hardtack

Um, no... that's the job of the virus. Of course the AFL must carry out an investigation of the cause; because they need to determine whether or not McKenna breached their rules. And of course the Health Dept will be investigating as well, just as they do with every case reported as they need to determine what was the nature of the infection. I'm certainly no fan of his, but Gil McLachlan is doing a very good job in what must be an almost impossible situation. I can't even begin to comprehend the logistics that must be involved in trying to keep this competition together and running... you're just [censored] off because it's Melbourne who were involved and who have been inconvenienced. Try looking at it from a broader perspective.

As I understand it, if you have COVID, you are contageous well before you start to show any physical symptoms (that is, during the incubation period), and as it usually takes anywhere between 2 and 14 days to display symptoms, then you would have to imagine that you are contageous from almost day 1. (https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/coronavirus-incubation-period/).

Thanks Mr Empathy. You probably should have made that response against my original post where I said that I would hate to see him miss a game that obviously means a lot to him on a personal level, rather than a post describing what that organisation does. It must have been the red mist obscuring your vision.

I have to admit that I’m getting some kind of perverse pleasure out of this year. It’s like watching a train wreck, but more trains keep coming along the track and crashing into the already wrecked trains.

I've been watching the What We Do in the Shadows series on Foxtel... fantastic! Also just started watching an oldish series (2016) Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency on NetFlix and it's shaping up as a brilliant watch.

As I recall, the Saints v Tigers game is officially known as Maddie's Match, in honour of the late Maddie Reiwoldt (Nick's sister and Jack's cousin). It is a major fundraiser for 'Maddie Riewoldt’s Vision', an organisation that was established to fund medical research into finding a cure for Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes.

I wonder if the fact that next week's game has special significance to the Reiwoldt family, has anything to do with the outcome? I'd actually hate to see him miss out on that game.

Puopolo a late out for the Hawks.

Isn’t that what we were thinking in 2018 when he’d had a similar lay off? He came in and tore it up. He’s worth the risk. I think we’ll see him and Pickett come in for Jones and Smith.

Oops, my apology... I misread your comment. Perhaps it needed a "We..." or "The MFC..." in front, for the benefit of old farts like me ?.

He may not be playing his best football now (but he was not the worst on Saturday), but your post is just unnecessarily disrespectful of someone who has served this club well and who stuck with the club despite (I assume) lucrative offers from other clubs. Perhaps your forum name is appropriate?

And in that one small sentence, you've encapsulated what it means to be a Melbourne supporter.

For anyone else who may have taken the GF Guarantee, I wrote to the club some time back with regards to the above. They have finally got back to me with the club's decision as to what will happen with these payments: "It appears that those with a Grand Final Guarantee this year will have one credited for 2021. This information will be confirmed with renewals for 2021 when that information is sent out. You still have options around your guarantee this year in terms of refunds etc so if you want to discuss you can call us on 1300 336 667." I will definitely NOT be requesting a refund, but I am happy that they've decided to credit members with the payment for next year.

I'm not overly concerned about Pickett not playing and ANB replacing him... yes he's an excitement machine, but I think a few here have him pegged already as the new messiah. Go back to round one and despite his two goals, he was actually pretty ordinary for most of the game. Sure I would rather have seen Lockhart, Hannan or Bedford come in for Pickett, and I know we can't put too much faith in Fantasy Footy points, but ANB did outscore Pickett there, no doubt due to his pressure acts that everyone seems to overlook (not everyone can be flash nick from Jindivik); I think he's unfairly maligned. The most interest in this game for me is going to be seeing just how intense Harley will be in a real contest. I'm also excited to see how Hunt will perform now that he's been given a chance.

BIG difference... the players in the games are all isolated in the “bubble”. The punishment meted out to Pickett and Spargo could also be considered a form of enforced isolation, as they had been in contact with people outside the players “bubble”... why is this starting to sound like an episode from Seinfeld? I blame the moops!!

What a surprise...Frost free kicked for holding!

Is it possible that Hannan might get a run?

From memory that was the thing that I didn't like about the VFA back in the day. It made it a faster game, but lacked a lot of the nuances of the main game (VFL).

Um, you're talking about a TV show. Unless you want to start your own TV show, then there's not really any other way you're going to be able to respond anyway... try yelling at your TV; that might help.

He's doubly negative?

Hey, at least I said "should be" and not "will be"... I always leave myself with an escape clause ?

I should probably rewatch the game I suppose... my memory of it was that although he had something like 21 disposals, his efficiency wasn't particularly good, and he had been off his game for some time up to that point (last season's performances). Maybe I'm being too harsh.

No, as the article said: "Wednesday morning’s session at Casey Fields finished on a high as Simon Goodwin revealed the trio would be pulling on the red and blue against Carlton this weekend." "The remainder of Melbourne’s side will be confirmed on Thursday evening in the lead up to the AFL’s return to play this weekend." They will definitely be playing.

I think Werridee has got it wrong with the omission of Jetta (I doubt they'll dump him when he's about to play his 150th game), but otherwise it's looking pretty good. Hibberd is the one I'm a bit iffy about... he's been playing well below his best in recent times (late last year and round one this year), so do they risk him in the hope that he finds form in what should be a relatively easy game, or do they sit him out?

Don't forget that VDB came back to play around finals time in 2018 and it was as if he hadn't been out at all; he had an immediate impact. The guy has incredible, seemingly natural, stamina and if his foot is not hindering him, I would put him straight in as top 22, if not top 10.