Who’s being defeatist? I’m pointing out facts - NM have beaten us 5 out of the last 6 occasions, by an average of 8 goals. They are statistically better at clearances than us this season and have a major advantage in the ruck. They will see this a winnable game.

“We will win easy because they are shit” doesn’t fly with me.

We may win, we may not, but what it won’t be is easy.

I guess we’ll find out tonight how much we have genuinely improved this year….

I don't think it's defeatist to say that it'll be a tough game, maybe even that we're underdogs, and that we'd be thrilled by any win. Defeatism would be saying we're definitely going to lose so why bother even watching. I also think you're just setting yourself for disappointment by saying anything less than a thrashing isn't good enough - the parameters for enjoyment are narrowed considerably, and ultimately isn't football meant to be enjoyed?

With our list falling to pieces yet again, I'll be grateful for any win. But North are favourites IMO.... if I was a gambler I'd be all over the current odds.

Surely Plowman is the Sub.......

I haven't followed North closely this year but I heard one of their callers on the radio yesterday say Goldy has actually been out of form.

Anyone in the eastern suburbs planning on going by train - there are train line works and the Belgrave/Lilydale/Glen Waverley lines all have bus replacements to some degree.

If you go by a team’s performance against an opponent for the last 5 or 6 times they met, rather than where they are on the ladder (especially after only 7 rounds), you could not tip Carlton this week with any confidence whatsoever.

Fogarty is a good VFL player.

He misses targets but the game is more forgiving at VFL level

If Dow wasn't so lazy chasing or attacking opponents with the ball, he'd be an assett