beelzebub

A lot of fuss over a Giants player.... go figure 🤷‍♂️ meh

Typical AFL... just making up 💩 on the 🪰 I dont particularly begrudge the game but if you're going to have criteria, stick to it. Tbh.. interest level.. Zzzz

There's quite the Gippsland 'influence' occurring.. look beyond the players 😉 No mere coincidence

My basis for tempered optimism goes to a number of elements. Each of which would offer a bit of hope but together might prove surprising. Even in a very "wonky" season we showed some resolve, a bit of resilience just not a lot of footy nouse. We've got players who haven't been fully available. If only one or two improve in this area things get better immediately. The likes of Lever come to mind. Some just started to step up.. only for the Gods to step on. AMW for instance We've got ( and I'm not including just yet the new crop ) players who will benefit from another preseason. Lindsay and Langford for example. There's players who might have something but were put in the wrong box... Ol' Bill being such a player.. a block of games to see if he can bring his footy i.q.. and kick up a gear to AFL level. He might..he might not.... Then we have players who ought to go back to doing what they do best. Petty as a defender and Roo as a 2nd fwd... get that #1 off him and teach him about 'space' Culley will be all the better in 26 for a gallop in 25. Is it Kentfield time 🤔 need to find out. At this point in bring in the obvious element. New coaching. New ways. The era of crash bang whack it in the boot , drop it on a forwards head....are GONE. We will swarm and deliver unto our forwards in a more considered targeted manner. Yes Martha we're going to play footy ...PROPERLY!!! I dont think our skills overall will magically improve overnight but with concerted attention we will think about what were doing and it will make a huge difference. Keep in mind how many games 2-3 goals would have had a different outcome. Confidence is a path and it takes those initial steps under guidance but it can and will grow as I fervently believe we now have better educators.. Some of the existing coaches will themselves learn... and that flows on. Then we sprinkle on top some new prospects. If I were to notice a common trait among the noobs it might be this. They can all get the ball....and they all seem to have an idea of what comes next. This is where hopefully better support and guidance will develop those raw abilities into genuine weaponry. Last year we weren't rubbish we just weren't good enough long enough. We had some magnificent brain fades and tbh I dont think a few ( more than ) were as fit as needed. There's going to be a changing of the guard through the coming season. That might cost us a game or two as the new cogs learn to mesh cohesively and fluidly. Lastly... and i dont think this is in any fashion insignificant... there will be minimum DISTRACTION. There has been to my eye elements of clicks, divisions, schism and disharmony about Melbourne.. From 22 onwards something hasn't been right. Much beneath the surface but you could see ( well i saw it ) a lack of ONENESS out there. Whether this was players getting burnt, others expressing a 'niggle' ..players dropping a yard or two.. you know those 1% things . If they disappear... you're cooked. This will end . We will play as a team ( united ) again as those thwarting this wont play. I have a good ( strangely) feeling about the coming season. Out of the fires of hell will rise a Phoenix. Go Dees

Been sayin' this for yonks !! 😉😆

Do an OK Parma ( imo ) Granted better places to eat... becomes harder to get a table from this time of year on through summer. Beer and big chips... at Brewery 😉 Bit agricultural though ...just my taste

at the Brewery ?? .. or the Star

That's ok.... That was... THEN We're in NOW 😉

2 preseasons from beast mode

Aaaaaaarrrrrrhggggggghhhhhhhh Bugger [censored] [censored] bugger [censored] ... I feel better now Pray continue... Well done to the winners... Kudos...the task master

Those familiar with old geezers music will know of Vivaldi's 4 Seasons. Here the composer takes us on an audio journey through the change of scenery and habitat as we make forward through the changing nature of nature changing. The oft maligning quip about Melbourne has always been... don't like the weather? Wait 5 mins. Melbourne and Change seem bonded at the hip. If the playing years of 23/24 were our Winter ( of discontent ) perhaps this year has been mildly Autumnal. Some leaves have fallen ( and some fallen did leave ) . Evergreens remain but some branches elsewhere await the wonder of new growth. As we await the new footy year a sense that a new Spring is upon us. The signs are there. Foliage has either departed by its own design or felt the efforts of pruning. The overseers entrusted with the caring of the club have done what they could to set the course for the coming weather. Spring, a time of reawakening from hibernation, the starting of new growth, a reaching for the sun. Summer brings the heat, the idea of the great outdoors, of fun in the sun. We're not there yet. Let's enjoy the Spring as it brings renewed endeavour, new life and gladdening of the heart . Melbourne, the team will look very different in 26. Yes a certain familiarity will be present but expect some to have added added 'spring' to their step. The adorned colours won't have changed . Those wearing them will have Pundits looking to put a line through us may want to hold fire. I fully expect we'll give as good as we get. With the introduction of Wild Card silliness in 26 I can even see us participating in September. How ? Why not ? There were definitely things wrong at Melbourne but we weren't unsalvageable. We amazingly weren't that far off the mark at times but we were in the sense of playing to the wrong 'scoresheet' We missed a beat many a time, we missed the goals even more. Those familiar with engines will know that the difference between a sputtering block and a humming revving beast is sometimes nothing more than the attention of someone who knows how to tune. I fervently think 26 will be music far sweeter than some suspect The folklore suggests there are people that dwelt in the vicinity of a large Blue Oval that know of Engine tuning 😉 They are among us now. 26 will be a transition year imho. We wont hit top rpm from the get go but we will improve. Go Dees

Would gladden a father's heart. You've done a good job MrWhite. Master White has turned out OK 👍 ( hopefully he's more than just a bit like his dad ) Footy aside , you can be proud 👏

You're confusing him with that other Riley Onley

The worst of it is I know he IS effectively describing the answer.... It's staring me in the face... And I'm still overthinking it

Does a bear...

You know your stuff 😏 😉

Take Oxley Rd off the Hume... pop by Milawa 👍🍷

How did that little [censored] get in ??

Im still overthinking ( obviously ) these bloody things .. I do see a couple of subtle clues ... ( this done after a few Proseccos , standing on a chair , on my head squinting ) I mean.... this is clear as ........MUD !!!!

These always remind me of Ol' Jeff's cartoons.... just gotta find the bloody hook !!

I suspect Howes will one of quite a few who will be totally re-evaluated. Whilst some fd folk are still around from previous regime the new lot have new ideas and different requirements. They're no bunnies. Some roles will remain essentially the same... a new slant on the game plan/style will throw up a different criteria. It could well be some players who could quite fit the old way well might blossom in the new. Conversely some will become Casey stalwarts ....

Howes , imho, is going to be among a handful.of players on the endangered list. Not that he can't play... but newer models are already on the showroom floor. The competition for spots will become heightened. Forget everything you've seen over the past seasons ( immediate) about team selection, placement, strategy, style. This is a bran nu day !!! All bets are off Go Dees

The time for May up forward has well passed. King will be building a team to compete for flags 27 onwards. I doubt May will be there. Time to look where we're going... nit where we are