Footy Classified EP 44

[Music] now we realize the works you in some ways you know well ahead of us in the next in the coming weeks but you have to take a moment just to reflect it's hard enough game as it is and over you know 23 week season to finish where we are is a great effort from a lot of people if there is some comfort that comes from prior success I'm just the unfortunate one that doesn't feel it I I just see the opportunity in front of us every year and when you work so hard to get yourself in a position where you finish top four uh it's exciting but it's daunting as well uh it plays pretty well as far as the form line goes feel encouraged by some of the teams who are above us that we've been able to beot going into this Friday night there shouldn't be any trepidation around the core principles of what works well with us we knew that we wanted to to play a level of footy that would win finals and win Grand Final so are we at that level yet we're we're not out of that race but we haven't proven that we can win a grand final with the the stage we're at right now it's an elimination final if we don't win this there's no point dreaming any further than that look at they've been the best team all year S without question they've beaten us twice already this year so it's going to be a tough match I expect us to show up and perform and get the job done we'd like to find ourselves a better position on the grid but this is where we find ourselves um and we've got a great opportunity in front of us we have played against a lot of quality sides across the year and we've been able to step up against those teams so that gives us confidence that uh we comeing with the right Manner and mindset and method that we can get the job done I'm confident if we can produce our best we we're going to give a good account of ourselves you know we're not coming into this final series thinking we no chance we believe in ourselves I think what we've done over the last 12 weeks it's been outstanding I just feel like we've prepared really well we're going to give ourselves another chance I know you have to just keep turning up but also you need a bit of luck but you just need a bit of luck people don't realize like we've missed opportunities in our past by a kick it's just so hard to to get to the end and it's a real test of endurance but the test that I love the most is the willingness to keep coming back and having go cuz you get ask plenty of times whether you should and we keep saying yeah we want to keep trying hello and welcome everyone to Footy classified what a big week it's been in football and congratulations to the eight teams who have qualified for the final series of the Toyota AFL series coming up starting this week the week off it's wed the appetite it's got the suspense built up and it's given the coaches and their coaching panel that extra 7 days to hone the Tactics get the players ready for what is going to be a fantastic Festival of football over the next month where one coach will become a legend in their club's history welcome tonight to some guys who know what it's all about to Matthew Lloyd you know what it's all about because your son Jacob won the premiership over the weekend lyy congratulations to you and Jacob Damen Barrett you've covered plenty of these final series over the year and I don't know just like me I suppose you just can't help but feel the anticipation building up to it pumped after watching that right now exactly and Jimmy Bartel now best on ground in a grand final Premiership wins all over the place right how do you feel going into the final series it's best time of year Ed I'm jealous I'm envious for all those clubs who get to go out there even the grass smells a little bit different out there the sun's coming out just ready for some great footing we're going to have a look at the coaches going into this final series each one of them has an amazing story not only over their lifetime in football but in the lifetime of this year's football let's start off with Ken Hinckley remembering that he was attacked with Within by Warren tread Ray a board member who actually got onto the board of the supporters and the members votes basically to top B the coach uh and here we are he's finished second in a home final and he's done it again yeah and for the fourth time in Five Seasons finished the season in a top four position now last year they ended up in straight sets exits in 2021 and 20120 they also made top four and here he is again in second his whole Mantra is just turn up and presented and you mentioned the the problems he had with certain board M well it was also his own supporters as recently and let's start here tonight round 15 when he lost to the Brisbane Lions at his home venue booed after the game he spoke postmatch and then the emotion that kicked in the following week just goes to show what it means to him just get back there it's just part of what goes with this job it's always been the same it's um you know the disappointment comes out in many different ways no one's more disappointed than us inside the football club no one but I get the reaction how are you feeling uh pretty hard in a tough week great boys great boys I really like the fact that we're under the pump and we just stuck at it it wasn't easy but we got there in the end situation and you got to give full credit to David Kos as president and those on the board who stuck with him and saw through all the angst and the club to get to this position and just lost one match after that particular point in time that's the the timeline of recent times and look that the present yourself Lord ow and Jimmy and Ed that Ken has always had as a policy and as a mantra the only Prem this team won was 2004 on the back end and the tail end of the Brisbane Lions domination when they in those same seasons of that Domination by the lions were finishing high on the ladder but not even making Grand finals their chance came almost after the event in 2004 it might be that case this year I'd love to play for Ken I know you know him really well I'd love to play for him but one one knock on Ken hinley and Port Adelaide is that uh it's like a roller coaster with them the emotions that Ken shown and often the team show and I I I wonder whether that's hurt them in the past you know even Kane kin has spoken about the emotion that he has and are they ever on an even kill enough that you need to get through yes passion is one thing but also you don't want to be two up when you win two down when you