No. 31

Hehe, not too bothered by results in pre-season games, just hoping both teams have a good workout but with no injuries.

That is for the VFL side, not the senior AFL side.

Yes, will be on Kayo. I was planning to go to take my young son for a spot of live footy but having second thoughts now given the very hot day predicted for tomorrow ... 🤔

He seems to have a passion for footy, that is why I mentioned coaching. Ultimately, many doors are open for him, inside and outside of footy, which is a good thing for him ...

Sad news. A determined, courageous and skilled footballer. Humble, intelligent and likeable without the footy boots on. He will always have 2021 and he did play an important role in the 3rd quarter turaround to help the Dees to their first flag in 57 years! I hope he considers coaching, seems to have the core qualities in abundance.

It can be a fine line between being a hero and being a zero. As for the media relishing some current problems at the Dees, take that as a compliment. It is better to be feared than be the loveable, non threatening club that never challenges. Everyone in the AFL knows that with some good luck in terms of injuries at the pointy end of the season, this Demons squad can win another flag. That is why they fear you and relish any problems at MFC.

I watched some of the practice match against Richmond and Kozzie looked good in the middle. Worth using for some cameo rotations occasionally.

Anyone follow Rugby here? Melbourne Rebels are in financial strife and their ongoing future depends upon this upcoming season. They need to perform on the pitch (they have a good squad for this season) and to get more bums on seats to show there is life in Victorian Rugby. If you have some interest in this code, pop out to some Rebels home matches. Round 1 of Super Pacific Rugby against the A.C.T. Brumbies is on this Friday night at AAMI Stadium. Carn the Rebs 🏉 https://www.rugby.com.au/news/rebels-want-wins-and-fans-ahead-of-critical-season-2024219

Walsh will have back issues for his whole career after he had surgery on it last year, he and Carlton need to find the right balance for training loads and recovery. Not the first sportsman to face such issues and won't be the last. Will poll very well in the Brownlow in 2024 is my sneaky tip ...

Red & Blue are prominent colours in the flags of both Koreas, South and North 🇰🇷🇰🇵😊 Also, in traditional Korean folk culture Demons are called Dokkaebi 도깨비 Dokkaebi don't have the negative connotations of Demons as in some other Asian cultures. The Dokkaebi can have supernatural powers, sometimes used in positive ways, sometimes not ... https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dokkaebi#:~:text=Dokkaebi (Korean%3A 도깨비) are,and at times helping them.

JVR has an edge to him and I can see him developing into a quality forward. I expect him to step up another notch in 2024.

I got a Demons Digital Membership even if I have Carlton Home Game Membership. An additional $19 saving not enough to entice me, rather give some money to the Dees. If we see an upturn in GWS memberships this year, it might be Kayo fuelled 😁

Interesting about the water table being so deep, you could possibly sink one of the ovals to provide some solid capacity for viewing ... 🤔

I would say the likelihood of a boutique 25K stadium at Gosch's Paddock is low. Who will fund this? There would be plenty of local community opposition I would think, perhaps not as heated as at Yarra Park but still substantial. Also the footptint of this stadium may erode into the training fields for the two professional rugby code clubs who train at AAMI/Gosch's Paddock - Melbourne Storm in Rugby League and Melbourne Rebels in Rugby Union (Carn the Rebs!). I would have thought the bang for buck would be much better investing in Princes Park as a home for AFLW. A new 25K stadium at Gosch's would not come cheap whilst Princes Park wouldn't require much investment to turn it into a quality 25K stadium without any local planning headaches.

Is the premiership 'window' for MFC closing? No, not at all. Sure important lynchpins like May and Gawn are 32 now but the Demons have been quite adept with their draft recruiting and free agency gives them options given that MFC has a healthy financial situation. No reason why the Dees can't replicate how Geelong, Swans and C'Wood have stayed in the mix for Premiership relevance for extended periods. I certainly expect the Dees to be in the mix for the top 4 again this season and if the injury gods are kinder to them they can go all the way again as they did in 2021. Will be interesting to see how JVR matures, he looks to be quality forward in the making. Will also be interesting what mature newcomers like Billings and McAdam can bring to the table. Clayton Oliver is a big question mark though. If he can sort himself out then the Dees should be a real force in 2024.

The fruit giving tradition is common in other parts of Asia as well. Koreans love to gift pears, apples and strawberries. Mmm Korean pears ... 🤤

Should auld acquaintance be forgot ... ... whenever I hear the opening verse I think 'Keep your eye on the red and the blue!' ... maybe I have been on this forum for too long 😁 HNY to all and all the best for 2024 🍾🥂🎉😊

I switched from Kayo monthly subscription to an annual Kayo subscription via MFC Digital Membership. Activation email arrived 1 Dec ... all good 👍😊

How the set up at Caulfield might look and function will most definitely depend upon where the MFC ovals & facilities are located inside the racecourse precinct. If you want a mini stadium for AFLW/VFL then I would say Glen Huntly Oval on the southern side would be the best option as you could have stands and light towers (which do not impeed views from the existing racecourse stands) and then have a second practice oval inside the race track. Any cricket or football clubs displaced could get a new oval inside the track area. This would require some additional negotiations with City of Glen Eira because Glen Huntly Oval is separate to the race course trust AFAIK. Additionally, allowing access to Glen Eira Secondary College could probably trigger governmental funding if done the right way ... 🤔

LOL The Carlton Canine Crew barks a Merry Christmas back at you (I am dogsitting my sister-in-laws pooch over the festive season) 🐶🎅🥂😊 Wishing all here a Demonic Christmas/Hanukah/Festivus and all the best in 2024 🍾🥂

That will be a hard sell and doesn't fix the issue of a second oval. I would have thought a new facility somewhere at Yarra Bend Park would be a better bet for them ...

They definitely need a second oval. Gosch's Paddock could be a possibility if the Dees migrate to Caulfield.

https://www.richmondfc.com.au/club/punt-road-oval-redevelopment

Quite possibly, would be amusing 😄 Richmond are planning to have a major re-development of the Punt Road Oval which should see them have a great, modern facility. They will only be lacking a second oval and I could see them renting Gosch's Paddock Oval for the secondary oval if MFC were to move to Caulfield.

I often catch the Cranbourne & Pakenham Line trains and usually do Richmond to Carnegie in 13 minutes. You won't do Calufield Racecourse to MCG in 10 minutes but you will do Caulfield Station to Richmond Station in about 10 minutes. Actually, the Cranbourne & Pakenham Line trains will use the new Metro Tunnel scheduled to open late 2024 or early 2025 and will mean that Caulfield will become easily accessible to the the inner north and the western suburbs by public transport.