pitmaster

It's important to make a statement, not only to the Bullies but to the competition. Get the season off to a flying start. But it's no certainty. The GF aside, we split the honours last year with us losing the second contest due to failing to take advantage of our opportunities. The two we won on the other hand saw us start fast and take them by the collar early. A solid win here would be some way towards establishing a psychological advantage over a team that is pretty good at believing its own hype, so there's plenty to gain beyond the four points if we get it done.

Turned a $2 million profit in a year with almost no spectators and laid the basis for another profit in 2022 with a $4 million boost to merchandise income...early signs would be that we are making the flag pay. Membership numbers will be the next signal and are promising so unless you can point to something concrete I am lost to what you are getting at.

That was an ugly turn, I agree, but having seen it I thought keep it! Build some suspense. Latest news is that all those at my table were negative so the premiership celebrations continue!

Negative. Cool. Players and supporters were not supposed to mix but a couple of people at my table took some selfies with several players, so if you were willing to push it you could get access. I did not try to seek out any of the current list. I did share a urinal visit with Beamer and Trapper who were comparing their games records during their respective times at Brisbane so I could have mixed with a couple of former players, but opted not to be a fan boy, especially with what we had in our hands at the time.

Tested at the Showgrounds. Feeling good. Hoping for the best. With 1500 attending this was inevitable. Still a great night.

It's been too good, too much of a relief to have broken the drought, with too much spectacular finals football to revel in to indulge in schadenfreude. Until now. Yesterday I felt just the slightest twinge of guilty pleasure at the plight of the Magpies, with JdG in strife yet again and possibly to be axed sometime next year, when I thought of Jeremy Howe. As a Demon, I loved the spectacular feats he produced, and I was genuinely disappointed - and told him so in person - when he talked himself out of the place by believing his manager's BS about how much he was worth. That's the truth. He made it impossible to keep him even though, as well all know he ended up in the same role at Pie Park that he had with us, and for much the same dough. I say that acknowledging that his disposal was problematic although no worse than Nat Jones and correctible, had he stayed, by Mark Williams. Instead he finds himself at an ailing club, full of its own BS, with its premiership window slammed shut and the pain of a 13 possession 6-point Grand Final loss for consolation. And he can look on his former teammates with the big medals around their necks. Those who played alongside him include Salem (22 times), Harmes (8 times), Viney (49 times), TMac (82 times), Brayshaw (21 times), Gawn (49 times), Neal-Bullen (11 times). Others on the list this year who were teammates with Howe but without the premiership medal include Jones, Jetta, Van den Berg and Hunt. Petracca did not debut until after he had left, but was a training mate in his last season, 2015. I know this is small minded of me but it's nice to remember that slur he threw at us when Covid locked fans out of stadiums. He knew what it was like to play to empty terraces because "I used to play at Melbourne". Maybe if he had not said that I would not have posted this but I did think he was graceless and unappreciative of the club that plucked him from the obscurity of Dodges Ferry. His win loss record with us was 22 wins and 78 losses from 100 games, which goes some way to explaining why he might have wanted to go. But TMac at the same time had 18 wins and 64 losses from 82 games and stuck fat. Ditto Viney, 10 wins and 39 losses from 49 games while Howe was with us. All around the 20%-22% mark. I guess some of his old teammates would not hold it against him but it's the fans job to hold on to grievances. So Jeremy, in the quiet times, when it's late at night and you are alone, ponder what might have been.

Has to be Fritter. Huge things were expected of Groom but did not really deliver. Several others as noted above had careers compromised by injury. I did rate Wheatley highly, but in terms of on-field impact no-one on that list is close to six goals in a GF. Having said that, and having a very high opinion of Fritter, it must be noted that he stands in the shadow of RDB whose closest likeness is the current No 5.

And we SHOULD have kicked 7 in the first.

Only umpires can vote. FFS why do we care?

Are the dogs the AFL's biggest charity case?

He did duck in the Geelong game and the ump was onto it. He does play low to the ground however and has been justly rewarded several times this year. Not so much a ducker - that won't get him a free - but he does run low and plays for high contact. Just like Caleb Daniel and no-one's bagging CB so let Spargo get on with it.

I'm calling this out YW. In 2018 I, and hundreds of other MCC members were lining up at 9.00am, hours before the gates opened. You clearly don't know how walk ups work. For a GF people sleep out overnight and are lined up by MCC officials for an 8.00am opening and then it's every one for themselves. Get in and take the seat you want. For those 2018 finals against Geelong and Hawthorn I saw the same folks there each week, putting in the hours and then heading in to their preferred area after the gates were opened about 2.00pm. No-one, not even on routine match days rolls up 10 minutes before the start unless they are happy sitting way up in the back. No ill-feeling meant but do understand that you are talking BS.

The light blue was the change and we were always struggling when it was our jumper. The navy blue has a much longer history and is associated with the golden era so I wouldn't expect it to be a problem even if you relate it to 2007-16. I know some people are sentimental about the light blue - adopted for early colour TV - but for those of us with a longer history it's rich in bad memories.

I have had so much goodwill and support from supporters of the Saints, Norf, the Blues...yes the Blues, even Geelong over the past 24 hours that is actually quite moving. There are plenty of people who support non-finals clubs who are happy to see the Dees finally doing well that I think is fantastic. We should embrace the mood. We win one, and people will ride with us. Two might be a problem, but people who know Demons supporters who have stuck through thick and thin want to see us go on and are literally on our side. Notably, no Hawthorn supporters have come out to support me, but that's just what I'd expect. Anyone else, jump on!

The history to it is looooooooosssssing. Year after year.

I hate the royal blue. It reeks of the 70s when we were mediocre. We returned to navy in 1987 and fired up. Having said that, the royal blue works as a clash strip since it's better than all the alternatives.

Absolutely. Dogs are a real threat. Port is my preference but a Hipwoodless Brissy appeals more than the Dogs who have one of the smartest coaches in the game.

Ah yes, the Doc McClelland. Hilarious.😂

You missed Fritter (twice).

Exactly. Win tomorrow and see Salem rested along with one of Trac or Olly for example. TMac if he plays tomorrow and we win might also be spelled.

You don't need qualifications for a job with the AFL. You just need to be somebody's mate.

Ha Ha HAAAA. It's a joke, right?

Terrible decision to give Miller that free. Nothing in it. And to pay it in front of goal so late in the game is outrageous. If I were a Carlton supporter...oh well, I'm not. Both teams look terrible. Happy the Suns could bounce back since they'd have had a terrible week. Looks like curtains for Teague.

With Tobes we'd be certainties.

Sorry. Yep won't be available retail but you can order from adelaide hills distillery.