binman

I agree, smithy might get the 'diffuser' role melky has been playing and reference (ie not a pure defensive forward) the oppoos best intercepting defender (Moore or Murphy in the QF). I reckon its actually a perfect role for Smithy because, one, we now need someone to play it, two he has the attributes and discipline and three he can still create, zone off, go third man up, fly for his marks etc etc and make his defender super accountable. In some ways he'll be a better option than melk. Melk has been brilliant, but although gets up the ground is a touch slow and that can be exposed defensively. Smith gets up and down the ground to help out on all team defence better than Melk, so we may not need another high half forward player in the starting 22 (meaning Laurie or Spargs can be the sub and come in and do that high half forward gut running as required). And it mitigates the risk of bringing in tmac, should we be considering it, in terms of tmacs lack of pace.

The most bullish I can ever recall you being dazzler. Agree with your sentiments. I'd add we are clearly running out games the best of the contenders. I reckon GWS are the only team close in terms of fitness and running power late in quarters and games.

Max gawn not in the squad? And Jackson is?

Brilliant LH. Funnily enough, i was literally just about to reply to El Diablo's request for 'cold hard facts to support' my confidence we'll beat the pies with: Umm, the 2023 home and away season? I might have perhaps also pointed to some very long posts, going into great detail about why we are the best team in it, and the Pies are 'the most over rated team i can ever recall'. But no need - you've nailed it!

Yes. And if you are a priority one member (basically all the membership types with a GF guarantee), all others have to also be priority one member if you are wanting category one or two seats (the info says Priority One members will automatically be offered category one seats)

Ta. Ben notes above: Yep, everyone at 10am tomorrow, however priority one members get exclusive access to purchase category one and two seating.

Surely no one thinks they will be easy to beat. I certainly don't. But i think we will beat them. By the by, the Pies are currently 1.84 favorites and we are 2.00, with the line at 1.5 That is as good as even money, but i suspect we will in fact start close favorites. A genuine 50 50 game. That we will win.

His best game for many weeks. Super hard at it too.

Not being a smart [censored], I promise But a thought experiment. Ignore the commentators. For the sake of the exercise, assume goody elected not to put time into Gulden because he thought, on balance, not doing so would be a net positive. What might the benefits of not putting time into gulden be?

Reading the package benefits for the $30 Access membership, it seems to be that all three levels of members (Priority 1, 2 and 3) all get priority access. So perhaps Priority one doesn't get a first crack? ie when sales open, all members have priority access at the same time

But note, anyone dead keen to be priority memeber for the QF can buy an Access membership for $30. It's not clear what priority this gives you (maybe just the same as general memebers? ie so you have a chance at getting ticket as none will be available to non mmebers), but the info on the link below says: Package Benefits Priority access to purchase a ticket in weeks 1-3 of finals in which Melbourne participates Priority 3 access to a Grand Final ticket if Melbourne participates 10% off full priced purchases in-store and online at the Demon Shop Club Voting Rights (if over 18) Access to exclusive offers from club partners https://membership.melbournefc.com.au/membership/30-access-membership-last-chance-deal Info about the priority group can be found here under FAQs: https://membership.melbournefc.com.au/finals-ticketing

I think thta is right. Priority one members get first crack at tix is my understanding. Priority one members are those with a GF guarantee: Memberships with Grand Final Guarantee included: Legends Trident Trident Open Air, Redlegs, Redlegs Open Air Demon Seats Plus members

I'm with you sisso

And besides, the g is our bloody home ground. The johnny come lately squatters should [censored] off and get their own home ground.

He knows its 50 50. They discussed it. He just reckons its unfair the pies, as the home team, don't get any advantage because the g is also our home ground.

100% 50 50 - pardon the percentage pun.

Yep, King gave us a huge pump up, tracc this, defence that. But at the end of the show they all gave their predictions. Bizarrely, given his huge pump up of the dees, and picking us as flag winners after our win over the Tigers, King picked the Pies to be the premier, with lions runner up. Somehow King arrived at the dees not even making the Grand Final. He also said that the Pies should get 75% of the tickets sold for the QF because as the home home team, and having finished on top, they have earned the benefit they would get from a pro Pies crowd.

That is a very good point. Daicos would surely be touch and go to play. Six weeks was preliminary final i thought. Even if he plays, it's not a game he can ease into, and will get no time and space. Or peace. And for Moore every day matters given his history of hamstring issues. A chilly Melbourne Thursday night won't help his cause much either.

Yeah, that's my guess too.

That's one of my favorite wins for long time. A team with such pride in the jumper that instead of taking the easy, cruisy path, as highlighted in the fox stats noted above, they dug in and said, nup, the dees win. Just fantastic. I am so proud to be a dees fans.

First time in the game day thread, once the game starts that is, for me in a couple or seasons. Quite a vibe - can imagine it would be fun in a game that had something riding it and we were losing. Some random comments: What's with the ragging on Hunter? It's 2023 - do people not understand he has a specific role, which he is playing to a very high standard? Turner doing well. His ability to zone off and work rate and pace to be a handball receive option is why he is in ahead of tomo, and why he is genuine chance to remain in the team May moving well, which is brilliant. Love him pushing up high. Dees playing 2 and 3 less at the stoppages in order to have players behind the ball is genius. Feeding our intercept game and remarkably we are plus 7 foe clearances. Love the focus on deefence. See you all in the post match thread

It's a joke. Such an infuriating rule. E Often either turns out not to he an advantage, or in the event every just stops, an unfair disadvantage to the team the free has been paid against.

They look in great nick. Sparrow, tracc and riv all look in the best shape I've seen them.

Port players are playing like they are scared of copping a pre finals injury.

Another 5 years or so of top 4 finishes and i might look back to that time wistfully. Not yet but.