The mood was downbeat before we lost to Freo and didn't improve much as the week went on.  Significant pre-occuption with the non selection of Dow.

Here is a sample of comments on the same theme.

• Another Friday night game.  Another weekend ruined.
• We’re killing Friday night footy again
• Dees by plenty. This is going to be ugly.
• I've gone from extremely disappointed to feeling the old comfort of going to the footy next week with zero expectations of being able to win. That has done it for me
• We may not score.
• We will make the eight. Couldn't have had a worse start to the season and we find ourselves half a game out.  Common sense says we can't continue to play this badly. We will go on a run at some point.  Just when you think all is lost, it always changes.
• They lost today, there going to be hungrier then ever, and with our key personnel out OUCH!!! This could be the week we say bye bye to another coach!!!
•  Can we forefit?
• Watched Melbourne lose this weekend.  All the little things didn’t work for them. The ball bounced the wrong way at the last second, the shot at goal just missed, the pass was a metre long. Watch all these things magically happen for them on Friday night.
• There is still a glimmer of hope within this team. Maybe all is not wrong like it looks from the outside. When it clicks, because it will, it has to. It is going to be be special. Lets hope its this Friday night!
• Demons aren’t traveling well at the moment, hopefully our boys spark up and bring home the 4 point. I’ve got everything crossed for the best possible result a win.
• Surprised Cerra got off but happy with it.
• Looking forward to May & Lever breaking intercept marking records and McKay kicking another couple out on the full this week.
• Put JSOS on ball, ditch the stupid ruck move.  Fisher on ball to spice things up even more.  TDK lead up forward.  Stop making silly bombs into congested space.  Stop making Jesse go for contested marks against players twice his size.  We might actually have a chance..lol
• I thought we'd begun to move past the 'bomb it long' strategy. I even thought we might move beyond the 'boundaries at all costs' mantra. Until we learn to effectively use and exploit the corridor and lower the eyes (two things you'd think would be pretty basic - not easy, but basic) then we've got no chance.
• While Mirk's ruck work is improving he just can't get involved around the ground. He needs to be clunking them like Cox but he doesn't. Would get exposed against 2 of the best around the ground rucks in the league.
• We will play Grundy into form this week -- expect the big man to have a night out --  I hope silvagni not forced to second ruck
  • Melbourne might play Harry into form this week ...
  • What will happen is some lesser-light will suddenly have a burst of good play that kills us and the game, then this same person will disappear for the next several weeks.
  • Just say Melksham when you mean Melksham.
  • I can't disagree with you eg Melksham beat three Carlton defenders to win the game for them in the last 30 seconds last year ...that was a real kick in the hurtful places.
• Watch van rooyen, kick 4+-a star in the making
• Pickett is playing CBB as much these days - turning into a Rioli class player - unfortunately. When he 'rests' up forward he is still making stuff happen.
• Fritsch is a freak - I see McGovern as the only serious match up - unless Saad is asked to play a totally negating role on him - that could work b
  • McGovern has no defence. He’ll get carved up. IMO, It has to be Kemp and Young needs to come back.ecause they match up for leg speed and jump - but that takes Saad out of rebound duties.
• I would love to see Charlie off a HFF just going where he pleases……push into stoppage, burst pass for a handball receive. Gallop up the wing as a hit up target…..if anything it would make may and Lever more accountable
• Fritsch is the one that worries me…he and Melksham and Kosi P
• Felt a little sorry for Harry today hearing how it’s been a struggle lately with his kicking etc. especially seeing his mother in the rooms giving him a hug

They have bad memories of the job Melksham and Kozzie did on them last year.  Kept them out of the finals

Still have this niggling fear Harry will find his range this week so I was preparing for an upset.  Nonetheless, they have me convinced of a win.  Dees by 3 goals.

