GAME DAY - Round 12

[Whispering_Jack 30,684]

It's game day and it certainly feels different.

For starters, it's a Saturday although the game is buried in that twilight zone time slot I refer to elsewhere in this week's match preview.

Then there's the matter of the new coach (although I'm sure that we've gotten used to the idea of a caretaker coach by now. After all, our last four have all been sacked without seeing out their contracts).

It's not as if I have great expectations today, only that, in the words of the great John Kennedy (the coach, I mean), I just want them to "do something"!

[DemonFrog 1,356]

I am excited to see the boys play this week.

Not that I expect big things to change on the field or with the final scores.

Goo the Dees!

[S.R.J 418]

My house is buzzing. My wife is a saints supporter (if only i knew this the day we met) god i hope we win. Cant wait till i move back to Victoria next year as i can then attend these matches. Winning ths match will make me smile for once during this season from hell

[DemonFrog 1,356]

My house is buzzing. My wife is a saints supporter (if only i knew this the day we met) god i hope we win. Cant wait till i move back to Victoria next year as i can then attend these matches. Winning ths match will make me smile for once during this season from hell

I told my wife which team she supports.

OMG she was talking about liking Collingwood at one stage, I simple could not let that happen,

Went online to the MFC shop and purchased her some Dees Clothing for our wedding anniversary LOL.

The wife even once told me she was bored at a WAFL Grand Final when the mighty blue and red was winning, I had then banned her from attending any live footy for the next eight years, Think that game was the last final the MFC has played (in Perth).

So stand strong and take control, she only love you more for it or kick your butt! But if you truly love her you do need to protect her from making bad decisions.

Go the Dees

[Waltham33 475]

The road to number 13 begins today - lets go

[Allen Jakovich 516]

I have a very good feeling about today's game.

[CHAMP 347]

It's game day and it certainly feels different.

For starters, it's a Saturday although the game is buried in that twilight zone time slot I refer to elsewhere in this week's match preview.

Then there's the matter of the new coach (although I'm sure that we've gotten used to the idea of a caretaker coach by now. After all, our last four have all been sacked without seeing out their contracts).

It's not as if I have great expectations today, only that, in the words of the great John Kennedy (the coach, I mean), I just want them to "do something"!

Yes our hope has been re-built (albeit a re-build of a re-built re-build).

We're perhaps not on a Reality Bus however change is in train.

We're not sure what 'it' is just yet.

[MadAsHell 4,215]

My house is buzzing. My wife is a saints supporter (if only i knew this the day we met) god i hope we win.

My wife also. We first started dating back in early 2008 so in all the time we've been together the Dees have never knocked off the Saints, although I've made her sit throuhg the DVD's of the 2006 elimination final and 1998 semi final once or twice.

Looking forward to seeing what the players produce today,and I'm also looking forward to paying close attention to Clisby, Blease, Watts & Fitzpatrick, reckon they could all produce something special today which could be our first step of recovery from our official rock bottom (AFL taking over).

Lets hope we see a replica of our first quarter against Collingwood, our 2nd quarter against West Coast, 3rd quarter against Hawthorn and final quarter against GWS all rolled into one!

[Josh 1,420]

Looking for a big game from Watts today. He and Trenners need to turn this club around today.

[praha 11,240]

I want to have a good feeling but I have lost faith in this particular squad. You don't just suddenly start trusting and believing in one another, and I think this team lacks that self-belief. The Hawthorn game showed me above all else that the players don't even really trust one another.

[Kenny Powers 90]

Hope the boys come out pumped. If you're heading to the game enjoy!

[DemonOX 8,801]

This thread sounds like a preseason thread full of hope until..............................

[Bonkers 994]

I want to have a good feeling but I have lost faith in this particular squad. You don't just suddenly start trusting and believing in one another, and I think this team lacks that self-belief. The Hawthorn game showed me above all else that the players don't even really trust one another.

IMO Neeld's defensive game plan sapped them of any confidence they once had. It's all well and good to say premierships are built on defense but when your a developing side copping floggings every week the players needed to feel good about something. I'm hoping Craig lets them attack & to try & kick a large score rather than focusing too much on structures. They will make mistakes but at least the players will have the chance to express their natural ability & hopefully enjoy playing the game.

[Generation dee 1,336]

Love your optimism tall defence!

If anyone is watching fox footy, there is a replay of last year round 5 when we gave st kilda a scare. Just looking at the personnel changes from then til now. Bartram, rivers, Moloney, bate and Morton all moved on, and from today's team, magner, grimes, frawley, tapscott, Mckenzie, frawley, jamar and sellar all out. I think Clark also but I haven't seen if he is on the ground or not.

Replacing those, Byrnes, pederson, toumpas, Dawes, Matt jones, terlich, rodan, Fitzpatrick, Nicholson, Kent and clisby, blease and spencer.