lose Jimmy and I think has that hurt Port Adelaide over the journey I wonder if it has yeah interesting question Lord and I'm with you I was lucky enough to play Under Ken when he was an assistant coach jalong and even back in my time at local footy at Bell Park and he always has the connection with the players he he knows which ones we've seen him go hard at and which ones he backs off and Cuddles but it is probably the the tenure piece that Port aday was weighing up during the year but he keeps getting them up there and he does need a little bit of luck to go his way well the bigger story of the last month has been not having connection with Melbourne and chrisan Peta so obviously it works and uh as you said there's nothing the best thing in in life is winning a grand final waking up on Grand Final the day after Grand Final the Premiership cup but being in the finals and getting there and getting there is fantastic for supporters and sometimes they underestimate just how hard this competi competition is Chris another Amazing Story midseason Chris Fagen has admitted that he almost you know felt like pulling the pin the pressure was on him and all the drama that came around the Hawthorne racism allegations for two years now he's had to have this and yet this is a man who has saved and rebuilt a club yeah it would have been a massive bear on his back yet as you touched on and once he started to see some clear air it was you know coincided with Brisbane really hitting their straps and you touched on Port ADL before D about keep presenting well look at the lines they presented unbelievably well each year second three times fourth out in a couple of straight sets within a kick of winning a Premiership against the pies there but you you want to cash in while you've got this really good list at the peak of its powers but they do have the advantage they' got some young guys that coming through they'll have another ashof come through they've got the one currently Fletcher KY lman as well to throwing a couple of young names so and it's still an attractive place for players to go and top up so there's this real mix of should they have got one or should they have done better out of that sustained period but then they can keep it going really and lordy without the success that the finals appearances have have gendered for for the lines under Fagen losing arounds 22 and 23 which took them out of the top four possibilities is that going to weigh on this club as they enter this series now from an elimination final perspective I think it will Dana and um I I think they started poorly uh whether it's a Premiership of Grand Final hangover what happens when you you lose and what Chris Fagen went through then they finished poly you know blew some opportunities where they should have been top four and I don't think for them to win four finals in a row and off to travel after this week for three that's a tough job and that's I think that's underachieving for the talent this squad has John longm at the Sydney Swans could be a victim of his own success he's been so successful 100 what he's wind loss R 194 wins and 108 losses as a coach unbelievable but 12 wins 13 losses in finals one Premiership three losing Grand finals at gws they finish on top they end up getting the mob there in the street you can be a bit unlucky in these situations but it's going to be be a huge game and a a huge opportunity for J longm to Frank himself as a sensational yeah and he's got the same result driven score line from home away season 12 times out of the 14 Seasons that he's coached they've ended up in the finals and the the the turmoil or I suppose the burden and the baggage that he has got personally and he won't be referring to this at all at any stage of the next month but he's lost the past three grand finals he's made he won Grand Final in his second season in 2012 then lost 14 16 and 22 and and that is a bagg it is a burden but they enter the series jimmmy from Top spot and that itself creates another burden yeah you you wonder how much the back half of the year they were so far on top of the ladder they just started to spin their wheels a little bit you know the finals are on the horizon with the some training loads but I'm With You Ed he'd be thinking you know another Premiership does that elevate him up to how we talk about Chris Scot lyy is you know being one of the great modern coaches he already is a very very good coach but two premierships it just lifts you up that extra level sustained excellence and everything else that goes with it it really puts him in to that top level uh ly let's have a look at Luke beverage I mean on this very show during the start of the year we we talked about the players believe they had the right list the tactics were a bit all over the place at the start of the year it's cost him a top four position but he's there and he's in the same position he was when he won the flag in 2018 yeah many you'll say he's the greatest coach they ever had but again he's got the one Premiership and and I've been frustrated with him that why does it take till Midway through the year for him to sort his side out and get the best out of him and then it costs him a top four spot at the end of it so they've never been top four have they and D he was another another coach who was under pressure took a phone call from Cody Whitman to actually lift him up a little bit as well realized that not everyone hated him and not everyone was sick of him and they weren't ratting behind his back uh and sometimes just needs that phone call I know he got got the support of Luke Dar the the board member of the western Bulldogs and the man who found him effectively out of nowhere in 2014 and Luke has been reflective in the past week as he prepares for this final series again he's won the Grand Final as you know in 16 lost one in 2021 and that Journey this year was uh was TD I'm really grateful and proud of everyone here that they've pulled together and you know during a trying time when um maybe you know personally the external noises um is um is quite significant um the support for me has been enormous so we go into um Friday night thinking more about the opportunity not so much on uh I'm being satisfied that we we weathered a storm it's an amazing situation isn't it for the Western Bulldogs and the last one we going to look at is Michael Voss who uh has had wins over what west coast of North Melbourne in the last couple of months of football coached them out of the finals in the last game of