Deeoldfart

Poor percentage may sound a death knell on our finals prospects in ‘24. Even if we win the requisite number of games, are we good enough to recover a significant part of the percentage we’ve lost over the last 5 / 6 rounds?

Gee wwsw, your MFCSS is truely fierce! Based on what they put up against the Hawks on their own dung heap tonight, if we can’t beat them at the ’G’ next weekend, then we really are in poor shape!

I was proud of the way we got back to our DNA for a large part of the game, but still we couldn’t close it out when it counted. My votes, in a difficult result to come to terms with: 6. Viney: his ‘will to win’, and ‘follow me’ leadership were outstanding. 5. Pickett: Kozzie’s goal kicking and defensive skills at their best. 4. Oliver: best game for the season, in spite of the often unfair media scrutiny that I’m sure must weigh heavily on his shoulders So happy for him! 3. Rivers: continued his development as a key mid. Can’t help but love the different ‘look’ that he brings to our midfield. 2. Gawn: not his best game, but he just consistently did Max ‘things’. 1. JVR: continued his steady evolution as a future star KPF in the competition.

After uttering a few words that I’m not permitted to repeat on here, my first thought is that I’m as proud as I could be of our team after a loss! We’ve recovered lots of the DNA that been missing all year, and if we can maintain that, we are by no means out of contention in 2024.

Pup is the sub.

If nothing else, this year’s AFL competition has shown that anything can happen on any given day. Maybe the ‘Footy Gods’ will be smiling on us for a change ……. after all, it must be our bloody turn! Dees by 3 points.

Thanks for another great Pod @Demonland, @george_on_the_outer, and @binman! The work you guys put in for us supporters, 'win, lose, draw, or even wins that feel like a loss', is outstanding and greatly appreciated! I must confess, before this week's Pod, I was 'down in the dumps' about our prospects vs Brisbane. Thanks for 'opening my eyes' Binners!

6. Viney 5. May 4. Gawn 3. Rivers 2. Salem 1. Langdon

This is a fight for our lives. Treat it that way and we win. If we don’t, we won’t!

Improvements in form will get us over the line on Saturday night, not changes in personnel. Let’s see what happens!

My Mid Season Review: Outstanding first half of the season @Demonland, @george_on_the_outer and @binman. Win or lose, I never miss a Pod, and they always keep me absorbed from go to whoa. Thank you, and enjoy your mid season bye!

Unfortunately, this was another underwhelming performance by the Dees, where too much was left to too few. I hate trying to vote in these circumstances, but this is my crack at it: 6. ANB - the coaches gave him one of the toughest assignments in football, and he excelled, in his usual ‘trademark’, no fuss way. His outstanding season continues! 5. Gawn - a typical Max game, both in the ruck, and especially in the back half. Worked his butt off all day, but he can’t do it all on his own. 4. JVR - our only forward to provide a legitimate target, and convert more often than not. Only a kid, but based on today’s performance, he’s coming of age quickly. 3. Pickett - a ‘live wire’, both running through the centre and up forward. We always looked better when he had the ball, but his missed shots at goal at crucial times, were costly. 2. Rivers - worked tirelessly trying to hold back the ‘avalanche’, but was sometimes overwhelmed by their numbers. Watching on TV, I thought he was trying to combine his usual running HB role, with that of Rick Lever the interceptor, which is a very big ask! 1. Salem - another who battled hard against the pace and precision of C’wood’s forward entries, and one of very few Dees who didn’t regularly fluff disposals under pressure. TMac probably warrants mention for his steady game under pressure.

Go Dee’s. Just go out there do it for the jumper, your personal pride, Neale, the blue beanie, the Demon Army, all Demonlanders and the rest of our supporter base, and for the good of our great game itself!

