Bimbo

I just hope that Carlton look as modest against every other team this year. And the corollary is that I hope D's lood as good against every other team also

What was the "Adelaide deal"? I remember hearing they were offering McAdam in exchange at one stage. With respect, if that was the deal then I believe the club did the correct thing in refusing. Was there anything better on offer?

Father took me to Melbourne (180 miles one way as it then was) as an 8 year old to watch Ron Barassi at the Lake Oval in 1963. Demonwiki informs me it was 1 June. I recall being amazed by the huge crowd. Demonwiki informs me it was 17,160. I remember being desolated by the loss but Demonwiki informing me the score was: South Melbourne 11 goals 8 behinds 74 Melbourne 8 goals 22 behinds 70 suggesting some things dont change over 60 years

On a stats level too basic to be mentioned in the Stats thread: Since round 10 (21 May) Collingwood have played 4 games only against teams in the finals. They had a good 2 point win against Port in Adelaide and have lost to Melbourne, Carlton and the Lions. Over the same time frame, Melbourne have played seven games against each of the fnalists (excepting Port) including Carlton twice and have only lost to GWS (somehow) and the conttroversial loss to Carlton. I reckon that is pretty good form coming into the finals.

I think it will be 20 in a row in one season. They won their first and third.

Tough on Con Dah, Mac Arthur and Ham Ilton to miss a gig with country.

Over the last 6 weeks we have played 5 teams currently in the 8 and Adelaide. The two games we lost were in shocking conditions - at Mordor and at Alice Springs (which game I still have problems accepting as a loss). Adelaide has only played 2 games at the MCG this year. They lost to Collingwood by a point and to us by 4 points. Their style suits the ground. I would add that the points they kicked were generally from a fair distance from goal. Not much in the way of gimmee's. For us, we did kick 3 goals 6 in the last quarter to their 7 goals 2. It was not all their way. For that entire 6 game period we have been without Oliver. For much of the time without Fritsch. Because of our results over this 6 week period, we have now all but sewn up a position in the top 4. Although we do not play another team curently in the 8 before the finals there is no such thing as an easy game (except West Coast who we do not play again). However, the pressure is going to be very different to last year when we had to have wins against top teams playing seemingly injured players. With Oliver and Fritsch back a few games before the finals, Hibbard playing a blinder at Casey and Petty the only other injury worry, I reckon we are in a pretty good position.

I think he is a notably improved player this year with still plenty of upside. He is showing far more willingness to take the game on and is playing some good roles - he spent quite a bit of time on Neale on Friday night. I would be very sorry to see him go.

As soon as i saw this thread i thought of Anthony Ingerson. He was one of the great pick ups from another club and just never let the team down.

From Carlton Big Footy: Melbourne, bombers, gold coast, the bye. 4 tough games coming up They generally dont seem very happy

My old man played with him for Hamilton (and against him later when Fanning moved to Coleraine). Said he was very tough but not as good a footballer as Bill Barham who was father of Bill and Jamie who both played a few games for Melbourne and also Ricky Barham who played alright for Collingwood for many years. Country football would have put Michael Christian about 5 weeks behind in writing up suspensions if today's rules were in place.

And Freemantle

From the OGGs match report for Saturday: We welcomed back Kynan Brown for his 2nd game of the year who really gives us some run and explosion out of the half back line.

I cannot understand why MFC had Adrian Anderson appear. While i believe he is a lawyer and was big in the AFL, surely a bigwig barrister might have been worth it

Just on a related topic, when Kozzies knee made contact with Ballard's head, should Kozzie have received the free kick as Ballard dived across in front of his legs?

The fact it was my first training for over 35 years might give you an indication as to how important you and other training watchers are to me and so many others on Demonland. I, like others, attended because of the invitation relating to 10+ year members, and in my case oddly coinciding with a couple of hours free on Tuesday. I have never looked at the website to see when training might be due to not generally being in a position to go anyway. I hope to see you at training in the week before the Grand Final in this and the next few years. I might be able to make a special effort to attend those.

Obviously younger and more efficient eyes My one and only training report ever, and i have buggered it

It appeared that the Casey contingent did some running away from the main group for a while. Laurie was with them while Schache was with the main group.

First time at training since finals 1987. It wasnt much harder than D Grade Ammo's in the mid 70's, missing the compulsory 2 laps jogging and kick to kick before start. Seemed a good sized crowd there. I didnt notice that much noise on the field. Just appeared to be a professional group going about their business. Spargo was not there that I could see. The players are great with the fans, especially the kids. I was too embarrased to ask for a selfie but hope greatness will rub off on me during the work week. The highlight for me was Hunter kicking a couple of dropkick goals from near the boundary.

Whenever I hear it, and it is quite often because I normally pick up the replay about there, is the BT line "Daniel and Goliath" I wonder who wrote it for him. "Bang ..... Bang Bang Bang" is also great I am embarrassed to say that I occassionally chuckle at Roaming Brian. Otherwise i cant think of anything good to say about comentators generally.

The part of his game last week i most admired was the fact that notwithstanding he seemed to be having trouble in the first half getting his hands on the ball, he appeared to work harder on his tackling and off the ball work-rate. The ball seemed to come his way more so in the second half , but his work while things were not going well was excellent.

Yeah, Tom McDonald is useless. His current stretch of playing in 14 consecutive winning AFL games (includng finals and excluding practice games) can only indicate how reliant he is on his team mates!

It has probably been noted already, but only Atkins, Mier and Close were picks from 2017 onwards by Geelong and of those 3, Atkins and Mier were local boys.

Zorko put in a massive effort in the last round to pick up the "best captain" award.

West Coast in passing 44 points has ensured that our defence has has the least total points scored against them this year. This is important as the premiers last year were in the same position after the end of the home and away season.