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Tonight's game is just about one of those famous "eight pointers" ! Going into the bye with 5 in a row and just one loss would be a huge start to the season. Brisvegas , on the other hand, is facing a disastrous start so they'll be flat out to recover their season. Our backs have been pretty slick. Big Joe will find May rather more difficult than some kid from Norf and I can't see Dipwood getting on top of a rejuvenated TMac. As always Charlie ( super player) will be the danger and a real challenge/experience for McVee. Max Trac and Viney will win the crucial Mids battle ( Neale's 250th notwithstanding) but what would really seal the deal is a big one from Oliver - it's due. Kozzie leaves a hole for sure but it has provided an opportunity for the "Kolt" - good luck kid. Hopefully BBB draws a crowd and allows the others a little more space. Fritta kicks 4 and we win. A couple from Trac sneaking forward would also help cover Kozzie's usual contribution. Really looking forward to watching Windsor again - this kid is pure class and quickly becoming a favourite. ( I'm also starting to understand the comparisons with our famous number 2) That's a bit long winded for me but your poor old Uncle Bitter has been a bit under the weather of late and couldn't sleep! A life time of hedonism may finally be catching up. Prediction. Dees to win by 9 or a full blow out and a 39 point victory. Happy days - go Dees!

Clarry will play

Max is a 6 time AA premiership captain. He is not overrated, he’s one of the greatest ruckman of all time. Give it a rest, this is never an argument that you’ll win.

Some quality Kolt content on Jack Viney's Instagram story today.

Huge chance Dees to make a huge statement. One change only - Kozzie will be missed but the excitement of a new Kolt may almost cancel that out. Certainly looks as dynamic and as strong as Kozz. Will he make Kozz earn his return for ANZAC Eve? Backline settled and working beautifully as a UNIT / TEAM. Midfield always prepared for good hard go and a forward line working with better structure and some smart delivery to space by the likes of Duke Tracc Spaz ANB with Frittata slipping unnoticed out the back often enough. And Clarrie at 70% is so much better than many others at 100% - just wait, I must add JVR's back up ruck work is very good for one s0 young who is not a "natural ruckman".

Nev in da house

Please everyone who is going can they barrack as twice as loud, because I am unable to go because my back is putting great pressure on my groin, which is causing a lot of pain, and making it hard to walk. I am using a walker to walk, and taking pain killers. I am seeing a physio who is very happy with progress. Too hard to go with walker, and I doing exercises and plenty of walking to get better. This is the first Melbourne game I have missed at the Mcg for many years.

3 tough weeks, everyone clearly spent from the get go. I'll take 2/3. Salem out hurt us early and nobody but Max able to get to the level. Posters throwing toys out of the cot need to reflect on all the other times they've overreacted. Shouldn't have to go back too far to find examples. Move on, take the flattering scoreboard into the bye and hit our winter at the G from a solid 4-2 position. Go Dees.

The quicker this one goes in the bin the better, just forget about it. Freshen up time. T Mac deserves votes.

Memory Lane

Agree. I'd also add that we have also struggled their other excellent medium half forwards/mids/utilises in particular mcluggage and McCarty. Defensively it's been our Achilles heel for years. Part of the issue against the lions is we have to send one of our best mid sized defenders to Cameron - and basically play him man on man (ie not much zoning off). But it's also a personnel issue. Nev was brilliant as a small/medium defender in 2018, just about the best. But since then we've struggled in that space. The juddster was brilliant last year and has become our go to player for the opposition's best medium forward. But the lions have four excellent medium forwards to cover. I think Howes was brought in to strengthen our ability to cover such players and thus far had been terrific at doing so. He'sslotted in down back like a 200 gamer and gives us so much more flexibility. So, I'm more confident than I have been for ages that we have the tools to cover the lions' dangerous medium forwards.

First game for me at the G in years so I’m very excited about today. Looking forward to seeing the Kolt and Windsor running around. Huge game, go Dees!

That was the worst midfield game we’ve played in probably 4 years. To hold them to 22 scoring shots and 82 points is actually a good performance all told given how utterly awful we were at contest and clearance to three quarter time. I doubt we’ll ever see Oliver, Trac and Viney collectively play that poorly again. I sure hope we don’t. Oliver clearly isn’t fit and we conceded that by shifting him to half back; we had to get him out of the stoppages. Viney reverted to old Viney, no awareness and too many ill advised attempts to break tackles. And I would not be surprised if Trac is injured. Couple that with our opponent having an elite midfield and then all of them firing and you end up with us being wholly unable to play the game on our terms. Windsor looked to hit a bit of a wall, Howes was poor, Billings was poor and Kolt’s clearly not ready for this level, so that middle third of the ground was just so bad. I’m inclined to write it off as a mulligan, but we have a major midfield/stoppage problem that wasn’t just an issue tonight but has been evident all year. Rivers looked good there late so I’d like to see that continue.

