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I am a ‘glass half full’ kind of guy. I find that it has helped me a lot over the years being a Demon supporter. I have seen so much ‘potential’ in our younger players turn into false dawns; I have seen so many potential champions had their time at the Dees ruined by injury that I even ask myself how I can maintain my rose-coloured outlook. The answer is simple….. The alternative offers despair, depression and madness. Which brings me firstly to the reactions of some supporters to the win last week against Freo. We win a Round 1 encounter for the first time in years and it is almost as if the ‘Half Empties’ are offended that we won. Amazing! We have 4 premiership points in the bank, a win on the board and are better placed that half of the competition. It makes me dizzy to think of what the future holds. And so, to the Round 2 encounter with St. Kilda Saturday night at Marvel Stadium. Is it just me or do others look at the fixtures when they come out and think the Saints fixture is pencilled in as a win? For some reason I just do not take them seriously. Yeah, they have had some excellent players and some reasonable teams, but St. Kilda????? Nah. The facts: We are coming off a rusty win with an extra day of recovery while the Saints had a close slog in the wet interstate. Advantage us. We were not very good. Advantage them. The Saints last week were on the wrong side of every team stat but kicked accurately. Advantage them Problem areas of the game for us: Defence…. I know, I know … our defence last week were great. May, Lever and to a lesser extent Tomlinson and Rivers marked everything that was kicked into their space and Jetta won his game as a small defender. For me those strengths last week may be our weakness this week. The Saints forwards are a big step up from what they faced last week and if they compete in the air against our tall defenders and bring the ball to ground, we may find a fleet of small Saints forwards ready to make hay. Jetta, Rivers, Hunt and Salem do not inspire confidence to be able to defend in close and personal against an experienced small forward crew. Saints had 4 multi pule goal scorers last week with Membury kicking three. This is my biggest concern in the game. The midfield will need to sort out the problems of last week with their cohesion with Max and each other. I am not asking for perfect, just an improvement. If they can exert proper pressure in the midfield and get some ascendancy, then that will greatly help defence. I also want to see them shut down any run through the corridor. Time and time again last week Freo ran down the corridor seemingly unopposed. We need to ensure that out transition from attack to defence in the midfield is much sharper. I think our midfield man for man are better than the Saints but we need them to work together and for each other more. Now let us turn our attention to our forwards. The good; we kicked a winning score last week. The bad; it was not that many goals. The ugly; the bad kicking for goal. 1-6 in the last quarter. We have to forget about who is not there and look at what we do have available. TMac looks to have better form that he has shown in the last couple of years. Fristch is doing his thing which is presenting and kicking a couple. Max, Jackson and Petracca rotate through there at different times with varying effect. Spargo and Kossie are performing, running, tackling and snagging the odd goal. All you can ask really. I think for this game we need one more really good defensive forward to help lock it in. Not sure that Jones or Melksham are the answer to that question. Jones is a half a pace too slow, and I cannot remember the last time Melksham made a tackle that stuck. So, after all this insightful analysis and deep thought, who is going to win and why? My rose coloured glass is half full at least so the Dees will win a hard fought encounter by our mids stepping up from last week, our forward expressing their confidence built up from last week and by outrunning the Saints in the last. Dees by 4 goals, 2-0 and 8 premiership points in the bank come late Saturday night and a pleasant Sunday.

Because Essendon exists

That is a disgusting end to that match. Absolutely disgusting. That missed free on Blicavs was a gutless mistake from the umpire. But Geelong’s last goal came from a Selwood duck drawing a free, then an iffy 50m penalty, then another iffy free against Ah Chee. If you ever want to see a game destroyed and decided by umpiring, this was it.

gutless maggots

You got it right 'Ethan'...those crystal balls are working well tonight...

Incorrect disposal not a thing...? Worst non-decision ever.

I have a feeling Geelong will win as a result of a dodgy free kick, one of their players will flop. I can feel it, deep down, in my plums.

Anyone else hate the AFL's change to releasing teams at 6.25pm the night prior to the match? I miss the days of Thursday night teams for all.

oh [censored] off... so sick of Geelong and their luck year after year

Even if it’s not holding the ball he didn’t dispose of it. The umpires flatly refuse to rule incorrect disposal. And it’s now cost Brisbane the game.

Worst umpiring call so far this year. Geelong DO NOT deserve the W.

