58er

Wrong 1.1 million crowds and 6th in total H and A crowds. Don't bring up the McClure and Caro phobia about our crowds.

Agreed Great call.

Against the odds? Why was that ? We gave them the game through our poor and undisciplined play. Kossie nearlly won us the game but he needs disciplinine.

Here here Nicko same here.

It's 23 by the way!

Why would Clarry go ? He is just as big a player in this mess as every one.

No we don't need to just tinker we need to start A NEW GAME PLAN, One that the players can understand and is a positive pro active plan that aims to kick goals not prevent them. Not aim at a pack of players just yo keep the ball in the 50m arc. Get rid of Stafford and get in some new forward ideas snd centre's etc.

Laurie wasn't he had done well in Rounds 23 and 24. Trouble was he had all day instead of about a quarter to play last week. Should have been back as sub again snd in last quarter he might quite easily have won It for us with some skill and conversion.

Is this a medical fact because players are prone to form changes it doesn't mean they are injured? With our riches for half backs if he was suffering the thyroid complaint again this decision to keep playing him is as perplexing as last years myriad decisions of the same style. I thought we had firmly moved on from that. The forward move has a lot of logic much more than the post to limit him to handball if more than 20m out.

Equal really but 6 goals In a Granny is hard to beat

None of those Finals games would have changed the results whether played where they were, in Adelaide or Perth, on our beloved G, or even in Mars. The final margins of 5 goals (10 scoring shots) 14 goals (15+) and 12 goals ( 19) indicate our total dominance in a very much almost record domination on our opponents. Not sure that Praha was at any of the venues and while I was only at the Grand Final live all Melb supporters had their hearts in their mouths all around the world ( My nephew in Geneva ) at the game at Optus Stadium or in lockdown in Melbourne when the Bont kicked THAT goal, to lead by 19 points halfway through the third quarter. The Doggies had kicked the only 2 goals in 15 mins. of total forward domination of territory and we couldn't penetrate their defence. But we had saved any potential goal onslaught in that time in fact SAVED THE GAME by keeping the margin to only 3 goals and a behind. Our championship defence the envy of all other teams then ( and now) set the base for the next 16 out of 17 goals with probably the most superb display of attacking footy in a GF or even H and A games that ANY club has played under the the ultimate pressure in a Finals game. I don't think any Dees supporter that night ( and 99.99% since ) thought that it was easier to do at Optus rather than at the G, let alone cared about the details of venue etc. And I don't think that is at all fair in any way at all on our magnificent heroes who responded on a different premiership stage under the curse of the 57years previous. Since then we have been tested high and low on the AFL stage as a team that has topped the mountain ( not that it was thrown like a bridal posy ) and we happened to catch it. 2022 we all now know that we had half the team playing with injuries of different nature by Finals time and could not play with any freedom for all the game. Indeed I have heard 11 players had scans ( not just Trac ) after the Qualifying Final and before the Lions overran us. In the last quarter in the Semi. As we now "know" if Harry had been sent forward at 3/4 time instead of a cursory 7/8 minutes that result most likely would have changed. No we wouldn't have beaten the Cats for the Flag but our Coach could have emulated " we were banged up" just like Scotty pulled the "we were ill" card 12 months previous. To 2023 and our start promised a new dawn for our attack but gradually each pillar of that portion of our team has suffered and half our potential match winners are now merely spectators. Yes our forward results on the scoreboard have raised their ugly head plus our tactics and lack of cohesion and we now find ourselves with our biggest challenge for the last 3 years to proceed meaningfully to a second prelim and grand final. This result is partly injury based plus a mysterious game plan forward of centre that has self inflicted ourselves ( last year it was kicking to the forward pocket ) and this is let's just bomb to full forward and get at least 10/12 players contest the ball for a mark/scrum/half a snapshot if we are lucky but it will generally mean there won't be a swift or clear breakaway and our forwards can reset within the square/arc to wear our opponents down. Who cares if we don't score but our opponents won't either just that we are 3 goals plus behind and majorly need to out score our opponents to WIN the game. In last Melb vs C'wood podcast Binman ( I think him if not George ) seemed to agree as he didn't challenge these tactics. In fact it was stated Goodie had won us a flag with these tactics and why should we query them now??? It is his assessment of our list snd best way to "attack" for another flag was the defence. !! Trouble is there is no attack per say and why we do often finish up with dodgy stats in narrow losses that mirror over the one thing sport is all about PLAYING TO WIN and using your knowledge to out wit and outplay ( not bore everyone) in the attempt. How else is that reflected that only 20,000 last week and about 15,000 Dees fans ( other than 15,000 MCC rusted on) this week are buying tickets to watch our greatest three generational players try to conjure up and stem the ignominy of a second straight sets loss not done this century in the AFL Finals. I not sure where that leads us in the respect of the AFL chatter but it sure resonates in our very fickle and not so smart at times fan base. We have had many more than half D/Lers say our season is over etc. Despite what I have posted so far we are not dead in the water we have produced many times a great team effort to win under duress snd only once in3 years have never been in the game for the whole match realistically ( Bombers in Gather Round 5 this season ) and was that I believe in 73 games since 2021. I think that deserves plenty of respect from all of us and the AFL but we are not attacking meaningfully IMO it's like a cricket team waiting for a wicket but not really trying to just waiting for a mistake. Don't get confused with the defence stopping goals Thats what defences do( refer '21 GF) but once out of defence attack is the best means of defence in any game. We can because of our ability stop the Blues to say 10/11 goals but will we chance a win with sayTurner up forward or Trac in attack all day if we are being overtaken on ball? Lets get there and be louder and longer in our efforts because those 60,000 plus Blues will be just as loud snd cocky ( not quite as feral) as the Pies were. We owe it to Angus and our injured forwards and for further self respect to our reputation in this elite and toughest of competitions. Go you mighty Dees PS Don't hear Tigers fans diminishing their 2020 Flag at the Gabba snd it took far less time to accomplish with 17 minute quarters. So let's not even go there and there are no asterisks on Flags, never has and never will and 2023 is still waiting. Pies have only won the first set of three games, win Friday snd we are on equal footing ie 2 wins away from immortality our 14th Flag and fourth best in the AFL on our own.

