Engorged Onion

Bloody hard this one @Demonstone .

Coincidentally I went for a wander around the little town where I am at the moment, and I did see an ADF bus/coach with all the paraphernalia.

Wondered if they were recruiting school kids :)

5 hours ago, monoccular said:

Not hour, year : decade, century or millennium 

Strange thing advertising.    Crypto want their name and logos on the screen as often as they can yet repeatedly show that they have a “rather ordinary” product.  

Would you want your product, associated with the ire of supporters around the country whom you are supposed to be courting? But in the end I guess the marketing take would be - don't care about the 95% of people you [censored] off, care about the 5% you convert. Are there any marketing guru's on here?

1 hour ago, whatwhat say what said:

i expect we'll suffer from fatigue against the baggers on a thursday nite...

- 13 days til Richmond
- then ⁠10 til cats
- then ⁠5 til baggers
- ⁠then 10 til meth coke

having a 5 day gap between geelong and carlton match-ups is particularly strange imo

Yes, but doctored for a reason?

Or failing my cynicism, if not that, fatigue won't be mentioned by the AFL sanctioned media, when Carton (and I suspect they will) win comfortably.... and then we get in the death spiral comments of 'our season is over' 'we're not really a contender' - 'Is Goodwin the Right Guy (tm)' hand wringing... which makes sense, because it's anxiety provoking, and failing to take on board the context of each teams training, matches and other load/fatigue (can I join these together??) related factors...just looking at pure outcomes without understanding the relationship to why the outcomes occurred in the way the occurred, because you know EO, it's a [censored] outcome industry.

I'm already emotionally accepting that Carlton will win... and that's ok - it's not relevant to finals - but geez, it feels like it should eh!

4 hours ago, binman said:

Shocking performance, for which there is no excuse.

Huh :) that counters your entire treatise - I'd reword it -

Shocking performance, for which there is not but  an excuse but a reason.

32 minutes ago, Pipefitter said:

The AFL just needs to get better than this. It’s a real reason why teams just can’t get up for a game. It’s not a good advertisement for The game watching 2 completely one sided games last 2 Thursdays that really should have been neck and neck talent wise. 

It’s almost as if The AFL as an entity can’t see/refuse to see the link between player health and thus the best exponent of their ‘product’ in display. Or at least are happy to wear the cost of disregarding it in favour of tv rights 🤑.

I’ll never forget Andrew Dimitrous condescending comments around High Performance Managers being ‘phys-Eders’ in the public domain. Granted that comment was about other happenings in another context, but I wonder whether it’s a pervasive way of thinking, detached from the the realities of the game 

8 hours ago, BoBo said:

Saints weren’t ‘off’ either, they’ve just been mauled.

It's not coincidental that both Melbourne and St Kilda looked exhausted from the first quarter of their third match after consecutive 6 and 5 day gaps.

That's accumulative fatigue playing out right there.

Not heart, not effort, not game plan, not coaching, not personnel.

2 hours ago, binman said:

Finally a footy journo makes the bog obvious point about the impact of the insane aerobic demands on AFL players in the modern game.

Andrew has led an interesting life and likes to challenge the status quo... hence the willingness to not tow the line...

Does great music reviews as well :)

From the lovely guy that is Andrew Stafford in The Age

"Spare a thought for Petracca and Oliver. Both were far below their best, with 38 possessions and just three clearances combined for the match. But the Dees were playing their third game in just 13 days, after backing up a narrow win over Port Adelaide on March 30 with a 15-point victory over the Crows on April 4 for Gather Round. Both games were Adelaide Oval.

Is it any wonder they looked flatter than the Nullarbor? The early start to the season – with eight teams playing opening round and byes everywhere you look – has resulted in some deeply iniquitous scheduling. Collingwood also played three games in 13 days after a shortened pre-season. They will play another three in 13 after their bye this week.

The fixture is contentious enough already without placing such insane demands on the athletes, who need adequate time to recover between half-marathons. Moreover, the staggered schedule means it won’t be until the end of round seven – when all 18 teams will have played the same amount of games for the first time this year – that we will truly know where clubs sit on the ladder.

In an attempt to compete with the NRL’s Las Vegas adventure, the AFL has only succeeded in further distorting the fixture picture in a way that serves no one except broadcasters."

56 minutes ago, titan_uranus said:

I find this sort of reaction to our losses funny. Each time it's "we've been worked out", "this is the blueprint". Most of the time the result was brought about by something different anyway. We haven't been beaten this badly in the middle in 5+ years.

At any rate, the idea that smashing us in the middle puts you in a good place to beat us is hardly earth-shattering, is it?

It's almost akin to saying "the blueprint to beating Melbourne is to play really well".