I was in a remote area with spasmodic internet coverage on Monday, so couldn’t listen live as I usually do. Instead I tuned in yesterday on my drive back to civilisation, and I wasn’t disappointed. Even though the topic was ‘grim’, I thoroughly enjoyed the analysis, which speaks a lot about the great quality of the show. Thanks a lot for sitting in the ‘hot seat’ after that awful performance by our Dees, and providing a comprehensive and balanced synopsis, as always!

In a game which we will all want to forget, finding four quarter winners wearing red and blue was impossible. My votes are more directed at players who can hold their head up, notwithstanding an extraordinarily poor team performance. 6. Gawn - tried his guts out for the full 100 minutes, despite being bashed from pillar to post. Probably broke even in the ruck despite the odds, and was solid(ish) around the ground. 5. Salem - worked hard and probably came close to breaking even, despite the onslaught of ball coming into our backline. Disposal under pressure was good, and there was certainly lots of pressure. 4. McVee - reliable under pressure for most of the game, and along with Salo, he was one of few who could make sound decisions, and hit targets out of defence. 3. Tomlinson - caught out of position a few occasions (which was understandable given the number of times the ball was coming in), but he seemed reasonably ‘cool in the crisis’, and used it pretty well. Our best tall defender. 2. Langdon - another ‘workhorse’ Langdon effort. 1. Viney - showed pride in the jumper, and never dropped his head. I’m now turning to a bottle of Shiraz, in the hope that it will help me find a skerrick of solace in that dreadful performance.

Very evenly matched with tough assignments all across the ground, and I’m struggling to find a genuine reason why either side should win. Clutching at straws, but my red and blue heart tells me that our home ground advantage will get us over the line by 7 points.

It’s with great sadness that I learn of Johnny’s passing. For those of us who are old enough, and were lucky enough to see Johnny play, we will never forget the key part he played the ‘golden era’ of our great Club. A childhood hero of mine, who is no longer with us, but whose memory will live forever in my red and blue heart, and in the history of the Melbourne Football Club. Vale Johnny. RIP.

Very interesting and enjoyable listening as always guys. Love your work! Thanks.

We responded in the best way possible. Great team effort, with most contributing! My votes: 6. Gawn - supreme and undeniable in every sense. Ruck and leadership masterclass! 5. Tomlinson - welcome back Tommo. Best game since 2021. Can’t help but love his perseverance. 4. Viney - back to early season form, which is pretty damn good. 3. TMac - the renaissance resumes, after a hiccup last week. 2. Nibbler - continuing great form in his best ever season. Consistency personified! 1. Salem. - great to have him back, and back in form. His impeccable disposal adds a huge amount! Lots of others to commend, including Tracc, Lingers, Knuckles, Maysie and Clarrie.

After last week, anything can happen ……….. even miracles! Dees by 11 points.

Another great podcast guys. Thank you! I needed an uplift after Sunday, and after tuning in on my evening walk, feel better already. ❤️💙

It’s been a very long time since I’ve cast votes after a loss like that one, but I’ll have a crack: 6. ANB - continued his excellent season. Busted his gut all game, and imo, was our best by a fair margin. Won plenty of the ball, and used it constructively. 5. Viney - can’t question his endeavour, but disposal was questionable under pressure. 4. Fritsch - our only forward. Thank goodness for his set shot kicking 3. Pickett - always looked dangerous around the ball, but often tried to be too ‘cute’ when he had it. 2. Oliver - got plenty of the ball, but not damaging with it. 1. Salem - nice return after injury. Good second half, and used it well. No wonder we were soundly beaten!!

Our present ladder position is an accurate reflection of our season so far …… ie. part of a pack of teams in a race to fill positions in the bottom half of the final eight. Can we improve sufficiently to become a top four contender? I think / hope so, but maybe that’s just blind faith. It’s a fair way back, so we need to turn the ship around quickly.

Four points is the priority, but a percentage booster would be nice.

I don’t think there was a Casey winner on the day, and certainly not after quarter time. Mitch White maybe broke even.