BenJamin on Deesy St

Harsh indeed, on many fronts. Not sure what you mean by too much leisure time over summer, I’ve never seen him in better shape. Last two praccy games he’s spent quite a bit of time in the midfield, particularly at stoppages. What I saw at Casey v North was pretty exciting really, adding x-factor and genuine speed to our midfield mix. Last night he ran out the game strongly. He is bloody fit and he is deadly serious. And he ain’t just a small forward anymore.

I like the man but Bevo’s got his Doggies confused with his counter revolutionary corporate mumbo jumbo of late. Perhaps he’s still trying to fathom what the hell happened in the last minute of the third quarter of the Grand Final - ‘twas over in the blink of an eye, he said. At least he put that succinctly and eloquently.

Not concerned in the slightest. We’ll smash the Blues next time we meet. Reminded me of Round 19 v Bulldogs last year when, other than our clearly being below our best, there were three key factors that determined the result: outstanding individual performance from their captain, lots of goals from an unusual source (forward stoppages for Dogs, centre clearances for Blues) and, let’s face it, a dream run from the umps. As we saw in the Grand Final, the likelihood of all three happening against us again is nil. (Also, throw in May and Salem, and we’re a different proposition.)

Oh dear, lapping up the delusional words of their Pres (below)?! Spare me. We've heard about these expectations and predictions for years. As much as I like and respect Cook, I can't see a bunch of second-choices and second-raters delivering them to the promised land any time soon. That warms my heart, having endured too much Carlton success (and arrogance) following footy from the late 70s, early 80s. On-field defensively (I'm talking about whole-team defence), they are pathetic. Listless. Outside Weitering, they have a bunch of one-way running, unaccountable, selfish, possession gatherers who are not prepared to sacrifice their game. We know exactly how important this is and how long it takes to get that part of the game right. Bloody years and years. Their first-round drafting since 2016 has been - to put it kindly - grossly ineffective (SPS, Dow, O'Brien, Stocker, Kemp, Philp) except for Walsh. I know it's early days for a couple of those guys, but these are the blokes that should form the core of a team that contends - and I don't think they do. Perhaps acknowledging their hit-and-miss (mostly miss) drafting of top-end talent in the last 5 years, they've decided to trade out their first-round draft picks in the last couple of years for over-paid so-called stars, also for questionable returns. As for Vossy, the jury is well and truly out. Things ended acrimoniously at the Lions, relationships broke down. He may have changed his ways. He may have discovered himself and learnt how to delegate, trust and manage people. The word out of Port is positive. But I wonder. His merry band of 'Traveling Wilburys' assistant coaches does nothing for me, either. In short, I hope (and expect) they stay in a deep, dark blue footballing abyss for a long, long time.

Rapt for Jack and family. Like the team, he has matured out of sight and recognised what it means to be a team player, how his strengths contribute to the whole. He was very influential in the finals’ series, has great understanding with Gawn/Jackson at stoppages and complements Clarry & Trac really well with his defensive work and ability to clear the path for others. He played a key part in the Harmes-Fritsch turning point in the GF. So pleased. Our starting midfield - with him a key part of it - is dynamic, powerful and intimidating, akin to the Lions’ (2001-4) and Cats’ (2007-2011) midfields in their prime. Other teams beware!

Yep, 57 years of fury in 10 minutes of football! Clarry’s goal and aeroplane celebration had me in tears and out the front door, screaming incoherently and with guttural savagery at the stars! Better watch it again.

@Return to Glory, missing our Grand Final pilgrimage this year. Nevertheless, having a beer now and soaking up all the pre-game coverage - hoping I’ll make it to the opening bounce!! Go Dees!! Next year at the G.

This is incredible (thanks to DD82 for the pic) - Big Maxy in the heart of Yarraville! A work of art and courage.

Gone the symmetrical look, replete with a touch of red & blue Haymes Paint on the (heritage!) facade and signed Clarry guernseys in the windows. C'mon Demons!

Goodes won it (shared it) as a ruckman in 2003. He won it later as a ruck-rover and should have won it again as a centre half forward. Just a sensational player. And Wanganeen won it the year after Wynd, don’t forget, as a back pocket.

Yes I’m also glad there’s some acknowledgment of the umps’ influence in Rd 19. It stood out like dogs’ balls, along with our poor conversion and The Bont (and his goals from forward 50 stoppages). Can’t see the Doggies continuing their dream run with the umps in finals (last game v Port was the first time in 9 or so finals that they’ve had less frees than the opposition - incredible). They’re not the romantic story this time around, despite their best efforts to portray hardship on the path to the GF and invoke supposed class differences & stereotypes between the two clubs and supporter groups. Let’s smash ‘em, and smash ‘em early. We’re the better team.