Agreed.
Brisbanes midfield is very very good - if else we are going to be objective as a supporter base. Other teams may have the ideal of a blueprint just not the athletes to actually pull it off. We’ve been very very fortunate to have the players we have had in the midfield perform exceptionally consistently over many years now. This one (whilst consistent with trends/themes around clearances in 2024) felt like one out of the box. 

2 minutes ago, BoBo said:

If we get that part to click, how good will we be?

I'm accepting that we will never be as good (in the context of what it was) - as this. ever again.

It’s a really well written and considered piece, and explains what we see is evolving before our eyes🙌🏼. *I’ll add some further thoughts later 

33 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

I demand high standards from everyone within the Club. 
We all know what failure was like. 
There is no need to bottom out. Particularly with 2 new teams coming in. 
Good Players have to be traded whilst the still have currency 

You cannot have all your stars retire at the same time

Thanks for your input as always @Sir Why You Little 🙂

32 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Winning creates opportunities…

The MFC must keep building every year. 
You can still recruit top line players from inside the Top 4, we need to pay our recruitment staff a high wage and expect high returns. 
Look at how many 50 game players Jeelong bring in each year, ready to go

Tge MFC needs the same mindset 

I understand your desire to see Melbourne keep 'building' and attract top talent. It's definitely a key to success, like how Richmond rose to dominance through strong internal development. To be honest though.. I'm not sure explicitly what you mean by' keep building...'

You  and I both know that winning the premiership every year is impossible and so is the feted dynasty once you've won one.

Melbourne's been a top 4 team for several years now, building a strong foundation. However, the AFL is cyclical. The draft and equalisation measures ensure a competitive balance, making sustained dominance very challenging. And players and coaches know that... (that' you'll be up for a max of 4 years and then drop)

However, the AFL landscape is complex. While recruiting from within the top 4 is ideal, it's not always feasible. Salary caps, player loyalty, and a limited player pool, especially for Melbourne teams, make it tougher. Geelong's position is unique,  their strong culture and geographic location can be very attractive to players, creating a situation most Melbourne teams can't replicate.

So, essentially, focusing solely on "building" can be restrictive. Sometimes, strategic acquisitions from outside the top tier can be the missing piece. Melbourne should prioritize getting the most value out of their draft picks and develop them. They seem to do that well... and like all clubs, some are hit and miss (and how much falls on the selection policy, vs the player or development structures remains to be seen)...

Ultimately, the right player will want to be at Melbourne, regardless of their current team's position. Building a strong culture and competitive environment attracts talent (that it exclusive to premierships)

pps... your demands on the recruitment staff... it's a bit old school don't you think??

1 hour ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Kane Cornes might hate the Crows but he’s thinking that the home town pull might get Petty to Adelaide.  

Dees have the do our very best to retain him.

 As a key forward or key defender, he’s hard to replace.  At 24yo, he’s best could still be ahead.  

I imagine we have already done our 'very best' - merely general exposure daily to our culture, the people and the relationships.

If he still needs convincing, he is not the right person for the club - and that in of itself - is absolutely fine, when we as a club (or us as people) meet someone where they actually are 'at' for all the valid emotional decisions they make at any given point in time.

I'm a lover of Ange - here is a recent link to a press conference - a few days old,  about the perceived need for Tottenham to make the Champions League (coming at least 4th, potentially 5th overall in the premier league) and how that allows a cash injection, as well as signals to potential athletes that Tottenham are now worthy of being recruited to.

It's about the players wanting to be at the club, irrespective of where the club is at position wise...

I'd have the same approach to any athlete pondering coming or not coming (or staying) at the MFC...

7 minutes ago, BoBo said:

I just watched the Freo dissent decision and I’d like to know what dissent is regarded as now?

 Because if dissent is questioning the umpires decision, that happens in every single quarter of every match I’ve seen this year multiple times.

Players on the mark constantly dispute decisions… why no dissent? If the umpire calls a mark and the opposition player on the mark says ‘X player touched it’ or ‘that ball was out of bounds’’ for example, that is dissent. Why was Freo called for it when it gets overlooked constantly in all of these other times?

Bobo, presumably you are a fan of Radiohead. I assume you have a critical lens when you look at the world. I think you know the answer to your question 😊

On a side note - this morning, I was reading about the death of 'music videos' and the art the goes into making them. I'd suggest that the music videos for the OK Computer singles were some of the best of all time as a combination.

2 minutes ago, Gawndy the Great said:

It may not be popular but he definitely shirked contact. Not saying he is soft but Fogarty is a few kegs short of a dump truck and there’s not many in the AFL that would have taken that hit.

