John Demonic

Thinking of all the ways the opposition can beat us is already a little anxiety inducing and stressful 2 weeks out. And another 28 or so weeks of this!

Although the odds were completely stacked against us, a rematch would've thrown Geelong a different 'mental' challenge than the one they got against Brisbane. Who knows, we could've cracked their spirits with some kicking accuracy in the 1st half. It's one of those what-ifs that I won't lose sleep over though. Similarly in 2018, what would've happened if we had a crack at the Tigers in that first qualifying Final, given our similar styles and knowing now that they had already spent most of their tickets in the regular season. I'm kind of glad we went out in straight sets if the alternative was being smashed by Geelong by 10 goals though and handing them even the smallest of mental edges against us THIS year. And there's still a little mystery going into this season knowing it's a referendum on the best team of the past 3 seasons and we did not lower our colours in last year's prelim, if both clubs meet in the GF this year.

As i can't make it, and find the low camera angle at VFL grounds unwatchable understandably, the DL post match thread will suffice. Unless someone wants to rent a crane and live stream illegally 😂 I'm beginning to think Chris Scott might be onto something with the 18 min quarters and 26 rounds instead of 2 potato quality praccy match Sims.

Well I don't know what the song is called, but I just heard someone say it was hells Bells a long time ago. I prefered it when we ran out to either cheers or the grand old flag. Not a song trying to sound scary and foreboding! I guess I'm getting old now!

There was that one time the MSO Performed a musical accompaniment to the 2010 Draw lol "For one day in September, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra will play an originally composed soundtrack by Tamil Rogeon against vision of the most infamous draw in Toyota AFL Grand Final history. Arts Centre Melbourne will join forces with the AFL and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra to present The Draw: A Symphony – a live orchestrated screening of memorable moments of the 2010 drawn Toyota AFL Grand Final between Collingwood and St Kilda. Most people – football aficionados and dilettantes alike – will remember where they were the year the nail biting AFL Grand Final day draw played out. The Draw will showcase a specifically edited replay of the match, projected in the MCG of the performing arts, Hamer Hall, while the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra perform a commissioned score by Tamil Rogeon (RAAH Project, True Live), highlighting every dramatic leap, bound, touch and goal. Tamil is a composer, violinist, producer and a current Honorary Fellow of Melbourne University’s school of contemporary music. His work for The Draw will focus on athletic feats and failures as well as moments of tension, and even humour, throughout the game. Star players will have motifs and storylines and snippets of broadcast commentary and crowd noise will also be used to dramatise the narrative. It will be a truly unique fusion of gutsy football and dazzling classical music in Arts Centre Melbourne’s stunning Hamer Hall; not just a work for lovers of modern orchestral music but also for football fans and of course, those with an appreciation of both."

Can we do away with that hells Bells pre grand old flag song while we're at it? Doesn't fit the vibe at all and the transition into our song sounds jarring. And in that moment i miss the 90s 😂 Seems more like the entrance music for the Undertaker wrestler Sorry (To Jonesy I guess?)

We should escape the Ross Lyon vice grip somewhere in the 3rd to last and win by 4-5 goals. If the Saints have improved and are playing at their peak.

So we've now got a left and right Turner for our Lever. Ain't nothing getting through this well oiled Demon Machine

Will Ferrel to debut after Grundy injures his hand playing frisbee with his dog after returning from a night out where he got in a bar fight, tugged a woman's dress down and then mysteriously ended up naked on Elizebeth street after exiting the wrong door at his mates places. Oh wait, wrong club!

I was about to say they are one of the most irrelevant teams of the past 5 seasons.... But then I contemplated the question: What if Adelaides close win against us in 2021 where they run and gunned it through the corridor, provided the blueprint for Sydney, Collingwood and Geelong in 2022...

I know it's a bit of an old thread, but the title still relates to our core midfielders and the question of prefered mix and rotational pieces. The midfield mix has a few interesting questions to be answered in the next few months. With the addition now of Hunter on a wing, how will it shift all of the pieces? Will Gus be at half back again, or into the midfield mix like in the late stages of 22? Will Clarrys persistent finger injury heal or could we see him play an outside mid/fwd burst role in the middle like Tracc, Which allows Gus more midfield minutes? Are we going to see the sub rule be used in relation to all these Questions? Wait and see, but what are DL's thoughts?

Clarry might just continue the upward trajectory of kicking > handballing if the injury niggles and persists all year. I know he's the best in and under + outside running combination player in the game, but who knows, maybe the injury will allow him to be more of an outside runner in the midfield this year, he has a burst of pace as good as any, be it hunting the ball or running from a pack. It could allow others to step up while still holding him back to unleash at opportune moments. With Hunter to the wing, Salem at HB, the Brayshaw question is still unresolved, so we might see Gus and Viney as insiders, Tracc and Clarry mid/half fwd. They're all going to rotate anyway.

I think I spotted you entering Crown, after the loss to the Lions Dr Gonzo

Over the Cats, both with a full list to pick from. I want 2023 to be a 'referendum' on who the best team of the past 3 years is. No more flu, injury or any kind of excuses for both clubs! Edit: OK clearly I'd prefer the Cats to miss the 8 or finish last, but if they're in it again this year, it would be nice to beat them in an epic 'legends are made' type of once in a generation GF!

Username checks out!

But 193cm won't be tall enough to play key forward. We'll have to trial him on the wing now.

It wasn't posted on DL, but there was a Kate Roffey interview a week back on Breakfasts with Harf on RSN that mention JVR had his own fan club at training 😂 I guess it's all fluff at this time of the year but I did find it funny. Who here admits to being one of the members?

M. Szybkowski should provide the Essendon midfield with more size so they can compete with bigger bodies

Fawkin hell

Its hard to place that 2021 finals series historically. On the scoreboard we dominated, but we all know there were moments where things were on a knife edge, in the 3rd quarter of the GF and in r23. But at the same time, it seems ALL premiers go through the same trials. Richmond and Hawthorn as well. There really aren't any dominant seasons + finals campaigns in recent memory, unless we go back to the salary cap cheating days or maybe 2007 Geelong? Leaving mental traps about trying to repeat the past aside, we can absolutely repeat the year we had in 2021 again. It wasn't a 'perfect' domination, and we have the capability to have a similar season + finals campaign again. Just like Rich & Haw proved during their era's, and Geelong, buoyed by their easy/dominant prelim/GF's last year, will be hungry to replicate and go back to back. Shudder 🤮

Geez the coaching staff were feeling extra sadistic today!

I think the Richmond Brotherhood might be in for a few hellish years down the bottom of the ladder.

Time flies when you're winning flags