Leaderboard

Some very wholesome content from the club for your Saturday afternoon.

9Going to the game tonight with my whole family. First ever game for my partner who is 49yo! She's not keen, but will be able to say she has been ... Have booked accomm near the ground so she and 6yo son can leave at half time, leaving me, my 21yo and 11yo sons to cheer the Dees home! Delighted not such a long wait for the game as last week.

Just arrived in Melbourne! Look for WCW and I cheering on the boys in the Dees Army Bay tonight!

The club is doing amazing things with the next generation of supporters. So good to see. This is how you build the next wave of crazies. Well done!

IMO it shouldn’t be a question. You try to get the wins on the board early to set up your season and finish in the top four after round 24. I know that football’s all about taking things one week at a time but looking ahead at our next few weeks I would be very disappointed if we weren’t in first or second spot before the break for the bye. As for tonight, I think it’s time to lift ourselves back to the form we showed at the start of the season when we overran the Bulldogs in Round 1.

All my kids were free to choose whichever team they wanted. They also wanted a roof over her heads so all settled on the Dees.

Dolly looks in complete awe. Kids facial expressions are so genuine. 10 years ago my eldest also gave a very genuine facial expression. Do I get anything for this? Mother of the year award maybe?

… and on his and Danielle’s engagement early this week!!! Might not be noticeable from the stands, but on tonight’s banner, along with the huge Gussy graphic, we’ve included a little nod to their engagement… Huge rock, right there. Easily Gussy’s salary for a year. 😂 Edit: not sure what happened to my pic, it seems to have disappeared. I’ll try again. Anyways, we’ve included an engagement ring on tonight’s banner.

The cards are all stacked in Melbourne’s favour for tonight’s clash against Al Clarkson’s North Melbourne. They are out of form, young, inexperienced, have lost their gun player in LDU and haven’t won a game at the G since 2016. They desperately need to fix their defensive system because they’ve been leaking goals of late while the Demons have been trying to right their forward line for the past 12 months. Melbourne are favourites and rightly so but need the fans to come out and support them tonight!

time for a haircut van rooyen

I’m sorry but BB has a hell of a lot more runs on the board and was in good form in the first three rounds. Schache is too timid to play key position at this level. He got out marked by Zeibel multiple times despite the massive height difference.

I know that was little more than a good training run but one very positive point that did emerge is that in keeping Chandler and letting Bedford move on the Melbourne brains trust got it absolutely right. His accurate goal-kicking, constant pressure and excellent ball use stood out all night. And it was great to see Steven May showing his annoyance when North kicked some late goals. That's the kind of ruthless attitude that wins premierships.

Running towards that top 5 draft pick

I'm excited by the fact we're in a no.lose situation with Josh. He either comes in ajd performs a role or he's a bust, but protects Jefferson's development and allows BB and Tmac time to gain form themselves. But there are a couple excellent posts on this thread that make me intrigued. I've always felt Schache gets pushed off contests far too easily, but Ben Brown does too. But BB and Schache are both excellent kicks and have a height advantage. The thing BB struggles with his ground level and agility, particularly at his age. Schache has him covered there. In tandem with JVR and Fritsch, with protection from Max/Grundy, Schache will hopefully be able to form a functional part of our system. And if he can, it's a stroke of genius recruiting. I also trust Mark Williams' development credentials to get the best out of him. Like @dazzledavey36, I hope they give him a bit of time / continuity.

For non aligned supporters tonight's game will be boring. For Norf supporters tonight's game will be tragic. For Dees supporters tonight's game will be exultation.

Enjoy the game. I’m not proud of it, but I’ve used the Jam Donuts at the G to motivate young family members to keep going to the footy until they’ve fallen in love with the Dees. It works for 49 year olds too. Whatever it takes.

