4 hours ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

FINALLY!!!

Every year I stick the H/S fixture on my pantry door. And every year I have to stick a Melbourne pic over the pic of the reigning premiers. 
NOT THIS YEAR!

 

My favourite thing about this is that you also just happen to have a picture of Tracc on your pantry too.

You might be the biggest Demon tragic in a sea of Demon tragics 🤣

12 hours ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Are our double ups in 2022 really that much harder than 2021?

In 2021 we played Dogs (2nd), Geelong (4th), GWS (6th), Hawthorn (14), Adelaide (15).

We ended up having a tough fixture in 2021.

And, our double ups in 2022 are very similar to Richmond's flag defense in 2021 when they played 3 top 6 teams twice from the previous year, like us for next year.

Yes, I agree that we ended up having a tough draw in 2021. The draw of course is based on the positions for the previous year and those were: Dogs (7th), Geelong (2nd), GWS (10th), Hawthorn (15th), Adelaide (18th). On average those sides finished just over 2 positions higher in 2021 than in 2020. Interesting that 3.5 out of our 4.5 losses for the year were to those 5 sides (6.5 : 3.5 record, 11 : 1 for the other 12 sides!). As a collective I reckon the 5 teams we play twice in 2022 will again finish higher than they did in 2021.  

I think it's totally reasonable for us to have a tough draw. That's the way the system works. It's a pity that we didn't benefit in 2020 because there were no double-ups, and we had a horrible 2019 so had a favourable draw before COVID changed everything. Basically, if there'd been 22 games in 2020 we would have made the finals.

I probably was a bit negative in my original post. The real issue is the interstate fixtures. 12 of our 22 games are against Geelong/Interstate Teams but 8 of them are away from home (including our 'home' game in Alice Springs). Only 4 out of our MCG games are against Interstate teams. Why are we hosting Port in Alice Springs while they host us in Adelaide? IMO that game should be in Melbourne and we should be playing a Victorian team in NT. Further, we should be playing West Coast and/or Geelong in Melbourne and to balance that playing one of Sydney or GWS in Sydney.

Re Richmond's flag defence in 2021, they played the 2nd, 4th, 6th, 10th & 15th teams from 2020 twice, 12 games against Geelong/Interstate teams, with 7 of those scheduled to be away, 6 out of the first 8 games at the MCG (2 of those away), 8 out of their first 9 games in Melbourne, so definitely a better draw. We start with 2 out of 4 interstate and play Port (in Adelaide) and Essendon off 6-day breaks (and including travel whilst our opponents stay home).

I'm still optimistic and agree with an earlier post that at this stage we are probably favourites in 18 out of 22 games, and should definitely be Top 4 in 2022.

3 hours ago, Jaded No More said:

Go find a Victoria club that would agree to play us up there with no cash reward. 
For an interstate club it’s neither here nor there and means they don’t have to play us at home. 
We sell this game for money not because it’s any sort of help when it comes to winning games. 
 

 

Fair call. I guess I was just saying the way it should be in my view, rather than looking at the difficulties stopping it happening. I know we play in NT for financial reasons, the same reason why Hawthorn and North play in Tasmania. I naively thought the AFL controlled the game. I didn't realize clubs can boycott fixtures they don't like. 

Our injuries and ‘hangover’ will determine whether we finish top four, not the fixture.

Melbourne 5 wins 0 loss 20pts
Bulldogs 4 wins 1 loss 16pts
Essendon 4 wins 1 loss 16pts
Sydney 4 wins 1 loss 16pts
St Kilda 4 wins 1 loss 16pts
Geelong 3 wins 2 loss 12pts
Brisbane 3 wins 2 loss 12pts
Fremantle 3 wins 2 loss 12pts
Carlton 3 wins 2 loss 12pts
Richmond 3 wins 2 loss 12pts
West Coast 3 wins 2 loss 12pts
Port Adelaide 2 wins 3 loss 8pts
North Melbourne 1 wins 4 loss 4pts
Collingwood 1 wins 4 loss 4pts
Adelaide 1 wins 0 loss 4pts
GWS 1 wins 4 loss 4pts
Gold Coast 0 wins 5 loss 0pts
Hawthorn 0 wins 5 loss 0pts

6 minutes ago, Demonland said:

Melbourne 5 wins 0 loss 20pts
Bulldogs 4 wins 1 loss 16pts
Essendon 4 wins 1 loss 16pts
Sydney 4 wins 1 loss 16pts
St Kilda 4 wins 1 loss 16pts
Geelong 3 wins 2 loss 12pts
Brisbane 3 wins 2 loss 12pts
Fremantle 3 wins 2 loss 12pts
Carlton 3 wins 2 loss 12pts
Richmond 3 wins 2 loss 12pts
West Coast 3 wins 2 loss 12pts
Port Adelaide 2 wins 3 loss 8pts
North Melbourne 1 wins 4 loss 4pts
Collingwood 1 wins 4 loss 4pts
Adelaide 1 wins 0 loss 4pts
GWS 1 wins 4 loss 4pts
Gold Coast 0 wins 5 loss 0pts
Hawthorn 0 wins 5 loss 0pts

Melbourne top with the Hawks propping up the table. what a lovely thought

11 hours ago, Sydney_Demon said:

Why? We should be playing them in Melbourne since they are hosting us in Adelaide. It's a big advantage to play Port In Melbourne. We should be playing a Victorian team in Alice Springs, preferably one that also plays home games at the MCG, so we don't lose our home ground advantage. 

I like the fixture because i get to go to Alice, play against decent opposition (as opposed to the Suns) so should be a good game and we get well paid by the NT government. 

We've just won a finals series on the road, obliterating the opposition in the process so away fixtures hold no fear for me. And i'm certainly not afraid of Port Adelaide, probably the biggest down hill skiers in the comp.

I'm with Sydney Dee on this one. How many years have people been banging on about when we win games we'll get a better draw? I'm not so much talking of difficulty as I was expecting a difficult draw - although perhaps not as taxing with all the travel. I was expecting the opportunity to capitalise (financially) on our premiership. I see some modest gains and that's about it.

I see Carlton, Essendon and Carlton given their annual dream exposure fixtures and it's a given with Collingwood, no matter how ordinary they are.

I see the dogs with four of their five opening games on Wednesday (versus us), Thursday or Friday night. Shouldn't that be us? Instead we back up round one with a big fat non-event interstate. On that subject, it's amusing Pert's quip about getting to see all our interstate fans in the fixture, when we've just spent the last two [censored] years interstate.

 

12 hours ago, Sydney_Demon said:

Hello Demon17. Whether Melbourne has won 17 Premierships or 17 Wooden Spoons in a row I think is totally irrelevant to expressed views on next year's Draw for Melbourne. Whether opposition teams think playing Melbourne is a good or bad thing is likewise irrelevant.

I totally respect your view that as a collective playing one game only against each of the Swans, Giants, Cats and Tigers is better than as a collective playing one game only against each of the Bulldogs, Port, Lions and Dockers, but I think most people would disagree.

We don't get to play Port on our home turf. We play them in Alice Springs as our home game. They play their home game against us in Adelaide. Obviously, that's totally fair (not). If you're saying that playing the top teams is potentially a good thing because they are 8 point games, fair enough. I guess it works both ways. It certainly helped us 2021. Again, I think that's irrelevant as regards whether we have a good draw or not.

The point I was trying to make, however clumsily,  in my original post was that it would be harder for Melbourne supporters, particularly those that live in the Country or Interstate, to get to Wednesday night's opener, as opposed to if it had been on the Friday. Are you disagreeing with that assertion? Do you think Wednesday is better than Friday because it's the first game of the season? Do you think St Kilda and Collingwood are more deserving that Melbourne and Western Bulldogs of the Friday night fixture? I welcome your and 58's views.     

 

Irrelevance is not the issue. My comments were about opportunity.  And the dees are bettet placed than ever and good enough to beat top team contendets and benefit from so callef 8 point games. 

I dont care who we play or where but rest assured many other fans will look at the draw emotionally and dread meeting the dees twice. Its an emotional thing.

I'm not sure why you raised you wednesday night comment again. I didn't and i dont have a view either way. Not ideal for sure but the fixture has many component pressures and 7 will love the pies on a friday night instead of us. Personally I'll be watching Gardening Australa.

12 hours ago, The heart beats true said:

My favourite thing about this is that you also just happen to have a picture of Tracc on your pantry too.

You might be the biggest Demon tragic in a sea of Demon tragics 🤣

Oh that’s just the tip of the iceberg. This is the outside of my pantry…

And this is where my pet chooks sleep. They don’t know it, but they go for the Demons, too. 
 

And I’ve yet to mount all the awesome framed prints I bought from Joeboy. Gotta find the perfect spot. 

41 minutes ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

Oh that’s just the tip of the iceberg. This is the outside of my pantry…

And this is where my pet chooks sleep. They don’t know it, but they go for the Demons, too. 
 

And I’ve yet to mount all the awesome framed prints I bought from Joeboy. Gotta find the perfect spot. 