the season but arguably has coached better than he ever has in the last two months with what he's had he's he's had to lift his team we'll talk about Sam docky in the next break uh but this is an amazing situation for the C football club to go into this final with nothing to lose yeah they they're the side for me that's falling they they did fall in literally fall in so I think everyone else goes in with pretty good form but as you said theyve they've won two of their last seven games I don't think they were traveling that well bottom of L and I don't think they were traveling that well with their full compliment uh you know when they all start to go down so so they're the most vulnerable side for me going in he has twice won finals in different seasons once for Brisbane and won two finals last year for Caron Jimmy so he can do it and he's got a an X Factor which we'll touch on through the the docky lens in a moment yeah it's how many risks they're willing to take going into that final because if they take them all in and they lose they'll go why' you take them all in if you don't play enough of them they go why didn't you roll the dice and play them all so difficult match committee for the blues what do you do you play as many fit ones as possible yeah what about ones well we'll talk about that in a second we're going to get the Sam docky a fascinating situation as I said at the introduction there congratulations to all of these men who put so much time and effort to their families to their coaching staff and everyone associated with the eight teams in the finals it's an amazing effort in this long AFL season the longest in history to get to the line to give yourself a chance we wish them all the best of luck and as I always say May the umpires nor injury play any part in the outcomes we wish them all the best we'll take a break we'll come back and have a look at Sam docky the biggest hail Mary in years going into a [Music] final got some good news so it's been a long journey for the the big fell um but sort of let you know that uh docs playing this week [Applause] [Music] in well when you win two of your last seven games and you fall in after a loss in the last game against and kiled it into the finals that's the sort of thing that sometimes can pick you up Gentlemen let's talk about Sam docky here he's come back from two bats of cancer three knee reconstructions hasn't played a game in 183 days the fact that he's been being picked to play after 183 days is a modern Miracle um is this as I said one of the great hail mares 3 weeks ago we spoke about ESS not using dce and heel and we thought that that was an opportunity lost to get the emotion of what football's all about and sometimes there is that Miracle sometimes it's do you believe in miracles as Al Michaels called in that great ice hockey game back in 1980 but uh what do we all think about this s and go to you first Lord because you're the great pragmatist in these situations what you think I always go the the match hardened fit player Ed so I think that um for me he hasn't played for since round one on the gab when he did his knee so that's too too long for me so I love Sam doy one of the more impressive people you'll meet but I would never go down that track as a coach and bringing someone who has not played a game for 25 26 weeks now it's too big a risk for mine well what what about you Jimmy because I can imagine Michael Vos standing there and pointing at him as they're about to run out this is what it's all about get out and when he gets the first ball off the halfback flank and runs through and kicks The Crowd Goes Berserk they find something against a team who should beat them by 10 goals yeah you you're starting to touch on where I'm going and L if you hadn't highlighted the two and seven and there's been they need a shift they need a shift in the chain rooms the buildup the attitude whatever way you want to call it if you get even 2 or 3% you're going up no one's expecting to win and Sam dock is there and as you mentioned he comes flying off the half backline you just watch them lift you saw how they reacted when you know told everyone all these people neutral supporters carton supporters every supporter of football is going to have the first time he goes to the contest given what he's been through already on that ground in this season and two times previously I can't help but some you know think you know as a journey you're thinking where's the story where's this going and think is this Sam Do's potential last fun run at a at a final um it could be the last game if he ever if they get done and he might be there the next week of all goes well you know let's leave it at that but with that in mind the emotion and the comeback and you know we've seen it over the years BLS come back for the first game they usually struggle with the second one but if he can find something and lift this team it is one as a joural this is one of the great stories in football it's already one of the great stories regardless of what now happens um in the performance of docky and the result of Calton footy Club the fact he's back inside the season in which he's done a third knee reconstruction is the story in itself it as you all know and I suppose lordy Converse to that Tom Hawkins not playing shows that jalong have got more of a a plan in place to win the the Grand Final as opposed to something to to get up here's the teams on that uh in that moment Port Adelaide versus jalong tomorrow night I just can't wait for this Thursday not football don't we love it it's fantastic Dixon is the big story here as well he's back in and Todd Marshall left out of that team obviously um with George 's now the the central point to that Port Adelaide forward line and you're right Ed Hawkins and gut expected to run around for the cats in the vfl and again D you look at Port Adel they've got there after all the dramas probably the last time you want to play is jalong don't you because you know they they they just have that neck without Houston and without Farrell who I feel is an equally bad loss for them and and problematic okay let's go to The Medallion club now to work out just how this game might unfold theal thei medal is Jimmy Bartel matthy thanks Ed this time tomorrow night Port Adela and jalong will be going out at how exciting just 24 hours way and I think Port don't scare me if I was a jalong coach in defense or attack but they scare me through the Midfield and look at where they are far more powerful than jalong and