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They demolish that stand I bring on the Jack Dyer curse, they'll never win another flag, ever. Knock it down!

Went along mainly to watch Moniz-Wakefield and Van Rooyen. They are a good team, Casey. Good mix of Casey players, especially Jimmy Munro who never takes a backwards step and was close to BOG and the Captain Mitch White who was also in the votes, and AFL elder back-up players in Majak Daw and Mitch Brown. Majak didn't have much of an opponent so ran riot in the ruck and around the ground. Also the AFL youngsters are a very good bunch and are developing well at this level. Just on that Laurie and Rosman in their second years have really improved from last year. Laurie was injured for a fair chunk but is having a good season and is almost ready for AFL duties although he probably won't get a go for a while. Rosman is the other who can definitely come up to AFL level. He can play tall enough to mind a mid range forward, or a third tall in the backline, he has fast closing speed and some of his spoils were excellent. He probably isn't far behind Joel Smith, which means there is a chance he could be brought up in the next 12 months. Deserves a go at AFL level. Moniz-Wakefield is showing great promise for a first year player. He is quick and has a good kick and wins a lot of one on ones. Not much defensive side to his game just yet but has great offensive weapons. Will be good to see him develop, but is another who will have to bide his time as he sits behind Bedford and Chandler in the pecking order. That doesn't matter though this year as he isn't ready for AFL just yet. Van Rooyen though is definitely in my eyes the pick of the bunch. He has the most upside and can possibly even rise to the heights of becoming a great centre half forward. The first time I saw him I was a bit underwhelmed, down at Willy Oval a few weeks ago. He looked ok but had very little influence on the game and flew in packs where he didn't look likely. But yesterday he showed a lot taking six good marks and kicking a the goal of the day. Four of his six marks were from leading up the ground and taken on the wing. They were mostly uncontested but that was because of his speed to put distance on his opponent and they were still good marks, taken high and at pace. His kicking is a thing of beauty, he is balanced and can kick over 50 metres easy. One of his marks was from a kick out and a good pack mark. His goal was similar to a young David Schwartz, where he picked up the ball swung around and put it through from 50 metres. It was all class. He is tall enough and big enough for his age and with natural growth over the next couple of years will get to over 100 kg and good strength. He again didn't do much close to goals as he gets jostled out of position and has a lot to learn in this area but once he got out on the lead and up the ground he came into his own where he could time his run. Already blessed with riches, the recruiting team would be very excited by all the new kids, but Van Rooyen is the ace in the pack.

Last week kozzie completely burnt fritter AND by doing so almost certainly cost us an easy walk in goal. Not a hanging offence, but zero doubt that was a selfish act. Didn't cop much grief or accusations of being selfishon here as far as I can recall. Tmac marks on the line (didn't cost us a goal) and made a decision to shoot for goal instead of an almost equally difficult pass to teamate (who knows if that cost us a goal) and gets accused of selfishness. Pretty harsh if you ask me.- particularly for a fella with plenty of credit in the selflessness bank.

Richmond's threat to leave Punt Road if they don't get their way seems hollow to me. They would be the only ones to suffer if they took that action so the threat is meaningless.

The main reason I would prefer you not bother comparing this to Garry Hocking changing his name is because it trivialises something that means more in the positive to some than it does to you in the negative. You can call it precious, or call it manners, or whatever, but I just don’t see the need to make it known that you don’t like something that is meaningful to a group of Dees fans that haven’t been embraced in the past.

I disagree with people potting Tom McDonald for taking that mark. If you watch the replay he never took his eyes off the ball, so wouldn't have known exactly where he was. If he let it go and it wasn't long enough there is every chance it bounces short of the line and goes left or right and hits the post. He then went and apologised to Harmesy and explained it straight after.

Feel for Smith. He can't take a trick. Another medium term injury. 8-10 weeks is huge.

At his age, he’s destined for the cattery.

Congratulations on 200 games Tommy "Macca" McDonald! Fingers crossed he gets the nod to play this week against St. Kilda? "Macca" has definitely done it the "hard way" to reach 200 games. As he said himself, we were a "rabble" and we were able to turn it around. We are now reigning Premiers! I want to say a massive THANK YOU to "Macca" for his hard work and loyalty as a Demon. Hopefully he gets to play 250+ games for us by the time he retires!

I am worked up? Ok. And I said I would prefer you keep it to yourself; entirely your prerogative to make it known how you feel about something like this. I, and plenty of other Demons, love what we are doing for those whose land always is and always was. rp

Salem straight down back. Rivers out. His form hasn't been up to his 2021 standards.

