DeeMee

So from what I have gleaned from AFL media this week Brisbane played brilliantly and have shown there is no MCG hoodoo and some other team got lucky to unfairly beat them. Oh… and Brodie Grundy.

Nothing burger except to give some media the opportunity to not talk about our great win. The club public messaging baffles me though. “Grundy rested, sore” - no story.

1. Gawn was able to play how he did because of Grundy’s efforts through the year. Agree? 2. Will BBB make it to finals with his dodgy knees? He seems to start games on fire then fade, possibly for physical reasons. If he doesn’t make it then it would have to be Grundy or Schache because we need the tall. 3. Will Melksham be the unlucky one come September if Fritsch comes good in time? 4. When Pig is healthy how can he fit back in? Even if Petty is out injured he must be replaced by a tall - Tommo. Thoughts? 5. Should Damian Barrett be blown up? Metaphorically of course. So predictable that he (and others) ignore the win and talk about our “disrespect” of Grundy. As always look forward to the great Pod.

Barrett loves any negative Dees story. His whole focus end of last week and no doubt going into next week will not be the great win but the Grundy story.

Definitely has an anti Dee bias. Generally don’t listen to anything he is involved in

If memory serves correct (which is always doubtful) BBB and JvR played quite a bit together at Casey so they will be familiar with how each plays and working together.

Really does sound like some more player management a la Cats last year. Doing what many criticised us for not doing in 2022.

I think you will find if you look carefully the AFL players comprises a couple of Daicos, a guy who used to play junior basketball and some other players. The competition is made up of Pies, Cats, Tigers, Dons and some other teams.

Got the win, got the 4 points and hopefully a kickstart for the run to finals. I was wrong Re Melksham, hopefully he can go 2018 consistency with Fritta out. Still think we need two talls as well in the forward line and JvR seems the obvious choice. Not sure who goes out though. Neither Max nor Grundy seem forward answers, just concentrate on rucking and intercepting. Backline humming beautifully, don’t fiddle with it moving players forward like some suggesting. Kossie has to break out of his malaise soon doesn’t he? Well done Taj on debut, did some ok things and was exciting to see a Woey again.

Well I’m still perplexed by forward selections but hope Melksham plays with that 2018 form, he’s always been an enigmatic player so who knows?Congratulations on 100 for the club. Good stuff Christian, a great milestone, has been somewhat of a quiet achiever public wise, but we all know his value. Well done DA, that is one impressive banner! Go Dees!

What concerns me is that the FD seems to be chasing their tail with no carefully considered and executed plan for the forwards. For example Goody was firm that Petty would be playing forward, Tommo comes good in the backline so all seems good for the plan so they drop Tommo and push Petty back. Then they talk about two/ three talls but play one. Then they select tall in torrential rain and short under the roof. It is baffling and smacks of panic planning.

“I am not sure we have improved our forward line.” This is an example of an understatement. “Melksham is back.” This demonstrates the word farcical. Does anyone seriously believe the selected forward line is how the FD see us going forward?

What I think will happen: JvR in - Fritsch out for season by the sounds of it. Woey in - love him but Harmes too many mistakes What I would like to see: Smith to permanent sub, flexible to play different positions - Melksham out. Then either: Petty forward to actually really see if the experiment thing will work and Tommo in. OR Give Schache a run of games with JvR, BBB as forward talls.

I thought BBB toiled hard and did some ok things. Of course it’s always going to be hard for him to outmark Gawn, Grundy and whatever other players we have trying to spoil him in the same pack.

When is the AFL going to get with the times and determine wins based on expected scores. We’d be unstoppable.

Watching a sport shouldn’t be this painful. Think I’m too invested in the Dees and have been for decades. Losses like this hurt too much.

The effort was great, the stats were great, the kicking for goal matched the weather.

From AFL site: BEST Melbourne: Viney, Hunter, Petracca, May Bowey, Pickett Do they watch the game? Viney sure, Trac 5 behinds, May OK, Bowey great, Pickett, really! How about Lever, Gus, McVee, Salem, pretty much any of the backs.

I think I’ll repeat it … 29.61

Love them all but … If there were alternatives Pickett should be dropped. Harmes gone. Chandler also. Thought ANB put in actually. Forget BBB and TMac saving the forward line. At least Goody will identify that we are working hard on our forward line connection.

Tell me again how Schache isn’t good enough. Perfect for our forward line.

Forward line … joke

I am very much looking forward to hearing about the Traeger Park tree just in case it has changed since last time. Ideally with a Kelli pun thrown in. “Branching out, back to roots, out on a limb … so much for her to work with.

Apologies if already put in but for the doomsayers have a listen to the Champion Data guy at 18 minutes in on this

Crackers Keenan - “You can’t pull up your socks if you’re not wearing any.”