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Couldn't watch the game but after reading the gameday thread I am booking GF tickets with one hand and slitting my wrists with the other. I assume the truth lies somewhere inbetween??

Guys I know it was only Richmond at near full strength but you can only beat what’s put in front of you.

I like Spargo's understated celebration when he does well. I saw it at the end of last year when he was playing well too. He just keeps his game face on like "we haven't achieved anything yet". He looks pretty determined to silence his doubters including me who said he was too small and without any tricks. I think he has the trick that he knows how to play and has really improved his power.

Don't read the gameday thread. I accidentally did after a long offseason but immediately regretted it. It's an awful place purely designed for people to let off steam whilst not flooding the main board. You could almost call it Demonland 'quarantine'.

Thanks to the club for streaming the game live. It was great and the best part about it you don’t have to listen to the commentators on the commercial channels. Win all round.

How good was it to watch full-length quarters of footy again!

That was the best part.....commentary about the football and commentators who knew who the players were. Simply refreshing when compared to what we get served up from BT and his washed up compatriots during the season proper.

The overall broadcast for TV/Net was terrific quality; the vision crystal clear and camera work was spot on for the electronic audience. Well done, folks. Commentary was honest, enlightening and appropriate.

You must be new here.

As I said on the game-day thread, what was most pleasing was that Goody, for the first time in his career as coach, did not rush in his first-year men, and stuck with his senior men over raw kids who all showed glimpses pre-season, but are not seasoned footballers yet! The choice of Sparrow, Jordan, Chandler and Baker - all third-year men - over these first year excitement machines was totally appropriate and ensures that they don't get disenchanted with their coach and let's face it, as good as Bowey, Laurie and Rozman have looked at training - these four have done their apprenticeship and deserve a chance. All four may ultimately not be quite good enough, but at least now they will know and we will know. Even better was the decision to give Jones and Jetta a chance before these kids. Both may be too old ... and now too slow, but they still have the smarts and do the team role player things with strong bodies hardened from years of weights. There were heaps missing with at least six players likely to press for Rd 1 selection injury permitting - Brayshaw, Melky, J.Smith, Viney, VDB and Kossie - I think Hibbo, B.Brown and Weid are all confirmed non-Rd 1 starters - but the nucleus of the side is still there and we have at least two more players in the twos who are ready when called - Petty and Lockhart. Both Gale and Balme made mention of our pace in transition. We have been slow in the past and now have a better balance with our outside/inside run. Richmond, of course, is getting older and they were missing Rioli who is mega quick. But the one player who has transformed the pace issue is the move of Jayden Hunt back to defence. He was beaten badly a couple of times over the back by Castagna in the second term, but kept providing line-breaking dash and against Richmond who zone and peel off and block with precision, such players are vital. Rivers also did it a couple of times, his baulk and bounce and 50m kick from a kick-in one of the highlights. The other thing that surprised me was that we played four small up forward crumbing Jackson and T.Mac and Fritta and Gawn (when there) as well as providing the short option which is now more likely under the man on mark rule. All four - Spargo, Jones, Chandler and ANB - pressured hard all game. And our best small forward - Kossie - wasn't out there. The decision for Goody now is whether he continues to back in the four small forward set up or tries to solve his problems when everyone is fit by slotting Trac or Melky and Sparrow into the forward mix to accommodate Viney and Brayshaw. The other pleasing thing is that it looks like we will use Gawn and Jackson as more of a tandem ruck-forward weapon this year which is great. Onwards and upwards.

1. Great just to have footy back. 2. Credit to our boys for the win over the best team in the comp., especially given we had some key 'outs'. 3. Pleased to see how well the forward line functioned, even with our two main KPFs on the sidelines. Can only see improvement when they return. Increased competition for small forward spots is great. I 50 tackling pressure looks to have improved. 4. Defense held up ok with May and Lever clear standouts, but need to apply more pressure to oppo small forwards 5. Mids won the day, even without Viney and Brayshaw. Max, Clarrie and Tracc continue to be a class above. The stand--in mids were solid 5. The game plan seemed better, with flexibility, and run and carry through the corridor. I'm always an optimist at this time of year, but I didn't see too much to deter my confidence for 2021.

Ben Gibson is a real gem. Knows the game both from a strategic and historical standpoint and presents with a relaxed confidence. I don't think he'll last long in the Dees media team before moving on to bigger and better things.

Jones' experience and game style showed out in the last half, particularly the last quarter. A generator of good decisions and execution was terrific to see, despite the long bomb now and again (alas). He looks a natural in the forward line, as well, crumbing and providing opportunities. Onyer, Jonesy!

Simple fix. Get WFC and Freo out of Perth. Relocate all 2021 home games to other venues in Australia and the state can suffer the financial and performance ramifications. It is clear now that we know how to respond to outbreaks with short sharp lockdowns. 28 days without community transmission is just ludicrous - we managed to play a whole tennis tournament throughout this debacle. I sense that this is a little bit of sour puss from WA state govt after we awarded the finals series to Qld.

Started the Friday knock off drinks early?

Of course they don't. It's a 3/4 practice match between the 30-40 players on AFL lists and whatever VFL players they could cobble together to fill out the numbers, being umpired by some assistant coaches and volunteers doing the goal and boundary umpiring. Nobody cares. I'm thankful that we can get a stream at all. I'm happy to listen to the commentary if they interview guys like Balme, who gave some interesting thoughts on the game and even how he thought we played.

