1 hour ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

It’s another money-making idea of Gil’s. Scrap one of the (official) practice matches, thereby making room for an extra round. Practice matches don’t make money for the AFL. An extra round does.

As to why it’s the Gather Round, my guess is that it’s the novelty aspect that the AFL hope is embraced. Although I just see it as players, players’ families, coaches and fans of all 18 clubs converging on one small city. Hence there’s those of us who have to make the car trip there and back, and in one day, coz what little accommodation is still available has - in most cases - doubled or even trebled in cost.

Of course, it’ll be worth every sore muscle (from being in a car for so long) and every headache (from lack of sleep) if we can just go out there and SMASH THE BOMBERS LIKE THEY’VE NEVER BEEN SMASHED BEFORE!!!!! 

4 hours ago, Orion said:

If Brown comes in, don't we have too many tall forwards now that JVR is in the team as well?

No because Petty goes down back probably replacing an injured Hibbo.

 

I've never seen one before 

36 minutes ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

We need to talk, Stevie 😑

I imagine some time back Stevie made a slightly positive comment about Essendon, and another Dees fan said “if you love Essendon so much, why don’t you marry it?”… and so he proposed and Essendon said yes 😂

Be interesting to see how Brodie goes against Draper. Don't mind Draper, good second and third efforts and can hold a mark, will be an intriguing battle.

12 minutes ago, AzzKikA said:

Be interesting to see how Brodie goes against Draper. Don't mind Draper, good second and third efforts and can hold a mark, will be an intriguing battle.

Vague recollection, but didn't the Filth win last years Anzac Day game, largely off the back of Grundy?

I can only see stats (which I know don't tell the full story), but it looks like he jad a good game and Draper was his opponent.

6 hours ago, Elwood 3184 said:

Bad luck to Sam Weideman on getting concussion and missing out on playing this week. At least it means he can’t do a Jayden Hunt and star against his old team.

I feel bad for Weids that he has to miss a match through injury. But not hating that he won’t be playing against us. Not sure I could stand the inevitable disparagement from our fans coz Weids. 😥 It was already bad enough when he was with us. 

1 hour ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Bombers kicked 11:22 against GWS

they will try to play a magpies style game against us

Could be closer than many think

GWS we’re putrid!

coach went ape pooh at 3/4 time & still zero player response

5 hours ago, titan_uranus said:

Not quite.

The week after Geelong we've got GWS in Alice Springs.

We also have North Melbourne in Round 21 in Hobart.

So post-bye we have Sydney, Hobart, Alice Springs and Geelong, with the other 6 games in Melbourne (one Marvel, 5 MCG).

The upside to it, I suppose, is that we don't have any genuine interstate games between Round 10 vs Port and Round 24 vs Sydney - only our own sold game in Alice Springs and North in Hobart.

And no proper bye for the 2nd year in a row (as Selwyn mentioned on the Demonland podcast).

8 minutes ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

And no proper bye for the 2nd year in a row (as Selwyn mentioned on the Demonland podcast).

And Gawn expressed his contempt last season at the time, saying Melbourne (effectively) had no bye.

3 hours ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

I feel bad for Weids that he has to miss a match through injury. But not hating that he won’t be playing against us. Not sure I could stand the inevitable disparagement from our fans coz Weids. 😥 It was already bad enough when he was with us. 

Honestly he'd be borderline on selection anyway, has had a pretty disappointing start to his Essendon career.

1 hour ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

And no proper bye for the 2nd year in a row (as Selwyn mentioned on the Demonland podcast).

Did Selwyn say it had a substantial impact?

15 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

Rivers can’t go back to the position he played most of the game in. He attended 3 centre bounces. 

Hibbo has to be replaced by a defender, be it Petty or otherwise - Turner a decent chance.

Also can’t see Laurie jumping JJ in to the starting 22, would be sub at best.

What do you mean can't go back to the position he played most of the game in? 

That makes no sense. 

Rivers is still a defender who is being exposed to the midfield. It's as much about flexibility as anything else and what that positional flexibility means for our side. 

Essendon will be playing a shorter forward line this week and they already have a small defence. 

And I disagree about JJ. I like Laurie's points of difference more so than JJ's and he offers a wider range of attributes. 

