Bitter but optimistic

Actually I was genuinely concerned about this so I made some discreet enquiries. Picket has apparently survived the selection shock but the paramedics had to cook two defibrillators and blackout the neighbourhood to keep him gasping.

Geez, the prophets of doom are out in full force - we'll win this!

I don't mind the selections - but it will be a little different for the lions next week.

Spargypants in !!! Someone send the cardio ambulance around to picket fence's house !!!

I'll keep that in mind Hardley !

I'm not certain exactly why Luci but ....... I'm extraordinarily, outlandishly confident. The baggers supporters will on their way home at 3/4 time.

Social outcast !!!! We'll settle for a simple crucifixion.

I’m giving Luci a break (reportedly hungover) . So I waded through the paper baggers pre game “analysis”. [censored] boring [censored] really, mostly just droning on about team selection. What a dull mob. The optimists If we make the GF, you could put out the AFL Team of the 20th century against us and we wouldn’t lose. We’ve won every close game this year, plus the draw in round 1. Book your flights to Brisbane. we beat the Dees without Harry, Silvagni, Cerra, Walsh and McGovern This time around we have them all back except for Harry and Martin They are missing JVR and Melksham I am fairly confident I think Cripps will have a huge game this week, heavily tag for 3qtrs against a quality opponent in mills and still had a decent match. Melbourne won’t tag him and will go head to head which should suit us heaps. 30 touches 8 clearences 6 plus tackles and 16 contested possessions coming up!!! Very solid - think we will spank them in the middle this time. Our Defence gets back so well after turnover - they don’t worry us in transition. I don’t get this! We are playing like Melbourne for a chance in the pre-lim, both sides have everything to lose. Absolutely agree, but psychologically speaking, there is more pressure on Melbourne. Which in my opinion, can only be an advantage to us. Prelim hear we come. ( note the spelling FMD ) The crowd will go absolutely nuts. The noise from Blues supporters will certainly out weigh the Dees Some views on the Dees Last time we played Melbourne Charlie wasn't really double teamed that much, he was just played really close by May and probably beaten on the night. You cannot underestimate the quality defender that May is, very strong very capable. Charlie just needs to try and get separation more often because body on body he's got not much hope. Melbourne should have beaten Collingwood. We will need the 22 at its best and focused. This will be the biggest challenge this year. Would love for them to throw Petracca up forward, would be a massive win for us. Would be the easiest possible way for us to nullify his influence- starve the forward line by repeat centre clearance wins.We would absolutely smack them in the middle & be 6-7 goals up in the 1st quarter & would be game over by the time they tried to fix it. But Cincotta beat Kozi last time we played them did he not? Kozi so dangerous. Sounds like Gawn is hurt so odds shortening that Grundy will play if that's accurate. Still doesn't mean Goodwin will manage them in the team's best interests. Lever intercepting and then lacing out the wingers and midfielders will cost us dearly. Charlie will have may under control. Brayshaw will be their biggest out. He had 31 touches and 9 tackles and 6 clearances (2nd most for them after Oliver).Petracca is the one to try to nullify as best we can - had 24 touches and kick 2.2. Gawn only had 11 touches, but 47 hitouts and didn't bother the goal umpire. Some boring waffle about their own players Crippa is nowhere near fit, his out put shows that. Bloke is a monster & plays thru the pain but we need to be smart & manage it. Playing forward will stretch Melbourne & hopefully reduce further damage. Viney & Petracca are hard AF, even Oliver is tough. We need to be smart, we need Crippa at 100% (or as close to as possible) for Brisbane. Cripps doesnt have the forward craft of a player like Dusty/Petracca and we need him at the coalface, if we are sacrificing a mid to send them forward I would go with Docherty. Midfield matchups will be interesting and a number of options are viable throughout the game Hewett will try and shutdown the most active clearance player at any point in time, but at the start of the game. Hewett v Viney, Oliver v Cripps, Cerra v Petracca And finally …… I blame the climate. Poor snow season has meant Dees supporters are staying home for the school holidays… Goodwin will milk the absolute s**t out of the tribunal decision. They’ll be looking for any motivation. ?????????? It is an alien chimpanzee who had crossed 3 alternate dimensions to watch the very beginning of what would become the ultimate scandal and greatest attempt to cheat in the history of the AFL!!!!! It sat knowingly in the background at what would become known throughout the multiverse as the “whatever it takes” game!!!

Maynard gets off FMD!!!

FMD !! Listen to Robbo on 360 if you want hear stupidity !! "Instinct reaction " repeated at least four times. Try "instinctive" Robbo. Chief football writer - FMD again !!!!

FMD Jaded - I nearly gave myself a hernia laughing at this !

Despite a slowish start, 8 undersells Max's effort !

How long has there been a call for that dc ? The AFL is a [censored] show given it is a squllion dollar industry!

No mate, I'm over that and looking forward to ending the paper bagger's season. I did bring a rather ****ty flu back from Thailand and still haven't fully returned to my dangerously energetic self !

Well dc that makes it even [censored] sillier to call yourself Xander ! What the [censored] is wrong with Alex?

Xander !! FMD! I think Eddie must have spent too much time watching " Buffy the Vampire Slayer" to stick his son with that monicker.

Luci allow me this opportunity to cliche ! (cue @WalkingCivilWar rabbiting on, using some yank dialect, about my misuse of cliche as a verb ) Let's take it one game at a time.

Thanks Luci. A nice selection that provides an insight into the paper baggers "thinking"!

Well explained Red. If Maynard gets off, the system is even more corrupt ( or just plain silly) than I imagined .

Hipwood might be a great bloke - no idea at all But geez he just looks a total w anker !

Ordinary performance! Made the filth look good!

My seats are under cover level but only corporate bars on that level What a [censored] up !!

It's just started pissing down rain at The Manor.

I shall be heading off shortly and, as I estimate there will be approximately 40 -50 k additional car thieves in Melbourne this evening, I shall be entrusting myself to public transport. Of course there is a downside. As @Wadda We Sing pointed out earlier this means sharing a carriage with filth supporters. In addition to this, I am forced to pass through St. Albans, where the train is likely to be invaded by pickpockets and muggers. ( aka @WalkingCivilWar 's neighbours and besties) The things we do for the team we love!

She slurps every last morsel of froth out of the cup!