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1 minute ago, John Crow Batty said:

Sounds like a backhander to the coach.

Deserves more than a backhander. 

1 minute ago, AmDamDemon said:

Real bummer but that's footy. Still better than being a perennial cellar dweller. I reckon our list is set up for long term goodness and long term Goodwin-ness. This game is tough as anything and nothing can be taken for granted. Didn’t make it this year, have another crack next year and then again the year after. All I ever wanted was a team that competes and, despite this season going down the tube, this is still what that looks like. Go Dees (and c'mon Freo somehow.)

Absolute disaster this year. No other way to describe it. 10-0 start, best list in the comp by a long way, and out in straight sets. Wasted 1 of our 3 best chances we will get in many of our lifetimes 

47 minutes ago, titan_uranus said:

My disappointment will settle. The rage too. 
 

But to lose the same way, again, is just maddening. 
 

We lost 8 games this year. 6 of them all played out the same way - strong start, 20+ point lead, some point midway our opponent lifts and we absolutely fall apart and never look like righting the ship. 
 

Our fitness wasn’t good enough. Our hunger can’t have been strong enough. Our skills weren’t good enough. Our coaching wasn’t good enough. 
 

From 10-0, and after finishing 2nd, we should not be watching prelim finals from home. That is not good enough. 

But Titan, why are you surprised??

we have been losing the same way. The demonland posters who said things along the lines of “do the same, and expect a different result is insanity” got Absolutely scolded.

Be nice to see some accountability 

39 minutes ago, DeeMee said:

Looking forward to the boys coming back in ripping shape, training the house down in preseason and desperate to play for the fans in 2023.

Hmmm….that’s not enough unfortunately. That was the 2022 script. 
 

26 minutes ago, BDA said:

we are clueless going forward. Take a mark, stop, look around, chip and then bomb it into the pocket. It's third rate rubbish. We never play on, take a bounce or take the game on. No dare whatsoever. It's so hard to watch.

Brains trust need to go to work in the off season . Create a plan which gives our players a chance to express their talent. there's no doubt the talent is there but out current gameplan is way past its use by date

Hmmm, you only worked this out post game tonight??

Hi pre-game experts that said everything is sweet. Can you please point me towards the “lets sign up goody for another 10 years thread?”

Thanks?! 

The irony of Petty kicking a goal late in the 4th is too much.

Time for some people to wake up to the drivers behind why we actually won the flag last year, and what the focus needs to be moving forward. Give you the red hot tip, initials are not S.G

4 minutes ago, CYB said:

Good for him & good for us. For a moment when it said family reasons my mind raced straight to Neale… 

You never know these days. Joe could be in a relationship with Neale and they have gone down the “third party reproduction” path 

David King has said on SEN this morning that our strategy of kicking to the pocket inside 50 has destroyed our campaign. Said we have got caught up with “the percentage play” and he hates it. 

Partly defended Spargo, ANB, & Melksham in saying that if we had a better method, they would be able to get more involved. 
 

11 minutes ago, monoccular said:

Maybe we should think of it in the opposite way - dream run with injuries contributed significantly to our win last year. 

That’s it. Amazing luck last year, and just an average run with injuries this year - not overly bad, not overly great. 

Other unknown is to what extent or otherwise we have been able to cover the loss of a world class fitness boss. 
 

11 minutes ago, DubDee said:

How can I not understand the lack of respect and faith in our coach?  Mainly because we have been in the top 4 every round for the past 2 years unlike any other team. i.e. he has been the most successful coach over the past 2 years.

regarding team selection of key forwards, he has tried many options of Weid, Brown, M Brown, T Mac. Between injuries and lack of talent there is not much we can do.  We could try a first year kid but I am sure we have our reasons for not throwing him in.

You guys act like we have one of the King brothers playing at Casey!

You have to evolve, and continuously strive for improvement. Just as the other now dominant teams in Geelong, Collingwood and Sydney have done.

Drinking our own bath water from the 2021 flag, and 10-0 start to 2022 won’t win us our next flag. 
 

27 minutes ago, faultydet said:

Even if we smash Brisbane this week, nobody in their right mind would be claiming they were wrong to doubt us.

We have been embarrassed so often by top 4 teams this year. I reckon you would search long and far for a team that wins a flag after being towelled in every high-pressure game they played in that year.

We are not winning the flag in 2022. We can reload for 2023, but prepare yourself for a letdown if you think dazzle is off the mark this year.

Agree with this. And surely the FD can see it as well. Which makes it incredible why you wouldn’t change a few things up, even if it’s just in preparation for a potential game against Geelong. 
 

