Lucifers Hero

If I've read the schedule correctly and if we keep winning the Road to the Cup looks like this: Week 1 -vs Geelong (MCG) Week 2 - Loser of Hawks/Rich (MCG) Week 3 (Prelim) - Winner of Week 1 - Pies/WCE (MCG/OO) Week 4 (GF) - Whoever is still standing from: GWS/Syd/Haw/Rich (MCG) Hate to say it but the Pies winning next week will be good for us as we won't need to go interstate. If we get to the Prelim I reckon we can account for either WCE/Coll.

I think GWS would prefer to play us at Spotless stadium than Sydney at the SCG (altho the AFL love an Elimination final derby) so that may spur them to win today. But for GWS it may come down to managing injuries so they may take the foot off the throttle a little bit so your point is well made.

If we win one final I reckon 50,000 is a no brainer!

That means we have sold 721 new memberships this month! Great response by supporters to the likelihood of making finals! Would imagine there will be a very good crowd on Sunday: good weather, winning form, big game!

Here is the info on buying finals tickets. http://www.afl.com.au/tickets/finals/finals-ticket-on-sale-dates Week 1 – Elimination and Qualifying Finals (September 7-9) Competing Club Members 9am - 1pm Tuesday August 28 (venue local time) General Public 2pm Tuesday August 28 (venue local time) AFL Members 9am - 1pm Wednesday August 29 (venue local time) Also worth noting is the ticket outlet depends on which ground the final is held: Ticketek for MCG, SCG. Ticketmaster for Optus Stadium, Spotless stadium (if GWS???) Etihad not metioned. We will know more on Sunday night. Not sure if tickets can be purchased in person at nominated retail outlets. I called a couple in the Bayside area and they didn't know too much about them... So watch this space on Sunday night.. I can't believe it is happening... too happy for words...

Does this thread mean we can 'take the lid off' now!?

I assume the 'Minor Premiership' is ending the H&A season on top of the ladder? So, is it time to add 'Win a Premiership'?

Yes, can buy on line. To get both tickets simultaneously during the member priority purchase period: 1) Use finals ticket details from a member not going. 2) buy him a 3-game (or higher) membership before August 24 (Cost $105+). Or, buy both when tickets go on sale to the general public ie after member priority period closes.

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/sunday-session-afl-open-to-four-mcg-finals-in-week-one-20180820-p4zyjv.html "... it’s understood the AFL are contemplating playing one final on each of Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday if the four MCG tenant clubs finish 1st, 2nd, 5th and 6th. This would allow the MCG to host all four week one finals. The AFL won’t confirm its week one finals fixture until after the top eight finishing order is confirmed. ... The Hawks are aware they would be the likely candidate to again host a final at Docklands if the AFL opted to head down that path. We have won on every stadium (except Geelong) we played on this year so I don't fear any arena. But how good to see the red and blue at the G in September.

Some fair comments from a member view. I suspect the club is happy to get the revenue and importantly have another member to sell next year's membership.

I just bought my niece as a membership so I can take her to finals?. Regarding finals ticket purchase the club email said: " We will be sending an email to members with their barcodes and full details about how to purchase finals tickets on Sunday, so as long as she has that email it will have the barcode she needs to use on it. The barcode is different to the member number, it is on the back of the card but we will confirm it via email as well. I also need to let you know that all new memberships need to be purchased by 5pm on Friday, 24 August". Clearly the club was taking no chances of repeating last years trauma of finals ticket details sent before we made it. Good move to wait till our last game. But importantly, if anyone wants to ensure a finals ticket then it is worth getting a membership. A 3-game membership will be sufficient to have member priority ticket purchase ie before the general public. Priority purchase may be important if we end up playing at a smaller ground or at the MCG vs a big member club like Rich/Coll/Hawth. Go Dees!

That would be an almost dream run. We avoid the teams that had the best game plan to beat us: Hawks, Rich, Pies. We have improved a lot since those three losses but it would still be a dream to avoid them until the last Saturday in Sept. As an aside, did anyone notice we effectively knocked Port out of the finals race? They need to win and the Cats to lose. Don't like the odds so its bye bye Port!

I'm worried about the report from a reputable poster that Sam may ask for a trade to Geelong because he can't get enough opportunities in the seniors. Can see his point with Hogan and Tommy in front of the sticks. But Crikey, I hope we find a regular spot for young Sam as would hate for him to go. A terrific fighting game from him today. And great back up for Max.

So many spots can still change we won't know until our GWS game next Sunday. (We won't need to wait till the last game as neither North nor Saints can make finals?).

Reports are WCE have offered $850k and North are offering $1.m+ Given club comments that we have the sal cap for 2 A graders we could offer somewhere in that range. An offer needs to be one that WCE won't be able to 'virtually' match (that would allow them to force a trade ala Dangerfield). The club narrative has been about a balance across player payments. So even tho we may have the sal cap we may not be prepared to upset that balance and risk existing players being offside or risk not being able to afford our players coming out of contract next year (s). Hopefully, we have someone else in the pipeline if we miss Gaff.

