Dr. Gonzo

And the win against the Saints was not exactly scintillating. A win is a win of course but the Saints were putrid and we struggled to get past them for 2.5 quarters.

Very generous putting Fritsch in that group.

It's only a top 4 finish if you make the Prelim. Straight sets exits are 5th/6th placed.

[censored] that, I've had enough of that - if that's where it's going then my interest will wane significantly (it already has to be honest)

From what?

He is one of the few I know will be bleeding about that performance, he has pride in his and the clubs performance, many don't.

Winning it is one thing, backing it up is another.

Hey Wheelo, when was the last time Geelong, Sydney or Collingwood lost by 90+?

You're in lala land if you think we have a chance against the Pies next week. Even with all their injuries they are a club with heart and pride, something sorely lacking at the MFC for 60 years.

There is something seriously wrong at the club when you get a performance like that. This isn't a squad deplete of talent like the Bailey/Neeld era, to lose by almost triple figures to a mid-table side after being made to look foolish only 2 weeks ago by a bottom 4 side is alarming. I thought the club had turned the corner in 2021 (not just winning the flag but the competitive nature of the team) but it's back to mediocrity which is an utter shame because the supporters deserve more.

Interesting to see how the happy clappers spin this one

Melbourne are pretenders, this is seriously pathetic. May struggle to make finals from here, 2021 was fun but this club just doesn't have the intestinal fortitude to dominate in this league

You can play tough without playing dirty though.

Anyone who believes in the integrity of the AFL may as well believe in the tooth fairy! Look at the way they manipulate outcomes and punish teams who don't toe the line. I'm not a fan of theirs but the way the AFL handed down a punitive trade ban on Sydney because they signed Buddy from under the nose of GWS was an absolute disgrace. Never mind the million other examples you could come up with of them manufacturing a desired outcome.

I've heard from someone who was at a function with Tim Lane late last year that Lane told them the AFL was clear Maynard would not be suspended. Lane said there were two times the AFL got heavy handed with him over a story, the Kieran Jack "lost draft papers" story and Maynard. They are a bunch of rank amateurs but they get away with it due to a compliant media and a parochial (and for the most part, relatively stupid) supporter base.

Yes and it would've been some mild karma had he missed next week. Alas....

Hopefully it shows next week

It's been coached out of them, coaches would rather play conservative and force a stoppage than risk the ball being lost by a tap on and teams being opened up on the rebound. Coaches want slow, controlled, risk free footy. It's boring.

This includes anyone who holds an AFL or club membership by the way, your credit card details on file.

Removing players from the field should have happened 10+ years ago but the AFL won't do it. They've written it into their charter or whatever that 18 a side is sacrosanct for some bizarre reason. They really should reduce numbers to 14 or 15 a side, would make defensive zones less effective too as the holes in the zone would be too great and teams would pick their way through with ease forcing defense to go man on man

Good idea not to let guest passes on level 1 but probably should look at disallowing them on the initial sale altogether! Don't worry I always make plenty of noise against the Pies, it's in my DNA. Even as a kid my dad tried to stop me singing Grand Old Flag walking out of Vic Park after Jakovich booted 7 and cost the Pies the minor premiership. I sung it all the way back to Hoddle St and got plenty of dirty looks along the way.

It's not the only change, I heard on the radio a couple of weeks ago Gerard Healy (I think) complaining about the "fend off being automatic prior opportunity" saying a player putting their arm up isn't always trying to fend off, sometimes they're trying to protect themselves from the tackler. Next weekend I noticed they had stopped paying holding the ball when players out the arm up to fend off the tackler! Now I don't necessarily disagree with the interpretation but just deciding to change the way a rule is administered halfway through a season without any communication about it is farcical.

I had 3 devices going, got in on my phone first on 4G about 2:08pm I reckon. Was surprised to be able to get 9 tickets in M18 so I'll be representing amongst the scum and villainy in the AFL members. Will make it all the more sweet if we can knock them off, we bloody owe them (more than 1)!

You'll get shouted down but you are 100% correct. Of course most supporters will take winning ugly than losing in an entertaining game but when people decide if they're going to bother going to games or not the fact it isn't that great a spectacle, more often frustrating than joyous, would definitely play a part. I don't think it's limited to Goodwin/MFC though, it's a problem for the competition as a whole. Boring footy with little individual brilliance that used to make the game the best on the planet.

Yeah but insufferable Cats and Saints fans are infinitely more tolerable than insufferable Pies/Blues/Bombers fans. Even with their flags I haven't found Tigers fans to be too insufferable, the trauma runs deep at Punt Rd 😂