Rodney (Balls) Grinter

Perhaps it's time to scrap our NT game in favour of WA. We could make it a GF replay against the Bulldogs!!

P.S. has been really good reading over some of the posts in this thread, from others and in particular the more regular DL posters, who I feel like I've shared this journey with over the past 5 or so years since I joined. I haven't really had time to work my way through much of the post game thread yet, but will probably do so at some stage over the rest of the off-season and imagine that will also be a great read, bringing more enjoyment.

Some of the similarities I have with you and your experience are a bit eerie. I'm also 43 and watched the game in Brisbane most of this season (in fact most of the past 17 years). I've always thought we were around the corner from winning the flag, but this season when we went 6 and 0 and then 8 or 9 or whatever it was and 0 losses, I thought we were definitely onto something this year. I'd bought a second GFG for my youngest son who's become a mad Demon. Managed to get down to Melbourne and attend the early season Hawthorn and Geelong wins at the G, which was unreal. There were many times this season I've thought of the irony of us potentially finally winning the flag the year after my late wife passed away. She wasn't a MFC supporter (In fact far from it), but numous times I thought how bitter sweet it would be if we finally won the flag and would I be able to enjoy it in the context of my circumstances. As it's turned out, the season we've had has turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as it's kept my mind off other things and given me at least something to look forward to at the end of each week. As the year progressed and the chance of potentially being their at the ground gradually disappeared, it was something of a downer, but the sensational way in which we have won has somewhat made up for that (particularly Geelong Rd 23 and again in the PF) and in the end like so many I made the decision that even though I would be able to watch in person or be with my dad in person to watch it (who I was there with in 87, 88 and 2000), that I wasn't going to let that spoil the moment. I was having some late onset MFCSS panic attacks on Friday night and a bit first thing Saturday morning, because although I felt we had been so good all season that anything could happen on the day. But at some point, I just thought I wasn't going to let that fear of loosing spoil what could be and began to envisage that feeling of us winning which welled up the tears within me a few times and I refused to let myself think about a potential loss and enjoyed the moment of GF day. Half way through the third quarter I'd almost started to convince myself that it was looking like a loss and to talk myself onto going about calmly accepting that in a disconnected, almost emotionless way. Like many, I was too full of adrenaline during the rest of the third quarter and then the last to really start the tears. I don't think I really started any crying until I got on the phone with my sister, dad and a couple of MFC suporting old school mates after the game, which bought home the reality and enormity of that moment which had escaped us for so long. Watching Garry Lion interviewing some of the past and present players after the game also bought a bit of a tear to my eye (particularly Alan Jackovic, Steven May and Gus). In the end, I don't think I cried much, but was thankfully more overwhelmed by the elation of it all. Not sure I'd ever be able to top the emotions of that game (then again I said the same thing R23 and then the PF), but a premiership at the G with my son and old man all their together would be a pretty good chance I think. Maybe then I'd really let loose with the tears.

The other word Goody threw out their towards the end of last season for the team to adopt as an ethos was 'ruthless'. Towards the end of the home and away and as the finals series progressed, I think the team became the embodiment of ruthless, in the way we won games which will be even harder for others to emulate. I'd be quite happy for the ruthless buzz word to be associated with the MFC.

Kayo didn't broadcast the game live, so you didn't loose out there, but agree with what you are saying. Best buzz would have been at the ground, but maybe next year for that 😥.

We're the twilight specialists now, so Saturday twilight probably seems more our slot. The AFL probably also likes Friday night games to be a close contest and not end up in blowouts, so going off our recent games against the Cats and Dogs, I'm not sure they'd have any confidence that we could provide that for them on a Friday night either!!

BTW @Diamond_Jim this notion that we kicked to many goals pffffft. I mean, great click bate thread title, but how could you be thinking such a thing. Absolutely loved smashing the Dogs right off the park in that quarter and a half. The goal just after the siren from T Mac that made it our greatest winning margin in a GF was the icing on the cake, although it did almost make me feel sorry for the Bulldogs players that had to stand the mark and the goals until he'd taken his kick and rub even further salt into the wounds once it went through post high, straight through the middle.

And to grab another celebratory beer on the alternate breaks. I wasn't quite going at a beer a goal at that stage, but the amber liquid was certainly flowing.

In the long run, they should thank you @S_T, for providing a character building life lesson that good things don't always come easily. I was going to say that only waiting 15 or so years to taste this sucess, they have had it easy compared to most of us, but the first 10 or so of those years would have been pretty depressing. Having followed the team closely since 87, at least the first 15 years or so of my time following the club always held some potential promise of an imminent premiership (Even though that never came) and by the time we'd last made finals in 2006, I was already welded on.

