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After telling myself that I'm making the effort to go to the Brisbane game and that I needn't watch Round 1 in person... yesterday I caved and used my railway pass to arrange a 10 hr trip down to Melbourne from Syd on Thursday night. I'll crash with some family, work the Friday, and then on Saturday prepare for all things Dees at the G!

Sitting at home alone in front of the TV wondering why they're showing vision of a sad, old, unattractive man then realising I've forgotten to actually turn the telly on.

Train ride straight to Jolimont with 3 of the kids. The most exciting thing for me is my 16yr old daughter is more excited about heading to the game than me. Kids are well and truly rusted on now.

Going to the game, driving from Bendigo region. Booking a room in Lygon Street for Sat night at my favourite boutique hotel and close to the only restaurant where you can still get a fabulous carpetbagger steak done to perfection. After morning check-in, a city-stroll of the bookstores and the Vic market for cheese and a pleasant walk to the ground if the weather is good, perhaps a tram ride and a seat well away from Footiskry supporters under GA protocols. Picnic feed and snacks in the day-backpack with 'Bessie' (my old steel thermos) filled with brewed Brazil Santos coffee from Quists in Little Bourke Street obtained earlier. Ever the optimist, I feel confident that we can knock this one off by a considerable margin, so a good red after the game may well be in order. Returning to accommodation, it's replay time. It has been a long wait for the '23 season to begin.

TRAINING MONDAY, 13 MARCH 2023, was a bit of a photo shoot. The media was there. Most of the players having shots over the manequins, many hanging them from the shaded area on the boundary. Fritta doing laps, had one kick at goal, and wearing his normal training jersey (the one with their number on it) . Viney still in rehab, pushing himself in the laps. He did a few with Salem, half ways, and more full laps. Looks like he is working to be match fit. As he ended up bent over a couple of times. Oliver was working closely with Moniz-wakefield. J.Smith was in his training jersey as well, looking free to go and happy. BBB was kicking long 40 m goals from straight out. He and Vines the last on the paddock

Yes, it was a bit of a photo shoot. The media was there. Most of the players having shots over the manequins, many hanging them from the shaded area on the boundary. Fritta doing laps, had one kick at goal, and wearing his normal training jersey (the one with their number on it) . Viney still in rehab, pushing himself in the laps. He did a few with Salem, half ways, and more full laps. Looks like he is working to be match fit. As he ended up bent over a couple of times. Oliver was working closely with Moniz-wakefield. J.Smith was in his training jersey as well, looking free to go and happy. BBB was kicking long 40 m goals from straight out. He and Vines the last on the paddock

At home with some venison kranskys and beers. I have a nice drop of Japanese single malt that I may have afterwards should we win. I am considering starting to have a pre game joint. Just to see if it will calm me down a bit. Poor dogs take themselves out the back as soon as the game starts. They are never sure if I’m shouting at them or the TV.

For me it is going to be a full week-long trip down to Melbourne for what will be my first Demons game in person since the couple of bizarre games we played in Sydney, mid 2021 The trip will also will be the first time even my immediate family has been in one place together since pre-Covid - the first time I've been in the same room as both of my mother and brother in more than two years.

Greg Wells very under rated.

We'll be there early as my boy is part of the guard of honour as the team runs out onto the 'G'!

