DEE32

Hopeful of some positivity being injected back into our football club, but fearful the success batten was handed over to Geelong in the finals last year and they are on their way up and we are moving down. So much talent has left our club, but that does mean new talent has arrived. I expect the team to take some time to come together and unfortunately. Cats by 25

I honestly can’t shake the feeling of trepidation for tonight’s game, being at that final with Gus out cold and Oliver rolling him over followed by mass Filth cheering and chanting was one of the worst experiences I’ve had at the footy. I thought I was past it but as the game gets nearer, 😣 I hope the team can turn the tide on this one. Smash the filth!

Stuff all the doom and gloom, we supporters know what the bottom looks and feels like and It’s nothing like what we have now. Trac out is a huge loss, and this compounds a lot of [censored] going on but, we this team has a chance to show true grit. The Pies narrative for the game was 3 little pigs “The big, bad Melbourne wolf was way off target with the huffing and puffing as Collingwood proved their house was made of bricks in a convincing win at the MCG.” I would love the team, and the supporters to lean into this narrative. Of course one wolf can’t blow a brick house down (Maybe that was CP5, and a punctured lung impacts huffing and puffing) but a wolf pack can do some almighty damage. The dees of 21 were a wolf pack, hunting in numbers. It’s going to take a whole pack to turn this year around, and if the Filth think we are a big bad wolf then they are wrong because we are a wolf pack! Ready to rip shreds. Go Dees!

It was a soft effort with poor skills, and a lack of desire to do the hard things. Too many wanting to offload the hot potato to release the burden. However, taking key pillars out of a highly structured team and [censored] going to hit the fan. No Langdon, no Lever, No Rooey are key elements to a big loss. Gawn was smashed and virtually out of the game as well. Worst, is the midfield are getting smashed in contest and speed. I agree with most, billing’s is not good enough and BBB is not good enough anymore. I hope the Duke can become a better kicker, and wished they played the Kolt tonight.

Personally I think some of the narrative has to change in that why did the Carlton player “have to go for that ball” and put themselves in a position to be taken out. He was never going to mark the ball and his action was conducive to negative impact. I do agree Greene could have made impact with arms out wide, but the narrative is he “had to go” as well. this was similar situation to Oliver a couple of weeks ago. He chose to not go, thus preventing injury to himself or the opposition player.

“Unrecognisable” both the team and might I add this forum. I had heaps on my mind about the game and why we played so poorly but the considered, calm comments post game pretty much summed up my thinking too. It’s great to read the educated views of the collective! Team was tired and banged up, Lions got away with everything including roughing up our key players, Thursday games suck, sorry but even the cheer squad was flat, we get a reset, bring on the Tigers, Go Dees!

Those who liked Benny Gibson, he has a podcast called The watch with Ben Gibson, with the first two guests Kade Chandler and Blake Howes. Really good discussions and a deep and meaningful chat about Gus. It won’t challenge the demonland podcast 😎 though which will always be no. 1. I’m not Ben, just liked his work with the demons and though people would like to know.

Probably been said earlier but just wanted to send some kudos to Billing’s. For a guy rated lowly for his defence was solid across the half back line, with some telling tackles and defensive acts especially later in the game. I was really impressed with his game! Well done Jack Billings.

The club in all departments is just too stubborn imv. Which in turn makes things stale. In 23 we weren’t far away but that doesn’t mean things just carry on keeping on. Imagine if they addressed the issues we are all fully aware of. And when was the last time we went into a game with a direct plan for the opposition, seems almost every week our apposing team does that to us. What we always do will get it done is the only plan. Never an adjustment for conditions either. On the small snap shot of this weekends games, there’s no way we have the fundamental skill to beat this weeks winners, and we know the pies will be better. And we still wilt under pressure. And as supporters there’s never enough consideration of the rest of the competition. Adel, Cats, Suns, Freo will all be big improvers, along with Carlton, Gws, Port, Pies already at or above our level. And who knows what dogs, Saints and Bombers will be. It’s never been tighter.

What a shame, what a guy. Devastating for him, the club and everyone of us that supports the MFC. truely one of the good guys! you talk of culture, Gus was the man driving it, I have no doubt. Gus Brayshaw - Thankyou!

To me it was the sameness to what we were poor at in the past that was disappointing. There was nothing fresh about any of the plays. There were some different combinations in positions. But not better outcomes than the a team. Positive is if they work on creating their own tempo and be less manic the skills should improve.

There is a sameness to how they performed in the finals, and the game plan looked very familiar with a heavy reliance on a tall at the edge of the square who didn’t take marks and their finals downfall was poor kicking which led to poor forward connection. It’s hard not to compare. but gee the girls brand of footy was great to watch up to round 8. Actually so were the men…..

