6 hours ago, Chook said:

For those who think Brisbane played better for longer, it was an almost perfect split of dominance. I say almost because guess who was slightly more dominant (by one point 😎):

FWIW the Lions and Dees score worms after 1/4 time and  3/4 respectively make textbook stock chart reversal patterns.

If I wasn't such a passionate Dee I would have definitely shorted them after the Lions 2nd in the 2nd

Edited July 15, 20231 yr by xiss
additional comment

20 hours ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

Surely Joel Smith gets picked in the starting lineup next week.  Another frindge type that tries his guts out, plays in the right spirit and just keeps preserving and putting himself forward.

He had some very important touches including a couple of key marks. As far as I can recall he took the best option, attacking option with each possession providing great drive off half back. He has to be one of our most athletic, if not our most athletic player.

7 hours ago, Demon17 said:

My ideal is we finish 3rd and Port 2nd.  Then win or lose in first QF in Adekaide, we don't play again outside Victoria under most secanrios.  Ending with a Pies prelim.

3rd also dodges Pies until Prelim week.

Thats my wish  for the rest of the H and A

I messed up the order of my games in my comment… Carlton beat them today so that’s the first of four we need them to lose!

Yeah fair, I’m hoping for a miracle and that we can somehow manage 2nd and play Port or Brisbane at home. Don’t expect it, but hoping for it.

I’ll take a lock in at top 4 though.

12 hours ago, 3183 Dee said:

Couldn’t agree more. I just watched the Ch. 7 highlights - the enthusiasm from commentary box could not have been more one-sided towards the Lions: it’s bizarre. I’m not usually too concerned with what those numpties say, but it’s starting to grind my gears. 

Happens every week

1 hour ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

I guess this version was inevitable…
https://www.facebook.com/100062953464159/posts/pfbid02Y3d4QJWSQqDbvjhTh5vChgGmUsDdmx76SpiS5oK2MvN9Rt69D1kcPtVTmUFkBGBbl/?app=fbl

So presumably Brisbane the Titanic and Viney / Melksham the icebergs

Just finished the full replay - final four minutes a dozen times.

Stirring stuff.

Others have mentioned the noise levels - Apple Watch warned me a couple of times at 22:11 & 22:12 at 113 dB !   Warned me that if this kept up I could go deaf - wouldn't care now.

Bloody sook Hipwood complaining about that last play - Lever took the mark AND was taken high.

Daniher's dive for a free goal very little different from the clear two handed in the back to JVR not paid.

2 hours ago, ElDiablo14 said:

The Brisbane Lions are very dislikeable 🤢

I was so annoyed by how they were grabbing Trac at every stoppage 😠

Happens every week, not just Trac but Clarry and Viney too! Remember how frustrated Trac was against the Cats? It really is disgraceful umpiring to let that stuff go, you want to open up the game clamp down on the scragging.

It happens across the comp too, of course it's not just our players that cop it. I'm sure some Melbourne players do it to the opposition as well we just don't notice it.

13 hours ago, DemonOX said:

What about how right on the final siren Hipwood was trying to claim the mark when he clearly had his arm high around Levers neck and the fact that Lever marked the ball in the side of his body first only for Hipwood to take it out of his hands. 

What a [censored]. 

Did give me a good laugh though. 

Game of inches ... if the ball drifts ever so slightly towards Hipwood he maybe marks cleanly with a shot at goal to win the game

Then the conversation is completely different.  A little bit of luck hey? 

13 hours ago, demon3165 said:

And did bugger all in there, he is not a midfielder.

Maybe, but if the goal is for Kozzie to get warmed up with a few easy touches, it's a great investment.  A confidence player and we need his explosiveness

12 hours ago, Roost it far said:

Jack Viney’s goal is the perfect example of why he’s first picked every week. He ripped that ball out of McInerney’s grasp like a Lion taking food from a Hyena. He then slots it on his non preferred. In 53 years of watching football I’ve never seen anything like it. He’s a beast and I love him for that. I can’t believe I ever criticised him. That was the most fun I’ve had at the footy in years. I was up and about, loud and proud and just sensed a comeback. Anyway now for Adelaide. 

AFL's version of Beast-mode who could probably teach Marshawn Lynch a few tricks

Lawrie Lawrence would describe him as an animal! (Duncan Armstrong style) haha

Viney does not know the meaning of a backward step.  Imagine having him as an opponent? Yikes!

4 minutes ago, Macca said:

AFL's version of Beast-mode who could probably teach Marshawn Lynch a few tricks

 

So was that his Beastquake moment last night or is he keeping something up his sleeve for September?

Edited July 15, 20231 yr by Dr. Gonzo

3 minutes ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

So was that his Beastquake moment last night or is he keeping something up his sleeve for September?

Not sure he can top that ruthless steal & goal late in the game last night but more of the same is highly probable

The other thing is that his vision has improved immeasurably.  It was previously not a strength but we've seen numerous examples this season including that pirouette, baulk & delivery forward to JVR against the Pies

Oh, and by the way, the J.E.T.S are my (official) AFC team (Packers the main deal of course)

13 hours ago, old dee said:

And a better balanced side.

I have been following the Demons since 1960. IMO we have never had a better leading from the front captain than Max Gawn. For years I have bemoaned the fact that we never had a player who by his will could dragged the team to victory. He has in the past done it and repeated it last night. IMO the greatest captain we have had. 

Wow!  And you saw Barassi in his prime

12 hours ago, The heart beats true said:

Game day threads are wild, but I’ve realised it’s just a reaction to the last thing that happened. It’s like watching the footy with an angry goldfish. 

Gold

The narrowest of victories against a team who has trouble winning at the venue.

