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John Ralph reporting in the online Herald Sun ~ Melbourne star Kysaiah Pickett closing in on four-year deal

Tonight showed us how close the comp is right now. True grit from 25 down. If there’s one moment to stand out from tonight, it was Hunter winning a clutch ball on the Members’ wing just before 3/4 time to set up the Oliver goal on the siren. The roar after Oliver’s goal was the loudest I’ve heard here since the Wattsy 2017 QB goal.

How appropriate for Jack to get the medal. He goes to war every week.

When the Rooter took the big mark I swear it looked like Ox was taking the mark.

Now, what do we do about our poor contested ball intensity, and our horrid ground ball skills in our defensive 50? The Tigers ripped us apart in these 2 areas tonight. If Dusty kicked straight we probably lost. A major and persisting issue - terrible handballing. Inaccurate, wrong choice, to a player under pressure, high loopy blind dangerous ones, players having to stop running to take them. Poor in every way. And although only 20 touches, I hope we don't drop Jordon again. Some of his off-ball work, tackling, and defensive running tonight was so, so good.

Those who don’t believe in Viney, he may not be our captain but there is no better leader at our club.

Massive omen for this thread and tonight's game. I've just bumped into Kozzy's old man. We had a brief chat and exchanged pleasantries about the Dees, the GF and shared photos of us at the GF and a the like. As all Demonlanders would expect i politely asked what Kozzie's movements we're for next year, he told me with a grin that I'm sworn to secrecy that Melbourne and Kozzie are in good hands. Take it as you like, the grin and smile tell me all i needed to know. We will win big tonight.

I cannot believe we won that game. Apart from an increasingly good last quarter, our game play, skills, and decision making were as poor as they have been in 3 years. Take a bow Jack Viney - epic game in every way. And welcome to the big time JVR.

Hence why she thanked Mr Jaded. He has no real name. His whole identity is tied up in mine 😂

It's because he raised the middle finger on the way out and took some sly digs at the mighty MFC.

That was a brilliant game, all those dismissing it are not crediting Richmond who really brought the heat. Richmond won the 1st quarter and then our team went to work. Exactly the sort of effort you want to see. JVR, haven't been as excited about one of our forwards since Schwarz in 1995! McVee is playing like Jarred Rivers did on debut, just so bloody reliable and clutch. Quickly becoming my favourite player, he's one of those guys that doesn't drop his head, just goes every time, not a confidence player, just a player and will get a RS this year. It was a hard game to watch because it was close, we are too used to perfection, but we won, we are still a team you can trust. Jack Viney, people can go punch themselves in the heads when they bag him, you just don't understand football, it's not ice dancing. I honestly feel like he is one of the reasons (along with N.Jones) that we got through the dark years. Did you see the way he barreled in when JVR was getting kneed? (shout out to Grundy as well), provided pressure but didn't give away a silly free, tell me that you don't walk taller with the way the team back each other. Our defense is so much better with Lever and Hibberd in it, and I am still firmly in the Petty forward camp, feel like today was proof. He stretched Richmond and Fritsch was unlucky to not get off the leash. Time and again he provided body and protection. Gawn, welcome back, our rucks managed to swing the game after we arrested the early damage. Brayshaw super reliable, another huge team man, ran all day, huge km, likewise Langdon, just got where he needed to be, great efficiency lovely goal. This ruck combination, if fit, will clean up this season. Petracca and Oliver got into the game, Oliver looked to really think his way through disposals today, and that 2nd qtr goal was class under pressure. Trac did thing that I take for granted and shouldn't, great presence. Chandler another tribute to our recruiting and craft brining young men on. ANB provided huge defensive pressure and run, easily tracking for best season so far. Carlton can take their beauty queen bunch of a team, I will take the ANB's and Chandlers that just do a power of work to get the best out of themselves and play a role perfectly in a team game. May needs a reset, he's riding the wrong emotions in game, needs to get his head right, am worried he's NQR 'cos his calf isn't right for explosive movements feel like he's going to cost us a free or two in critical moments. Bowey is still a bit off but after a booboo he laid a smother that Bradley Hill would've been proud of, was pleased he kept his head in the game, but at the moment if Salem is fit, Bowey is who I would drop. Umps sucked, but our class is such we didn't drop our heads. Loved the Crowd, we match Richmond for Noise, well done @WCW and others. More to say but am dealing with Sudan right now, this is the first time off I've had in seven days, 18hr days, 3 colleagues killed, after distributing rations to refugees, another three shot (one of who we couldn't extract for 3 days, a good friend kidnapped, and dear friends still trapped inside. That and I've lost everything I own, clothes, photos/HD, blah blah, but seriously seeing the stress of friends who cannot get out of a warzone is emotionally tough, my french colleague was in Cairo for weekend and her kids were trapped for a week, one 10yo son with a family in Amarat, the 8yo daughter in Riyad with the nanny and noone else, they only just made it to Djibouti yesterday, mum is going insane. I needed today, thanks Dees.

