Red But Mostly Blue

Thank god that’s over. I’m hoping that was a ruse and we are just setting them up for complacency, and we come out and play the actual game plan. the one that’s different and exciting. The one they’ve been pumping us up for with all the social media post of the boys just blitzing stuff. Do that, please. LITERALLY NOTHING TO LOSE TODAY. NO POINTS ON THE LINE. JUST DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

Ooof I saw this twice last year. Don’t know I’m up for another episode. I’m a sucker for punishment so I’ll likely tune in for the first half of Q3 to see if Goody actually tries something different. But if no change I might turn this off and wait for the learnings. Lame

I thought we were going to be more aggressive with our ball movement? This is uninspiring. A praccy is a perfect place to trial dash and dare! If we lose, we lose, it’s ok, but if we lose playing safe and boring like much of last year, what’s the point? Freo embarrassed us TWICE last year. What’s the point of this? What’s the message?

Early days, just a praccy etc, but I’ve seen this show before. ay-ay-ay (but still lots of time to fix)

Love to see Claz hitting the scoreboard!

Negotiation 101 Whether anyone else thinks he is worth 3 first round picks (he is - and if you don't believe me, have a look at the persistent efforts to get him - and he's only 23) is irrelevant. He's contracted. We set the price at 3 first rounders, and it's the role of the other club(s) to open the wallet, tip the couch cushions over, whatever. Maybe we get 2 first rounders and something else. That's a decent outcome (even if I prefer Kozzie, and would love for him to stay). If we set the price at 2 first rounders, maybe we only get 1 first rounder and some change, and that's no good at all. The price (if there's indeed a trade here, in 2026) is 3 first rounders. If you can't pay, you keep on walking.

Just Trac and Max... We're being underestimated, friends. And that's OK. Under the radar is good. Premiership by stealth. By the time they see us coming, we'll be raising the cup! 🏆 Cigars out etc.

ChatGPT did us dirty. Gross.

Always love you positive, human stories ❤️

Securing Jai is a GREAT outcome. It's a real shame it came from a cruel injury to AMW, but it's something and if even half of what is said about him comes to fruition, he'll be a really valuable addition. He looks the goods. Ox loves him haha ...And to think, this came from some common sense from the AFL!!

As a financially crippled Lego fan (I have at least 100+ unopened boxes stashed in cupboards, under beds, piled in my study etc, not to mention what is actually built all over the place), this is great!! I loosely partnered with Lego HQ at some point, and I can tell you the hoops and hurdles that must have gone through to get this done would have been significant. Lego is a closely held, still family-owned company who is very conservative with who it partners with, communications, and messaging etc. So excellent work all round!!

AMW and Jagga both ACLs Terrible week for the kids!! 😔

Terrible luck. These sorts of injuries are the nightmare and have an especially hollow feeling during these practice matches. Even more painful because you feel he was starting to create a case for starting team selection. Super talented and gaining confidence. All the best for recovery, looking forward to seeing this kid out there in 2026!!!

It's only a praccy, but this is a good early opportunity to send a message for 2025. We were embarrassed by the dockers twice last year, I'm looking forward to a more positive mindset and display from the boys (not too fussed if we win - just want to see some interesting plays/something different, and pride). FWIW, I think we are going to have an excellent year, and will display the fruits of the honest chats the boys have had, a few more of the kids on deck, and our culture shining through.

I think I know who and understand the reasons for holding off - and if so, that's wonderful news. Please send positive thoughts. If I am wrong, of course, I still send those positive thoughts, just in a different direction. Please redirect as necessary haha. Love me a good news story, can't wait to hear the good news in 7 weeks or so ❤️

Agree with all of this mate. Turner will have a much bigger year, had a solid 2024, and a much improved one fitness wise. Big 2025 on the cards. JVR is a deadset jet. He has had to deal with being thrown around due to our rucking issues, but he is tracking so nicely. I bet 17 other sides would snap him up in a heartbeat. With ruck settled this year and positioning in general improved, I reckon he will kick 40-50. (Also appreciating the more positive vibes - even though I am only now slowly coming out of my usual 'holiday' from the site haha) 100% we need fast, smart elite ball users. We have the forward stocks. It's actually a really hard to matchup forward line. It's dynamic and unpredictable. JVR, Turner, Fritter (!!), Trac, Kozzie, Melk (!!), and as you say still have a few swingmen who CAN kick goals. If we can get our ball movement sorted, lowering the eyes, smart ball use etc, watch out! I think we will.

