Pates

Chook got it, we won’t go too crazy with the changes I would’ve thought unless someone plays an absolute blinder for Casey. Spargo was much better today though someone needs to talk to him about his set shot routine. He doesn’t take a moment to breathe and relax his body.

Positives: we played like a finals team today. Negatives: injuries, bloody injuries. It’s ironic that after all our doomsaying, that we had to beat a top 8 team to make finals that in the end we beat two and arguably threw the game away against the Swans with bad kicking. We are one of the in form teams in the 8, and I can’t wait to see us take on Geelong. Oh a quick shout out to the cats who while being outside the 8 had the arrogance to request a final at the cattery should they finish high enough. How about you get into that position before saying crap like that! Fl0gs!

Just flicked on for the last 5-7min, very impressed with the commitment from all the players as well as the urgency. They know the temperature has already risen.

That's a bit of a bomb to drop without anything else to give, what do you think he injured? Was he visibly in pain or simply leave the track early?

I think a 2 year extension on the current contract wouldn't be the most ridiculous thing in the world. We've improved steadily and our numbers stack up well on the statistics side of things, it's now a matter of everything clicking. I feel like that could be next year and the finals this year will be a launching pad for it.

It is the flaw in our competition that we have 18 teams but only play a handful of teams twice. It's not equitable and teams like the Pies and us get rewarded with a softer draw that makes making finals a little easier for the following year. We're both in the same boat, but they took their chances better and managed to push to get some scrappy wins where we didn't. With their injury list, full credit to them. Fact is we would be one of the rare competitions in the world where this is the case where you do play a home game and an away game against each team. It's because the athletic demands of our game are so much higher that we can't have midweek games like you would with soccer, basketball, baseball etc. The NRL is in the same boat as us but I'd be interested to know if the Rubgy League in the UK makes sure each team plays each other twice. My biggest gripe with the draw (apart from teams like Carlton and the Saints seemingly getting better commercial draws) is the fact that we play some teams twice before playing another team once.

Jeez Freo almost actually did it, realistically it was unlikely for them to get the job done as they've been such a rabble this year (how is Lyon still coaching there?). I like the fact that there is certainty with our match tomorrow, we know where we stand and what our result will mean for without the jeopardy of dropping out. Typical that Geelong get the softest end to the year and back things up with 100+ trouncings of rabble clubs.

In the finals last year when port lost all the talk was that they needed to get competitors who would fight to win. Who did they get? Some of the biggest front runners in the comp. I’m sure a fair few on here would know I was a Watts fan and a part of me is still sad he’s not at the club for this moment of joy but even I know that he was a downhill skier that mostly only performed well when the team was doing well. He’s not the guy that’ll chase a player down chasing him for 20m. Port made their competitiveness problem worse by their recruiting. We lost to Port because we failed to take our chances and were dogged by some woeful umpiring. Like a few others this year we found way to lose to Port rather than them finding a way to win.

It HAD to be perfect as well because there were eagles players ready to swoop on it. Play of the day from the ball up to the goal.

It’s going to be really interesting to see how the players approach his game. With the monkey off the back will it release the doubt and tension allowing them to play more freely? Or will it go the opposite way where the players take things a little easier worrying about missing out on finals due to an injury? Will they rest on their laurels of finally making the finals or strive to get another scalp? You would hope that a home final (particularly against the cats) would be motivation enough to treat this a huge game and bring finals like pressure. What would really set the cat amongst the pigeons would be if Collingwood were to get the classic Collywobbles against Freo and open the door for a top 4 finish.

I love Jetta but he had a slow start to the year, he wasn’t bad but he wasn’t his usual solid as a rock self. Oliver and Gawn are the only two I had in my head as AA players, Clarry not starting is purely down to runs on he board for other players and them being known in the media as champions.

I’m just so glad that for once the destiny was in our hands and we were good enough to make sure of it without having to rely on other results.

I REALLY want the cats in the first week, I feel like beating them in the finals would exorcise some demons for us

But wait a minute, wasn’t everyone at the start of the year talking about how well Port had recruited?

