58er

Don't think your draft situation is real. Our 23/27 is not a great issue snd our recruiting has proved successful over the journey viz. 2021 flag and Top4 3 years in a row. What we perhaps not got right is our forward line disruptions of injury and age that have crept up on us. But we have JVR Fritta Kossie and Petty plus ANB snd Spargo Chandler and Trac as well. Smith is a depth forward or back. Matt Jefferson is a future prospect for 2024/5 on. Howes Laurie and Wowe plus AMV are very close and 2024 could well be breakout years for them. And a top under 30 draft pick forward should be chosen in November who might be a year away or even ready depending upon our first round selections. Top up with Chol could be the quirky left of field selection who galvanises with Petty and JVR our scoring potential. Remember we had 8 more shots than the Blues and Lions only 6 at their fortress yet they are playing next week!!

You've answered all the reasons why North are considered eligible for this compensation. Bit like saying Melb can't be given it ( previously) as we have had the MCG and it guarantees us bigger crowds ( not necessarily profits ) as 25,000 is about cut off point for match day profits.

Your opinion on Goody is not correct as he has grown to be an even better coach since the Flag triumph. Feel free to post why he is not a competent coach! Does that mean you judge him as incompetent?

No but some others either miss the memo or just contribute their wishes ( ignoring or dreaming ) for the future. Its a situation that the Club should embrace and leave no one out of its deliberations. Firstly we should thank Greg Stafford for his role in the last few years as he is after all a premiership Coach. There are a few dynamics with our mid forward connection and it hasn't been easy but no one can really say he has Solved any of the problems. Needs a more team approach and Goody must get involved as he has overseen and created a far too defensive mindset. Some of the better candidates IMO are Dew (but not midfield) McQualter, Pyke, Leppitsch, Enright, Rohan Smith, Stephen King and Cam Bruce. More left field are Selwood and Cotchin to bring youth and success for reinforcement to the table. There are more no doubt in an ever widening net . I would discount are Ratten but be open to most or all possibilities for our forward line especially.

I tjink you will find that when luring a player to your Club it's not always ONE party that is solely responsible . The art of negotiation is always there and in these circumstances while Ben wanted to play with the Dees we also wanted him to come and be play for us. So the talks begin and a contract via his manager is firmed and agreement reached. Maybe the Dees can resolve with Ben some coaching role extended to the men also and tick off on e reduced final year total. We must remember that our players are our lifeblood and like any employer are restricted by rules and regs snd also the Players Association. So let's see what happens at the Trade table first and not jump any guns at this stage despite our worry we might be holding the babies as it were.

Agreed perhaps a little tough love with Kossie is needed. In x as another post I cited this unrealistic attempt, tackling as in bumping, and general lack of some team ethics just on odd occasions is preventing Kossie becoming an absolute A grader for us. Hopefully some tweaking and s lityle tough talk will help as we all love him. Will have all season to cool his heels till Round2 to reflect upon and it might be good go for thought in the off season. At the same time he did a lot right at FF getting us back on top and as the solo leading player created opportunities for us. Pity he burnt Trac when his shot hit the post in the last quarter. He's still young and and even better times ahead if he changes a few small things.

Not every recruit is as gung ho as JVR. He is the gold standard and should force all our recruits to be top trainers and pre season prep stars. Jeffo is a completely different style of player to JVR snd as-such his development is/will be different. But he will be guided by the Club and let's just be patient for results. All the doomsayers are opening their mouths about MJ but he has ability and we should see it evolve at some stage perhaps later in 2024.

Probably not. I meant on the backline as a third tall mainly but might share with Tommo depending upon the brutes in the opposition. I also believe ( and hope ) Disco could be skilled enough to mind smaller flankers. Time will tell.

McAdam won't ever be picked ahead of ANB unless Goody had time off for injury illness or any thing else requiring rest.

Naughton has ability but not a great kick and perhaps although in the high 40.s slightly disappointing in2023.

Very old spine Stevie Maxy and Lynch Succession programme abound

Disco is a real chance in 2024

That's what happens when you lose games you should win.

