thirty-one

Sorry, been a bit busy. Umm, no. I could've been related to Jack Mueller - Mum used to dance with him at the club dinner dances - but she married a non-Demon. I love my club - being away has taught me that - and I want it to survive, so I do my little bit.

So next Wednesday, Gosch's paddock? I've got to use up the $50 I put on my myki.... ETA good glob, I'm now a Demon!

Thanks Andy and the Demonland team. For someone who lives a long way from Home and hasn't been able to get to a match in over ten years, it makes a huge difference in my ability to keep up with things happening with the MFC, the latest goss, what's going on behind the scenes, etc. Wishing everyone here a great 2025 and GO DEES! Please please Dees, make me fly Home in September! (Then I'll be able to drive my orange EV again. Zoom zoom!)

I'm one of the automatic renewals. Haven't been able to see a game live for umm... I think I saw one in 2010 or 11. But I pays me money because I want my team to survive. I'd be a 30+ year member but for the year I didn't pay up after they gave Woe the flick.

I didn't make it either - was still a bit worried that 40 minutes on a train would be a bit long for my guts to deal with... Then I got in a car and drove to Albury so go figure. Pity you weren't there because you would've had a Demonland exclusive regarding Max.

If I've got the same stomach bug, I know why he's not at training. Talk about the squirts! Jeez. I can't imagine training when you want to double up with the cramps that go with it.

He pretty much blushed and rammed the guernsey back on immediately. Jeez. No fun!

Must say he looked alright with his guernsey off the other day. 👍

And you! Maybe see you another time.

My first training session in 30 or 40 years! Last I went, Gerard Healy was still playing for us. That's a while ago! Didn't notice Roo out there. The players look both smaller and bigger than they do on tv. Like Ed Langdon is taller than I thought he was yet others look smaller/lighter. They say the camera adds 5 kilos and I'd believe it. Anyway, I've few comments as it was all new to me. Trac was doing a lot of yelling/leading, Max was hanging back a bit, Vines headed off early with this poop chute issue, Kalani is a stripling but looks a likely sort, Claz is nowhere near as fat as the media would like to have you think (might not be the skinniest either but he looks a lot leaner than he did last season). Good to chat with some other Demonlanders, like Ghostwriter.

Guess DH would be a bit peeved if I got my nephew (a Bulldog) to stop by training next Friday when he's driving us home from the airport. Been a long time since I've been to training. Oo! I see a Ghostwriter has entered the conversation! Excellent.

Looking forward to getting to see some training next month, maybe meeting up with WCW/the Ghost. Haven't seen a match since 2010, living overseas will do that.... Things are looking good so far training wise! Something I remember from 2021 is the team was having fun - they were having a ball and playing well. The last couple of years it seemed like things were less fun, which probably feeds into what Max was saying.

If I'm still in Seattle next we get into the finals and look a red hot chance, I'll be flying home. Cost be danged - I'm setting up a little fund for emergency flights home and this qualifies. Even if I can't get a ticket to the Grand Final, I want to be able to experience the lead up and hopefully what it is like to be able to celebrate with thousands of other Dees. Instead, there was me on my lonesome in not-locked down Seattle with a husband who doesn't follow footy (better than him being a Filth supporter!). Anyway, 2021's was the best Grand Final ever in my book. Still sends tingles through me remembering it, brings a smile to my dial. Would've loved to have been there in person but it couldn't be.

Had a family chat today. My siblings maintain the rage - we talked about Gus' speech, how gutting it was, and then how angry we still are that Maynard got a Premiership and Gus got a life sentence. Can't do anything about it. Poor Gus is stuck not able to do so many of the things he would have done a bit over a year ago to maintain his mental health and now, most of them are gone. No wonder he's in a pit.

Pay up my membership, month by month, every year. And now I'm paying for Watch AFL too, being the only way I get to see games. Last time I didn't pay up was when the club shafted Woe (sr), which is a while back now!

Trac is not the One. (Hi fellow B5 fan!) I admit I'm pretty much at the eating popcorn stage. I've unfollowed Trac's social media - it was half Dees fans begging him not to go, half the Filth squawking triumphantly that he is coming to them, and I have no interest now in bolstering his numbers.

From the club video here, if you haven't seen it. Or find it on Insta. Or probably Facebook.

I was so [censored] off I didn't buy a membership the next year. The only year I didn't for thirty or more. Certainly didn't stalk him though.

Also honouring Hassa Mann if I remember correctly. Can't get there, the commute from Seattle is a bear. 24 hours of travel, 16 in a tin can rattling over the Pacific plus connections. Nice offer 3183 Dee.

I love the letter in the email/social media release. Made me tear up.

Thanks, Ben. You always stayed true to yourself, which can't be easy in the AFL, and promotoed and worked for your ideals. Thanks for the Premiership too.

If I ever manage to leave Seattle and get back to Melbourne, I am so hanging with you at training. Last I was able to get to training was when we were down at the Junction oval, which is a wee while ago. I was also too shy to talk much to anyone. Thanks for the reports, things seem much happier now in Demonland.

Well maybe only a little nibble? 😜

From what Trac says in the interview, he had splenic embolisation - they closed off part of his spleen to stop the bleeding. It's better than having his spleen out, it means he's still got part of his spleen doing the hard work of keeping infection out of his blood which is really needed back out on the footy field - lots of scratches and grazes full of glob knows what. He looks a bit pale but maybe I'm used to seeing him all pumped up out on the footy field.

AMW to debut this week! FINALLY!