their numbers of what they're doing through the Midfield Jimmy so yeah clearances they rank fourth to compared to jong's 12th uh in terms of scores third compared to 10th Center bounce scores second to nth and first possession fourth to 16th so yeah they're a dominant Force through there Jimmy yeah and five goals in the first quarter against the cats the first time they played down this year down at JM HBA stadium in the first quarter alone and lyy you're starting to highlight things where it's really changed it's not only attacking work but it's their ability to come up on the opposition really hard they've lifted their pressure rating number two in defense but they're so explosive out the front of the stoppage yeah I think they're playing that tough of football like the moments like this by Zack buts they are that tough at the moment I don't see how they go out in straight sets when you're as tough as this where buts and Rosie and Horn Francis and William Drew and wines and Bo they're playing really tough footy and then you got a guy like Isaac Rankin so they'll expose you to on the spread so they're tough but then on the burst they're just unbelievable at the moment the way they're play their footing pure class hitting the scoreboard which makes them really dangerous and where I can see the cats getting advantage to help take care of that stuff around the stoppage but also with no Houston farell would you highlighted D is this big group of small forwards the cats have got we just highlight here this is stingle this is close and M watch the running power and this is what I expect from the cats to be able to come up to those stoppage situations or contested situations but then spread hard forward look at the work R here on stingle you watch who pops up front and square as I think it's two here comes in and marks there he is front and square they they should be doing this all night at the Adelaide oval get up and you can you got stingle right near you Brad close is actually out where lloy is at the moment when this plays out you see the two guys who Bob up inside Ford 50 right down here at The Point post the work rate but they're able to cover off around stoppage on Thursday night create quick exits for long dump kicks for Port aday but then get opportunities themselves these two look at the gaps they put on their direct opponents that was against Port adade earlier in the year so this their ability to speed turn around and also cover off who are you sending this man to Jimmy well I think uh William Drew you got to take danger field we've seen him wins and losses danger has been the real big barometer or xfactor or whatever way you want to call it he's a magnificent player at tagging taking the opposition's best and still hurting so he can still get the ball on danger so I can't wait a game within a game is mcin and Tom Stewart so mark my words they going after Tom Stewart so they going after him so this was round nine and this is where it all started where Tom Stewart did not get near it for about 5 or 6 weeks where everyone said let's go after him let's go after him full credit to jalong Chris Scott and Tom Stewart for the way they've reinvented this but they're not going to let him off the hook tomorrow night no I love the discipline of MC and you look at all those edits apart from this one back shoulder so Stewart can just take him to the ball and then he's already in a good spot to defend he's not trying to run away from it but just every moment just get under Tom Stewart's skin I'm going for Port I think port just yeah the second game we're going to look at the elimination final Western Bulldogs VI the Hawks and and Jimmy you want to look at the Hawks and and where we're worried about the most and that's the size in defense no wonder they've gone and got barass and battle to fill probably this role here these two guys Frost and scrimshaw have been really good as being the key backs and I wonder whether this will be siisy or wed or even Jeff coming in but what I want to do is more whoever gets this matchup needs to always keep going to be the deepest because these two are defending well but you're going to get a really big mismatch on whoever this third Defender is if they're attacking at least you take them out of the game but you'll get a real he Advantage Hawthorne has a a Toby green for mine and that's Dylan Moore so that's how important I think he is to the hawthor footy club and he's just become an all Australian he's tough he's one of the hardest runners in the game and I think he's in Better form going to this final Series so you just look at what he does gets up high and just works back so he's think the hardest working forward and the most consistent forward going to talk him B later about being having one of the games of the Season uh this competition so he's just about got everything he's he'll probably be the next captain of the HW football club so he can do everything this man yeah if you're an attacking halfback you still got to keep an eye on him because as we mentioned his work rate he's up in front here by 50 m next minute he's inside for 50 having a shot just on Luke beverage I have been critical of what how he's treated some of these players who I think should never be playing vfl football but they're now back playing great footy I think they're hungry they're playing really good football but biley Dale has been instrumental in in career best form probably at the moment even mccrae's come in got his spot back looks hungry and Caleb Daniel just the way they use the ball I think is one of the Highlight so it's off the back of Richards and bondon P and Liberator these guys are in good form yeah especially high pressure games like a final he just wants some composure with the foot and plenty experience look at this just pickart look at all the Giants numbers here and just finds the one inside forward 50 but for me lyy everyone talks about the dogs halfbacks and their ability to you know as we've seen with Bailey to you know Pierce their way through that's Caleb Daniel finishing off a goal as well and then McCrae snapping one around the corner but you know I think the Hawks halfbacks are just as dangerous but I'm going to go with the dogs just cuz that're hard on the Ford line yeah I like the dogs as well in this game Ed can only a boys that was absolutely fantastic we were going to separate our Medallion club tonight we're going to come back straight after this that was fascinating you enjoy that love it fantastic let's come back