Agree. I thought Tom was great. He should be proud of how he’s competing.

We've had a tough draw, so I'm taking 4-2 every day of the week

It all comes down to the midfield. We are getting smashed in clearances and contested possessions. That’s the game. You can’t blame the forwardline when the midfield is not able to win the ball.

Hate the fair weather posters on demonland. It's April. Crack and beer and relax Felt like a 122 point loss. Was only 22 in the end. Rest up boys and put in a better showing on Anzac eve

They have the players playlist up on the big screen and apparently Jake Lever selected Strawberry Kisses by Nikki Webster. Maybe we do have a culture problem after all...

Loved Nev. Always thought he should have worn a cape. One of the best defenders the club has ever had.

take it to the bank if it came from Dannyz

eh? he's been very good so far this year once he moves back into midfield rotation - likely after bowey is back - he'll win a lot more footy don't look at his fantasy / supercoach scores for his effect on team, and team balance

I would love it if they could get Nev Jetta in to present Kolt with his jumper. Both #39 and both WA boys.

I’ve watched him kick 6 in a prelim and lift a premiership cup and wear 6 AA jackets. We won hit outs tonight 58 to 27 ffs. You really think Gawn is the reason we lost? Name a better ruckman in the AFL right now. I’ll wait.

Towball umpire 15 to the bush leagues next week

I honestly don't even think we were that bad. We were slow and battered and Brisbane absolutely came out firing. If our worst equates to a 22 point loss against a full strength Brisbane then I'll take that. Richmond and Collingwood both had far worse outings in their Premiership winning years.

22 points is flattering. We were nowhere near it tonight.

One of my all time favourite players. Absolute legend

Debut of a 200 gamer tonight. Good luck Kolt!

I hope all Dee’s fans are realistic about Kolt in his first game and aren’t disappointed if he doesn’t have a great game. On what we have seen he has the talent to make it, but may need time as most young players do. Then again, he could turn it on.

So weird we arent playing in adelaide this week. Hope the Dees travel well

Hasn't rained for a while here in South Yarra. The clouds are looking less threatening, it has cleared, and the area is drying out.

The 2021 vibe lid will be completely blown off if we win it tonight And I'm very confident we will Haven't much to add, reckon BBO nailed all the talking points

A great Youtube channel (aptly named "The Mighty Demons") posted the highlights of Tommy McDonald's debut today, so I thought I'd dig up his debut thread and add the video to that. It was a great debut and displayed all the hallmarks of his game - excellent spoiling, deceptive closing speed and good game awareness to come off his man and support in the backline. His characteristic stiff but effective straight-line gait was on show as well. All that was missing from the player we'd come to enjoy in later years are the goals. I think he has been an underrated addition to our backline this year and really feel it's his best spot, as good as he was as a forward for us in the 2018-2023 period. Hoping for a good end to an underrated dee's career. One of my favourite players over the journey, and someone who could still be a huge benefit to us in the backline again in the twilight of his career.

Billings must kick goals tonight. It’s why he was recruited with Kozzie out, he just has to step up

Daniel Hoyne also called this out and Goody alluded to it yesterday saying how there’s still much to be improved on in our game. We’ve been losing inside 50, clearances, contested possession and we're only a middle of the road side at defending ball movement. How are we 4-1? Because we’ve been really efficient. If we can get improvement in those areas and maintain efficiency, we’ll go to a whole new level.

So we are implementing a new game plan, haven't quite got it going yet but are 4-1? Sounds great to me.

Yes, when Melk went down the flag hopes where gone, they try and say, it's our culture is why we went out in straight sets, how about having all our forwards either injured, or suspending or coming back from a long term injury

this is true, but goodwin doesn't play funny buggers - in the presser yesterday he was asked directly about claz and said "he'll play"

For me that lid will become slightly ajar when we beat Geelong and Carlton in successive weeks

Standing still ain’t an option - full kudos to the entire club from recruiters, fitness staff, specialist and line coaches as well as Goody of course for the way our club develops talent these days. We have had some fantastic newbies since 2021 - Bowey, Chandler, JVR, McVee, Howes, Windsor etc (humble apologies for any I have missed) . Just hoping that the naturally slower developing talls Jefferson and Adams and Verral are all allowed time to make their mark. Exciting times for Dees supporters.

I like how Goodwin's being bold with selections this year in picking Windsor, Howe and now Tholstrup.

Ok from my perspective here is my take 1 He is like a sheepdog, rounds everything up. 2 Is lively AND involved 3 Capable of the freakish, could be a possesion, kick, mark tackle 4 Very good skill set 5 NEVER say die spirit 6 Comparison?? Hnmm combo Sparrow, and Billings with a touch of Nibbler