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The past tense of Grind is Ground. Grinded is NOT a word. *adds this to her ever-growing list of reasons for hating Essendon*

Stood on the outer wing all day, on the fence. Langdon just in front of us all day, boy can he motor. He also has the one on one skills to match. Had six opponents over the game beat the lot. During the first qtr north kicked it out on the full five times all on our side of the ground. During the game looked at the score board and we were 18 goals we score so quickly at times, north looked slow and hesitant. By the way we need to get the umpires down to training to explain to us where we are going wrong with the rules. The free kick count for the first qtr{ excluding out on the full] was 14 to 1 against us, and 27 to 11 all day. We must be very bad, particularly our tacking only 1 was rewarded. Good team effort and at one stage BBB had scored as many goals as north 5. Venue looked great, a small grandstand on the outer needed but great ground.

Today I was talking to a guy who is a warden at a men’s prison. He told me that during the GF the inmates were all confined to their cells coz covid. They all have TVs in their cells and can all hear each other since it’s a big echoic hall type of setup. He said pretty much every inmate was going for the Dogs and a grand total of zero for the Dees. Every time the dogs kicked a goal or took a mark etc. they all banged their metal trays and cheered loudly. When Melb did anything good they’d boo loudly. Then he said, “but towards the end of the third quarter it suddenly became eerily quiet” He said the stunned silence was ‘deafening’ and he found it hilarious that all these big tough loudmouths were reduced to miserable crestfallen dumbstruck sadsacks . 😆

The greatest match up in the history of footy. OMac vs TMac

Adam Cerra can get a close up look at what he's missing out on

I’m surprised you didn’t list Gary Rohan above Fritsch. You have listed a few players who go missing in finals. Finals should be weighted way higher. Fritsch kicked 12 goals across 3 finals in 2021. J Cameron has kicked 21 goals in 12 finals. Daniher 8 goals in 4 finals. Naughton 10 goals in 6 finals. Papley 15 goals in 8 finals. Toby Greene 20 goals in 11 finals. Even Hawkins is only 48 goals in 29 finals.

How it feels to be a Demons supporter these days

Great win by the girls. Big test next week! But to the girls’ credit, they just keep getting the job done

When she learns to run all day, hit targets and tackle with passion, she'll be pretty good. (It's an attempt at a joke . . . I love her to bits!)

About 15 inside 50s to North to one for us in the last quarter and we only conceded one goal. Great defensive effort. Great win Dees

Taylor Harris is a cut above. Great goal into the breeze

Any chance Hardiperson tagging Paxperson? And if the AFL were serious about it being a 'community series', it should be played close to me at Batepersons Bay.

For anyone who likes this kind of stuff, I'm always interested seeing people from overseas react to our game, especially when they're watching us win the flag 😁 Two of my favourite parts "number 5 is a baller" and at the end "they just suplexed them and stomped on them"

Our Casey Demons VFLW team has made it three in a row with a 20 point victory over North Melbourne. Casey Demons 2.2.14 3.3.21 6.5.41 6.8.44 North Melbourne 1.0.6 2.1.13 3.3.21 3.6.24 Goals M. Caris, M.Chaplin, M.Fitzsimon, S.Johnson, C. McCrossan, B.Tarrant Now for the big one!

Funnily enough, despite a million wins in a row, I don’t actually think we learnt to play Casey that well. Just a bit better than the opposition. There is an opportunity here. I am in furious agreement with @Meggs and @BDA it would be a handy time for Hore to get back to her AA best. Zanker and Scott to play to their potential too please. If we get an even contribution from the first bounce then we win. Oh and please let’s not concede a goal in the first two minutes like we normally do.

I'd reckon they'll play with an extra back to try and block out Harris' run at the ball. Hopefully they'll swing Bannon into our forward line again. She's really rising in confidence and looking really damaging. Dare I say season defining? Big opportunity with Adelaide v Freo and us against Norf. Just need four quarters of our best footy. We'll beat any team with that.

Flash. This must be a dress rehearsal for the first game against the Dogs IMO. Pick as close to our round one team as possible. The rest can show their wares playing for Casey.