How good does Melk look!!??? PHWOAR. Seriously. He's got another year or two in him, easy, in that nick. Always been a big fan of Melk, and he plays such an important role in the team. To have him starting fit this year is such a big win for us. Maybe it's the new year vibe in me, but I am feeling pretty good about our forward line. With Fritter also starting fresh, and hopefully a little more renewed mongrel from him in the 50, I reckon we will be a tricky matchup for most teams. Melk would look even better with a big cup at the end of this year...

I'm not sure Demonland can have it both ways. Can't pin our 'bad culture'/poor performance this year on him, then deny his role in our recent success/'21 flag If both are true, to an extent, then we owe him thanks for helping return the Dees to some relevance and success. Nothing lasts forever. CEO is a hard gig. Lots of pressure and the pitchforks come out quick. Thanks for your contributions, Gary.

CEOs.... tricky prospect. If you happen to be at the top when you're winning, you get praise - even though it's arguable you didn't do much to achieve on-field success. That's on the players, coaches and fitness staff. Pert was a part of our flag in 21. How much depends on how much you think CEOs actually do in this space. If he's responsible for culture, then he was as much part of the overall culture that led to that flag, as he is to where the culture is today - again, depending on how much is true, and what you believe. There has been tangible progress for our home base, financials are good, membership is good, so there's that. And that certainly falls within the CEO ambit. Anyhoo, all that to say, we've now lost our Pres and CEO after a tough year, and that can't be a coincidence. Heaps of clubs go through lean patches and do not have change at that level because it's easier to point the finger at the coach. It's clear there is a view that there must be change. Perhaps the review was revealing that. Hopefully we trade up and bring in someone excellent who will achieve the things we have identified need addressing.

Yes, with respect to the other stuff. But given the microscopic level scrutiny we have received with everything, I hope this is bundled together with the other issues.

All the best, Tommo. Always tried hard, and had some really good games. Occasionally unfairly blamed when in truth he was not alone. Bit of a sliding doors guy. He was there in 2021 when we were flying high, and did his ACL. Up to then he was playing really well, and may very well have become a premiership player - and perhaps not in this position. Obviously hard to imagine our premiership team any different to the one we fielded, but you never know. There would not have been cause to drop him if he continued playing well, and we were winning - which we were. Anyway, he copped a bad injury, probably given slightly misleading assurances regarding being a required player. I think he still has some good footy for a team in need of someone like him. Go well, Tommo! Thanks for your time in the red and blue.

This is a really frustrating outcome. We had a need for Wade - who hasn't played a senior game yet, and wanted to come home to his family. We correctly let ANB (as a required player and within contract) go. GWS held onto Wade for no valid reason. Probably speaks more to their culture than ours - wonder if that will be examined.

I think we have enough forward firepower next year. It's actually a pretty dynamic and dangerous lineup. JVR has developed nicely, and one of my frustrations was having him rucking so much. Useful, but not as useful as him continuing to develop his forward craft. We have brought in extra ruck assistance for Max, which may free up JVR. Disco had a good year and a mostly clear run with injuries, which has helped. He will continue to develop next year. He's just a kid, who's been converted from the backline. He's a great kick and gets into some good spots. With some mentorship and another year, again, he will be useful, Add to that Fritta, Melk (both elite kicks and smart players), Kozzie, Chandler and Trac floating in alongside Max, to get a chopout from ruck, I think that looks pretty good. The issue was the midfield and delivery. We were owned in the midfield most of the year, and still have not mastered the art of lowering the eyes and spearing passes to guys like Melk, Fritta, JVR and Disco who are pretty good at making space. They can't kick many goals if they aren't getting delivery. We need to keep working on midfield, delivery and playing smart.

Well, that was certainly refreshing. I’ll take some good media, thank you very much. I think there are more positives than this, how young the team is, Viney having a bigger year etc. The reference to Clarry may have an asterisk depending on whether you believe what’s still being said. Who knows, but if he is playing for us next year I’m sure it’ll be a huge year. I think we’ll have a good year, we just need to be smart about some trades/recruits and off field stuff

Not a bad approach! haha might be a good way to condense a lot of nonsense into 2-3 minutes of things that actually happened, rather than days of conjecture and hyperbole.