Mixed news for Pies fans ahead of Sunday…

Jordan de Goey will not be available for selection. The star midfielder is still recovering from knee bruising and is aiming for a Round 1-2 return.

Brayden Maynard, however, has been declared fit after fighting through a plantar…

— Xander McGuire (@XanderMcGuire7) March 4, 2025

3 hours ago, Demon_spurs said:

Who would have guessed, crp weather in Queensland in early March, time to bury round 0 AFL. The worst idea amongst many other bad ideas

I don't know enough about Qld weather but March 6th is TOO early for the AFL season! If opening round was a week or three later AND the participating teams ONLY played other teams from that round in the second week I'm fine with it.

3 minutes ago, Demonland said:

Brayden Maynard? I wouldn't want to kill the guy. But does anyone know how to use a voodoo doll to give him gastro? (Just till late September.) :(

BREAKING: The AFL's opening round has been thrown into disarray with two matches to be held in Queensland called off as a tropical cyclone bears down on the region. https://t.co/I63o6nZaNT @cleary_mitch @KateMassey_7 @JaneBunn #7NEWS pic.twitter.com/D0MuEv94qG

— 7NEWS Melbourne (@7NewsMelbourne) March 4, 2025

17 minutes ago, Demonland said:

That should help us but I was really looking forward to watching him play live again.

The AFL believes there are two realistic options to reschedule the @GoldCoastSUNS v @essendonfc game…

1) Move existing Suns & Dons matches a day or two either way so it can squeeze in the middle. This is clearly more of an option around byes. (Rds 2 & 14 for GC - Rds 4 & 16…

— Tom Morris (@tommorris32) March 4, 2025

The AFL believes there are two realistic options to reschedule the Gold Coast vs Essendon game… 

1) Move existing Suns & Dons matches a day or two either way so it can squeeze in the middle. This is clearly more of an option around byes. (Rds 2 & 14 for GC - Rds 4 & 16 for Ess) 

2) Work with other clubs to shift their matches around so GC v Ess can slot in. The backstop option is to play it after Round 24, in the week before finals. It’s complex, particularly given there is travel involved for the Dons.

22 minutes ago, Demonland said:

Well that just changed my Selection 

They’ve had days to reschedule the games with stadiums available and now they can’t even say when the games will be played?

3 hours ago, kev martin said:

 

They would want to make sure accommodation and transport are on board with rescheduling or cancellations!

 

There’s no precedent to look at.

It wouldn’t surprise me to hear airlines aren’t gonna take circumstances into consideration; refunds won’t be given and rescheduling flights would incur a cost. Hotels and Airbnbs etc. will probably be a little more flexible and understanding. I feel for the travelling teams’ cheer squads and fans who would’ve booked flights and accommodation when the fixture was released.

What does surprise me is that our club’s not involved. This situation is peak MFC. 😂

Considering the NRL Vegas jaunt was last weekend 

This whole episode is an absolute farce that is going to cost people a lot of money. 
Andrew Dillon and Laura Kane have got some serious explaining to do, not that they will say a word….

Edited March 4Mar 4 by Sir Why You Little

Wishful thinking but put me back in the Tardis set the time clock back to 1956 for the season opener. At Punt Road v Tigers Saturday April 14. Mercifully no petty squabbles all teams get to play.

For those still in a spin about the practice game result. Demonwiki reports “Neither sides forward line impressed.” For the accuracy pendants you’re still relevant, MFC 12 goals 18 behinds. Sputnik launch was still over two years away.
 

1 hour ago, Tarax Club said:

Wishful thinking but put me back in the Tardis set the time clock back to 1956 for the season opener. At Punt Road v Tigers Saturday April 14. Mercifully no petty squabbles all teams get to play.

For those still in a spin about the practice game result. Demonwiki reports “Neither sides forward line impressed.” For the accuracy pendants you’re still relevant, MFC 12 goals 18 behinds. Sputnik launch was still over two years away.
 

And John Farnham was just about to start his farewell tour?

27 minutes ago, Go Ds said:

And John Farnham was just about to start his farewell tour?

First or second?

54 minutes ago, ManDee said:

First or second?

Fifth 

Great news for us if Lions/Cats is re-scheduled to Round 3 (which sounds likely). Given that Brisbane play on a Sunday in Round 2 the re-scheduled game will probably be on Saturday 29 March at the Gabba. That means we will get the Cats in Round 4 off a six-day break and travel. We also will be coming off six days, but after Gold Coast at the G. A great chance for us to knock the Cats off down there.

I don't buy the line that the Cats are traditionally bad off a bye - a bye in Round 3 is different to one in the middle of the season when they exhibited those issues in the past.

 

4 minutes ago, Demonland said:

 

Not fair 'Demonland', just checking in before I nod off. 

Is there a Demonland ESPN footy tipping competition active? 

59 minutes ago, Mouseymoo said:

Is there a Demonland ESPN footy tipping competition active? 

It rolls over every year so if you previously were in the competition at Footytips.com.au then you are still in the competition. Just make sure you remember your username and password for that site and submit your tips before the first game.

If you would like to join then click this link: https://www.footytips.com.au/comps/Demonland?p=demons

 

17 hours ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Considering the NRL Vegas jaunt was last weekend 

This whole episode is an absolute farce that is going to cost people a lot of money. 
Andrew Dillon and Laura Kane have got some serious explaining to do, not that they will say a word….

A cyclone making landfall so close to Brisbane at this time of year is extraordinarily unlikely. They have nothing to explain. 

16 minutes ago, godees said:

A cyclone making landfall so close to Brisbane at this time of year is extraordinarily unlikely. They have nothing to explain. 

I don't understand the hostility toward the Opening Round concept, especially with people using the cyclone as supposed evidence against it.

6 minutes ago, Demonland said:

I don't understand the hostility toward the Opening Round concept, especially with people using the cyclone as supposed evidence against it.

I'm indifferent to it but I think starting at round 0 is incredibly stupid.

8 minutes ago, Demonland said:

I don't understand the hostility toward the Opening Round concept, especially with people using the cyclone as supposed evidence against it.

For me I'm not blaming the AFL for a cyclone, could happen next week or the week after, and it's very unlikely.

I just don't like the opening round as a concept because it adds further inequality to an already unequal fixture. All the clubs should have this weekend off to prepare for the season and then away we go. One bye each through the middle of the season and I also hate the pre-finals bye personally, but understand why they keep it.

1 hour ago, godees said:

A cyclone making landfall so close to Brisbane at this time of year is extraordinarily unlikely. They have nothing to explain. 

The NRL went to Vegas last week 

there is no point having Round Zero 

2 hours ago, Demonland said:

I don't understand the hostility toward the Opening Round concept, especially with people using the cyclone as supposed evidence against it.

Soooo many reasons!

• Adds further imbalance to already unfair fixtures. Look at us last year - 5 games in 28 days to start the year.
• Why should some teams get one less week of preparation than others?
• Why should more than half of the AFL's fanbase have to wait an extra week to see their team play?
• It ruins the excitement of Round 1, whether it's for going to the games, watching on TV, and even tipping comps.
• I also get annoyed trying figure out where teams actually sit on the ladder when some have played less games than others.