Jibroni is correct. No matter what you say we lost it due to poor forward line football, bad accuracy, over rough reactions to try and amend our image from being soft, poor discipline amounting to 3 50m penalties snd very bad examples of burning team mates in kicking for goal. All of these errors basically occurred forward of centre and most inside the arc. Our football skills ie passing to our forwards was basically non existent except to Kossie after half time. I understand that we were well short of our best forwards available which only frustrates us more as we had 26 shots to 18. Half as much again until the last minute!! It took 3 defensive errors in a row accumulated by match pressure to break our wall in the last minute and that disaster started forward of centre . Such a pity as our defence was magnificent all day and the game was also. We can hold our opponents from getting away from us but can't put the scores on to establish a lead big enough. Going from 9 to 15 points up and beyond was just do difficult as we squandered chance after chance with the errors above preventing this. PLay this game between 2 wins in the home and away season it's a great game for both sides. But a cut throat Semi elimination Final after a close similar loss the week prior is a crime which we have orchestrated ourselves, similar to half a dozen seasons games with similar endings. Thats why the press and critics have the right ( as does Garry Lyon) to come hard and examine the reasons, etc. We have lost 9 games conceding only 73 points, that's why we all are so frustrated and disappointed plus the events of the previous match and the resulting farce of a Tribunal followed up by a weaker than p..s effort not to contest the Appeal with some relevant questions. Read the Magazine or news The Roar and in its opinion Maynard meant every action snd made not one effort to avoid any contact with Angus. Nor did he show any genuine remorse. Once he realised he might be in trouble he was no doubt advised to do the Flowers Chocs snd phone calls and visit. Then the facade of how we care for Angus started in the media. Dear old Eddie everywhere again gave every one a reason for all to dislike him. Disgraceful charade by Cwood and the AFL. Who knows if it was still in our players minds maybe haunting them just enough to affect their form on Friday night. I will say they were shell shocked in Round 2 at the Gabba when I was there when Max went down injured and no one knew what to do. It is a bit relevant and leaves us open to a clash like Maynard performed. This aspect and our close losses plus horrible forward line snd list and trade choices will make for a very crucial and busy off season in our prep for redemption in 2024.

Yes can't recalling meeting him other than a photo with him Brian Dixon at a 50 year function about 5 years ago at the MCG.

Not necessarily Goody's Tackles are more important!!

Are you for real STH Sea? Would have been our FF on Friday night .

You obviously don't look when the ball is being delivered Old 55 It is part of the problem as the passing is bog low Not up to par and is up in the air to the wrong side of the forwards etc etc. Then the accuracy issue begins. Some existing forwards are nervy and inconsistent. Petracca on set shots is not confident with time to kick well consistently.Fortunately Harry Petty looks a lovely kick and JVR is good as he mostly has the distance covered. and Joel Smith pretty good but sample size not large as yet. Jack Viney average field kick and also goal, Clarry needs more goal kicking to become reliable and Sparrow good generall snd from 50m. Gawny is terrible snd needs to practice ALL summer long. His field kicking not the worst. Needs to be treated as special for all players over the previous season.

