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PREGAME: Opening Round vs Sydney

Demonland
in Melbourne Demons

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4 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

 

My suspicion is that the AFL has an ongoing promise to Richmond and Carlton that they will play the first game of Round 1 every year. And the AFL has found a way to stick to that promise.  

If true (and I wouldn't put it past the AFL to be so arrogant as to think they could get away with such a sham), I wonder what recompense the AFL will be making to those teams.  It's not as if it involves shafting us and StKilda etc.

Did the AFL ever give a reason for introducing an 'opening round'?

 
1 hour ago, SthSea22 said:

Swans were ordinary last night

Can't wait for Gawn to take Grundy to the cleaners and Viney ruffling up JJ 

What would ruffling up JJ achieve? 

Premiership player who always went about things the right way. 

    • Like 23
    • Clap 3
    3 minutes ago, Dannyz said:

    What would ruffling up JJ achieve? 

    Premiership player who always went about things the right way. 

    He left the FC

    Would you rather Viney tap him on the backside every time he gets a kick?

     
    2 hours ago, Deestar9 said:

    I was out last night & one of the speakers was Brad Scott. Of course the first question Caro asks him was about culture at clubs  & cited MFC & all our “off field dramas”. He answered it very well saying culture is literally a day by day thing. You work on it every day ..he has some extremely talented players who don’t necessarily embody the right “culture” so they have to work on it. He then said he would never criticise Melb & he heard Max Gawn (who he said is an icon incredibly talented..exceptional etc) & Max said “Melb has a great culture (paraphrasing). He then left it at that. That kept Caro quiet. The other point he made very clearly is that unless you are inside the club no one has really any idea what is happening. So my long winded point is ..we have to trust everybody around Clarry to make the right decisions. We simply don’t know all the facts & that is fine by me. 

    Many thanks for the above D9.  Seriously flawed I know but i've now warmed to Brad Scott (Bombers maybe under him). 

    What a classy response to a lazy piece of compering.  

    Who decided to give Caro a microphone, that's what I want to know.

    • Like 3
    8 minutes ago, SthSea22 said:

    He left the FC

    Would you rather Viney tap him on the backside every time he gets a kick?

    I don't like this post about JJ.

    I trust the club and former team mates  to  treat him with the resepct he deserves on how he carried himself at the club.

    Remember the '21 Prelim he racked up 9 possies in 20 minutes when he came on. He did his bit in the campaign with the opportunity.

    • Like 12

    22 minutes ago, SthSea22 said:

    He left the FC

    Would you rather Viney tap him on the backside every time he gets a kick?

    He left to get more of a chance. I don't begrudge him for that. I hope he goes well for the swans. Just not next week

    • Like 10

    No Mills, Parker or Adams tips the midfield battle in our favour

    • Like 5
    3 hours ago, old55 said:

    What are all the possible reasons why Clarrie might not play against Sydney?

    I would guess it depends on him being physically and mentally ready. He has had a hell of a 3-4 months. No harm to give him another week out of the pressure and spotlight if he needs it. 

    • Like 3
     
    3 hours ago, Redleg said:

    Agree Slarti.

    There is more to this than just his football performance and those that know best will decide if he plays.

    Those that would appear to know best have said/implied that multiple times.

    On pure footy he would appear right, on his other issues I wouldn't have a clue.

    Exactly.

    People have their head in the sand if they think everything is suddenly fixed.

    I have no interested in speculation even if we were allowed to on here, it’s not helpful. But go back and read comments and reporting from October until Feb and as you said it’s about more than footy. 

    From purely a footy reason I’d love him playing but he’s also had very little training so will be rusty and inexperienced in the new game plan. Another week or two training or in the VFL might actually be good for him too from an injury prevention and game plan point of view.

    Edited by DeeSpencer

    • Like 1
    1 hour ago, sue said:

    If true (and I wouldn't put it past the AFL to be so arrogant as to think they could get away with such a sham), I wonder what recompense the AFL will be making to those teams.  It's not as if it involves shafting us and StKilda etc.

    Did the AFL ever give a reason for introducing an 'opening round'?

    NRL is in Vegas ready to knock off the NFL so Sydney and Brisbane have no NRL games.


    56 minutes ago, DubDee said:

    No Mills, Parker or Adams tips the midfield battle in our favour

    What’s happening with Mills?

    2 minutes ago, Bombay Airconditioning said:

    What’s happening with Mills?

    Cuture related shoulder reco - out to mid year

    • Thanks 1
    • Haha 12
    • Clap 2
    3 minutes ago, Bombay Airconditioning said:

    What’s happening with Mills?

    Mad Monday mishap

    randy orton summerslam 06 GIF by WWE

    • Like 2
    • Haha 8
    1 minute ago, binman said:

    Cuture related shoulder reco - out to mid year

    Thanks Binman, I’d forgotten all about that.

    8 minutes ago, Dee Zephyr said:

    Mad Monday mishap

    randy orton summerslam 06 GIF by WWE

    Because the instigator is wearing black and white,  'play on' was called.

    • Haha 1

    Lots of talk about Clarry being ready, and showing all the right signs, physically and mentally in the last 2 games.

    He may have, and it's certainly positive more than anything for his continued well-being (he's one of my favs and I would love to see him out on the park but at the end of the day I just want him fit, healthy and happy - his best footy will follow this naturally - the guy is a natural born gun), and I have no doubt his presence will life the boys. 

    BUT - there is some argument for him not being there against the Swans. Firstly, those on the inside may not think he is quite there yet. He has missed some footy. This should not come as a surprise. It could be fitness. It could just be that intangible 'not quite ready'. I don't think that's a negative. He's working to rejoining the group as a permanent fixture for a run at the flag this year. We need him. But if it takes a little more time, so be it. Only those on the inside, and Clarry, will know if that's the right first game.