Shout to Chandler. He’s kicked 10 goals in 6 games and kicked some crucial goals against Sydney and Richmond in the third quarter of both games when the heat was well and truly on. That holding the ball and goal in the 3rd quarter was one of the plays of the year for us so far, and will lock him in the side for many weeks.

Jack Viney best on field, Brett Rosebury must feel ripped off.

Max and Lever 18 marks. Makes a difference. Jvr turns it on at the right time. Umps go and get...

Two years ago this was the game that made the competition stand up and see us as real premiership contenders. The rest was history. Let’s hope today is the start of a beautiful 2023 campaign that ends much the same way. We’ve been good at best and mediocre at worse over the last 5 weeks. Time to start taking things seriously.

Goody in the post match - "We were thinking of subbing Rooey off." What convinced you not to sub him off? "He took one mark" Love it. 🤣

Kade Chandler stepped up in that third quarter when we needed a spark, great endeavour and fight to get us back into it. Our intercept game started to come back in that second half too, our defensive structure certainly looked a lot better closing out the game (which i think is drastically aided by Max's inclusion).

And with that, Jon Ralph rises in popularity on DL.

I’m hoping Kossie lights up the G in front of 85,000 and then re-signs tomorrow

The Demons showed the ANZAC Spirit in the final quarter to overrun Richmond on ANZAC Eve by 18 points at the MCG. By the end of the round they should be back in the Top 3.

Also guys my husband is coming tonight for the first time this season. He’s only seen us lose live twice. Lock in a win.

It’s a very even year; we are not the team of the 2021 finals. Geelong is weaker, Syd is immature and injured, the Lions are bullies in the front half, Carlton are all stars, no shine. Tigers are made of paper, Saints are well organised but young and starless, Essendon are putting in effort but have NQRs all over, WB are as good and as bad as they have been the last 6 years, the Adelaide teams are wilful but can lost their way at times, Collingwood are great when a team they play doesn’t commit as much as they commit, and then there is Freo, GWS, GC, and the pub teams. Peak at the right times, win enough games to be top 4 and get into a prelim. Those are my expectations. My hopes are higher but those are my expectations.

Yep, just bank as many wins as you can early on. Worry about hitting peak performance at the business end of the year. Up shot is that we have lots to improve on and we’re 4-2.

Despite the umps, and ourselves for 2.5 quarters, we have come away with a good gritty win against a hard-working tigers outfit who came to win. We still have a long way to go, but these are important steps forward!

Whoever said JVR has played his last game in the 2nd quarter should be fired.

I'm assuming with a 9 day break fatigue won't be an issue. If we bring our elite pressure from minute one, which I am very confident we will, we will steam roll them. They can move petty forward because without lynch they have a very weak forward line. And can't do what the bomber's did and worry us with talls. Riewodlt might kick a couple of goals, but he's adding little otherwise in terms of impact. And much the same could be said about dusty. Max and brodie will monster Ryan. And their midfield is levels below ours. Their utilities are ok, but missing targets. They look much better down back. Bring the pressure, win contested ball, force and score from turnovers and win time in forward half. And take our chances. If that all happens, we win by 6 goals plus. If we don't bring the pressure, and they do, we lose. Dees by 54 points.

"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old; Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them." I always associate this night with the part of the ode, "At the going down of the sun", and leading to the dawn service. The beginning of reflection. The ceremony and people's energy, is amazing and so heart filled.

I've had this nervous rash for years. I went to the doctor and he said it's called mfcss. He said it's incurable but can be treated with a premiership and it will go away for a while. ......the rash is coming back

Can’t agree on Pig. He wasn’t great but he [censored] down that guy who kicked three in the first after qtr time. Usage wasn’t great at times but was decent without being great.

Did anyone else think the umpiring was questionable, or was that just me?

This time of year you don't want to be playing great footy, just collect as many 4 points as you can. Great football comes later.

