hemingway

Kade has an intensity that burns bright. For AFL that’s a gift that not all possess for 4Q. Sure he has good skills but it’s that intensity and enthusiasm that makes hum an AFL player and a player that coaches and fans love. It would have been a crime to let him go to the Crows or anywhere else. He’s a bloody beauty.

Beautiful.

In good form Picket. Good to see you have such exquisite balance.

So true Brownie

We are going through a time of change in which the rules of the game and the way players tackle are going to be heavily scrutinised. There are going to be inconsistencies and a level of confusion. Maybe even outrage. And there is going to be serious financial cost. It’s ironic because footy is an aggressive game at all levels. It’s part of the games DNA. Can you imagine a game without tackling ? That probably goes too far, but we are facing a change in how we play and watch the game. Will it become a game of tiggy touchwood where players think twice how they tackle and how they approach every contest ? I think so. The only certainty is that concussion and serious injury ( from say a sling tackle) will be unacceptable. Class actions and individual law suits are going to be commonplace at all levels of footy including at a junior level. The culture of the game will change as toughness at the contest undergoes revision. We will have to play and watch footy with different optics and a different appreciation of the game. It will become more like basketball than rugby. Coaches, players, administrators and spectators will have to adapt to a very different environment.

Always good to see low profile players rewarded after several years of development and hard work. His form this year warrants a new and improved contract.

OD also goes by the term “reality check” . Glad you thanked him, he’s a legend of this site. Respect!!

Welcome back mate

Frankly the media is ruining the enjoyment of footy. 24/7 commentary, shock jocks like Cornes and others constructing headlines, criticism of players and teams at the drop of a hat, gross exaggeration (the point of fabrication) and often uninformed commentary. Mainly it’s about egos and justification of their pay cheques. It’s the bilge that gets said and written about every day, all week, and before and after a game. It has reached saturation point. Either folks accept it, absorb it like sponges, or reject it, turn off and try and enjoy the purity of the game. The game needs to retain some freshness, some surprises, where fans expectation and opinions are not unduly influenced by the constant clammer of the media bandwagon. It’s just getting so tiresome.

You said it, these opinions are based on our own personal experience. A bad experience with an individual or group can influence one’s view of the broader group. Where you sit at the MCG or other ground can be very different. Other supporters find the Demon faithful in the members and Northern Stand obnoxious. And last Sunday I was one of those.

Agree re your comments about Crows fans. Their as bad as you get. By comparison Port fans are lovely people. Crow fans seem to retain the arrogance of their glory years.

Love these stories. So much about the footy culture and allegiances. So Footy, so Melbourne (the place).

He is what he is and we should be happy. He’s tough and hard at the contest. That’s good enough. Mongrels are born. Don’t believe you can suddenly develop Mongrel. Toby Greene was born that way. No one coached him to add the mongrel component.

The cat is out of the bag regarding opposition scrutiny. You never know, the enemy might need to tag him ! Just add him to the list of other team mates that warrant a tag.

Thought he was superb on Monday. His speed and disposal skills made him look a different player. Much smoother than previous seasons. His improvement really surprised me.

But guys it’s footy. It’s full of emotion, opinions and nonsense. Normally rational people, become intoxicated with the whole thing and quickly move between Jekyll and Hyde. It’s crazy but that’s footy and that’s people. We all have a bit of white line fever. I’m a quiet reflective guy but I was a raving lunatic on Sunday.

Thought he was better without Max, being able to run freely around the ground. He runs and links up so beautifully and looked free like a horse happily galloping in a paddock.

Central and North Central meaning country Vic

Supporters are scattered all over the place. The old days of class distinction linked to geography, industry and residence have long gone. When I worked in the West I was surprised how few Doggies supporters there were. It seemed that Locals were more likely to follow Pies and Bombers. As you say the Cats are the exception with its inbred following. Interstate clubs another case in point. Dees supporters tend to congregate in the leafy suburbs SE and East. In central and north central, Tigers and Bombers proliferate but there are still plenty of grey haired Demons.

Hibbo was limping badly at the end of the game. If it’s Achilles, no way given his age and slow nature of Achilles recovery.

Great info mate. As previously mentioned, Chandlers form says a lot for his development and the wisdom of holding him back. It also says a lot for Chandler, a boy from South Aus who could have become impatient waiting for an opportunity in this star studded team. Says a lot for his loyalty, commitment and understanding of his development path. He could have easily put out the feelers to the SA clubs but there was a complete absence of speculation. He clearly wanted to stay with the Dees and the coaches clearly wanted to keep him. Now we see why. Love his story of perseverance and hard work. And loyalty.

The Sun also Rises. It did on Sunday both the weather and my mood.

For Whom The Bell Tolls OD. Well not until another flag.

And to think that I almost passed on going to the game. A bad case of MFCSS and a very low mood all week. Encouraged to go by son and wife who both predicted a win. What got me over the line was when my son said, “Dad imagine how bad you will feel after they win”. When I walked into the ground, saw the colours and the expectant excited Dees supporters I felt good and my cyclonic depression lifted. It was as if the Dees fans willed that win. And let’s face it, the boys looked pumped. They had come to win and not just compete. By quarter time I knew I had made the right decision and thanked wife and son. And learnt a lesson in having a positive attitude. Despite all the TV coverage and commentary, there is nothing like being at the game and absorbing all the raw emotion and excitement. We were up and about and the Dees fans noise and fist pumping incredible. And for 120 minutes we forgot our own worries and the worries of the world. The sun was shining on our beloved Demons.

Too rational SPC. Viney is heart and soul.