Edited May 31, 20232 yr by Lucifers Hero

My favourites:

• I need suggestions for things to do when Carlton are playing.  I’m probably old enough to join the local men’s shed but I’m scared they’ll have a telly on in the corner.  Might volunteer at the dog shelter, can’t be angry when you’re looking after the poochies.
  • I think I’ll make other plans Friday. Can’t imagine watching another soulless performance is a good use of time.
  • Come & join me for a shopping spree at Chadstone 😂
  • Chadstone... omg that could be just as bad as going to the footy! I only shop at the Paris end.
  • Go clothes shopping with the significant other. You'll be back watching footy faster than a politician breaks an election promise.
  • …maybe I could spend the time finding a significant other?
• Did you just copy and paste my format? ;)
  • Yep, I'm not clever enough to do that [censored] on my own. Besides it looks pretty professional.
• This has a hiding written all over it.  Things are only going to get worse.  At least I get married the next day. They can only ruin my Friday night.
• I fully expect to look in the TV Guide and see this game listed under the "comedy" genre because they're going to make us look silly.
• C'mon Vossy, we know you're lurking around here looking for ideas. At least give the fans something different to cheer about...if we're gonna go down, lets go down swinging rather than take the 'safe' option. Same old same old.

Edited May 31, 20232 yr by Lucifers Hero

Many thanks to @Demon Spurs @Queanbeyan Demon and @AzzKikA for keeping these threads going over recent weeks.  I enjoyed reading them albeit after the games.

Welcome back Luci and, as usual, great work!

Good to have you back @Lucifers Hero. 

The Carlton fanbase are very despondent at the moment. They remind me of us when we were enduring the 2019 season. I have 2 separate Carlton fans I've asked along to the game and both have declined. One of them has lost heart and has sworn off going to games for the rest of the year. He's a ball of rage. The other is more of a fair-weather fan but he just wants to enjoy his weekend.  I'm disappointed cos I've no one to banter during the game now.

Oddly, in a manner, many if those remarks could have been effectively  transcribed from the previous Port and Dockers efforts at doom and gloom.

Yet here we are

These scummy folk are a lot more certain about the Dees than im prepared to be currently. 

I thought we'd begun to move past the 'bomb it long' strategy. I even thought we might move beyond the 'boundaries at all costs' mantra. Until we learn to effectively use and exploit the corridor and lower the eyes (two things you'd think would be pretty basic - not easy, but basic) then we've got no chance.

This one sounds just like us!

14 minutes ago, beelzebub said:

Oddly, in a manner, many if those remarks could have been effectively  transcribed from the previous Port and Dockers efforts at doom and gloom.

Yet here we are

These scummy folk are a lot more certain about the Dees than im prepared to be currently. 

I was thinking the same thing.  Essendon fans were the same.  Part of the reason I was fearing an upset loss. 

I came to my senses and think we will win!

They could have also been transcribed from DL posts of yesteryear or they may resurface in the next few weeks vs Pies and Cats.

Edited May 31, 20232 yr by Lucifers Hero

1 hour ago, Lucifers Hero said:

C'mon Vossy, we know you're lurking around here looking for ideas. At least give the fans something different to cheer about...if we're gonna go down, lets go down swinging rather than take the 'safe' option. Same old same old.

Looks like sentiment shared on here...

I am not confident at all. They are so badly under the pump, and Cripps copped it in the media will this and will surely come out with a 30 and 3 game this week to prove his doubters wrong.

This could end in tears.

43 minutes ago, Engorged Onion said:

Looks like sentiment shared on here...

After preparing these threads for several years all fans sound the same:  Extreme euphoria when a team is on a winning streak and a deep dive into the abyss when losing.

imv a bit of argie - bargie is fine and as long as there is no nastiness or abuse at staff, players or posters, it is all part of what makes a forum fun and interesting.  It would be quite boring if everyone was sensible all the time and had the similar opinions.

Live and let live, I say!

TBH, bf posters are fairly tame; I rarely have to edit abuse or nastiness out.

Edited May 31, 20232 yr by Lucifers Hero

2 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

I am not confident at all. They are so badly under the pump, and Cripps copped it in the media will this and will surely come out with a 30 and 3 game this week to prove his doubters wrong.

This could end in tears.

