While the North Ballarat Ground won’t be fully upgraded and there is limited seating, I can confirm the surface is immaculate and if rain holds off, will be a good spectacle both at the ground and on TV. Locals will turn up and support, even if their team isn’t playing.

On a side note, I remember the Dees used to do a training camp to Ballarat years ago. Russell Robertson came to the park hotel as part of a PR tour. I was a teenage kid at the time. Lovely bloke, spent 20 minutes talking, he ate my garlic bread and half my chips and left.

13 minutes ago, old dee said:

Can anyone tell me if the game is on TV today. Sorry to ask but my brain is suffering melodies from my body this morning I am just short of no patience to look through web sites. It's probably just me but I struggle with the Kayo website when searching for an event. Thank you Dlanders!

Type in the AFL website all the information is right there it’s easy

14 minutes ago, old dee said:

Can anyone tell me if the game is on TV today. Sorry to ask but my brain is suffering melodies from my body this morning I am just short of no patience to look through web sites. It's probably just me but I struggle with the Kayo website when searching for an event. Thank you Dlanders!

The game is not until tomorrow at 4pm it is on Kayo and fox footy

11 hours ago, Kev said:

It's about the kayo subscription?

Sign up to the digital membership!

The basic GA membership get a very poor game day experience (in my opinion). Up in the bleachers, no seats on the wing, stuck with the majority of opposition supporters when they close off areas, or it's a game against those big supporters team.

Not many extras for GA membership.

User pays system, in this so called, not for profit organisation.

Death of the grass root supporters.

Kev I think of myself as a grass roots supporter. I am a MFC member with GA admittance. The advancing years now mean that I go to 6 or 7 games a year. No night games in winter or games with big numbers like the pies or tigers games when you end up in the nose bleed seats. The GA membership gives you two things entre to the ground and the thought you are helping the club with your membership. After that you are just another footy follower. Sadly as I still love going to games a TV watching fan is what becons beyond 2026. Will I then buy a membership? Good question I don't know the answer.

30 minutes ago, old dee said:

You are not alone pf.

So some people here want to "keep a lid on the kids", but are happy to virtually write one off already.

We criticised Goodwin for "playing favourites", but some here are doing the same thing with their own player preferences.

Time we gave everybody a "clean slate", like King, and allow the year to play out before making hasty judgements, in my humble opinion.

31 minutes ago, old dee said:

Can anyone tell me if the game is on TV today. Sorry to ask but my brain is suffering melodies from my body this morning I am just short of no patience to look through web sites. It's probably just me but I struggle with the Kayo website when searching for an event. Thank you Dlanders!

The game is tomorrow, OD. Foxtel/Kayo is the only option for watching it on TV.

12 hours ago, Kev said:

It's about the kayo subscription?

Sign up to the digital membership!

The basic GA membership get a very poor game day experience (in my opinion). Up in the bleachers, no seats on the wing, stuck with the majority of opposition supporters when they close off areas, or it's a game against those big supporters team.

Not many extras for GA membership.

User pays system, in this so called, not for profit organisation.

Death of the grass root supporters.

I'm not sure about that, at least as far as our home games go. I have access to level two but prefer to stand in M9 (bay 13). If the weather is fine I'll sit towards to back on level one. No reserve seat. Viewing is pretty good. About 60% Dees.

Not possible against away teams (security) but you usually can access level one by entering via lower 'tunnel'.

BTW for away games where we are restricted to access at the Ponsford end, you can access the Olympic or Shane Warner stands via a tunnel that runs behind the Nembers' area.

Access the tunnel via top level of Ponsford.

Luker has taken Jeffo’s spot for tomorrow.

The practice matches will be replayed, probably the next day.

They are doing it for last night's game.

https://www.afl.com.au/afl/matches/8251

3 minutes ago, Dannyz said:

Luker has taken Jeffo’s spot for tomorrow.

We will also get our first look at Tommy Matthews

34 minutes ago, Dannyz said:

Luker has taken Jeffo’s spot for tomorrow.

No doubt it will be due to Goodwin’s mismanagement of Jeffo and no ther reason

45 minutes ago, Dannyz said:

We will also get our first look at Tommy Matthews

I figured, going by the video posted to socials yesterday that featured him, but thanks for the heads up.

Edited 5 hours ago5 hr by Adam The God

2 hours ago, mauriesy said:

So some people here want to "keep a lid on the kids", but are happy to virtually write one off already.

We criticised Goodwin for "playing favourites", but some here are doing the same thing with their own player preferences.

Time we gave everybody a "clean slate", like King, and allow the year to play out before making hasty judgements, in my humble opinion.

That is fine but the player concerned has been at the club two years and in that time has shown little IMO. If he turns into a good half back I will be very happy in fact if he turns into any sort of good player in any position I will be happy. But right now I don't see it.

2 hours ago, Ghostwriter said:

The game is tomorrow, OD. Foxtel/Kayo is the only option for watching it on TV.

Thanks GW, see what I mean about my brain today. The up side is I have just added an extra day to what I thought at this point of the week. The ageing process is truly wonderful. If possible delay it as long as possible GW. I have Kayo, I hope they have more than one camera, last weeks game was hard to watch.

