DeelightfulPlay

I accidentally sat with the Swans cheer squad two weeks ago when attending the SCG for the first time (despite living in Syd for the past 18 months). Nobody really reacted for the whole game, or followed the squad leaders' chants, until the last quarter. Was a very strange experience! Especially since I was vocally supporting the Suns 😁

The Red and White Online forum seemed to have some more balanced views on the game, but even then...!

Been a busy week at work, sorry for the delay! Here's a bumper edition of comments from not one... but two Swans forums! BBO, LH, please come back and reassume the mantle :') For Swans, they certainly are crowing First Swans-Melbourne game at the SCG since 2019. As ever I think the Swans best can win it, and they have a few positive psychological factors: at home for the last H&A game, on a winning streak and perhaps a good send-off for the retirees Big game and a potential finals rival . Would send a big warning to the rest of the competition if we can knock them off. I don't believe they are playing at their peak , but we will need a 4 quarter effort . I hope we win so we can shut all the people up who are saying we're lucky to make finals ...and if it's not too much to ask for, Adelaide to lose to West Coast. This next post was followed by some well made points but I'm going to cherry pick it out of context anyway! This is an absolute must win game. No point limping into the finals to be eliminated week 1. Some turned the other cheek... I personally dont think this week matters as much. Id put health and availability over the first week matchup. Well let’s be real we’ve had a fair portion of luck to make it to September anything more is a bonus. We win a final from where we were surely that’s a good result It has to be a Dees goal near the end of the game that gets reviewed before the bounce and comes back..... deelicious! I wouldn't be surprised if Melbourne rest players [...] Not saying they'll tank, but I think they'll tank Response: they have a long storied history of tanking... so it makes sense really Some red and white views about some recent controversies... It's amazing that for all the times we failed throughout the season. We were gifted two wins and effectively got a free pass into finals Dane Rampe defence [...] Little did they realise that they would need to roll out this defence again so soon, and in a week when the club is Public Enemy No 1 after we single-handedly ruined the Crows’ rampant premiership thrust. If we weren't already the scourge of the AFL media before this, the knives will be sharpening as I write. Bwahahahaha. Gil will impose another trade ban on his way out the door the way we’re going. I do feel for McAdam, but it was an accident caused by the last second wicked ball bounce and the comparative stature of the players. Magnifique! Now if we can just get our legal eagles on to helping the goal umpire that was stood down back on the active list and shipped to the SCG that’d be great! These ones made me laugh (About JMac being injured) How dare you mention the dreaded 4-6 weeks!! And this close to finals. Wash your mouth out!! I’d just like to see the boys run through a banner that says: “IT HIT THE POST” No one should be re-posting from the Crows board - its against BF rules. But they are going nuts on twitter right now. Its hilarious. [Editor's note: cue a page of gifs aping the Crows board meltdown] Spare a thought for Melbourne though, whose game last week was arguably more intense and difficult than ours. I heard they're so distraught over the Finn Maginness tag on Clayton Oliver that both player and coach might be taking personal leave this week. Watch this space My least fave since Grundy is my fave 🙃 Hope someone remembers to give Grundy a tour of the new training facilities and a couple of good Sydney cafes while he’s in town.

Not too much happening on the Hawks board, mainly focused on their own player movements They don't seem to have HFCSS... We need this scalp because it will instill enormous belief and help drive the preseason knowing we have the measure of the premiership favourites. They had a brutal finals like game so we can only hope they’re a little banged up from it. Let's be honest, if Dee's are serious about contending then they take care of us on Sunday Pondering today how we can win this, and I can't find a way with the expected absentees. Would be happy to kick 10 goals. Could be a nil all draw as Melbourne's forwardine is hardly scary I’m at the stage now where I expect us to win every game lol. Probably getting ahead of myself. These guys tore us a new one last time, so really fascinated to see how our midfield goes this time against a very good, physical one. Gawn usually smashes us around the ground and if we can't avoid kicking down the line at least provide a contest and make him earn it - some unsociable rib massages wouldn't go astray. About some injury rumours for the Hawks... Mind games. Messin’ with the Demons’ heads. Response: Its only fair we rest one or two of them , we want to give the Dees a punchers chance in this one. Further response: Heavy training block My favourite Gawn 200 games this game. FML. Response: We will kick it to him 200 times to celebrate it Further response: Surprised WE dont name him at CHF

