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I really thought that I might be able to avoid this death ride stuff but, on Sunday afternoon/evening, I found myself drawn to the St Kilda vs Fremantle game and was actually trying to will St Kilda to the 4 points. In the end, the willing side of things was unnecessary because the Dockers lost it all on their own with an insipid display against a depleted outfit operating on 50% rat power. I’m sure the Freo brains trust is searching for answers but it looked to be quite simple - their depth is being sorely tested. Fremantle traded heavily in order to fit Jackson onto their list. They traded away Blake Acres (Carlton), Rory Lobb (Western Bulldogs), Griffin Logue (North Melbourne), Lloyd Meek (Hawthorn) and Darcy Tucker (North Melbourne). They also lost David Mundy to retirement. Apart from Mundy, none of the players the Dockers lost were household names but each of them individually was a player who gave the team additional options in terms of placing and performance. The Dockers’ gains during the trade period were Jackson and Jaeger O'Meara. On Sunday, the latter was okay and promises to be handy but Jacko was sluggish and presented no danger to the Saints. I question his fitness. Fyfe appears to be a shadow of his former shadow. it was only game one but they were, along with the Hawks, the round’s biggest losers.

Woah woah woah, nobody is saying JVR can't be great or better than TMac. But TMac plays a very specific role, a role that requires elite endurance. JVR is two years in, his endurance is not at TMac's level. In fact, even with 10 pre seasons under his belt he probably won't have TMac's endurance, which is at the top level of AFL players league wide. Very few players his size can cover the same KMs he covers in a game. It's also why someone like ANB, who isn't the most polished perfect footballer going around, is a best 18 player for us. The ground he covers at top speed is elite and nobody on our list can play that role because nobody has the aerobic capacity to do so. Our entire forward set up fell apart like a cheap suit when TMac got injured last year. Not because he is the greatest marking and goal kicking forward going around, but because he is a very disciplined role player who rarely loses an aerial contest and can get to contest after contest. While I thought he was just ok on Saturday night, what he did is allow Ben Brown and Gawn to play deeper while he was able to neutralise the aerial contests on the wing. He also does some forward rucking, and he gives us the ability to cover a tall defender if one goes down mid game. These are things that will take JVR a long time to perfect, no matter how good a player he can be at AFL level. I think he will get games this year, as he should, and I think he has the potential to be the next Tmac (and hopefully better), but we are not a club that has to play the messiah card anymore. We have lots of good players, which means any youngsters coming through can come in with no pressure and just slowly learn their craft as needed.

So this is what Fremantle meant when they said he looked like having a Goodyear.

I would be shocked if McVee gets dropped. Hes gone from an unknown to playing rd 1 in a top 2 side in a heartbeat because the coaches know he's something special. Before his baulk on Libba there was a contest on the wing where we have a 2 on 1. He does the sums in his head and subtly runs in front of naughton to block his line of sight to the ball (and not to give away a free kick). Then releases just when Petty picks up knowing he is the option forward of the ball. It was all just so smooth. Also he has great 3 step acceleration and he hits targets. This kid is something special. Give him the role on Cameron to start, lets see his ceiling.

^^^^^^ Just as aside to the above clip. How the hell was the kick from Kozzy to Spargo not 15m and called play on when all night the Bulldogs were chipping the ball 5 to 7 meters and it was paid a mark.

Membership tally sitting on 55,528. We've reached our second highest yearly membership tally at Round 1. Fantastic effort Dees!!

Seems we now have our nice open ended fluffy precedent that should make things clearer for everybody. That’s until it involves a power club, untouchable player or it’s during the finals or some other flimsy yet to be introduced defence. We have taken it on the chin, so our predicament is over. So we can sit back and watch the predictable one week low profile penalties for certain entities and individuals and heavy handed AFL chest beating ‘message senders’ to be absolutely frightened by. No matter that the perpetrators of two unconscious players with concussion got one week. One of the perpetrators with a rap sheet as long as your arm who the media are ship frightened to dal with properly. What a farce.

Just an update on Kynan Brown and a little bit of Noah Yze. A contact within Murray bushrangers attended the Oakleigh Chargers practice match on the weekend against Sandringham. He's an opposition club scout. His opinion was he thought Kynan was close to BOG for the chargers playing as a midfielder. Was quite impressive around the stoppages and showed a high level of grunt and speed as well. He reckons he'll push himself into top 20 draft calculations if he keeps this form consistent all year. Noah Yze also played as a bottom ager and he reckons he showed some really exciting traits and little bit of X factor at times throughout the game. Played forward majority of the game and he reckons he's a genuine watch for 2024.

I will bet my bottom dollar that he doesn't fly to Perth in round 4 and JVR gets to make his debut in front of family and friends. Fairly surely we can take on West Coast without TMac and still win.

I'm with you all the way Sister/Brother (not sure if you're male/female 😀). Here's my perspective FWIW . . . I've dreamed for almost 50 years about the Dees having a powerhouse team. And until 2021, I had given up. Then we delivered the best 40 minutes of footy I've ever watched on the grandest stage of all. Over 18 months on, and I'm still on a high. And I'll be forever grateful to all the players at the club in 2021 for providing one of the great highlights of my life. How does this relate to TMac? I just love him. I've watched a lot of plodders go around for the Dees over 50 years, and Tommy is a very 'up-market' plodder. Honest, heart and soul guy. Not overly skilled, but has certainly made the best of his talents. And for the rest of his life he can say he played at CHF in a Melbourne premiership. The hardest position on the ground to play - and if you're beaten there, you don't often win the granny. And for that, I'll be forever grateful. So, my previous comment about TMac has that context. A supersonic plodder that delivered when it countered.

