Lucifers Hero

I mentioned Richmond only because they are on a roll, have a very easy draw and could easily fall into the top 4 and go from there.

If we lose the flag to anyone, I would be happiest if it's to one of Brisbane or Freo. Just PLEASE do not let Geelong or Carlton win it. 2022 has been rough as it is. Or Richmond!

On paper, Sydney have an easier run home than Saints and Carlton. The last two spots are too close to call for mine. Round 23 may decide who misses the 8: Saints vs Swans Blues vs Magpies I'd prefer that Tigers didn't make it but they play 6 of the bottom 8 sides. Could even fluke a top 4 spot. All ladder positions could come down to round 23 when those games are played and we play Lions again. I reckon we will win the 5 games to make top 4 with 15 games, altho it is so tight for spots top 4 might require 16 wins.

Big round next week not just for our top of the table clash as all top 8 teams play a top 8 team: Lions vs Dees Dockers vs Blues Cats vs Tigers Saints vs Swans Only two games (and some %) separating first and ninth (Collingwood) on the ladder. All teams in good form. Huge implications for the final 8 order! And potentially who drops out of the 8 with the Pies knocking on the door.

Should I change the title to the Gabba?

From bf: What would be your take on stopping the midfeld? I feel that Petracca is down on last year and is probably playing through an injury but Oliver is still racking them up. Do we send Berry to him or feel that the team defense will be able to cover. Personally I feel we shut him down and send Berry to him. Petracca is the much more dangerous player and teams are winning by sitting on him. Oliver does not have the hurt factor that Petracca has. News of Max injury released. Don’t like seeing injuries but will help the cause especially for our midfield. Personally would prefer to play a fully fit Demon’s side to see where we actually stand. I'd rather win and not know where we stand than lose and know because at this point of the year there's not much more we can do to improve our side. Who knows . Gawn mightn't come back as the Gawn we've seen so fa this year. I'm not going to pretend it doesn't really help us and as much as I don't want to see anyone get injured I'm not unhappy about it. Just beat them and get the win. Season's too close to call so we better win regardless of whose playing. Winning at MCG would be a nice change / confidence booster too. Looks like the last win at MCG for us was in 2014 As it stands today, Melbourne are still the greatest threat to our Premiership aspirations so any advantage for us should be welcomed. I don't agree that we are favourites to win the flag or even the minor premiership this year. I think as it stands Fremantle are in the box seat for that one. I hate to be negative, but I am still waiting for that massive away win that as a club we havent had in a long time. Sydney away was good but not like what Dockers have been doing on the road against the big teams like Dees and Cats away. With Gawn out, going in with two rucks and really working them over makes sense. I disagree. If Big O can take Ryder & Marshall he can go it alone this week. Nothing amusing or cheeky to put in the 'My favourites' list.

Not sure what having a paper ticket will solve. The frustrations of the Ticketek booking process won't go away be it a digital, email or a printable ticket at the end of the booking: the instructions for inserting barcodes is poor, their algorithms for allocating tickets make it difficult to select tickets in a preferred area, it is very difficult to upgrade a GA membership ticket to a reserved seat etc etc And for club members it would help if the AFL fixed the 'Forward' barcode option on the clubs' mobile apps as not everyone finds it easy to take screen shots then text it someone nor how to use the Apple 'wallet' or its android equivalent. And it will help if people know they can buy walk up tickets rather than have to pre book via Ticketek. I have my doubts that digital ticketing is a major issue relative: to venue chosen in winter for Thurs night games, car parking, inadequate public transport, cost etc etc. The AFL have a lot of work to do to get crowds back.

If the club thinks Jackson is likely to go they would be out there canvassing these guys. Then a Hogan/May situation is on the cards:

If Cats, Saints and Sydney win their games vs Eagles, Ess and Port by even a couple of goals, Carlton will go from 4th to 7th by tomorrow night.

iirc they haven't won a game there since 2014. Not sure how many games played there in that time. Nonetheless they will be desperate for a win on the GF turf. Catch us while a wounded prey, so to speak. Us and the tigers later this year are their only chances of an MCG win before finals.

If they finish last and we don't do a deal (if Jackson were to nominate them) they will walk him to the pre-season draft for nothing. It won't come to that as we are and I think Eagles are honest brokers. Max out is a good way for him to find out what it would be like to carry a side both on the field, in the ruck and off field with fans and media. He would be far more exposed to the latter in Perth than in a team where he is a potential champion among several recognised champions. A big weight to carry. I reckon he stays.

