Bitter but optimistic

True Luci , there’s some excellent brews from Heathcote and central Vic However, I must be unpatriotic and say my heart is in the Barossa. Besides the best Heathcote Shiraz is too expensive to slurp

Anything from the Barossa at around $15 will more than satisfy your vulgar taste picket !

Correct P man - it is compulsory! I have The top off 2 Shiraz quaffers . I am letting them take a deep breath before the ritual slaughter commences. These night games can be a real trap however and pacing oneself is essential In order to make a decent last quarter effort One must also retain some energy for the “apres ski” so to speak

One positive test in the hub and it’s all over for 2020

An unhealthy sense of entitlement among the campfollowers methinks !

Seems I’ve only just responsibly recycled the empty Shiraz bottles after last Sunday’s disappointment- and here we go again We’ve had a couple of near misses so we need to win this one to stay in the contenders column The side looks good but it is a pity we couldn’t pick Vanders I reckon it will be a physical affair. You would hope mids learnt a bit from the Brisbane game and ..... surely Weid couldn’t kick so shizen again Tmac was showing a bit prior to his injury so I reckon he’ll be hungry to make a contribution Jackson looks the goods and is growing in confidence If he could snag one early it would give Port’s defence an ugly moment One good thing to come out of this Corolla business Demons by a couple of goals

I used to think of them as the South Aus version of the filth However , they actually seem quite erudite and well spoken

Be careful what you wish for picket !!!

Gee selection is interesting. We're more or less injury free and I recall Goodwin/ the club saying we won't be resting players to cope with the compressed fixture. I don't believe this will be the case. Blokes might not be injured as such but you'd wonder for example if a small kid like Kozzie can stand up to continuous footy. Jackson is another and Bennell for different reasons. I'd like to see AVB and TMac back in the side because I reckon they were both just starting to come good but I'm not sure how to accommodate them. Does anyone know how Spargo has been tracking. (I hope @picket fence doesn't read this) Is he any chance of replacing Kossie as a small forward ? Nev might need a rest after his whacks to the head. So does Rivers come in or could we play Jones back and tinker at the other end? I haven't got a clue tbh but FMD - we need to win this one.

That is bull [censored]. AFL will become a non contact sport at this rate !!!

Over to you Dermie.

Viney Oliver Max May Langdon Melk

Brisbane are a good side We played like [censored] In the end we were robbed [censored] me dead !!!!

Mitch Robinson looks like a [censored] ape

We will win this

I think BT has totally lost He's talking about games played on Nathan Buckley’s birthday FMD !!!!

BT just explained that games are worth 4 points

Jeez Kennedy is a weapon !

Well he is tastefully and responsibly attired Jim but I'm not certain. The rearview of the Sheila looks familiar though.

Just arrived back at The Manor and read Ethan's preview to bring me up to date. Had a terrible week really. Purchased what I thought were very sexy and moderately priced undies for the maid and it turns out they were face masks. Next, when I started talking up a Demons win the maid fled. Anyway I've been driving around all arvo searching for her. Didn't find her sadly but I lifted the spirits of the local serfs by letting them see me and giving them a wave. Now i'm cracking a reasonably priced shiraz quaffer and putting an obscenely fat steak on the barbie ( barbie as in cooking appliance that is). I'm super confident again. We showed some very convincing signs last week ( albeit against a [censored] Hawthorn) and reckon we'll only get better this week. Kozzie to kick a couple. Jones to surprise. Viney to cause serious injury. Dees by 27 !!!

Once again Ethan - a brilliant and succinct analysis. Where would we be without your insights.?

I wonder how many our insipid “déjà vu “ effort in Perth cost us

Top it off with a decent post game (celebratory) Shiraz Beetle - you’ll be fine

I thought Clarko’s shot at Papley was weak and disappointing He would be better served having a crack at knucklehead Frawley Horse Longmire’s reaction was telling. He was genuinely shocked at Clarkson’s comments

Win this and we are back among the big boys !!