Deeoldfart

I greatly admire Pedo for the way he combined his role as a 'fringe player' on our list, with being a 'heart and soul' clubman, whether in the seniors or at Casey, and both on and off the field. Always gave his all, and you can't ask more than that! If he does the same in the next phase of his life, he'll do well.

Clarrie is an out and out star, even with two busted shoulders! ......... and it's satisfying to confirm what we already knew, that Demonlanders are far more discerning judges of football prowess than the ALF umpires (as shown by his relatively meagre Brownlow count).

The mind boggles as to just how good Clarrie is, but even more-so, how good he can become!

Jeez we need a decent backup ruckman. Pedo (bless him) can't do everything.

Thanks mate. You are a star!

Thanks for trying mate. Doesn't work in Canberra, unfortunately. I'll settle on score updates on Demonland. Thanks guys!

We had a 'dog day' today, but all teams in the history of the game have had them. Our timing was awful, but if we learn from it and move forward, all will not be lost. Before the season I would have said: Pass mark = making finals and winning one Credit = winning two Distinction = making Grand Final High Distinction = premiership Overall, I'm very happy with a Credit, but we must now use this as a launching pad for 2019.

In the past month, I found it extremely difficult to fit all worthy vote winners into my top six. Sadly, today I found it extremely difficult to find six worthy vote winners. 6 - Harmes 5. vandenBerg 4. Oliver 3. Hibberd 2. Salem 1. Brayshaw

There are no positives to take out of today, but truckloads to take out of the season. I'll get over the 'emptiness' of today in the next couple of weeks, and look forward to next season with the same gusto that I always do .......... but in the full knowledge that we will be starting from a much higher base than I could have dreamed of a couple of years ago. We are mostly good, but today proved that we are not good enough. That will be remedied!

They have taken away the hallmarks that have held us in good stead all year. Time to get back to basics and earn some respect Melbourne.

I'm as calm as can be expected in the circumstances ........... which equates to hideously nervous.

Heartfelt and spontaneous is best!

My mind is addled with the collective thoughts and views of Demonlanders and the football media rotating like a whirlwind. Nervous tension, excitement, confidence, concern, bloody hell! .......... I've decided that a long walk is a safer option than the chainsaw and wood splitting that I had planned to fill the next 5 to 6 hours. Good luck fellow Demonlanders. Enjoy the game!

C'wood are doing to R'mond what they did to Melbourne on QB ........ only doing it better! God I hate the prospect of that mob being in the Grand Final ....... but I guess if we make it, beating them will taste even sweeter.

That's just plain beautiful! I have moist eyes, for the umpteenth time in the past month.

Very, tough call on Fritta, but he'll bounce back, I'm sure! Between them, our MC have a lot of trained eyes and a ton of football judgement and nous. I'll back them every time, but understand that even they are fallible (occasionally). I reckon this is a courageous but correct call given the opposition. Exactly as it should be, especially with the stakes as high as they are.

I think Richmond will win, and purely from a selfish perspective, that's the way I'd prefer it to go. My rationale: I 'dees-pies' Collingwood so much that the thought of them playing off in a Grand Final makes me want to puke; and if we happened to play Collingwood in the Grand Final, Grundy has the capacity to reduce the influence of our major trump card in big Max, making a win more difficult for us. It hurts me to say it, but I want a Richmond win tomorrow night. Maybe by a big margin, so they drink a tub full of their own bathwater before facing a rampant Dees outfit.

Did mine on the 'phone. In a queue for less than 5 minutes. Quick and easy! Now for the more difficult part on Saturday arvo.

......... richer in every way, except of course for our bank balance, which will be considerably 'lighter' after forking out several grand for GF tickets, airfares to and from Melbourne, and accommodation for the week so we can attend training, the GF Parade and the after-party. Who cares about money when there are far more important considerations?

Well I'd be more than happy to be seen as a stereotypical Melbourne supporter, but sadly, I can't afford a Range Rover. Instead I drive around the suburbs in my old Pajero, with 300,000+ clicks on the clock, that's held together by hundreds of (mostly 'dog-eared' and faded) MFC stickers. Does this count?

What a fantastic gesture by Tommy and Oscar!

Surely the lighter sessions reflect the heavy workload demands that these guys have carried over the last little while, or perhaps minor niggles, knocks or bruises. MFCSS is a thing of the past, isn't it?

I was around throughout of our 'Golden Era' and before, but 1964 holds the greatest memories of all for me. I was still at school, but I'll try to describe my highlight in a few sentences: The Dees were 4 points up late in the last quarter, when Ray Gabelich, Collingwood captain and a lumbering and uncoordinated ruckman, went on a long run towards goal. The ball was bouncing all over the place, but 'Gabbo' somehow managed to maintain some sort of control, while every Melbourne supporter at the 'G' was praying that he would kick it from a long way out. Despite our prayers, he kept going and dobbed a wobbly punt from close range. Collingwood 2 points up, with bugger-all time left on the clock. A minute or two later, Neil ('Froggy') Crompton, the Melbourne back pocket player, took the ball at half forward for the Dees, and kicked the match winning goal from 30 to 40 yards out. The Melbourne crowd went berserk, and moments later, the siren sounded to give Melbourne the Flag against the arch enemy. I'll never forget that moment! Footnote: In those days, it was unprecedented for a back pocket player to be in the forward half of the ground, and legend has it that our coach, the legendary Norm Smith, reprimanded 'Froggy' after the match, for being out of position. Surely if this did actually happen, it was 'tongue in cheek', but you never know! Interesting, 'Froggy' also represented Victoria in Sheffield Shield cricket. He combined his sporting activities with a full-time job as a school teacher. Gee, how times, and football, have changed in the last 54 years, and my love of the Dees has increased with every passing one of them. Now for the next Flag, while I'm still on earth to watch it please! ps. I must have been confident of a win, because I remember winning six pence on the double, Melbourne seniors and Under 19s both winning the Premiership. Very relieved when we won, because I didn't have a penny to my name, let alone sixpence!

Well done to the Casey boys for making it to the GF, to the AFL boys for showing true 'espirit de corps' in getting to the game to watch and support, and to our ever-reliable posters for keeping the rest of us up to date with scores as the game progressed. Outstanding weekend for the Dees.

Jeez, you are a better man than me H_T! Here it 10 hours post match, and I still haven't calmed down.