DEE fence

100 point smashing please, there would be no asterix next to that either...

I too am super interested, will be a surreal moment, one wonders if players will be able to go as hard without atmosphere. Would you kill yourself as a gladiator with no audience...

While i roll my eyes at 'what if' anything, i do see 2020 as one long pre season now, and the idea of playing kids has some sense. Rivers and Jackson for mine.

Perfect summary, I understand the frustration of other posters though.

Harmes has grown immensely on me over his time at the club, I used to think he was a bit of a clown and happily retract that slight with my humble apologies. His 'run with' ability is his ace, he plays a team role perfectly, and by doing so becomes as valuable a player as a 'star' mid. The scalps he has taken suggest stick with what works, and thanks heaps for working so damn hard James.

Is what i thought you were implying, i had been wanting to back it as well.

To be fair to Ross, he always backed HB, said he was a good bloke and the media narrative wasn't definitive. Ross for all his faults backed his players.

Wonder if Bayley was happy with the kiss of death? Gawn is a legend for recognizing these media pieces for the floss they are and making it actually humorous.

I pray for this, the 7th light tower of the MCG.

The way the team got around HB, definitely teared up a bit, wife thinks I'm mad, but watching the reaction, the team is in a good place and you can see what they think of Harley, says more than enough for me. JV awesome bloke fierce competitor, but you get he doesn't quite have the eq for captain, no knock on the bloke he brings many other things to the team.

His 1st involvement in the NM game was a serious tackle, no doubt he needs to recover some of his skills, but he has always had an appetite for the 1% stuff and team 1st attitude. I too thought he was flat after he knocked himself out. Always struck me as humble as well, don't know if that is true or not, but lets get around him and wish him the best.

Persist for mine, he has a big heart, i think it is for the coaches to help him find his mojo. We dont have that much toe either

No one wants to go to North, they would still come up short...

Was young and it was a stretch to pay tbh. No one gets choice about the club in my family. I still don't understand how you could let your kid choose another club.

My last four (of five) were all members before birth, caused no end of consternation to hospital staff around the world who think I am some sort of freak putting Demon paraphernalia on the cots in the hospital wards. Anyone top four pregnancy memberships?

He was the ultimate finals specialist, definitely owns a part of those 3 flags. When Everitt left the Saints I always thought that hurt them in the GF. Not having O'Dwyer hurt us in the big dance. Your point about game changing is taken. You can win with out is true, but I always thought a good ruckman is worth double points on grand final day. The teams that have won without have had generationally good players in other positions.

The smoke from the "Australian bushfires is so severe it is expected to complete a circuit of the Earth, returning to the country's skies from the west." Just wow, this floors me, Maybe get on a ferry to Launceston? A few weeks down there? IIRC - we have players managing asthma type conditions, plenty of footy players do.

Ed Burston was my Biology teacher, top bloke, IIRC he decided on a career over footy, dollars wern't so hood i think and he had a long steady career at Peninsula.

Surprised (or missed it) that no one commented on Hogan vs Rance, I enjoyed that... https://www.afl.com.au/video/24815/the-kid-versus-the-all-australian?videoId=24815&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1429877093001 Also I seem to remember a classic Rance dive when Chris Dawes put him to sleep in the pocket (he made a joke about that during the sleep out thingy) https://www.afl.com.au/news/76864/stevie-j-and-dawes-accept-one-match-bans But as already cited nothing gives quote the joy of watching Viney put him on his [censored] (or he flopped again) after the Watts shot. Viney warms the heart with his fierce backing of his team. Anyway, good luck to him, god bothering will suit him well.

In which position do you think? I still think it is worth persisting with t mac + weid at CHF / / FF

Am curious to your thoughts, note that i peg my teams after a year of home and away. I would agree some spots are very much in play. I have gone for footy skills, marking and speed. Sadly, looking at the training photos, VDB's legs have wasted as badly as Trengove's did, he is a long way off. I love his heart and grunt, but can't see him doing much primetime for a while, happy to be wrong. Bennell amd Kolo are in because of natural skills, obviously they need to be fit. While Hannan's final highlights remain a joy, i think he goes missing to often to be more than depth. And to me Jones plays mid or fwd but not back. He could swap but I like Melks for this role more (and yes i feel a bit dirty)

Best 22 (@ first week of finals, no injuries) i think VDB is depth until is clear injuries are under control, I like Hannan but I think we have seen his max. Obviously I rate ANB and in a side with better kicks his running will become more useful. B: Jetta May Hibberd HB: Salem, Lever, Langdon CTR: Kolodjashnij, Brayshaw, Tomlinson HF: Petracca, T Mac, ANB F: Pickett, Weid, Melks Follower: Gawn, Oliver, Viney I/C: Hunt, Bennell, Harmes, Fritsch Next 22 B: Lockhart, O Mac, J Smith HB: Rivers, Hore, Chandler CTR: Baker, Sparrow, Bedford HF: vandenBerg, Brown, Hannan F: Petty, Jackson, Dunkley Follower: Preuss, Jones, C Wagner I/C: Spargo, J Wagner, Jordon, Nietschke

Like this ^^^ Not one football kicked in primetime yet, I can't think of one journalist who hasn't been made to look silly with opinion and speculation.

Point, as a poor feeble excuse, it was seeing his mum in the photo that made me choose mum without much thought.

Thanks mum for the investment in weetbix... looks like he needed two kitchens to feed that boy.