Palace Dees

This really is the elephant in the room. No one here will be shocked by this, yet it's our forwards that continually get bagged despite them, as a group, having an injury run from hell. We love those 3 to death, but their 'just kick it' style gets lots of i50's for little gain. Also, as set shots themselves they are poor. To the eye, there seems to be missing that creative handball (like Clarry used to do) that gives the kicker that extra second or 2 to find and hit a target. We have the right core. We just need to change the style and mindset. This is likely a combination of personnel (elite midfield ball users), line coaches and game plan. A KPF would be nice, but is not the Holy Grail. Carlton were missing McKay and May slaughtered Curnow, so that didn't beat us. There's an old saying. It's not the size that counts, but how it's used. Even my wife, who knows nothing about football, keeps telling me this. 🤔

Good points. I'll give an example of how we are, in fact, the best supporters. I went to the game on Friday night with my son. We sat in the MCC members, surrounded by mostly by Melbourne supporters (for a change). We were near the goals where the Carton cheer squad were sitting and to which Carlton were kicking. A Carlton player marked , but his shot on goal missed. 'Hear that?' I said to my son. 'No, what?' he replied. 'Exactly, I said. Nothing. Wait until Melbourne has a shot and misses, and tell me what you hear.' Needless to say, we didn't have to wait long. The boos started loudly when one of our players had the audacity to take a mark in our forward line. Of course he missed, and the cheering was deafening. He looked at me and smiled and said 'I see what you mean'. 'And that, my son, is why we barrack for the team we do, and not them or any other rabble'.

Surely he has another friend there he 'loves' that he can knock out?

Ask 1000 people, who is a better footballer, Grundy or Schache, 1001 will say Grundy. Definitely something had occurred that we, as yet, don't know. Very, very sad.

It's what I am praying for. However, being that I'm an athiest, I'm not confident. 🙄

Usually true, but Gawny is the exception to this, and every rule in life.

Only if Collingwood are playing Geelong at the time.

Ah....memories Of when we kicked straight! 😫

The great sports photographer, Michael Willson, has an exhibition of his work currently. I would pay to see one with pic of the of the Demon Army banners over the years. True artistic genius. 😘

Love it. Can you please post that again in audio, together with the Melbourne theme song please? I will then play it on repeat for my 2+ hour trip to the G today. 🤗

Only for another 3 months 😉

Nailed it for me layzie. I want to be more up, but I just can't get there, yet. Fortunately, my lower than usual confidence will have no affect on the players. I know we are a better side, it's our lack of connectivity with our forwards that worries me still. Not news to anyone here, I know.

This may have already been said, so apologies as I am SO angry now I can't read all posts. If I'm a Melbourne player, I am obsessed with getting to the GF to meet that team, and THAT player again. I may only see my kids on visiting days, but Maynard will remember me. 🤬

Ihle (Pies) has requested more straws. All of their current supply has been clutched.

Ihle (Pies) says there are .56 seconds between the moment of jumping and the moment of collision. Melbourne kicked 3 goals in that time in the '21 GF Bang, bang, BANG!

The biomechnaist has concluded evidence. He is told he is free to stay if he likes. He makes the correct decision and immediately logs off. DAMN.... It was going so well.

Biomechanist: Once he's airborne, he's essentially a projectile. He's like a frisbee with arms and legs. 🤪

💸💸💸

This is all true. It's logical and quantifiable. What we can't measure is the psychological impact Gus going down had on his team-mates. I know I personally, am really struggling to focus on this week's game, even now. At the game on Thursday, it was always front of mind for me, and I'm just a supporter. The players saw one of their best mates, one with a dangerous history of head trauma, knocked unconscious before their eyes. This was not a knee or a hammy, but at the time a potentially career ending, even life threatening event. We still don't know his future. This team is tight, it had to have affected each and every player and coach. Realistically, the circus around Maynard has to be emotionally draining on them, try as they will to shut it out. Because someone wears a football guernsey once a week, they are expected by many not to be affected by 'distractions'. That is not reality - thankfully. I will be there Friday, hoping like hell that we kick a^se. But if we don't, I will understand and will be proud of them.

