PaulR

We are arguably 7 players off our best 22, and while those that came in are good, they not equal or like for like for Salem, Petty, Jackson, Kozzie, Nibbler, Sparrow and Hibbard. A lot of the Hawks ability to move the ball around and, at time open us up, would not have occurred with these 6+ back in and on. That we still won without those players out has me thinking how well we would have won by if they'd played...

Sad but true, the more the odds are stacking against us, the more comfortable I feel. 57 years of underdog status is hard to shake. Go Dees. 😂

OUT: Jackson, Kozzie, Sparrow, Goodwin. IN: Viney, Lever, Bedford, Yze Minimal changes, Viney and Bedford for Kozzie and Sparrow, and while Jackson for Lever is not like for like, we should be able to shuffle to make it work... i.e. Smithy forward ;) ?

Football world: No one is close to challenging Melbourne this season!! CoVID: Hold my beer...

I can help explain the 17410 the Ron Barassi signs under his name, if that would help..? i.e. 17-4 (for)-10 what a champ!!

Most pasture is sown in Autumn, idea is you get seeds going now, dormant (slow growth) over winter, then will grow well in Spring. Pretty standard time to sow.

BBB in is a given. So, how do we assess which of TMac or Weid we should keep and why? Tmas seems to have plateaued at an average level (not bad, not great) and Weid seems to have a higher potential but is struggling to reach or hit it consistently... So in terms of our preparation and build to winning in September, I would give Weid another month alongside Brown, to find his mojo. With a clear understanding that TMac would have time to slot back in should Weids continued elevation go pear shaped. Weid stays TMac out (for the moment)...

I live a 5 min walk to the G, and was considering not going (I went) because the crew of 3-5 i'd normally go with, were Out with covid Away for Easter (now lives past Torque) Deceased Away for Easter (family holiday) MFC has an affluent supporter base, many people have moved permanently to coast or hills to work virtually and commute to town, many are just starting to re-establish family holidays for the first time in 2 years, some have covid, some just don't want to get it. I ended up going alone, and loving it, but having had covid (and long Covid) just after Christmas, I am not as enthusiastic about big crowds as some on here would like me to be. I try and keep space, and would find the prospect of 100k jammed into the G a little anxiety producing at this stage. I'll get over it I'm sure (fourth booster and finals will help), but we all have our reasons and they don't necessarily reflect any lack of love for our club or the fantastic team we have at the moment. Just being human stuff..

I think after Toby Green walked through an umpire late last year, this crack down on players “venting” in the direction of umpires was both coming and necessary. sometimes, to prevent more serious actions (ie umpire assault), you need to crack down in the earlier and seemingly innocuous incidents that led to it. I’m not a huge fan of it, but happy to endure it so the players stop venting at the umpires.

How about bringing in BBB and Harrison Petty with both Sam and Tom to be dropped. Neither seem to be taking on or growing into the spot, and with Max, Jackson, Brown and Petty able to roll forward, do we need to persist with either of them when they’re out of form?

No need to apologise, as I, like you, was simply expressing my opinion. After 57 years, I’d give Max till Round 5, 2024. But each to their own.

Dons fans have exited the band wagon almost as quickly as they were piling on during the preseason… it’s very funny. Poor buggers. 😃

Didn’t he kick five in a prelim four games ago? Gone way too early… almost disrespectful of our great Premiership winning Captain…

I don't think we're under the radar, I've heard commentators say several times, that "Melbourne is the side to beat, and no one is looking close..." Dermutt being one on that bandwagon (which makes me kinda ill...).

It's becoming clear we broke the Doggies in the GF, and they have struggled to reset over the break... Don't think they'll make the 8 this year.

If Angus was my son, I'd be advising... "Stay and win some more flags, with your mates. Thats what footy is about."

Not wanting to be Dorothy Downer here, but North were (and probably still are) the wooden spooners for good reason. Poor all over the ground, good tune up for us but we could have played ourselves and got a tougher game.

Doing well, given Trac, Oliver, Gawn all off.

Is Zirhar a bit over weight?

Easy on Joel, the Lions entire forward line strategy is to isolate Cameron and put it to his advantage... Smith did ok (would Hibbard, May or Lever have defended better on Charlie?), and we won.

Only thing that might entice Gus could be the possibility of sharing a midfield role with his brother at Freo for the second half of his career..? I don't think he'd jump for dollars alone.

From a financial perspective what is the economic value to the state of holding 100k at the GF each year? Assuming every year at least one interstate team is represented it would amount to over $75 million if 35,000 interstaters rolled in spending just over $2,100... stacks up pretty quickly over the three+ decades to 2057, plus all the ancillary benefits.

Does shirting your pants in the face of an immanent belting constitute an “illness”..? 😄

When do we play the Cats? Hope we absolutely bury them.