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Well let's analyse that. We had 12 players playing injured in the finals. Our Captain was nearly crippled with groin, back and knee issues and probably shouldn't have played. We had both opponents under control in the first half. Our kicking for goal was as bad as it could be, missing some absolute sitters, while our opponents kicked goals out of their behinds, yet if we had kicked straight in only one of the games, we would have played in a PF. We gave away about 6-7 undisciplined 50 metre penalties, that cost us goals and probably were unlucky with frees both for and against, that cost goals. We clearly couldn't run out either game and with half the side playing injured that is not a shock. No surprise that both clubs today have just about their best side playing. We lost the games by 22 points to a GF team and 13 points to the Lions, both teams posting about their highest pressure for a half in their history. While I am not a great fan of our game plan, we are clearly not far off the best and with last year's injury run, or even a better run than we had late in this season, we would probably be playing for back to back today. IMO we are a very good team, that needs a good run with injury, like every other team and maybe with a couple of new players in and a bit of tinkering with the game plan and we are back.

Live scenes from my house

Sad day - last as reigning premiers. I want more.

Not even Geelong playing this well can make Rohan look good in the Grand Final.

People freaked out re May for pick 7.. and two 1sts for Lever ( no mention of the 2nd rounder back.. was it Rivers?) Over at the pies site they reckon 2 x 1st rounders . Over here it’s 1x a second rounder. Every supporter at every club wants a win / lose in trading. Dodorro over at the bombers pretty much tries to own that space and look at the bombers. Dees go about their work in a quiet , fair way. I respect that. In the end I think a latish first rounder is about right.

What a ****ty, ****ty morning! At the start of this year I was dead set certain I'd finally be putting my GF guarantee to use and heading off to watch the Dees defend their crown. What a [censored] up of a season. As to the outcome today. I'd be physically ill if I have to watch Scott arrogantly soaking in the victory . Go Swans!

Very dignified speech from Dane Rampe. Tough job very well done.

It's gonna be awesome. Two AA ruckmen with the best midfield plus a rejigged forward line and maybe some half good coaching. We'll be unstoppable.

I’ve NEVER cared less about a grand final, ever.

Ahhh, a trip down memory lane... This year feels a lot more relaxed! How do you spend your pre-game 1 year ago? For me, I was camping in a motorhome in Halls Gap, my parents in law happened to be up there as well... it was pouring with rain. My dear wife had pretty heavy menstruation, my then 5yo was also a bit sick, with all of that, she was over the camping and decided to leave and go back home. My parents in law kindly drove her and my son back. That left me with the motorhome by myself - and a choice to head back to regional lock down ... so I drove to the edge of the nearest LGA that wasn't in lockdown and ended up in...Birregurra, rented a house for the night, brought plenty of Forrest Brewery Beers and lit an open fire and relaxed.....and then paced around, and paced around some more...happy in the knowledge that I could completely stress the [censored] out by myself and not on public display...

Who won last year? This game has been won by 22 blokes playing for each other, with relentless pressure and hardness at the ball, against a soft bunch of fumbly nervous boys. That said I am sure we are looking for a key forward.

People jump off quickly. It looked great last year. It looked great for the first 10 rounds this year. It looked good for the second half of the year for first halves but was not sustainable for four quarters. Just need to improve the list and unpick the reason for the second half fades. The worst thing we could do is try and make major change.

This is the part that makes some posts on Demonland as of late laughable. The idea that our game plan no longer works is absolute nonsense. We need to return to the half forward pressure and post clearance pressure we delivered in 2021, and it strangles teams. If you have 2 of the best midfielders in the competition and two elite ruckman, you become almost unbeatable if you bring the above pressure. Geelong's half forward pressure brought their interceptors into play all day. Just like us all 2021. And make no mistake, we have a far superior midfield to Geelong. So with a few tweaks, we're up to our eyeballs in it in 2023.

Half time entertainment going about as well as the Swans.

Well judging by the May and Lever trades some folks here will find it hard to let it go because they could have made a much better deal!

I regard all AFL premierships from 2022 on to be illegitimate and undeserved. (Except for the ones we win.)

I watched last years prelim last night the GF this morning, what a time!!!!

The club do always say that the trade period for them is not about winning individual trades, but is about the total sum of who we bring in vs who we let go

14 straight wins coming into the game Cats down by 2 and Danger marks on the siren Hits the post! *the only thing that would make me happy today

I will be FURIOUS if the club parts with a first rounder for Grundy. Its a salary Dump by the Filth, take a third or fourth rounder or get stuffed!

I didn’t interpret any of this as taking anything for granted. I love the way Tracc says ‘versed’ when he’s talking about teams we’ve played against. Reminds me he’s just a big kid. He’s a good guy. I also like that he refers to himself as an optimist. That’ll stand him in good stead for life. All that video reminded me is that we’ve got a ripper.

Last year we were all laughing at him Swings and Roundabouts

32 touches, 3 goals, 12 marks and 771 metres gained. It's not a bad day's work, let's be honest.

Incorrect. Premiership dreams are made of midfields, defensive two way running and contested possessions. Fritta kicked 6 in a GF last year.

Robbie Williams for the Norm Smith. That’s about it.

