Lucifers Hero

Thanks for the summary. Nice of Max to show support for team mates. Anyone know what has become of Nev?

I've heard of different scenarios. eg The AFL could take the 4 prelim teams to Perth and whoever wins stay for the GF. In this case the bye would be before the Prelim, if the 14 day quarantine is still required. Even if finals are in SA and Qld the AFL may not schedule a pre-season bye. My only point is that until the finals schedule is released (FC last night said it would be later this month) we shouldn't assume there will be a pre-season bye and imv if there isn't it will hurt us.

The prelims may work out that way but without a pre finals bye we may run out of puff like we did in 2018 which was my point, not so much where they are held. I think that is posturing by the WA government as they are negotiating big time to get some finals, especially the GF and offering the a AFL a $35m carrot.

You misunderstood. I wasn't suggesting a bye for us. To the contrary I was saying as so many top 8 teams have a bye coming up that may make the AFL not have a pre-finals bye. I believe that will hurt us as other finalists will be fresher. And I was focusing on the importance of winning the next few games so that we can rest some at the end of the H&A season. The Prelims may very well be in Perth!

I just noticed that the Eagles play: Giants, Ess, Bulldogs, Saints. Teams that we play and competitors for a 5th-8th spot or our position therein. Will be barracking for the Eagles to smash those teams! Especially the Giants and Bulldogs, those most threatening our spot. Now, more convinced that 9 wins will be enough for a finals berth!

I'm guessing the Eagles will get us on %'age. To win all 6 remaining games means 9 consecutive wins...don't like the odds.

The AFL hasn't said if there will be a pre finals bye. We probably won't know until they decide where the GF will be and if in Perth whether the WA gov't will relax the mandatory 14 day quarantine. If WA quarantine is required the AFL will most likely schedule the bye the week before the GF. If GF is in Qld there may or may not be a bye at all. Because 6 of the top 8 teams have a bye in the next 6 rounds I think it is less likely there will be a pre finals bye. Eagles and Demons have had their byes. We won't win all our next 6 games so each will be do-or-die. So not having a pre finals bye will really hurt our chances. It is critical we go all out to win the next 3 (Bulldogs, Saints, Freo) so we can consider resting players in the last few rounds, if no pre finals bye is scheduled.

An interesting thing is that if we make finals the team we play in wk 1 will be one of the teams we just played or play leading up to the finals (except) Richmond. We beat the Pies so its critical we beat Bulldgos, Saints, Giants and Essendon just to get the psychological edge for a finals meeting.

The AFL and broadcasters are currently enamoured with the huge tv audiences for weeknight games. I'm sure there are intelligent enough people to realise that is because Victorians don't have to get kids ready for school and because we can't go watch games live. Not to mention there is no other entertainment or socialising allowed. When there is some normality to our lives people won't be watching football on tv so much. But in a 'normal' season I won't be watching much footy on tv other than Demon games. And hopefully we won't be fixtured with many midweek games because it will be difficult to watch them live even if in Melb. It is a 'no' from me for midweek games. On the subject of normality, Wilson said on FC last night that the AFL think that footy may not start until May/June next year if covid is still an issue in Victoria where crows aren't allowed or restricted. That in itself is such a scary thought. So the season would start late or the first half played interstate. There is a fair chance of condensed fixtures again next year.

This is how the run home looks with 9 wins to make the 8. Hard to see us not winning 3 of those 6 games. I think we will be playing finals, folks!!

fwiw the Fox final 8 is: https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2020-the-run-home-fixture-analysis-predicted-ladder-predicted-top-eight-after-round-12-finals-week-1-projections/news-story/00ad577a4478fbe03e624f3b72776423 1. Port Adelaide (12.65 projected wins) 2. Brisbane Lions (12.15) 3. Geelong Cats (11.35) [higher percentage than Eagles] 4. West Coast Eagles (11.85) [lower percentage than Cats] 5. Richmond (10.75) 6. St Kilda (10.7) 7. Melbourne (9.4) 8. GWS Giants (9) And those that miss are: 9. Collingwood (8.9) 10. Western Bulldogs (8.45) 11. Carlton (7.95) 12. Essendon (7.55) Giants are a rabble and until they get Toby Greene back they will struggle, so I can see them falling out and Pies going in.

Updated the Run Home Table for rnd 12. In this version, I've included byes and timed the rest of the fixture. Note: some teams have played 11 games, some 12 depending on their bye. Am thinking 9 games might be enough to make the 8. But I've left the table with 10 wins needed for this week. If it turns out to be 9 wins it gives the Pies an edge with their drawn game. It will depend how quickly they get their injured players back. They have a bye which will help. There is a very good chance the Giants will lose to the Eagles this week. If we beat the Bulldogs we put a game and % gap to our nearest competition. If it turns out that 9 wins is enough we need to win 3 from 6. Essendon are done! Everything has to go right for Carl to make the 8.