Injuries have played a huge part in our lack of success this year, but looking at those changes I don't think we should expect miracles today. That said, put some of those injured players back in our team, add 20-40 games to some of those youngsters and we have a fairly good ceiling for improvement.

Something to think about though, the ones making the skill errors- Morton, magner, Moloney, Rivers, bate and Dunn! Grimes has made a couple too, however as you can see the other guys are all players not on the list any longer.

[Cards13 9,117]

IMO Neeld's defensive game plan sapped them of any confidence they once had. It's all well and good to say premierships are built on defense but when your a developing side copping floggings every week the players needed to feel good about something. I'm hoping Craig lets them attack & to try & kick a large score rather than focusing too much on structures. They will make mistakes but at least the players will have the chance to express their natural ability & hopefully enjoy playing the game.

Unfortunately that confidence doesn't change in less than a week, 'aints by 30.

[The Yarra 83]

Can Kent get 15 kicks instead of 5, Can Nicho back his speed and cut up the corridor, Can Dunn lower his eyes and measure his kicks, Can Jack Watts impose himself on the contest in a physical manner?

The above players can do all these things and that will be the difference between winning and losing.

[Whispering_Jack 30,684]

Nothing against Mark Neeld but the effect of his sacking is already evident in the confidence of my younger grandson in the under 8's basketball. He had a breakout game today and scored a basket. Of course, his older brother, in true Demon form, missed through injury.

All in all though, I'm getting more and more confident as the morning wears on.

[Cards13 9,117]

Nothing against Mark Neeld but the effect of his sacking is already evident in the confidence of my younger grandson in the under 8's basketball. He had a breakout game today and scored a basket. Of course, his older brother, in true Demon form, missed through injury.

All in all though, I'm getting more and more confident as the morning wears on.

Did he drop the hefty weight of expectation of thousands of fans on his toe? I hope he makes a speedy and full recovery... in 426...

[Allen Jakovich 516]

You know that phenomenon were teams who's coaches are sacked come out and play awesome the following weekend? People often say "they played for the coach, but why couldn't they do that previously"?

Well I have a theory, I believe that happens because often when things are going south at footy clubs, and pressure is really mounting on a coach, the players really feel that. They feel a weight of responsibility, which makes them less confident, less able to positively attack games. We've seen it this year in many games where we play quite well, and then when the going gets tough, the players find it very difficult to play with freedom, they second guess themselves, they think, oh no, another big loss could be catastrophic for Mark... etc.... and the confidence level plummets. The collingwood game is a prime example. It's not that they are not fit enough or good enough, it's that the weight of responsibility forces them to go into their shell.

Then when the coach departs and that cloud lifts, often they attack the following game with a freedom not previously seen. Garland said it in his presser... "we have nothing to lose now".

Who knows, maybe I'm talking crap, but I'm going with it, and it makes me confident of an improved showing today.

GO DEES!

[timD 994]

I'll be there with Dad and my two eldest kids. Rugged up and ready. Hoping that someone does something. Maybe the shackles will come off.

Damn you, witless Hope.

Damn you.

[45HG 1,559]

Nothing against Mark Neeld but the effect of his sacking is already evident in the confidence of my younger grandson in the under 8's basketball. He had a breakout game today and scored a basket. Of course, his older brother, in true Demon form, missed through injury.

All in all though, I'm getting more and more confident as the morning wears on.

I trust he missed with a foot injury...

[Maldonboy38 6,406]

I don't know what to think and feel today. My emotional responses and my rational ability to discern seem to be so worn down by the amount of turmoil in season 2013 that I've got nothing left.

Are we a chance today - absolutely.

Can we get beaten by 70 points again - absolutely.

Can Watts, Trenners and Blease fire - yes please.

Can Dunn, Nicho, Terlich and Tom McDonald turn it over 100 times - oh yes they can.

One thing is for sure - I reckon players like Blease, Watts and Syvlia - possibly others - might sense a shift and feel released to attack and take the game on, take some risks and attack with flair. But that is about the best I can do with my battered expectations.

[Ryan Dee 140]

I told my wife which team she supports.

OMG she was talking about liking Collingwood at one stage, I simple could not let that happen,

Went online to the MFC shop and purchased her some Dees Clothing for our wedding anniversary LOL.

The wife even once told me she was bored at a WAFL Grand Final when the mighty blue and red was winning, I had then banned her from attending any live footy for the next eight years, Think that game was the last final the MFC has played (in Perth).

So stand strong and take control, she only love you more for it or kick your butt! But if you truly love her you do need to protect her from making bad decisions.

Go the Dees

hahaha I lost it when I read this. I have done the exact same thing to two ex girlfriends lol. Building a supporter base one by one.

[nicksaidsoyouknowitstrue 19]

win win win win win win win win win win win - may not be on the reality train - who cares - still think it's a win.

[Bitter but optimistic 22,249]

I'm going with a big mouth Saints supporting mate. I would hate to both freeze my b---s off and end up in a punch on with the mouth. So, I'm hoping for a big win.