Van Rooyen is going to be a genuine star for us, how many young forwards have a quiet one for three quarters and turn it around in a matter of a quarter. Gotta be mark of the year contender.

Great effort Dees fans. Biggest home and away crowd since 1964 apparently. Our home game attendance rate vs membership number is number 1 in the league again so far this year. We are unquestionably the most loyal fans in the league. Anyone who suggests otherwise can go [censored] the selves.

STAYING

My good self and my entourage shall commence pub crawling our way to the G at around lunchtime. I am fully confident of enjoying a comprehensive victory tonight and, with that in mind, have given my Sportsbet account a jolly good thrashing.

I think Hibberd was our best Defender and after Viney was our second best 4 quarter player. Tigers brought real tackling and in your face intensity, so a couple of panic disposals resulting in turnovers, in a high turnover game would be expected. I don’t quite understand the lack of appreciation for Hibberd amongst many on this site. Couldn’t believe that many didn’t have Hibberd in their pre season best 22’s.

That JVR is soft, rubbish, not up, to it, needs 2 years to develop etc... He goes alright though.

We'll win this. Tiges and umps have played their trump cards now we run over the top of them

I'm actually quite confident about this game. Bombers beat us for a number of reasons, but mostly because we were a rabble down back. Brining back Lever and Hibbo should address alot of this. Im also bouyed by the response against the Swans after the Lions loss. Hope to see a similar response this week. Our players like the big occasions too. Lastly im putting blind faith in travel being a contributing factor in the lack lustre performance in SA. Trips to QLD, WA and SA to start the season didn't help our cause. Dees by 50

I thought your husband's name was Mr No More. At least, that's what I assumed given I seem to recall you changed your name to Jaded No More around the time you got married.

Just read it. Trac seems like such an authentic guy. I loved how he said he over thinks everything and Clarry doesn’t think about anything at all. Hilarious.

For anyone looking for a gameday distraction this is a nice piece on Trac: https://www.afl.com.au/news/908401/-i-m-wired-pretty-differently-petracca-on-success-regrets-and-not-slowing-down

I'll be wearing my medal tonight. I've never done so in the past as I usually save it for ANZAC Day, but I saw a few veterans wearing them at the game last year so I might as well join in. Remember to wear a fig of rosemary instead of a poppy and as you've been told by others already to wear your ancestors medals on the right breast pocket.

Another Richmond supporter is born.

Grandfather dad side flew Spitfires (not bad for a boy from Tallangatta) and mum’s dad was in the Solomons/PNG as an army engineer and wife’s were coal stokers in the Navy so we’re taking the boys to their first service so they get a sense of it all.

Have exactly the same thing. It's highly contagious. I try to keep mine under control by watching the 21 gf replay but alas after the recent lions and Don's games, I feel it spiralling into full a blown episode. The anxiety, sweats, the googling of injury reports and dread is tough stuff. It's not easy to live with but it's important to have support systems like websites to vent one's experiences, symptoms, triggers and treatments. I feel for you Brownie and we are all here for you. May the Dees thump the Tigers tonight and we all go into remission for a week.

