Dr. Gonzo

My first thoughts too but I guess an extra week hopefully buys us enough time to be able to enjoy the day with family and a BBQ and beers without worrying whether the neighbours are going to dob us in to the cops. If Melbourne are in the GF there's no way I'm sitting on the couch by myself to watch it I'll go mad.

I could see them moving Rivers into the middle/wing and using Maynard in defence. You can't bank on having basically no injuries each year and Hibberd would be lucky to go round again as well.

If Smith is getting games then yes, we need him.

Would've been a brave person to leave them out after 3 flags in 4 years! A drop to 6th/7th sure but not outside the 8.

If its since 1990 it's actually 30 of the last 31 premiers.

Agreed, of the 5 teams left GWS and the Dogs are the two who I feel could give us trouble. Having said that Port are playing to make amends for last year and also had 4 or 5 players out last time we played them.

Kind of like how they pantsed North in 2007 while the Cats just got over the Pies. Port had a great run leading into that GF beating the Cats at Kardinia Park in round 21.

Bingo

Because Smith took his eyes off the ball. We've built a team that trusts their teammates to be in the right spots and Rivers expected Smith to be aware of where he needed to be but Smith turned away too worried about Cameron because he'd already stuffed up and cost us a goal.

The reason you couldn't tell who was on him was because Smith was playing so loose.

Smith is terrible, no idea why he's getting a game when Hibberd is there. If Hunt is fit he's back in surely, Smith cost us 3 goals in the first quarter we're flirting with danger.

I'd like to see him get another go next year after an uninterrupted preseason. The stress fracture in his hip put him on the back foot.

It also relies on pressure around the contest up the ground. If teams can maintain possession, move the ball quickly and lower their eyes they have opportunities to hit up leading targets inside 50. The plus for us is that this usually results in shallow forward 50 entries for our opponents meaning they are generally kicking for goal from 40m+.

People wanted Jackson "rested" after a few down games 4-6 weeks or so ago. I have confidence TMac can turn it around and fire up when we need him to. He's shown it earlier this year.

To answer the question in the OP I'm pretty sure Pert already answered this (or a members email) saying the GF guarantee tickets are strictly non-transferable meaning you cannot buy one and pass it on. Of course there are probably ways around this but I assume the main reason is to stop scalping (what's to stop members buying a ticket and then selling it at an exorbitant price and then claiming they gave it to a "friend"?) The plus side is if you are a member and can attend in WA you should be able to get a ticket as the majority of MFC members would live in Melbourne and so we would be unlikely to fill the quota of MFC member allotments for the GF in Perth.

One thing I've always wondered is how history would have played out had Smith stood aside and let Barassi take the reigns at the Demons in 65. Would Barassi have got us more flags as the supercoach he turned out to be? Or would he have been hamstrung by the board and the setup of the league at the time (zone system)? Would he have left Melbourne after a couple of years having had his own troubles with the board/committee? Reading The Last Hurrah over the last couple of weeks brought these questions to mind.

Should've subbed out Lever for Jordon

Channel 7 way better Thanks for this, didn't see it last night as was watching on Kayo

Giants

Agreed. We are a very good team, start nailing our chances and we will be a great team. We will dominate our competition.

"How good are Melbourne though? It's amazing what happens when you run both ways the entire game. We can learn a lot from them" Have to say their supporters on Bigfooty were pretty good - no whinging or bitterness

Or just get a job as a truckie

Smith out Hibberd or Hunt in

Yep certainly seemed like it