R.I.P Ronald Dale

After the last few sad days of RDB passing and the last week from Thursday back to now a real chance of a surprise flag to some had also moved on due to the Angus incident and our follow up self inflicted butchering to allow Carlton one more match in their dream run. As a kid in 1958 my best mate at Cheltenham State School (we lived round the corner in Cheltenham from each other) had lured my family through me who wore as a kid No 31 on my back. We lost the flag that year and listened on radio and had fun as kids with RDB's name. Luckily in 1960 we were able to see the last quarter of the GF at my grandparents with the ground being a mud heap due to constant rain but we held the Pies to 2 goals and win by 28 points for our 11th Flag. We had started in 1959 and Dad took me in Round2 to the G we beat the Pies in a replay snd after started as a family to go to home matches sitting in the Southern Stand ( mostly opposition fans) nearest the front row on the high level and saw the Demons ( never called Dees in those days). Of course we kept winning in 62 snd 63 and saw the 63 Semi win and Prelim failure all without RDB courtesy of Roger Dean and a dubious VFL Tribunal result. With another school mate ( Tiger fan) now at High School I saw that game at Punt Rd. Too far from scene to know if any evidence was truthful or not but as no TV allowed in decision it was a word vs another word. In 64 we saluted thankfully Froggy Crompton rescued us and we celebrated that night watching the replay at my Demon mates house after the game. Flag No 12. Very pleased with our Footy side 3 years and 2 Flags!! We had no idea of the next 59 years. !!!!! We had at some stage ( Sorry my sister I believe!!) conned Dad with Mum to drive to Heathmont to see the champ RDB's home! No doubt hoping to get a glance of him. No such luck. Then the killer blow when He went to Carlton but I still wore the 31 on my back!! Tears etc but still loved the Demons. Wilderness followed for many years and 87 and 98 plus 2002 aside with the Reverend and Barass was still in the news at times with Coaching and still winning. Came back in 81-85 and helped set up Swooper ( John Northey) and that magical 87 Ginals series ending agsin in tears.Still no flag. Despite 88 and 2000 teases and more tears. Until '21 and our immortals beat Covid lockdowns and as i had moved to Brisbane in 1993. Great decision making in hindsight saw the bang bang bang etc. after 2 weeks isolation in SA courtesy my SA cousins. RDB saw that Cup so did I snd pride snd emotion followed. Was always grest on the TV with RDB at Dees games in recent years. Sad he wasn't able to be at MCG when we celebrated in Dec. Ironic he passed around the greatest Melb/ Carlton rivalry game since the 2000 Semi Final snd a recent best 20 runs fit the Club this century. Will no doubt meet up with the great msn upstairs in the future hopefully after another 1/2 Flags and dynasty we still can achieve if the tight decisions are made in the upcoming off season. A long journey but RBD there all the way with the Demons. During this I have just balled my eyes out with the emotion snd sadness but thankful for the great footy journey he started me on. Highs snd Lows but let's look forward to 2024 and a new year for the Dees. Go Dees

Isn't Hickey retiring ? Opening up this trade skirmish.

Good work DD.

DD thanks for your response. What I should have said instead we "have to live with it " was that "it's ours to own and recognise it and take possession." And fix it. Regarding blame who is the logical person other than the Forward Coach? He is the appointed Coach fir that area of our footy ( hopefully no longer). You can criticise the Mids coach for poor connectivity but Stafford has to work this out with Ooze if he sees this as a problem. That's another task has to discuss to solve the mess of our forward line. That may or maybe not had been done. If so it's another fail by Stafford. You could say the whole issue is created by Goody as he wants our forwards to be defenders ie Spargo and ANB to tackle snd defend rather than kick goals!! Which are a bonus! This emphasis on defence is derailing our footy and forward potential and the main reason for our disconnect and sloppy mess to scoring along with poor accuracy to boot. It's a team thing ultimately but someone has to be responsible and if not successful moved on as part of a solution to solve it. No flag until solved!!

I will disagree as no 2 games are alike. Team games are all about on the day and taking your chances. And the team dynamics etc. You can't say for sure ( although you are claiming ) that we were missing players who had no role in the previous game. Yes but this doesn't take into account a defensive player tagging another for no goals for Instance. Based on goals scored Melky and JVR were more likely to score than others. Melky got some goals last year to get us over the line also. Your assessment is too simplistic As the more class that plays puts more pressure on the opposition. in addition we had Fritsch back who is our most reliable goal scorer. It's all about the team pressure and we scored 9.17 that's 26 shots to 8.8 their only 16 shots.in Round 22. Most results would also favour a side with 26 to 18 shots any time. We were unluckier last Friday than in Round 22 or more wasteful. You could say. In addition that Round 22 was an outlier with Melky as he was in a purple patch in the last 6/7 Rounds and the Carlton game he didn't score a goal ! Smithy bobbed up with 3 to replace him in the Semi but to also have Jake would have out much more pressure on their defence. Really it was our bad forward play even with another 8 shots that we can only blame ourselves. ( not sure how you thought the umpiring was but many Dees fans were disgusted with the umps notably No 22 ). Unfortunately when we wake on Sat morning the HeraldSun still had a Carlton win. We have to live with our poor conversion and make some changes to our game plan and perhaps seek some fresh ideas from a new Assistant Forward Coach. It's been a problem for at least 2 years. So it's one theory you can put forward about personnel but it doesn't overall IMO pass the test let alone the Pub Test with 8 more scoring shots. I will take that every day of the week on law of averages but still say we would have won if Melky and JVR had played on the balance of the team this season. That's only my opinion any way. Cheers but we have to get better and stop butchering the ball and be more efficient forward of centre no matter who is playing up front for us.

Sorry not quite that simple. But a bloodylotbetter.