As I mentioned above, Alan Richardson was interviewed on SEN over summer and was asked whether the Kozzie speculation had the potential for the distraction that Jackson did. Whilst he didn’t say it in so many words, he absolutely implied that Jackson deceived the club with his meeting with Freo. He said something like “it was a bit of a surprise to read the headlines that he’d had a meeting with Freo after we let him go and see his family”. This is after Richo thought both parties were in a good place for the majority of the year. He then also said “I don’t want to go into too much detail” in reference to his disappointment of the way he conducted himself last year on the contract front. I took that as Jackson stuffing the club around last year.

Brayshaw 29 at 100%

Chandler is a jet. Absolutely nailed his role tonight. 20+ touches and 3 goals as a small forward is as elite as you'll see.

Never been this relaxed at the footy. Good clinical win. No injuries. Percentage boost. Love it. Move on.

I'm still bitter at Goodwin for beating the Tigers last week.

Just be sure pants are one of the two pieces. 🤭

I recently did a project with young Trans and Non-Binary folks and they were actively trying to get ‘youse’ used as an inclusive, uniquely Australian term. I just kept thinking of Jeff Fenech (but didn’t bring it up because nobody else in the room knew he was). Language changes, constantly. I don’t think trying to keep up with it is as important as using it with grace and good will.

Might slide to our 3rd rounder

Also well done on Angus on his 150th

No such thing as bad weather just inappropriate clothing

This will be a slog. Roos under the pump after poor month. Clarkson will make our life hell. So for the game thread. Before we single out players, and [censored] and moan, let's remember that AFL is a tough caper. Go Dees!

Gawn - dominated the centre Petracca - gradually outperformed Clarrie Oliver - wonderful first half Chandler - continued to excel May - seemed more invested Lever - was rarely required Bowey - mopped up well Rivers - versatile and steady McVee - safe but quiet Pickett - consistently sublime possessions Hibberd - passionate and reliable Grundy - a vital role Brayshaw - almost perfect game Langdon - amazing last quarter Viney - perseverance and commitment Sparrow - tagged Cunnington successfully Neal-Bullen - some important connections Hunter - great first half vanRooyen - had little involvement Fritsch - always looked dangerous Harmes - had limited opportunities Jordon - played role well Schache - an average debut

They both fitted in the team fine before Spargo injury. Why can’t that continue?

Chandler is an absolute rippa. Great game and good to see his improvement this season. 90 point win off a 5 day break, I will take that. Go Dees.

Trac & Chandler were brilliant tonight

5 day break. 90 points. Meh. It'll do ;)

Is it just me or does May look better this week?

We owe this team for all the pain they dished out to us during our dark dark years. So lets just destroy them.

The Collingwood bridegroom outfit.

I'd have Toby Green at Melbourne in a heartbeat.

I’m death riding them all the way to a bottom 3 finish. Let’s go!

don't think he'll have bulked up much in 5 days, deevs

I'll settle for a 15 goal win tonight. JVR to kick his first bag and take another contender.

5-day breaks are gonna happen. I’m just happy it’s not the likes of Collingwood we’re up against tonight.

5 day break guys. Cool it.

Credit to Tom Sparrow who has copped some heat on here so far this season. I reckon he played a career best game tonight. 23 touches as 87% with 4 tackles and a goal.

Was half expecting to see the team doing sprints in Yarra Park for 30 minutes when I left after the game.

Can't complain with that. I loved our killer instinct tonight. Even when we were were up by 60+ points we still had that desire to pile on the goals. Oliver and Petracca's chemistry was as good as it was in 2021/22. Our forwardline has been functioning really well lately. Chandler is an absolute gem and Fritsch and Pickett were electrifying. If giving up a 100 point lead is the only negative, then you know we've had a pretty damn good night.

Well we supporters demanded a statement tonight ... and the boys delivered!!!!

One of the rare occasions where even the game day thread is full of positivity. There’s still time I guess. I remember late 2013 when North did the same thing to us, Boomer’s six in Hobart, Andrew Swallow in 2007, Brad Scott punching the air as the rubbish Roos ended up costing us finals in 2017. I have little sympathy for North and want this margin doubled.

5 stars. Would watch again.

Freo are proving to be my main interest in 2023. The fun seems to get better every week.

