Rodney (Balls) Grinter

Yep. It meant we needed the practice! Having the players get a bit of a sting from loosing, but not counting for premiership points was probably a good reminder and preparation as well.

Thought Brayshaw's efforts dropping back in defence were really good again tonight. He's become a really good reader of the play and state of the game like that.

I thought I saw Bowey limping off as he went towards the bench in the last quarter? Did anyone else see that, know what's happened? Really hope it was just all in my head.

Still yet to be seen how we'll go against the reigning premiers!

I think the umpires got good odds on backing a bunch of chokers to getup against us. Several of those decisions that cost us goals against were abominable 😡.

Even their cheer squad area looks space compared to ours

Take it in fellow Demons, we're about to raise the first flag in my lifetime. Amazing stuff. Can't believe it's true and so glad to be here for this moment. GO THE MIGHTY DEMONS!!!

Looking at the above vision again, I think Kossie was just 'a little' more subtle in the Trac GF goal play, although the intent and effectiveness were just as good.

Watson, I think we can definitely both agree that the scoring after that stoppage was bloody amazing.

Nah, pleanty of other offensively minided plays in that 30mins from Viney and others, we just stuffed the forward 50 entry or missed the goal. I'm not really convinced that Viney hits the ball any harder than any other play and/or actually clears any space for Harmes either in that play alone. In my view Viney probably does far more to out mussel and agressively compete for the ball at the subsequent centre square bounces that hand the next goal to Freitch and the BBB and I'd give him more credit for those plays. Incidentally Clarry and Trac are awsome in those plays. Love the one where Trac rips the ball out of the centre clearance, blind turns, bursts and powers clear to put it on the North players head in the perfect position for BBB.

Agree. I'd think Viney himself would be somewhat embarrassed for the credit given to him in that play. He's just in the right spot to shark the ruck takedown and then full on fumbles it forward. It's not like he's busting skulls or in an other way really out musseling anyone to create a path for others (in that play). Harmes gather, burst and delivery in that play are sublime. I think Max is on the record as saying it's the best kick of Harmesy's career and I recon he's right. (Harmes is actually somewhat underrated for his capasity to deliver in clutch moments. He delivered another similar great pass to Kent inside 50, who goaled and sealed our first finals in 12 years again WC in Rd 22, 2018). Conversely Kossie's magic body use to clear a path for Trac that starts up the BANG BANG BANG isn't spoken of enough. It's almost as impressive as the Trac goal in my view. A masterful football moment from Kossie. That's not to discount Viney's general never say die attack on the footy throughout the rest of the GF, which was sensational, along side the likes of Brayshaw, Clarry, Trac and many others that day.

The other moment involving May that I've heard quoted (actually in the other Fox doco) is apparently in the middle of the BANG, BANG, BANG goal scoring tsunami, Steve May is saying to the mid feild "Ok, let's shut it down and make sure they don't score again before three quarter time". Oliver recalls that he turned to Trac and they were both like 'NAHHH, let's keep pushing'. Love the bulls we have at the club all over the field that complement each other. The intense defensive mindset of Lever, May & Co down back lets guys like Clarry and Trac do their thing and go hard offensively when it's on.

Spot on. I'd go further and say that it's not just our fitness strategy, but our whole game style that demands players train a near match intensity, so preseason is no different - as the old saying goes train like you play so you play like you train. The days of playing half strength teams in practice matches are long gone. The only team I can think of that sucessfully won a premiumership by mollycoddling a significantly aging list through to a premiership was Geelong back in 2011. They've tried to run a similar strategy every year since and look where it hasn't got them.

Definitely agree with all of the above. The one thing Hibbo won't be though is a MFC player for the next 3 - 5 years. IF Smith can finally get a run of luck and keep his body in one piece, he could be. If it's line ball between Smith and Hibbo, I'd be playing Smith most times and keeping Hibbo in the back pocket as depth/reserve. Smith is only going to develop better game sense getting more game time and his form suggests he too good for Casey and is only really going to develop that to the point needed playing seniors. Having now won his premiership medalion, I'd think Hibbo would be mature enough to understand the club's needs, handle the situation with class and focus his attention on helping develop the next generation at Casey if that's what was asked of him. Could always bring Hibbo in fresh to nullify Dusty for games against Richmond as well.

I wasn't really that surprised at all. If you look at how we've approached practice matches under Burgess, the empahsis is on approaching it as if it were a home and away match and not about excessively rotating players to ease them into things. I forget what the squad numbers are for practice games, but as far as the MFC is concerned, it's almost as if it a squad of 22 players and additional emergencies to avoid risks with niggles and injuries that develop during the game, that you would take during the home and away, but not a practice match for no points. Players not fit enough to run out the 4 quarters, don't play starting 22 or even make the squad. While I think there is a desire from our supporters (myself included) to see others given a go at the top level to see where they're at, that's not the priority of our coaching group who are in the mindset and process of fine tuning the team for Rd 1 already. Absolutely love where we are at in this respects - win Rd 1, get on a roll and set up our season like last year. No more 0W, 3L or 1W, 4L starts to the season that have us scraping just to make finals from Rd 6 onwards.

During my nightly lullaby rewatching the GF 3rd Qtr last night, I noticed that Kossie tackles the Dogs player, imeediatley before it spilled to Bowey before he chips over the top to Brayshaw who kicks the goal that puts us in front and after which we never looked back and never looked like losing the game. There's also the fact he should have been paid a free 20m out straight in front in the 3rd for having his head ripped off. As you said it so eloquently, playing the team game, not the highlights reel. Kossie was huge in the GF. Did exactly the sort of stuff that won us the premiership, as did guys like Gus and Viney who busted their guts out, took the hits and kept on comming back for more and more when the chips weren't going our way.

🤔 He is a free agent from what I understand 😁

Would love to see a few wooden spoons dotted along the yellow (Hawthorn) part of the chart and for the membership lines to cross sometime in the future!

I included / signed my mum up this year as part of the family membership I have, so there is one more genuinely new member onto the tally. What's even better is that she was originally an Essendon supporter, so is proof that conversion therapy can work!! Incidentally I've also moved back down from Queensland, so now a full member again, not an interstate one and looking forward to getting to many a game this year a the spiritual home of footy and the MFC, the mighty G. My kids are going to love the atmosphere there when it's packed with Demons supporters, with the team taking down the opposition.

Agree. Taking the ground in Rd 1 when we unveil the flag should be a nice feeling for Tommo too.

You think it would take that long?

Wonammeri did end up playing some good footy for NT Thunder I think it was in the NEAFL (Basically QLD/NSW combined state league) as few years ago.

I do genuinely feel for the individual, but I'm not sorry that Essendon will be deprived of a bloody good player.

So do I 😊