Big Col

Salem's TAC and early Melbourne games were as a forward so I wouldn't be surprised to see him to move there - but not this season. Of course, I'd love to see him in the midfield, but there's a few others at the moment he'd need to replace (Petracca will become a forward in later life, you'd think?). If we can keep this group together I'd love to see the players develop so that they can play multiple roles - not only to fill roles (eg McDonald goes back when Smith is injured) but strategically (theoretical: Petty goes forward, clunks some marks and kicks a bag when no-one thought it was an option)

Last week I was having a few beers with a Roos-supporting friend. It was all "Horne-Francis this, Horne-Francis that". "You're cute" I told him. "I used to be like that with Jack Watts..." That didn't stop him. "Oh no, this guy's good" etc Now, I'm not dissing Horne-Francis at all (or Jack Watts) . He looks a very good player - and may even be elite one day. It's just that I could see the desperate desire to find something positive in what is yet another abysmal year for NM. One that must hurt even more knowing they got rid of a player of Brown's calibre for (relative) peanuts.to the team his mate supports. He's in the middle of the denial phase. Next will come anger which will be ugly. Finally acceptance. Only then will he move forward. I feel for him. Not.

Not counting on TV, of course, but I haven't watched Melbourne lose since August 2019. Crazy AF. (I missed the GWS game last year but I generally go to 80% of the games played in Melbourne whenever there isn't a Pandemic)

yeah... that's a good one. Hmmm... How would we do it? Perhaps as below ... We select 2 'captains' (ie Demonlanders) to start the draft with pick one random and start a new thread. In between picks, Demonlanders comment their opinion until the Captain makes his/her decision when we update the team sheet. I'm thinking we're picking teams to play eachother the week after the grand final - giving enough time for injury recovery, but open to opinions about that. Instead of alternate picks, it might be fairer to give 2 picks at a time except for pick 1. ie first captain has pick #1, the next has picks #2 and #3. Then the first captain has #4 and #5 and so on. Your thoughts?

Wikipedia needs some serious update re Max https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Gawn

I've often thought that a better way to rank players would be to (simulate a) draft for an all-stars game. Each team coach/selector take turns in selecting players for their team until they have 23. In such a scenario, wouldn't you pick Max at #1? There are enough champion midfielders that if you didn't get Oliver, you got Cripps or Neale or Wines or Petracca or Martin or Fyfe etc The competition for selection would come over specialist positions rather than midfielders. Langdon would picked early, as would May.

Much as I'm hardly a fan of the Tigers, there is something absolutely delicious about the Eagles being smashed like this. "F#$k them and may they suffer endless pain" are words that come to mind.

Mitch Clark was doing pretty well for us until he was injured. I think May would have to take him. 2022 team would just have Lever picking off any passes anyone tried to send to Watts. At the other end, Frawley would have his hands full with a fit BBB. I'd definitely pick 2022 Tom McDonald in my team, just so that 2012 Tom could be sent to him. I'd back the 2012 version to keep himself quiet. Nathan Jones was at peak power in 2012 but our 2022 midfield would absolutely smash them. And as a desperate tactic if I was Mark Neeld, I'd pick 2012 Max, have him wear a fake beard and try to fool the 2022 team into passing the ball to him. 2022 by 276 points.

Bang bang bang bang bang bang bang etc

I love this. Max on a lead and then nails it form outside 50!

Let’s see if we can 2 weeks in a row of goalless halves by our opponents.

Nah. I have every intention of being a smug arrogant pr..k around Hawthorn supporters and supporters of most other teams. The same way that Hawthorns supporter 'friends' have behaved all my life. The exceptions are if they support the Saints ,North, GWS, GCS or Freo in which case I'll just be condescending. I've waited my whole life to behave like this. I'm going to enjoy it.

The change became official at the start of 2021 - so it's been about 15-16 months!

I'm in the Weed camp on this. Although I also share everyone's frustration at the lack of follow up to last week's game, I don't think it helps to have Weed constantly worried that one bad game gets him dropped. While Macca played a (slightly) better game on Thursday night, Weeds game last week was far better than anything Macca has done this year so far. I want to see how he combines with BBB.

6 Gawn 5 May 4 Langdon 3 Jordon 2 Harmes 1 Brayshaw

Rd 1 2013 they killed us and set us up for a horror season resulting in the sacking of our coach. It's about time we returned the favour.

Me too. Daicos is looking good tonight though - boo!

He's got 200 games written all over him. He's our Brett Lovett of the 2020's.

Mitch Brown!

try this link: https://www.afl.com.au/afl-tv/stream?streamId=State League CH14&player=arILJvH9PY

6 Dogga 5 Trac 4 Bowey 3 Oliver 2 ANB 1 May

I'm incredibly relaxed. IMHO It's all just good prac for our defence. Meanwhile Bowey on target for a Rising Star nom. Hoping Brown gets a few more. Multi of mel/oliver/brown/bowey is on the table!

yeah, he's outa control. Needs some Viney attention, I reckon.

Dogga BOG so far. Big tick to Bowey - no second year blues for him.

After waiting 2 weeks between the Prelim and the GF, I've learnt patience. I'm enjoying watching the competition to see who will be this year's runner up. It's an open field!