Why? No offence but you really should stop looking at this from a Melb/Mainland centric view of 'success'. This post is probably a bit of a wider perspective for several of the people this week being incredibly pessimistic about this announcement. Tas population is approximately 540k. Greater Hobart is basically half of that. So, a stadium of 23k represents about 1/10th of the population, Personally I would prefer they were closer to 27-30k. Using your own logic, should the MCG have a capacity of 500k? because the greater Melb population is 5mil. This team will be designed to be more like Geelong, and they have done extensive modelling by looking at the Green Bay Packers model in the US, arguable the most successful team based in a 'small town' IMO. Kardinia park has had several upgrades over recent decades but that was getting it from what approximately 26k through now to possibly 40k. Why would this stadium need to be more than Kardinia Park from the outset? Let the club grow, also having a huge capacity ground that is half empty would be bad design. Anyone see round 1 game at GWS this year? I'd prefer the Tas team playing in a 23k capacity ground and having it near capacity for most home games rather than being half empty and 50k. I've seen a lot of people moan about the dilution of the talent pool, Population in the last 10 years has gone from 23mil to just under 27mil. The diversity of players (both men and womens) has never been greater. Clubs have to turn over more players each season combined than it takes to fill another AFL list, and whilst I think the way that GWS and Gold Coast got special access wasn't done right, I think a model that gives Tassie access to a pool of picks with an expectation to on trade them to other clubs would more than offset that nervousness. Just a few of other thoughts, this team before it plays it's first game, I would seriously be surprised if the team doesn't have a higher membership than the Gold Coast and GWS. Secondly, Tasmania in general has been starved of national sport outside of cricket. Look at the success that has occured in the NBL with the Jackjumpers, first 2 seasons and this club massively overachieved on the court getting to the finals in both seasons. But off the court has been crazy, in this last season, it sold out it's memberships in 26 minutes, almost every home game has been a sell out, the stadium has needed to be upgraded quicker than planned. Then there are the other aspects here. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-02-04/jackjumpers-success-causes-grassroots-basketball-pain/101917976 Participation up by 46% in the north of the state with 500 teams wanting to play. Basketball Tasmania requiring a further 26 courts across the state to cater for demand. Thats 2 years! The announcement of this stadium has now prompted the head of the A-League to jump up and insist that the ground is able to be configured to play soccer also, why would that be the case do you think? Tasmania is a state that has a small population, but has often punched well above it's weight with many sports. Cricket and AFL in particular, Grassroots football is not doing well down here, and as a result the number of AFL players being drafted is sadly lacking, but bring a team in (hopefully 2027 or 2028) but bring it through the VFL, and prioritise the talent pathways immediately both for girls and boys and that will change incredibly fast. Hawthorn and North Melbourne as clubs would have struggled to survive without Tas Govt funding, I have no doubt that the flow on effects of having the games played here beneficial to the state, but I'm sick of it TBH, I'd prefer a Tas side. Furthermore don't get dragged into the commentary that the games like the Hawks v Adelaide ar ein front of small crowds, and thats indicative of what a Tassie side would end up playing in front of. Thats like me saying go and watch North v Freo at the MCG , oh and you better bloody enjoy it and be greatful for how AFL football is being bought to you. Tasmania doesn't want North, Hawthorn, or the dregs of a failed venture from anywhere else. They want a Tasmanian team, we deserve a Tasmanian team, and this stadium and the plan that has been put in place should give it the best chance of success (as a club) who knows about the on field success. Also if James Sicily is reading this, given that my perception is that AFL players play golf, go to cafe's, surf or play playstation in their downtime, I am pretty confident that Tasmania has most of that covered. Oh and Old Dee this ones for you, your comment that Tasmania is overcast and cold most of the year perhaps is one of the more ill informed comments I've seen from you recently, which is saying something. Does it get cold in the winter, sure. Do we get wind, yeah, but unless you were one of the contestants on 'Alone' down in the SW of Tas, you are simply just wrong. Hobart's climate is not that dissimilar to Melbourne (less rain in winter, and perhaps a degree or two colder, but better air quality) ... and no we don't want Tarryn back thanks! :)