Swell he has his chance instead of Laurie I presume who I would still like as sub. He has some rare skill to be unflustered in a phone box where as others on our forward or mid range list are chlostryfobic in a paddock. Spargs is a chance to amend this a bit however.

Amazing Poita, supporters like you would have run out of patience with Curnow after all his injuries over the 5 years and insisted on a trade about year 3, or a delisting even maybe! You are not famous with patience for recruits. Some D/Lers were calling for Trac to be traded about that time at end of 2019 and luckily he became a star from that first practice match at Casey in 2020 and the rest is history.

Darling is as done as BBB and Tmac!

Are you so just thinking it's not both our connectors passing plus our forwards stagnation snd lack of separation plus the ridiculous tactics of kicking to a pack of defenders and forwards. Talk snout self inflicted Coach Killers. any how it's not working so change the tune and get cracking,

Your views re long term Senior Coaching are not necessarily Simons or any D/Landers Just because you think it's time for a change in 2027 it's not going to be the time. Personally I believe Mick Stinnear would bê the best person to coach the Dees next. Ooze can replace Greg Stafford next year and see how he can improve the Forward line if he doesn't get the Tigers otr any other job. There has to be a change in our Forward Coach ASAP and Simon must alter his defensive tactics ifwe are to win the Flags that our ability is capable of.

I must have missed the memo. No one yet has heard that Gus has retired to my Knowledge. He might be considering many things after that event last Thursday. While he is not understandably in his best space quite yet his recovery from concussion will be the same as the protocols are for other AFL players albeit a bit more protracted and watchful from the medics and our Club. Only after that his intentions both short term and possibly long term May become apparent. To predict or assume an outcome is premature at this stage as we all know that his recovery is the major factor. If it's business as usual then advice will be sought on this path or the alternative delayed about this season and then his future plans down the track perhaps. Lets not write him off or presume an out come at this stage as it has been six years since he determinedly and courageously fought for his career and this setback may still be only a blip with his contract still awaiting and ready to fulfil should he wish if safe to do so. I do however agree on your thoughts re our ability to still be a worthwhile player in this flag race beginning with a backs to wall effort to eliminate the Blues on Friday. If there is one thing our boys have shown over the past 3 years is that we are not easily beaten and will fight like crazy to keep our record and standards highly competitive on this very tough elite competition. Go Dees.

Simply he chose to jump to spoil that's a no no in tackling he made contact with the head whether unlucky or not it doesn't matter if it's unlucky he is responsible for his actions ie hitting in the head and concussing/ injuring a player. Contact made was behind the play as instanced by the immediate free kick down field. And the severity was high and injury severe which is now evidenced he is still in hospital. It was careless really reckless when you see it happen so you are responsible if you bump and whether accidental or not. That collision is not one of a football act it's one of a tackle gone patently wrong and the player has to pay. No ifs or butts, 4 weeks thank you.

So Tommos record of playing with Maysie and Rick is not a good fit ? Funny we have not lost I believe around the 20 games that all three have played together going back to 2021. And you know the Swans defenders so well that he is going to fit like a glove with them. Don't think they will rack up a 20 to Nil record if he goes there as you seem so desperately to want. Pick No 39 will be about 43/45 by The time we get it after F/S and Academy selections ahead. Might get a diamond in the rough if JT and Lambie go to work but not really a great move that's if Tommo wants to go to the Swans. You seem more about getting rid of Tommo for pick 39 (43 say) and saving Swans $800,000 than about us.

No need to be leaping when you are 170cm. Look how many leaps Kossie has tried snd fsiled in ALL. That's not a small forwards tole IMO and Kossie should be instructed to STOP trying MOTCENTURY. Both he snd Watson's place is down at the front crumbing the packs and then converting goals. Leave the big marks to Rooy he will reward us better each year.

Especially Cunnington.

Same here

She seriously is now a fairly powerful athlete in the AFLW and will take her marking to a new level. She now has height pace and some well added muscle. A freaking handful and if she misses the ball will be picked up and goaled by the Hanks Zankers Harris's Hores and McNamaras of our forward world. Our Senior AFL Forward Coach should watch these girls convert and attack the footy. They are an inspiration.

The above is a reply to Kev Martin and not to the poster Wodjathefirst.