george_on_the_outer

This might not be the only flooding we have to contend with, just to fuel everyones MFCSS if the stadium goes under water: https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/storm-surges-could-hit-southbank-as-wild-windy-weather-crosses-victoria-20230707-p5dmfi.html and we all know we don't play well in the wet!

64,976 as of today.....now less than the same time last year!

We have been kicked out of AAMI for the FIFA women’s World Cup. No point training at Gosch’s. The price we pay for not having our own facility. When some say our facilities are as good as anyone’s else’s this is only one example of why they are not.

great read @Dees_In_October. I don't think we have a great weakness in the middle, simply because of lack of height. What we do have is strength, particularly Purcell ( how did we ever get her from Geelong?) and West. They never lose their feet and have that core body strength so critical in the middle. Hanks is building a similar strong core, and is able to find the ball at will....another critical skill in the middle. The return of McNamara is only a further positive to the mids. Lily is ferocious, but I fear as the AFLW body shapes move progressively to the more solid types, that she will struggle physically. It will be interesting with our rucks. Pearce can barely run out a game and will not be able to do so for the whole season, as we have seen in past years. However, when she is on the field she simply cannot be moved. Watt post injury will also be interesting. The age factor is probably not as great as the mens game, since the girls haven't been battered and bruised as much when they hit the 30+ mark. But if she can provide the "cut out" for Pearce that will be all that is needed. I don't like Harris rucking, simply because it takes her away from the forward line, but it does keep her in the game more, and boy is she scary when she attacks the ball. Likewise Zanker can only be a fill in, she is just too light to be hitting bodies in the ruck role. Better suited to other areas. What we really need is another younger tall for 2024 and beyond. I was wondering if Saraid Taylor could fill the role@ 183cm, nearly the same as Pearce. Losing Maggie Caris to netball again, at 190cm and only from the 2020 draft was a big loss.

Managed is the term for JVR. We must not forget the kid is only 19 and wouldn't have played as many games as he has so far if BBB and TMac were available. But after this performance he will only get 1 weeks "rest" in the VFL. Jefferson kicks 4, but easy ones. The kid has huge potential, reads the play, great pair of hands, but has little physical presence yet. He also has to learn to jump off the ground when going for marks. Not close to senior selection, but will be next year. JJ just too good, and after this showing must replace Harmes next week. Verrell. Only his 2nd game, actually did better last week, but again a long way from senior selection, especially for a ruck.

The way teams enter the forward line has changed, particularly this year. And no doubt it is all about statistical outcomes. We were training for "dump kicks" back in pre-season, and most of the teams at the top of the ladder now play the same way. The chances of a "contested mark" in the forward line with zone defences is next to zero. Clubs are depending on a deep kick into the forward line to create ground spillage and a 50:50 chance of getting the ball. Even better with good crumbing forwards like Pickett, Papley etc. Clubs will have done the numbers in terms of goal output. The argument that we should "lower the eyes" is also now irrelevant because of zone defences. It rarely happens to have a forward with space to lead into, and if they do it is almost always deep in a pocket = poor goal conversion. For fans it isn't as spectacular as the big forward taking marks, it's just how the game is played in 2023.

No we had Viney and chose Toumpas over Wines

One good thing out of this weeks hearings/kangaroo court/ show trials was Dan Butlers case being thrown out by the Tribunal because his actions were "not careless" So much for Michael Christian assessing them as careless when all the guy did was tackle his opponent. That Blakey never saw the tackle coming was not Butlers problem. Furthermore it shows these assessments by the MRO are simply opinions. Not good enough!

Absolutely correct!! I was chatting with another Demons supporter at a training session, who was a boxing coach. He told me McCartin would never be allowed into the ring again if he was a boxer. The rules in Victoria for KO, TKO or concussion are a mandatory 30 days away from competition or even training. Next KO etc is 60 days, next 90 days. 4 KO's etc is a 12 month suspension. For a sport which is so brutal, it is laughable that AFL protocols provide less protection, and less consequence for subsequent concussions to the player. Just give it away Paddy. Speak with John Barnes and find out what you are doing to yourself.

Hawthorn are doing just fine……

A really needed selection after Maggie Caris left, even though she is only 183cm compared to Caris at 190. If Lauren Pearce goes down, we struggle to find another tall, and have to use Tayla to fill the gap.

I had a tile or 2, and on the “unveiling” night, they were on portable stands. If I remember they were to be made permanent when we had our own change rooms. Never happened as far as I know.

