Rodney (Balls) Grinter

If Lever was shocked and disappointed about being dropped, how does he think T Mac felt after being dropped to make way for Lever when T Mac was in some great form. In retrospect, it might have actually been better for Lever to work his way back into the side via Casey.

15 hours ago, Spud said:

the start of a pretty good season 1998 with which Seecamp was an important component. We were clearly the 2nd best side behind North at the end of the year, who shaat the bed on GF day against Adelaide!!

Who shouldn't have even been there after we smashed the absolute [censored] out of them in the first week of finals.

We made something of a bad habit of comming up against the better teams in prelim finals in conditions that better suited them. Remember that final against North well. A night game at the MCG, at a time when they played the most night games during the home and away of most clubs. Similarly, we've copped West Coast in Perth in away prelims more times than I care to remember.

11 hours ago, Its Time Again said:

I think people have gone too early on Tholstrup he hasn't had a consistent chance to get his act together. Let's hold off having that conversation till the end of this season.

Agreed. While he hasn't burst out of the blocks like Windsor, Langford and XL did in their first seasons, he as shown a few good signs and isn't a bust yet by any means.

If anything I think the club might have overhyped his chances of playing and performing early which probably hasn't helped the expectations on him.

What a great attitude he exudes in this article. Proof will be in the pudding if it translates into performance, but from all reports, the right signs are there on the training track at least.

Hope he has a cracking season, gets back to his best and finds another level as he starts to mature as a key forward. Really love to here the faithful yell out "ROOOOOOOOO" around the MCG.

In consistent all right. We had similar win/loss record in 2021 as Geelong in 2022 and he ranks us 18 Vs them at 12. We absolutely annihilated that same Geelong side in 2021 prelim and our 2022 ans 2023 finals losses were generally by pretty small margins, so to me that gives a better metric of where we should sit compared to that premiership in realitive terms.

3 hours ago, beelzebub said:

They're not their respective corporate colours.

Those logos are worth mint to them.

Thats what the $$$$ are for.

So when was the last time anyone watching Bang...bang bang bang ever considered the logos on the jumpers..

That's right....

Some need to get over themselves.... just saying.

Our colours are worth alot to us too.

I'm not that rapped with the one on the front as it does somewhat detract from the clean red V that is so much a feature of the MFC jumper and would have rathered it elsewhere, like perhaps under the AFL logo (but I bet the AFL have some branding rule against that!).

But in the scheme of things it's not the worst outcome and I agree Penrite are not a Micky Mouse sponsor at all. I actually rarely use anything but Penrite in my personal cars (wounder if there might be any promotional offers through the club!!!).

7 hours ago, GawnOfTheDead said:

Why was he picked up so early this year by us, and no one took him last year?

Like I said, no clue how draft works. Was he injured or another reason teams passed him up last year?

I guess I’m curious why we took him early when we had later picks and I do recall people saying he would not be an early pick.

Sounds like either way, it’s gone really well in our favor and that he’s a jet, just curious on how it works and why really..

If I recall correctly, it was something of a surprise that we went so early with Kossie himself (I seem to recall some concerns on here that we'd used such a high pick on a small forward). Similarly Clayton Oliver was something of a surprise pick. Both were shown to be shrewd picks in the fullness of time.

I think simply in both cases what it was, is that our recruitment saw something in them, that others didn't and were prepared to back themselves and take a risk. Also with Clarry, I seem to recall that we were satisfied that he had responded to feedback to lift his professionalism and get fitter (somewhat ironically in the end). In the same sense, we probably had a better personal insight into Trelly than most via Kossie.

7 hours ago, Demongirl35 said:

100%!

A lot of my friends say ‘at least you’ve seen one’

I always say, my family (including all you demon fans) and I have been going for years which included a time of absolute beltings, couple of nearly winless seasons, pouring rain and cold. A time we thought our club may no longer be around and a time we were lucky to get a few thousand at the G.

There’s no way I’m the only one who sat at my seat at the G, soaking wet surrounded by 5000 other demon fans thinking ‘it’ll all be worth it when we see a flag at the G’ with a slight eye twitch haha

All for it to be in Perth

I watched us make finals out at the Western Oval in 87, us get done by the wees and poos in 88 and then by the Essendon scum on 2000 at the G.

Nothing beats being there at the ground and I still want to be there that one day in September when the MFC bring home the cup for the faithful on the hollowed ground that is the MCG (I'm not a religious person by any means, but I actually think that will be the moment the hevens open up and beam their glory upon us!).

20 hours ago, Demonland said:

That list does also go to show what an absolute beast Matt Rowell is as well. Dion Prestia has the nickname "The Human Meatball", but I really think it is one that more rightly belongs to Rowell.

Some say Steele is too much sameness of Viney, but honestly I think having them both in the same side is going to be an asset to us. Think their leadership will inspire others around them as well.

As much as we want to play a free flowing attacking game when we move it forward, the counterbalance has got to be that we don't loose that hard defensive side when the opposition have the ball as well.