Truly so excited for the Sydney game and the various states we'll get ourselves into 😂 I've done too much running around recently and not been able to join in the festivities afterwards, so very keen for next Sunday to kick on! Especially since this time I can't miss my accommodation check in hahaha

If you get your membership sorted, this weekend the seats in M3 (after the volunteering rows WCW mentioned) are unreserved! It's always great fun and everyone's very friendly in the squad 😊

Has this man ever worn a beanie before?! 😂

Deliberately arranged for the bait and switch... it increases in order of Hawkish confidence 😂 except for the accidental inclusion of the one about Brocky, that should be below

According to my colleague who is a WAFL umpire, they have two apps to assist in reviewing performance. The apps have time stamped footage of all the calls from a game made by an umpire with specific comments about the calls made and suggestions for improvement, and also communications about umpiring principles and the like. Assume that AFL would have something similar!

Buckle up, crash helmets on, let's dive through... only 4 pages of content? Guess Hawk fans aren't the most enthusiastic at the moment! Those who are posting seem keen for a win against us It'll be a big challenge, the Dee's have the best midfield and the best ruck in the comp. Walking away breakeven out of the middle would be a massive win in my book. I sense another win incoming. If we get this, it will be the first time we've won 3 games in a row since July 2022. Setting us up to potentially win 4 in a row (in a single season) for the first time since August 2018. (We won our last 3 in 2019 and first game in 2020) Worst top 4 in my lifetime. We’re a big chance again this week. GO HAWKS. I reckon we win this one Response: By plenty. Get the feeling we may now play 4 talls. Interesting times. Also reckon our midfield is keen to take this scalp on the way out. Response: Beating 3 out of the top 4 will give a lot of confidence going into next season. If the reports from the Box Hill game are correct and Brocky couldn't be bothered then we can't reward that behaviour with a game in the 1s just in the hope it might keep a promising player at our club especially against a team like Melbourne. Some discussion about players and the like Lever and May (and Gawn) are very hard to get past. We always seem to kick it straight to them. If the game plan is to bomb long to 4 talls... we will get slaughtered. We need fast, precise ball movement. Use the angles. Keep possession. Ryan should come in for Lewis. We know Lewis is a no brainer.......... Lewis to play high up the ground at CHF roaming at will as lever doesn't like leaving D50 to take intercept marks so have kozi doubling back to lever when in transition. I really like to see that set up and it works best with Ryan more than Denver Re Lewis being out for injury: This bloke is made of tissue paper Someone has been reading Demonland... Hopefully with our new look midfield we don’t spend all game kicking it straight to Gawn. Or the dees just play Grundy as well. He seems to do a fine job nullifying Gawn just by being out there. My fave (for the vocab use) Ryan has had the flu for 5 days now. Doesn't augur well.

I'm not sure if we didn't give enough respect or if we simply had our balance off from various forced and unforced changes. Obviously Clarry is great, but our midfield seemed a little less settled (eg Sparrow seemed less certain of his role), plus the combo of Smith back early and Grundy up forward... altogether seemed to upset us a little. Going to watch the replay tomorrow when sober and see what's what though

On a different note, please can we never put Smith in the backline again. I understand we need to keep Hibbo fresh, but Smith is too unpredictable up back. He is much better off using his athleticism to advantage in the forward line.

Watch by yourself, preserve your sanity Layzie!

Well, I think I am the notorious nut job today 😂 Wearing my Dees scarf, cheering for the Suns, sitting 10 rows from the ground amongst the (surprisingly quiet) Sydney nuffies...!

Hey, I'm screaming as loud as I can for the Suns! From the Swan cheer squad 😂

Forgive me Demonland, I'm at the SCG watching the Sydney v Sunshine match... the paper fans thing they do here is quite obnoxious!

Just good old fashioned pencil! Started with a 2H and then slowly layered in using HB and 3B, then used a mechanical pencil to ensure some of the sharper details were still defined... very much a slow art piece (maybe done over a month?)

Yes, thanks Layzie! Filling in all the dark spaces was very calming while watching TV!

