Nasher

I am trying to be interested in this game, without success.

Fitting that the Lewis is lying on the ground in the Melbourne photo! Hawthorn have taken quite a few of our offcuts over the years. Paul Johnson is another.

That's just an indisputable fact of nature isn't it? Tom Bugg only had one awful set shot miss last week, because on that occasion I forgot to remind those in the room watching with what a terrible set shot he was. I didn't make that mistake again.

I'd take Kreuzer over Gawn any day. *snigger* Nope, can't even say it with a straight face.

I reckon since a shaky first half against Geelong, he's been good. Cops an unreasonable amount of criticism IMO - I reckon we are conditioned to the 18th-22nd being so completely hopeless that many look at them through that lense as if they're the second coming of Tom Gillies or Dan Nicholson or whatever Neeld era player you want to choose. Fear of failure drives us to be excessively critical. Wagner doesn't have any particularly exciting aspects - can't magic the ball out of packs like Oliver, bulldoze through like Trac, or sprint like Hunt, but he impacts contests, and he tackles to remove the ball from his opponents. Earning his keep for mine.

I'm pretty confident I haven't read any new content on this site for years Choke, and I'm not even kidding. It's amazing how we're all suckers for the footy merry-go-round.

Other predictions: - We will win by 15 points in a tight fought contest played at a slightly lower standard than we all hoped for - The conclusions drawn will vary widely between "real deal" and "xxx will flog us in yy weeks time in this form", which won't happen - Hawthorn will get a run of four goals which will get so much airtime it breaks the Demonland server. We will get a run on of five goals which will go unmentioned - OMac will be held responsible for every goal, Tyson for every turnover, and our payment for Lever referred to - Hogan, Trac and Oliver to dominate.

My tip is severe negativity in the match day thread, with Clint Biz and Praha leading the charge.

No - it's been a free kick *if* the glance at the opponent is followed by a block. That's the first time I reckon I've ever seen a free kick paid for looking at your opponent. It was an utterly ridiculous decision both in the context of the rules, *and* in the context of previous decisions paid.

Exactly my answer. You need 28 genuine AFL standard players on your list. Viney and TMac aren't due back in ages - zero chance of someone not being broken by then.

Has anyone complaining about lapses actually watched any footy other than Melbourne games this year? Just curious because I've seen a few and haven't seen a single game where teams didn't have fits and spurts.

No way.

Came here mostly hoping to read that Weid was dominant in a forward/ruck role and wasn't disappointed. This is definitely a missing piece of the puzzle in the seniors side, so fingers crossed he can keep it up and knock the door down.

I don't know how you can conclude that. When you "buy" a player, you aren't paying for his first three games or even his first season, you're paying for the balance of his career. Lever is 22 so he's still 5 years off the finished product. If short term payoff is the only thing that matters, pick 11 and half a mil for Mitch Clark was an absolute bargain.

Nathan Jones in my mind cemented a place in the hearts of club supporters during the early years of free agency. When other players of his vintage couldn't get out fast enough, the Jones response was a determined "I'm not going anywhere", to sign on for three mid-season. That was true leadership, and for me as a spectator who can only go along for the ride, one of the only signals that there might actually exist people at the club who wouldn't give up on it. There's no doubt in my mind Nathan Jones belongs amongst the all time club greats. The fact that he's had to ply his trade in a team that was awful most of the time only enhances his standing, as he's had to do it with little to no support.

To be fair, would *you* go watch them play? Yuck.

Thought Garlett's steal in the pocket qualified as heroics.

Permission to be happy with this, Demonland faithful?

The two best players from Casey replace the two of the worst for MFC, so it makes sense in that regard. Struggling to make sense of it from a team balance point of view, but I'll reserve judgement until after I've seen how it goes.

?

While I'm supportive of (and pleased by) the social aspect of this decision, I highly doubt it's any more than a side effect of a decision that was otherwise 100% business. The current administration hasn't done anything to suggest it operates in any way other than a shrewd one. I'm surprised you're not prepared to cut them some slack and let this play out before flying off the handle.

You don't think it reasonable that people's view might evolve as life experience grows? 2010 for me was 50% of my adult life ago and I can tell you that my knowledge on the topic at hand and desire to explore it was precisely zero.

Very pleasing news. Hopefully there is a plan to minimise or ideally negate the impact to the bottom line. The argument that this does nothing to address the social issue because someone else will just pick up the licenses is just rubbish. The best way to initiate change is to lead it, and that's what the MFC have done. Let's see how many other AFL clubs are still operating these venues in 3 years time.

It's almost like Lever is only 22, and only 2 games in to his new club.

Can't get around either of those two sides, and I'm judging all you that did. They tend to deliver good footy games though.