with the medallian club on the last two games of week one of the final Series right after this [Music] jimmyy Sydney and the gws Giants have one of the great Ries in football is because they keep running up and making finals footy and one one area we've established with the Giants is they're not defending as well as they'd probably like going into this final series they're scoring well but these some some damning numbers which you don't want against the Sydney Swan so conceding a lot of entries and from def defensive 50 into forward 50 they're conceding a lot of scores and the swans were their dynamic in this area yeah glad you highlighted that 51 points and 33 points the swans kicked against the Giants in the last two games from that D50 to Ford 50 and this is the swans at their best we've seen all year that ripping football up off half back you see the lizard everyone get involved with a hand ball or kick but they find some really easy entries yeah you give them that time and space and they'll beat DWS Giants so the pressure has to be much much better Blake is just in unbelievable form Bren Campbell is so good with the way he uses a footy even rampy running in waves and they can do it fast and they can do it slow so they can have measured buildups as well as quick on so Lord how are the Giants going to mitigate this how are they going to take this away from the swans because you can't have the lizard there just strolling up to the half forward line knocking them through from 50 yeah well the positive is that you've got some small forwards and a number of them who are in in great form so you've got Jones who's been one of the revelations of the Year Daniels comes back into the side and then a Midfield you McMillan's going to do the same thing so they have to have this manic pressure which we know they can do if they're to beat the swans they got to get in the face of the swans and cause some Panic like this this is a clip that Adam Kingsley should just be showing you cause turnovers like this and and you're in any game of football yep they call the Cami on both sides of the footy up there not just the attacking stuff it's you got a swarm of the opposition players come forward in defense and good things happen because you actually get good out numbers and as you mentioned the kid with the lid here nice little banana to finish they probably want more of the game played here instead of this up and back game style but Finn kellahan you love watching The Rosy cheek assassin I do love him because I've watched him from Sandringham for a long time since he was a junior player I'm asking can he be the Sam Walsh of 2023 and be the Gary's medalist can he take the finals by storm like he did against the Saints last year in that first final where I thought he was the best man on the ground he's got everything this man yeah he's a bit bigger than most people think but look at this running power beautiful kick of the footy he gets the overlap like Sam Walsh he can get a couple of possessions from halfback half for who do you like are the swans oh I'm going to go the Giants Giants and the last one we're going to look at is Brisbane V Carlton and I've been in the odd time zone center with my kids and I we're calling it whacka m so you're wondering which one you got to hit and it's the Brisbane Lions I'm just wondering which head you got to knock on those games that you play cuz good luck trying to stop Raina Cameron lman who's joined them and Zack Bailey and they're the four Smalls but every single one of them can mark in the air really well Jim but they also can get you at ground level yeah and I Reon with the form of a couple of these players like lman and Bailey and obviously Rainer it allows Charlie Cameron to go up further up the ground if he's not getting the ball deep cuz we used to seeing Charlie Cameron always play out of full forward but in the last four to five weeks he's paying higher because these guys can really do some damage inside forward 50 and then if you Fagan y go which matchup suits his best deep and which one's winning higher up the ground you keep mixing them around we want to talk about the support cast of the Caron Midfield to support that man Patrick kson I these guys lost their way a little bit mid year in terms of they lost their role so they were either dro but it's Matthew Kennedy who's really important for Caron forward and Midfield George hu he lost his spot and he's now back being a lot more confident Elijah Holland's come to the club for this well I'm wondering if one of them can be trusted to take Loy Neil in the middle which allows you know chinot to go back to Dane Zoro so Zoro has been amazing since going to halfback of course they had those host of injuries the lines across the half back line Kitty colan really early in year this man it was the all Australian halfback flank because a ball used like this and really kick started the line so Lord some of those role players for cartton if they can take care of Loy NE he's going to win a heap of the footy But Not Dangerous Ones would you cartton consider chinot going back to Zoro because the damage he can do and all this play that he sets up from the half back line it's just lethal this right leg here and he's willing to take the game on on track to win his six best and FIS I think it's a good call Jimmy but I'm with the Lions the LI should win this Lions I think it'll be much closer than most people think good only boys that was absolutely Sensational let's go to Brisbane now and Josh Dunley one of their star players joins Josh welcome to the show uh first of all M can we get a weather report it's been hot up there it's been windy down here but what's the forecast like for Saturday night mate welcome to the show thank you thanks for having me Ed uh no it's very hot and sunny up here it's been about 30° over the last week but I think Saturday night's looking at about 26 so far so should be beautiful conditions Josh coming off the Grand Final last year that was a you know toss of the coin it fell the wrong way for you guys but then early in the season as the guys just said it seemed like there was a knee injury every other week um it was a slow start for you when did it click together for the Brisbane Lions this year when did you start to feel right AA we're back up and running again oh probably if I'm being honest it was at the bu time halfway through the season you know we really refle reflected on the early part of the season and you know things weren't really going our way in front