58 minutes ago, Dannyz said:

Luker has taken Jeffo’s spot for tomorrow.

I don't think this is right. Luker and Jeffo aren't fighting for the same spot. Lucer is Gawny's back up ruck which Jeffo never is and would be playing regardless of Jeffo's selection. Luker has, if anything, taken Moose's spot.

Tom Matthews seems to have taken Jeffo's spot if you look at the forward line players. Jeffo was disappointing last week and spots for tall forwards are tight. If we keep the same structure for our opening game and Checkers is available he will take Luker or JvR's spot with the remaining player rucking. I suggest we'll go into the first game with both JvR and Luker.

It will be an interesting watch.

8 minutes ago, Slartibartfast said:

I don't think this is right. Luker and Jeffo aren't fighting for the same spot. Lucer is Gawny's back up ruck which Jeffo never is and would be playing regardless of Jeffo's selection. Luker has, if anything, taken Moose's spot.

Tom Matthews seems to have taken Jeffo's spot if you look at the forward line players. Jeffo was disappointing last week and spots for tall forwards are tight. If we keep the same structure for our opening game and Checkers is available he will take Luker or JvR's spot with the remaining player rucking. I suggest we'll go into the first game with both JvR and Luker.

It will be an interesting watch.

Luker has started ruck craft in the last few weeks but he’s a genuine Key forward who is right now being selected ahead of Jefferson in the same role.

1 minute ago, Dannyz said:

Luker has started ruck craft in the last few weeks but he’s a genuine Key forward who is right now being selected ahead of Jefferson in the same role.

That is my belief as well Dannyz. so far the only way Jefferson replaces Batman is if Batman gets injured.

Based on the Captain's Run, this is the likely team:-

Melbourne v Richmond 

2. Jacob van Rooyen 

3. Christian Salem 

4. Harvey Langford 

5. Xavier Lindsay

6. Caleb Windsor 

8. Jake Lever

9. Jack Steele

10. Daniel Turner

11. Max Gawn 

12. Koltyn Tholstrup

14. Changkuoth Jiath

15. Ed Langdon 

16. Bailey Laurie 

19. Xavier Taylor  

20. Thomas Matthews 

22. Blake Howes 

24. Trent Rivers 

25. Tom McDonald

30. Harry Sharp

31. Bayley Fritsch

32. Tom Sparrow 

33. Latrelle Sumner-Pickett 

35. Harry Petty 

36. Kysaiah Pickett 

37. Kade Chandler

44. Luker Kentfield 

2 minutes ago, Whispering_Jack said:

Based on the Captain's Run, this is the likely team:-

Melbourne v Richmond 

2. Jacob van Rooyen 

3. Christian Salem 

4. Harvey Langford 

5. Xavier Lindsay

6. Caleb Windsor 

8. Jake Lever

9. Jack Steele

10. Daniel Turner

11. Max Gawn 

12. Koltyn Tholstrup

14. Changkuoth Jiath

15. Ed Langdon 

16. Bailey Laurie 

19. Xavier Taylor  

20. Thomas Matthews 

22. Blake Howes 

24. Trent Rivers 

25. Tom McDonald

30. Harry Sharp

31. Bayley Fritsch

32. Tom Sparrow 

33. Latrelle Sumner-Pickett 

35. Harry Petty 

36. Kysaiah Pickett 

37. Kade Chandler

44. Luker Kentfield 

That is probably as good as it gets for the Dees in 2026 with the exception of milkshake.

55 minutes ago, Pennant St Dee said:

No doubt it will be due to Goodwin’s mismanagement of Jeffo and no ther reason

No doubt PSD. Hmm there might be a small bit of NQR involved.

15 minutes ago, Dannyz said:

Luker has started ruck craft in the last few weeks but he’s a genuine Key forward who is right now being selected ahead of Jefferson in the same role.

As you wish but JvR is the only other ruck option and he has neither played or trained in that position under King that I've seen. Luker is second ruck backing up Gawn and removing the need to play Heath. Jeffo never plays the ruck role. I'll agree with you if JvR rucks against Richmond when Luker is playing key forward.

2 minutes ago, old dee said:

No doubt PSD. Hmm there might be a small bit of NQR involved.

Not giving up on him just yet, but he needs to put together a decent season, whilst he’s shown some promising glimpses, there’s some basic controllable parts of the game he doesn’t do well

17 minutes ago, old dee said:

That is probably as good as it gets for the Dees in 2026 with the exception of milkshake.

Mihocek? Culley? Viney & Bowey when they return?

15 minutes ago, Demonland said:

Mihocek? Culley? Viney & Bowey when they return?

I had forgotten the first two. The other two will struggle to get games this year. Viney has had no pre season and Bowey's injury will see him miss most of the season if not all.

3 hours ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

In fairness, 15,000 people are expected to attend the Ballarat venue this weekend.

The trouble is that the number will be spread over 3 games.

9,000 …I assume. Only 3,000 tickets for each game & it is fully ticketed ..