PaulRB

I'm with you Diamond, in general, and would also love to knock GWS out of the four and help them fall.. Mind you, seeing Dons get crushed by Doggies would tickle as well.

So if we could pick one (other) result to go against the odds this week, which would it be? And why?

Top 9 playing lower 9, any slip up by top 9 teams will have major consequences come September. If Hawks and Saints lose they are out of the running. There's an intriguing contest for 8th spot with Dons, Weagles and Doggies all vying. Dons Vs Doggies a huge game for both clubs. Eagles be looking to build percentage vs Lions. A win to us keeps us clear of that mess. Similarly we're in a tussle with Port and Swans to move up to 5th or 6th and the prospect of a home final. Our percentage is way below both clubs so hoping for Saint to beat Port and Hawks to pinch it vs Swans. It has the feel of a congested horse race as they round the curve to the final straight, lots of possible moves and outcomes. Great season.

I reckon keep it same as now play everyone once and the remaining games filled out over a 3 year cycle, I.e you play every team 4 times over a 3 year period... draw them out of a hat with schedule over 3 years.

I think the role model of Viney would say to all the younger kids, play, play hard and push yourself hard to support the team. Clarry, like Viney, is a competitive beast. Play him through to the pre-finals bye. No mollycoddling, no relenting in our push for finals and top four.

So we're in the process of recreating ourselves as a power house club. Change is inevitable. We're profitable, young and exciting and... finals bound. Build it and they will come.

The draw is one of the charms of the game, like the oval shaped ball! Sometimes it bounces perfectly, sometimes tragically... like the draw. Good teams do well irrespective.

While we'd all love to read in the tea leaves that this is the year that we finally win a flag, I've been fossicking about for something a bit more "scientific"... and I found a couple of pearls worth rolling out to oppo fans in the next month when discussing our finals chances. My fave - "Did you know that every time the Doggies have won the flag, Melbourne has won the next three?" Used this on a rabid Doggies fan earlier in the year (before their recurrent crappiness reaserted itself) and he scoffed at me! Though it did confuse him enough to have him stop spitting words on me. or maybe this - "Did you know that every time Paul Roos has passed the Coaching reins to his successor they've won a flag within two years?" Any others?

I'm not convinced we need another tall back, given we've played TMac up forward for the past couple of months and not lost a lot down back, and with Weideman to mature and provide another tall forward, potentially pushing Tom back to CHF... just not convinced joining the rush to get Lever is the right move. What we know is that over the next 2-3 we'll lose Vince, Lewis and Jones will be close, so I'd be having a tilt at Kelly or another tough mid/HBF with speed and elite footskills. I too like Bayley Fritsch, reminds me of Robbie, curious as to the size of his engine as VFL level is far less punishing athletically and he seems to loiter in the forward line rather than pressing into defence and streaming back to goals aka Garlett, etc... Great skills, also wonder about his defensive steel.

Should be half of what Geelong gave the Crows for Dangerfield..?

I'm salivating at the prospect of Jesse hitting form and full confidence for our first final at the G come September. Finals is where champions truely step up and are created, "h&a champions" is just hype. Jesse won't be alone in looking to mint his reputation as a star when it counts.

Melbourne injury list: round 19 Neville Jetta (ankle) – available Max Gawn (ankle) – test Nathan Jones (quadriceps) – test Bernie Vince (suspended) - 1 week Tom Bugg (Suspended) - 4 weeks Mitch White (hamstring) – 4-6 weeks Dean Kent (shoulder) – 6 weeks Pat McKenna (hamstring) – season Tim Smith (navicular bone) – season Aaron vandenBerg (heel) – season Lochie Filipovic (hip flexor) – season Colin Garland (knee) – season

Straight onto it this week Melbourne injury list: round 19 Neville Jetta (ankle) – available Max Gawn (ankle) – test Nathan Jones (quadriceps) – test Bernie Vince (suspended) - 1 week Tom Bugg (Suspended) - 4 weeks Mitch White (hamstring) – 4-6 weeks Dean Kent (shoulder) – 6 weeks Pat McKenna (hamstring) – season Tim Smith (navicular bone) – season Aaron vandenBerg (heel) – season Lochie Filipovic (hip flexor) – season Colin Garland (knee) – season

I think JKH was good against Port and is settling in nicely. Seems he's on the pace this time round and I suspect, like Nibbler, if given time would blossom as his confidence builds.

Best aspect of that high tackle on Jets is it inspired the team, who proceeded to move the ball in a wave of hard footy to hit Hogan (I think) for the goal. With several players running to Jetta to acknowledge his courage.

Qualifying final vs Cats at the G for week 1. Would love to rip their tiny heart out on the big stage.

If we were to accept that we should now beat North, Lions and Pies given they're out of race and crap. So that leaves GWS in two weeks and Saints in three weeks. Saints the easier of the two at this stage as will be at G and because it's more than likely that the Saints will lose to Port then Weagles prior to playing us, putting finals out of reach, and shifting their focus to sending off Saint Nick and blooding youth. Which leaves GWS... Green likely suspended, but Coniglio likely in.

Jack Ts third game at AFL level for two years, did ok and will get better for the run. Hope he gets a month to build confidence and form.

From Casey report on Gus... “He probably exceeded what we felt he was going to give us tonight, so full credit to him,” Plapp said. “He is certainly a player we need playing and being healthy, so it was a good return from him.”

Skip work, bring kids to G... everyone happy. hows that a conundrum?

I like your thinking! Maybe I do... but I'd hate for the Tiggers to take our spot... and it's so fun watching the Tigers unravel, Collingwoodesque as they say.

Ideal results from this weeks round of footy... Adelaide Vs Geelong - Geelong loss as their percentage lower and more likely to fall. Plus the Cats are smug. Essendon vs North - Any Dons loss a good thing, a loss makes it harder for them to catch us. Western Bulldogs Vs Goldcoast Suns - A GCS win would almost put Doggies out of the race Sydney Vs Saints - Hard call, but if we are bold and capable we'll be contesting with Swans for spot in top 4, so Saints to win. Freo Vs Hawks - Both teams out of race, higher Hawks finish lower their gift to the Saints is... Richmond Vs GWS - Want Tigers to lose as would open up 5th spot, and a Tigers end of H&A flame out would be poetry.. Collingwood Vs Westcoast - Want WC to lose, pies to start their EOS celebrations/palpatations asap Brisbane Vs Carlton - Go Lions! ... it's Carlton Given the evenness of the competition its actually hard to pick which results would benefit us most...

Hey Brownie, behind the goals at the Punt road end is a fun spot to sit, was electric the day Watts jailed the winner vs the pies...

I reckon there's been just a couple where we "do it comfortably" this decade... I'm expecting it to be excrutiating to the last second. as always.