Palace Dees

I bet there were no toilet rolls left.

The most amazing, exhilarating time as a supporter. So many memorable moments from '87. The thrilling midweek Night GF win by 4 pts against Essendon. Making the finals in extraordinary circumstances after being (I think) 6 and 10 after round 16. HUGE wins in our first 2 finals before the most heartbreaking game I've ever witnessed. You make some great observations. Those of us that saw him first hand, know that the awe Robbie is held in, is not misplaced. He was unique in the purest sense of the word. We were privileged. I'm glad you mentioned Warren Dean. I always believed he was a great talent cruelled by injury. I was at the Footscray game and all the finals (inc. night) with my 10yo son. At the Waverley prelim, we were sitting right near the spot where the post siren Buckenara kick landed. I literally couldn't speak for 24 hours. I was in shock. 64OMD may be right, but gee, that Melbourne team was full of character and I would loved for them to have had the chance.

Memories from the magnificent Demonwiki | The Irish Experiment http://demonwiki.org/The+Irish+Experiment#:~:text=Paul Earley was the first,landed him the Brownlow Medal. I can't believe that MFC sponsors like Jaguar, Penfolds etc couldn’t see the benefits from mostly financing a trip to the Emerald Isle. We'd make sure their brand is plastered everywhere we go. Let's do it before the AFL makes Ireland part of the Gold Coast Academy zone 😡

No club will recruit him if he does 🙄

What I got from that is that Jacob is a great kid. He's got the right attitude and the raw talent that, with time and development, will see him become one of the best KPF's in the game. It's great that he'd love to play with Petty, but I have a feeling he will make it work with whoever he partners up forward in the years ahead.

So sad to think that we've missed the boat that we built.

Racking my brain to recall the last player swap, with no (significant) picks involved. 🤔

Haven't seen a Casey coach's game report for quite some time. Very glad to see it back, hopefully to stay.

Getting rid of the 10% matching points discount should have happened years ago.

I have reduced the amount of media content I read, listen to or watch in recent years. Far too many morons and sensationalists. One of the few I still watched or listened to, had been Garry Lyon. Not that I agree with everything he said, but I mostly I have, until..... Listening to a replay of the SEN breakfast show this morning (avoiding the 70 mins of ads) I had to turn off. Like everyone I've heard comment on the tribunal outcome, he thinks it's a joke. That's a no brainer. However, like some others, he believed Lever milked it. He then went on to say, he believes the AFL should call Lever to tell him, that's not on. Furthermore, he said Lever should be told that if he repeats that action, he himself, risks suspension. Lever's head HIT the ground! It will be of no surprise to people here that I have hit my head hundreds of times. The reaction each time was to reel my head in the opposite direction of impact. It's a natural human response. Throwing your head back and raising your arm (which causes head contact) to win a free kick is a blight and a dangerous aspect of our game that needs penalising. I would love the club to call out Lyon, Buckley, Dunkley, tribunal advocates and any others that are victim blaming here and defend their player. I would also love the club to challenge the AFL on the difference about what is said and what is done is relation to players health and safety.

I think about this every time I see an Irish recruit playing AFL. The MFC visionaries that started this deserved to have their foresight preserved. We could have had a real, and substantial, competitive advantage maintained. Not that we could possibly have had a monopoly on these players, but we could have definitely established a mindset in Ireland. If you want to get well paid to display your Gaelic football skills then go to Australia. And go to the team that first respected your abilities and culture! As you say, our AFLW team have benefited greatly, but on the men's side, nothing. The AFL has ensured we now virtually get no access to the 'developing' states and Tassie is now high risk. They are, and will continue to provide a rapidly increasing number of high end talent. And don't get me started on the NGA access! It's only going to get harder for Victorian teams to get the best young talent. Jason Taylor can only do so much. I'd be rapt if we re-established our Irish connections, but we also need another left-fied strategy. But we better do it soon, otherwise it's back to the dark ages for us.

I keep seeing Steven May in Edward when I watch this. Has anyone seem them in the same room? Very cute. ❤️ 💙

This starts soon. Can't see if it's broadcast anywhere. I suspect Dees may have a look for a possible ruck support and/or further consideration of Campbell Hustwaite for the mid season draft. Found it! https://www.afl.com.au/news/1100638

.....unless you read Demonland 😁

Windsor is already special. He's going to be VERY special. I too, am very excited at what he could become. But I get very nervous when certain comparisons and labels are given to young players in their first year. Nick Watson being called 'The Wizard' EVERY time, for example. It puts unnecessary pressure on him. The Flower comparison has been whispered in media and in forums. I get it, believe me, but we (me included) must pull ourselves up. Watching Robbie play was like seeing Nureyev at a barn dance. He just made the other players on the field look clumsy and cumbersome. As Sinead O'Connor once said to him, "Nothing compares 2 U". Let's watch this kid build his own legacy and just enjoy the ride.

See above 👍

Forgot to acknowledge smurf's contribution

This. Radio and TV have gone on ad nauseam about how PA should have won, based on all the stats. (I don't recall the same hysteria when Melbourne had 32 more i50's in Maynardgate). We have often bemoaned the losses on Demonland when we win the stats, but not the game. It is both refreshing and intriguing to be on the other side for a change. Can it be explained by finally being more efficient than our opponents, especially with i50's? Do we embrace this as our new and improved model and move forward, or do the naysayers in the media have it right eg we were lucky?

6. Nibbler 5. Gawn 4. Chandler 3. Rivers 2. Lever 1. Brown Apolgies to champs Trac & Clarry

Exactly my thoughts. Result irrelevant. If from this half alone, I can see a future Melbourne KPF and a ruck/forward emerge, I'll be rapt!

So, it's not just me. :(

Verrall impressive early

Just got around to listening to the podcast. Once again, great listening and a must for all demon fanatics. As usual, I agreed with 90%+ of what was broadcast, which beats any other podcast/program. Yes, you are right, there is a but. I think it was George, when critiquing the Hawthorn game, stated he thought Hawthorn wasted pick 5 on Nick Watson. Wow!!! What an incredibly quick and harsh judgement on the kid. Nick was universally touted by clubs, and draft gurus, as a unique talent. He has played 180 minutes of AFL, not 180 games. We are quite rightly singing the praises of 2024 debutant, Blake Howes on Demonland. The difference being, he is in his 3rd year at a successful club. Watson is playing in a rabble of a team, and arguably a club. Cal Twomey gave him the nickname of The Wizard, which is impossible to live up to at this stage of his career. Unfortunately, this is mentioned EVERY time he goes near the ball. It puts unreal expectations of him. I believe he will be a very, very good player. A 200 game/400 goal career would not surprise. Let's just give him the time all fair judges here would if he was one if ours.

Wizard Rankings: JEFF FARMER Roy Wood Warwick Capper Nick Watson (atm)

Disagree with both posts 😉