LOST AT HOME by K C from Casey After a season and a quarter during which they dominated the VFL competition, the Casey Demons made an uncharacteristic slip up that resulted in a two goal defeat. It would be unfair therefore, to be too critical of their performance in going down to Richmond on Sunday at the home fortress, Casey Fields. At the same time however, it would be fair to say that the circumstances of the defeat were more than disappointing. The team Casey fielded included 14 AFL listed players as against about half a dozen on Richmond’s AFL roster. Moreover, they had the advantage of experienced veterans all over the ground to the point where it should never have been a struggle to win and where defeat was almost unthinkable. One has to wonder as to whether the result was an outlier. After all, it doesn’t often happen that your three key forwards on the day, Ben Brown, Tom McDonald and Ryan Valentine kick two goals 10 behinds between them. And more than half of the missed shots for goal were very, very gettable. After all, Brown and McDonald have 369 AFL games and more than 500 goals between them! But the most unforgivable aspect of the game was the lack of intensity displayed in the battle for the points on offer. For that, both teams were responsible but Casey has been renowned of late for its contested football and strong tackling game. When Senior Coach, Taylor Whitford and his assistants sit down to discuss their first loss for the season, they will be confronted with the fact that nine of their players on the day, failed to execute a single tackle and three others managed just one. The entire team managed only 35 tackles for the game - exactly the same number of tackles executed in his three games this season by the club’s currently injured tackle machine James Munro. That figure tells us how sorely missed this one player was to the team. After dominating the first ten to fifteen minutes of the game, the Demons dropped their guard. They were sluggish and appeared unwilling to take risks. Eventually, they allowed the Tigers back into the game and then the opposition sensed weakness and took control. After a horror second term when they scored a mere five behinds to 6.1, they were in an uncustomary position, trailing by four goals at half time. They regrouped and pegged the deficit back to half that margin by the end of the game but even then, it was left too far too few to do the heavy lifting. Casey in general was not fighting hard enough to keep the ball within the fifty metre arc and therefore, the was unable to bridge the gap to victory. Three players deserve to be mentioned in the wash up to this game. Luke Dunstan was a tireless worker for the team and combined strongly with James Harmes in stemming the tide and bringing the team to within a kick or two of regaining the ascendancy in the last half of the game. Likewise, Daniel Turner was rock solid in defence, often against a deluge. He looks to have a future at a higher level. Full credit to the winners for playing as a team and sticking to the plan of playing positive attacking football and refusing to become overawed by a more seasoned opponent. Things won’t be any easier for the Demons in their next challenge which takes the form of a top of the table clash against an in-form and undefeated Box Hill Hawks to be played next Sunday afternoon at the Wonthaggi Recreation Reserve. CASEY DEMONS 2.4.16 2.9.21 8.13.61 11.16.82 RICHMOND VFL 1.2.8 7.3.45 12.4.76 14.10.94 GOALS CASEY DEMONS Harmes 3 Dunstan Edwards 2 Grey Jefferson McDonald Valentine RICHMOND VFL Melville Nathan 3 Ross 2 Bilston-McGillen Faimalo Hicks McDonagh May Olden BEST CASEY DEMONS Dunstan Harmes Turner Howes Edwards Woewoedin RICHMOND VFL Ross McDonagh Trezise Bracher Teal Olden Statistics Jed Adams 5 kicks 2 handballs 7 disposals 4 marks 28 dream team points Jack Bell 5 kicks 3 handballs 8 disposals 3 marks 2 tackles 25 hit outs 54 dream team points Ben Brown 4 behinds 7 kicks 5 handballs 12 disposals 6 marks 1 tackles 51 dream team points Luke Dunstan 2 goals 20 kicks 20 handballs 40 disposals 12 marks 4 tackles 162 dream team points Tyler Edwards 2 goals 11 kicks 3 handballs 14 disposals 3 marks 3 tackles 66 dream team points Kyah Ferris-White 2 handballs 2 disposals 12 hit outs 11 dream team points Max Gregory 3 kicks 6 handballs 9 disposals 21 dream team points George Grey 1 goal 10 kicks 5 handballs 15 disposals 2 marks 2 tackles 62 dream team points James Harmes 3 goals 10 kicks 19 handballs 29 disposals 6 marks 3 tackles 113 dream team points Blake Howes 8 kicks 8 handballs 16 disposals 5 marks 5 tackles 72 dream team points Matt Jefferson 1 goal 1 behind 3 kicks 1 handballs 4 disposals 2 marks 1 tackle 28 dream team points Tom McDonald 1 goal 3 behinds 11 kicks 3 handballs 14 disposals 3 marks 9 hit outs 60 dream team points Andy Moniz-Wakefield 6 kicks 5 handballs 11 disposals 3 tackles 40 dream team points Harvey Neocleous 2 kicks 5 handballs 7 disposals 2 marks 3 tackles 31 dream team points Oliver Sestan 1 behind 9 kicks 1 handballs 10 disposals 4 marks 37 dream team points Miles Shepherd 5 kicks 3 handballs 8 disposals 2 marks 27 dream team points Cooper Simpson 2 kicks 5 handballs 7 disposals 1 mark 19 dream team points Deaykin Smith 7 kicks 5 handballs 12 disposals 3 marks 37 dream team points Roan Steele 1 behind 6 kicks 5 handballs 11 disposals 2 marks 2 tackles 42 dream team points Adam Tomlinson 11 kicks 4 handballs 15 disposals 4 marks 53 dream team points Daniel Turner 13 kicks 5 handballs 18 disposals 8 marks 2 tackles 80 dream team points Ryan Valentine 1 goal 3 behinds 6 kicks 6 disposals 5 marks 1 tackle 2 hit outs 49 dream team points Taj Woewodin 1 behind 11 kicks 8 handballs 19 disposals 2 marks 2 tackles 64 dream team points