Or Bulldogs, Cats, Eagles to mention a few other perennial offenders.

LOL. I was out and only just logged-on so missed the whole show. Will confess, I wouldn't have got it even with the obscure clue! Clearly real world crime/crims aren't my thing. Well done to the medal winners. I look forward to ds's Sunday doozie...

Can we clone him 🤔

They have Daniher 2.01m, Hipwood 2.03m and Mc Stay 1.96cm. Not to mention Oscar McInerney in the ruck 2.04m. They will be kicking it in high to their tall timber i50. Petty is our only tall, tall defender at 1.97 cm. Just don't see how we can take him out of defence. And last week they played Darcy Fort 2.04cm as their medi sub. The only player we have over 2.00m is Ben Brown and he will be busy with Harris who is 2.02m.

We will win at least 5 of the last 9 and make top 4. The finals will be wide open from there. In the top 4 will most likely be Freo, Lions and Cats. Happy to play any of them anywhere. In fact happy to play any team, anywhere. Still think Dees and Lions in the GF!

I didn't have the heart to tell him that! When is your brain teaser coming?

Tomorrow night will be the 'litmus test' for winter Thursday nights at the G! Two big Melbourne clubs. Lions Tigers vs Blues. Nearly 200,000 members between them. Both teams up and about. Tigers home game. Lets see how many turn up. I'm guessing 30K- 35K

The silver lining is Max's body needs a good rest. Also a chance to get his back issues sorted.

Other than lip service, the acknowledgement of other significant factors has been very recent - as in the last few days... Has any poster said '... players are on mass suddenly not fit, etc etc...' I don't think I have. I thought Sydney 'out worked' us. Without going back over old territory and example was they were miles ahead of us on tackles half way through the 2nd qtr. I don't think Freo's and to a lesser extent Coll's tactics were successful enough to win the game. Their in-game tactics worked when they exploited our loss of tall players. Without those losses we most likely would have won both games with or without 'loading'. It was Sydney's tactics that imv worked from the get go. Only their poor kicking prevented the game being over at half time. imv that is the only game in which we have actually been beaten by the opp rather than absentees and in-game injuries. I reckon they would have won with or without 'loading'.

Some of us have been highlighting absent players, illness, in game injuries and opp tactics for weeks only for them to be given lip service with 'loading' proposed as the major cause of our recent performances. Glad to see they are now being given at least equal recognition with 'loading'.

I saw a snippet of an interview with Max last night. He was very unhappy with the short bye. It was in the context of recovery from injuries. It is not like him to take aim at AFL boffins so it must be a real sore point with players and/or the club. He said something like: "...thanks everyone for the shortest bye in history..." No guessing who 'everyone' is!!

Just to clarify, iirc Brown didn't get covid, he was a close contact. The 7 day isolation rule for close contacts was abolished a few days after his iso ended. He didn't play when he came out of iso because he had had no training and the team had already flown to Adelaide. Had he flown when allowed out of iso he would have arrived just a few hours before the game. To be sure I reckon quite a few of our players are still suffering the affects of illness or injuries.

Goodwin said they were thinking of subbing Max out but Turner was already out and Petty was getting medical attention so Max stayed on. I sometimes wonder at the wisdom of keeping players on especially someone like Max who is constantly being crashed into and Petty who has now had 3 weeks or physical 'assaults or breakdowns. It would mean going with less rotations tiring other players. I would prefer that than risk the likes of Gawn and Petty who are critical to or structures and we have few replacements for.

On a 3AW interview yesterday Kate Roffey was asked: if the AFL sanctioned May/Melksham further (apparently they thought not all the info was given to them) would the club appeal?. Roffey replied the club believes the AFL was given all the info, the club wasn't expecting further sanctions and if there were, they would look at the detail before considering an appeal. No mention was made of what further sanctions might be, if there were any. imv, the 'would you appeal' sounded like a 'gotcha' question. Kate didn't take the bail. I reckon if the AFL found the need for more sanctions, they would discuss/negotiate with the club first and there would be a mutually acceptable outcome. Kate handled all the questions about the May/Melksham incident and leaked 2020 Director texts calmly and firmly.