3 minutes ago, [email protected] said:

Feels like last week! I really thought we would get another one after that. Alas not 2023 still haunts me as does 2022. I always said I would be happy to see one so cannot complain I suppose

I'm totally the same. Not being there in person watching it at the G still leaves something unforfilled for me.

Absolutely dismantling Geelong the week before was almost as satisfying and unbelievable. Max kicking snaps from the boundary out of the ruck and from outside 50 on the run.

That whole 4 weeks was somewhere between belief and divine intervention I think.

7 minutes ago, [email protected] said:

It was meant to happen everything suddenly everything went right. Talent all clicked ... amazing to watch.. and I have watched a few times.

Just a few?

Don't need an explanation - just enjoyed it, like no other 40mins of football before in my life.

21 hours ago, Pennant St Dee said:

It’s your role players and bottom 6 who make the difference, if you’re loaded with half a dozen big money stars and you fall away dramatically in your last 6-10 in your 23 and don’t have a sound system you’ll be found out in September if not beforehand- just look at these groups Dogs

Agree with most of the remainder of your post and particularly this part.

Of the players you didn't mention from Brisbane, I think Dacy Willmot is one of those underrated role players and one I'd have at the MFC most days of the week. He's still only pretty young too, so pleanty of service to give.

Always thought Bont was the front runner for the big V job, a good and worthy selection.

I do think it's something of a missed opportunity that Max isn't captain, but all the same, at least he can focus more on MFC matters. I guess it remains yet to be seen if he actually remains MFC captain this season as well.

Thankfully they didn't give the job to Jerremy Cameron though - what does this actually say about his AA captain role?

11 minutes ago, Little Goffy said:

I like this point but I really, really like how the auto-censor has hit it to create knee-[censored] reaction. Strong fetish vibes.

Reminds me of early attempts to auto-censor words in corporate emails, which were countered by staff agreeing upon euphemisms/dysphorisms. So [censored] became 'turkey slice' or [censored] [censored] became 'fire hydrant'. Sure enough, once management realised they were being called a bunch of turkey slicers who had added even more fire hydrants to the reporting process, the censorship had to be extended... and the cycle proceeds...

The Demonland auto censor is tuned a little too sensitively in MHO. I can understand it being in use for the most offensive expletives, but it actually limits the ability to express even some fairly benign things at times, which actually pisses me off, but I'm over trying to work around it or edit posts to use a alternate expression.

Perhaps that could be the topic for another thread, regarding the relaxation of the auto censor, if the admins are open to it?

As an opposition supporter, yeah they have a bit more objectivity in their view, but also a lot less knowledge. No real acknowledgement of Rivers, Chandler or Sparrow, or the move of Petty back to defence. While some may scoff at Chandler and Sparrow, it's these kind of players that, but opposition supporters don't notice, because they aren't big names, but make a big contribution in games and every team needs to be successful. I'm not really going to bring Culley into things, because until he produces consistently at AFL level, there is still an element of speculation there, but potential upside all the same. Further they (like most of the rest of the AFL world) fail to acknowledge what an absolute jet the Bison is.

I actually think Petty showed a bit of his old confidence taking some good, clean one grab marks in patches towards the end of last season and a move back to defence could really reinvigorate him into the great player he was becoming down there. Yeah we have some veterans in defence, but they are some pretty bloody solid ones in May, T Mac and to an extent Lever, combined with the realitive youth of Petty, Disco and a developing Adams, I think we've actually got great key defensive depth, with some more than solid smalls around them in Bowey, Salem (who was solid last season and who's preseason form has been reported to be good). We also have XT down there, who could become a potent force if his development trajectory continues in the right direction as well. Howes and CJ could be frindge, but may also be reliable and weapons respectively.

Per my previous post, I think this reset along with the core we still have has far more upside than downside. With an untried coach, there is always some risk if a Neeld type of collapse, but I don’t think that's the probable outcome of 'disaster written all over it' for a number of reasons.

About the only thing they've acknowledged is that Trac will be a big midfield hole to fill in a sense, but if we can replace most of his output through that of others with better disposal efficiency, then we break even or better. Of course everyone will point to Trac racking up the numbers for Gold Coast during the season, in a midfield that also boasts Rowell, Anderson, Miller and Humphrey and say what a loss he is to us, but that won't tell the full story.

For what it's worth, I'm happy if opposition fans write us off, even if their coaching staff and players might not.

All the sweeter for any victories we do pull off against them.

Speaking of which, we're well due against Essendon. Haven't been happy that they have been realitivly as mid as us, but have beaten us the past few seasons. Essendon, along with Hawthorn are one of those teams I always enjoy winning.

3 hours ago, Demonstone said:

2026 has all the hallmarks of a reset and I am not sure a good one, they have taken a coach from Geelong after heavily courting Buckley. This has potential disaster written all over it.

Sorry, I think that's BS. Reset yes, but I struggle to see that it will not be a good one.

We haven't gone half measures.

Picked a respected, mature assistant with years of development in the system, who did a pretty fair job previously in a caretaker role at GC, over a big name experienced coach, but who didn't have his heart in it.