 

Any SA people here? What are your thoughts on gather round? You guys have to put up with PA & Crows all year with maybe seeing the dees twice. Bring able to see the dees play without the feral crowd must be a bonus? Is it worth having all the other teams there?

Well be great for your economy either way.

Edited April 10, 20232 yr by AzzKikA

19 hours ago, FarNorthernD said:

Most of you have interest in 2 games a week - to watch Melbourne win and hope Freo lose. I hate Essendon enough that I’d rather Freo won if it guaranteed an Essendon loss. The rancid cherry on the top is my utter contempt for Jake Stringer. 

FND you don't understand the Freo watch is all to do with our early Future Round Picks in this years draft as a result of the Jacko deal.

Who really cares about a 27/8 yo who is overweight and only loves himself at a Club that is about as tarnished as him. 

3 hours ago, AzzKikA said:

Any SA people here? What are your thoughts on gather round? You guys have to put up with PA & Crows all year with maybe seeing the dees twice. Bring able to see the dees play without the feral crowd must be a bonus? Is it worth having all the other teams there?

Well be great for your economy either way.

I wonder what the crowds will be like. I reckon they will be akin to some of the covid games we had. At least the Oval holds no fear for us.  I'm not sure this gather thing will not last. They could of least called it the dispersement round.

Edited April 10, 20232 yr by leave it to deever

3 hours ago, 58er said:

FND you don't understand the Freo watch is all to do with our early Future Round Picks in this years draft as a result of the Jacko deal.

Who really cares about a 27/8 yo who is overweight and only loves himself at a Club that is about as tarnished as him. 

You gotta give Essendon some credit afterall they blooded Melks and Hibbo who have been great additions to the Demon 22 over the years.

 

Please put Heppell on the wing!

21 minutes ago, Stevienic23 said:

Please put Heppell on the wing!

Nathan Jones on the wing flashbacks

18 hours ago, AzzKikA said:

Be interesting to see how Brodie goes against Draper. Don't mind Draper, good second and third efforts and can hold a mark, will be an intriguing battle.

And for a big man how good is his agility! 

13 hours ago, Kozzie4PM said:

Did Selwyn say it had a substantial impact?

The fact he mentioned it says that they'd rather have a proper bye than not. There's a reason the bye is there.

5 hours ago, JimmyGadson said:

What do you mean can't go back to the position he played most of the game in? 

That makes no sense. 

Rivers is still a defender who is being exposed to the midfield. It's as much about flexibility as anything else and what that positional flexibility means for our side. 

Essendon will be playing a shorter forward line this week and they already have a small defence. 

And I disagree about JJ. I like Laurie's points of difference more so than JJ's and he offers a wider range of attributes. 

 

You said Hibbo out, Laurie in, with Rivers back to defence. Rivers was already in the backline for the majority of the game. Hibbo needs to be replaced with a 7th defender be it Petty or someone from outside the team.

I’m intrigued by Laurie, wouldn’t mind seeing him as the sub again soon. But I’d only pick him straight in to the 22 if Fritsch or the 4 small forwards are out. I don’t think he’s ready for AFL midfield time. Even with Pickett and ANB spending more time in the middle a 5th small forward would be a lot.

17 minutes ago, layzie said:

And for a big man how good is his agility! 

Agree, very much the modern day ruckman.

1 hour ago, David-Demon said:

You gotta give Essendon some credit afterall they blooded Melks and Hibbo who have been great additions to the Demon 22 over the years.

 

No, you don’t. 

23 hours ago, FarNorthernD said:

Most of you have interest in 2 games a week - to watch Melbourne win and hope Freo lose. I hate Essendon enough that I’d rather Freo won if it guaranteed an Essendon loss. The rancid cherry on the top is my utter contempt for Jake Stringer. 

 

4 hours ago, 58er said:

FND you don't understand the Freo watch is all to do with our early Future Round Picks in this years draft as a result of the Jacko deal.

Who really cares about a 27/8 yo who is overweight and only loves himself at a Club that is about as tarnished as him. 

58er, the fact that FND DOES understand the Freo watch means his post is post of the century! 😁

Hashtag The Hate Is Real.