It's Game Day and the Demons return to the MCG to face the Tigers in their annual Blockbuster on ANZAC Eve for the 10th time. The Dees will be desperate to reignite their stuttering 2025 campaign and claim just their second win of the season. Can the Demons dig deep and find that ANZAC Spirit to snatch back to back wins?

Win tonight .... we have a pulse, Lose .... pack those skis in the Volvo for September snow

For the first time in a long while, I feel confident of a win. It won’t necessarily be easy, but if we play like we did last Saturday, I think we’ll win with a reasonably comfortable margin.

Defence should handle their forwards with relative ease. Mids should be able to comfortably hold their own. It’s just the forwards who concern me, but I do feel that Fritsch will be out to prove, as much to himself as the selectors, that he is more than capable. Petty I’m hoping didn’t give us a one off last week… if he can, and he should, hold his marks and outbody his younger and less experienced opponent, he is in a good position to hit the scoreboard.

I’m looking forward to this game!

Big game in the coaches box, this one.

Yze should have answers for our game so it’s about how we respond if things aren’t on our terms.

Looking forward to it

GO DEES

A chance to get our season back on some kind of track. A win and the whole place starts to hum again… a loss and there will be blood.

Must hit the ground running, if the young Tiger cubs think they're in with a chance and with the crowd behind them they will run on enthusiasm. Get on top early and then put the foot down in the 2nd half.

We expect big things from Trac, Kozzy and Max in the showdown tonight 💙❤️

From daughter of coach

41 minutes ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

Must hit the ground running, if the young Tiger cubs think they're in with a chance and with the crowd behind them they will run on enthusiasm. Get on top early and then put the foot down in the 2nd half.

Absolute key.

Come out of the box breathing fire and take the inevitable chances early.

Take the tiger's crowd out of the equation, but perhaps more importantly the voices in player's head reminding them of the shellacking they'll get if they lose to the Tigers.

Edited April 24Apr 24 by binman

Bring effort and work rate from the get-go and don't be afraid to take the risks. Keep the ball in motion and we should win this one.

30 minutes ago, —coach— said:

We expect big things from Trac, Kozzy and Max in the showdown tonight 💙❤️

From daughter of coach

Adem yze has a daughter?

we SHOULD win this

will we?

it's a 50 / 50, either / or, who knows situation

The bookies still have us as favorites, which I don't really trust after the last round, but will take some solace in it.

Richmond are a very young side with a sprinkle of experience where as we are a mainly experienced side with a recent injection of youth....we have an average of over 100 games experience vs their 80....whether that translates into a W I am not sure but if we want to do anything at all with this season just have to get the win.

From a technical point of view ...

We've got a totally new game plan so I'm not sure Yze will have answers for it. The old game plan, sure, but all the other clubs were countering against the long ball style

We're now playing a version of the small ball style and countering that can be an on-the-day thing

And we haven't played small ball for how long? Maybe the style that Balme was trying to instigate way back when

We've been a long kicking team ever since

Tonight it could come down to the skills attached to the new game plan and not turning the ball over as Richmond like to hang on to the ball as well

And we do not want to fall back into old habits ... no dump kicks forward to packs otherwise we're effectively handing the ball back to the opposition

The extra handpass should be in play

We bring our best, we win

I just want 4 points and no injuries.

If we bring the four quarter effort and improved skills from the Freo game, together with the confidence that should accrue from that victory, we will win this comfortably.

If we fall back into the habits of earlier rounds, it will be anyone’s game.

I’m backing our blend of experience, and growing band of exciting youngsters to continue on seamlessly from last week, and give the mood on Demonland a further shot in the arm.

Dees by 60.

Both teams coming off short breaks and both teams confident after good wins. Should be a good game regardless. Don't let the talk of the inexperience of these tigers fool you, they are capable of playing good football. It may be closer than we would like and I fully expect the skill levels of both to drop off in the 2nd half with fatigue.

All that being said I would be disappointed if we don't win by at least 3 goals.

On paper we should be winning this easily, the only concerns I have are some of Richmond's defenders and Taranto + Hopper.

There's no coincidence that our best pressure game of the year turned into a win. If we bring the same heat we should win this by 5 goals+

I usually go to this game with my tigers supporting pal but he's a late out (non-curfew related) so i'll be there by myself.

Both sides a little unpredictable so far this season, if we play like we did last week we should be fine.

Hoping May is free of any injury shackles, keen for Fritta to explode with some goals as well.

Really hope Fritsch can show something tonight

5 minutes ago, SthSea22 said:

Really hope Fritsch can show something tonight

If we play like we did last week Fritsch could have a field day if he’s playing deep forward like Koz did last week to great affect.

1 hour ago, Rab D Nesbitt said:

I just want 4 points and no injuries.

And no reports/suspensions.

I haven’t felt this confident of a big win since round 2

Go Dees?

I've watched a few Tigs games this year, If you can get dominance in the middle you can crush their confidence and self belief.

Port did it all game won by 70+ Carlton did it for a half and were up by 40+ and then lost the plot, St.k did it nicely and won by 80+.

This is what you need to do to young teams, crush their sprit at the source.