Like a good nibling, I've followed Uncle BBO's directive, got on the hazmat suit and waded through the Bluebaggers' Big Footy forum... The supporters keen on NEW Carlton... Please bookmark this: WE WILL GO THROUGH THE REMAINING GAMES OF 2023 UNDEFEATED. Response: You’re a bit late to the party, but ok Further response: 98% here thought we won’t be playing finals. Just saying…. Our team is full of confidence & buying into a beautifully balanced gameplan. Importantly - playing at the G, a ground we love in front of a massive Carlton Home Crowd. The Oppo's have a dodgy forward line, devoid of quality marking threats - granted they have a few handy smalls! They are spluttering along - behind Vs North for 1/2 the game last week. Winning this would be one of the biggest statement wins this century. It would make us premiership favourite, or equal premiership favourite ... All the bad luck, all the things which have gone wrong all the injuries and all the bottom end finishes over the last 20 years, if any side is due for some luck it's us. Roll into the finals series with a fit list and all our stars available then good luck to anyone in stopping us. And the unconverted... We can't win! Response: is that you Stephen May? Demons by 34 points ... Don't worry, all is not lost, we will meet them in the last 2 weeks of the finals and with our players back, it will be a different story. The winner of this game is almost premiership favourite On intensity and momentum swings... There was enough evidence to believe we can sustain the pressure and intensity for four quarters, but could the Saints? Turns out they couldn't. Now I ask again, can the Dees bring the intensity for 4 full quarters? They bloody better, because we will. Dees havent been flash in the last two games however having so much quality out against a bonafide top 2/4 side is going to be difficult but we are talking about the NEW Carlton. Melbourne would have to play close to four solid quarters to beat us I reckon … they tend to fade in and out of games … I think we’ll jump out of the blocks quickly and they won’t catch us Someone thinks Bigfooty is the only forum in town... Judging by the measly 43 contributions to the game thread on the Melbourne board, I would say we can aim at making up a massive chunk of the crowd and spurring the lads on again. Response: Hoping for a big dump of snow at Falls and Buller this week. Further response: Due to their recent success, they now do ski season in August to be back by finals. They mainly focused on their own players, but some fun posts are... Must sit on picket and rough him up. Put him in a cage with Crippa for pre game warm up ?? Up againt man mountain Gawn, some people want to drop Pitto for JSOS? No chance. Gawn the X factor - Pitto to batter him fairly, but incessantly (he doesn't like that).... Huge opportunity this weekend to cause havoc and fear in the top 4 teams' heads. Stopping Petracca is not realistic, just hope he doesn't murder us ... Plenty of other things to consider against Melbourne, too. Gawn is a beast, so both TDK and Pitto need to be up for that. May could totally blanket Charlie, so he'll need to get on his bike and be selfless. Kozzie is electric and only needs a sniff and Melksham is the type to break our hearts - and has done it before! Don't even know what's happening here... One of the many reasons I hate Melbourne is because the West Perth Football Club, mortal enemies of my beloved East Perth the home of Chris Judd in his one sublime game for us when he was three classes above every other player on the ground and Syd Jackson have stolen Melbourne's God awful club song, I only wish I could be there on saturday, do some screaming for me folks and lets have a win. On Oliver being back... Hope he plays, awesome footballer and wish we’d gone through with the poaching attempt, but he hasn’t played for 3 months and just won’t be able to play his normal role to anything near his ceiling. Just saw a clip on AFL360, he hasn’t completed one single training session yet. From his own mouth Response: He literally couldn’t even put a sentence together. He sounds like my brother after he tried to take enough acid to travel to another dimension. Clayton Oliver is most likely back this week. I honestly think he should switch codes to Union. The Wallabies need all the bloody good throwers they can get 🙂 Oliver might be back but has had a long layoff and might be nervous. re the Saints v Blues game... It was like Muhamad Ali taking punches against the ropes for the first 5 rounds, then comes out and unleashes his special combination punches for the knock out. I am trusting we can do the same to the Demons. My favourite... Melksham also sees it as his God given right to ice games against us too. I fear he'll be up for that again.

There was a beautiful bit of video analysis by someone on YouTube (if only I could remember their username) about how that staging cost Carlton 10 seconds, and how those crucial seconds gave us the time to win with no response from them. Sooo satisfying 😇😈

A little something something from the past year in honour of Rick!

Yep, definitely just standard Clarry! Having listened to a few podcasts with him being interviewed, this is almost exactly what he sounds like when he's trying to give a nuanced answer but doesn't really know wtf he's saying 😂

This imagery had me rolling around in laughter, thank you! Echo NC in wishing a full recovery has been made in the intervening 23 years!

Not my finest, I can be literal at the best of times! 😅 Thanks for being a good sport about it

Oops, sorry @monoccular! Been a bit of a morning at work and that likely coloured my perception towards offence rather than laughter