No one has mentioned that with two key forwards, on their own, virtually in the goal square, why Harmes didn’t pass it to them, rather than take the shot. Kicking to the forwards would have made a certainty of the goal. Of late, Harmes kicking on the run hasn’t been great, so could have easily missed. Both were not team first decisions in my view.

I have seen little kids walking around my suburb in Melbourne Jumpers. First time i have EVER seen that happen. It will take a few years to build it right up. we must not plummet again

59,029

A long time ago my father told don't make a threat unless you have the will to carry it out

far too logical, rab book yourself in for re-education

Melbourne supporters are just as passionate as any other mob. In fact given our long period of defeat and negativity we have been more resilient and loyal than most. The measure of our passion is not measured simply by attendance at games. So much has changed on the footy landscape. Attendance at games has been hit hard by factors already mentioned. Despite some people’s laissez faire attitude the majority of folks particularly the seniors are still freaked by Covid. There are still so many people who will not attend activities involving large groups. As previously mentioned, late afternoon and night games are a huge deterrent to anyone living outside Melbournes urban fringes. Not helped by our poor and unreliable trains. For many older folks there are severe safety concerns travelling home by train at night. And games during the week do not help families and folk who take work seriously. There is no doubt that saturation TV coverage has conditioned fans to watching the game at home rather than the inconvenience of attending night games. Lastly, there is the issue of cost. Many people simply do not have the money for travel and incidental expenses. Particularly country people. The majority of people are doing it tough or at least have needed to restrict their spending habits particularly discretionary spending. I get annoyed with the simplistic notion that low attendances is a reflection on the passion or commitment of fans. Times have changed and for many (although not all) it has become much harder to get to a game.

Ironically, my mental health improved dramatically when Neeld was given the boot.

All of our H & S Protocol people are back! Joel Smith has a fracture and is looking at a long stint on the sidelines. Injury List: Round 8 Simon Goodwin - H & S Protocols | Available Luke Jackson - H & S Protocols | Available Alex Neal-Bullen - H & S Protocols | Available Kysaiah Pickett - H & S Protocols | Available Tom Sparrow - H & S Protocols | Available Daniel Turner - Foot | Available Michael Hibberd - Calf | TBC Taj Woewodin - Concussion | 1 Week Christian Salem - Knee | 3 weeks Joel Smith - Ankle | 8-10 Weeks Blake Howes - Foot | 10-12 weeks

For me, Salem has really made that half back position his own, he's still improving all the time in the role and is becoming one of the very best in the Business in terms of that half back general type player. he walks right back into that role, and Bowey stays as well. i'd say it's Hunt and Rivers fighting for their spots against Hibberd

Geez that's exciting! it's amazing how much success helps! Gary Pert nailed it in the recent interview, we're really battling for the next generation of kids, when you're on top you're more likely to be chosen and that's how you build your fan base into the future and become a powerhouse club. this really feels like a totally different club now from what it was from 2007-2012

Good post, Praha, but I wonder what you mean by the fan experience being "worse"? I'm scared that someone from the AFL will read your post and decide that what's necessary is louder music, a kiss-cam at every break and a Wurlitzer organ being played after every goal.

Yeah no. Don’t want no sloppy seconds, particularly for something we have no history with (aside from temporary ww2 digs)

I was at that game. Only game in Perth I’ve ever been to. I happened to get down from Sydney for 3 games in a row that season which I expected to be losses. Beat Pies at QB by 4pts. Then reigning Premiers Dogs at Marvel. Then went to Perth and took my brother and nephew. Hunkered down amongst the only Dees supporters at the ground. So so sweet. Couldn’t believe it. It was Goody’s first season and by the end of those 3 games he was looking like the messiah not a naughty boy

Cheer squad becomes the Narrm-y Army

Very under-appreciated for his pack busting, gut-running and swing man capabilities. So much of his work goes unnoticed by many on here. But he takes a gorilla backman each week and plays a vital role for us. Outstanding story of perseverance and not throwing the toys out of the pram when he was told to look elsewhere. Instead knuckling down and working on deficiencies in his game. Thoroughly deserves his 200 games and his premiership. Congratulations Tom.

Such a shame for J Smith. Was such a trivial incident and can’t believe it resulted in a fracture. Tommo is obviously next in line, given that Petty comes back in this week.

