Rodney (Balls) Grinter

But there's no way Rodney would have played the next week if he did what Maynard did. Equally, there's no way Maynard would have played the next week if he did what he did and Rodney was out there.

You are dealing alot in 'rumors' with these 'strong connections' here. Who are these suposed connections? Richo and the boys are playing a Team game, something the Ox didn't do off feild at his time at the club, so he should bit his tounge or get behind them. I don't give a flying what the media say. Media said we were metally weak wouldn't make finals in 2021. I'll rate our pre-season, post seaon - based on on feild results, not media rubbish.

I'm thinking we're ending up at an agree to disagree kinda place here SWYL. If he's well connected and he cares so much, then why don't he have the info Richo had and/or isn't he talking the same tune as the leadership? Max, Viney and Goody & Co are the leaders that took us to a flag and 3 top 4 finishes in as many years - something we never really came close to in Schwartz's time at the club. I'll back them over anything Schwartz has to bleat on about.

Yeah, nah. Read the article it says he has no real knowledge to speak of, he's just assuming and adding to the pile on. If he loves the place, he needs to learn not to be such a loose cannon and just adding to the external pressure. If he's really concerned, why not get more involved and have a chat to Maxy or Richo?

Itching for this game and the season to begin. It's been a long off season without alot of joy as a supporter this year, but I did really like some of the signs we showed against Carlton in particular. Backs to the wall, it's time to stand up and let our footy do some talking. Won't be getting too carried away whether we win or loose this one game, but looking for us to build another dominant season where we are in control for most of the year and build into finals like in 2021 - just hope we don't get decimated by injuries again like last year.

I hope this guy is saving him self for the real deal kicks a bit straighter in front of goal against Sydney than his pre-season games.

I think it's about time the AFL step up and defend the MFC a bit more on this one - but they won't, because they'd rather leave us as scape goat than deal with things than have more open and reasonable discussion that spoke about recreational drug use across the industry and comunity in general.

Thanks. Haven't listened yet - what's was Garry Lyons take? It's been somewhat disappointing for one of our past greats in David Schwarz to go adding to the pile on without any real evidence to speak of: https://wwos.nine.com.au/afl/news-2024-melbourne-demons-david-schwarz-clayton-oliver-joel-smith-troubles/15b35324-f219-45f1-8be9-49553ebbb778 BTW, from what I recall of the story of Schwartz's influence on club culture with gambling, he's the last one that should be having go at the club on this basis or blasting other player's for their off feild problems - apparently some forms of addiction and abuse are more forgivable than others. Loved him as a player (On feild), but from what I can see, I think his contribution to the club since has been overly negative and critical at times, which is disappointing.

Well I certainly hope Taj doesn't take Gus's role in that way.

Agree. Incidentally, I don't recall seeing him in the Richmond scratch match in either game. Is he injured at the moment or did I just miss him. Reckon he's got star quality and character written all over him - both things that Gus played with from day dot.

Do Collingwood supporters have teeth?

Are you for real? Is this sarcasm? Or actually a post by a Collingwood supporter trolling?

What do you expect? We were a laughing stock for all of my generation, we finally crack it and then we're back to being a failure after a flag and consecutive top 4 finishes in the two years since - really? I'm proud of my club and I say a big F U to any that want to keep sh##ing on us. Yes we're still to forfill that illusive premiership on the G, but not for lack of being in the race. Biggrst one hit wonder, pfft. Yeah nah. And I'll say, we're down right now, but not out of the race for another just yet either, so a premature call at best.

When we are loosing in games, I'm normally eternally opermistic that we can fight back and somehow win, but I'd given us up for dead that night against Geelong. It wasn't just being down by 40 odd points, it was also that we'd only kicked 4 goal for the game and seemed like we couldn't buy a goal. When we came back and won, with Max taking that mark in the dying seconds and then actually slotting it through, I went bisurk. The next day my neighbors at my place in Qld (who arn't big AFL people) told me, that they could hear that Melbourne had won. In the minutes after the game I got calls from my MFC supporting dad and sister and we couldn't beleive we'd just won that game. It was similar with that bang bang bang, the way we turned the momentum from looking like another GF going down the toilet half way the 3rd to the most dominant MFC premiership in history. After all that pain we'd gone through in the ten years prior and the 2 other failed GFs I've been to in my lifetime - absolutely unbelievable. Still craving the feeling of winning one at the G and being there though.

From mid way through the third quarter, that really set the tone for our finals series to come. We'd been good and building in the games prior, but I think beating the Cats the way we did on their home deck built belief that we belonged.

I know it's not exactly the same, but I also feel there is a sense of camaraderie and bond created within the die hard supporters of a team such as ours that stick fat with the team through years of turmoil and then finally winning one. I sense this with my mates that grew up supporting they club, who were quick to call in a state of euphoria when we won in 2021, but also people I didn't know at the time and we both realise are MFC supporters - doesn't take much to realise how dinkum they were with their support and following of the team, when you reminisce about seasons past in the 80s/90s or whenever they seriously followed them and how good we were when we cracked it in 2021.

Agreed. Something to be said for flying under the radar I think. Not that the professional football world of our opposition would be taking any notice of the media noise or lack there of in assessing us, but if it means we don't deal with so much external expectations, I don't think that's a bad thing. In fact I suspect the near misses we've had in recent years, together with the external critisim and questioning of the club/culture will be something of a motivating force behind our players, similar to when the wheels fell off our finals hopes towards the 2020 season.

At the start of 2021, few had us as even making the 8. St Kilda were viewed as a more realistic chance of playing and performing in finals. ...just saying.

I could well be wrong, but I'd expect the Tassie team to capture most of their Aussie Rules following public. You only need to look at the dominance of support that the Eagles an the Crows get to see that. I suspect that from being on the butt end of the joke on a National level, the years of pent up demand from not having an AFL will make Tasmainians even more parochial than either of those states as well and it wouldn't surprise me if they get memberships and attendances it their first season that put GWS and Gold Coast to shame.

There's a reason why the Tasmanian govenment is a major sponsor of Hawthorn. Hopefully that arrangement dies it's natural course sooner rather than later.

The same rebrand argument should have been made for Port Adelaide's entry.

That's a bit harsh ... but I know what you mean. I prefer it when Jack let's his footy and physical pressure around the footy do the talking.

All these stats are well and good, but the one that counts most for me is the centre clearance rate from about the 27minute mark of the third quarter, till the 5 miniute mark of the last in the 2021 GF.

Let's wait and see how he goes in the season proper, but it would be very bitter sweat to see him go well for the dogs. I wouldn't begrudge Hamesy at all really in the circumstances, but would really rather him still in the red and blue and kicking the goals for us.

Just to be clear Macca, I'm not moaning or saying that there were pleanty that foretold this scenario at the time, just saying that at their age with recent injury history at the time, it wouldn't be unreasonable or unrealistic to anticipate that they would become more injury prone in the twilight of their respective careers. It was a risk I think the club took with a realistic view of the potential outcomes. We might have ended up with something on the worst end of those outcomes for both players to have had injury struggles the last few years, but that how it goes. Both were significant onfield contributors to our 2021 flag, with the roles they played that season IMHO and likewise in the subsequent seasons through lesser onfield roles and probably greater off field roles as mentors, team values etc. I personally view us as winners to date through the contracts we signed them to and the story isn't finished yet either.