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Melbourne winning games is a like a drug. I think we’ve all felt that feeling after a win, that euphoria, the feeling that the Dees are unbeatable and craving for more - it becomes addictive. Many of us hunt articles about the win, reading every word as though it’s our last and when there’s nothing left to read we are desperate for more. Hopefully my new little project can help save you - but be warned, it’s as addictive as Demonland. Please visit https://www.myheartbeatstrue.com/ It’s your one-stop shop for news, podcasts, videos, forums and more - all Dees related. Best of all it’s all free and I’ve done all the leg work, you just need to turn up and indulge. Please share it and bookmark it. I welcome feedback Thanks.

I don’t know how Sparrow is in ahead of JJ. Unless JJ is sore he is just a better player.

We'll win this week, win next week and go on to win the flag and everyone will say "well that was obvious wasn't it - they are the best team"

The task ahead for the Demons as they wend their way down the Princes Freeway to Geelong on Saturday night will be to skin the Cats. For them to come away with the points from this game would mark an historic occasion for the club as it will finish on top of the ladder for the first time since its last premiership year, 1964. And it was in that year, that a trip to Corio Bay to meet the reigning premiers in Round 12, was one of the catalysts for Melbourne’s surge to the flag. It was a top of the table game that went the way of the visitors and while the Cats remained contenders into the finals series, the Demons had taken away their momentum. They had become the team to beat for premiership glory. They had skinned the Cats. Incidentally, animal lovers need not be alarmed by the expression because it doesn’t mean what you might think it does. According to American lexicographer, Charles Earle Funk (of Funk & Wagnalls fame), the expression refers to a boy's gymnastic trick: "In America, as any country boy knows, this means to hang by the hands from a branch or bar, draw the legs up through the arms and over the branch, …” That’s how I expect it to be done — by the younger but maturing Demons running rings around the aging Cats. As the season draws to an end, those old bodies down at the Cattery are beginning to feel the pinch. A few weeks ago, it was a struggle for them to get over the Kangaroos at Blundstone Arena. Then they lost at home to the Giants while it took most of their most recent game to get the better of 12th placed St Kilda. Despite the heroics of some of their longtime stars and home ground advantage in their last two matches, they seem to be spluttering their way towards season’s end with far too many components on the wrong side of thirty. You sometimes feel that some of them are playing with their eyes on next month’s pension cheque. By way of contrast, the Demons are young, fresh and exuberant, crashing through opponents with the enthusiasm of a team with just the right mix of experience and youth, of players reaching maturity as footballers with a mission. They’ve crunched their last three opponents and the bad news for the Cats is that with the likely return of Steven May, Tom McDonald and Jack Viney for this week’s game, they are looking more potent than ever. I’m not underestimating the Cats and their experience but the demands on players’ bodies this year have made life harder for teams with too many players on the wrong side of thirty. This point was virtually acknowledged a little while ago when Chris Scott called for shorter quarters. The name of the game is the survival of the fittest and I think the Demons’ fitness and talent will go a long way to helping them skin the Cats. Melbourne to win by 27 points. THE GAME Geelong v Melbourne at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday 21 August 2021 at 7.25pm HEAD TO HEAD Overall Geelong 132 wins Melbourne 86 wins 2 draws At GMHBA Stadium Geelong 40 wins Melbourne 18 wins 1 draw The last five meetings Geelong 3 wins Melbourne 2 wins The Coaches Scott 5 wins Goodwin 2 wins MEDIA TV live and on demand on Kayo and live on Foxtel. Check your local guides. Radio - check your local guides LAST TIME THEY MET Melbourne 12.13.85 defeated Geelong 9.6.60 at the MCG in Round 4, 2021 The Cats had a few of their stars missing but they were never really in the hunt on a soggy MCG. The Demons received great drive from Max Gawn’s ruck dominance (41 hit outs, 23 disposals) and he was superbly supported by Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver with 36 and 34 possessions respectively. THE TEAMS GEELONG B: J. Henry 38 L. Henderson 25 J. Kolodjashnij 8 HB: M. O'Connor 42 M. Blicavs 46 J. Bews 24 C: S. Menegola 27 C. Guthrie 29 I. Smith 7 HF: B. Parfitt 3 J. Cameron 5 G. Rohan 23 F: B. Close 45 T. Hawkins 6 G. Miers 32 Foll: R. Stanley 1 J. Selwood 14 P. Dangerfield 35 I/C: T. Atkins 30 L. Dahlhaus 40 M. Holmes 9 S. Simpson 37 Sub: S. Higgins 4 Emerg: Z. Guthrie 39 Q. Narkle 19 E. Ratugolea 17 IN: T. Atkins G. Miers G. Miers OUT: Z. Guthrie (omitted) Q. Narkle (omitted) E. Ratugolea (omitted) MELBOURNE B: J. Smith 44 S. May 1 H. Petty 35 HB: T. Rivers 24 J. Lever 8 C. Salem 3 C: J. Harmes 4 C. Petracca 5 E. Langdon 15 HF: J. Viney 7 T. McDonald 25 A. Brayshaw 10 F: A. Neal-Bullen 30 B. Brown 50 B. Fritsch 31 Foll: M. Gawn 11 C. Oliver 13 T. Sparrow 32 I/C: J. Bowey 17 L. Jackson 6 K. Pickett 36 C. Spargo 9 Sub: J. Jordon 23 Emerg: K. Chandler 37 M. Hibberd J. Melksham 18 IN: T. McDonald S. May J. Viney OUT: M. Hibberd (omitted) J. Melksham (omitted) A. vandenBerg (omitted) Injury List: Round 23 Tom McDonald (back spasms) — Test Marty Hore (knee) — 3 to 4 Weeks Jayden Hunt (ankle) — 3 to 4 Weeks Aaron Nietschke (knee) — Season Adam Tomlinson (knee) — Season