To me there is a vibe thing with Tayla. The team just plays differently with her in. Not sure if it’s a reliance or not. But they are always trying to “get her involved”

Wow another mix in the centre, waiting for Gillard, birch and zanker next

Same as last week, set up to defend but find themselves in between nothing. At least defenders seem to be in front but this week the ball is getting over them. The one wood is kick to our 1 tall down the line. Defended by 3 apponants. Our smalls just watching and not even playing the game. I hope they start chipping it side ways then over the top of that 30 m wall. To Bannan. I thinks she’s still there?

Ironic quarter time song “ I fell in love with a hopeless case” wow this team has lost the fun. Why can’t they spread the field wider with some shorter kicks and more running, and to the city side of the ground please!

I hope we get Adelaide’s special umpires tomorrow. When the game was in the balance the umpiring was heavily unbalanced.

I went yesterday and quite few games throughout the year. The girls have taken on a similar plan/problem as the boys in that it’s a contest defence strategy that feeds into offensive play. Early in the year it’s 60/40 split in defence and offence and it’s enjoyable football to watch. But as the finals come closer (see rd 8 last Nth game) the defence becomes almost 80/20. Players don’t run forward to make contest in our 50 they set up ready to defend turnover. The dump kick is to a 3 on 1, the kick out is to tall on edge of square, where apponant sits our side of contest and pass it side ways to open us up. We set defensively ready for the ball to come back into 50 here too. The Irish girls were great yesterday but they are poor kicks and were the ones putting ball inside 50. The smalls aren’t even used as options with short passes. Work rate looks horrible but maybe it’s defensive discipline. I hope it turns around but we look cooked!

I wonder if we can get Kate Hore into the mens team, amazing game today, got behind the ball to help out then popped up in all the right places to kick 4. delivery was sublime!

No question just wish this podcast could be brought forward a couple of days. The MFCSs is biting hard after that loss now with no Gus, no Roo, a,b,c and D options taken from Forward line! Need some positive Binners and George insights to bring the mood back up!

This is it in a nutshell. Everyone is commenting on the impact, there was only one intent and that was to take ball and body. Leading up to moment he launched he had a plethora of options. And in my view even deviated to make body contact, all of this before turning his shoulder for maximum impact.

Not that you asked me, but my feel is just like half the people on the board, Nibbler is disrespected by the opposition, hence why his first quarters are solid. He then gets more attention in the 2nd and third quarters, goes down in effective output, but then comes through again in the last with his elite fitness. I’d suggest to anyone to look through the weekly goals, not the goal kicker but who actually sets them up a kick or two before, you’ll find its quite often nibbler, and was (down in form) Spargo.

Considering the system approach to everything the demons do, it would not surprise me if the plan has been all along for BBB to prepare himself for his post bye return and was also planned for him to take JVRs spot. I think many would agree it was/is unlikely for JVR to get through the full season in the AFL. Fritta out makes things difficult, but I think they will stick to the plan in this space, with actual learnings from last year. It’s quite plausible that the trials will be wrapped up and the true team and method will become standard. As much as I don’t like it, I think Melky will fill Frittas spot, and unfortunately Harmes will remain in the spot left by sparrow who moves to Oliver’s. Both will play the exact same role all be it at a lesser level. Chandler and spargo will dual off for that HFF with Chandler seemingly in favour. When Oliver, Fritta return all will be an upgrade of course and just fit back into the system. All other positions are solid and highly unlikely to be changed. It’s just not Goodwins go. FWIW I’d rather Jordan take over from Harmes. The sub will be interesting. But unlikely to be an untried player so expect spargo, even though he’s possibly a one position player.

Bowey into the forward line is never going to happen. If you want better kicks and connecter I believe Spargo is that player and would come in for Chandler. I like first half ANB not last half ANB so I’d look to bring Woey in for his Debut, and ANB would be Sub. Woey to play the half game. JVR comes in for Frittata. I think we have enough swing players to cover a key player injury. The Back half stays solid. Andy Moniz Wakefield, outside chance to take that Chandler spot considering fast deck for some spark. But one debut at a time be preference.

In both the kick out and kick to 30m from goal set up, it’s the waiting (usually for Max) that flags to the opposition the next play. Yes it’s obvious to our team as well, but I find it makes our marking target flat footed or tied up in that contest. Every team would work on what to do in this scenario coming into our games. As AF points out teams put players 10-15m off the landing zone with one front and square the other virtually playing third man up and marking easily across the front. We put two even 3 into the marking contest and getting tied up. In the inside 50m scenario I’ve quite often seen JVR not even attempt to mark but go in just to bring ball to ground. Again 2 - 3 of us going up 1 actually going for mark the other two as foils. Opposition sit one front square and one off and mop up time again. There were multiple times we had frittata, and another running goal side into space, but we just sat, waited for the set up.