Look I was one that was suggesting Spargo get dropped, and really he is lucky to hold his place after about 3 weeks of average to poor performances. But fact is he was a part of the team that booked our finals place so I’m happy with him getting another run. But I really hope Goodwin tells any Melbourne listed player playing at Casey that these next two weeks are opportunities for them to make selection really difficult for the first week of finals.

Salem’s little squeeze kick after Jones managed to win that crucial contest had to be millimetre perfect and it was. That released us up the line to get it to Melksham in the square. Salem’s kicking this year has been elite.

True, I’m picturing no change to be honest. MAYBE Spargo dropped but the selection committee have already shown they have great love for him so I think he’ll keep his place.

It’s interesting to consider but should we win this week our form coming into the finals will be as good as anybody’s bar the tigers. Particularly getting wins over 2nd at their home and (should we beat GWS) a top 4 aspirant. Although I think it’s unlikely the Pies could well fall into the trap we’ve done too many times to count, looking too far ahead. I’m glad we’re playing a finals bound side as it’s an opportunity to get a further scalp and more confidence. Playing a lower ranked side can sometimes have you not paying close enough attention to what’s in front of you.

I'm a really strong critic of the AFL's fixturing where it's possible to have played other teams twice before facing one team once. It's wrong. One thing that improved massively on the weekend was our willingness to look for leads in the forward line rather than just popping it into a "dangerous spot". In fact I think most of the times we did that it rebounded up the other end. We had 19 marks inside 50 compared to WC's 8 and we definitely looked more organised going forward. I would love Freo to get the upset of the round and set this game up as fighting for top 4, but realistically it is playing for 5th and a home final. Still lots at stake.

How's Crossy going as a runner? Runners need to point and tell the players what they're doing wrong.

I'm being selfish but I would much prefer a night game because I'm over in London. Really would prefer not having to wake up at like 5-6am for our first final in over a decade!

Reading the Casey review on the MFC website Bugg and Wagner are the only two that popped up for a mentioned but it sounded like a dirty day where finding positives is like finding a needle in a haystack. They only mention that Bugg’s numbers where high and that he “gained yardage” and Wagner’s performance “gutsy” with 8 tackles and 28 disposals. We could, as some have mentioned, give Wagner a promotion to run him in defence and switch Fritch forward again. Or the alternative bring Bugg in for one last shot. Both options for me we drop/rest Spargo. No change is entirely possible, why would you want to change the team that booked us finals?

Wow you paraphrase in a way that Damo and Hutchy would be proud of, my full quote was “improvement was always going to happen with all those dominos falling into position.” I think you missed your calling as a Fox News reporter. Of course it doesn’t just happen. There had to be buy in from players and as you pointed out commitment to take things to the next level. But I didn’t realise you were able to see into alternate realities and know FOR A FACT that we were never going to improve with him in the team. Even with Gawn, Clarry, Harmes, Brayshaw etc improving apparently Watts was always going to be the one thing that held us back from playing finals. I’m sad for him, there’s a sentimental part of me that wishes that he was still with us. The one thing I will say is a definite positive is with him no longer playing for us we don’t have to deal with the media obsession over him.

I was the one that started this thread at he beginning of the season so I’m naturally curious about his development. I think we always knew he wasn’t going to be like Hogan making an immediate impact but there have been moments where he shows his potential. I actually didn’t realise he took 4 contested marks on the weekend, that’s a very good returnsnd he could’ve had more (there were a few he got a good piece of and just fumbled at the end). As a high draft pick people are always going to be impatient, but fact of the matter is that we’re in a luxurious position where we can allow him to naturally develop without pressure as opposed to how we’ve treated almost every other high draft pick in the past.

Looking at the scenes I actually don’t think we celebrated that hard, considering everything we’ve been through you would’ve forgiven Jonesy for doing a victory sprint around the ground. It was a big match, it was a tight match, it was relief, but I don’t think we actually celebrated that hard. ?‍♂️