Why, oh why, does the media insist on using the ugly terminology to describe our position. We are "top of the ladder" as it has been since the dawn of the footy era. We are not "top of the table", an ugly term purloined from overseas soccer. If we finish top of the ladder that is enough to define our success. Again that's how it has been since the dawn of footy. That ugly expression "minor premiership" has crept in from rugby and has no place in our great game. Curse those journos and commentators who use these terms in the hope of sounding fancy and "sophisticated". They don't, they sound like presumptuous prats and bores. Call me an old fuddy duddy but some things we should hold sacred. Our great game and its traditional terminology are sacred and must be preserved. Go dees.

Sore mammies would make chest marking quite difficult I guess.

Smith was excellent last week until cramps got him. He offers more flexibility and speed on the game than Hibbo but lacks the footy smarts. Can see why you would want him against Rohan.

Everyone needs to stop looking at raw numbers. We are basically day one of a 14 day lockdown with 13 cases. 3 unlinked and they are confident at least one of the 3 will be linked shortly. Today is day one of a new infection cycle. We need to really run down the mystery case numbers. If we do then there’s no reason we can’t be out in 14 days. Just need people not to be absolute [censored] stains and do the right thing.

I think Port has pulled the wool over quite a few people. Lost to us and then have played bottom 8 sides since then. I expect them to be soundly beaten on Friday night.

Are you suggesting there might be a perception bias on Demonland?!

Jayden Hunt is progressing far quicker than anticipated and will commence running tomorrow.

I would guess that Jordon is being rested given the lack of a week off. Might be a similar deal with Hibberd and Smith. On the one hand, Hibberd is old enough to benefit from a week off as well as mature enough to not lose form while away. On the other hand, after so much time out of the game Smith needs to be tested and run in if he is going to be any part of our finals effort.

I'm awaiting Meghan Markles statement myself.

Maybe "resting" JJ and having another look at Sparrow I am sure the selection panel will be happy Smith could run off Cameron and give his mammies a real test. see above Maybe "resting" JJ and having another look at Sparrow

The McLelland trophy used to be awarded to the team with the best results overall for seniors, reserves and thirds. We actually won a few times in my memory. Dates me, doesn't it. Who else remembers reserves (or seconds) and thirds? And the pink coloured "Sporting Globe" when it was a mandatory read and not a bar. No legal; betting on footy, footy special trams to the games, suburban grounds, no creature comforts but the footy was at least as good. And no pretentious, pompous, pratty, pseudo personalities to cheapen our great game with their dumb comments. At least we no longer have 3LO, 3UZ and 3DB who would fit the footy commentary in between the races at lesser places than Manangatang just when your team was about to score.