North are tough opponents, they must be respected but coming off our great win v the Lions and playing at our home fortress I reckon we'll get the job done Would like to see Kate Hore find some form Dees by 15

I really want to highlight this. The media and to a certain extent the umpires seem to have decided that there is some kind of positional hierarchy where midfielders are on the top and every other position below. The all Australian team is stacked with out of position midfielders as the selectors try to get them all in. The Brownlow goes almost exclusively to midfielders. Now we have this narrative that playing on the wing is a demotion from being in the square for the bounce. Mostly it is systems based teams who win flags, only systems based teams win multiple flags. For a system to work you need ALL areas of the ground playing their part, they are all critical. The all Australian selectors should recognise the best player(s) in each position. Whether someone is critical to the club’s success is not based on what role they play, it is based on whether we have someone else who can do that role as well. Watching Gus at the practice match reminded me of how much you miss when you watch on TV. He is just constantly roaming up and down that wing, holding his width, closing out the fat side of the ground and moving to be an outlet when we get possession. I personally think Gus is critical to us, but what I am really trying to push is that everyone is too focussed on the guts. We should be giving more recognition and glory to the ruck, the wings, the forward and back flanks, etc. edit: fast should have been fat

Play it the country AFL, seriously

What's "community" about the Docklands stadium? Surely this can be played at princess park or Casey.

Did they win the 2021 flag though?

just watched my second full replay of the GF.. i'd of course done the rewatch skipping the second and start of the 3rd quarters, but am home alone and poured some glenfiddich after dinner and just took it all in.. a few observations: - the dogs blatantly threw the ball around 10 times that i saw (we might've done it once?) - bont is a great player (obvious) - libba really went missing in the second half - sparrow was really really good. i remember thinking this at the time, but upon rewatch, he was so calm! - although pickett didn't kick a goal, his fingerprints were all over most of them - trac and oliver, once they get on top just bullied the dogs and did whatever they wanted * i cannot wait to see more of this.

I hate the Giants. They’re still a threat.

I like her game. Reads it very well, punches, uses her height advantage. She’s doing an incredibly job as an 18 year old who was barely eligible for the draft

Yes! Very important win. Some great coaching moves tonight, Shelley Heath completely blanketed Kearney. And I like Maddie Gays move to a half back role.

She’s been excellent since Mick came to his senses and moved her to the wing at half time last week. New lease of life

Excellent post Watson. Dermie always says you make your name in finals unless you are an outright genius such as robbie flower but even he killed in finals when the dees finally made it. . I agree and none of those you listed will be remembered in the same light as fritsch. Or others Eg Darren Jarmen, Jezza etc famous for gf heroics. Hell they'll be talking in 30 years even about jake bowey and tom sparrow ahead of the above non performers. The cats resigning garry rohan tells us something about the cats mindset.

I hope he has predicted us to miss the 8 again, like he did last year.

Over the years and during those dark times when player after player would leave I'd think gee it would be great to win a premiership just to stick it up all those that walked out and all the ones that stayed loyal would be rewarded. I get now why they did because of culture, always getting thrashed and some people that worked at the club, ie coaches or other staff, but I look at someone like Howe and can't help but have a chuckle. Yes he left to go to the club he barracked for as a kid and was told he'd play forward which obviously didn't work out, but to see our boys get a medal and his season resulting in his coach and president both leaving and his club under scrutiny for other reasons and not playing finals made me smile. Mind you I'm rapt to have May and Lever down back

Probs many of them were. But they were all going for the Dogs for a different reason: According to this warden the inmates have to address the wardens as ‘Sir’ but ‘Boss’ is also acceptable. Of course, when the wardens are out of earshot they’re referred to as ‘Dogs.’ If an inmate is heard calling a warden ‘Dog’ they’ll be (unofficially) punished. Therefore, during the GF they made the most of the opportunity to yell out ‘Dogs!’ as much as they wanted. It was a message to the wardens. This particular warden doesn’t go for either side but was happy for the Dees to get back in the lead since it denied the inmates a reason to keep screaming out ‘Dogs!’ as loudly and aggressively as poss. Really interesting insight into prison life. 😬

One thing that is very easily noticed about Casey is a clear lack of shade for spectators. Thankfully Thursday wasn’t too bad but is the scorching heat there really isn’t much for the fans to get out of the heat. I hope there’s plans in the background for giving Casey a bit more on the “non broadcast” wing for fans to escape the sun and heat. I had a great time going out, it was my birthday and had the day off so it just worked out beautifully! I’m not really able to add anything extra to some of the reports. Oliver looks like he could go another level this year, which is insane because he’s already a gun. Was so pleased to see Benny Brown looking fit and firing. He’s a sneaky chance at the Coleman this season if he gets that sort of consistency.

Yes, North will be a tough opponent today, certainly a premiership contender in 2022. Their midfield group has 2 good rucks in Emma King and Rennie plus they genuine stars in Jazzy Garner and Ash Riddell with Emma Kearney down back who is playing great footy there intercepting and setting up plays. Bruton, Gavalas, Ashmore, Mia King and Bresnehan are all having good years and Bannister who kicked 2 goals against us last time is finally playing every game and looking dangerous. @BDA Meggs would like to see Kate Hore find some form too. And some others could too. Parry has had one serviceable game all season and Ex skipper Scott has barely imposed herself this year. A pity we dropped Megan Fitzsimon cause she has clean skills and some footy smarts but she’ll be back. Start strong this week please. Gay and Sherrif returning strengthens our team. Really looking forward to this game. We are evenly matched. Should be a cracker! Dees by 1 point.