My apology that is Andrew Brayshaw....

...also on the leaderboard is: 11th Oliver 16th Viney 17th Brayshaw Quite amazing to have our 3 or our 4 midfielders in the top 20. And Max would be around 25-30 but he has missed a few games. Edit: 17th is Andrew Brayshaw

Coaches votes are in: 6 Ed Langdon (MELB) 6 Clayton Oliver (MELB) 6 Angus Brayshaw (MELB) 4 Christian Petracca (MELB) 3 Steele Sidebottom (COLL) 3 Taylor Adams (COLL) 2 Charlie Spargo (MELB) WOW. Big difference in view of the coaches! Best guess split: 5/1, 5/1, 4/2 for either Langdon/Oliver/Brayshaw 4 for Petracca 3 for Sidebottom 3 for Adams 2 for Spargo Langdon, Oliver and Brayshaw the only ones to get votes from both coaches. But coaches had a very different view on who was best or second best on the ground. Or 3rd best or 4th best or 5th best... Rapt for Langdon and Spargo to be among the votes. Petracca goes out to a clear second on the leaderboard with a game less. 75 Lachie Neale BL 54 Christian Petracca MELB 47 Travis Boak PORT 44 Taylor Adams COLL 44 Jack Steele STK

That's my fault. I didn't want to start a new thread so I chose the most recent available on Jones. Maybe the mods can start a new thread or find a better one. Or as you suggest they change the title.

its ok, no offence is intended. 'Broken' was Jones' comment about the captaincy: "I think physically I always felt like I was capable, (but) I think last year really broke me down mentally and come the end of the season I just had a lot to think about." He looks a happy man now.

When the whole team played ballistic, play-on-at-all-costs football he was one of the very few who stayed composed, did the old 'stop-and-prop' before finding a target. I understand that this can look slow sometimes but to my eyes it looks smart.

And people on here criticise his kicking! Posters will dig up his mistakes this year but in the big picture he is a rock in his position and gives us good drive from d50. Greatly underrated on this site.

Jones looks a happy man again. He is on 292 games. Play remaining 6 H&A games and gets to 298. It would be fantastic if we play a few finals and he gets 300 this year. What a final that would be!! Even tho I've said we don't owe players, if he gets to 295 - 299 games we have to give him a contract next year to get to the 300. Can't let him go if he gets so close. Lets hope we go deep into finals, Jones stays fit and keeps his spot.

For the Kozzy contract renewal: We know that Frtisch is closing in on a contract. And based on recent performances Spargo and Sparrow won't be too far behind. Hibberd has done enough for another contract. Will be good to see JV5 sign up. The players most vulnerable (excl Rookies) are Smith, Wagner, Hunt ? and a few others that aren't getting games on have long term injuries.

Tom Sparrow, Melbourne, has been charged with Engaging in Rough Conduct against Darcy Cameron, Collingwood, during the second quarter of the Round 12 match between Melbourne and Collingwood, played at the Gabba on Saturday August 15. In summary he can accept a $1500 sanction with an early plea. Charlie Spargo, Melbourne, has been charged with Rough Conduct (Dangerous Tackle) against John Noble, Collingwood, during the third quarter of the Round 12 match between Melbourne and Collingwood, played at the Gabba on Saturday August 15. In summary he can accept a $1000 sanction with an early plea. As in a game a few weeks ago it seems it is our guys who are getting fines and not the other team. Takes two to tango, Mr MRO But I do like their feistiness!

This article gives really good insight into our trade strategy. melbourne-s-trade-strategy- Essentially, it is to get talent now as in future years the draft will be compromised by new teams entering the comp. And this draft has a lot of footballers coming thru the ranks whereas in the beginning many players were from other sports.

Many, many thanks LT. I didn't notice Gus patrolling the middle so much in prior weeks but it stood out this week. Good to know my eyes aren't deceiving me. I really like him patrolling the centre square area. It helps us control the corridor as he is a smart football, reads the play well and can dispose on his left and right by hand or by foot. And has recently snapped goals from teh 50m line. He is a dangerous player stationed in the middle and Ops are less likely to risk going there with him lurking in wait. I like it also because it helps keep our attacking structures when the ball is in transition: the wings can stay on their side and Gus can act as link man with them and the other mids going past. The other thing I like about it is it helps us keep the ops to the boundary with little room to move. It is what Port did to us. It was like a sardine can along the boundary in that game. So the way I read it, Gus is not only playing that inside/outside mid role he is also a cornerstone of our defensive and attacking structures. Maybe it is no coincidence that our scoring and our defence improvement in recent weeks has been while Gus is patrolling the centre.

He seems to confuse an inside-outside mid with a wing man. To my mind Gus is currently an inside-outside mid. He can get the ball inside when it his turn to take the tap and spread out when it isn't. I think McGowan means Goodwin persisted too long keeping Gus on a wing.