pantaloons

Not to be self-congratulatory, but I think the 20,000 who rock up every week are very loud. Pre-game I was hopeful we could get on top early in front of a one-sided crowd. Good times.

Not sure. Footy has always proven difficult to translate into good video games.

Nope. If you don't have Foxtel, you'll have to either get to the game in person, or spend the evening re-creating Hogan's match-winning after the siren goal with matchsticks.

How about "least terrible"?

This really should be a permanent fixture at the G. Without being parochial, it is our ground. Still, it's a start.

Thanks BBP. It's not really a big call for THIS season though is it, given that we're talking about the end of 2016? Pretty premature from Gaz. He's contracted for another 18 months. http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/prestia-signs-new-deal-with-gold-coast-20130603-2nmqn.html

Forgive me for not wailing with anguish at this one. The game has evolved and will continue to do so. It's easy to look back with rose-coloured glasses, but even in the 'halcyon days' of the 90s there was a fair bit of footy that was laughable. If Melbourne won 25 games by a score of 10-9 this season, I'd be so flaming thrilled I'd have to be carted out of the G by St John's on October 3. Is it pretty? No. Is it forever? No. That doesn't mean it is guaranteed to get prettier, but things change. This isn't peculiar to our game though. Recently there was a terrific piece in The Players Tribune by former NHLer Igor Larionov which encompassed some of the thoughts on here. I've included a relevant quote below and the article can be found here: http://www.theplayerstribune.com/miracle-on-ice-hockey-russia/ "The problem is more philosophical and starts way before players get to the NHL. It’s easier to destroy than to create. As a coach, it’s easier to tell your players to suffocate the opposing team and not turn the puck over. There are still players whose imagination and creativity capture the Soviet spirit — Johnny Gaudreau in Calgary, Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews in Chicago just to name a few. However, they are becoming exceptions to the rule. Many young players who are intelligent and can see the game four moves ahead are not valued. They’re told “simple, simple, simple.” That mentality is kind of boring. Nobody wants to get fired. Nobody wants to get sent down to the minors. If you look at the coaches in Juniors and minor league hockey, many of them were not skill players. It’s a lot of former enforcers and grinders who take these coaching jobs. Naturally, they tell their players to be just like them. Their players are 17, 18 years old — younger than I was when I joined the Red Army team. Say what you want about the Whiplash mentality (or the Soviet mentality), but if coaches are going to push kids at that age, why are they pushing them to play a simple game? Why aren’t coaches pushing them to create a masterpiece? We lose a lot of Pavel Datsyuks to the closed-minded nature of the AHL and NHL."

Chris Lewis and Tony Lockett.

Indeed. We have entered the fantasy realm of Nathan Jones - holding the premiership cup while sporting a lustrous head of hair.

How about we win by 150 points and go into round 1 with some confidence, no matter how false that may be.

No Hogan eh? I guess it's taken as fact he's already a superstar of the competition.

Patience, my pets. Tonight was but a practice game. When Clark breaks down - and yes, he will break down, whether through the snap of a bone, tear of a muscle or rare venereal disease - I will be there with Internet heroics so fierce I may require a hand transplant. In the meantime, it's still March.

Change our name back to the Invincible Whites. Problem solved.

Have you been watching my fantasies? This is weird.

How much more power do these clowns want? The AFLPA is incredibly short-sighted. With free agency, players able to veto trades at will, and demanding trades mid-contract, there won't be much of a competition for future generations of players if their attitude is focused on taking as much as they can today.

I think that's what this is: "Fairfax Media understands the AFL will punish any club abandoning a game by withdrawing premiership points and could even threaten draft sanctions. This is what Essendon faces." If they docked 4-8 premiership points for every preseason game they boycotted, that pretty much ends the season of a mediocre side needing things running their way just to play finals.

With the tall defender stocks we already have, if we invested salary cap space on another key defender, I would microwave my 2016 membership before even ordering it.

This. It's unthinkably moronic to even entertain the thought of following rugby's laughable path here. It's all well and good for Gil go on a junket to watch the super bowl, but rather than come back and say "Hey, what about a night Grand Final so Cindy Lauper can perform under lights", how about looking at the (many) systemic things US sports leagues do well. I realise this free agent stuff isn't necessarily coming out of his mouth though.

Can't recall if I put my tip in. Pats 24-23.

For the more politically minded, where does Tony Abbott rank in terms of the worst democratically elected national leaders in world history?

No mention of Pedersen? He was pretty good last year, and the mobile 2nd ruck/KP role should be, barring injury, the only way he gets a game.

I always click on this thread with expectation, but leave empty after failing to read that Clark has been savagely mauled by a wild pig or has blown out both ACLs in a freak Segway accident. This thread needs a "Days since a Mitch Clark injury" count in the title so I know whether to enter or not.

Dallas beats Detroit courtesy of a shonky piece of officiating. Green Bay beats Dallas courtesy of a questionable decision. Seattle beats Green Bay with some outrageous malarkey at the death. New England beats Seattle 28-27 on the last play of the game. Tom Brady traded to Kansas City at season's end.

Sorry Macca, what a painful way to go. Just a reminder that KC beat both Super Bowl teams this season. No mention please of the fact that we also lost to teams drafting 2 and 4 in April though. The Super Bowl is set up nicely. I thought Seattle was hot garbage for most of the season and got away with sleepwalking through the campaign. Turns out that worked out for them again today. I'll pick New England in a tight one.

Tex was asked on SEN last night when he'd speak to Dangerfield about re-signing. His response was to say that Dangerfield is just as important as the other 40 players on the list and that he'll make his decision in due course. In other words, gone.