John Demonic

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

The Socceroos were what it was all about back in 2006 obviously. It was such a great moment for Australia, a great sense of collective joy that we all shared.. Watching highlights brings a tear to the eye with the SBS commentary. Penalties against Uruguay, Timmy Cahill, and of course the Lucas Neal challenge lol. What a time to be alive!

Can't I have 1 bloody off season without the mention of his name?

You nailed the exact moment somewhere in the first half hour when i switched from supporting Argentina to France. The mindset that the 'opposition must have injured me, if I lost the ball' is so grating. All these feigned injuries where they act like theyve been shot, whenever there's a light ankle tap or graze. And the ref buys into it all.

It certainly rivals 7-1! 😂🇩🇪 🇧🇷😭 I'm not old enough to remember anything below 1998, so it's slim pickings for finals that rival it. Bloody 2006 I fell asleep and woke up after Zidanes headbutt lol

I could not believe what I was witnessing. The Mbappe volley, the last long range France header opportunity to win in regular time, the Messi tap in for 3-2, the handball penalty, and the final save in Extra Time by Martinez were moments of shock and amazement. That Argentina had the game won and France equalised and THEN had real opportunities to win it, was just crazy.

'Melbourne A' ? I'm definitely picking up Australia A vibes to the Training Report threads

Spoonmantle, come together with your hands! 👏

"Best 44 for North Melbourne" is the moment you realise it's a very long off-season