I've never contemplated AFL membership. I feel like getting one just so I can burn it. I have been a MCC member for 25 years but never relinquished my 45 year full Melbourne membersip. There is no AFL to me without my club. I am also listening a lot less to the AFL media. I haven't watched any Ch.9 footy show for many years and others are being dropped regualry. Thank God for the Demonland Podcast. The only thing you can guarantee I'll listen to.

That's exactly what Kozzy did earlier this year. He was suspended and the act was widely admonished on DL, quite rightly. I was certainly one of them. I empasise that it was the act, and not the person, that disappointed us. He got his right whack for his action. So must Maynard.

Cheers Layzie. Have been listening to Gerard this morning and he is very much in our camp which is good. He certainly has influence on AFL thinking. I deliberately hadn't listened to Cornes, knowing how he 'thinks'. Apparantley he has said 'only people who have never played the game would believe Maynard to be guilty'. Gerard took a couple of calls after that who, whilst not reaching Cornes' unmatchable low, still pointed the finger a bit at Brayshaw. They have convinced me to look at history differently. JFK should have seen the bullet coming. He has to accept some of the blame. FFS!

Thank you for sharing your story and insight. It is helping me unravel my deep frustration with all this. Luckily for me and my siblings, our father, who played as a ruckman in the VFA, was the kindest and most gentle man you could meet. It was a house full of love, not fear. That I deliberately didn't listen to the media and commentary post match confirmed my contempt of them and elements of modern society. Like defence lawyers, I knew the perpetrator would be painted as the victim and canonised whilst the other lays prostrate. Apart from the moron sitting behind me on match day, the Collingwood supporter beside me yelled at the 100's standing in front of us, applauding Gus off the ground. "I can't see" he screamed. Neither can Brayshaw, I told him. The day MMA was declared a 'sport' was when I knew the world had lost it. 💔

Further to the above, I also sent an email to Gerard Whately (see below). What I say is true. The only post game reports I've read or seen are on Demonland, and in reality that is probably less than 5% of the total posts. Hello Gerard, I was at the MCG Thursday night. I saw the Maynard bump on Angus Brayshaw live and replayed on the big screen. I have deliberately not watched any football shows or even the replay with commentary since. Why? Because I know how the majority of the media react when it comes to big names and/or clubs. I can just hear the 'football action' or 'what other option did he have' rhetoric now. It would simply get me angry and frustrated. To those who I suspect said such things, and it's not hard to guess which ones, I say this. Let's pose a hypothetical. You are playing football with your 10yo. You find yourself mid air, your son has just kicked the ball over your head. Do you lower your arms and meet him with your hands on his chest? Or do you tuck your arms in, turn side on and hit him in the head with your shoulder. The quality of your next Fathers Day present, and the health of your marriage depends on your answer. We know Collingwood will appeal and appeal again so it will remain the top story all week. I will tonight watch On The Couch and AFL 360 in the hope that the experts I respect most see the act for what it was.

For the first time in my life, I am feeling the same. This when we are potentially just 2 games from a GF. I can no longer guarantee I will not get physical if experiences like the following are repeated. I was sitting in the MCC members area, when shortly after the assault on Brayshaw, a Collingwood supporter behind me yelled 'just get him off the ground and get on with the game'. His obnoxiousness remained all game. I'll spare you the antics of the drunken woman in front of us 'minding' her sisters toddlers. It's getting hard to justify to myself the 5 hour round trip to see them at the G to experience that cr*p on a regular basis. I'm close to becoming just a TV viewer with the commentary off. Even that may not last. It's so depressing to think about it because I love the club and have been a MFC full member for 45 years.