40 minutes ago, Macca said:

 

Viney does not know the meaning of a backward step.  Imagine having him as an opponent? Yikes!

No other top 4 club has a Viney, Petracca, Oliver or a Gawn. They are the aces we hold over the other contenders. That's 4 Aces, someone is going to need to be dealt a serious hand to knock us off from here. 

12 hours ago, leave it to deever said:

Can  Fritta and Milk both play in the same fwd line?

I think so.

When Melksham was lining up for his first goal from the boundary line with the clock against us, I thought he was fluffing around too long. 

But so essential to take ones time and slot it. Ice cold blood on his veins 

A (near) future forward line could look like this

F    Melksham     Brown/Grundy    Kozzie

HF  ANB/Spargo  van Rooyen        Fritsch

I believe that van Rooyen is a bit inexperienced (right now) to play deep forward and Brown may not have the legs to play out at CHF

The mystery man is Grundy and if he can adapt and learn* quickly this season, he could play deep forward or CHF

Fritsch & Melksham can both play deep or HHF but ideally, on each side of the forward line (left & right footers)

 

*Learnings?

 

How good are weekends when you win on a Friday night?

So, the crowd figure last night was a H & A record between us and the Lions.

Anyone who knows the rules about pushing in the back if there is one is a bloody liar. That includes all persons working or playing or officiating for the AFL....

After this weekend with a couple of games to go, mind you, anyone who knows the RULES is a bloody liar...

Listening to a couple of player interviews today was good.

Lever said on 3aw he mentioned staying calm when we were behind and when Melksham took that mark he knew how much he'd been working on his goal kicking & backed him to kick it. But lever said he closed his eyes and listened to the crowd reaction to see if it was a goal.

On that last play he said he tried to spoil but somehow it ended up in his arms. Said it was either a mark or free kick.

Gawn on ABC said he didn't get to sleep until 4am then at 6 got woken up by his son then had to do Auskick clinics. Still wants him and Grundy to work & mentioned how happy he was to see melky kick that goal. Laugh how the players call him melky. 

12 hours ago, SFebes said:

Hopefully this win ignites a good run at the right time and Goodwin learns a lot from the Lions ball movement and leads. Nice way to start a weekend.

Yes, their movement into their own forward line was quite brilliant at times.  Credit to them

Lowering their eyes was their default mode, not as a 2nd or 3rd option.  And their forwards were constantly on the move in anticipation of those dart-like 25 metre passes

It was good to watch and added to the high-class spectacle

By contrast, our forward line forays were sometimes of the chaos ball style but that worked well enough to win the game

In summary, our scope for improvement can definitely improve with regards to the forward line connection

We need to see our all our forwards on the move before our midfielders have clean possession.  Our anticipation skills can be like Brisbane's.  Mindset and discipline

We won the game but they are a decent outfit

Edited July 15, 20231 yr by Macca

38 minutes ago, Dee Zephyr said:

So, the crowd figure last night was a H & A record between us and the Lions.

I was with a Lions mate last night and made mention that in the 70's, we often only drew about 15k-20k to the Melbourne/Fitzroy games

Reserves curtain-raiser, zero music, zero ground announcements*, the Little League match using the whole ground (!) and the only time there was any noise was when the game was in motion

Henry Coles and his booming torps with Flower, Alves, Wells & Hardeman dominating

Those were the days!

Oh, and the umps copping the usual grief

 

*Unless someone had left their car headlights on

Edited July 15, 20231 yr by Macca

50 minutes ago, Willmoy1947 said:

Anyone who knows the rules about pushing in the back if there is one is a bloody liar. That includes all persons working or playing or officiating for the AFL....

After this weekend with a couple of games to go, mind you, anyone who knows the RULES is a bloody liar...

The May push in the back? Surely you're not going to complain about that blatant indiscretion? It was a hefty shove

Edited July 15, 20231 yr by Macca

 Melky has now cemented his name in the 22. Looks like a rejuvenated man, his dream of playing in a GF, if we get there, is alive. That is, if consistency is his friend.

I also reckon he is important with regards to his relationships with our younger brigade. He would have helped steered them through their growth and have been supportive, during the Casey time. Knows there strengths and weaknesses, and possibly, he is helping to keep them grounded, professional and having an impact. 

Edited July 15, 20231 yr by kev martin

32 minutes ago, kev martin said:

 Melky has now cemented his name in the 22. Looks like a rejuvenated man, his dream of playing in a GF, if we get there, is alive. That is, if consistency is his friend.

I also reckon he is important with regards to his relationships with our younger brigade. He would have helped steered them through their growth and have been supportive, during the Casey time. Knows there strengths and weaknesses, and possibly, he is helping to keep them grounded, professional and having an impact. 

The other rejuvinated man is Hibberd

If he can overcome his latest injury, he'll find his way back in because of his vigour and toughness at the contest ... needed in finals

Lord knows who goes out for him but ain't that a good problem to have, Kev?

I believe it was @DeeSpencer a few weeks ago who made mention that a vandenBurg type would be more than handy in our forward line right now ... a good call too

You've got to have a bit of a point of difference to keep the opposition backmen honest.  Always been a fan of the aggressive forward

Same goes for the opposition forwards, they have to 'earn' their possessions

Edited July 15, 20231 yr by Macca

12 hours ago, leave it to deever said:

We have been so top heavy with smalls. Spargo is there to score and he's simply just not performing in that role. He could go out for Fritta.

But see here's the thing deevs, Spargo's value is in big games with his delivery into the forward 50

We haven't seen it lately but that's his best asset, not his goal scoring acumen

With our stars on fire and with our middle level players at their best, Spargo can nip in from 60m out with a 15-25 metre pass to a forward who can create separation. Can you picture it? 

That's what he does when all the stars align