tiers

And then DC disappeared. Why?

What we saw in the finals this year was a team that played as if it was a single cohesive organism - watch how Tracca and Clarrie just knew instinctively where to run to receive. It reminds me of the catties in their good years when all players knew when and where to go. With team stability this should only get better and will enhance our team's performances. Other teams still have a long way to go to catch up. It gives us a decisive advantage. So long as we stay fit and united, we have all that is necessary for continued success. One year at a time. Go Dees

All the players need a good pre season. There is a chance to create a dynasty.

The greatest captains from the past have always had the ability to lead from adversity and lift their team to victory. Think Voss, Kelly, Lyon, Judd, Carey for a few. Until R23 at Geelong, Maxie had shown how to lead off the field but not yet demonstrated it on the field. His last quarter efforts then won the game (not just THAT goal but watch him at the start of the quarter) but he repeated the effort in Q3 of the prelim final and, by his selfless decision to watch Jackson in Q3 of the GF, he showed how to lead on the field. True captain's efforts for which he and we should be proud. His grace and charm since then have anointed him as the GOOT - greatest of our time.

Balme has had premiership success at the filth, catties and toigers. He might not need us.

From 1987 to 1991 we made the finals while training at the Junction Oval. Good drafting and good coaching can make a team perform well but I want more. I want us to be a powerhouse again and that will require quality training facilities. with access to a social club. Think of what the MCG as a home will do for us. On the other hand, the filth have their fabulous facilities and they are still no good. Bad drafting, team management and poor coaching will do that to you. The dorks are too far out of town, the lolly blues want for nothing apart from talent, leadership and coaching and the propellors built a training facility and now want to come back. Only at the MCG can we become a powerhouse.

Believe it or not I do realise that it is 2021 and we are PREMIERS. Over the years I have been to training and understand the issues. I have seen the piecemeal facilities that we have. If the training facilities are not there then the MCG is a vast space that must be able to accommodate them. As for the grass, is this the only practical way to light up the grass? And how often during training do they need access to the whole ground? We have been having this discussion for years since the rotten days at the Junction Oval (even there we had to overcome the slope). Enough! Over the years so many alternatives have been raised but they have all had their problems and stiill we are training on Goschs and Casey remote from our home. What I feel is not frustration but an absence of determination to find a home. The only decent playing surface that is available near our home is our home but we cannot use it. For all the issues that you and DD have raised, it must still be worth an effort to see if they can be overcome. I have offered some ideas - if they are not possible then tell me what is possible. And let's fight. We are now the top of the tree so let's start acting as such.

Winning makes everyone look good.

Checked the cricket schedule for January/February 2022. In January there are 4 BBL thrashathons, in February one 4 day Shield match, one 50 over and one 20/20 match. Surely they don't need 8-10 wickets for no more than 7 matches over 10 days including 6 one dayers especially when the gaps between matches allows for the used pitches to be revived. It is for a one dayer after all and it doesn't need to be first class perfect. And surely its doesn't take all day to mow the lawns and prepare pitches. As for the lights, why can't they shine all night and not waste the day? That's why they are called artificial lights. There must a window of 3-4 hours in any given day for the dees to train. Admittedly without a centre square it might be hard to train for the Jackson/Viney/Petracca/Oliver demolition job that finished off the doggies but the last cricket match is on 20 February so we will still have time. Just requires some effort on the part of the administrators.

After 30 odd years of being training nomads (we used to train at the MCG until the mid 80s) it seems to me that the only solution is to return to the MCG as our home. Surely there must be enough space in the ground for our admin and fitness facilities to be housed together and we should be allowed to train on the ground as our home. How much can one teams training affect the surface? Work out an arrangement with the cricket - let's face it, after Boxing Day test the cricket is second rate one dayers or 20/20 anyhow and some damage to the square can be tolerated. Maybe from February on.

Too busy watching the replays to post. Watched the last 1.5 quarters again tonight. Never disappoints and we win again and again. Maybe in a few years when the thrill and excitement wears down a bit.

Agree. The greatest thrill of my football life. I was there in 1964 so I will not have another 57 years to wait. Agree.

He was a liability with us. At the dorks he had Matthews, Dipper, Wallace and others who could cover for him and take the pressure off him. All he had to do was contest.

They were cooked before three quarter time. Just watch how insipid and weak they looked when Kozzie stripped them of the ball to fall for Bowser to give to Angus; then when Tracca gave to Clarrie who gave to Sparrow who kicked a 50m+ goal off one step while surrounded by four doggies; then when Jack cleared the ball from the pack to our running ruckman Dogga, all on his own, to give to Clarrie, on his own, with only Daniels who got run down by Jack between Clarrie and the goals. Game over. They were boiled, poached, fried, baked, roasted, grilled, sauteed - cooked. BTW so were the catties in the second half of the PF.

The gun full forwards had at least three advantages over today's full forwards. First, they were the focus of all attacks (no kicking down the line to a pack), secondly they were generally one out in the days before zone and team defences and received better service from up the ground and, thirdly, they were just better footballers. Hundred goals a year full forwards like Hudson, Wade, Jesaulenko, Lockett, Quinlan, Blight, Templeton, McKenna, Dunstall, Ablett were far better footballers than the best of the current era such as Hawkins and Reiwoldt. Why the supply of such champions has stopped is a mystery but the way the game is played today with its emphasis on speed and possession rather than territory is a contributory factor.

+1. And even the stars have to play their respective roles.

Will never go away. Go dees.

This reminds me of the great cricket fast bowling conundrum. Modern day fast bowlers are considered to need R & R to maintain top condition and performance for a season. Some years ago, a number of retired fast bowlers (Merv Hughes vintage) explained that the more they bowled, even when slightly discomforted by injuries, the better and more resilient they became and could maintain a full summer season of Shield matches and Test matches where they were required to bowl over 20 overs an innings. Is there too much so-called science in sport? I am starting to think yes.

One of the true joys of watching our dees this year was the apparent lack of a weakness anywhere on the ground. To use the accepted parlance our last six were as good as other teams' first or second six. Who would be be the last six? The usual suspects Spargo, Nibbler, Harmes, Sparrow, Jordon, Hibbo all played to their potential and, in their time on the field, did not show any deficiency in class or effort. The next six who did not make the squad are also capable of matching the performance of the rest of the team. No gaps. Will this sustain us for multiple flags? Who knows but at this stage we are the best placed in the AFL.

Templeton was affected by injuries when he arrived and did not last. Good as he was, and he was that good, he was not really one of ours from the beginning. Fritsch started with us and is the only "31" since RDB to star in a premiership by kicking 6 goals. Gets my vote.

They won one only flag in a dominant period. 2000 was their only year. Waste of talent. Take nothing for granted.

Angus raises his arm, Jake sees him and deliberately pulls his kick to pass to Angus. It was a pass or otherwise it would have been a longer kick. Watched it multiple times and I am certain.

It is remarkable how often a middling team suddenly emerges as a power viz. lions in 01, catties in 07, dorks in 13, doggies in 16, toiges in 17, dees in 21. So far as I can recall, none of the above were accurately predicted in advance of that season. So we must stay cautious of all teams and plan to emerge even further in 22. Stability, fitness, competition for spots and the chance for a home GF win should make us hungrier. Go dees

In the lead up to Angus' third quarter goal, it was Jake Bowey who found the ball and in a nanosecond summed up the situation and deliberately delivered a short pass to Angus to mark and goal. Smart footy. He has shown many times in his few games that he has the footy smarts to be a star. Impressive.

Is there not a Melbourne onesie for George? MFC store, where are you?