Have they mentioned yet that that Geelong player did steeplechase?

Selwood the [censored] should get reported for that tackle. [censored]

Oskar Baker expected to be sub.

If you're someone who decides to not scan QR codes when you go somewhere then please don't ever complain about the contact tracing system in Victoria ever again.

Get quite tired of people raving about Dictator Dan. I would hate to have seen how Victoria would have fared under the alternative bunch of corrupt and inept yokels.

Big Carl was an absolute classic. I loved watching him play at Melbourne. I remember in 1979 we got done by Fitzroy I think by about 190 points at waverley when Carl wasn't playing and the next week he was in the side and we beat Essendon at the G. One of the biggest turn arounds I have seen especially because the dons did us by about 70 odd points earlier in the year. His last game against the filth was a belter as well. Just went out and hit every piece of filth he could get his hands on.

MELBOURNE is pleased to announce a new partner, with Torrens University joining the club for at least the next three years. A private higher-education provider, Torrens University will be the Official Education Partner of the Demons and will provide tertiary education opportunities for their AFL and AFLW players, coaches, staff and members. The partnership will also see students connect with the club, in-line with Torrens University’s integrated learning approach, and look to offer professional industry placement in students’ chosen fields.

the umps are trying to get geelong over the line

Didn’t see either of the incidents but I completely agree.

Carey sent home to self isolate. So I guess COVID ain’t all bad.

Welcome back Mr.Viney.

Before today I didn't know Australia had a Torrens University. Now I do. That sponsorship deal is already working!

Very handy partnership. Oddly enough, I know a bit about Torrens because quite recently they acquired the specialist university (Blue Mountains International Hotel School) that my wife did her Masters' Degree at. Couple of things of interest; * They are actively expanding through acquisitions of highly rated specialist providers (such as BMIHS mentioned above) with the goal of having a top status as an industry and professional oriented tertiary educator. * Many of their partners within the 'Torrens family' have very large international student proportions based on the somewhat lower fee bracket for industry-targeted degrees compared to, for example, Melbourne Uni or Sydney Uni prestige degrees. We may actually just have set up a partnership with a potential big expander once international student numbers begin to grow again post vaccine (touch wood) because they had the deep pockets to survive the crisis while a lot of the actually crappy providers (Jim and Denise's Australian Hospitality Degrees Ltd.) have packed it in.

This arrangement should really help with our learnings. I'll see myself out.

Don't know if anyone else heard Jordan Lewis on SEN yesterday morning. Said that from what he had witnessed at training Melbourne's midfield had been unable to execute what they had been practising at training against Freo, and would be trying very hard to rectify that this week. Hopefully improvement follows.

Carl was compelling to listen to last night. I was hanging on every word. Great theatre much like when he played the game. A powerful personality was Carl Certainly a different type of player but when he played with our team our players walked taller My one regret is not seeing him play in that last game of 1980. I know people who did though and from all accounts, he created havoc amongst the filth. They were going down like 9 pins He dished it out but copped it as well. But that was footy back then. Laurie Fowler claimed that Carl was his best coach and Laurie was coached by both Hafey & Barassi. W/L record aside, we didn't have anywhere near enough talent back then.

It is called optimism. A heady brew.

As long as we win I don't care if Brayshaw has 15 touches or 50. It's all about the team performing well, not individual stats or accolades. This is why the Tigers have been so dominant, they are easily the best overall team in the competition, not necessarily the most talented.

I thought Brayshaw was very good on his wing on Saturday. He had 6 intercept possessions and 5 score involvements, which indicates that he's played a strong role structurally. Langdon had 5 SI and 5 Int, so the impact was similar from a structural point of view. If Brayshaw can continue to hold his position on the field and do his job defensively then he'll keep helping us win. He's a much stronger ball winner than most wings and his overhead marking will allow him to keep drifting forward to impact the scoreboard too. Having two winning wings was one of the reasons why we won the structural battle and never really looked threatened.

Maybe our round one crowd was not as bad as it first looked. Last night Collingwood and Carlton drew 51,700 with an expanded MCG capacity of 75,000 which equates to 69% of capacity. Last week we had 21,300 attend with a capacity of 50,000, which equates to 42% of capacity while playing a remote interstate club with negligible following here. Maybe that talk about people still being discouraged because of Covid risks has more relevance than seems correct when we have apparently 'eliminated' the virus. Maybe we won't see capacity crowds until the vaccine program is nearing completion. In any case, as disappointing as our crowd was, in the contest of last night, not so bad.

