Adam The God

Absolutely no way Hannan goes out. Hannan's run was vital last time out against West Coast. He'll worry McGovern. I think we are in agreement that there'll be no change, however... If there were to be a change, I presume our coaches love for Smith is based on his tackling and closing speed, as they're his only elite traits. His marking is a bit iffy and his kicking is ordinary. But I'd say given the love for him, they're more likely to bring in an inexperienced Smith and release Fritsch up the wing as others have stated, rather than bring in an inexperienced player like JKH, who has shown no elite trait himself. I don't think we can carry JKH in a final. In this scenario, Fritsch's fumbling in defence is replaced with Smith's, but we get Fritsch's superior ball use replacing Tyson on the wing. And instead of having Fritsch and Tyson being played out of position, we maximise Fritsch's assets and potentially tidy up our defence.

I'm not convinced. Tyson may get caught with the ball, but at least that gives us time to set up. JKH coughs the ball up or doesn't get it all. Like Smith, JKH would immediately be a weak link and in our bottom 2 or 3 players on the ground. Why change the winning formula with Tyson?

I don't care what you think either, Biffen.

I prefer midfield depth, to shaky defenders, yeah. The midfield is our advantage and where the game will be won and where the game has always been won. Why would you weaken our one major advantage?

Smith is an ordinary kicker and his decision making is questionable in the regular season. No way we play him in a final. Fritsch's fumbling is enough of a liability back there, we don't need to add another weak link.

I think we'll try Hannan on him again. As they said on the commentary the last time around, McGovern doesn't like being turned back, nor does any defender. But you get can him with pace out the back. Hannan is a great decoy too, because he's not as important to our connection as Melksham, but we may need to use Jake on occasion too. Likewise, if the Eagles try to get the McGovern/Weideman match up, then Weideman needs to drag him up the ground to leave space in behind. If Tommy can get Barrass and beat him, I reckon we're a shot.

Knew we should have waited. Tiger and Jetstar have put on more flights for Saturday.

Fritsch was ordinary under pressure again the other night. He's a real worry for me. If I was West Coast, he's the one I'd look to exploit at the back.

So we bought our tickets to the game as soon as we could, determined to buy flights only 8f they put on cheaper flights. But, as is always the way when it comes to the MFC, my old man, my sister and I, bit the bullet and splashed close to $800+ each. We will be there and I hope my loudness can compete with the 50,000-odd feral out of work miners.

We just bought tickets but won't be going unless cheaper flights are put on.

We just got tickets but won't be going unless flights become cheaper. The AFL need to step in and do something if they want a full stadium. Not a good look for them.

I'm sorry. The cringiest piece of commentary for the weekend goes to Luke Darcy when De Goey took a mark. He sounded like a constipated nuffy. "De Gooooooooeeeeeeeeeeyyy!!!!!" I'm cringing just thinking about it. Darcy makes BT sound like a half decent caller. I actually didn't mind the Viney call. I'd argue it's spine tingling. Darcy just sounds like a try hard though when he did it.

I've said it before but I'm conservative when it comes to AFL. Do not touch the [censored] rules. 6-6-6 is ridiculous. Unlike the economy, the game will right itself. My only hope is that the devil's number somehow means my Demons win more flags.

Kennedy is the one though. He's their Tom McDonald. Completely straightens them up. He barely played in any of those matches. We're a chance, but I can't see our game holding up enough to restrict their forwardline. We'd have to play better than we have all year. Pressure like we did against Geelong and GWS and convert in front like we did against Hawthorn. All this is possible, but Kennedy, Darling and their smalls are dangerous. More dangerous than our forwards IMO. My only hope is Kennedy and Darling crumble on the big stage again. I'd back us if it was at the G, but not next week.

Go hard for Whitfield now. Another failed year for them. We're hopefully on the up and challenging for the next few years now. We play our home games at the MCG and have the only list that rivals GWS', and Whitfield is exactly the sort of player we lack. When Lewis goes at the end of 2019, Whitfield will be a great replacement off half back. We could play Whitfield on a wing or off half back, releasing Salem and/or Fritsch. I think Lever will allow Fritsch to play further up the ground anyway, but Whitfield's ball use and transition running would be the perfect addition to our cake.

The fireworks were arrogant and embarrassing. They stopped them in the second half didn't they?

And no desire to get an AFLW team in the formative competition.

Can't do that against the Eagles though. Must lower the eyes again next week. Keep the ball away from McGovern and Barass.

Viney's last ten minutes of the third won us the game IMO. He's such a superior leader to anyone else we've had in a long time. And Harmes actually went to Smith in the fourth after he kicked that goal on the run. Nice move from the coaching box. Smith didn't get much of it after that.

What I found so impressive and a first for us, was our growing pressure into the game. Usually, when we start slightly off, you know that's it for the day and that's the intensity you're going to get for the duration. We started a little poorly and were outplayed in the second quarter, but in the second half, our forward pressure went through the roof and we looked like we did last week. This is a really good sign of maturity. Let's hope it continues.

Absolute clutch. As was Spargo's goal from the free kick. Oliver's handball to Brayshaw who got it to the contest where Melksham critically goaled, was also incredibly clutch.

Why do we need to go taller? Oscar goes to Darling and Frost goes to Kennedy.

I am over the moon!!! I have nothing constructive to say. But I did have some tears tonight. Go you [censored] redlegs!!!!

Did he knock back our offer too? Intriguing what has happened here.

Yep, I'd go a step further mate and adjust the definition of bandwagoner to those without an MFC membership. If you can afford MCC, you afford an extra $80 for MFC, like I do.