of goal and whatnot and there were a few other key areas that really let us down but our game was in quite good shape uh when we looked at it at the Midway point of the season so building that confidence along the journey has been something that we've always pride of ourselves on and you know credit to for keeping a positive outlook on the season cuz we really bounced back and one nine in a row and dropped a couple of unfortunate games towards the end of the year but their confidence is well and truly back down we're raring to go for finals Josh you just mentioned we know you're pretty close with him I think you get him a new pair of shoes nearly every birthday for for but we highlighted a little bit early he's had a lot on his plate this year but it seems from the midpoint as we're touching on um the shoulders seem to have come down and he seems a bit more relaxed and and happy around the club yeah I didn't get in that new pair of shoes this year Jim it was a uh I C too much Flack for it last year but no he has he's uh he's relaxed a lot um he's always been there for us and as I said he's been positive throughout the whole up and down of our season but the way that he's been able to sort of keep us all ahead and in line has been incredible and he's one of those father figures that everyone talks about um and everyone knows about too so uh we love and what he brings to our team and and our footy Club you know I've learned a lot from him ever since I've been here and he's a great person to have around Josh you did a fantastic job on Patrick Crips last time you played and it was just the the your positioning and you just didn't allow him touch and you got the body too to match him in that regard um yeah when you take on a player like him what are your key focuses oh he's such an incredible player kryp bro you know it's an absolute honor to go up against him in games like this and you know it's going to be another one on on Saturday night it's just a great Unity for me and and our team to be able to play against the best and you know kpp's had an incredible year um probably stiff to miss out on the the captaincy of the all Australian team I feel you know him and Bon were both incredible but I just love playing against the best and um I'm sure we'll see plenty of each other on Saturday night uh yeah as you said the the body positioning is obviously important on him because he's such a big unit you know the way that he can play the game is incredible Josh you've obviously got a lot to prepare for and focus on this week but have you been watching from afar the events of the Christian petrara situ situation at Melbourne and I ask through the the lens that you may have on that given your decision to want to leave your Club the Bulldogs at the end of 2020 being forced to stay for or staying for 2021 and then leaving just through through that lens have you had a had a close look at that I haven't heard too much about it D being up here you know it's more about the NRL but you do see bits and pieces here and there and um it's a tough one to comment on because you know I don't know what's going on uh in his world and and everything that he's talking about so I'm not too sure the of detail I'm sure you know I did see that he came out the other day and um did a media article or whatever it was a press release um through the footy Club so I'm sure he's uh he's well and truly comfortable with where he's at and um yeah confident in hanging around and playing for the Melbourne football club so you're one of the leaders at the club Josh and we love the way you speak but H how much do you challenge each other on giving the first option because I think sometimes it doesn't happen at the brisban lies and it causes you trouble as a team uh would that be is that a fair comment at all with players often not just giving to the best option that they should inside forward 50 um we we definitely talk about it and yeah as a leader it's always uh something that we bring um to the floor but I mean there's plenty of times where we back in our players to to take the game on you know you've you you showed Vision before of Cam rer taking on tackles and finishing on goal and if he gives a first option he's probably not able to do that so at times it's you know you got to weigh up that decision whether it's the right thing to do um for me I always just give it but other guys cuz I can't really break tackles like a cam Riner so um those those examples are are critical in what in the way that we play and the way that we want to win the footy so there are times that you probably should and we've seen those and it's been heavily publicized at times but you know in in order to play our best footy I feel like you know at times you got to take the game on M when you left the Western Bulldogs you left the great maate in Adam tror behind you must be delighted to see your old mate to get his all australi selection yeah it's great as he's been a best mate of mine ever since you know a few years ago and um you know the hard work he's done I've always admired him from AF far before I met him and um yeah he's probably been stiff to miss out on a couple other Blazers a few years back but to see him get the reward this year it's very special it means a lot to me being one of his mates I feel like I've been a part of that Journey with him so um yeah love ay and what what he brings to our game and obviously our friendship too and uh just the last couple of questions Jimmy brought up the the the runners and things that you gave to the coach are you living in the boots stutters what's what's all that behind you what what's going on there this is my shoe collection Ed take us through what do you got oh they're L like dunk lows Nike Dunk lows they are so I like to collect them and store them in a nice little clear cabinet so when you walk through the hallway you can see it on your way through the house it's nice the dun duck close that's fantastic isn't it great stuff How many pairs you got oh jeez I have counted before but I reckon I've probably got about 40 odd jeez pairs in there yeah all together they're not all one show though they're the good ones behind me good and just lastly on the game like how's it been the plan for C like how many boys are you expecting to bring back the blues yeah it's a good question we we haven't really looked at their past couple of weeks because you know you don't know what they're going to put out there on the field so all you can prepare for is their best and you know the