Mel Bourne

Does Harmes come in? 😬

Watch the first five seconds of our Rd 20 match against Richmond to get a glimpse of what that might look like. It’s good, by the way. Kozzie gets an immediate clearance and dishes it to Trac which, although only amounted to a behind, happened within the first few seconds of the match. Then for the next six centre bounces (I figured that was enough research for the night), Koz is moved forward again, and we lose the next four of those clearances. Kinda boggles the mind as to why Koz isn’t used at the bounce more often. Viney and Clarry can be the bulls, and Trac can slip forward. At least try it more than once. Especially when it can work. But boy, was it hard to watch that game then and see Melksham, Petty and Brayshaw out there, and playing so well. Especially Gus. I don’t know if anybody saw Gus doing the “mic’d up” segment on one of the post-match shows recently. It was really illuminating listening to him out there. He is a true on-field leader, constantly giving instructions and boosting morale. He does it really well too. It will be so sad if he decides to call his career, which he would every reason to. Can’t help but feel after watching that Rd 20 game that we may have been cruelled by injuries to the point that a GF is no longer obtainable. Petty will be back next year, but the almost-certain end to Melksham’s career, and the possible end to a 27 year-old champion of our club’s career are the genuine tragedies here.

I can see this eventuating in a one-week suspension. I’m not saying it should.

Shane McAdam

Just wondering, is he available next week?

It must be nice having another code to run to in times of need. Unless your team is not doing well in that code either, of course. Is the Storm going well? I I always forget they exist. It’s a good name. It’s a shame they couldn’t call themselves the $hitty Melbourne Weather.

Welcome to DL mate. A place of relative calm compared to where you grew sick of. Agree on McStay and Hill being unaccounted too many times. An uncharacteristic blight on our otherwise solid defensive structure. Tomlinson up forward is far too radical an experiment for a semi final, as is Schache in the ruck. For mine, Smith takes JVR’s spot. Tomlinson takes his.

“As well as”

There’s better ways to “fly the flag” than exhausting yourself with a bit of pointless wrestling. Would have much preferred Viney to use that energy in the game itself.

I was within smelling-distance of that bunch of mutants behind the goals last night, and unfortunately I did hear that chant. I scanned the faces of that mob more than a couple of times last night, and was genuinely able to console myself with the the thought that no matter what happens on the scoreboard, the ultimate losers were right over there. If aliens were observing us, one of their conclusions would be that any humans born with a missing chromosome were issued with a black and white jumper.

Why….… …oh why….… ….are we….… …….such….… …..slow……..starters?

Unrelated, but there’s a Pies supporter trolling the Dees instagram tonight called “Jaxson”. Now there’s a word!

Sorry I actually thought Jimmy Gadson said that!

Yeah I bet you were a real star in your day buddy.

I love your confidence but mine is shot. Our forward line is sub-standard. And with one of them getting rubbed out tonight, and with the selections we have on offer, it is only about get worse.

McDonald - needed more involvement. That’s putting it lightly.

Was right behind the goals, right next to the horrific assortment of homo-sapiens (at best) in the Collingwood cheers squad, so got to watch our “forward line” up close. My takeaway was that we are not going anywhere further this season if that’s what our best “forward line” is. Fritsch was unable to present to any would-be deliverers. Absolutely out-muscled or out-positioned when it mattered. That kick for goal in the last quarter will, and absolutely should, haunt him. JVR had stage fright. Can accept this. He’s young. Tmac was a waste of a jumper. Would have even preferred Schache out there, let alone Grundy. But I can see what will happen. He’ll play next week and kick three, then should we be fortunate enough to win, will play again in the prelim and will go missing. That’s been his pattern for a while now. He’s been a great player for us, but I hope he has the grace to understand it’s time to call it. Pickett. He’s not a bad player if you have zero expectations of him. Unfortunately he’s been touted as something much more than that, so just continues to disappoint. Viney will be angry at himself for his game tonight, which means I don’t have to be. Trac was needed much earlier in the game, as was Clarry. First quarters from both of them were sub-standard. Also Clarry should be banned from set shots. Joel Smith needs to play forward next week. Defenders can get by without him. Salem has really disappointed since returning. Looks like half the player he was, and Langdon similarly seems to have really dropped off. Some have said our selections were poor, but the cupboard is bare. If there is a sliver of hope it’s going to need to come from Oliver and Trac who just didn’t do their jobs properly tonight. Max took a a quarter to get going, but I’ll go easy on him because he continually has to do the work of two men each game. Incredible moments from him throughout, though his brain fade in the last quarter was costly. Mason Cox is a detestable priq, as is Maynard.

Max. where is YOUR composure, skip?

Ours to win if we just showed composure. But there is none of that out there tonight.

Regardless of the result tonight, this feeling is what it’s all about. And not a feeling that was awarded to us for many, many years. Heading in soon to sit squashed between two strangers and hoping to f&@k that they’re Dees supporters.

Fair to say you’re living up to your nomenclature then, TU? Agreed, anybody here underestimating the Pies has rocks in their head. The noise their crowd emanates is, while on a day-to-day level completely indecipherable, very much a weapon at footy games, and they will be rabid in a finals atmosphere. We need to bring the noise. And the team/coaches need to do whatever they can to diffuse the tactic of negating Max. This is where I think the game will be decided.

Congratulations Joel Smith! A baby girl and a damn fine excuse for missing training. Make her immediately proud!!

Love that this just pops up in the heat of the team-selection talk!

Moore, Murphy and McReery coming in one would assume.

John Noble omitted for the pies. Hasn’t missed a game since Rd 6, 2020. 83 games in a row then dropped for the first final. Brutal.