The heart beats true

Remember when umpire descent was a rule?

Geelong can’t handle intense pressure. Bring what we brought on Monday and it’ll go a long way.

@WalkingCivilWar I see the Power have a Port Trans flag in their cheer squad. Do we have anything similarly Pride focused in the DA?

I’m lazy. Someone explain to me who we want to win this?

Article in The Age today about State of Origin. Victoria’s starting midfield - Gawn, Tracc, Oliver, and we kindly fitted in Bontempelli, to make other teams feel like we haven’t monopolised the midfield. Other teams must hate playing us. Nice that they left out Viney too. Go ahead, make him mad, I dare you.

There was a lot of media, and poor footage, around how bad both of them have been. I’d say they knew it was coming and put their hands up before it happened. I actually don’t think it’s that bad. We applaud players who go when it’s their time to go. Maybe that’s all this is. I did always think another lanky tall forward was the last thing Brisbane needed. Felt like a bad call by Gunston to go there.

With 1:00 remaining in the 2nd quarter Jack Viney kicked a clear point, that was called out on the full and wasn’t reviewed. It was definitely a point, and Ryan in our cheer squad knew it because he went ballistic at the goal umpire. It was a howler of an error.

I liked how we kept kicking points so that the TV audience got the perception of a close game, when in reality we controlled 85% of the contest. For context - we doubled their scoring shots from 15 minutes in the 1st to 3 minutes left in the last.

I’m watching the replay. When they kicked 3 goals Hamish Mclachlan had the nerve to yell ‘bang, bang, bang’. Yuck. Let’s not tarnish the greatest moment in sports history. Also, is BT on the payroll at Collingwood? Did he realise 2 teams were playing? I feel sorry for people who can’t get to the G.

I assume by flawed people are talking about the possibility that maybe all his hair wasn’t natural?

Ok, everyone stop now. I’m starting to really like Brayden Maynard and it’s making me feel uncomfortable.

Did he? I didn’t know that!

Really? That surprises me. He strikes me as a Gunston or Luke Bruest type player when the Hawks were up and about. Finished off the good work with such skill that you couldn’t really dislike him. Maybe it’s the hair.

Maynard has a good relationship with Melbourne players. His brother played for us. Also, he played for Vic Metro with Tracc and Gus in 2014. Those boys go way back.

The Sicily incident is very similar to JVR’s report against Gold Coast. It has nothing to do with what actually happened, and everything to do with how serious the incident appeared to be on TV.

That’s interesting. I would have thought the club and AFL had 6 months to make alternative arrangements. They clearly couldn’t be bothered. I hope Essendon supporters create hell for the AFL about it. We are just conditioned to go there so don’t think anything of it, but it’s garbage that a potential extra 60,000 people can’t see 2 games of football.

I just assumed from Tracc’s pointing that he was mimicking a famous moment in American history…

I’m not arguing about playing in Geelong. Im arguing that this year, when the crowd capacity is halved, it makes absolutely no sense. 30,000 Geelong members are locked out too. It’s not just about us.

The other long term trend for Geelong is to get their money making games out of the way at the G early, and then have as many games down there leading into finals as they can. No home games left at the G now, all down there. It’s the same every year. The Essendon one is going to be fascinating. Huge fan base. They’ll be furious that they won’t be able to go in round 18. They’d get 70,000 in Melbourne.

The coaches votes, and McRae’s post game conference, tell you the story of the game. We should have won by 5 goals. You wouldn’t know it watching any media about the game though. I’m ok with it. I say load the pressure of expectation onto them.

The current capacity for the ground is 21,000. They would get 55,000 plus if they played at the G, or 45,000 plus at Docklands. Its a disgrace. This game should never have been scheduled there this year. The media should be asking why the AFL is locking out 30,000 people?

The missed Viney free kick was horrible, but his presence of mind to stay in the game and clear the ball forward was so inspiring. Sometimes he does things that just make you realise his will power is extraordinary.

No, but your bingo card analogy seems age appropriate.

How insane is it that Geelong have 75,000 members, Melbourne have 65,000, and they'll play at a stadium in front of 21,000 people next week? How the AFL signed off on this is ridiculous. It's bad for the sport. All this garbage about growing the game and you have at least 30,000 people who can't get in to see 2 top 8 sides play each other. I hope someone points it out to the media. It's an absolute own goal by the AFL. Move it to Marvel if you want, but move it. I struggle to think of another game where they are wilfully locking out so many people - Geelong fans included.

It was fun. Well done all!