Are you sure that's wise?

With both teams on equal points, a win is very important for our finals prospects. If we play like we did in the first half against Brisbane, there’s every chance we will lose. If we can maintain our form the second half, we will win comfortably. Tayla Harris might be the difference. I’m backing the latter scenario. Dees by 3 goals.

Good Morning Mr.Phelps, The Team you are looking at on the Screen is known as the Melbourne Football Club. This team went 57 years without winning the penultimate prize in the Australian Football League that being a Premiership! (Think Superbowl but a thousand times better and more breathtaking with complex plays and Superfit Athletes) This Team has built slowly but surely over the past 5 years under a Person called Paul Roos and now Coached by a Guy that goes by the name of Simon "Goody" Goodwin ... Your Mission Jim should you decide to accept it to find out all you can from todays Practice match and report back to I.M with reports, an international attaché by the name of Picket Fence will be your main ally and you can use every element of your specialist forces to assist in surveillance of today’s game. As usual if any of your force are caught the secretary will disavow any knowledge of your actions. This tape will self destruct in 5 seconds … Good luck Jim MATCH REPORT P.F “Can't Stop The Music" Everyone you meet, the children in the street Are swayin' to the rhythm, there's somethin' movin' in them. There's no place to hide, so, why even try? Can't you hear it coming your way, it's here to stay. Music in our walk, music when we talk. It's really something magic, to lose it would be tragic. Can't you feel the sound movin' through the ground? Music makes the world go around. You can't stop the music, nobody can stop the music. Take the cold from snow, tell the trees, don't grow, Tell the wind don't blow, 'cause it's easier. No, you can't stop the music, nobody can stop the music. Take the spark from love, make the rain fall up 'cause that's easier to do. Lovely day at Casey Fields today for what turned out to be an excellent day for Footy, Gentle breeze was blowing towards the City End but that in no way reflected the inability to kick goals at the southern end. A crowd of about 2, 000 turned out and the cacophony of the same old same old music pregame dulled the senses into something like an acquiesced state of perennial insensibility thus rendering conversations with others as Difficult. Those who were there now know what I mean about the music interludes at training. No Slitheras were seen, However, a Giant Blue Tongue lizard was seen flicking helpless flys and other crawlies into a cavernous blue abyss never to be seen again. A bit like the hapless Shinboners who came up against a Red Hot DEES outfit hellbent on inflicting more pain to this struggling outfit. Not that the effort was not there but alas too much was left to too few on the Boys in Blue and White. Anyway that''s their problem MATCH VIEWS, PLAYERS REVIEWS AND POST MORTEM COMMENTS Clearly from the start Norf had a plans to curtail the ruck dominance of Max and the Midfield brilliance of Clarry and Tracc. Tagging Clayton Oliver is the hardest job in footy and the negating tactics might work occasionally but when he gets the after burners on and has single minded obsession for the leather its like that Judas Priest song "Hellbent for leather" Nothing stands in his way. Norf were clearly going to have a dip and they did but skill, class, fitness and just too many options curtailed their brave efforts. CLAYTON OLIVER Started a little rustily and was hobbling for while after an incident but then, WHOOSH became the Clarry we know so well. Exhilarating tour de force runs, precise handballs, very clean disposal and the Goal of the Day where he got contested ball in the middle, dished of ran forward, got it back and kicked a similar goal to his blistering goal in the 2021 GF. Dislocated a finger but came back bigger and better than ever. This guy is a freak!! MAX GAWN Was not that far behind Clayton and his presence, his ground running, his ability to get to contest after contest and take mark after mark was just breathtaking. A great couple of goals, just added Icing to an already rich cake! A real Captain’s Game. Just a Champion BBB Embarrassed Norf today Kicked 5 Goals and was a focal point in attack. He has sticky fingers and just loves clunking marks and uses his footy smarts to work up and down the ground. Could kick 80- 100 Goals this year. JAMES HARMES Has really improved his output and is now repaying the coaching fraternity with a sett of running, ablity to create space and canny ball use. Great game today ED LANGDON Just runs up and down the ground all day gathering possession after possession and spoon-feeds his forwards, a great ball user , no one can keep up with him and he was a great catalyst to many a launch into attack. JOEL SMITH Our most improved player, he seems to now have the confidence and footy nous to know when to spoil and when to mark. Was dynamite out of the back half and this is the sign that maybe after a few stops and starts this could be his year. ADAM TOMLINSON Ditto run out of defence and into attack, never seems flustered and nearly always creates opportunities with canny use of the ball and then running forward to create an overlap option. Great to see him so confident and ready to fire. ANB Another whose improved form has coincided with his confidence and devotion to his training regime and dedication to improving his game, his run , carry, unselfish team orientations make him one of the first picked every week. played very well today. CHRISTIAN SALEM Well I for one will be astounded if he isn't All Australian this year. He just ooozes class in all that he does whether it be gaining ground ball gets, Doubling back for intercept marks, Clever precise disposals, he has just got it all. Destroyed his opponent today T MAC Hard to match up on now that he covers a lot of ground, is physically imposing and clunks some great marks AND clears the way for Fritta (who didn't play today) and BBB was instrumental today doing just that! Others to do well were GENERAL MAY down back TOM SPARROW who is also brutal in his attack on the ball and the ball oppo carrier, CHANDLER kicked 2 Opportunistic goals but not much else, and I thought JAMES JORDAN was ok without being prolific. DOGGA was good in the ruck and got his hands on the ball but missed a couple of marks. CHARLIE SPARGO Kicked a lovely goal and was creative and used the ball really well. I also thought KOSSY was elusive and damaging setting up many opportunities with his lightning speed and footy smarts. FINAL COMMENTS. The Dees easily defeated a somewhat injury depleted Norf outfit, but Norf still had plenty of experience in their team and were just Obliterated. Weeds, Toby Bedford, and I think Hunt got runs late but did not have time to establish themselves. The most telling thing from my perspective were 2 main pionts. 1 Viney, Lever, and Fritta and possibly Dunstan will come in for … ??? 2 As I have iterated you train a you play and the drills I have seen are replicated in match conditions and this makes for a team that KNOWS how to play, what to play, and how each person in the team has a role to play and they play it beautifully. This is what makes successful teams even more successful and end up in creation of DYNASTIES! A lot to like today. Your Casey Correspondent P.F

