Dee Boys

As both a teacher and father of two young boys, I’m constantly amazed at how often people underestimate and infantilise children. Kids these days, exactly the same as when we were their age, don’t fall in love with the game because of gimmicks like music between goals or watching to see if some punter can outrun a virtual player at half time. They fall in love with the marks, the goals, the roar of the crowd, the taste of a pie and chips. Getting to spend the day with Dad or Mum or both. This constant Americanisation of our great game is nonsense. There is nothing better than the roar of the crowd after a goal, and the hum for the minute or so afterwards as the state of play is discussed. Nobody needs this interrupted by ear splitting music. Nobody needs all of their senses assaulted any time there’s a break in play. Let the game breathe. Let people take the opportunity to be able to actually converse with their family and/or friends next to them without needing to constantly shout to be heard. I promise you when kids discuss the game when they get home, or when they get to school the next day, the choice of post goal music is a hell of a long way down the list of their topics. Don’t talk on their behalf and presume they’re idiotic goldfish - they’re a lot smarter than that.

We play Carlton in round 3 and Essendon in round 5.

It was a practice match mate, wouldn’t let it ruin your weekend!

Fair comment. After a few years of being able to do little else apart from running I’d be sick to death of it too!

Exactly what I’ve observed. McAdam was running shirtless the other day when I was at training with my son and, being polite, I’ve seen AFL footballers in much better condition. As for his rehab, again being polite, he was not exactly attacking it with relish. I do have sympathy for him as injuries take their toll mentally as well as physically. I wish him well in his life post football but he knows he’s not going to be on an AFL list in 12 months time and the club knows it too. Everyone’s going through the motions. He may be the nicest bloke in the world and it’s not his fault that we paid way over the odds for him, but sadly he’s been a colossal bust.

Is “verse” and “versing” absolute nails on a blackboard to anyone else? 😵‍💫

I’ve been one who wasn’t sure he was quite good enough to be a difference maker but he seems to have gone to another level in pre-season. Very much hoping it translates into the games this season and into the future and would be ecstatic to be eating humble pie if/when it does!

Appointing somebody clearly unfit and unwelcoming of the role because they’re “our number 1 player and may grow into it” would be absolutely insane. So much of captaincy these days is about communication and being an ambassador for your club and if you’ve ever heard Kozzy being interviewed you’d know he’s a million miles away from that. Fantastic footballer, brilliant to see him becoming a mentor to the younger indigenous guys, but being the team’s best player is about 348th on the list of criteria for making the best captain.

This isn't a new phenomenon. Clubs have been training in training jumpers for as long as I've been alive. I can't think of any sport where players train in their game day attire.

West Coast never had the pick after ours to offer. Their offer was for us to slide back 7 spots for their future second (c. pick 25 next year). Which on the face of it was never going to be anywhere near enough.

Any Dezi Freeman sightings?

Means he hasn't played a lot of top level footy at either underage or state level.

Agree. Reckon it's the most interesting content we get from the club every year.

First round tonight mate (27 picks!) We’ll have two tonight then one tomorrow.

Concur!

Mate no "beef" whatsoever. I just don't think he's quite as good a footballer as some others obviously do, for reasons I've gone into ad nauseam. That's OK! I'm sure there are other players that I rate more highly than others do. Anyway it's draft night, let's revisit this topic in 5 years time!

I did…

Not criticising us picking him mate. For now he’s best 22 and that’s a terrific result for an injury replacement player. Was just responding to the poster saying several other clubs couldn’t believe he was cut and were after him.

If many at other clubs couldn’t believe WCE let him go, why didn’t they pick him up when he was available to every club for nothing? It took a last minute injury to AMW before the window closed even for us to throw him a lifeline after he’d spent the whole summer training with us.

Ben Brown kicked 190 goals in three seasons, not really sure he's a valid comparison. He absolutely would've got a game at Richmond alongside Riewoldt before Tom Lynch arrived! Completely agree about your champion team call. All I'm saying is I don't think he's quite good enough to be a role player in a top team. People arguing he'd get in Brisbane's side ahead of the likes of mids, wings and forwards like McCluggage, Ashcroft x 2, Bailey, Cameron, Rayner, Neale, Dunkley, Lohmann, Berry etc have lost touch with reality. Some people think he'll get there in future. If you're one of those people then terrific! I have my doubts, that's all. As I said, I hope I'm wrong!

Charming! Wayne you clearly rate him more highly than I do. That's absolutely fine, that's life! I certainly hope I'd have better manners than to tell you that you have "NFI" simply for having a differing opinion however. Enjoy your day and Go Dees.

Absolutely mate. Just think that he's a rung or two below the best role players at the very top clubs.

And I'm not saying he's not a decent player. All I'm saying is that similar to the likes of Frost, Oscar McDonald, Weideman, Stretch, Hannan, Vandenberg, JKH, Hore etc who all got plenty of games for us as we were developing, that I think as we improve again to the point that we're (hopefully) contending again, he may struggle to get regular games. That's just my opinion! Not sure why it seems to have riled some people up so much.

My comprehension needs work?! I haven't insulted anyone. I just disagree, that's all. And that's absolutely fine. How boring would life be if everyone agreed on everything? Nice to be called a whippersnapper though, I'm 40!

Sorry but you’re delusional if you think he gets a game at those teams. He’s on the fringe of our best 22 and we’re a bottom 6 side. Saying West Coast’s list manager should be sacked on account of letting him go is also bizarre. We were the only club interested in him after they cut him and even after training with us for the entire pre-season he was still overlooked for Henderson who hadn’t even trained with us, and he only got a call up very late after AMW did his knee. He’s a serviceable AFL footballer but once we improve I think others will go past him and he won’t be best 22. That’s ok. Let’s agree to disagree and move on. Hope you’re proved right and he’s got a premiership medal around his neck one day.