Delusional demon 82

Stop watching replays of the 2006 elim final

Ok keen to get everyone's thoughts on where we will finish and why ( could analyse the rest but let's focus on the mighty dees) at the end of home and away for me it's 5th spot , with around 15 - 16 wins if we maintain consistency and don't drop those silly games where we are absolute favourites, then looking at our draw ...which is more favourable than last year btw ....this is entirely conceivable. I'm bullish about our chances this year (for the first time in a very long time) Jordan Lewis factor will be massive in those Carlton Essendon and north Melbourne type games when we're needing a dirty win where in the past we would drop the seemingly unloseable go dees!

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2017/02/27/Lid-should-be-off-for-Demons-says-former-star/ not sure how to read the part about us getting our arse kicked?? I would have thought dermie would say we should back ourselves in for the 8 ...not that we'll deal well with the occasional thumping (I think we are well versed in taking the occasional thumping these last 10 years) I don't think the playing group have been historically good at dealing with any sort of hype or expectation , again I think mr Lewis will be invaluable here ok glad some of the neutrals in the media are finally subscribing to our upside and potential this year ... for a moment I thought it was all reserved for the Saints. If first 5 /6 rounds go to plan then the lid is off !

I can see us pushing into 5th /6th spot , I don't think 14 or even 15 wins is beyond this group. Also some in the media are similarly bullish both David king and Sam McClure have mentioned 5th spot which would need to be minimum 14 wins.

2004, I remember the ladder went up on the scoreboard at the G after we beat hawthorn (who were rubbish back then btw) to a big cheer. We got smashed by port Adelaide at footy park the next week and it all came to a crashing halt we limped into the finals nth Melb style and lost to the bombers in the elim final. 2005/06 slightly different we pulled out a couple of wins and even a draw to get over the line , but still not really a contender, we could never get a consistent team performance another thing I'd add is even during the late 90s and early 2000s (the yo yo years) even though we had a talented however inconsistent team , we always had offfield instability... now the club seems very different, I can't recall a time in my living memory where we've have both a talented young team ( on the cusp of finals) but with the club actually in great shape too.

The first real test for this co captaincy will be if we're challenged again by the saints again in a quarter run on at etihad in Rd 1, or when we're trying to scrap out a dirty win against a Carlton or an Essendon. To be honest I think mr Lewis will be more of a general in the trenches in these moments. It was these games that cost us finals last year, the leadership group have some stepping up to do .

Don't like this conference idea one bit, it stinks too much of NBA/ NFL franchise stuff , may as well throw in a halftime show , lots of fireworks, motorbikes cheerleaders and be done with it ! Seriously don't see what is so broken with the current system, yes it's not perfectly fair , but fixturing never will be will TVs rights and money driving blockbuster fixtures . At least however with the current model you know exactly who you're playing and when way back in October. And club success is rewarded with prime time fixturing (I.e Friday nights) If they really want to make it fair then limit the season to 17 but that's not enough footy too much meddling going on, just leave it alone, bring on Rd 1and bounce the friggin ball already, go dees !

All that is very similar too for me Nasher, my quirk is remembering dates, points in history , years movies were made and who won the premiership (or how the dees went) in any given year. Have always been a creature of habit, like watching the same movies, footy replays , reading same books etc etc Scored 34 on the baron cohen test the other day, got to say doing the test and reading the common traits is an eye opener. Probably have always considered these traits as being due to being more of an introverted and detailed / analytical type . But will look into it a bit more, as I think understanding and being aware of it can only help me and those close to me thanks bing for starting the thread , and thanks also Ethan and Nasher for sharing your insights too, much appreciated

14 games without a win.... something's finally gotta give

Wow the AFL website says "The Giants' forward line is, quite frankly, absurd." And yet they so needed all of the draft and academy picks...

After the siren to win the game

60 if he straightens up and I expect to see him banging them on the run from outside 50 near the boundary line , just like franklins breakout year in 2007 . When that happens you'll know we've arrived as a finals team

Being a yarraville local I'm really looking forward to a nice 15 min stroll to the local footy ground to watch my beloved dees play out in the west , might make a bit of a family event with the mrs being a bulldogs supporter (more vocal recently btw) , and my little young kids being a bit conflicted atm on whether they barrack for the dees or the dogs, it's the dees at the moment cos they like the theme song ? . A local community opportunity and suburban footy feel with my club that I rarely get to see in this modern professional football world of AFL...made my day ?

The "to make top 8 " odds have us ranking 8th we're paying 2.20 ahead of Essendon , Freo , Saints and Port at 2.50 flag odds are a bit weird though we're also slight favourites for round 1 v the saints ...?

First 10 were ok , a couple of prelims and a grannie under my belt. The up and down years ... kind of took it for granted at the time

Got my 20 year certificate and pin yesterday... the good wife looked at it and said "is that supposed to be something that you're proud of?" ... as with anything football and MFC related I simply sigh and say "you just don't understand hun" Go dees!

I expect to ride the highs and lows of the demonland match day and post match threads, shifting and accelerating between deelusion and deespair Seriously I am quite bullish about the MFC next year 14 - 15 wins , 5th week 1 finals win at the G we are ready now, its our time... the ride has started

Just get on with it dill!

For a team that will comfortably take the minor premiership this year it is quite disgusting to see GWS have pick 2 ... they simply don't need the draft concessions, and don't get me started on essendrug having pick 1 ... equalisation my aR$e

Take your point LH ... Interestingly though the dogs have now switched to asics , either they got a better deal being the premiers or it might have been negotiated before the finals series

Apparently the club signed a 3 year extension with New balance back in Dec 2013, which means it must be again either up for renewal or a change very soon ? Couldn't find any recent announcements . Anyone heard anything ? Just thinking with Xmas presents etc whether to hold off or not ...?(i.e if we were to change sponsors)

http://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/tg-st-kilda-saints saints won twice against bombers, blues and us playing at etihad 6 wins (I think one Carlton game was at the G actually ) only beat injury ravaged dogs and Geelong on an off day at Etihad as teams inside top 8 the draw last year was flattering to them, by comparison our draw was one of the toughest In short they beat the teams below them, got smashed interstate and only beat serious top 8 teams on a fast track Etihad

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/afl-2017-whos-in-your-top-eight-right-now-20161024-gs9kez.html interesting to finally see some external media recognition that this team has the potential to go well into September ! i think McClures top 8 is pretty good actually , don't rate the cats carried by danger and Selwood too much and lacking now especially down back without Enright .... and whilst the saints are an up and coming team they had an easy draw last year and still too reliant on roo and montanga west coast scrap in given the home ground advantage normally gets them minimum 12 wins

They finished last... sounds great when you say it out loud ?

Well... we've got to exercise this hoodoo sometime, R1 saints at Etihad would be a great statement about where this group is at. I hope the leadership group, the new recruits Lewis and hibberd and co are aware of the significance of this fixture. Going to require some serious on field leadership ... on the park we have enough talent but will need to address their spread and quick pace at Etihad. The one constant during this so called "Great Depression " period 2006-16 is now the saints and norf winless streaks. This club has to stand up , those games we must must turn up mentally.... non negotiable. btw ... the Great Depression started round 1 2007 vs the saints . Mentally there's a door for this club to finally close here