Bang Bang Bang

Out. Bowey (concussed), Harmes (suspended/omitted), Smith (omitted) Ins. Hibberd, Oliver, Ben Brown I don't care what Benny is doing wrong in the eyes of the coaches, he's still good for a cheap free and mark each week. That's 2 goals we could use. Didn't mind the Smith experiment but it didn't work. Stick to what you know. I'll also cop TMac back if he's fit. Harmes will cop a week for his bump but will be dropped either way. When he cops his week I expect it to be one of the shorter threads in Demonland's history. Great clubman and servant, but he's not up to it at the minute. Not sure who I'd play as sub in my scenario. Maybe Chandler? I prefer the sub to have a bit of X-Factor rather than the 23rd man which is generally another vanilla midfielder.

Think a fair few on here owe Steven May an apology. There were posters writing him off after the Essendon game FFS. The All Australian blazers might be a thing of the past given his age but he’s still a colossus 1-on-1 with a great left peg.

I’m sure the mood in this thread will soon resemble a funeral but I’m personally happy enough to win ugly. Tomlinson was ordinary to poor tonight but Lever looked as good as he has in a long time. I’d keep Tommo in until Petty is good to go after the bye. We’ve survived the no-Oliver apocalypse and we just need to beat Collingwood to pump some adrenaline back in our season. Tough ask, but stranger things have happened.

I'd be in favour of packaging up our early picks for a pick in the top 5. Our flag was built off many factors but LARGELY off Trac and Clarry entering their prime in the midfield. Five years from now, they will both be good players still but most likely starting to slow down. Who will be ready from the current crop to take over? Sparrow and JJ are neat players but not going to be elite, Bowey doesn't look like he'll play mid, Pickett will never play there full time. The cupboard is pretty bare. You can find elite midfielders outside the top 5 (Zak Butters was pick 12), but they're much easier to find inside the top 5. Trac and Clarry themselves were very early picks. I think the club are aware of this and tried to package up some picks for Humphrey last year, but couldn't entice the Bombers to do the trade. I wish they had in hindsight.

The 50m against Ainsworth is actually the worst decision I think I’ve ever seen. How do you pay that ?

Jason Taylor was a big Humphrey fan, good to know he’s still got an eye for it.

Even if we win these days I’d say it’s only 60-70% positive, the carry on after the Suns game was pretty embarrassing. Today’s performance was pretty bad though.

Don’t care what anyone says, any day of the year where Geelong loses is a good day. Weekend salvaged.

After a loss the negative commentary can be amusing or justified (today the latter), but the disrespectful comments that inevitably get thrown at the 2021 campaign are always a bridge too far.

He was pivotal in our 2021 campaign. Outstanding. But he was ordinary before it, and has been ordinary since it. If we’re any chance of a flag, Lever getting back to his best is priority #1 IMO.

Some more scattered thoughts: We missed Lachie Hunter, Clarry in a wheelchair would be better than Harmes, Langdon has gone to pox since the haircut, Salem and Lever haven't gotten near 2021 form since then, TMac is cooked, and Gawndy hasn't really worked IMO (although it hasn't been terrible either).

One thing that doesn't get mentioned enough: Lever has been [censored] rubbish this season.

Yeah nah I stopped supporting the Cats after about five seconds. Will take an inferior draft pick and even a loss next week if it means their reign of terror is over.

I haven’t barracked for Geelong in a game since 2013. I feel dirty.

Wow, it's a miracle we didn't lose by 186 points.

Why is 2022 even included in this discussion? It's as relevant to our flag chances this year as 2021 is... i.e. not very. Still a heck of a lot to play out this season.

Hunter is probably 50/50 to be suspended. Rozee kept playing so I'm leaning towards him being safe. TMac did his job. JVR was terrible but I'll forgive the kid. Maybe a rest/managed? Has Ben Brown run over Goody's cat? If not, I would make two changes. In. BB, Sparrow (sub) Out JVR Jordon (sub) Sparrow can play a proper game if Lachie gets a week. If Laurie keeps performing for Casey then he probably should be rewarded. Looking forward to a few jovial Dogga boos and a 40 point Demons win, and we can go back to whinging about not winning by more.

Ease up buddy. That's the first last quarter we didn't win ALL SEASON! Selwyn ain't the problem. Very disappointing to lose a tight game against a fellow contender. I'm not sure we can afford to keep losing clearances and have players like Noah Anderson and Zak Butters playing like prime Leigh Matthews. They're great players sure, but come on. They ain't that good. Feel like we need dry weather at the MCG to play our best footy. That's not necessarily a bad thing (and polar opposite to prior seasons) but I just don't like the look of us when conditions don't suit. Love Steven May but it's about time he didn't kick to the exact same spot after a behind. Every time. That must be a contributor to 11 zip inside 50s to start the last and basically the game right there. Maybe I'm bitter but I can't [censored] stand Port Adelaide. Hope they find a way to capitulate. Two Port goals after the siren to dodgy frees and you just felt like it was going to be that kind of night, and it was.

Don’t have a problem with the fine. If a player did that in a close prelim and it caused a turnover all hell would break loose. Kinda impressed with how quickly he thought to do it though. Hated him and his smart aleck tendencies at the Dogs, don’t mind it all anymore.

I like your honesty. I’d just say that there will come a time when we are dreadful again. Enjoy it while it lasts. By the way, the 90 point win did your head in? Didn’t take me long to find Steven May’s alias.

6 - Oliver 5 - Petracca 4 - Viney 3 - Rivers 2 - Hibberd 1 - Gawn

I can still remember 2014 when we lost to them by 50 points but it felt like we’d had a dip. More than happy to have the roles reversed. Loved Trent Rivers’ game today. Vins is having an excellent season. Not sure what Sparrow brings. Go away Jason Dunstall. Sick of having him cheer against us.

Steven May not happy despite being up 54-9. What’s his Demonland alias?

Are you conveniently forgetting he only played 13 games (just over half) that year or are you David King in disguise?

The same people were probably complaining in the game day threads and post match discussions in 2021. They are just wired differently. The way I see it, 4 points is 4 points and there’s ~ 350 days in a calendar year where the Dees DON’T win a game, so I’m going to enjoy the days it does happen, irrespective of how.