Even thinking about losing to Carlton makes me feel ill.  so I've had to snap myself out of thinking we will lose! 

2 hours ago, Lucifers Hero said:

• Watched Melbourne lose this weekend.  All the little things didn’t work for them. The ball bounced the wrong way at the last second, the shot at goal just missed, the pass was a metre long. Watch all these things magically happen for them on Friday night.

That's been the story of our season, and funnily enough, mostly in the games we've lost. At what point does it move from bad luck to an indicator of a mental problem?

22 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

I am not confident at all. They are so badly under the pump, and Cripps copped it in the media will this and will surely come out with a 30 and 3 game this week to prove his doubters wrong.

30 Brownlow votes and 3 successful tribunal appeals

gotta say, much like when darcy went down for flagmantle with a hamstring and the pear without dixon and marshall, i really don't like playing sides who are hit by injury because it changes the structures that you expect and makes them unpredictable

my expectation is that they're going to be difficult for us to match up on in this game because they'll be playing differently to how they've played for the majority of 2023

1 hour ago, Mazer Rackham said:

That's been the story of our season, and funnily enough, mostly in the games we've lost. At what point does it move from bad luck to an indicator of a mental problem?

Someone reported in another thread (@Redleg maybe) that he has noticed players second guessing themselves when tackling/contesting because of the confusion around Tribunal decisions eg JvR and Hunter appeals.

That would certainly affect our pressure and potentially cause doubt in players' minds on other aspects of play.  Would also help explain why Port and Fremantle seemed to by-pass or easily break tackles.

I wonder how we have rated on the pressure and contest scales in the last few weeks.

Edited June 1, 20232 yr by Lucifers Hero

All my Carlton mates have already conceded. They haven't met the Dees playing a team on the ropes before. Harry will not miss a single one this week. Biggest certainty this week.

2 hours ago, Lucifers Hero said:

 

• Surprised Cerra got off but happy with it.

Really?  No one else is!  I reckon the AFL are scared of Carlton's lawyers after last year!

I think it’s a 50/50 and they’re being overly negative. They’re completely defeated though. It’s glorious. 

Edited June 1, 20232 yr by Ethan Tremblay

I was pretty iffy about this game before reading their commentary.

No I'm all, relax, we got this 🤣

Whatever happened to @Wiseblood anyway?

32 minutes ago, Lucifers Hero said:

Someone reported in another thread (@Redleg maybe) that he has noticed players second guessing themselves when tackling/contesting because of the confusion around Tribunal decisions eg JvR and Hunter appeals.

That would certainly affect our pressure and potentially cause doubt in players' minds on other aspects of play.  Would also help explain why Port and Fremantle seemed to by-pass or easily break trackles.

I wonder how we have rated on the pressure and contest scales in the last few weeks.

Yes that’s what I said and what I saw.

Hard tough tackling has been stopped because of uncertainty with the MRO and Tribunal.

Will Schofield last night said the Cerra and Laird decisions were laughable and players didn’t know what would be acceptable in tackling.

Drew Jones agreed with him.

1 hour ago, Jaded No More said:

I am not confident at all. They are so badly under the pump, and Cripps copped it in the media will this and will surely come out with a 30 and 3 game this week to prove his doubters wrong.

This could end in tears.

This will definitely end in tears. I'm just not sure whose.

On balance, if I am honest with myself, ever since I got onto this Demonland forum (I discovered it after 2021) I have tilted out of balance….from  being an optimistic yet realistic supporter to the dark side of pessimism at times.

Not blaming anyone but me. Unfortunately I’m hooked on forum now, perhaps even addicted.  Only thing that swings me back to positivity is if and when we win….against anyone, anywhere, anytime.   

At the end of the day I know it’s only a game but at the same time it is my religion. Go figure.  GO DEES.

Re McKay's kicking for goal .... For some reason I'm reminded of Travis Cloke kicking 7.0 against us years ago.

Good to have you back LH. 

My mate when I ask if he wants to come with me to the footy

Not sure if I want to be in the mcc when we're losing to Melbourne by 85 points at qtr time