Nasher

Apparently Kent only played briefly and pulled up sore, haven't read any confirmation of that though. I didn't get the impression it was a disaster. Salem would be a half in the dev league at best if ready this week.

Jakovich

Liam Jurrah - 26 Allen Jakovich - 67

Burgs, I love your work mate, but seriously, no post match Harmes interview? The kid is living out all our collective dreams, I wanted to see him beam.

They are just hopeless. Tanking happens at selection and with bizarre player positioning (apparently). They're a side whose confidence has deserted them. I felt sorry for them until quarter time, when the MFC seemingly dropped to their level out of sympathy.

No way, been out for yonks with consecutive hammies. If he's ready, he can join Kent for a half in the VFL Dev league.JKH and ANB for whichever of the VFL revolving door players are currently at the front of the queue. Grimes and Michie I guess. Wouldn't be averse to only one or neither of those changes. There definitely won't be four changes - Stretch and Harmes going OK for mine.

Haven't changed my view, but was really impressed today. Happy to have McDonald forward as an ace up our sleeve.

Harmes definitely a positive. Giving the FD a lot to think about for the end of year.

Any questions?

I TOLD you sorry lot Brisbane were poo.

...and this year, they're poo. Like, really really crap. I don't think you people understand. I understand that it's natural to expect the worst as an MFC supporter. I know we might lose. I know we're not travelling well. Just don't get the surprise at us being favourites, they're the worst side in the competition, playing away.

Brisbane are poo. The only people in the world who think we won't beat them are MFC supporters, that's why we're short priced favourites.

Come on Redleg, don't be disingenuous. It's not that people *wanted* to get rid of him, it's that many of us just thought we probably would. It's a well used recipe - player taken as the last active pick, does nothing for two years (either injured or just no good) - gets the chop.

Sooooo... Kent?

Do players "trade value" really fluctuate that much based on current form? Damaged good scenarios aside (ala Garlett) I think in general the price is dictated by the players ceiling - we didn't give up pick 2 because of Tyson's injury riddled, disjointed couple of seasons at GWS after all. I really doubt other clubs will look at Howe's stat sheet for this season and go "nup, fourth round pick". Everyone knows Howe is a better player than what he's exhibited this year. If they want him, they can pay accordingly or sod off - he's not a FA after all. The whole idea that selection policy is driven by trade value is just rubbish to me. Howe is getting selected now for the same reason Watts was earlier in the year and Dawes is now - because he's a good player in the eyes of those in charge and they want him to find form in the seniors. I never understand why people find themselves drawn to hidden meanings behind things when the more obvious reason is the more likely one.

I know the change don't get one all that excited, but would people have really been that much more satisfied to see Newton or Michie added to the side at the expense of whoever doesn't get dropped out of ANB/JKH/Stretch? The cupboard is bare until Kent and Salem come back. No point getting upset about the lack of revolving door changes.

This is where I would hope on field leadership would kick in. It's a team game - it is everybody's responsibility to make sure everything is in place, but none more so than the leaders of the club.

At current pace, Garlett is on track to: - Come very close to having his best season in terms of goals kicked - Will exceed his highest score for a season (the behinds will push him over) - Is set to obliterate his previous record for tackles in a season. He also is currently second on the points kicking tally after Josh Kennedy, but last week excluded, he has been significantly better in the later games than he was early. I suspect he is in career best form. He is playing as well as any small forward in the game is at present. We found him lying in the $1 clearance bin. There's heaps to whinge about about the MFC at the moment, but if Garlett is your target then you're just looking for stuff I reckon.

By it not healing, presumably...

It was the worst score old dee, but it was isolated and somewhat exceptional circumstance due to the toxic goings-on off the field. For mine it was the catalyst for the wheels falling off, but not the actual worst moment of the whole saga with the reflection of hindsight.

This should come as no surprise, really, it's well documented that footy supporters can only remember the last thing that happened. You see it within games ("if we win, I'll never post here again" oh look, we won), within years ("can't see us winning another game this year" oh look, we won the next week, make that "pencil us in to win every other game except Freo"), and across seasons ("this is even worse than the Neeld era.". No guys, nothing will ever be worse than the Neeld era).

Don't know why, but the idea of Kent playing in the dev league seems comical to me. It think it's just the air of confidence he carries himself with. The boy likes a run and a goal, so if he can blow the cobwebs out early, it could be an entertaining half a match. I'd settle for a "got through it alive" kind of half a match, though.

Whether he's right or wrong, I'm not reading the article. I feel morally obliged to avoid reading his tripe. Can't believe this dribbling oaf has made a successful career out of the sport I love. He's inarticulate, doesn't seem to understand the game, and is hopelessly biased. I don't understand why he has the gig he has and I won't support it.

Loved reading everyone's stories about life and the MFC. We've covered everything from regulation brainwashing, to "my parents immigrated and didn't follow the herd" to "I was supposed to be a Collingwood supporter but got lost", to "how could I not be? We were awesome in the 50s/60s". So many different avenues in, but here we all are. Gotta say this thread has cheered me up a lot. It's nice to know that there's so many others out there feeling tortured in the same way I do at times. Ready for the MFC to break my heart again next week now!

Did things suddenly just become a lot clearer for anyone else?