Swans got Buddy for another year 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

I was not referring to finals. We were 10-0 and had West Coast and North back to back. We had ample opportunities to rest players who were not right. Lever kept hurting his foot. Salem was never right to return. Gawn rushed back. We absolutely could have rucked Jackson and Weideman for 5-6 weeks and given Gawn a proper rest. We could have debuted JVR and given Brown a month off leading into finals. We took risks that in hindsight cost us dearly.

They need to get a significantly harder draw next year. This year their draw was a joke for a team that finished 3rd last season. It was only ranked as the 8th hardest draw as the season began, and only got easier as some sides dropped off. It was definitely their season.

1 year ago today i just arrived at Optus Stadium. 😭

Happy one year anniversary to when I cried because we won a flag and because I wasn’t there to see it. Let’s hope this time next year I’m at the G and not our shopping to distract myself from the possibility of Geelong winning a flag.

If this cheers up even just one sad sack on DL today, I’ll be happy… Last night before our match at Ikon (which of course is Carlton’s home ground) for shi*ts n giggles we defaced this sign by plastering it with Demon Army stickers. We were sure our Carlton counterparts would love it. 😁 We didn’t get to cover the entire thing since when you hear security coming it’s best to leg it. 😁 I’m maintaining anonymity lest this pic one day ends up being ‘Exhibit A’. Remember, CFC has those MacDaddy lawyers who can perform miracles. For this heinous crime I could end up doing 25 to life in the Dame Phyllis Frost Women’s Correctional Facility. edit: on our way out post-match we noticed it had been taken down. If only their girls were as quick and successful in taking down their opponents, amirite?!

Tmac just posted a picture on Instagram of the plate and screws he had removed, without comment ready to go next year. Good signs people

Thanks EO, great memories I watched the Prelim and Granny last night absolutely brilliant football just hope that we get to see it live sometime in the future at the Mighty G.❤️💙❤️

And what happens if in giving up a first rounder for Grundy, we can quickly move on to improving our list? Let's say we managed to get Grundy, Henry and an elite key forward, giving up a first rounder for Grundy won't even be remembered.

Changed my mind, a dodgy score review over-turning the goal after the Cats celebrate. Then Scott’s head explodes

Posters forget that we'll be having discussions with several list managers about hypothetical pick swaps to move up the draft order before the Jackson/Freo trade gets done. What's of interest to me is more around what the Freo picks will allow us to do rather than whether or not they can acquire a specific pick, because I'm not sure the club will be happy waiting until deadline day for Freo to find a way to get a pick inside 5, as an example. So if they end up paying overs in the way of lower end first rounders and a second rounder, that's fine. It'll give us more opportunity at doing what we're widely acknowledged of being masters at which is moving up the draft. And it'll give us great flexibility early on to trade for a player too. There's no loss in this for us, the club will have all bases covered. And even if the pick numbers for the Jackson trade seem underwhelming when it gets done, I'd wait until the end of the trade period and draft night before judging our net result.

This GF is a real struggle because it brings back the pain of not experiencing this live last year. Its fantastic that we won last year but it hurts to have been denied that joy and seeing what the GF fans have this week makes me jealous.

That's not really what I took any of that as, at all. Seemed more like he was saying they took the good times last year for granted, not this season. He said they trained harder than ever this year - not something you'd do/say if you were taking the season for granted. Think you're trying to create something that isn't there.

I think Robbie is doing a great job 👏🏻👏🏻

Ty to EO for starting this thread. The happiest day and year of my life. Let's take a moment to remember our immortal legends that broke the 57 year drought and brought so much pride & joy to the Demon faithful...

OK, last pics in the slide show then I suppose we have to focus on THAT game today. ☹️ This was at THE BEST match this year. Vs Carlton. Me and my DA buddy Pauline (Mrs Frittata) with a couple of minutes left in the match when the game looked as good as lost so may as well take a selfie. Then a couple of minutes later when Kozzy goaled. She’s so cute… she holds up the giant Fritta head no matter what’s happening. 🥰

Agreed. The club clearly has a formula for player value. They aren’t trying to play someone else’s game with trades. They know what they want to do, and regardless of external noise they get it done. Too often people conflate this seasons relative disappointment with the clubs many moving parts. When it comes to trading we’ve been exceptionally well managed for almost a decade.

Even though we didn't make it this year, i feel really, really good. I've seen us raise the flag, and in a 'poorer' year we played in the semi-final. I am in my MFC 2021 premiership clothing merchandise because we are the reigning premier until it is decided otherwise. However, like Chook above, I want more. Lots more. With this midfield and backline a minimum of two flags is a pass.

I was on that bandwagon but maybe the ride has stopped for me. I now think it’s the nett result that really matters. For example if we get the boy we want with a later pick, but would have used our earlier one to get him anyway, same result for us. So I think success in trading has to be assessed on the final result and with draftees, we know that will usually take a while in the analysis and with hindsight as the major measurement tool.

Sadly only 2.5 weeks of this left at most.

Well he is apparently good friends with Henry. Who was Clarry hugging in his Insta photo? Which club does he come from? Do they want anyone from us? There is room in Kozzies home now as one roommate is leaving. If your mate comes to your club, it’s another reason to stay with the club you love.

Having a couple beers & watching the 2021 GF at the moment... Savouring the last hours as reigning premiers!