Got to say, I don't really like this academy system. Feels alot like a reversion back to the old zone recruiting system and we all know what a great tool for equalization that was. The Northern State teams don't need the extra incentive of free access to talent to run their academies - they are being heavily subsidized by the rest of the competition just to be in existence, so there should be an obligation on them to devote time and resources to their academies, without any choice in the matter. The incentive for them of having home grown tallent should be the same as it is for other parts of Australia a little extra recruitment pull for players a couple of years out from being drafted, through the 'go home' factor. Sure GWS and GC don't really have access to father/sons, but they've been gifted more than enough low draft picks over the journey to make up for that. The other tangible benifit of having the academies to any club without any preferential access to the best talents would also be being closer to those academy players would naturally give clubs better intelligence and understanding of those 'second teir' tallents, giving them the confidence and abbility to recruit those diamonds in the rough like Bailey Freitch with their normal mid ranged draft picks.

I concur with others here in a number of respects. While he does have a somewhat abrasive nature, you can see the passion for the Demons bleeding through. Personally as time has gone on, I've found myself modifying and maturing my own online behavior and trying to be more conscious that, though it is just text on a screen, it was another human that put it there or to which it is directed. I don't personally see much of a need to win a battle of insults and would rather just let things slide and ignore it most of the time and/or get triggered by it and escalate the situation. I also find it's easier on my own stress levels this way. That's not to say I always suceed in this mantra of kindness to others. Something I think we all perhaps need to be mindful of in this world of social media is the pile on effect of paying out on any on particular individual, no matter how annoying they may be. I think the mods generally do a pretty good job of setting the boundaries of acceptable behavior without all of us posters needing to publicly shame and ridicule a fellow poster when they might go off on a somewhat ridiculous tangent or highjack threads. Personally I hope Satty makes a comeback when the time is right and joins us to revel in this premiership goodness - there's pleanty to go around. Go the MIGHTY DEMONS!!

Loved watching Vanders play at his best. Those bone crunching hits in the 2018 finals series in particular set the tone along with others like Lewis and Viney. If you put that infamous WC PF asides, our performance in finals of late has been outstanding and having guys like AVB who lead, showed an ability to step up, rather than shrink away from the moment have set a standard for others like Trac, Clarry, Dogga and Fritta to follow. Also really respect that like Fritta and Pig Dog Hibbard, he worked his way up to a league standard as an amature while holding down a job through, the local leagues as a rookie after being over looked as an junior.

Actually that goal from T Mac made it our biggest ever grand final victory, so it was an awesome on field statement to close an era of pain and suffering and somewhat fitting that T Mac was the man for the job as well. I bet he enjoyed those two late goals and loved that dinky little snap from Salem as well. 6 goals from Fritta wearing No.31 the symbology was everywhere. Still floating on cloud 9 this morning.

Was saying almost the exact same thing to one of my Demon supporting high school mate last night. Don't know how it worked out this way, but my two best mates in high school were both mad Demons fans. Went to a bunch of games with them in the 90s, when we thought we were so close. Almost 30 years later was so happy to celebrate the moment with these guys, be it over the phone. Go the MIGHTY DEMONS!!

About to start my third attempt at that now. Just the second half. I have a feeling this may just set a new standard for my most watched half of footy. P.S. Can't wait till it comes out on 4K with zero adds (particularly those [censored] sports betting ones).

I might be going out on a limb here, but upon refeltion, (as someone born well post 1964) I think that has to be about the most complete season I've seen the MFC put together. This team might be going places, maybe even 'The One'!!

Yeah, but should you really be taking a ruckman with the 3rd pick in the draft 🤔?? 😉

Yet he still held his own. Took one great contested intercepting mark in the third quarter at a critical when we were under siege. Love Maysy. Tower of strength and determination.

In the wash up, we were what only 10-15 points off beating the Dogs by as much as we did the Cats. That goal after the siren to T Mac was kind of unnecessary, but also a really sweet full stop on an amazing performance by the team.

I honestly think the belief that the team built with that comeback and Gawn nailing that final kick of the game has propelled our finals campaign to the extent that we have witnessed. Having said that, the team's ability to hold their nerve and know what it takes to chalk up the wins from almost any position has been impressive pretty much all season. For most of the season once we got into a winning position of leading by 30 or so points, I thought we started to play a somewhat boring conservative game and just bank the 4 points. Since that Rd 23 game Vs Geelong it's like we broke the shackles, went up a gear and said we are going for the jugular here. For the first half of the season, the Bulldogs were credited with being the most attacking side in the comp, with the best %. Would be interesting if finals were included, I think we would have finished with the superior % as well as wins - not to mention winning the big ones that counted.

Built for finals. I've thought he looked like a solid player since he's played senior footy for us, but I thought some of his performances towards the back end of the home and away were a bit ordanary. But the coaches could obviously see something, because boy has he turned it on for finals.

How bloody good was that. Go the MIGHTY DEMONS!! GO you good thing. Go the MIGHTY DEMONS!! Enough words for now.

We love you Gus. Was awsome when the game was there to be won. Demon for life!

With all due respects, shove your lid where it doesn't fit Yeata

I recon he's due and looking primed to kick a bag.