You’ve “heard” 😏

Tx WCW. Demonstone would be proud.

Never been an armpit man but each to their own. As for a football moment. Agree. None better except the couple before it maybe.

It's funny that he has Papley at 23 and he kicked 43 goals last year, where Pickett kicked 40 and isn't even in the top 50. Not sure how Fritsch doesn't make it either, after kicking 59 goals for the season.

Christian Salem still underrated.

I reckon Dangerfield is massively overrated

Long time reader, first post. I finally decided to join and post for two reasons, firstly to thank Mr Fence for his fantastic reports, I'm looking forward to see if Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin get a mission at Casey, and secondly after watching the practice match and seeing Tom Sparrow's new haircut he very much reminds me of a younger Todd Viney. Didn't notice last year as the hair was longer but with the haircut, is it just me? When posting I will always try and be respectful of ohers opinions, even if they are wrong. Go dynasty.

Happy five month anniversary everyone.

i don't think it's that big a surprise that teams are running as close to best available as they can; with only two practice games before season starts, the players need to blow out the cobwebs and be good to go in less than three weeks for our squad, we're also six weeks behind as a result of, well, as a result of being premiers 😈 it's a minor issue that i'm prepared to have every year for at least the next decade

Was a good hitout for the team after the short pre-season that they have had. Looked to me that they were just in second gear for much of the first quarter and took their chances when they presented. They then stepped up a gear or two and instead of waiting for the chances to present themselves they went out and hunted the opportunities a lot more. Still a few more gears to go through for them. Players like Petracca, Oliver, Gawn, Salem and May will always perform. Even when they are a bit out of form they will still manage to produce some quality. I watched the game and will watch the game next week to see how the other players are coming on. Loved the look of Sparrow's game. He is going to seriously difficult for opposition teams to match up on. He is behind Petracca, Oliver and Viney in the pecking order and I can imagine there are plans in place by the coaching panel to bring him into the game when one or two of the others are wearing tags. J Smith and Tomlinson are looking good. I have not been a wrap for Smith but will go with him if he is selected by the match committee. I see his good bits but he has just missed so much consistent footy that I have trouble evaluating he skills and quality. Tomlinson looks fit and driven and I think he will carry that through the season. I liked the job Petty did but he might find it difficult to reclaim his spot if Tomlinson works hard. Chandler, to me, is the Almost Man. He fits between Kossie and Spargo in my mind. has a spark but not as bright as Kossie. has the defence but not as tough as Spargo and, on the limited time I have seen him, is behind both on skill of deliver into the forward 50. Hunt has grown into a good footballer. I loved the way he runs and connects through the wing with Langdon, Brayshaw and Salem. There was a real connection growing there last season. It showed the way that the team wants to play with quick turnover reaction and layered overlap running to receive or position. Next week against Carlton I expect we will see a R1 preview team and we, and the players will know the situation with the contest for spots on the team sheet.