Diamond_Jim

The sleeper issue is the ongoing financial and player concessions that will need to be given to the Lions, the Suns and in time the Giants. Don't overestimate Sydney. If they take a downward turn on the ladder they may quickly enter the world of irrelevancy. The Lions have showed how that can happen. The fight in Melbourne will be between the haves and the have nots. When you have an empire such as Collingwood it grows itself and takes a lot to kill off. If you are an MFC, Saints etc you are coming from a much smaller base that does not deliver super profits. Would be interested if someone knows the added financial benefits to the Bulldogs because of their premiership. I suspect it was less even in unadjusted dollars than the benefit accruing to Collingwood from its 2010 flag and even perhaps its 1990 flag. West Coast are another that will sink or swim on the new stadium deal.

Basically with a membership you will get finals tickets up to and including the Preliminary finals. The priority is that you can buy the day before they are available for general release. Lead up finals are rarely sold out these days. For the GF.... forget it For this year after an increase the number of tickets available for each competing club is 17,000 At 40.000 members and growing you don't have much chance unless you have paid for a membership that guarantees you a GF ticket. I don't know the number generally available to "ordinary" members but I suspect that after they have been pre-allocated the figure might be 7,000 but no more

If we have to I'll take the Alice game if: it is played on the indigenous round is televised free to air across the nation is publicized by the AFL some good charter flights were arranged together with accomodation deals (NT is not exactly cheap!) We have none of these at present. Over time I could see it building into a good winter road trip for Demon supporters. Not interested in Darwin for any money

please tell me more about the path to such enlightenment my Guru

Last year was a funny year in the sense that the 8 was decided by around Round 12. Then North had their collapse which left one spot up for grabs. This year there will be around three spots between around 8 teams up for grabs probably until the second/third last round. The bottom teams are well capable of "shaping the 8". A great cliche that was too often applied to the MFC prior to '87.

Saints is a win if we are any good. The other wins I pencilled in are: Carlton, North, Lions and Collingwood Port .. I have assumed a loss but it is one we could pinch and of course the Swans next week. Adelaide in Darwin and GWS in Canberra could be a bridge too far but hell.... why not

now that is a seriously good dream

Time to dream guys and gals We are definitely on the way Barring injuries and catastrophic form drop offs I now have us on a minimum of 13 wins by seasons end. This will put us around the 6 or 7 mark. The odds favour a home final against a Victorian team in the first week unless West Coast can turn its ship around. (Big game next week against the Bulldogs for them). I would like to think we could pinch another two games at least which would end us on 15 wins. 15 wins should get us fifth but we will probably need some help with percentages to crack the top 4. For those who complain and say one week at a time I say this time has been a long time coming and it's time my friends to sweep the MFCSS away and dream the dream.

Geelong don't have an easy run home with 2 games against GWS, Adelaide away and Hawthorn at the MCG

Bulldogs v Eagles .... next week Big game for both clubs from a finals viewpoint and one must lose !! .. (ok a draw is possible)

sorry... thought they had given up Cairns. The humidity in Cairns in winter isn't Darwin though

The Darwin match has to go for so many reasons. To compare it with teams who play in Tasmania completely misses the point. It is a four hour flight to play a game in energy sapping humidity. Games are decided by very small margins (don't we know it) and to give up any advantage is plain stupid. $10 from every supporter would see the financial reasons for this game disappear. There are no long term benefits to be had from playing in the NT. The population of the whole of NT is around the population of Geelong and Bendigo combined. Bulldogs used to play in Cairns but they don't any more.

I was at the game and was about 10 metres away when he took a very strong mark in the second quarter. I was also at the game against Coburg a few weeks back where he could not take a mark to save himself

No way does Weed come in. Difficult to see him returning this year unless there is a terrible run of injuries. Hopefully he continues to find form at Casey both in the forward line and around the ground. He will be a key player next year and perhaps a smokey for selection if we go deep into the finals.

A Vardy like performance A name that has gone down in Western Australian performances by the Dees Now it will be known as .... "Doing a Mac Donald" Well done Dees The MFCSS mist is dissipating

Weideman is six months younger and one year in the playing scheme behind Darcy Moore. The last three games have been very good. Finish off the season and a strong pre-season and he will be a player in 2018. As important as his overhead game is, he is now learning to bullock his way around the packs.

Marvellous men !!!!!

Road games are always hard..... that's right ... we sold two home games

2004 strikes again

mmmmmmm Petrie is like the Ghost of Christmas Past Never did like North

Giants to go top of the ladder tonight Adelaide have a great percentage which will keep them above a number of teams save for Port which are only one percentage point behind. The city of Adelaide will be all betwixt and between if their two teams make the top 4

Both the Lions and the Suns are serial under-performers when it comes to both revenue and crowds. I am not sure that even if the Lions gained success that the crowds would come back. The market has moved on. Bring on a Tassie team !!!

Just back from Box Hill Lovely day at the footy ... would have been better if the sun had kept shining. As the game was on TV I won't comment much, save to say: Weid's first quarter was something as was his flying contested chest mark in the second. Not many Demon supporters there which was a great pity. By comparison to other VFL games I have been to this year the game seemed to me be of a slightly higher standard with some great passages of play by both teams. Spencer did not dominate either in the ruck or around the ground notwithstanding being in position to take some strong marks. On a positive note he was not beaten either. Casey should have won by more. The bacon and egg rolls with cheese were delicious (but then again I have never been to Casey to try the mythical Casey roll. ) Happened to notice that the OB van for the TV coverage is the old ABC OB van complete with logos.

Looks like a lovely day to head to Box Hill to see the Dees play. Any word on which of the emergencies flew to Perth and will not be playing for Casey today? Looking forward to the culinary delights of Box Hill Oval

Interesting the price of a good running defender probably goes up by the week given the present game style favoured by most teams Great to see him backing himself. 50 games means you have made the first big step as a footballer