Josh

Carlton remind me of a 2018 Melbourne. Alot of hype, and deservedly so but the pressure will mount as the performances stack up. They have the star power in a similar way that we did but it will take time IMHO

I think this is spot on and can't be understated. I think back to the 3peat hawks. They were always missing key players early and weren't playing their best but just found wins. The old Melbourne coughs this one up. This Melbourne believe. No they understand.

Game day. [censored] yes. Early start early finish for this pig farmer. Aus kick tonight. Unfortunately no smoker until tomorrow... Hopefully listening to the Saturday rub discussing Melbourne's 188 point deemolition of Essendon

JB mentioned as well. Apparently Hawks and Pies heavily covid affected... Guess it's gonna be like this all year

Sad part is that's normally how the AA team goes. Big blokes who look like Tarzan play like Jane, a token small forward, best 2 full backs for the year and midfielders For the record I think David King can have whomever he wants in he's PREDICTED AA team. The top 50 players list are blowing my mind. Dusty Martin and Nat Fyfe are shadows of their former selves and are constantly rated top 10 players, players like Walsh, Touk Miller and Parish destroy games all year and are ignored 🤷🏽‍♂️

Better than Campbell Browns top 10 🤦‍♂️

"Then once he started watching the free kick replay on the scoreboard, he started laughing in my face and it was like, 'You're belittling me a bit! So then I paid the 50 for that." Gee wiz. Not sure I agree with this

It's a hard one because the rule is subjective. Running across the mark 50m is the most objective I can think of but what's "umpire abuse?" How do you clearly and without any misjudgment define "umpire abuse" What I find offensive, you may not. Calling someone a f**ing cheating c*** is obviously offensive but what about "turn it up"? I hope the umpires use common sense. I would imagine some people are very polite most of the time so you might give them a warning, other players might be horrible. Ironically by trying get people to respect umpires more your forcing them to make tougher and tougher calls, therefore increasing frustration amongst fans and causing more umpire abuse 🤦‍♂️

I agree. The James Jordon one happens all the time. "Who him" yes him, aka the only other opposition player within 20m. I think the umpires can tell the difference between genuine confusion and time wasting. The abuse one is a no brainer as well IMHO. Yes it's a high pressure, high paced environment and again there's a difference between a once off sly comment and flat out abuse. No excuse, just don't so it

My new favorite song. Freed from desire? More like "Petracca's on fire... na na na na na naa na, na naa na, na naa na"

Was Ottens A grade? I think people don't rate ruckmen because the true a grades are so few and far between. Especially a grade for more than a year or 2 yet every side has genuine a grade midfielders. I certainly subscribed to the theory you didn't need an a grade ruck. The Brisbane/Hawthorn 3 peats didn't have them. How ironic though that the lingering question mark over Geelong, and now Western Bulldogs is their ruck department where ours is the best in the league. I guess it comes down to what else the ruckman does. Not many of them get around and take marks on defensive 50 and now go forward as well as Gawn

2 big steaks for the smoker. A box of cans and Churchill should get me through the afternoon in style. Can't wait.

Glad it's not just me that boils the kettle 6 times before remembering to make a cup of tea and then forget about it anyway 😂😂😂

I literally can't believe there is a changes for the GF thread Pinch yourselves people

Our local (small country town) opened up today so it was only right to support local business... I also feel calmer hahah

That's a strong spine, AA ruck and hasn't Sabbath just filled a hole on the wing nicely. Hopefully we don't get drug tested this week though 🤷🏽‍♂️

I don't know what the hell I'm gonna do if we make it. 2 weeks of build up is enormous. The last 4 matches have been decided by a kick in the last 60 odd seconds and the one before that was a final. Take about modern day rivalry. I'm so pumped I could run through a brick wall. I can only imagine how the players feel. On an unrelated topic I have some chicken thighs, skin on and bone in, brining in a hot sauce and Italian dressing mix to go on the smoker this afternoon. Chicken and salad for dinner sounds divine, beautiful weather up here in north east Victoria and we are out of lockdown so I might to to duck in for a sneaky schooie

Always felt this was fitting. They kicked us around for long enough and now they have woken the demon... https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fHaVJIhTFK8 Edit: Slight language warning. If you think young people listen to "head banging crap" and use sayings like "you can't understand what they're saying" don't bother... It's head banging crap and you can't understand what they're saying

TMac?

I don't think there's any egos left in our side. Sometimes I wish Trac and sometimes Kozzy would be more selfish because they are such rare talents but they are playing a selfless game all of them, and that's obviously what it takes to finish on top... Hopefully it's enough to go all the way?

Brown and Jackson... Although I like your argument, think I'll retract my comment 🤝

I'd go smaller. Melksham or Jordan (I prefer Melksham) I think we've played out best footy with 2 talls

Umpiring decisions across the board have been disgusting this year. And there's nothing to hold them publicly accountable. Players and players can't say much and any media personality that wants that almighty AFL to throw them a bone knows to keep their trap shut. When it's a player/coach underperforming they are crucified, it's not fair. I have had to start pointing out all the obvious non frees/frees that go in our favour otherwise I'd go insane.

Couldn't agree more. I meant I'm ok with it being 2 weeks, same as Franklin, Ablett (twice) Cotchin, Mitchell bla BLA BLA what does it matter they make it up as they go along. As someone said, he was better of punching him

I'm ok with the 2 weeks, it's ridiculous and has no place, as long as that becomes the standard to witch all else are measured. It's the blatant double standards that needs to be held accountable. This isn't a mistake, or a miss interpretation/classification. They sent him straight in, to be made an example, while other get off free. Ill never forget Tom Mitchell running back the the center after a North Melbourne goal, jumping 2ft off the ground to elbow Goldstein in the back of the head, while he's not looking, in-between play, he had to run 25m to catch up and premeditate his actions... And he goes in to win a brownlow... Farcical.