Pates

Better to play it safe with them, we rushed Viney last year in a desperate attempt to make the finals and it backfired terribly. Let’s make sure they are good to go regardless of our position. Good to see that Hogan and Petracca have been given the all clear from their niggles over the weekend. Though I think Jesse will be on light duties until the weekend.

His rise is remarkably similar to David Neitz (although still a long way to go before he catches the great man) but the thing that I’m so impressed by with him is his engine. For such a big man he can run so hard for so long. Side note, when he was lining up I think for his first shot on Saturday the commentators were building him up and building him up as a great set shot and I was yelling at the screen telling them to shut up. Of course he shanked it. I see a massive bag for him some time this year.

It’s almost an invisible ability that the top players seem to have. Brayshaw is getting better at it as well. Personally I like having Salem off half back for a bit of class coming out of defence. He has that ability to hit that crucial pass into the centre of the ground that opens teams up.

Defensively Smith actually did a decent job, he rarely got beaten one on one and competed extremely well. But boy when he got the ball me made some blunders, in a defence that features himself, OMac, and Frost those are three guys I do not want to have the ball. The big question is do we have anyone that would still be as competitive one on one but a better ball user? Hogan was crook last week, you’d hope he’ll be over whatever was making him play like he was carrying an extra 100kgof weight. As for the injuries he picked up during the game, the medico’s continued to allow him to play so you can only imagine they were just knocks and bumps. I’d be happy to give him a weeks rest for our final assault on September, but equally you take any team lightly at your peril. Most teams would be given a fair rev up after losing to Carlton.

100% agree, but it will never happen because the broadcasters have too much control. They would lose out massively on viewership/advertising. But yes for the integrity of the competition they should be playing all matches at the same time in the last round.

We're still yet to beat a team in the top 8, I will dream and believe when that happens. Until then.....

Every game is crucial, but ultimately we just have to keep our focus on week to week. We win next week vs GC and it's well and truly laid out in front of us. I'm feeling better in that I think on our day every game in front of us can be a win, but we've been burnt so many times it's hard not to be hesitant about being too optimistic. Treat every match as if we're playing the reigning premiers.

I'm more than surprised at the reason this thread was created. He was extremely important to our win and has become the standard at the club when it comes to forward pressure acts. He's a bottom tier player in the context of our team but he's doing his job for the most part quite well.

Jesse looked really off this weekend, I know he was crook through the week and he copped it on the knee and ankle at one point. If we’re confident enough in TMac to hold down the forward line and that Pedders can fill the role strongly enough I think we should rest him. I know it’s a dangerous precedent to do especially given our history of stuff things up vs lowly teams but if he isn’t right than give him that extra time to get right.

JKH definitely played a lot more confidently last night, kicking that goal was big for him and when you saw the boys get around him they knew how important it was for not only him but the team. He should’ve had a goal assist but Jones shanked a shot he should be nailing 99% of the time (and he is usually a very good set shot). His workrate is good and it’s why he’s kept his spot. I don’t see him being dropped next week.

I said before the game I would take the ugliest win ever, well it wasn’t pretty but we got there. The footy we played in the 3rd quarter (just like last week) was as good a footy as we’ve played all year. Max and the mids absolutely destroyed an Adelaide midfield that are hardly easy beats. Melksham has become one of our most important players (who would’ve said that when we first got him?) he is our best distributor going inside 50 and he’s rarely completely beat one on one. Finally though I feel like we got away with one though, Adelaide should have been further in front at half time and they missed some very getable chances in the final quarter. If Betts kicks that goal with about 40 seconds left we would’ve been in a lot of trouble. Ultimately we got the win we needed, we face the Gold Coast next week and I can only hope they treat them as if we’re playing the reigning premiers. Big last few rounds left!

His game yesterday was exactly type of game we got him for, he was calm and used the ball well, and he kicked two huge clutch goals right when they were needed. I called for him to be dropped a couple of weeks ago after a pair of bad acts of discipline but if we make finals he will be extremely important to our team. Congrats on 300!

Oh and Oliver is a freak of nature.

1) that was never a free kick to Hogan (but that makes up for the Frost free) 2) why did Hogan stay out there are after his goal. He is clearly not right.

Finally JKH kicks the goal!!!

Jeez we made a meal of that but got the goal. Hogan having a mare, is he still crook?

3 Melbourne players go up, ball falls to to Adelaide for a goal. ?‍♂️

Great two goals from Lewis.

Tyson....

They are down a man for the second half, we need to try to make the most of the extra rotations. Try to run them off their feet.

I feel like we were on top for most of that quarter, Adelaide got gifted a couple of goals from the umps and we missed some very getable opportunities (JKH, Harmes, Garlett). But certainly Max came into the game more, as did Brayshaw, Clarry, and Petracca (although he wasted it a couple of times). We’re well and truly in it, but we’ve got to start taking our chances. Kicking goals is how you silence the crowd.

Jeffy had to kick that.

Maxxy and the middle starting to win the clearances. Finally got reward for effort.

Petracca has the choice of two players to go to and picked the Adelaide player.

We are playing some dumb AF football.