Overall very positive signs for mine. Richmond with most of their best 22, and decent effort from both teams. -Small forwards worked well. Spargo and Chandler the standouts. Both should maintain their spots in the best 22. -TMac moving well and clunking a few contested marks. -Key position defenders did well, Lever and Gawn finding plenty of intercepts -Won the clearances and managed to turn a lot of them into clean inside 50s. Nankervis doesn't provide much of a threat to Gawn though. -Use of the corridor was pleasing. The speed of ball movement was impressive in general. The new manning the mark rule will benefit players with speed, such as Hunt, Baker and Rivers. -No injuries, fitness appeared up to scratch

That was a really good stream this morning. well done to the Camera and Sound Crews Commentary was great. Wish more AFL games were like that.

Albeit a praccy game, pretty good hit out in the end. Great to knock off the tiggies no matter what the stakes, and a few positives to take out of it. - Chandler showed a bunch - Oliver showing he is still a class above - Older heads showing they've still got more to give, much to the chagrin of many demonlanders - Playing out the game and putting some pressure inside f50 when game was in the balance late All in all a pretty great friday morning. Bring on round 1, Yum yum yum

I know it was only the seconds, but reckon we've got a gem in Bowey. I reckon he'll have a fine career.

Great to see Clarry sprinting clear and kicking long

I liked the bit where the score went over 90 points. Lever, Trac, Oliver, Spagbol, Chandler all quite good. Decent hit out with no injuries, can’t ask for much more.

Engrave the cup now

ohhhhh tommy mac with the 'Spirit of Tasmania' blind turn at F50... matty bate would have been proud

I’ve seen enough. Is the granny back at the G this year?

Lynch still a massive [censored]. Good to see.

We just beat the premiers what other form guide do you need?

Change it to Perth Stadium would suit me better.

Pretty positive performance overall. Oliver was clear BOG and Gawn had some dominant moments. Petracca faded in and out of the game but did some nice things. Lever was outstanding and took a bunch of marks today. We'll just have to live with his 1 or 2 errors a game. May had a great duel with Lynch and kept him to either 0 or 1 goal. T Mac had a very lively first quarter and took some contested marks high up the ground. Went quiet after quarter time but did a nail a nice set shot in the last qtr. Fritsch kicked 3, 2 from close range. He's a chance to nail 40 this year if he plays all games. He'd be a hard match up to keep quiet all day. Chandler was my surprise of the day and he and Spargo provided excellent forward pressure which is one of the keys to success in this league. Will both play round 1 if Kozzie isn't ready. We dominated the clearances in the midfield late in the game as Richmond played their kids in the centre. Won't have that luxury in the real stuff. Other than that, most players today showed some positive signs in a pleasing first hit out. Hopefully we can put in a solid performance next week against the Dogs and then head into round 1 in good shape.

Good hit out. We looked pretty solid, structurally. Up forward, McDonald and Jackson contested pretty well against a really good defensive intercepting team. Plus we were solid in the air in defence, with Lever and May looking threatening in the air. Obviously we're trading some speed (Hunt, Rivers) in defence for defensive solidity, but given the pace of the game that seemed to be a risk worth taking at the moment. Up forward, having Chandler just made us look better. His speed and finishing gives a nice balance to our small forwards, with Spargo being clever and industrious and Kossie being a bit more of a high end talent. The new manning the mark rule played pretty well, as it encouraged teams to take risks and we got more even contests inside 50. It also looks like it will provide more opportunities to our hard running tall and medium forwards.

Wow! The awareness from Trac and Clarry in traffic is sublime. Hope they have good health this season.

Jackson is going to br an out and out star

What the hell is wrong with you people we are playing the premiers and are only down by 7 points.

Harsh. He’s playing all up and down the ground and winning contested ball.

Very encouraging. Our ability and willingness to stay in the game, kick away and then maintain the lead in the last 10m was good to watch. High energy levels and team spirit was evident. Also encouraging to see young players step up and show good application. Jordan, Sparrow and Spargo seemed composed with footy smarts. I love Spargo’s tackling pressure, energy and creativity. But gee whiz we better hope that Gawn stays injury free. Such a dominant force and leader. Nevertheless, a time to be positive.

2021 Priority 1 - win games Priority 2 - re-sign Oliver asap

Siren sounds just as Rosman is about to run onto the ball on an open wing

Chandler would fill a huge need for us if he can continue that form into the real season

ANB surprised with a couple of clever acts today.

Only watched the last 10 minutes but Jackson must have been eating steaks for breakfast, steaks for lunch and steaks for dinner since the season ended.

Went off injured arm. Has had 3 arm breaks. Hope he is ok. Back on looks ok and kicks his 3rd. Kid having a good game.

Classic MFCSS nuffies thinking the world is ending. Never change.

Goodwin is Latin for designated period of time without a goal

The classic 4 up in the marking contest. It’ll work this year you’ll see.

Hit on Tom Lynch? Are you talking about where Jetta brought him to ground late in the qtr? That was barely a free, Lynch sooked it up at the umps as usual. Nothing in it. Lynch is a weapons-grade *log

Demonland exclusive! Photo of Angus Brayshaw warming up:

Jordon, with an o. Let's spell his name correctly, please.