(Not a footy term, but I reckon I can get away with it, given our great game is played on cricket grounds, and was first played to keep the cricketers fit in the off-season.) Anyway, that wretched term "Batter" for the cricketer holding the bat gets my goat! Batter is what you put on fish! The guy in the middle with the bat in hand is the BATSMAN!! (Yeah, yeah, PC police, beat yourselves up with that one! Couldn't give a rip!)

I’ll join others in saying that if that little corner ends up being the answer to a problems that we’ve had for decades I will be incredibly disappointed. I really hope that it’s the other car park that we are going to have access to and the facilities will be much more sizeable. I’m not going to get up in arms over something that is still only conjecture, but if that does end up being our final “home” the club should very rightfully expect some backlash from fans. Particularly when you hear about the practically ever other club getting incredible (and mammoth) facilities built at the expense of the taxpayers. It’s our bloody turn, we have earned it.

He's playing a selfless role and playing as the defensive winger, if he had failed, in the season that we have had, and with the lack of injuries our side has had then why would Goodwin and match committee done something about it? Because he is playing his role for the team, and does it well. Do you know who plays on the other wing to Andrew Gaff? I don't... In fact the only team where I know both wingers is Brisbane where they have McCluggage and Robinson, and thats really only cos Robbo is a bit of a nutter. Most clubs dont play 2 dominant wingmen.

More Tatt ideas Nostalgia for the old Folks

Wasn't sure what to expect from an opening post from someone called Deesigner and about drugs.

Road to a Flag. Interesting article. the-top-four-team-that-must-defy-history-to-win-the-flag Three key features: Winning Form: Winners of their round 23 game have won the flag in 8 of 10 years. Exceptions: Sydney in 2012 Bulldogs 2016. Pre - Finals Trend: "Closing the regular season with winning form has been a surer road to Grand Final glory, with seven of the past 10 premiers dropping none, or at the most one match, in the final five rounds". Settled Side Low injuries (which most finals teams have). Win this week and we are well placed regarding history on all three. As we know anything can happen but not allowing MFCSS into my thinking! Staying positive.

I think we should look very hard into Dylan Stephens. He's an outside mid with class and a great combination of speed and endurance shown at the combine. Sydney have a serious salary cap squeeze and I think due to him not getting a regular game at Sydney, his value has dropped significantly in a trade. He has been injured a fair bit and hasn't had a proper crack at it. He is originally from Victoria and still sees himself as a Vic boy at heart. His parents live in Victoria too. He is also extremely close with Kozzy and knows Chandler and Sparrow well through playing state football together. Not only is it the class and sublime ball use we need, but it also seems like a great cultural fit. In doing this it will free up Gus to play more of a natural role in the midfield and just do bursts on the wing.

Could be on my own here, I get peeved when an ump 50 metres away from the play pays a free and the commentators say it was paid by the non-officiating umpire. They all officiate to me, it was the out of zone umpire that paid the free.

I may have missed it if someone has already posted - but here is a great read Jackson = Unicorn

Did he have the helium voice then or was that a Grinter legacy?

Casey ??🤭

Jordon rested for sure. And likely replaces Sparrow. Hibberd likely not rested, given the stakes. Might have played his last game this season

- Hibbo and Melksham were average last week. - Salem, Bowey and Rivers provide enough pace in the backline - Smith had a great 1st half and deserves to retain his spot.

.. as she continues in her quest for privacy?🤨

Looks better than Hibbo on Rohan. He’s get carved up for pace

Smith might be worth a try on Cameron. His athleticism would give him a show of keeping up on the lead and in the air.

very strange team to say the least with Jordon and to a lesser extent melksham out. Playing Viney and Sparrow in the same team is a very strange move

i think some here may be blowing up a bit what gladys was trying to say she was reiterating what the doherty report was saying to encourage her state to get vaccinated as quickly as possible to meet that threshold. Which is precisely what many people here have previously stated i.e. that a high level of vaccination is required to get back to some form of normalcy surely no-one here believes that we can stay in lockdown until covid is completely eliminated

I guess, Cranky, that some of the people in the club who know a bit more than us, like the match committee and coaching panel who have us top of the ladder, obviously see this quite differently.