Was in the third quarter on the members' wing. He was pushing for a spoil/mark, from memory, landed a bit awkwardly and then reached down for his ankle. That was that, I think.

Of the guys that missed last week because of covid, only Pickett appeared on the track today at training. No sign of Jackson, Sparrow, ANB or Petty.

Watch the GF again Salem was Mr Cool in the First Quarter He already plays the attacking role

Manchester United are NOT part of my Demon family. Wash your mouth out!

I’ll start with the kick after the siren, why the hell wouldn’t he take the kick? It rubbed salt into the wound of the Dogs and that extra goal is in the books to show how dominant we were. I say good on him for nailing it while ever fibre of him probably wanted to hug his teammates. As for the mark on the weekend, at the end of the day the result is what matters, ie the goal. If we’re all about the team then Harmes should be recognising that at the end of the day he did his role which was to get the ball out into a goal scoring opportunity. Tom did his role as a forward in finishing the work. I don’t care who gets the goal, as long as it’s to the mighty Narrm FC.

Tom has been a super player for this club for a long term and absolutely deserves to play game 200 this week (and many more beyond that). People just don't get how much of his work is done off the ball and behind the scenes. It's no coincidence that Ben Brown has averaged 3 goals a game when Tom has played this year, and only kicked 1 in the other game. Ideally Tom shepherds the Harmes goal through, but most of the blame should fall on Weideman who stood in the goal square and watched the whole thing happen. Weideman has been poor for a month since the Essendon game, although I don't mind him having a run in the ruck to get his hands on the ball as he did on Saturday. If Jackson comes back, Sam should be the one to drop out.

So they leave, it's no big deal. Collingwood left Vic Park...the council can make it a community hub and play local footy there. Take down the fences...walk the dogs. It's not much of a threat...what do the City of Melbourne get by having Richmond at Punt Road?

I'd suggest that Tom Browne's entire basis for the rumor is the joke mention of him on Gus & Gawny, but that would require Tom Browne to have spent 30 minutes actually researching football news, so it is unlikely.

Given two absolutely unforgettable moments in the goalsquare that I will cherish forever. One being his lead-snatching goal while being slung in a tackle that sealed our magnificent win against West Coast in Perth back in 2017. The other being his vital brutish shove of the Dogs defender through the goals to secure Sparrow's goal in the dying moments of the GF 3rd quarter, without which we'd have gone into the last with far less momentum and scoreboard buffer. Absolutely fantastic work by TMac to have wrung 200 games out of his career to date - particularly given his early development occurring in the midst of our ****test years, and his latter-years reinvention as a forward.

Another fantastic podcast @Demonland@george_on_the_outer@binman - the depth of analysis and insight into each week’s game is absolutely fascinating and always a measured and balanced. The contributors really complement each other - keep up the great work

Last week he finally graduated from the famous 4-6 academy to 3 - 4 weeks.

It's pretty bloody annoying to say the least. I know the club is doing everything it can but man the lack of announcements with all the money being thrown around by the fl o g pollies at the moment is disheartening.

If Richmond FC can’t obtain approval to redevelop the site, how could we?

Clearly not an example of Shiel be Wright.

I think we should express interest just to mess with the Toigs

This is my go to youtube video to play loudly when I'm wasted and feeling particularly proud of our club. I absolutely love the name change for the indigenous round and am STOKED that we are leading the way across the league with this initiative.

hasn't been able to get consistently get on the field for three seasons and is about to turn 32 again, it's a no

Totally agree. Particularly given the fact that he didn't cost us a goal.

Not exactly about crowd numbers, but I have noticed more very young supporters in DEES jumpers at games. Not surprising, but a lot of hawk adults had young kids in tow with Demons gear on. Are we now appealing to the very young fans now?

So who is coming on Sunday? I just arranged to go to the game with my mum. I will do something with the kids/wife that morning. Finally an afternoon game, should be cracking clash too with the Saints fast attacking play

T Mac is being judged too harshly on the Harmes mark on the goaline imo. He has never had the best awareness and I reckon he wasn’t sure where the posts were and thought he better mark it to be sure. I really don’t think he would have intentionally marked it knowing the full situation around him, where defender were etc

If we keep winning we should reach 60,000 soon. Fingers crossed we can reach 65,000! 🤞 I think it will take another Premiership in the near future to break the barrier of 70,000+ MFC members. In the end, we need to focus on sustained success for the next 10, 20 and even 30 years. If we can do that then our future will be very bright indeed.