Skuit

As an outsider I will never know the sequence of events and how they panned out with respect to his move to Port. But I got the feeling during that interview that he is still rather delusional, as it doesn't at all accord with my memory at the time (and those aforementioned press conferences). He says Goody invited him back if he wanted to stay, and then he got an amazing offer from Port - where he 'felt wanted'. I doubt these two statements to be accurate in the way he presents them. The former is probably akin to what TMac experienced last year - if you can't find a home you'll remain on the list, but are not part of the current plans - and the latter I think was his only offer. Then sounds like he got coddled at Port as well.

Don't even know why Brayshaw, or Jackson or Rivers for that matter are coming up in conversation. It just doesn't work like that anymore - Tyson for Pruess was one of the rare recent examples (maybe Aish?), but how often do you get direct player trades these days? You look at potential outgoing currency, and then see what might satisfy a trade elsewhere with the packaging of pics and pick swaps. No point trying to push a trade for Brayshaw to Fremantle, when he might be more valued at Adelaide for example (not advocating pushing him anywhere - just that you maximise your outs and ins and try to come out on top overall).

Vociferous Anti-Neelder from day-dot (well, from our first outing against the Lions), but let's not gloss over Crawford laughing during that interview about Clarkson - considered the greatest coach in modern football - also punishing the soon dynastic Hawks with early-morning ice-cold swims. It was another era. Neeld was a rookie coach with a mandate to toughen the team up (and it was a talented young team) - from the board and selection committee down through to the supporters, and took that role on because he had no other ideas. Many of those same supporters hoped to see the back of Goodwin last year. As for Jack - sure, our development was a serious issue in those early days, but he had the opportunity under Roos (who coddled him a bit, but is also considered one of the modern-day coaching greats) and then Goodwin and McCartney to get involved with a serious and focussed program - and he effectively chose not to. I was admittedly never a fan of Jack either. While accepting it was his prerogative in how much he wanted to get out of his career, it's aggravating knowing I would go harder when it came to my team than some of our players. Jack was being disingenuous in that interview about why he was rejected by Goodwin. Credits Simon with having the greatest influence on him getting the best out of himself as a player, and then repays that by rocking up to training out of shape (along with later discretions) right when he should have been stepping up in maturity and leadership. Goodwin rightly had no time for him. That's on Jack, not the club. I've made my feeling clear on Goodwin from the very start - and those who still don't want to see it have no idea about football and its context in the modern world. Every one of our players who gets some praise credits Goody - you don't even hear that with Hardwick or the other top clubs. Jack chose to bail out to where he was 'wanted' - read; where it was easy.

Great, respectful discussion. Keep it up guys. Demonland at its best.

I bought a four-game membership mid-year (I'm a [censored] fan for full membership, but have lived overseas most of my life, and did buy the AFL access pass thing through the club previously), right before the Melbourne shut down. I was hoping to pass it on. I don't recall there being a grand final option. Is 'Access Membership' the same thing? I recall paying about $120.

I tipped this.

I have enough confidence in this team and system now that Jones in or out won't make the difference. Except that it may make our current leaders stand taller. The last game I saw him play in the VFL was an absolute blinder, but he was admittedly slow. Yet, on a HFF I think he could still contribute - tackle, tackle, tackle, and take a shot if the opportunity presents - he's pretty reliable in that regard. Would have in ahead of Vanders and probably Melksham (although the latter is tempting). Would be one of the greatest football stories in recent memory.

Just bought flights to Perth from Cairns. Then found out Qld is still on WA's naughty Covid list, despite the distance of no-case Cairns to Southeast Queensland being about the same as Norway to Portugal. Back to Darwin for a couple weeks, I think.

I've been a 'hater' for most of his career, and had to eat my words a number of times - including this season, but not as early as some give credit for. Had a great sting of matches mid-season though, hat tipped. It's not just being ineffectual again that worries me, it's that he gets in the way and is such a slow decision-maker (and over-estimates his capabilities, which he has been admittedly better at this year, and I think is a Roos hangover). A couple of our goals yesterday were roved off his poor attempts, where it would have been easier if he just summed up the situation and palmed off. That said, I think he should stay in, as Brown-Jackson-Tmac (plus Fritsch) looks our best KPF structure.

Clayton Oliver has played in all of the Goodwin-Scott era clashes against Geelong and averages 33 disposals including 101 kicks - the most against any opposition in both categories. Also the most 1%ers and second-most clearances (noted that Geelong used to be confident to concede them), and top-3 in a bunch of other stats. Gawn also maxes out in a few categories vs Geelong, including hit-outs, kicks, i50s, and contested possessions (according to AFL Tables). Bring on the prelim!