Done a proper clean out of a few underperforming stars who didn't want to be there.

There's still a core of a mature players, with a mix of upcoming talent comming through.

Even if we don't perform above or at expectations, so long as we get development into young players and the team buys into the new coach and his game plan, then almost any finish above the bottom 3 wouldn't be a disaster (I personally think we'll finish much higher than that and above the Bombers for what it's worth).

If we'd gone out and chased a has-been coach like Malthouse or Pagan at Carton after making a knee [censored] reaction to replace a developing coach who was starting to produce results and thrown a bunch of money at a few overrated players, I think the season could have disaster written all over it, but that's far from the approach we have taken.

32 minutes ago, layzie said:

This is the kind of thinking I can get around. 193cm with good mobility and a reasonable leap. The Jack Silvagni example is a good one.

People sometimes think that being a ruckman is all about physical stature and getting 65 hitouts a game but as with anything there's more to it. Some of the best 'disruptor' rucks barely get any hitouts but they negate the opposition ruck and provide something out of the box for them to contend with.

Even if he was taking 10% of ballups in a match it could make a difference. Sick of seeing JVR take centre bounces and even going back a few years Ben Brown and Petracca doing ruckwork in the forward line wasn't a good look.

Jack Watts was another that did that occasional ruck chop-out for us, going back a number of years and from recollection did a reasonable job at it when required also.

If I'm rembering correctly, one of the rule/umpiring changes bought in following the ened of last season was not to wait as long for designated rucks to get to the position for any given stoppage ruck contest around the ground, so even being the relative athletic beast that he is, this may limit Max's ability to get to as many contests, making having other options that can take the contest around the ground even more of a requirement. Further, if one teams main ruck can't make it to a contest, there's also a good chance his direct opposite ruck won't make it there either, meaning it may be two secondary rucks going up against each other as well, potentiall making the life if the likes of Jai in such situations that little bit easier as well.

10 hours ago, deelusions from afar said:

What is more interesting for me is that if Moose plays (presumably spending more time forward than in the ruck), and Mihocek plays, surely there's only room for one of JVR, Jeffo and AJ - especially if we have Melksham and Fritsch in the mix. Playing fast football in terms of ball movement will require fast forwards (with lots of repeat efforts) - will be interesting to see who is the preferred option at the end of pre-season.

No denying his brilliance and outstanding contribution over the last few seasons, but I do wonder if we take a more nuanced approach with Melksham this season to both manage him through the season and give oppertunites to others.

Maybe saving him for bigger games where we need that extra edge and experience, while giving the developing players more games against the lesser sides. I know they say the competition is closer than ever, but there's a big difference between a West Coast, North, Richmond and whatever other teams might slide next season, compared to the top end teams. I really think this season we need to be both blooding players for the future, while remaining competitive and winning every game we can.

4 minutes ago, Cranky Franky said:

Incorrect in my football world.

I've always accepted "breakout season" as being when an established player "elevates" & becomes a gun player, match winner or puts their hand up for B&F or AA.

34 minutes ago, Tolstoys Nudge said:

Oh goodness it’s not hype it’s fact based observation — a breakout is certain w/o injury as to breakout simply means he establishes himself as a definite best 22 player. Which he WILL.

Going to sit on the fence a little bit here and say that both things can be true and it's all relative to the players level to start with.

An establishing player can have a breakout year that establishes them in the team and an established player can have one where they go to an elite level.

In my view, it's all about a player taking their game to the next level in a big step, rather than one of slow incremental improvement.

2 hours ago, Cranky Franky said:

Overhyping him ? Here on Demonland - shock horror - That has never ever happened.

Firstly he needs to establish himself as a regular senior player - then after a few seasons he may elevate & have a breakout year.

Demonland has never been short of hyperbole & hubris.

To be fair to Demonland, I think alot of the cues that folks on here have been following are the press releases from the club and interviews with players, coaches etc that have been pumping up Jai's tires.

I don't have any huge issues with this from two perspectives:

1. It could be good to give Jai this confidence and/or reinforce to him and others I the playing group that dedicated training ethos and performance is noticed and will be rewarded with opportunities to play that role at senior level. It's amazing how much difference just confidence can have to a player and perhaps the coaching group have recognised that as something Jai needs to take that next step.

2. Given the trade period we had, the club has to sell some hope that we have players with potential to step-up at senior level, fill the roles of some of the senior players we've lost, in order to generate interest, sell hope and sell memberships early in the season. Vitally important for our ongoing sustainability in the current position of the club.

Even if Jai does fail to deliver on these early indications of potential to perform at a higher level, I don't think we loose much through being wrong on the above. Probably also takes the heat off others, whom might actually step it up and have breakout years even if Jai doesn't.

5 hours ago, Roost it far said:

He needs a better haircut.

I am generally a proponent of MFC players having decent cuts, but there are risks involved.

I think if you look back on the years that Ed Langdon and BBB had after they got rid of the long locks, they had relatively mares of seasons, so I wouldn't be recommending it for Jai.