Pates

Plus they’ve managed to fluke themselves into gaining a top academy pick in Ugle-Hagen while it looks like academy pick will be lost to us. They may well have been the underdog battlers back when they won their drought breaking premiership but they’ve had the list to be right in the mix since and until now haven’t made good on it. The fact their were against the wall was thanks to that pitiful fade out against port in round 23. The first 5min will be interesting to see how it’s umpired, they still did more throws than the Melbourne storm against port that weren’t called. It baffles me that they get away with it. Their dream run with the umps is one of the big things that has me worried, that last match up was a joke with ALL 50/50 calls going their way and us just getting blatant frees not even called. One thing that I take from that last meeting in a positive way is that we didn’t play well for 90% of the game but still only lost by 20 points. Importantly though, same scoring shots, they were accurate and we weren’t. Kick straight Dees!

Could see it going either way, the bye could be perfect timing for them to allow some players to get a much needed rest. Personally I would rather the GF be next weekend, this waiting around is excruciating!

We didn’t tag Bont last time, he murdered us. I wouldn’t say no to first bounce Trac goes next to him but either way there needs to be a plan. The big thing they did which every team who beat us did was not allow our defenders the chance to mark. They are very good at the fall of the ball in the forward line. We will be favourites but I see it as line ball. Dogs have their bite back.

The cats you could give a minor pass on their pathetic showing given they are an ageing list and we had the week off, but Port should be absolutely ashamed of that effort tonight. They had every reason to come out the stronger team but they were pathetic. An embarrassment. Once and for all proved that they were pretenders that didn’t deserve to finish as high as they did. Bring on the dogs, despite the final ladder position they finished I felt they were the second best team across the year. Now it’s time we proved it.

Agreed, particularly if May isn’t 100%.

Alright Port, you gotta grind now. That was soft as **** footy. This is why I’d prefer to play Port, pretenders.

Dixon and Grey needed to nail one of their shots, extremely poor misses and momentum killers. They need to get to quarter time and reset.

Extra time as well!

Jonesy has been and will forever be remembered as the ultimate team-first player, but there can be no doubting this decision. He is clearly a strong family man and his place is by his wife’s side as she bring these twins into the world. It’s a beautiful thing. He will cheer the boys on from afar and I have zero doubt they will have him in the back of their minds the whole time. Love you Nate. 💙❤️

Melbourne have just released an action figure of Ben Brown with his arms at full extension….

I loved hearing from his parents on the channel seven broadcast where they said he’s a really quick thinker to the point that almost he doesn’t even know what he’s doing next, so what hope do the opposition have?! This will sound ridiculous but I still think he hasn’t reached his peak power yet.

I can’t see what happened last night happening tonight, dogs bring their best they win but they’ve been off the boil and Port have had the crucial week off. I can see the Dogs getting off to a fast start but then being pegged back for a comfortable win to Port but I got they beat the holy hell out of each other.

In honour of the club’s sponsor I’ve knocked back a fair few Furphy’s! They taste bloody good I tell ya what. Now I do have to say a couple of notes: I’m gutted (like so many here) that we aren’t seeing this live, it’s a cruel twist of fate but the players are playing for us even on the other side of the country. There are going to be those who miss out that have deserved to be a part of it. Jonesy is the obvious one, Melksham is extremely unlikely, and of course poor Tommo who was in tears after the game. It’s heartbreaking, but I love all of you guys. On a positive, despite it not being in Melbourne I have to say thank you to the WA public for getting behind the Dees. They loved cheering for Max Gawn and I have no doubt that he was putting on a show for them. Great atmosphere, not gonna beat the G on GF day but nothing does. All aboard the Melbourne train!

What this also actually showed is that the pre-finals bye has 100% favoured the lower teams within the finals. We finished top 4, we won the QF, and we earned the rest. The rest was clearly a factor tonight, I’m not saying it won it for us but it was a factor. I really hope the league looks at permanently getting rid of it.

So proud ❤️💙.

I've gone for Furphy as they're a club sponsor, feels appropriate. I think I'll go through them like water tonight!

Woke up early today, I'm a bloody nervous wreck already. This is going to be a long day!

Simple change, I agree with it. I was an advocate for Hunt being the sub as I feel like he provides more versatility, but Jordon has been the sub before and come on to play well so I'm comfortable with it. Shame for Smith, big chance for Hibberd. Ok now I gotta go vomit from the nerves (again!).

I’ve agreed to put up a flag in the window, but I’m so nervous about this week I kind of don’t want too many reminders! If we get the chocolates on Friday I’ll make the house full red and blue everywhere!

If we’d lost most people would’ve said it was a 5-10min period that cost us. The whole other time the game was largely on our terms. But hey if they want to believe that and go in with that attitude fine with me.

I think this is a golden reason why I think there should be reward for efforts through the season.

I think there should be consideration for a premiership ring or something similar to American football where all players that play through the year get recognition for the contribution to the team getting there. I think premiership medals for the team on the day is fair, but jeez it just feels wrong that someone like Jonesy is missing out on this and even worse having to choose between family and the outside chance he might get picked.

I think Hunt should be considered as the sub, this isn’t a charity gig or anything like that, if Hibberd is coming in for Smith as reported Hunt is a player that could provided the flexibility required should there be an injury across the ground. He’s played forward, back, and midfield so for me he makes logical sense as a player to be the sub. I had a feeling we would be seeing Hibberd in the finals.

Tough on Smith poor bloke starts to find a place and then gets injured (again). Hibberd for Smith does seem like the logical replacement but I hope Hunt is in the calculations as well.

Tough call coming, I don’t know if we can find a way to bring in Hunt. I was all up for Smith out for Jayden but the flexibility of having him in the team may be too good. I actually think Hunt as sub could work quite well, can play back or forward and could even inject some pace into the midfield if needed.