NON-MFC: Practice Matches 2023

[grazman 7,299]

1 hour ago, Bombay Airconditioning said:

Not sure how our midfield has ranked the last couple of seasons but I’m guessing it would have been in the top 4. With the addition of Hunter & Grundy along side Oliver, Petracca, Langdon, Viney and Gawn I’d like to think we will have a top 2 if not the best midfield in the comp. 
 

Well it depends on how you rank these things,  in my mind I had us up with the Dogs, (English, Bont, Macrae, Libba) as one of the best two midfields, but fans of Brisbane, Geelong, Sydney, Port, Richmond etc would probably disagree their sides weren't up there as well.   It's all subjective really, but you can try to move to a less subjective position by using metrics from a wide variety of inputs rather just your own opinion.   .

For example -  I compared each of the finalists from last year with their best 4 centre square starting combinations in terms of total number of games, Brownlow votes, Coaches votes and AFL rankings. Melbourne ranked 4^th for total games but 1^st for Brownlow votes, 1st for Coaches votes and 1st for AFL rankings compared to the other 7 teams.   I haven't done it for the wingers or resting ruckmen etc, but it tells me that it's not just me that thinks our mids are the best in the game, clearly the umpires, coaches and to a certain extent stats validate that as well. 

FWIW I think you are bang on about Harris Andrews and you can add Payne (who I think will be good eventually) as well.  If they couldn't dominate in the air against that Geelong attack then there would have been even more concerns on their back six than there already are.

[layzie 33,049]

32 minutes ago, The Jackson FIX said:

Top 4 finish 2021 and then a prelim last yr (with 2 finals wins and 15 regular-season wins) - they’ve hardly been awful. 

I just reckon they get better this year from an already-strong position. 

You're right it's hardly a failure but they've got some serious talent to burn on that list. Need to take that next step, the time is now. 

[WalkingCivilWar 39,264]

2 hours ago, Bombay Airconditioning said:

And we picked up Hunter and Grundy. The Lions beat us in the semi last year and now we’ll never hear the end of it. A 13 point victory, with the injuries we had. That’s the only game they can salvage from the last 4 years of final. The Lions get off on flogging the weaker sides and the media jumps on board. This year the Lions should only be judged on how they play against us, Geelong, Sydney and Collingwood. Freo and Richmond to a lesser extent.

Even if it was never mentioned again I’ll never forget it. I have an endless supply of pins to stick into my Zorko and Jarrod Berry voodoo dolls. 🤬

[layzie 33,049]

1 hour ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

Even if it was never mentioned again I’ll never forget it. I have an endless supply of pins to stick into my Zorko and Jarrod Berry voodoo dolls. 🤬

It should fade off over time, it's not like they went on to achieve anything great from that win. If they do then congrats, I guess they did win their premiership after all. 

Edited March 3, 2023 by layzie
'on to' not 'onto'

[Gawndy the Great 9,009]

Beware of the Dogs. they had a shocker last year for god knows what reason but they are stacked full of talent - maybe underdone a little in the backline but stars in the forward half. 

[WalkingCivilWar 39,264]

4 minutes ago, layzie said:

It should fade off over time, it's not like they went onto achieve anything great from that win. If they do then congrats, I guess they did win their premiership after all. 

I know it’ll soon be nought but a distant memory, Layz. It wasn’t just the revolting treatment of HP, though. It meant the end of our season. Such a heartbreaking sight was packing up all our gear: flags, floggers, giant heads, everything, in total silence and with most everyone crying. I mean, I cry every time we lose, so no biggy there. But seeing the ordinarily stoic types in tears was hard to take. Also, only two weeks prior we’d beaten them at the Gabba (awesome match!) and of course the great win over them that ended our three-game losing streak (having been 10 and zip) mid-season.

Some games just stay with you for longer than they should. Personally, this is one of them. 

[DeelightfulPlay 2,510]

15 minutes ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

I know it’ll soon be nought but a distant memory, Layz. It wasn’t just the revolting treatment of HP, though. It meant the end of our season. Such a heartbreaking sight was packing up all our gear: flags, floggers, giant heads, everything, in total silence and with most everyone crying. I mean, I cry every time we lose, so no biggy there. But seeing the ordinarily stoic types in tears was hard to take. Also, only two weeks prior we’d beaten them at the Gabba (awesome match!) and of course the great win over them that ended our three-game losing streak (having been 10 and zip) mid-season.

Some games just stay with you for longer than they should. Personally, this is one of them. 

For me too.  Emotionally it lingers, even if I can't actually remember much thanks to a few hasty glasses of whisky in the sports bar.  Although my memory of the game is gone, I remember sobbing as one of two Dees supporters, silhouetted against a tv screen as large as a wall and surrounded by a sea of agnostic NRL fans 😭 Tres dramatique!

[layzie 33,049]

8 minutes ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

I know it’ll soon be nought but a distant memory, Layz. It wasn’t just the revolting treatment of HP, though. It meant the end of our season. Such a heartbreaking sight was packing up all our gear: flags, floggers, giant heads, everything, in total silence and with most everyone crying. I mean, I cry every time we lose, so no biggy there. But seeing the ordinarily stoic types in tears was hard to take. Also, only two weeks prior we’d beaten them at the Gabba (awesome match!) and of course the great win over them that ended our three-game losing streak (having been 10 and zip) mid-season.

Some games just stay with you for longer than they should. Personally, this is one of them. 

Yep, it was a horrible night. I was in MCC that night and the number of walking wounded hobbling to the bench was like nothing I'd seen.

I really hated playing them again so soon. Call it pessimistic but it was a decent slice for Brisbane to play us again so soon. 