Definition of traveling OK: Smash both teams we played in the preseason Smash a finals contender in round one Have FOUR of our best 10 players missing from the round one win available for selection in round two You'd have to assume they wont take any risks given multiple comments from coaches etc that we will be more conservative with selection this year in terms of not playing anyone with niggles. Personally i'd be really surprised if all four are selected, but if named in the team in all likliehood they'll play and will be good to go.

I’ve watched the hits again and I’m going to change my view a bit. Buddy was the only one that had a clean hit on the head. Both Kozzie and McAdams had incidental , secondary head contact and thus I’d say that contact for Buddy was intentional whilst mcadams and Kozzy was careless. I won’t debate the Impact grade as it’s a dogs breakfast trying to work that out, but ultimately Lance should have received the biggest penalty out of all 3.

TMAC is a nullifying forward that requires a half decent KPD to play on him. Without him on the field, BBB would’ve been double teamed and may have had much less impact on the game. So long as he is successfully playing his role, I have no problem with Tommy doing what he is doing currently.

Just saw MacDonald involved in full training, on the Injury report = No Issue Also,not mentioned as Injured

I reckon the only certainty is Viney - 100%. Salem will most likely need to come back though Casey for match conditioning and his replacements are doing a fine job 0%. You would think that they are going to be conservative with May given his age profile, the long season & 3 interstate games in 4 weeks 30% (could be higher). Fritsch is a total unknown in my book 50%

No way harmes is dropped need to dig deeper than his 15 disposals he had 42 pressure acts, he plays his role I would be shocked if he is dropped, fyi picket had 30 pressure acts

I just watched a different angle of the incident and Koz straight away but both his hands up and said ‘sorry mate’ to Smith. Smith got up and gave him a tap to let him know he’s ok, and all is good. He knew straight away it was wrong. This is why he’s not challenging it. He can’t say he didn’t think there was anything in it when he apologised immediately.

Have you seen any of his AFL games? No disrespect to Josh who I hope is ready to go if needed but I actually don't want to see him play. JVR will get his chance, there's no need to rush it. McDonald did little more than hit up and create space but look at the Dogs forward line and Lever being best on ground and realise there's a lot of value in a lead up CHF who covers a stack of ground.

Tmac trained today and was involved in everything. Will have to manage his foot for the rest of his career and will be rested/managed throughout the rest of his career. His foot will flare up at some points over the season especially during the shorter breaks. Week by week situation but if managed properly he’ll be fine.

No. Back the McVee in. Does not look like the type of kid that will be phased.

I saw a post on the Brisbane Big Footy board that said they heard on Brisbane sports radio that he is definitely playing. It has to be true in a Friends, Uncles, Brothers, Priest's dog kind of way.

Keidean Coleman is apparently out this week which is handy given his speed and class off half back.

Has Joel Smith been delisted? joking - glad you are fit and well Joel!

Taj really unlucky (dislocated finger - out 6 weeks) he would have been a chance to play ahead of Laurie i reckon. At least the injury doesn't impact his fitness levels to much. Terrific that taj is now the ONLY player on the injury list, which is pretty remarkable.

A couple of records to watch if Fritsch and McDonald play on Friday: Bayley has kicked at least one goal in 29 consecutive games - he kicked one in the last 5 games of 2021, and he kicked a goal in every one of our 24 games last season. Tom has played in 15 consecutive wins - playing in the Round 20 win against Gold Coast in 2021, (missing Round 21 and 22 with a sore back) and coming back for the great win in Geelong, and the finals series. He then played in the first 9 rounds last year, all wins, and returned for the win in Round 1.

I would suggest all of Tmac, Gawn and Ben Brown will get rested at various stages throughout the year. We play North and Hawks twice and West Coast. While no game is an easy one, you can take your chances against lower sides to rest your best and oldest players.

You can obviously see me then

It's not me!!

Love that you're thinking how to respect and include non binary and gender fluid people! We're lucky we have the ultimate gender neutral shout... Go Dees! ❤💙

Simple. Jack Viney is an excellent midfielder. Angus Brayshaw is an excellent anything.

I'd be very surprised if the big mcv doesn't line up on Cameron. He is surprisingly good one on one, is competitive and has the acceleration over the first 5 metres so to go with Cameron. And i reckon Goody has him penciled in as the defender to take exactly such players - players we have really struggled to conatin since Jett's brilliant 2018 season. Judd played on Higgins and Dusty in the praccy matches. And on the dog's best effort equivalent (ie medium forward) in Hannan against the dogs (ireckon he would have gone to Weightman if he played).

McVee didn't seem in any way daunted by being asked to lock down Martin in the preseason game - I realise he is a different player type to Cameron but IMO Judd should have first crack at him.

Fritsch and Viney completed most of the pre season, so if they are deemed 100% fit they should walk straight back into the side. I think Salem needs time in the VFL to get some fitness and touch back. He has missed a big chunk of the pre-season and his condition is not so easy to manage. He was also in and out of the side last year with injury, and his form was pretty poor by his own high standards. A couple of weeks to gain confidence at Casey will do him a world of good. He is an A grade player, and at his best he makes us a better side. Would be fantastic to get him back to that level prior to finals. As for May, wrap that golden egg up in cotton wool and protect it from all evils. Far far too important to risk in round 2.

Please please please bring an expansion club (Tasmania) into the AFL whilst Hawthorn are bottoming out.