It just occurred to me that Max was a key feature of the 2017 match vs Geelong as well - his going down with a serious hammy likely costing us a finals berth and himself six consecutive AA blazers.

Our last finals run I lived in Amsterdam. Wake up, make coffee, watch match. Had no idea how I would cope this year in Australia waking up twelve hours before the game started. Cracked the code and ended up as a bunny at a shibari event. Will be tied up until kick-off with no other choice. Recommended remedy.

The lead-up to the 2000 grand final (followed closely by the buzz at the end of 1998). My super-cute girlfriend wore red and blue short shorts and found some matching pom-poms, and then life turned to crap really quickly. But the morning was fun.

The Redlegs are the reason I support the Demons. The 1984 SANFL grand final vs Port Adelaide as mentioned above is possibly my earliest memory, with the 97' victory and 99' loss against the same foes close to my happiest and worst days as a football supporter (and as a human in general). Possibly the coaching connection between the clubs is the strongest, with Neil Balme, Neil Craig, and Peter Rohde all coaching Norwood to some success in recent times (would still love to add Nathan Bassett to that list), and Jade Rawlings currently in the role. As for current and recent players, the infamous pair of Dean Terlich and Alex 'Uber' Georgiou are recent players for both clubs, as well as Michael Newton and Jace Bode, while Dom Barry is still running around for Norwood, alongside Jack's cousin Harry Viney. Harrison Petty flies the flag in the other direction. For some reason I have lost my hatred for Port in it's Power guise, but that may well be rekindled this year. Norwood were the first to push for an AFL licence, and I still have no idea who I would support if that had eventuated. Probably both teams.

Happy to take this conversation to personal messages if you wish to share some of your work dieter.

I write about the business consulting world for a crust, which is really far removed from my personal interests but does cover such a wide range of topics that it keeps me engaged. My own personal writing is in the little-known genre of fictocriticism, which blends fictive with academic writing and draws from numerous disciplines such as anthropology, cognitive psychology, neuroscience, literary theory and microbiology etc.

Turns out flights are insanely cheap. Just need to find some accommodation. There's a few posters on here who I am sure would vouch in the other direction.

Also, I'm a writer by trade. Maybe I can be an on-the-day roving reporter for Demonland?

I have a gut-wrenching feeling every time someone on here reports their pain in not being able to attend the finals, and especially our older supporters in what might be a historic year after so many decades of heart-break. I meanwhile have a lot of relative freedom living in the tropics - but not so sure if I want to attend, concerned that I can't keep my cool in public, in what looks likely to be 5,000 kms from home. No TVs to smash live. Yet, I'm starting to feel however that it's my duty to attend, to carry the flag for all of us. I'm not well-off by any means, and the flights would be a major hit, but if someone has a grand final guarantee that they won't be able to use, then I'm open to discussions in how I might be able to honour that. Maybe I can take a specific banner on your behalf, or live-stream from the ground? Anyways, pm me if you have any ideas. I don't want to come across as cheap. Go Dees!

Any qualifiers here? Do some umpires tend to officiate more often at certain venues, such that an existing home-ground advantage is already in play? I note that most of the clubs mentioned are non-Melbourne based.

My fridge exploded just a couple days ago. I couldn't put out the flames pouring from the freezer (I live in a wooden Queenslander as well) and was expecting an even bigger explosion any second, and ended up having one of those hysterical strength episodes - picked the whole thing up with flames licking around my head, ran to the backdoor through thick clouds of black smoke, and threw it down the steps as far as I could into the patio before diving for cover (the impact actually snuffed out the fire). Crazy intense. A few singed hairs and my shoulder muscles are stuffed, but both me and the house were incredibly lucky. Anyway, Brian Taylor, lol.

After signing up to Demonland in 2009, TasJohnsonFanClub's twelve-year data harvesting and identity theft plan targeted at the misty-eyed senior citizens of this site finally comes to fruition . . .

Should change thread title to Clarry Awards Season . . .

Had considered adding something to that effect. Brisbane knocked Adelaide out of the finals in consecutive years in 2002 and 2003. But I don't recall any on-field stuff between the pair, and there doesn't seem to be any animosity at least.

One point. My memory fails - that first missed Max shot against Geelong in 2018, I vaguely recall that it wasn't technically after the siren? And can anyone recall how much time was left on the clock for the Tomlinson miss last year?