Mate, I reckon our flanks are much better than they were last time we played, and to me, that is where they get us.
Glenn Stewart now can roam either side of the ruck, and to me, he is like the glue in this team.
There are a few things going for us in this game IMO:-
1. Brookvale Oval;
2. A wounded Eagle. They have beaten us way too much the past few games (Grand Final, Trial, earlier game this year);
3. We have improved, and have much more diversity in attack - even from the earlier game this year. Glenn Stewart @ Lock is a master piece;
4. Aggression. When teams up the ante, and we have Choc, Matai & Perry on the field, we now seem to fire right back. Add to that an angry little streak I've seen in G Stewart lately, and I love it;
5. Des Hasler. To me, Des has out foxed some pretty damned good coaches this year. In previous years, it was primarily about focusing on us...but nowadays, we are much better than that.
6. Diversity. Ballin, Le'Strange - we are like two completely different teams in the same night...both awesome. Cuthbo, G Stewart & Beaver also add an extra dimension to our attack.
7. To me, a few players like Smith, Hoffman and co. have been a little flat, and are doing what they must to get through. Yeah they are winning, but we may shock them.
8. We haven't hit our peak...by a long way in my opinion. You can see glimpses of what we can REALLY do in patches (example - first 25 minutes against The Sharks at Shark Park). We play like that for 80, and we'd win 30 odd to NIL.
9. Representative football. We all know how BelLAMEy left all our players out of his rep footy teams, and that Melbourne's management consider us WOManly. The only way for our players to change that perception, is by winning, and by winning well....and I reckon the players know that. They will have a point to prove. G Stewart will want an Australian spot over Johnson. B Stewart over Slater etc etc etc. I reckon these guys are going to dig in, and do it for each other.
10. They say it doesn't matter, and they are not thinking about it, but Des is a perfectionist. He wants the "Coach of the Year", he wants to be a rep coach, and the team as a whole want and require the minor premiership whether they say so or not.
For these reasons, and probably many more, I reckon we can win mate.
I also reckon it may be a time to call a few X players (BK for example) into the sheds to re-iterate how important this game is for the future prospects, and perception of our team and players (not that they probably already don't know this).
I also think it's a vital game for attitude SHOULD we meet in the GF.