Ash35

Dean Kent received a MOTY nomination against Geelong earlier in the season, while Hibbard was nominated in the last round vs the Pies, but yeah, pretty lean pickings this year.

Mitch Hannan vs the Suns for me.

Hunts torp was the best.

Assessed and executed a difficult skill of the game beautifully.

Certainly Oliver should be in the squad. Very similar to Zach Merrett missing last years squad. It's as if the selectors want these young guys to back it up a couple of seasons in a row to earn their spot. Which is dumb, the team should be picked on that seasons performances, nothing else.

Garlett lucky, Bont lucky, Seb Ross perhaps lucky.

I'd replace those 3 with Oliver, Fantasia and Cotchin.

Awesome to see Hibbo in there.

23 minutes ago, Pates said:

As for Petracca, he was a big reason why we were back in the game at 3 quarter time. I don't know whether Goody changed things with him or if Buckley sent coverage to him but yeah he was missing badly at the end. He wasn't the only one. He's young though, he'll get better. 

Yep, I wasn't blaming Petracca for the loss. He was one of the few that stood up at different times during the game.

But I thought he had limited impact in the last quarter against NM in Tassie, and today the same. Obviously he is a very good footballer, and I'm sure with more time and preseasons his tank will grow which will help him play 4 quarters.

He could be anything, a real X factor that can really influence the game, not so much an accumulator, so I guess it's more noticeable if he goes missing.

Just a scenario to "hope we don't make it" crew out there, Richmond lose to St Kilda tomorrow, with Dustin Martin doing his hammy. Adelaide beat WCE and Melbourne qualify and are in an Elimination Final match up against the Tigers at the MCG without Martin playing. 

I reckon you'd be pretty happy to be involved in September action then.

Please don't tell me to boot off cos I barrack for Essendon. I'm not here for any other reason that making a comment (not gloating, which I seem to get accused of)

Anyone who says "I hope we don't make finals, we don't deserve it" are kidding. The big game experience that the team will gain from playing even 1 final, whatever the result, will be an important building block to future success. If you qualify, you deserve it, it's simple as that.

North has knocked off Brisbane by 50 points today, so perhaps after last weeks performance against Brisbane, todays result isn't surprising. But I think the week off will help all teams to regroup. If I was a Dees fan, I'd be barracking hard for Freo and Adelaide and hope like hell you can play a final. You just never know.

On todays game, what were peoples thoughts of Petraccas last quarter? Obviously he is still young and probably needs to build a greater tank, but failed to impact the game when you needed him most.

Dees are going to win this

Collingwood doing what Collingwood do

Here come the Dees

Melksham

4 mins to go in the 1st quarter, Melbourne have had 3 tackles so far.

I still think Collingwood will fade but the Dees need to lift

4 hours ago, Clint Bizkit said:

Melbourne lost to North Melbourne twice and we still deserve to play finals.

I agree, because you will beat Collingwood tomorrow and qualify.

IF, and it's a big IF Essendon lose to Fremantle on Sunday, I honestly feel we aren't good enough to play finals, simple as that.

2 hours ago, Deemented Are Go! said:

Or...if we lose AND Essendon lose, you'll be sweating on the WCE v Crows game. (is that right?) 

Definitely, but my attitude all week is if Essendon can't beat Freo at Etihad on Sunday, we hardly deserve to play finals. Especially after dropping the Brisbane game earlier in the year as well.

Yes, it will be disappointing to miss, but no one to blame but ourselves if we don't get there.

If we miss, I'll be comfortable in the knowledge that we aren't good enough yet.

Melbourne winning or losing doesn't effect us making the finals, just final ladder positions [finishing 7th or 8th provided we win].

I really do expect Melbourne to win. Collingwood will have a dip early, but will fade.

I'm hoping Fremantle are the same.

Shoenmakers from Hawthorn to Bulldogs is getting some air time this week.

28 minutes ago, McQueen said:

Is anyone else getting the feeling that the Crows might just be out to F88k us over because of Lever (assuming it's done)?

you beat Collingwood and Adelaides actions are irrelevant.

The 2 outs certainly help WCE chances, but they are still no certainties in that game.

Melbourne and Essendon do what they should do, and WCE vs Adelaide is a dead rubber. 

27 minutes ago, Wrecked Owl Dees Function said:

While thats true, there were 10 teams in the premiership race when fresh legs created no segregation in the pack. Richmond have been far more consistent in the last 3 months and should beat us, while Port haven't. A rich win would be a glorious upset and a signal that our early season form is back though.

Yep, I like this comment.

Richmond probably don't get the credit they deserve. Not saying they are unbeatable, far from it, but Anzac Day eve was a long time ago.

Essendon should have beaten Sydney in Sydney in Round 14, doesn't mean I want to play the Swans in the finals. 

6 minutes ago, GawnWithTheWind said:

We are no lock to beat the Pies, and West Coast are due for a good game at home. I would say they are a 50/50 bet to beat the crows at home. GWS will struggle to beat the cats at home, so the crows will have very little to play for and will probably rest a few stars as they already have the minor premiership locked up.

 

Why would Adelaide rest players this week?

They have a week off before finals, and if they win their first final, another week off after that.

Resting players could mean those players play 1 match in about a month leading into a Preliminary final.

1 minute ago, Sir Why You Little said:

We had Richmond by the Short and Curlies on Anzac Day, but we ran out of fit players. 