It's interesting, I thought he took short steps too, but to be honest - 5 years a go, I would have thought 'he heard footsteps' - now as far as I am concerned - it's just duty of care these days.

But you know... a narrative is just a narrative.

You can't stop water from being wet, and nor can you stop Dermot from being...

Reading this thread, I feel there is an undercurrent of understanding how much supporters are acclimatizing to the notion of a 'squad' mentality for the entire season, rather than weekly putting out your best and allowing certain players to reset depending on where they are (and the context of the season and injuries) in their personalised program.

It's a great cultural shift, and also helps supporters makes sense of 'potentially' some FD decision making.

2 minutes ago, At the break of Gawn said:

I feel a lot less confident about this game now after North let Brisbane get some form back. There’s nothing like a belting to help a struggling team get some momentum going. 
 

Except when it's Melbourne and you'd interpret it as an easy kill and in no way useful for the following weeks match-up...🤷‍♂️

Demon Fans Watching All Remaining Matches of Gather Round...

2 hours ago, Demon Dynasty said:

Not even a mention.

Then you have Whately on the SEN broadcast literally barracking and booing against the Rivers non-HTB decision.  Did he say a word with the Rivers push in the back?  Bet he didn't.  Weak as [censored] Whately.

The entire AFL is such an inbred incestuous circus.  Hard to believe but it's even worse during gather round where there's home town barracking now from supposedly impartial broadcasters.  BT / Chanel 7 & FOX (Kingy in particular) included.  Kingy couldn't help himself after the win... still highlighting that in his view we are under achievers if we don't win another flag.  Couldn't just speak about the great win and had to drag that out lol.

Pathetic the lot of em.  No wonder Carey bags the [censored] out of them.  Anyone who speaks their mind doesn't last long as a commentator on any stations / tv shows.  Jordan Lewis & Richo examples of that.

Chanel 7 also now has the blandest special comments ppl going.  Talk about a snooze fest.  Selwood...bah!!

And yet we still engage with it 😎

8 minutes ago, Winners at last said:

I'm on school holidays and now have a cold as well... who'd take their kids on an interstate road trip when you've got work?
🫠

*connected culture outweighs any illness

2 hours ago, BoBo said:

Just play the same team oriented way we have been playing and we’ll win by 5 goals. 
 

We played what felt like was a big emotional win for the club so hopefully their minds moved on quickly considering it was a 5 day break. We are at our best when we’re team orientated! 

Is a 5 goal win considered an appropriate win - or considering that they are 0-3 will some supporters only be satisfied with a minimum 8 goal win?

Just bank the win lads and ladies 😃

1 hour ago, Jaded No More said:

And how Oliver can play with a finger dislocation is also interesting. 
I think when you’re Oliver or May or Trac you are deemed fit to play even when you’re underdone because even if you’re in pain and not going at 100%, you are still better than most alternatives. 
I would say that only if an injury can get worse by pushing through pain, that these key players are basically just playing through adversity and a lot of pain killers each week.
Also some players clearly have a higher tolerance than others. May played with a 6cm hamstring tear in a grand final. As if a few broken ribs would keep him out. 

Pain is absolutely fascinating... particularly in the context of sport and performance and the reasons why at times you feel pain when there is NO tissue damage and while you feel no (or minimal) when there is significant tissue damage. Context and meaning (as interpreted by the brain) means everything...

One way to think about it, is that it is all about DIMSIMS - :) ie: what the brain interprets as Danger(ous) or Safe

I love to think about how violinists feel more pain in the finger from a paper cut than a footballer... because of what it means for their capacity to play, and their career...

Here's a great video to get your head around how much the brain influences the experience of pain...

35 minutes ago, Demonstone said:

Crikey, $17 for a burger!  What a rip off.

My local chippy does a delicious one with the lot for $11.

Harbour Lights? 😇

5 hours ago, Pennant St Dee said:

Danger game given they will come out firing at 0-3, copping it in the media and playing at home in prime time.

However we showed great resilience, discipline and character last week.

Ride the storm early and maintain our defensive set up and we should prevail in another tough one

Wouldn't a team at 0-1, 0-2 and on 0-4 come out firing? How many rounds in on '0 wins' does it become a non danger game and you can see a team for who they are, that is, just a bit off the pace overall for the leauge?

Or are they all danger games for the team that you support when they come up against that sort of team because, well you know... MFCSS?

What about the Gold Coast. do they ever cop it in the media, perhaps the Gold Coast Bulletin doesn't care to really report on them, thus doesn't influence the GC Suns performance?

So many questions 😃

Anyway, I'm being a little provocative. 

It's such a tight league due to the spread of athletes, that all opposition are respected..except maybe WCE...

Your last sentence feels about right though!!