything.  It’s hilarious when supporters bemoan their own players not getting votes in the AFLCA award, blissfully unaware it is their own coach who votes in every single game that player plays in.

I think Freos Brayshaw will win the Brownlow, while Clarry might sneak b2b in the AFLCA.

5 minutes ago, Return to Glory said:

BBO, I'm too lazy to work out whether that's a good thing for us or not

Let’s be cocky enough to think it’s irrelevant.  We can beat anyone, anytime. 

That was a home ground goal knowing the unique conditions if ever there was. 

That was not a definite touch.  Fingers didn’t move.

We need to send Russell Robertson to Max King tomorrow morning to teach him how to kick.  In my memory, he is the one player that we’ve had that went from ordinary in front of goal to extremely reliable.  

1 minute ago, Jaded No More said:

And again Petty goes unheralded for a sensational performance and a great last quarter. He is a star and he’s only 22. 

We were raving about him at my place tonight.  My son bought up his age which I had forgotten about.  So young with a wonderful future.  

The Storm put 60 points past the Broncos tonight so they would have beaten the Lions also.

Loving how Rivers has moved the last few weeks.  Clearly hindered by his knee injury for a long time but moving very well now.

Wow.  Just wow.  

Is there any other team that goes to water with indisciplined nonsense like Brisbane?  What a bunch of man babies. 

Conca loves the cuddle lol

Do they need a loss before finals?  I don't think so and I hope not.  An undefeated season is something to grasp when a team gets the chance.

2 minutes ago, layzie said:

I'm expecting 86% peak physical condition. 

I'm expecting a repeat of the last time we played them.  

And when I say expecting I actually mean desperately hoping.

2 minutes ago, djr said:

I agree. Also Tmac is a slow starter after injuries.

It's going to be a real interesting watch to see how it unfolds for that reason and what @Lucifers Hero said.  

5 minutes ago, mo64 said:

This forum is based on opinions that are generally supported by evidence. There's plenty of evidence to suggest that Spargo is a failure as a wingman, if you watch the games. 

The "the match committee knows better" argument is a load of rubbish. They don't always get it right.

Yet more proof that some supporters here have no idea of the match day roles players are given.  They want the forwards to play like Dunstall and Lockett in the 80's and the wingmen to play like Matera in the 90's.  It's 2022, football has evolved and for the most part, we have no idea of what the KPI's are for most players on the ground.

6 hours ago, Whispering_Jack said:

Because the Lions are so hard to beat on their own deck, this would be the first time this year when the Demons aren’t favourites with the bookies.

This is the best time for us to defy the odds, to prove the doubters wrong and to earn our spot in the top four!

The home deck record is pretty misleading.  Yes they've won all 10 there this year, but only 2 have been against top 8 teams (Collingwood in Rd 5 when they were a bit his and miss, then Carlton in Rd 21).  

Just now, Kent said:

exactly he was a liability in my view much better up forward  Brayshaw is a true defensive wing and wins his contests 

Spargo not so

Do you have any evidence to support that he is a liability when he goes to the wing?  If so you need to send it to the club because he is still more often than not, the player that goes to the wing when JJ or Langdon are off the ground.

30 minutes ago, Kent said:

Spargo is not a winger full stop

Yet he was the first choice of our coaching group to play on the wing when Langdon was injured earlier in the year.  But what would they know....

2 hours ago, CHF said:

Good to see Harmes back a long as he does an effective job on Neale. With Neale attending the center bounces I can see us starting with Petracca at HF and Viney and Brayshaw in the center bounces with Harmes. not the worst setup.

For Jordon's wing position we have a few that can cover there. Melksham has been named there but I do not see that as a full time gig for him tomorrow night. might have a bit part there but ANB might spend more time in that position and depending on defensive matchups I would give Rivers a spell there as well. Hunt I would try to keep in defense as we are getting god run for there with him.

 

I see a win from the Demon Road Warriors..... Bad luck Lions..... 

I reckon we should give that red head a go in the centre bounce occasionally.  Clayton something is his name I think.

Seriously though, I think it will be Gus back to the wing.  If not him, then Spargo who played on Langdons wing when he missed those games earlier in the year.

6 minutes ago, Dr. Mubutu said:

Isn't it nice to have a call where the commentary team aren't openly barracking against us?

Commentary nearly always leans towards the underdogs and teams on the rise.  We had our turn last year.  I'm hoping to not hear a another pro-Nelbourne call for many, many years.

Love these multi-calls.

I hope watching that over so many times in quick succession helps those moaning about BBB going up with one hand so often understand just how important it is to our team.  He stopped the oppisiiton marking it.  He stopped the oppisiiton punching it away to the pockets.  He brings it down to the place that the smalls are and the goal results.  It may not be pretty or classical but it is what needed.  If he is not in the position to mark it cleanly, his job is to stop the oppitision mark and keep the ball in the area.  Going up with one hand acheives that.

FYI although it’s far from clear on the AFL site, betting sites and premium ticketing site all have a pre finals bye for all teams 26th-28th of August, first week of finals 2nd-4th September with no breaks leading to Grand Final Day on 24th September. 

On 8/5/2022 at 3:15 PM, Dwight Schrute said:

Gut feel is Clarko will go to North, simply because he has a past connection there and they're Melbourne based. 

Giants i think will go with one of Kingsley or Yze. 

If Yze goes, we need to headhunt the best midfield coach we can find, he's played a massive role for us. I don't hate the idea of James Hird as an assistant. i understand the negative drug saga side of it, but he's a brilliant football mind, a legend of the game and someone who'd walk in and have the respect of the players from day 1. 

https://afltables.com/afl/stats/coaches/James_Hird.html

I'm not sure his record stacks up.  41W-1D-42L at 49.4%

Laidley and Brad Scott had better records at North.