GBDee

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.

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…

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.

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.

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…

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.

Another gimme goal from the umps.

Two 50 metre penalties ignored.

TV saying TMac injury may be serious and “possibly season ending”. Eek.

Easier for the AFL to control the backlash when he gets off with the mid-season draft grabbing all the headlines.

Just been out for a long walk to get that out of my system. I always thought it would take some kind of perfect storm combo of bad kicking, umpiring or injuries for us to lose. We got that today but it wasn’t the umps or bad kicking. May’s injury added to the other premiership outs and a quality opponent took advantage. The biggest loss for me was TMac - not just because it brought in the insipid Weed but because he’d have provided cover in defence with May off and Petty hampered. You could see Freo lift and go for the kill. Their second half game plan worked far too easily though. Most disappointing for me was that when they tagged Clarry, Tracc wasn’t able to step up. I mean, when you tag one, the other is supposed to kill you or so I’ve been told. Anyway, we’ll rebound next week.

Just watching the replay (again). Hadn’t realised we’d sneaked two new players onto our list - Jack Bowey and Tom Swallow.

Yeah, there was a shot of Clarrie with Tracc as they headed back to the centre. Reckon the conversation went something like: ”These umps are a fecking joke.” ”Yeah, don’t care what Goody says about saving it for September. Time to go through the gears.” Also, the “umpire respect” rule should be renamed the Melbourne Rule cos we’re the only team it applies to.

Unbelievably biased umpiring at the crucial moments in the last. Hawkins ffs. BT raising his voice in adulation of all things Geelong when they’re in possession. All sadly in accordance with their expectations and, dare I suggest, the script.

Looking forward to watching this via the afl website. I grew up in ‘Willie’ in the sixties and Saturday afternoons were either spent with dad at the G watching Melbourne or with schoolmates following the Seagulls in the VFA. I was even part of their cheer squad at one point, complete with yellow and blue streamers. Character building - that biting cold wind off the sea and Willie always seeming to lose - but incredibly happy days when I look back. Certainly should be easy for a strong Demons team tomorrow.

Oi!!! 😉

On the subject of Weightman, was he in the same draft and still available when we took the Kozmonaut? Seem to recall he was being touted as an option for us. Happy with our selection if so.