My word I do. Actually, I can’t understand it. I’d feel a lot more comfortable with Hibbo and Jordon in the team instead of Smith and Sparrow. Hibbo put the clamp on Cameron last time and, in my opinion, offers more than Smith with his rebound and ball use. He’s also finals-hardened, better understands his role with May/Lever and more composed under pressure. I worry that the Viney/Harmes/Sparrow triumvirate, although damn gutsy, has a bit too much sameness - a ‘bees to honeypot’ quality - about it. Jordon adds something different, a bit more versatility, a bit more of an outside game, a bit more awareness of the next play and where to position himself, while being hard as nails himself and a good tackler. But what do I know. During the third quarter last Sat, I thought we’d lost the game at selection, and then I witnessed The Miracle of Kardinia!

RTG!! What a game, what a season! And what a pity we can’t be at the G to experience all this.

Utter delirium and mayhem in the home last night. 8 year old daughter jumping up and down like a lunatic, screaming at the TV, finger raised repeatedly (not in salute but vicious derision), shouting, “Suck that, Geelong. Suck it!” 11 year old running laps of the living room, swearing and hyperventilating (she’s still traumatised by other Kardinia Park experiences which can not be named), wondering if what she saw was real. Never have I been more proud of such feral behaviour. So, anyway, how does one who lives in the lockdown capital (Melb) of Australia get oneself to Perth in September?!

Unbelievable!! Mayhem in our household

Come on Dees!!

Liverpool on shortly

Getting nothing from the umps. Having said that, this game was lost at selection. Smith and Sparrow should have been dropped, not Hibbo and Jordon. And TMac is clearly not ready, so Milkshake should have retained his spot. Anyway, no worries, there won’t be any finals played at Kardinia Park. Let’s beat the Cats at Optus Stadium in the GF!

I’m gonna tear up, thinking of how that season ended at Arctic Park. Such a desolate place, people devastated and in shock, like a goddamn funeral. Was a great ride though, which started well before the finals of course. So much emotion and goodwill for Robbie. Northey had ‘em whipped up into a frenzy. I’ll never forget those two winning finals. 23 years of no finals and then - bang - two absolute thrashings, relentless and remorseless, with supporters baying for more blood!

Can’t stand the Weagles. 1990s roids-machine wasn’t endearing, nor was the meth coke era (although ‘88 elim final was ok - thanks Andy Lovell and Gazza!). 2018 prelim experience didn’t help, especially spending $3k to get deaf in their whiz bang stadium and endure ‘Eagle Rock’ on a loop post game on the loudspeaker with large, uncoordinated shorts-wearing fans dancing and shaking their hips with glee, guts spilling out, singing along out of tune in between chanting, “MCG, MCG, MCG”! Umps don’t help. A cool 28-16 tonight, 10-2 to close out the game. So predictable. Always playing them in Perth doesn’t help. 8 out of our last 10 games against them have been played in Perth. How ridiculous. What elite sporting league in the world has such a fixture lacking in so much integrity and fairness year on year? The last time we played WCE at the MCG was in 2014. 2014 for god’s sake. And don’t get me started on the number of times we’ve had to play Geelong in Geelong, versus other teams, over the years. The sad irony is - for us Victorian-based fans - we’ll most likely have to win the flag at bloody Optus Stadium this year. At least it won’t have to be against the Weagles. They’re done.

Where’s Dr D(rivel), the Oracle of Dross, the Demon Doomsayer, he who reverentially refers to himself in the third person, firing his scattergun of prophetic excrement all over the forum walls with narcissistic pleasure? Check your very well-researched ladder predictor, Drivel. No vindication for you after all. Try again next year. Or, better still, don’t.

Well at least he said 'lessons' and not 'learnings', hey Dr Drivel?!

Round of 16 game going into Quarter Finals. And I blame Hiddink. He was overly defensive in tactics and substitutions once Italy were down to 10 men. Magical time though in Germany.

Also from MCC website re game v GWS: Full and Restricted members can reserve a ticket for themselves and purchase up to 2 visitor tickets. Provisional members* and Annual guest card holders can reserve a ticket for themselves. *Provisional members will not be able to access seating on Level 2.

3pm today