praha

I also cannot believe that people are responding to this thread thus one by one expanding the number of pages attached to said thread.

Finals pretty much start now for all top 10 teams except *checks notes* Geelong who has ended the season with a tough run against GC and WC... All games between two from that group are genuine 50/50 regardless of position. That includes Saints vs Swans. Cats Dees and Swans are clearly top 3. Freo Lions and imo Tigers round out top 6. Pies and Blues are the 7th and 8th best. Saints and Dogs are fringe. Giants have something to prove. I rate the Lions as a top 8 team but they are not top 4 caliber. Our DNA is top 4 football. Should be a good game.

It's not though. Statistically Geelong are almost guaranteed at least 8 wins a year from playing in Geelong.

I'm more confident against Brisbane than I have been against any team going back to the Bulldogs game. Could not visibly see us beating Collingwood or Carlton, had bad vibes against the Dogs and uncertainties about Freo. If we push Brisbane around a bit we win. I question their ability to win under genuine finals pressure.

I was in AFL members so always hard to tell but my mum who was in MCC said it was probably 50:50. But the final seconds and final quarter you'd think the entire crowd was Melbourne. I think much of the problem is that we're not a very loud supporter base. We were there last night and last week. We're just not big on big cheering. Finals should be different though.

I highly rate this team. The emotion of it all takes hold when expectations aren't met. I'll be first to admit that my negativity sometimes gets the better of me. I thought in the heat of battle that we were "pathetic" tonight. In reflection and after watching the replay I realised we're not. And that I am pathetic. This is my life.

Melksham effectively locked his position in the team for finals. Hunt as well. Gonna be tough for Harmes to get back into the squad

Hunt was huge in the last 3 minutes We stole that.

Absolutely pathetic.

We won last year playing in front of no one. This year against big clubs we have folded in every big game. Nothing has changed.

This is really bad. Blues have no midfield. They are very average

Haha we are huge chokers.

History says we lose this.

lmao making a very average team with no midfield look decent.

King has legit kicked Saints out of finals.

Max King is weird. Gives off Lloyd or even Jono Brown vibes some weeks. Then other weeks like tonight he gives off Jack Watts vibes.

They badly lack class. Some of the free kicks they give away are just not top 8 calibre. The quality drop from 7th is massive.

Seriously if we don't deal with both Carlton and Brisbane I'll absolutely lose it. Brisbane is not top 4 quality.

Solid contributor. Brisbane is made up of them. Reliable down back. Not sure he's finals material though. I really hope the Saints get up tonight.

[censored] him. We'll beat them with him in the team.

EDIT: Nope I'm thinking of the 2006 season. Lost to them in round 1 and then again later in the year. Carlton won 3 games for the season. Two against Melbourne. We would've finished 4th had we won both. We would have dislodged Sydney from top 4 and faced WC in Perth.

We should comfortably dispose of Carlton and Brisbane. Nothing against those two. We are a top 4 side that needs to start getting real.

This is as much a flex by Melbourne as it is to Grundy. Grundy showing Collingwood he isn't certain to be around. Melbourne showing Jackson he's potentially being replaced by an AA ruckman. The prospect of going up against Gawn and Grundy each game would be terrifying.

Carltons odds are wayyyy too short. Which is actually more a reflection on us than them. Punters are confident in Melbourne but not TOO confident. Carlton should be in the $4+ range.

2 weeks. Will definitely miss Melbourne game. If we lose then regardless of Round 23 result out season is as good as done.