season that they've had they started the year really well and we know how good they were up here against us last time so you know we're preparing for their best control on the control levels at same time because you don't know what they're going to do selection wise so all we can do is focus on our our controllables and go from there so it's been a really good couple of weeks for us in prep in preparation for the game so we look forward to Saturday Night final question Josh you've had two weeks to think about this has there been a theme this week coming into the finals home final warm conditions everything set up for the Brisbane Lions uh yeah whether there's been a theme at or not it's more about you know what we where we were halfway through the year I feel like you know our back against the wall and now similar position where we've just got to go for it so there'll be no mucking around on Saturday night I think you'll see the heat that we're going to bring and I'm sure Caron will bring the same so it should be a great game of footy oh I want to watch it there bounce the ball let's get stuck in good on you Josh good luck mate I hope the the boots you wear on Saturday night get dirty you got plenty of Replacements behind you mate but uh we really appreciate you coming on congratulations on another wonderful season and we wish you all the best on the weekend thanks guys cheers good night Josh Dunley joining us absolute Ripper there um just under Peta just before we go to the break you mentioned the Christian Peta situation do you think that there's something similar in that that maybe Peta is made up and the options will come in 12 months time and he gets his body right and well let's kick this down the road a little bit and maybe get to the term I want to get to when they can can actually get into the trading position back of a couple of calls that even just came today um without wanting to make them um I've got no doubt that is where his head is at right now that this time next year he will seek to leave again now we've all seen enough things can change but that's where it's at in my eyes right now let's take a break come back with more footy classified right after this including of course our magnificent Lex of the Blackburn award welcome back and don't forget Channel 99's my room Grand Final spectacular is coming up and I tell you what we've absolutely ramped it up off the back of watching the 30 years of the Footy Show we're going to come up with a grand final Spectacular from The Palms at Crown Thursday September 26th 6 from 7:30 right here on 9 and of course footy finals it's all happening at Crown enjoy the big games across the big screens live with the pub the sports bar and the jackpot bar and particularly with so many games being played outside of Victoria good place to go and enjoy it and have a party watching the footy can't get any better than that right guys I got to ask you this lyy Jake Stringer it's an interesting story down at the bombers isn't at the moment is there a team is there a Collingwood for example who might just go right we got all those over 30s do we have a go and get this BL and maybe get him to play one big exciting year of football and steal a flag or do the bombers stick to their guns and say Jake this is the way you play your best football and you too Jaden pull your heads in and be part of something special yeah I think they all understand uh that you know you manager walks in and just says I want a two-year deal and the club says no one he says no we want two I said well you're open to go and look and explore your options so it's just a mature way of doing it if he can get two I think he plays somewhere else if he can't get two he goes back and plays at the bombers he's guaranteed to get two elsewhere lordo um when you we you spoke on accessor areas during the week didn't we that the the interest will come from the Sydney Swans once their final series is completed Collingwood I fully expect to explore the possibilities around it I wouldn't be surprised if melbour I know they've got some issues in the space that Jake Stringer is sometimes criticized for that being off field in commitment but they need a forward there's a few clubs that need a forward if if Melbourne brought in Jake Stringer would petrea just walk straight out the door well that could add to that problem to it but but does that override the need for a forward because they need a forward as much as they need funny is the bombers are desperate for a forward but they are obviously see enough that they just go you know what we're probably best to move Jake Stringer on so there's enough there that I think they get frustrated by his lack of consistency from one week to the next one game to the next he's best is great but he's he's bad as bad Bo you should make a comeback mate because key forwards are the Talk of the Town at the moment yeah well Tom Lynch we know is contracted for one more year at the Richmond footy Club it's a back-ended deal it means that 1.5 $5 million is is attached to that deal for next year so he's owed that money that's money that he didn't take early on but there's going to be discussions around him I still expect Collingwood to to consider that possibility how they manag that with Richmond and the finances attached Peter Wright does he possibly look around a lot I again I think he's contracted but does he want to have a look around Jack Lous we knows open to a new home it may well be back in his home state of of South Australia and then North has been linked via the West Australian newspaper to Jack darling i' I'd be surprised at that but it there is a question to be asked I mean there's there's another club look at Jack ding for even one year would calling would look at any of those matters I don't know no hey Ed you asked before about the Peta situation equally off field for Melbourne is the is the is the off field situation uh Steven Smith a former player and former chairman or chair of the uh MCC he's had his name linked there in a significant way will he take over from Kate Rob I think there's already been discussions I think Steven Smith is not ready to take over the presidency but I think in his just in his life having just finished off a an amazing legal career where he's worked you know seven days a week being the MCC needs a bit of a break freshen up but he his love for the club I wouldn't be surprised if he goes onto the board and then eventually in due course as they sort things out and he can have a bit of a look