This article caught my eye: https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/cotchin-astbury-set-to-miss-bombers-clash-20180816-p4zxt1.html Cotchin, Astbury and Prestia rested. Butler and Lambert had ankle surgery and expected to be available for first final. The pre-finals bye hasn't stopped teams resting players (just as Adelaide did in rnd 23 last year). I guess that is the luxury of having top spot sewn up. Bombers will like their chances of a win vs Rich this week. If they win it will be a real show down with Port in their rnd 23 game. It is imperative we win a game and hopefully vs WCE this week.

A guy called Brad Hardie reckons Gaff is a good chance to go to Ess: "Right now the Bombers might be the most intriguing of them. (North. Ess. Melb). My information is that Gaff met with them twice last week and John Worsfold is the bloke who gave him his start in the league." https://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/west-coast-eagles/brad-hardie-andrew-gaff-in-crosshairs-for-wooshas-bombers-ng-b88927628z Does this Hardie guy have reasonable credibility? If we don't get Gaff I hope we have someone else in the pipeline as our loses show we desperately need someone who is a very good kick.

Last year the sal cap went up by $2+m per annum. North didn't use it all. New cap is $12.6m @95% they can save $630k per annum and stockpile. So $630k becomes $1.26m then $1.71m. So they could easily have a 'war chest' of around $1.0 - 1.5m just from stockpiling. Not sure how many years it can be stockpiled - it used to be 3 years but don't know now.

If North (vs Adel/StK), Geel (vs Feo/GCS) or Ess (vs Rich/PA) win both games they will have 13 wins. If we lose both we drop out of the 8 and stranded on 12 wins. Same for Port. In fact both Demons and Port could drop out of the 8 and replaced (most likely) by the Scott bros. If Port win one and Geel/North win two we are out. So, on my reckoning we must win a game to ensure we make it. Hopefully, this week otherwise it will be a truly nail biting rnd 23, again. It would cut me to the core to drop out of the 8 to make way for a sooky Scott coached team (or heaven forbid TWSNBN).

Whichever has us by-passing the Hawks in subsequent games which of course we have no way of knowing in advance. They are our nemesis. Anything to avoid them until the last Saturday of September.

After the game Pyke said: "...he hadn't thought about...how to handle the next fortnight..." They play North and Pies. Will Crows put the cue in the rack and consolidate their spot for a better draft pick for those talented SA draftees or will they play for pride. That can have a massive impact on the final 8, including our chances, if it comes down to the wire. With Tex likely to be out I reckon they will shut up shop.?

This is where we differ. I think Mr and Mrs Brayshaw would be equally magnanimous if it was a player from a team that had no connection to any of their sons. Or heaven forbid, if anything happened to their eldest son, Will who is currently on active duty in Afghanistan representing our country. I truly don't think diplomacy has anything to do with thow they have conducted themselves in recent days (or ever). Just my thoughts.

The important people in this (the Brayshaw family) have forgiven. I found the conversation between Mark Brayshaw and Gaff's dad (who rang to apologise) quite moving. Both fathers and families have shown great understanding and are role models for others who find themselves in very difficult circumstances with their children. If the Brayshaws can move on surely the rest of us can be equally forgiving - even if some with elephant like memories never forget.

I too feel for Gaff for a number of reasons: He is genuinely heartbroken for the incident. He knows what it is like to be the victim. 2 years ago he was on the receiving end of a Jonas elbow to his head. It was in a marking contest but Gaff had no idea it was coming. Jonas got 6 weeks. Some argued it should have been 8. He now has 8 months to sweat it out before taking the field again and have a chance to redeem his reputation. Players play to participate in finals and hopefully win a premiership. Missing 2 to 4 finals is a bigger penalty than 8 home and away games. On DL we are especially emotional over this incdent because Andy is Gus' little bro and most are keenly interested in getting Gaff to our club. Any other two players from other clubs and I doubt it would have anywhere near as much attention. Gaff at the Dees? I think he fits the Goodwin type player of tough, competitive and humble. The way he has conducted himself in the aftermath of a very sad episode says a lot about his character. Edit: Thanks @MSFebeyfor adding the video of the Jonas/Gaff incident in post below. Gaff was out cold before he hit the ground and stayed there for a very long time. A player does not easily forget the damage a hit to the head can do. Gaff's remorse is especially compelling in the circumstances.

It was Ross Lyon that gave Gaff the 4 coaches votes!! http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-08-07/theres-no-winners-here-lyon-on-gaff-ban Lyon was clearly emotional in his press conf but didn't let that affect his judgement. Second best on the ground, he said so he got the 4 votes. Simpson on the other hand didn't give him a single vote - didn't rate Gaff's game/performance.