.....and if we are in our Premiership window now, then we probably will not be in 3-4 years. Just when the AFL will be handing out priority picks to the new side, same as they did for GC and GWS. Pity the sides that are near the bottom of the ladder at that point. A couple of articles in todays Age which speak of the growing disaster in AFL in NSW, and the incomprehensible need to build another stadium in Hobart: https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/the-nrl-is-stronger-here-than-when-the-giants-started-swans-giants-want-afl-to-lift-its-game-20230427-p5d3nl.html https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/as-albanese-backs-an-afl-stadium-for-hobart-tasmanians-are-living-in-tents-20230428-p5d3yo.html

Won't happen. 1. Clubs at the bottom don't give up No 1 pick....it enables them to showcase themselves and their sponsors. You don't get the coverage for pick 3, 4. 5 etc. 2. We are facing our own cliff in a short period of time. Gawn (32), May (31), TMac (31 ), Viney (29), BBB (31), Hibberd (33), Salem (28), Grundy (29). This will in all likelihood be our only chance to select multiple top end talents at the draft, until these players retire. One player alone at pick 1 does not produce Premiership success, you need multiple top end players close in age, as we have already proven.

Was shown on Ch9 news hobbling in to get scans on Tuesday for a severe corkie. 5 day break will be the problem.

Aimee & Blaithin take out the Division 2 Premiership in the LGFA competition. https://www.womens.afl/news/119214/dees-irish-sisters-help-deliver-gaelic-premiership-win

OK this was a question that was first raised at the open session a couple of days ago.... Who is this with JJ? It's not John McEnroe or Bjorn Borg. Perhaps @dazzledavey36 can help out?

58,934 Really slowing up now......only about 1,500 over last year. At this rate we won't make 70K

Sparrow may be another forced change: https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/star-bomber-could-miss-anzac-day-clash-dogs-defender-suffers-rib-injury-20230416-p5d0sn.html Merrett’s tackle on Demon Tom Sparrow in the final five minutes of the Bombers’ shock 27-point defeat of the premiership favourites may cost him his place for Tuesday week’s match. The Essendon star initially grabbed Sparrow around the neck as he grappled with him before flinging him to the turf head-first in a motion that match review officer Michael Christian is sure to scrutinise. The AFL’s crackdown on dangerous tackles resulted in bans for in-form Hawk Will Day (two games) and Geelong’s Gary Rohan (one) from round four incidents, while Richmond defender Nathan Broad copped a four-match suspension earlier in the season. Sparrow’s medical report, including a possible delayed concussion, will not be the sole factor, given Christian’s ability to assess an incident with the potential to cause serious injury.

6 April

Apparently it is the first time in the clubs history they have won by 50 points in 3 of first 4.

Confirmed: https://www.zerohanger.com/hawthorn-receive-state-funding-boost-for-new-training-facilities-135274/ And they have plenty in the bank, since they have sold some of their pokies venues, and are in the process of selling more. Unlike us, they have started fundraising with their members, and will have this facility operating by 2024!!.

Absolutely right. To get much beyond where we are now we need sustained success. And that has to be over a long period. @Sir Why You Little is right when he notes we need to get the kids on board, and that means winning while they are in their formative years. We lost generations with our absence from Finals from 1965 to the mid 80's. Then another 10 year gap to 2000's. Then another 10-15 year gap to 2018. And during that overall period we won a single Premiership in 57 years! A few bright moments, but what kid wants to support a team, that just wasn't there in finals time for year after year after year. Collingwood have won only 2 Premierships in the past 63 years, but have appeared in finals year after year after year. That's what keeps their fans turning up. The end result might be disappointing for them, but they are engaged by the fact that their club is "always in it". We need the same sort of success. But it takes years to translate support into memberships. You might get the kids today, but they aren't able to pay for their memberships until they start working to earn money. Could be 20 years time!

Apart from 2021 when there was a big jump toward the end of the season, for obvious reasons, there hasn't been much change historically from the increase in numbers from about early April. i.e. we are up by about 2-3,000 on last year, which will get us to about 68-69k by year end.

After the stellar year from sister Blaithin in her first year, the club has signed Aimee Mackin to the side. Aimee was voted the best LGFA best player in 2020, after coming back from an ACL injury. Her highlights package would indicate that like Blaithin, she will translate her Gaelic football skills to AFLW easily. Fast, strong and with an exceptional goal sense, get excited..... https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1295458/sister-act-another-mackin-joins-the-dees