without having to be the boss might then assume a position as president down the track but I think that that'll be an orderly takeover or an orderly transition rather than a takeover more to the point couldn't get a better block than Steven Smith to come into your Club at a time of turmoil is absolute Ripper all right we'll take a break when we come back guys we're going to look at some of the best games of the Season as we decide who wins The Magnificent Lexus from Andrew Moore and his team at Lexus of Blackburn what about this the winner of the performance of the Year couldn't get there without a great team behind them and like the team at Lex to the Blackburn Andrew Moore the coach out there his dedication to customer service M you'll enjoy every visit to their Cafe style showroom I know that firsthand so Andrew Mo and the team at Lexus of Blackburn for all your Lexus needs all right let's have a look at our fantastic award and this is the best individual Game of the Year okay who's leading off we've n a downhead and uh this year has to be my round 11 Chad Warner's performance for the swans against the Bulldogs at Marvel stadium in a game that uh he needed to stand up in took Mark of the Year potentially kicked four goals 25 disposals and in a season where he's got votes in the coaches voting on I think 11 occasions that was a stand out yeah this was mine Nick Doos being there on this this night this Friday night it was just must win for Collingwood and Nick Doos just turned this game as he always does 32 disposals 15 contest possessions Peter deos was going berserk in the Box remember this when when Nick kicked the winner well this game was so important for the Giants the lock up final spot or they were still in the balance here and shorty Daniels Brent Daniels 29 touches 13 tackles 11 score involvements three goals an absolute Monster game from the we man and the one that you spoke about in Medallion Club Dylan Moore how about this round 12 against adate this is when they just started to really get on a roll the the Hawks 27 disposals five goals you Al Lee Matthews if you don't mind for the small forward who just found it everywhere and he was absolutely Sensational we'll continue to look at the player of the round right through to the preliminary final won't worry about the Grand Final cuz they get a nor Smith medal that's good enough but the rest of it we'll have it and we'll announce of course on the Wednesday of Grand Final week and this is what you win how about this performance of the year will be driving home a fully loaded Lexus LBX thanks to Andrew Mort team Alexis a Blackburn just like a winner it'll be dynamic the impact will be Sensational it's compact it's hybrid it's a sporty package without compromise test drive the new LBX at Lexus of Blackburn and as I always say Jimmy it's what it's like a spaceship it's like a spaceship it is indeed it's absolutely Sensational we'll come back and wrap up another footy classified right after [Music] this they save the moment [Applause] welcome back thanks to Tab and thanks to the Eddie and Jimmy podcast we're looking at the best back-to-back Premier from the 80s the 90s the thousands and the tens I want to go back to 1920s of course for calling what's four in a row but uh lyy you and I both got nightmares about the Brisbane Lions of course they knocked off the bombers and knocked me over twice uh uh which ones do you like there oh I did love the Hawks of that 13 14 15 I think that many nice left Footers they just turned changed the way the game was played with how good they were Hodge buddy sirel Mitchell ruffy Lewis all I love that team yeah I love the Rond Lions team but if I go back a bit further to where this starts in the 80s the 8182 cartton team Dominator I know I was calling it again both times the bar Kenny h m Richmond and don't forget they did have to they got a a kick along from Helen Deo when she streak2 against Richmond yeah Wayne HS head that was 79 so that bring that up I love that Hawk side they were dominant beautiful and skillful but I'm going to go with the lon side they'll tough they'll brilliant they'll brutal skillful brand low medalists everywhere and then you got big aliser Lynch and all these guys up in the four line down back they tough as Nails as well and skillful some on the line well I love the Hawthorns team in in the 80s well but I'll go back to 84 85 for the bombers because they had you talk about superstars you Simon Madden Tim Watson Paul Weston was playing at that stage you had a young mark hary young bomber Thompson there Superstars everywhere and it was so big for the bombers who hadn't won a Premiership for years to be able to do so to go back to back and with that in mind lordy uh it's Happy anniversary baby uh have a look at this I don't want to bring it up but yes I do you set that up just so you can do this you hey 20 years ago today ESS won a a final remember that lordy which was the last time they want a final it's back when goalpost was small and Lord how many did you kick this day four four four what yeah four goals five four goals five had you kicked those when you finished with 96 goals had you yeah it hurts to be honest it's uh I think the club is sick of being laugh at so uh yeah but the longer it goes on the more you wouldn't in your wild dreams have thought at that stage as you and herie and all that great team walked off the field that here we'd be 20 years later and the bombers would basically be the the butt of a joke absolutely like just uh as said walked in the club expectations of prelim and that just kept happening time and time again and now it's been two two decades he's tensing up here see his eyes are narrowing and he's yeah it's not funny is it it's not no just the jokes are tiome uh and not being as hard as a club on any but you don't like being laugh at as a club on a on a more positive note it was the anniversary this week of you winning the flag in 2000 yeah exactly on on uh Monday it was so every was sending themselves having a drink somewhere because the Olympics in city that on that year so yes joh Barn started I think having a drink somewhere me it was a blustery windy day and he's in a Jacuzzi somewhere that's they need to get ja there the Hang good on boys it's been fantastic as always hey as we said good luck to the eight teams in the finals it's going to be an absolute beler this time next week there'll only be six Le left as they count down to the 2024 Toyota AFL Premiership is on in Earnest good night everyone n [Music]