That is a function of the betting pool and how much has already been bet on the Cats Around the time of the bye rounds kicking off the Dogs, dees and cats were essentially all equal favorites for the flag. In the 3-4 weeks post that period we were perceived to be struggling and the dogs had come off the boil. However the Cats were unbeaten in that same period and the money came for them, and punters were not keen on the dogs and the dees. The weight of money meant the cats became favorites at around $4 (where they remain). Three weeks ago, prior to the Suns game, we were $5.50 and i think the dogs $4.50. I know that because I took the $5.50 ten minutes before the Suns game started on the logic that it represented great value as i was confident we would win our next two games and tighten considerably. Regardless of the result on Friday night the Cats are likely to drift, as punters will back the winner and increase the pool and decrease the cats percentage of that pool (essentially maintaining the bookies profit margin). If Port are impressive they will come in and the same goes for the dogs If we win this week punters will back us and the Cats will likely drift again. Particularly if they end up having to play Port at Adelaide oval as even more money will bt on Port in that scenario. I think we will win and the dogs will win. If that occurs i suspect we will be slight favorites for the flag at $4 and the dogs second favorite at $4.20. The dogs will be aprox $5.50 and Port remain at $6.50. If you are punter, the $4.50 you can get on the dees atm still represents great value. We are the best team in the AFL and we are in the best shape injury wise of any team too. If i was framing a fresh market (ie no money in the pool yet) i would have dees $3.50 favourites.

I'm in the Luke Parker boat. We would be crazy if the club weren't at least having the discussion. Really think he's exactly what we need to bring something different to our midfield mix. Would bring experience, leadership and great standards on and off field. I'd rather my starting midfield as Petracca, Oliver and Parker, instead of Petracca, Oliver and Viney.

I know there is a lot of talk about the grounds currently, but bringing the focus to the potential matchups and the weapons each team has i think i should highlight a segment from 360. The King and Montagna segment, Montagna reckons the 'striker' midfield forwards will be the difference. Petracca is the best overall from all the stats pulled of the 8 players they pulled from current top 8 teams. Then King says he thinks the intercept defender is the key. Lever is #1 and #2 in the two catergories they used. I've already seen it mentioned how we are #1 in basically all terms of without the ball and defending. This is really our chance.

“Shot on goal” is another one that grinds my gears.

Neville Bruns Got hit so hard it even rearranged the letters in his surname

I will travel to the grave site of my life long friend and MFC/MCC member for over 50 years, who passed away 2 years ago, and have a few crownies (his favourite) with him.

The top 5 players on the ground for average speed in defence against the Crows were ours and Brayshaw was the number one player on the ground in that category. I think he’s had a marvellous season and has worked his butt off helping the team defend. I feel we try and find faults when they’re really not there sometimes.

I think you’ll find that it wasn’t behind play.

Hat Trick vs Threepeat is another example

#whereverwhenever #noexcuses #footballislife

its definitely psychological for Clayton. he cant kick them dead in front. If he pretends hes passing to a seat in the 10th row he would snag more goals.

Reinforcing that - in one of Nibbler's interviews for his 100th he talked about the forward pressure and how valuable it was that the midfielders were covering their opponents and closing down any escape options. "Which lets us pressure forwards go to work," I think was how he put it. You put that together with the number of times Brayshaw has been on the spot to spoil or intercept exactly those relief kicks and you begin to see clearly what is being asked of him and why his disposal count doesn't reflect the value of his game. Remember how even in 2018 we still had the critical weakness of the rapid breakaway goals against us that just sailed right past our defensive zone? Dealing with that is probably the single greatest difference (among many) that has us now in serious premiership contention.

If Mason Cox's lawyers find this thread somebody's going to have to restart Demonology.