Clearly you don't do football. Without question Viney is above average speed for an inside mid. He's certainly not ''slow''.

They're [censored] untouchable down at Sleepy Hollow. It's disgusting. Sick of it.

Trash umpiring costs Brisbane the win at the end. What a surprise! Sick of umpiring being so inconsistent and impacting the outcome of games so much!

What an absolute travesty. Geelong have mastered the throw and the maggots ore too scared to call it down there. Definitely robbed the Lions.

Absolute umpiring Howler decides the game!

I will assume from that comment you think Viney is a tad slow. Maybe watch him a bit

Viney was 2nd in breaking tackles last season with a long way to third. Dusty being No 1. He breaks more than he gets caught.

How much better does our midfield look with Langdon, Kozzie and Jordon in it? We were so one dimensional and now there's a bit of spunk in there. It might take them some time to click however.

Calling it now, if the Cats lose tonight they wont play finals. They would be 0-2 and still have Danger and Cameron out a couple more weeks, and these home games are ones they'd have penclilled in even against a very good Lions team. In other words... GO LIONS!

Since '64 MFC have never had a season where we have done it easily. Eevn in the relative glory days (87-2004?) we would always require a late season surge to make up for an earlier slump. Have often wondered what it must be like to barrack for a team where your greatest concern is whether you will finish 1,2 or 3. I supsect I will continue wondering

My memory also. He was an Adonis. Blond hair, athleticism and leap. He beat us almost singlehanded. What a sight. Many said it was the best ever debut. Friend of mine had a drink with him in 2020 and said he was still scary. A smouldering grumpy volcano!

I was at his first game v. Melbourne in the first round of 1963 at the Junction Oval. The combination of his young age (17), his athleticism and his spring had previously not been seen - he was a genuine one off footballer. To top it off (pun intended) he had a shock of long blonde hair that made him recognisable anywhere. On the day he seemed to dominate the game and yet his team mate Alan Morrow, a short c.185cm ruckman, was judged BOG for a stunning 22 mark game. But all we saw was Ditterich jumping ever higher above the packs.

I am based in Europe and last round started at 3.45 am for me. I woke at 4 and watched it from the start and ended up skipping the breaks and caught the last quarter live then had breakfast. This week the game starts at a more manageable 9.25am. Means that with a win I can crack wine or two to celebrate. Like you, I love the footy and love to see the Dees play. It is just that sometimes I really hate the result.

I saw a serious lack of heart in the final quarter. Williams the golden recruit gave a couple of putrid defensive efforts and there were plenty of others just jogging along behind their men instead of gut running and trying to impact the contest. Plus their ball movement fell apart when they got tired and they reverted to the long bomb and hope someone marks it.

If my memory serves me correct, he played with a white handkerchief tucked into the back of his shorts! Maybe that was wiping his blood or his opponents blood away! Was an absolute fitness freak. Used to pound the streets of Brighton regularly in his high-cut 70s shorts and singlet. His speed and athleticism for someone that tall was amazing. As a kid I stared in bewilderment!

People have amnesia about how quickly this virus preys on the vulnerable. It's as though they are demanding their 'freedom' to indulge without even contemplating the possible consequences. I also have about as much sympathy for the impact it's had on 'Business' as I have for surfers who complain they can't swim because ten sharks have been spotted on the beaches they surf. It's as though 'Business' is the new religion of our way of life. It ain't baby, viruses like this spare nothing and nobody...

Would assume it's because it makes the tracing easier when it's done through the govt app as opposed to having to chase up TicketMaster (who are terrible at everything) if needed. The same people complaining about 'Dictator Dan's' contact tracing are probably the ones complaining about this as well.

Yes, I can see that it's a problem for you when the facts don't suit your narrative ... Since Goodwin took over we brought in: 2016: Lewis, Hibberd 2017: Lever 2018: May 2019: Langdon, Tomlinson 2020: B.Brown In the meantime we drafted Jackson and Pickett. You were on about not picking up Tom Phillips - but at 4 x $600k maybe we prioritised Brown and re-signing Oliver and Petracca over him? Where I see a doughnut, you see the hole, that's the difference between us. Anyway there's one thing we agree on - we have to play and win finals this year.