A return match has always been wanted. 

Yep, and I'm not saying you can't beat Richmond, but I like Melbournes chances against Port more.

You've already won in Adelaide this year, against a better team. Ports performances against top 8 teams this year is very poor.

As a neutral, I would love to see a Tigers vs Demons match up at the MCG, but I just have a gut feeling Port are more beatable.

1 minute ago, Clint Bizkit said:

Both.

I think for Melbourne that Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval is more beatable than Richmond at the MCG, but I can understand people wanting to play the Tigers as it gives the opportunity to attend the game.

Does everyone on here that wants to play Richmond first week of the finals do so because it means you can go to the game, or because you think Richmond is the most "beatable" side of all the likely opponents?

5 minutes ago, Petraccattack said:

Looks like Essendrug will play finals.

Proves the were barely punished for the drug cheating regime. They should have been out of the finals for 5 years minimum.

But they were allowed to keep their top picks, got  handed the easiest draw despite all their returning players, and were allowed to keep their top up players like Tipungwiti who no other club access to as he was never in a draft.

[censored] you AFL.

Tippa was rookie drafted by us and elevated last year.

Melbourne could have drafted him if they wanted to.

On ‎17‎/‎08‎/‎2017 at 3:10 PM, Sylvia Saint said:

From memory Craig Cameron used to post here when he was recruiting for us. He was a good bloke and gave the forum plenty of insight without giving too much away. Worth noting that this was around 2003-2006, before the days of Twitter, smart phones and relentless social media scrutiny. I doubt he'd be doing it these days if he was still around.

 

Yep, Craig certainly did back in the day. I had an interesting exchange with him back in 2002 before I knew it was him.

Trade period was coming to an end, and Melbourne had traded for Chris Heffernan. One media outlet announced he was a straight swap for pick 12. I was on here talking about it and Cameron posted that Melbourne also got Essendons pick 17 in the trade. I was like "that's not what was announced", and he confirmed he was Craig Cameron and indeed the trade was Heffernan and pick 17 for pick 12.

I just said, "yep, you would know" lol

He was a good bloke, I actually did some work with him cutting video highlights for the guys Melbourne was looking to draft in the 2004 draft. You only ended up drafting one of the players I did videos for.

1 hour ago, Mach5 said:

The pies have just shelved De Goey for the rest of the season, booking him in for surgery on his hip flexor.

Doesn't hurt.

Lachie Neale the same for the Dockers.

There's going to be a few more before the H&A season is done

37 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Correct....

in 2000 Shane had a very good solid season, but to win a Charlie suprised even the most diehard Demon

Was a good midfielder in a team that won a lot of games.

Always gives you a chance for the Brownlow.

Gone are the days of the likes of Jim Stynes, Scott Wynd or a Tony Lockett winning a Brownlow.

Midfielders medal only.

I prefer the coaches award these days.

On ‎12‎/‎08‎/‎2017 at 2:20 PM, Sir Why You Little said:

 

Proof that the Brownlow is vastly over rated and those that vote on it are clueless jerks. 

R Flower should have won at least 3 of these things, but he got none...

Jab Watson whilst on performance enhancing cocktails ? was given one though....

Agree that the Brownlow is very overrated.

Shane Woewodin is a Melbourne FC Brownlow medallist, yet Robert Flower isn't.

1 hour ago, Wrecked Owl Dees Function said:

Perfectly timed momentum bursting loss for the Dons. I'd expect them to have another loss to ... Oh [censored]. They play the two worst teams in the AFL right now.

Tonights loss has made it difficult, although I never expected Essendon to win.

As I have said all along, Dees in the box seat if they win tomorrow. WCE has their destiny in their own hands, while due to poor %, both Saints and Bulldogs will be relying on other teams to lose. 

But despite our poor record against bad teams, I would be disappointed if we didn't finish of the season with 2 wins against the team that conceded 22 goals to Brisbane today, and the other team that lost by 104 points.

If the Dees make it, they will have deserved it with the amount of injuries to key players this year. If we don't play finals, I hope Melbourne do.

Hawks will want to keep him, thus wanting a bit more than he is worth.

But surely they will be keen to get back into the early part of the draft in some way.

Problem is I don't think he is worth your 1st round pick whatever that turns out to be, but he is worth more than your 2nd round pick.

On ‎9‎/‎08‎/‎2017 at 10:00 AM, dl4e said:

 Kinda like your optimistic outlook but you seem to be staring at what you believe is obvious and in this season is a mistake. Now I hope I am wrong but I think we will get poleaxed by StKilda and that the Eagles will beat Adelaide in the last game because the crows will be in a top 2 position and having played Sydney the week before won't give a stuff about the result. Bulldogs are interesting. They will beat port but the other 2 is up in the air. The tragedy is that Essendon will probably make the 8. I hope I am wrong.

I agree that just locking in obvious wins is dangerous this season. And on top of that, there are some real 50/50 games.

Plus there are a stack of unknowns, things like which teams have "Checked out", which players might be rested, Rocket sacked from Gold Coast, how does that change them.

I really am being honest when I say I think Melbourne are in the box seat. Simply Melbourne have the best run home of all the teams vying for a finals spot. The Bulldogs are a game ahead, but they probably have the toughest run home.

Unless there are some crazy results, Melbourne could lose this week and still make it.