Pates

Hard to argue with the OPs main point. I think the thing is OMac should be our first key defender. He's still too midsized, gets monstered by the big forwards with long reach. To be honest he kind of reminds me of Zac Dawson. I think there's potentially a place for him as our 2nd tall defender but both he and Frost aren't big enough to take on the big forwards. Its well summed up that in the other positions we are quite well represented. Jetta and Hibberd are having close to AA years and Hunt continues to do what he does best with his run and dash. But when it comes to balls coming into the 50 for the big forwards I'm always worried. I think we need to look at bringing someone in, obviously Lever appears to be the best option out there.

With Hogan out Weids could be a big chance next week. Great effort from him. As an MFC fan Casey winning this weekend is so important given that pathetic loss we suffered yesterday. While I'd caution swinging the axe big time, this puts players on notice. Good win Casey.

Alright I'm joining the coverage late here so please a wrap of the good the bad and the ugly would be fantastic. Obviously the fact we are down at 3 quarter time is not going to script.

It's been said but this makes winning tomorrow that much more important. Simply must get the job done, let's help deliver North the spoon they so desperately want.

No it's true praha, they MCG would be remissed if they didn't look into improving the quality of their product and of course this includes food. I have a feeling there must be laws against being able to serve beer outside of a bar even in a licensed stadium. Otherwise it seems silly they wouldn't do it. I love my meat pies though, nothing like a 4n20 at the footy!

Whatever he said remember this. We got absolutely reemed for something that other clubs also did. It was on the back of off the cuff comments by Brock McLean (the irony of his going to Carlton still gets me) and they ultimately didn't have proof of wrong doing, but they still needed to punish us. There was a lot of "list management" going on back then by clubs like us that were placed in the situation by the AFL. It was of their making. I don't blame Connolly and co for wanting to exploit it, much the same way Carlton did. Maybe they took the pi55 a bit, but I still think we were a scapegoat for something the AFL created. I think it should be a lottery for the top 4 picks between the bottom 4 teams. That way either way you get a great young talent, but it's not guarantee you get no 1 if you finish last.

Usually fairly difficult (though not impossible) to lose by getting out to a 48pt margin in the second quarter. For me it's definitely about the start, particularly with lower ranked clubs if you get out to an early margin it breaks them (speaking from experience). Scoreboard pressure from the start, don't allow them easy access to Brown, lower the eyes for targets going inside 50. If we play the way we've been playing for most of the year it should be a very comfortable win. Let's see if we can play better.

Credit to the tigers, every time I've thought they might falter they have found a way to win. I still don't rate them as a top 4 team (regardless of whether that's where they finish) but they keep getting it done. Would absolutely love to play them in the finals. Interesting what bananas has pointed out, this is a shocking week for an upset but it wouldn't be the craziest thing in a few games. Hawks v Swans at the G, I can see the Hawks winning that (Swans are due for a loss too), Port are so overrated and have lost Wingard so Saints beating them wouldn't be the weirdest thing in the world, Doggies v Bombers is 50/50, and dare I say it the Roos have had the wood over us. Very important weekend of results.

That's actually sickening to hear from Lyon. We wouldn't need to be grateful if there were true commercial equalisation. More FTA coverage = more exposure for sponsors. More exposure for sponsors = more sponsors knocking on your door with better deals. Yes we should be grateful for them agreeing to give us the full profits from the QB. But eternally grateful? Thank them from the bottom of our hearts? Get f---ed Gary. There has been inequity for a very long time and Collingwood have been the major beneficiaries of it. They helped us with this one thing because they knew it would be easier to claim better FTA coverage and timeslots, Eddie would not have done something that was not commercially beneficial to the Pies. He has now recognised that the pendulum is swinging and so he want shared profits. I don't begrudge him of that, I think it's fair. But it also means we are more entited to request better FTA coverage including more Friday/Saturday night games. Stick them in the 4:20pm Sunday slot week in week out and see how they go.

What do we give up for Zac? What's his worth to the team? There is a definite romantic idea of him playing with his brother, particularly given Nathan is coming towards the twilight of his career.

