GBDee

3 hours ago, hemingway said:

Supporters are scattered all over the place. The old days of class distinction linked to geography, industry and residence have long gone. When I worked in the West I was surprised how few Doggies supporters there were. It seemed that Locals were more likely to follow Pies and Bombers. 

My introduction to footy was at North Williamstown State School circa 1962 when Wednesdays in the footy season saw everyone roll up in their team’s jumper for afternoon PE.   Everyone except the dumb pom, that is.  Anyway, the playground was an absolute sea of Footscray jumpers, with a smattering of Seagulls and a few others. There was just one Demon jumper despite Melbourne being very good at the time.  At least there were two the following week. 😁 

Jayden Hunt goals. 16 points. You never know ;-).

2-1 against (at least) two Top 4 contenders. Think most would’ve taken that.

6. Grundy

5. Hunter

4. Oliver

3. Rivers

2. Lever

1. Petracca

Really impressed with ‘newcomers’ Grundy, Hunter, McVee, Chandler and JVR. We’re evolving and getting  even better. No Kosmonaut or Max either. The future’s bright and we can load up with even more young talent next draft. Only other thing to add about today is that I hate Tom Papley.

3 minutes ago, rpfc said:

They had a choice. Keep Mitchell, Gunston, Shiel, and O’Meara instead of ND48, ND41, ND53, Stephens, Meek, and ND29 (est) and be more competitive and win games and keep what was left of the culture they banged on about.

What kind of a return is that? How much does the soul of your club mean in draft picks? 3 first rounders?

They did all that to take to the [censored] of their list and to collapse and get ND1 which apparently is a Dusty type gun.

I’d never heard of Harley Reid before an AFL.com presenter (and Hawk fan) talked of “tanking for Harley” during a debate about the club’s direction of travel over your summer. Sarah Olle, I think. 

According to Richo, “we expect him to be available in four to six weeks”. 

Available in four means misses three this side of the world.  Back on Anzac Eve.

Glass half foolish?

17 minutes ago, dees189227 said:

I think Jack might be breathing a sigh of relief to. I know he didn't mean it but knowing you're responsible for essentially taking out your captain for the year wouldn't feel great.

But if we can do well and get a rested max back for the second half of the year then look out.

Watching the replays, I was more worried that, just prior to the Viney impact, Max had jumped and landed slightly awkwardly on his left and seemed to flinch a little. Just the kind of innocuous event that sees an ACL. Glad it was Jack after all, if you see what I mean!

Starting game behind sofa.

No May, Fritsch, Viney and Salem either. May just have a drink.

Just need to borrow Cripps’ legal team to get Kozzie off with a fine.

Two of my predicted Top 3 humbled. Surely not the third. Go Demons. Crowd looks decent to me. 

Not sure if UK bookies follow their Aussie counterparts in setting their odds but I jumped on the Pies at 5.0 with the Cats just 3 goals up from fewer scoring shots. Feel dirty but that’s tomorrow’s beer paid for!

Pies to win this with a goal in the dying seconds . Again.

7 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

 

Looking good. My Dad spent his formative years (Thirties) following Sunderland (by steam train) around the UK. He told me there were just two teams of any note back then, Arsenal and Sunderland.

Fast forward to early sixties Melbourne and despite my early leanings towards Footscray, he made me support Melbourne because of their intense rivalry with Collingwood, mirroring his hatred of all things Newcastle (filthy magpies, etc). He wasn’t wrong, two of the most boorish, self-aggrandising fan bases in the world.

Anyway, back on topic…

2 minutes ago, layzie said:

Black Cats a chance?

Nah. Good win yesterday but too lightweight and playing with just one fit striker and likely to be out-muscled. Back the away win.

Wake up (hopefully) and break my fast. Feel nervous. Go Demons.

Watch BT Sports coverage from 08:25 from behind the sofa until we establish a commanding lead. Curse BT’s buffoonery if it’s him calling the game. Curse the umpires.

Join mates for pre-match pints before heading to Sunderland v Luton, EFL Championship at 3pm.

Back to pub for more pints with an FA Cup quarter final on tv followed by the takeaway of my choice (most likely Indian from the Moti Raj) and a replay of Footscray’s capitulation, all washed down by a natty little red.

A day of blissful self-indulgence. 

1 hour ago, Rab D Nesbitt said:

Yeah, it left me wondering who is responsible for paying for the policing and security at A League games and whether there is an agreement for only stewards and security to be present inside the ground. I think in the UK the police decide how many officers are required for an event before it can get the green light to go ahead and the home club pays for their time and resources. 

That’s pretty much it Rab. Police costs are the big problem - outside a ground these are met by the local constabulary but the home club pays for any policing inside the stadium as it’s on ‘private’ property. There’s a much lower police presence inside grounds now as clubs rely on cheaper minimum wage stewards backed by extensive cctv systems to act as a deterrent.  This works ok at the top of the pyramid but grounds are less safe as you drop down the leagues.

Outside is where most issues arise and police are on hand to deal with it. They still over-rely on cctv and handheld video recorders to gather evidence (rather than intervene!) for the subsequent 5am knock on the door but that’s another issue.

We’ve got a new breed of hoolie blighting the game over here now - feral, wannabe kids in their knock-off Stone Island/CP Company clobber, most of them sniffed-up to the eyeballs. They part-model themselves on European ultras with fan-marches, pyro and self-promotion on social media but they still hang around after the game hoping to get a sly dig at an unsuspecting away fan. 

I really hope last week’s lunacy was a one-off and the APL and police come down hard on the perps. They need to get a grip before such behaviour becomes mainstream.

3 hours ago, DubDee said:

the ref in the England game was hopeless. Make no decisions and wait fir VAR. The two pens were so nice bivouac 

A combination of retirement, 10am and 1/4/7pm ko times and -2 temperatures outside have meant I’ve watched pretty much the whole thing. The referees have been competent and consistent throughout imo. Until last night that is. That eccentric clown should be on the first plane back to Rio.

Anyway, Qatar should now get the final they want with their two PSG darlings.

Fair chance they’ll be 6-0 unfortunately. Saints, Roos, Eagles, Crows, Suns, Bulldogs.

Hope I’m wrong.

I love that they took a punt on Sestan and the thinking behind the move. Hopefully a masterstroke.

Thanks to all involved with the podcast - a great listen for those starved of Demon news and debate on the other side of the globe. 

Not happy. Was expecting Bailey Wright back in my team’s defence on Saturday…

Seriously though, great win for the Aussies.

Fantastic to see that again. Thanks for posting. I was there, introducing a group of English friends to the game. They really struggled with the clash of colours - shame one side didn’t wear white shorts. Mind, the beer didn’t help…

2 minutes ago, Mr Steve said:

They had that mark and a player standing on his own 35 from goal and went to the pocket.

Or kick long? Even a rushed behind = finals.

When Robin Smith was taking guard and Rod Marsh (?) remarked on his increasing girth, he replied “Yeah cos every time I xxxx your wife she gives me a biscuit.”  When Jonny Bairstow was taking guard, David Warner asked he’d like some rope.  There is a difference.

If Zorko’s sledge was as rumoured, it was pre-meditated and designed to hurt.  To make it towards the end of the third quarter with your team 70 points down was the desperate act of a lowlife waste of oxygen.  

Anyway, just settling down to watch the replay again - already laughing at Mathieson in the tunnel before the game clearly having worked himself into such a hyped-up frenzy that he was incapable of playing football.  

Horrible watch that. Sydney-centric commentary. Sydney-centric umpiring. It was 5.1 to 0.5 when Reid is awarded the non-mark just before quarter time and it just got worse.