50 minutes ago, Optimus D said:

I anybody mildly concerned about Petracca playing with a fractured in his leg. I know its if, buts and maybes, but I'm tipping Brisbane with target him and and test that leg out consistently throughout the night. Its not that hard to turn a hairline in a major break that could ruin his ability to play next year. Also why would the club advertise the fact he has a fracture, would have thought talking about the calf instead would have been more sensible.

This is actually my biggest worry. That the fracture is actually more than they are letting on, but they were a bit slow in shifting the PR focus to “we are more worried about the corked calf” 

55 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Coaching and game plan are boring as hell and so is Simon.

How on earth we go into tomorrow's games with half our list banged up and so many ordinary performances last week with unchanged line up is utter bizarre. 

I'll get more enjoyment watching Casey on Saturday then I will tomorrow. 

Can we switch Ooozzze to senior coach before he departs?! 
 

6 minutes ago, Deemania since 56 said:

I think we are all a little nervous about this one. We should win, but the artillery barrel had been bent slightly - enough to predict that our team is a lesser self than it was previously. The snot goblins will be out to achieve an AFL spectacular - otherwise known as a Brisbane win from behind expectations - so we can expect a reasonably steep incline on the playing field. It is going to be tough and seemingly unfair under such circumstances. Let's just hold our heads high, whatever the result. 

Lets also make a huge amount of noise, and act like Collingwood supporters. Just for 4 quarters, then please switch back straight after the game :) 

3 hours ago, Jaded No More said:

So Goodwin has decided that to take the best ruckman in the league away from the ruck and play him in the forward pocket was not a sensational idea? If only he read Demonland. 

Yep, the time to debut JVR was 6 weeks ago. It's too late now. You cannot bring in a child to play a key role against men who have 200+ games of experience behind them. The best thing about Melksham is that he knows how to drag the interceptor away from the contest. JVR would have no idea how to do that yet, and he isn't proven enough to demand a key defender on him. 

It is a super duper risky move, that could actually set him back.

However, it's balls to walls time and we have everything to lose. So if they do bite the bullet I will support it.

Maybe sitting next to Yze, Stafford and co in the box, needs to be a demonland representative suggesting DL best ideas

7 hours ago, roy11 said:

Re; Spargo - Do you play him if he can't adequately communicate?

Yep, no players kick to him when he is wide open anyway 

25 minutes ago, Demons1858 said:

Been reflecting on why there wasn't a 4th emergency training and goodys interview where he seemed to suggest tmac was a chance ie. 50/50 this week but even better next week or something similar ... putting two and two together l wonder whether tmac might be having a fitness test somewhere away from the media and onlookers

Surprised Bowey is not at least an emergency 

54 minutes ago, Gorgoroth said:

I don’t think he will drop milkshake. 

Agree. His month prior to last week will keep him safe. Plus he was part of a successful forward line against the lions R23. 
 

4 minutes ago, Demons1858 said:

l have it on very good authority he isn't playing this week

Does that include not being sub? 
 

30 minutes ago, Gorgoroth said:

I got a feeling JVR plays…

Understand the theory of don’t let someone debut as sub during H&A.

But for a final I think you can make an exception. Would still be a positive experience for JVR even if not activated. 
 

27 minutes ago, deefender said:

Regarding Chandler and some perspective.

Essendon’s Gary O’Donnell played nearly 50 games over three years in the reserves when Essendon was a power.

He went on to captain the senior team for a couple of years.

The Dees will hold on to Chandler .. but he might seek another opportunity.

Difference is Chandler has been dominating in the VFL, and the AFL players in his position/(s) have largely struggled (especially second half of the year)

11 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

How's he had his chances? He's been a sub in all 4 games this year and played one full game last year against the blues.

Didn't play in 2020 and had one single game again back in 2019.

Hasn't been given the appropriate opportunity at all to showcase his ability. 

And he looked great (pressure, attack on the ball) for the small amount of time he got on the ground (sub), round 9 ish, when unfairly suspended 

18 minutes ago, The Jackson 6 said:

Everyone: don’t look into the training photos too much.

 

Me: 👀 

do it, do it, do it! 

Even the training photographer knows we need to change things up!! 
 

Has Grundy ever played consistent time in the forward line? From my memory he hasn’t (not including 5-10 minute rest periods from rucking duties) 

9 minutes ago, Redleg said:

Watts would be a walk up start in our 22 on friday, Schache wouldn't.

If Watts was recruited as an 18 years old in the current era, he would have most likely turned into a star of the comp IMO.