spalding

I’m hoping he gets the chance to repeat the performance of GF day against his best mate. He, Harmes and Sparrow were the cleanest I think I have ever seen them. Definitely on a collective basis. And they kept it real simple. gives us a lot of options, and depth.

Top 6 of players who get bagged way too much in this site! 6 harmes 5 viney 4 brayshaw 3 sparrow 2 fritsch 1 smith seriously though, we will be so hard to beat if our so called bottom 6 play as well as they did tonight

Not even worth discussing. by a mile

Totally agree - I don’t care how good Cerra is, such a trade would do a lot of harm to the team connection we so obviously have and have we worked hard to create. whilst adding via free agency has worked for other clubs in the past , and I’m happy for us to explore this if we have salary cap space, I don’t reckon trades like brayshaw and picks for Cerra do. I also hark back to how Essendon turned a potential dynasty into one premiership when they traded out the likes of Heffernan and Caracella etc because of salary cap pressure and really ripped the fabric of the club.

I'm basically the same, although I think Syd beat GWS. I'm most scared of the Cats - and would love them to go out in straight sets, but I think its out of them and us (whether we meet them in the PF or GF).

That aged well

Trying not to go through this thread to avoid all the usual game day bs, but has anyone pointed out this is our 3 game in a riw off 6 day breaks? They look as flat as a tack to me

Agree - he will probably start on Rohan but could be back up for Cameron in case Petty struggles with either of Cameron or Hawkins. I reckon Riv could possibly cover Rohan. Thought hibberd might play on Danger when he goes forward (as he did successfully on Martin). Not sure he has the smarts, but athletically Smith could play on all of Cameron, Rohan and Dangerfield. Might be a bit of frost-ball heart in mouth stuff!

Are we defying curfew and shutting down Collins St or Toorak Rd as our spiritual home (as per Swan St for the Tigers)?

Totally agree with the no look handballs, but I’m very happy with the short kicks. Watch how often he has surveyed his options before he gets the ball and finds a short option under high pressure. This happens so often I’m sure it’s a team strategy to get the ball in his hands when we are in high pressure situations.

why a loss may not be the end of the world. MFCSS coming to the fore here. If we win tonight, but lose against Geelong in the last round, and Port happen to beat the bulldogs in their last round, we would finish 3rd and play Port (second) away in the first final. This assumes all the top 4 win in Rd 22 - which is probably a fair assumption. If we lose tonight, and then end up finishing fourth (assuming we lose to Geelong in the last round - which can be arranged!) we would play the Cats again in the first final (most likely at the G, but the risk is we end up at GMHBA) Obviously the best outcome is just win the next 6 games - then nothing to worry about!

Or learnings

Just went to watch my weekly recording on Foxtel and it came up with the North v Geelong game. Now looking for those anti nausea tablets that I bought in Thailand in the Olden Days of international travel

Not sure if it’s the Olympics, or a learned behaviour to emotionally protect myself, but as our form slips I feel like I am slowly disengaging from the season. we need to find a way to hold onto the top 4 and then have the week off to re-group for an assault to the summit - and then I can get really excited again.

St Kilda didn’t turn up.

It would seem the umpires have their money on a bulldogs v cats final

So who wants my Flemington tips for tomorrow then?

Think Tigers have fired their best shot and are done - for now and 2021

my brother was silly enough to get married at 4.30pm on that famous last Saturday of August in 1987. He and I pretty much took ourselves (as teenagers and younger) to all the games from the mid-70s. Our extended family has been supporting the Demons from before VFL days (ie in the 1800's) - so you can imagine angst this caused. Half the congregation stood as one and cheered in the middle of the wedding when Jason Dunstall kicked the goal at Kardinia Park, and did it again about 3 minutes later when the siren went at Western Oval. Geez it was a good reception too !

Not a chance - I will be super obnoxious during and after our 4peat.

If it comes down to being in a position where one of he and weidemann want to leave for more opportunity, particularly when Tomlinson comes back, I’d keep Petty. Even if he plays forward post BBB or Tmac

I didn’t notice any pace issues, but thought he looked very comfortable at the level. Like jordon, petty, sparrow - a clear and consistent development strategy could result in a good AFL level player in a year or two

Like the look of Turner as a development project similar to Petty for key back depth

Back to the AFL part of this topic. It was nice to see that MFC was excluded from the definition of a “smaller” club in the article in the Age this am that noted that the recent shutdown has cost the AFL $15mln. with the position of both the AFL and AFLW programmes on field, the bloodless president transition earlier this year, the Re-signing of sponsors in tough times, financial position where we don’t need AFL support, and hopefully a solution to the training facility in the wings (although Casey seems to be working well now too) these are heady times for long suffering Demons supporters. A lot of kudos needs to go to the Board and senior management. now for a period of sustained success to become a power again.

I was thinking the same re the lions, but their backline looked really slow to me last night, and I don’t think that the mcg would help them at all.