Melbourne’s playing list is set to kick off the 2023 season with their minds and bodies in a much different space to where they were at the end of last season. There might not be much in terms of exposed form in these times of abbreviated preseason match play but there is compelling evidence to suggest the Demons are as fresh as daisies and in pumping form as the curtain rises on the new season. The reports from the training track going all the way back to the players’ return in November through to the match sim vs St Kilda and the practice match vs Richmond indicate a keen and relatively healthy list with some fresh players of quality recruited to add greater depth to a team that was already strong in every facet of the game. Collectively they appear to be over the condition that saw them start strongly and then fade badly as games worn on. Symptomatic of that condition was the fact that the club plummeted from number 3 in pressure rating in the competition to number 16. The way they’re looking at the moment, this trend has swung again. The players are refreshed, full of run and have restored the element of resilience to their playbook. The addition of quality personnel since their last encounter produced a 10 point Bulldogs victory at Marvel Stadium in late July is significant. The Demons went into that game missing both regular key forwards in Ben Brown and Tom McDonald, key intercept defender Jake Lever was a late withdrawal and Clayton Oliver was back but still nursing his injured thumb (he magnificent with one hand but how good would he have been with two). That quartet should all be back fighting fit on Saturday night, joined by dual All-Australian ruckman Brodie Grundy and former Bulldog star Lachie Hunter on the wing. This represents a massive infusion of talent across all parts of the ground. If you subscribe to the view that Melbourne’s Achilles Heel in the second half of last season was it’s forward line and in particular, the team’s inability to connect with the players deep in attack, then it would be abundantly clear that the inclusion of the two fit key forwards in Brown and McDonald is a game changer. Even when he was playing last year, Brown struggled to have an impact and his productivity levels were low. By all accounts, the formerly shaggy haired but now baldish Demon giant Brown has been one of the outstanding competitors on the training track and while he was overshadowed by the Gawn/Grundy goal kicking combo last week he looks poised to return to his late 2021 status on the forward line. McDonald’s return will help even more because of the crucial role he plays in creating pressure on opposing backmen. His influence can be seen by these graphics which compare Melbourne’s productivity in second halves with and without him in 2022:- The inclusion of the two recruits in Grundy and Hunter, from Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs respectively, will simply serve to further improve the effectiveness of Melbourne’s forward set up — ruckman Grundy in terms of getting the ball to the team’s magical midfield and wingman Hunter with his superb ball use in servicing the Demon forwards. The practice matches have already proved that the new ruck set up will also ensure more goals with the two tall resting targets. The Western Bulldogs are no slouches — they won last week’s practice match by an impressive margin, albeit against a young side expected to struggle again in 2023. They have an impressive midfield led by Bontempelli, McCrae, Treloar and Liberatore, lots of tall forwards and a seemingly improved defence with Liam Jones back after a stint with the Blues. The fact remains however, that Melbourne’s midfield is irresistible even without Jack Viney, the defence is far stronger than that of the Doggies who also have a lot of tall timber up forward. The loss of Steven May is a blow but the list is deep and while he will be missed, the Bulldogs’ concentration on height might be offset by the ground level run of the fitter, faster and fresher Demons. Compounding this is the fact that the Bulldogs are going into the game a touch underdone as they missed out on the opportunity to play another club in match sim week and, with respect to the Kangaroos, their practice match did little to prepare them for a high pressure game against a premiership contender. Melbourne to win by 19 points. THE GAME Melbourne v Western Bulldogs at The MCG Saturday 18 March 2023 at 7.25 pm HEAD TO HEAD Overall Melbourne 90 wins Western Bulldogs 79 wins 1 draw At The MCG Melbourne 47 wins Western Bulldogs 29 wins Last Five Meetings Melbourne 3 wins Western Bulldogs 2 wins The Coaches Goodwin 6 wins Beveridge 4wins THE LAST TIME THEY MET Western Bulldogs 17.8.110 defeated Melbourne 15.10.100 at Marvel Stadium in Round 19, 2022 This was another one of those games where the Demons ran out of steam in the end after a good start. The Bulldogs were aided by their greater accuracy, a rampant Marcus Bontempelli and a breakout game from Jamara Ugle-Hagan who booted five goals. THE TEAMS MELBOURNE B H. Petty J. Lever J. McVee HB J. Harmes A. Tomlinson J. Bowey C L. Hunter C. Oliver E. Langdon HF K. Chandler B. Brown C. Spargo F K. Pickett B. Grundy A. Neal-Bullen FOLL M. Gawn T. Sparrow C. Petracca I/C A. Brayshaw B. Laurie T. McDonald T. Rivers SUB J. Melksham EMG M. Hibberd J. Jordon J. Van Rooyen New faces Brodie Grundy (Collingwood) Lachie Hunter (Western Bulldogs) Bailey Laurie (Oakleigh Chargers) Judd McVee (East Fremantle) WESTERN BULLDOGS B T. Duryea L. Jones C. Daniel HB B. Dale A. Keath E. Richards C B. Williams M. Bontempelli J. Macrae HF B. Smith A. Naughton J. Ugle-Hagan F A. Scott S. Darcy R. Lobb FOLL T. English T. Liberatore A. Treloar I/C O. Baker J. Bruce M. Hannan J. Johannisen SUB T. McLean EMG H. Crozier B. Khamis J. Sweet New faces Oskar Baker (Melbourne) Liam Jones (Carlton) Rory Lobb (Fremantle) Injury List: Round 1 Steven May - Calf | Test Bayley Fritsch - Foot | 1 - 2 Weeks Christian Salem - Thyroid | 1 - 2 Weeks Jack Viney - Knee | 1 - 2 Weeks

@binman called this first

There are 6 of us driving in, looking forward to a 30 point win, making a bit of noise and singing the song surrounded by our Dee supporters. Then home to bed to watch the replay.!!!!! go Dees.!!

thanks for sharing mate but we want to know if you are watching the game!!

I will be in Paris! Will be relying on game day thread for updates. Not home till round 3. Go Dees!

We made the stupid mistake of rushing Salem for round 1 last year when he looked completely underdone and it cost him his year. Hopefully history won't repeat himself and we give Jack all the time his knee needs to heal.

Taking my wife to her first ever game sitting in the MCC section. She has only ever sat in the outer. My son is joining us. It’s my birthday so we are in town for the weekend. Hoping to celebrate with a big win.

Call this one out of left field ... I'll be watching from the stands at the G (MCC members).

Chris Cavanagh with his preview of AFL Draft 2023: Top prospects, father-son, Academy players Included is this pen picture of father/son prospect Kynan Brown who did some preseason work with the club:- “Kynan Brown (Oakleigh Chargers) – A ball-winning midfielder who can also go forward and impact the scoreboard. He is a father-son prospect for Melbourne, as the son of Nathan Brown who played 146 games for the Demons from 1998-2007. Featured in the under-17 Futures game last year.”