[layzie 33,049]

3 minutes ago, DeelightfulPlay said:

For me too.  Emotionally it lingers, even if I can't actually remember much thanks to a few hasty glasses of whisky in the sports bar.  Although my memory of the game is gone, I remember sobbing as one of two Dees supporters, silhouetted against a tv screen as large as a wall and surrounded by a sea of agnostic NRL fans 😭 Tres dramatique!

It's been a while since I drowned my sorrows after a painful loss, I just have this feeling it will feel way worse when the massive hangover hits. For some reason I prefer to stay relatively sober and torture myself with the constant brain loop of thoughts and what could have been and what could have been done etc. It's like I feel I need the punishment, which is stupid. 

[DeelightfulPlay 2,510]

12 minutes ago, layzie said:

It's been a while since I drowned my sorrows after a painful loss, I just have this feeling it will feel way worse when the massive hangover hits. For some reason I prefer to stay relatively sober and torture myself with the constant brain loop of thoughts and what could have been and what could have been done etc. It's like I feel I need the punishment, which is stupid. 

Honestly I prefer to be sober and stuck in tortured brain loops too, especially if engaging in convos on demonland.  Probably helps that ordinarily I'm not in a sports bar!  The next day was quite hellish

[WalkingCivilWar 39,264]

2 minutes ago, layzie said:

It's been a while since I drowned my sorrows after a painful loss, I just have this feeling it will feel way worse when the massive hangover hits. For some reason I prefer to stay relatively sober and torture myself with the constant brain loop of thoughts and what could have been and what could have been done etc. It's like I feel I need the punishment, which is stupid. 

We’re not allowed to drink in our bay but I wouldn’t want to anyways.

The DA never leave before the final siren. We have to cheer on the team right ‘til the end no matter the score. This is the sole thing I struggle with. Can you imagine how hard it is to chant and sing when a loss is inevitable? And (in my case anyways) through tears? That match in particular was gruelling in this respect. Emotionally very taxing. Luckily there’s always the opposite to help balance things out… Round 22 vs Carlton last year comes to mind. Kozzzzie!!! ❤️💙

[layzie 33,049]

6 minutes ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

We’re not allowed to drink in our bay but I wouldn’t want to anyways.

The DA never leave before the final siren. We have to cheer on the team right ‘til the end no matter the score. This is the sole thing I struggle with. Can you imagine how hard it is to chant and sing when a loss is inevitable? And (in my case anyways) through tears? That match in particular was gruelling in this respect. Emotionally very taxing. Luckily there’s always the opposite to help balance things out… Round 22 vs Carlton last year comes to mind. Kozzzzie!!! ❤️💙

For sure. Not downplaying it but it must be just a little comforting when there's a lot of you there going through it together? 

[WalkingCivilWar 39,264]

2 minutes ago, layzie said:

For sure. Not downplaying it but it must be just a little comforting when there's a lot of you there going through it together? 

Yeah but sometimes it’s the complete opposite. Especially for those who’d rather ugly cry on their own while halfway to Jolimont station before the siren’s even blown. Not that I’m one of those sadsacks. 

[DeeSpencer 24,796]

1 hour ago, Gawndy the Great said:

Beware of the Dogs. they had a shocker last year for god knows what reason but they are stacked full of talent - maybe underdone a little in the backline but stars in the forward half. 

It’s still a midfielders league though and how they cover Dunkley and Hunter will be interesting. In some ways makes it easier for Smith to get on ball minutes. Huge opportunity for Sauce Baker to take a wing spot.

[titan_uranus 24,677]

17 hours ago, Gawndy the Great said:

Geelong getting smashed but are +12 in f50s - no Cameron or Hawkins though. Get those matchups right and you go a long way to beating the reigning premiers 

Hawkins sooner or later is going to fall off the perch. This year may just maybe that year.

Maybe.

But this was a practice match and Geelong are notorious for not giving a [censored] about them.

Last year they lost to Gold Coast by 4 goals in the pre-season. In 2020 they made the GF after losing both pre-season matches to sides who didn't end up even making the finals.

[layzie 33,049]

47 minutes ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

Yeah but sometimes it’s the complete opposite. Especially for those who’d rather ugly cry on their own while halfway to Jolimont station before the siren’s even blown. Not that I’m one of those sadsacks. 

Yeah true, solitude is a wonderful thing sometimes. 

[Willmoy1947 3,972]

16 hours ago, The Jackson FIX said:

Ashcroft notched up 30 touches against the reigning premiers in his first official game… Jordan Gysberts areas 

A faster Gilligan...

[ucanchoose 1,816]

Some people complain about Daisy's commentary,  but Nathan Buckley is just terrible

[Demonland 70,328]

Bombers 3.14 with 12 minutes to go in the match. Yikes.

[Demonland 70,328]

I know it's a practice match and I have no idea who is missing from both St. Kilda or Essendon but neither team is impressing me.

[The heart beats true 17,825]

The bombers just served up an absolute hot 💩

[Nascent 8,655]

Only practice matches but it's hard to see hawks, bombers and saints anywhere but bottom 4. One of North or GWS to fill out the last spot.

[Dee Zephyr 19,174]

Essendon doing Demonland a favour by reducing the amount of times music is played after a goal.

[Call Me What You Will 751]

OK, it’s the end of the working week. It’s Friday night and the Aussie’s have won in Indore. Time to settle in for some pre-season footy. Have a look a couple of clubs, take some SuperCoach notes and just chill on a beautiful Friday night. And then…….Dermie and Derwayne spoil everything. My god those guys are just the worst. Does Derwayne think Hollands has a good work rate???. Early rant over. Go Dees.

[Nascent 8,655]

Always enjoy watching the blues get flogged.