Dodos Demons

May need a translator for his post match interviews 😬

True. Maybe the window has passed (boy I hope not). Imagine the 2021 team vs the team last night. Injuries have not helped but not many players are above their 2021 output/contribution.

We have a few off half back. Just be nice to have (or recruit) some forward of centre. My fear is that we are in the premiership window now so don’t have too many years to find and refine. I have faith in our recruiters. Important trade period.

Agree 100%. How do they fix the lack of elite (forward of centre) finishers though?

Spot on - how many times did we fail to take the first option only to hold the ball another 5 or 10 seconds and take that option anyway. The refusal to run and gun! Macrae said when Pies lost to us on KB weekend - they went into their shells and didn’t take the game on and he would rather lose by 10 goals. I love that about Macrae because look at the way they play - fans love it, oppo fear it and it works!!! The grind and hugging the boundary keeps teams in it and enables teams to set up defensively.

How do we improve executing under immense pressure. It is a real problem and near impossible to replicate at training. I just don’t think we have many players with ice running through their veins when the pressure is on. We have a great sample size of 4 pressure finals, the last two the worst in terms of executing. We also have critical games (or moments) during the year when we fail to deliver time after time. Admittedly, there were probably games during the season when players have stepped up at critical times but to actually seal a game with a set shot - I can’t recall many. Even if it is not to seal a game but to bury the hopes of the opposition and stepping up when we have that chance with a set shot and it feels like we fail to execute the vast majority of times. Hate to admit this but players like Walker, Elliot, Gunston (in his prime), Breust (in his prime) etc… How a recruiter identifies that ice - I have no idea but it is a massive issue because it is so deflating to the team collectively to be gassing so many chances and worse, it keeps the opposition weighing striking distance. How many solid and dominating victories have we had this season. For Goodwin to trot out the “it is a tough competition” is an easy out. It maybe a tough completion but when you keep teams in it with poor kicking, it does not have to be. Apologies for the rambling post. Don’t start me on the umpiring or the mi d boggling sub selection (which gave the optics of someone other than Goody selecting the sub and Goody then proving them wrong) - beggars belief.

For which team is this a “home game” - In terms of Robbo during the breaks etc…. Not sure I could stand another Collingwood style - asking kids if they want chips or a pie and then voting on it or voting on what 5 bars of a song to air guitar to or kiss cam. Watching our boys kick away their chances was bad enough.

…. hate the way at least 3 Cats players appeal for a free with arms out every time there is a contest.

Hate it. Attempt to make their traps look bigger. Aka the “Dorrito” look to those in the gym scene 😜

If only they had the same enquiring minds last week and during the week. SEN pre game the same. Focus on how hard the job is for the doctors and entitled to make a mistake. All sucking from the AFL money teat.

Journalism 101 - no fear no favours - unless it involves the AFL. Sadly for the AFL, a court of law is where they will eventually be held to account.

Remains staggering to think that an incident so overt and so obvious was not investigated further because of a “mistake”! Did Port even bother looking at a replay of the incident? Seeing other team doctors analysing vision of incidents on the bench shows a level of scrutiny that is both appropriate and required. Did anyone associated with Port (or the AFL) even bother to look at the incident again or were they more focussed on getting the player back on an winning the match. Oh, hang on, the doctor’s priority is the player not the match result. Will any of those in the media have the guts to grill Port and the AFL. Not holding my breath.

Couldn’t agree more. As per my earlier post, it implies a rather cavalier attitude towards the assessment of a head knock and suggests that, to Port, a decision on a head knock is low level fruit in the hierarchy of match day decisions. In their mind, just a run of the mill decision that they overlooked (lke missing a rotation/sub). It is the attempt to cover it up (and the explanations) that is bringing them undone. cannot believe the AFL need to take so long to come up with a punishment and explanations. Behind the walls AT AFL house would at be like watching an episode of Utopia!

The doctor saying it was a “mistake” is such a cop out and smacks of a pattern of prior behaviour that escaped any serious scrutiny or challenge. The contemporaneous conduct of all those around the doctor at the time supports such a conclusion. When finally pulled up (and because it is so obvious) the doctor says it was a “mistake”. Puulleeese.

Don't forget this one earlier in the season - Rozee and Hunter. Pretty sure Rozee did not even get pulled off the ground to be checked. Optics again look bad. Apologies if this has already been posted.

Not watching (or listening) for that sole reason. Are they talking about one of the player’s relatives that runs the local fish and chip shop or making references to where a player went to school and how they are related to a sister’s, cousin’s,best friend’s boy friend who saw Ferris pass out at 21 flavours last night 🙄😜

Was reported on SEN when the decision dropped.

I suspect something going on behind the scenes - they deliberated for a total of 16 minutes. That on its own speaks volumes as to the process.

Appeal it on a legal technicality. He was charged with striking and now it is being referred to as a forceful blow. Nearly every action of an AFL player in a contested situation could be a forceful blow. That is why the charge is striking. They are two different actions and the significant distinguishing factor is intent. Your honour, the defence rests!

What is the risk if the suspension is challenged? The club should realise there is a PR angle to demonstrate to supporters that the club is p’d off too. Crows did it recently with McAdam. The MFC needs to harden up.

So happy for the club and Kozzy. Exciting times ahead. Club has a Kozzy membership drive. Spread the love to friends and family and get them signed up on the back of Kozzy signing wave. https://membership.melbournefc.com.au/membership/36junior https://membership.melbournefc.com.au/membership/36adult

Oh no. My daughter will be devastated! I think only ones missing were BBB, TMac, Spargo, Petty and Kozzy (trying not to read too much into his absence as believe this was the period he was making a decision with his family 🤞).

Was Sparrow there? I was there with my daughter and she was disappointed as we did not see him during the signing procession.

Was in attendance with my kids. The players were so patient as they walked the boundary signing jumpers, footballs, mini figures, body parts (few heads and hands signed) and posing for photographs. A special mention to Fritsch who was second last to leave the field (about 20 minutes after all other players) and big Max who was out for about a further 30 minutes after Fritsch was done. He did it all with such enthusiasm and greeted every kid in a genuine way. He is a special guy and I can see why he is loved by so many. An excellent event to keep the next generation of members enthused and hopefully committed!

Cue press conference “they are a good side Essendon” instead of “we didn’t show up and and couldn’t handle the heat”.