You need a bigger pantry.....perhaps the MFC shop?

19 hours ago, Sydney_Demon said:

Yes, I agree that we ended up having a tough draw in 2021. The draw of course is based on the positions for the previous year and those were: Dogs (7th), Geelong (2nd), GWS (10th), Hawthorn (15th), Adelaide (18th). On average those sides finished just over 2 positions higher in 2021 than in 2020. Interesting that 3.5 out of our 4.5 losses for the year were to those 5 sides (6.5 : 3.5 record, 11 : 1 for the other 12 sides!). As a collective I reckon the 5 teams we play twice in 2022 will again finish higher than they did in 2021.  

I think it's totally reasonable for us to have a tough draw. That's the way the system works. It's a pity that we didn't benefit in 2020 because there were no double-ups, and we had a horrible 2019 so had a favourable draw before COVID changed everything. Basically, if there'd been 22 games in 2020 we would have made the finals.

I probably was a bit negative in my original post. The real issue is the interstate fixtures. 12 of our 22 games are against Geelong/Interstate Teams but 8 of them are away from home (including our 'home' game in Alice Springs). Only 4 out of our MCG games are against Interstate teams. Why are we hosting Port in Alice Springs while they host us in Adelaide? IMO that game should be in Melbourne and we should be playing a Victorian team in NT. Further, we should be playing West Coast and/or Geelong in Melbourne and to balance that playing one of Sydney or GWS in Sydney.

Re Richmond's flag defence in 2021, they played the 2nd, 4th, 6th, 10th & 15th teams from 2020 twice, 12 games against Geelong/Interstate teams, with 7 of those scheduled to be away, 6 out of the first 8 games at the MCG (2 of those away), 8 out of their first 9 games in Melbourne, so definitely a better draw. We start with 2 out of 4 interstate and play Port (in Adelaide) and Essendon off 6-day breaks (and including travel whilst our opponents stay home).

I'm still optimistic and agree with an earlier post that at this stage we are probably favourites in 18 out of 22 games, and should definitely be Top 4 in 2022.

I'd rather play interstate teams away and play Vic clubs at home. Better for the finances and better atmosphere at games (especially if we're winning).

Edited December 11, 20213 yr by Dr. Gonzo

If we have a good run with injuries it doesn’t matter who we play twice. The bigger issue with the draw is the number of short turnarounds which can lead to injuries, especially back to back 6 day breaks or 5 day breaks. Carlton, Freo, GWS, GC, and Hawks have draws with none of these. Every other team does.  Richmond have a nasty 5 day break after playing us and then travelling to Perth. Comparatively our draw is ok.
 

On 12/11/2021 at 7:31 AM, rpfc said:

Our injuries and ‘hangover’ will determine whether we finish top four, not the fixture.

Our injuries and 'hangover' will certainly be extremely important factors in where we finish on the ladder, as is the fixture.

30 minutes ago, Sydney_Demon said:

Our injuries and 'hangover' will certainly be extremely important factors in where we finish on the ladder, as is the fixture.

Ah no, you now go for a club that transcends venue and opponent; we will win in Perth and Geelong, in Adelaide and in big games. The only thing we have to fear, is our own hubris…

That, and injuries…

9 hours ago, rpfc said:

The only thing we have to fear, is our own hubris…

That, and injuries…

Two things. Hubris, injuries, and players getting into scandals. Three things! Hubris, injuries, players getting into scandals, and other clubs poaching our players. Four things ...

Another factor is we will be hunted ... other teams will search for weaknesses and that could happen most weeks

Can't say I'm all that concerned though.  More of a recognition of what can happen to premiership teams

We are now building a squad rather than best 15 or best 22.  Therefore, those who don't have a manic hunger could miss out

And we haven't been in that unique position since (probably) the Smith days

Our list (all things considered with the add-ons) needs to win 2 or 3 premierships as the opposition teams are not that great. 

So our excellence should prevail against the very good ... unless there is another team that somehow becomes an excellent team

As for the fixture,  just play the games in front of you.  Every game is a challenge

From a financial point of view we could have fared better but on the back of a flag, we can cash in, in other areas (sponsorship, high end membership and membership in general, coterie & merchandising etc) 

2023 could be a bumper year with assured home games on Anzac eve & the QB clash

Edited December 13, 20213 yr by Macca

On 12/11/2021 at 8:36 AM, Roger Mellie said:

I'm with Sydney Dee on this one. How many years have people been banging on about when we win games we'll get a better draw? I'm not so much talking of difficulty as I was expecting a difficult draw - although perhaps not as taxing with all the travel. I was expecting the opportunity to capitalise (financially) on our premiership. I see some modest gains and that's about it.

