poita

Absolutely zero chance of any unforced changes this week. Goodwin has hitched his wagon to this group, and will work them into the ground before changing his mind. I'm also expecting us to err (yet again) on the side of taking unnecessary risks with injured players, rather than taking 22 fit players into this week's game. I'd be happy to see Spargo miss, Melksham take his role across half forward and another tall forward come in (McDonald preferably if fit). I'd also like to see Brayshaw back to the wing and Dunstan into the midfield, particularly if Petracca doesn't play. I don't think Harmes' positioning is good enough to play what is such a specialised role in our setup. Sparrow to miss if Petracca is fit. I could make a very strong case for both Jackson and Salem to be dropped, but the chances of either happening are so miniscule that I won't bother.

30 plus minutes, this is a frigging joke. There won't even be 60K at the game, and I have to spend half my work day waiting to get in.

I got the impression that half of the crowd on Friday night were once a year football attendees. People around us were away from their seats for half the game, going to buy beer every five minutes. When they were sitting they were playing on their phones or talking to their mates. They really had no interest in the game, and made no noise whatsoever. This week's crowd will be smaller, but hopefully more committed.

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1208431/vfl-stars-cleared-for-qualifying-final https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1208391/four-demons-in-vfl-team-of-the-year-squad

Hopefully Stinear has spent the last four months working out how to stop Hatchard and Marinoff. We have more talent across the field, but their best players destroy us every time. Goldrick is a big out, as she was one of our best in the GF. Crows are clearly favourites on past form.

Joel will be 27 by the start of next season and has played 26 career games in 7 years. His potential is irrelevant - his lack of durability and propensity to injury makes him the absolute definition of a list clogger. We are just hoping for something that simply isn't there. Time to move on and find someone who can get on the field most weeks.

The problem with this is twofold. One, buying a membership under a discount offer such as the $13 deal probably costs the club more than they receive. Two, it's amazing how some people are always too busy to attend, until it becomes a big event. I have no issue with all members having access to tickets, but it shouldn't be at the expense of higher category members or those who attend each week. The priority system worked fine in previous years.

As an aside, Jack Crisp up to 185 consecutive games - that streak is starting to get a bit too close to the record for comfort.

That always seemed a bizarre fixture for a Melbourne home game, glad it has been rectified.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/829087/dockers-dominate-as-aflpa-s-22under22-announced

25 minutes to get tickets, pretty [censored]. What happens if we draw Collingwood in the preliminary final? There certainly won't be tickets remaining after 25 minutes. Higher levels of membership should get priority access, rather than competing against 3 game members who haven't been to a game all year.

I can't believe how stupid this is, even 20 minutes difference would clear most of the traffic.

Just long enough for the scalpers to get their tickets.

I love how ticket prices supposedly haven't increased, but the amount of tickets in the more expensive categories is much higher.

I'm okay with Harmes coming in for Jordon, as he and Sparrow have both underperformed for a while. I would love to know the KPIs that lead to Spargo being selected each week, because they clearly don't include disposals, goals, tackles, clearances or defensive accountability. The opposition's best rebounder / intercept mark is going to him at the opening bounce each week, and then basically doing as he pleases for 2 hours. My concern is that Spargo doesn't find enough of his own football to be dangerous, so he is highly reliant on his teammates being able to deliver the football to him in space. That's not our go at the moment, so he is really struggling to get involved.

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1202262/vfl-stars-come-back-for-top-of-table-clash No love for Casey today? Chandler, Bedford & Jordon all named.

I would find 11.35am a weird time for an under 11s game to start. For a marquee fixture in the country's 2nd biggest league to start at that time is just bizarre. That said, it would fit in perfectly with the joke that is this competition to have the first final to be played at 4:17pm on a Tuesday.

Our defense was so good last year that we were able to cover for Bowey's lack of size, speed and strength. This year there are plenty of cracks to be repaired, and he has been regularly exposed. I can't see him coming back in that role this year, unless we have multiple injuries. A role in the forward line will surely be his next chance, hopefully to put pressure on Spargo.

I'm concerned that Brayshaw's increased midfield time has come at the expense of Petracca. And we're certainly not getting better outcomes from centre clearances. I'd much rather see Brayshaw taking wing time away from Jordon.

If we can't beat Brisbane, we may as well give up any hopes of winning a final. They are clearly the weakest team in the top 6. We just need to keep the pressure up for four quarters, put a tag on Neale and we'll be fine.

I could copy my changes from last week. Harmes for Sparrow should be a given. Sparrow is offering nothing at the moment and Harmes should come in to tag Neale. Van Rooyen / Weideman for Spargo. I don't care how good Spargo's disposal supposedly is, he had 4 touches at 50% efficiency last night, he's kicked goals in 3 of the last 12 games and his opponents are running off him and having a field day every single week. At least another tall keeps the defence honest and will ease the pressure on Brown. Our two wings are a major concern. I don't like Petracca spending so much time forward either. Therefore Brayshaw back to the wing, Petracca into the middle and Jordon on notice.

Jackson is going to spend a fair amount of time rucking against Silvagni. Luke simply has to have an impact tomorrow night.

I'd be furious if I was the MRO or the tribunal. The correct decision was made on both occasions and should have stood. This was opinion shopping by Carlton, nothing more. It was a disgrace that the AFL allowed them to appeal, and even more disgraceful that the appeals board spent more than four hours hearing and then making an incorrect decision. The system is broken if clubs can keep on appealing at no cost. At least we know now that anything goes in a marking contest these days. I'll be disappointed if May or Hibberd don't plough through Cripps at the first opportunity on Saturday night. So long as they wave their arms in the general direction of the ball, they can do whatever want.

What's the penalty / cost for appealing tribunal verdicts? If there is no deterrent (eg extra week penalty), I'm surprised it doesn't happen more often.