Beers and a parma in the Corner hotel before heading over to the G. Can't wait

I’ll be taking 6 to the game including my English born father in law who will spend half the game asking me why we call this football. I’ll be so happy that footy is back that I won’t even care. I’ll locate a good mate and his clan of doggies supporters for a bit of smack talk and hopefully walk with them to Jolimont after the game while teaching them the words to ‘it’s a grand old flag’

I’m passing up a birthday party with three very good bands playing, so that I can sit with my son in front of the telly. Having given up the booze, I can’t even enjoy a cold one while the game is on… looks like hot dogs/pies and coke.

That’s awesome that you get that satisfaction with what you do for the team. 😊 I’m a little introverted and look for some relative peace and quiet at games.

Looking good. My Dad spent his formative years (Thirties) following Sunderland (by steam train) around the UK. He told me there were just two teams of any note back then, Arsenal and Sunderland. Fast forward to early sixties Melbourne and despite my early leanings towards Footscray, he made me support Melbourne because of their intense rivalry with Collingwood, mirroring his hatred of all things Newcastle (filthy magpies, etc). He wasn’t wrong, two of the most boorish, self-aggrandising fan bases in the world. Anyway, back on topic…

3.30 start for me. Sports Bar with a Saturday Roast Lamb before the game. Whiskey on the rocks for the first bounce Number 14. The campaign begins… We should all expect nothing less than a Flag this year. The list is Top Shelf and primed.

Leisurely drive down early afternoon, pick up stock for the business at Costco and Campbells, then into accom at the Amora River Walk in Richmond. Pre game snacks and beverages there. On the tram and into the Hassett Room at least an hour before the game. Catch up with a number of Redlegs we haven't seen since last season, particularly Nana 31. After the game into the Hassett Room for celebration drinks and another round of "It's a Grand Old Flag". Back on the tram to accom and watch the replay. Every chance I will crash and burn before seeing the replay, like Hardtack I've been off the booze since a week after Xmas.

More than 400 of the top underage footballers from 12 Coates Talent League clubs across Victoria converged on Maribyrnong College on Saturday primarily to show off their athletic traits. Players were put through a series of five tests, consisting of the standing vertical jump, running vertical jump, 20m sprint, AFL agility test and Yo-Yo test. Only a few results are currently available but one of the standouts was Gippsland Power forward-midfielder Zane Duursma – brother of Port Adelaide’s Xavier and nephew of Demon Jamie Duursma who played 33 games for Melbourne in the late 1980s.

The Control crew will all be jamming into Max’s Sunbeam Tiger and heading pre-game to the Prince Patrick for obligatory parmas & pots. Agent 13 will be lurking around somewhere, most likely in one of their fridges. Then over to the G, seating in the Redlegs members, level 2 Warnie stand, sans cone-of-silence.

Would normally be in attendance but I’ve got a bloody wedding! Will have to sneak off and get updates via kayo and demonland where possible.

Lying in bed with my wife in the privacy of my own home, lights off.

Not a lot, but I don’t believe I would see “hatred”. I would imagine “dislike” for footy ability, but not “hatred” for a person. If people are hating a player simply because of his sporting ability, that is pathetic.

I’ll be at a classic Citroen event in Murray Bridge with my two loves… my wife and my 1967 DS. I’ll skip the Motorkhana and meet up with an old school friend I haven’t seen since about 1969. He’s also a lifelong Demon supporter. A big win would top off the perfect day.

I’ll be listening on the radio 12hrs into a 360km bike ride. Cheer hard at the G!

On a plane for the duration of the game and then some. Will watch a delayed viewing without knowing the result.

Be on the road with a four hour time zone difference. If all goes well will arrive at destination in time for first bounce. Viewing game on an iPad will be decidedly different from last year at the ‘G. But the beer will be in pristine glass not plastic.

$1 blocks of land will do that.

Next Saturday (arvo) night watching the Demons go into battle, I will be sitting out in my alfresco with some tight mates, drinking beer, eating red meat (probably very rare red meat to be honest) and watching a Demon victory. For those attending - I’m jealous. Round 1 of a new season is extra special. How are you going to put it in?

Patiently waiting to see if there is parking at the G . Otherwise I have to brave the trains on the way home. Bloody night game!

Waiting patiently all day having some bevs, then head over to the G with the fam. Can’t wait!!

Trying to watch the game on the tv while having a house full of relos over for my son's birthday. Need to make sure all the food is cooked by the first bounce and I have a scotch/whiskey/rum in hand. Hopefully we win so I can watch the replay when they all leave.

Normally I’d be at the game but this time round I will be on a boat somewhere near New Zealand trying to catch Covid. My bad, I booked tickets ages ago without thinking 😭

As frustrating as this game was, it was pretty entertaining. It frequents many "best games of '22" lists and with good reason. This and the second Pies game were devastating losses but objectively very good games.

It's certainly true that St Kilda have a rank midfield

Going, with one of my tragi-passionate offspring (jealous of the BBQ though, Macca...)

Lets hope this time next week we are reading about a victory