    I almost think him not being there might almost be a blessing, so there isn't any unnecessary burdensome scrutiny on his recovery/quality of his return . If he came back Rd 1, or even the next, there would be less scrutiny - everyone has taken their time to make sure it's the right time and Clarry can get on with destroying oppo. 

    Anyway, I believe our depth is still good - we need to move a few magnets. Salem was one of them. We'll be OK, and once Clarry rejoins we'll be even better. 

    • Like 6
    • Author

    Please in regards to Clarry NO SPECULATION about reasons why he is not playing. I know that many want to talk about that and some feel entitled to but for me this is a moderation issue. Some of the talk is fine but it's a fine line and our moderators are part time and we can't moderate everything in a timely manner and we can't peruse every post and cherry pick what might be acceptable to talk about.

    Whether you believe we can't be held liable for some of things discussed is immaterial to me. I don't want to test that theory.

    You are free to speculate whether he plays or not. You are free to discuss how we navigate his absence. You are free to express your views on whether you think he should or want him to play. Please don't speculate or discuss the reasons why he is not playing. If unsure stick to footy reasons. I've made that clear.

    • Like 4
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    2 hours ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

    My suspicion is that the AFL has an ongoing promise to Richmond and Carlton that they will play the first game of Round 1 every year. And the AFL has found a way to stick to that promise.  

    bingo

    What’s wrong with some people?!  They have either the memory of a goldfish or the attention span of a moth… or both.

    You simply CANNOT avoid reading the warnings on DL. Heed those warnings. It’s not that hard, folks. The mods shouldn’t have to waste their time and effort weeding out offending posts.

    🙄

    17 minutes ago, Red But Mostly Blue said:

    Lots of talk about Clarry being ready, and showing all the right signs, physically and mentally in the last 2 games.

    He may have, and it's certainly positive more than anything for his continued well-being (he's one of my favs and I would love to see him out on the park but at the end of the day I just want him fit, healthy and happy - his best footy will follow this naturally - the guy is a natural born gun), and I have no doubt his presence will life the boys. 

    BUT - there is some argument for him not being there against the Swans. Firstly, those on the inside may not think he is quite there yet. He has missed some footy. This should not come as a surprise. It could be fitness. It could just be that intangible 'not quite ready'. I don't think that's a negative. He's working to rejoining the group as a permanent fixture for a run at the flag this year. We need him. But if it takes a little more time, so be it. Only those on the inside, and Clarry, will know if that's the right first game.

    I almost think him not being there might almost be a blessing, so there isn't any unnecessary burdensome scrutiny on his recovery/quality of his return . If he came back Rd 1, or even the next, there would be less scrutiny - everyone has taken their time to make sure it's the right time and Clarry can get on with destroying oppo. 

    Anyway, I believe our depth is still good - we need to move a few magnets. Salem was one of them. We'll be OK, and once Clarry rejoins we'll be even better. 

    Generally agree. 

    Also thinking back to the language around trade period about the club asking Clarry to buy (back?) into standards. 

    Yes he now appears to have done that - but I wouldn't be against it if they feel he needs to show it for longer to earn the privilege of playing.

    I don't love the overall message either to him or his teammates that he returned to training all of 3/4 weeks ago and is now an automatic selection despite his prior (alleged) indiscretions, whatever they were or are - all we know is he wasn't adhering to standards. 

    Best thing for him, and us, may be to hold him back. Take the time, right the ship and demonstrate its on a very stable footing before re-entering the fray. 

    • Like 6

    7 minutes ago, fr_ap said:

    Generally agree. 

    Also thinking back to the language around trade period about the club asking Clarry to buy (back?) into standards. 

    Yes he now appears to have done that - but I wouldn't be against it if they feel he needs to show it for longer to earn the privilege of playing.

    I don't love the overall message either to him or his teammates that he returned to training all of 3/4 weeks ago and is now an automatic selection despite his prior (alleged) indiscretions, whatever they were or are - all we know is he wasn't adhering to standards. 

    Best thing for him, and us, may be to hold him back. Take the time, right the ship and demonstrate its on a very stable footing before re-entering the fray. 

    Agree. 

    If we're going to win the flag this year, the 1%ers will make the difference - and player buy-in/messages with moments like this are monumental. Don't get me wrong, if Clarry is good to go according to those whose job it is to make such a call and have been monitoring him in accordance with the promises/expectations made - then HELL YES.

    But if he isn't for whatever reason at all, for our sake and Clarry's ongoing health and journey back to his best self and footy, then I am happy with that. 

    We just want the goat back when it's right.

    • Like 4

    If Clarry is ready to play he is an automatic inclusion even if he’s only playing for 60% game time. 
    Hes such a natural player, it feels when he’s playing he’s in his element. Which a part of why he’s so good, and such a pleasure to watch.

    From a football conditioning perspective, not seeing the VFL game mean it’s hard to gauge how fit he is… 

    • Like 2

    Just don’t speculate, it’s as simple as that… 

    Unless you are speculating about Brown Dogs debut.. 😍

    • Love 1
     

    Selection for Sydney will be interesting, there's the starting 22 against Carlton minus Kossie. That means Howe and Windsor to debut plus Billings.

    We need to add two more and name a sub out of the 23. I wouldn't be adding a tall. That probably means two of Tholstrup, Woey, K.Brown or AMW, if Clarrie doesn’t play. Maybe I'm missing someone?

    • Like 2
    1 hour ago, whatwhat say what said:

    bingo

    Richmond v Carlton is played ever year as a major R1 opening game because it works.  Id like to see us play Essendon R1 not the doggies. ffs

    OLIVER. too good a player to rot in the magoo's.

    If he says he wants to play against Swans then play him.


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