I see Carlton, Essendon and Carlton given their annual dream exposure fixtures and it's a given with Collingwood, no matter how ordinary they are.

I see the dogs with four of their five opening games on Wednesday (versus us), Thursday or Friday night. Shouldn't that be us? Instead we back up round one with a big fat non-event interstate. On that subject, it's amusing Pert's quip about getting to see all our interstate fans in the fixture, when we've just spent the last two [censored] years interstate.

 

NSW ?

On 12/4/2021 at 9:23 AM, Dr. Gonzo said:

on Friday night? What a joke, Docklands is free on Saturday have us on Friday and move Pies/Saints to Saturday. Now we have a midweek game that will make it difficult for families and others with rigid working hours to attend. Seriously, [censored] the AFL

I think this is a really fair point. It's great the Afl is doing something like this given so many supporters couldn't go to Perth.

But if the Afl is serious about creating some kind of reboot of the gf then it would have it put it on a Fri, sat or Sunday so families could attend. I like the idea but I think they could have put a little more thought into it.

I'll just focus on the four points we will get.

Edited December 13, 20213 yr by leave it to deever

15 hours ago, Macca said:

So our excellence should prevail against the very good ... unless there is another team that somehow becomes an excellent team

Yep it's really our time to collect a few cups. It's the perfect alignment of the planets, players ages, recruits, fitness and staff. Despite our mini slump ( which was fueled in part by our forward line tinkering) we were head and shoulders above the rest.

Next year I see more improvement as our forward line gets even stronger hopefully also with more accuracy. Maybe our win loss ratio won't improve that much as it was already very good ( I'll tip one more win)  but I expect us to really pants a few teams.

Maybe gws and the swans to emerge as bigger threats but it won't make any difference. It seems the lads are already hungry and focused to go back to back. Winning on the hallowed Mcg in front of fans, families and friends seems to be a big motivational factor.

Edited December 13, 20213 yr by leave it to deever

On 12/11/2021 at 11:20 AM, WalkingCivilWar said:

And this is where my pet chooks sleep. They don’t know it, but they go for the Demons, too. 

Dare I ask if the chooks are named after players?

1 hour ago, leave it to deever said:

Yep it's really our time to collect a few cups. It's the perfect alignment of the planets, players ages, recruits, fitness and staff. Despite our mini slump ( which was fueled in part by our forward line tinkering) we were head and shoulders above the rest.

Next year I see more improvement as our forward line gets even stronger hopefully also with more accuracy. Maybe our win loss ratio won't improve that much as it was already very good ( I'll tip one more win)  but I expect us to really pants a few teams.

Maybe gws and the swans to emerge as bigger threats but it won't make any difference. It seems the lads are already hungry and focused to go back to back. Winning on the hallowed Mcg in front of fans, families and friends seems to be a big motivational factor.

Another huge factor was the ability of all our forwards to fight for the front position and maintain the front position.  So important

Pound for pound our forward line isn't star-studded but we were exceptionally disciplined this season past thus giving ourselves do many more scoring opportunities

In previous years a lot of our forward forays amounted to not much at all

 

2 hours ago, leave it to deever said:

Dare I ask if the chooks are named after players?

Uhm, does a one-legged duck swim in circles?!

This here is our OG chook whom we’ve had for years. Named Jay-Jay (after JH29)…

And introducing Febes 1 and Febes 2 (like Thing 1 and Thing 2, Dr Seuss)…

We can’t tell them apart, so whomever we see first at any given time is Febes 1 😆

17 minutes ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

Uhm, does a one-legged duck swim in circles?!

This here is our OG chook whom we’ve had for years. Named Jay-Jay (after JH29)…

And introducing Febes 1 and Febes 2 (like Thing 1 and Thing 2, Dr Seuss)…

We can’t tell them apart, so whomever we see first at any given time is Febes 1 😆

My bad....ask a silly question...

On 12/9/2021 at 6:21 PM, DemonOX said:

Also playing the puzzie cats in Geeeelong. 
 

God I HATE the cats  

 

Agree - easily my most hated team so the finish to the season and finals was that much sweeter!

Re Cats in Geelong, my sense (might be wrong) is that since Goody has been coaching us, we've played pretty well in at Kardinia Park - potentially have a better record there overall than the MCG against them.  I know they smashed us early in 2019 (but who didn't).  What's my point?  Playing in Kardinia doesn't hold any fears for me (especially after what we did to them this  year).

Whereas games at Canberra or Tassie often seem to trouble us regardless of how the opposition is travelling.