He might feel more at home, it'll probably have a bit more of a suburban footy feel to it which is what he's been doing for the last couple of seasons. Hope he is able to put in a really good game, like many here I just want to see him back playing regular AFL footy. Whether that's in Red and Blue or not I actually don't mind, but let's see how he goes this week. Also I'm not feeling like this is MFCSS but I think it would be a mistake to take North lightly here. We definitely did earlier in the year and they got the jump on us, I know we've developed further as a team but for the first bounce we should bully them around like teams have done to us in the past. At 3 quarter time I want to see us with a big score and cruising comfortably.

I'm happy with no change, keeping a settled team is good for confidence with each other. Lets smash the Roos!

In his short career Salem's been through some very high moments (winning goal v Essendon) and very low moments (injuries & thyroid issues), but he looks like he's come out he other side into a very valuable player. I'm sure he will learn a lot from Hibberd and will only continue to improve. Freeman on the other hand looks like has only experienced the lows, we've had players like that. Luke Molan comes to mind. I hope he's able to get out on the park, as we very well know sometimes the cards fall your way and sometimes it doesn't.

I was on the fence about it, I didn't mind so much they'd made this decision but they made the decision before chatting to Jones. I felt like he was owed a little more than just being told straight out that it was happening. Lots of people howled at it in the beginning, claiming they'd ruined Viney. I thought it was ridiculously premature for people to say that and I had no doubt it would pay off in time. I just wasn't 100% convinced on the timing. Fantastic decision by Goodwin.

If we'd been forced to play at Etihad we would've barely broke 20,000.

Those words would've got you shot down very quickly 2-3 years ago! I feel confident Gawny will get up, I'd be comfortable with giving Jones another week. We've got the Giants after North so I'd rather him be right for them. We've had a very interesting year of injuries but with a bit of luck things could come right at the best time. I really hope I haven't put the mozz on us now!

Agreed, we're traveling well but we're not exactly racking in big crowds.

Would love him to have a day out against the Roos. Maybe another "thirteen, THIRTEEN!' moment coming!

That's the big crux of the matter. I'm fine with it being alternate as well, but they will still be first in line for getting preferable fixturing with prime time matches. If they and the AFL are happy to even up that side then fair play to them. Also as someone also pointed out, as long us it's alternate to the ANZAC eve match. But yeah, they've had it very good for a long time with prime time fixtures while we get the crumbs, and realistically this is one of two "blockbuster" matches we've had this year. Fair's fair, we're winning and they aren't. So share their better time slots around.

Smashing teams would be the next natural progression for us, the wins are coming (how good does it feel!) and now we're in the picture for finals we need to get a couple of big wins under our belt. Obviously no 1 we have to first win and not go into games with arrogance, we've seen how that turns out, but reality is we are better than North and we have to make sure they know it at full time with a big margin. Brisbane as well. Pies will hopefully be mentally checked out in round 23 being out of finals contention but it's the Pies and I'm sure they'd like to ruin plans for us. Bottom line, win first and then smash.

I understand why the OP is saying what he/she said but but you can thank Goodwin for the second half being boring, and at the same time you can thank him for helping us to win the game because of it. He recognised Port were getting their free flowing game going to he stopped it from happening. When Port got a run on early in the 4th he was able to communicate to the players to shut it down, and so there was no goal for about 10min but it essentially killed the game. Lotsof games I've watched from Melbourne have been relatively high scoring, so if Goodwin has to alter it to win the game, that's what he's paid to do. As for your prediction of less crowds, memberships, TV viewers; the numbers are going up and I'd imagine will continue to go up. This has been one of the most exciting and unpredictable seasons ever.

Damn, just as he was finding touch. Still, we need to play smart with him. Pedders did a solid job in his absence, much as I want Gawn out there is there's doubt let's play Pedders again.

That is the very definition of a deer in headlights! He was completely frozen!

Honestly if he'd got less I would've just about given up on the AFL. At least finally there has been some semblance of consistency. Also good for us, as you say it releases Jetta.

I wouldn't go as far to say Vince has been rubbish, he has done some excellent (close to match winning) shut down roles this year. But I do agree he's well below what's been previously, for that reason if we win next week and replacements such as Trengove/JKH play their role well Vince should be made to come through the VFL.