DV8

We're planning on a long season. March heroes can suit themselves. It's May and onwards, we want to be traveling well.

‘Bluey’ Truscott

' Norm Smith ' 1935–1948 1952–1967

' Hassa ' Hassa Mann... front and centre. Topflite player of the day.

... the great 'Jimma' Stynes.

Tassie Johnson Johnson was a premiership player with Melbourne in 1959, 1960 and 1964. He captained the club during the 1969 season https://www.revolvy.com/page/Tassie-Johnson http://www.boylesfootballphotos.net.au/Tassie+Johnson

the baby faced 'Barass'... and then this. ... a picture spells a 1000 words. Dees v Bummers. https://theholybootsfootballemporium.com/tag/footy/page/9/

Graham Molloy

and a young Wellsy

A very young Robbie

Nah, but it's possible he dropped the bucket hat he was clutching, when he heard the selection news... On bending down to pick it back up, He, May well have done it, at that moment ? ?

Here... this sums it up of where I was going with my posts. >>> ://demonland.com/forums/topic/45565-do-not-to-believe-the-hype/?do=findComment&comment=1665728 Although we are a bit ahead of the Lions development curve... it's not all that far ahead, that we can fall for the old trick of believing the hype that will be around us all season long. Luke Hodge : > http://www.afl.com.au/news/2019-02-07/hodge-warns-teammates-not-to-believe-the-hype . In the original posts, there was an element of skyting, big noting, and we have not even kicked a footy in any sort of competition just yet. That is getting ahead of things.

"We can't get caught up in what people are saying outside because as soon as you start believing the hype, you drop away," he said. But Hodge says they can't afford to look ahead... http://www.afl.com.au/news/2019-02-07/hodge-warns-teammates-not-to-believe-the-hype Hodge warns teammates not to believe the hype. "If that happens, I'm happy with that, because that means we've taken the next step up."

What i was getting at is... the old adage about being a bit nervous about a game is a good thing to keep sharp. Arrogance creeping in amongst the large portion of a supporter group, can impact players subconsciously, when they come across this comfort socially... or in words/tones on forums. IF they come here during the week... leading to being a bit to comfortable going into a match buildup. It could rub off on the team, or even just one or two players... either is too much. We supporters are far better being a bit nervous about our possibilities going into seasons, and into games, with some caution in our minds. This helps our team to stay focused on the weeks job right in front of us. The players subconsciously pick up this tone, from all who engage in our footy world across the AFL. It's the supporters... mixed with their playing group, that combine to produce this "chemistry".... A mixed combination of emotions & expectations, anticipations, rolled up, and then expressed. The media and other supporters, clubs, etc... all pickup the tone, the air of, fear/confidence/arrogance/, whatever it happens to be, about this new club who are forging their path onto the competition. This collective tone from US supporters... hopefully stays just a little bit Humble, but with aggression, not fear.. Let's be a Hungry club in 2019. BUT, can we manage to be 'hungry', 'aggressive', without slipping into becoming arrogant ??? .

We can only control our own actions sku... stay in that toilet will you, during the Ashes series.

? And they do learn some things from forums... every now and then. And so does the AFL, itself.

arrogance is not confidence smokey... and the tone spreads across the faithful, to form a snowball of tone, leading up to the game. Any disrespect of the opposition, that opposition will use to further fire up their emotional drive to beat us. It is simple, basic, and coaches use this all the time to pre-load their players, who are on the receiving end of the arrogance. ... getting excited is great, being arrogant is fools gold. .

Its also the opposition club sensing what is coming out of our camp, in the day leading up to the game. If they sense we are arrogant, they will be fired up... coming out to smash us in every way possible. Good games for injuries, with that sort of atmosphere. Both teams could end up hurt, and suffering through early season. Talk about shooting ones own foot.

6 degrees of separation. In our case, probably more like 2 degrees... because of our common footy interest, and our inner social networks. We ALL influence one another. And this is why the clubs culture is not just about the players... but also very much about the clubs supporters... and staff, servants, doctors, and hangers-ons. This is what is meant by keeping good people around the club... the inner sanctum. Level headed people, who do not go off with arrogance and all sorts of stuff.

Agreed 'hmw'. I was one of the loudest to get Jack to the club. And this is why I am so disappointed in his efforts. But my gripe with these latest issues around him, has nothing to with his partaking. I could not care any less now, because of his poor attitude to club and game... It's his detached care for the game that gripes me, that he is bludging on our game, and he's still taking the money and making the game lesser for his contributions. A waste of space now, IMV. - - - - - - - - - - - - - The only thing that kept on our books for so long... was Our own desperation and forlorn hope.

seems the people at this club right now... know what they are doing. Its not the club that knows or doesn't. its a flag or an emblem. Its the people who make the decisions, or don't take the decisions... that forge and maintain the direction. Its a pity we didn't have more off field leaders in our past 50 Yrs.

Losing all the time impacts all footy people... even opposition supporters see and expect it of us, after years of us being "also-rans". When these kids grow... and some get recruited to the Dees, they still harbour these images and sub conscious thoughts. They enter into a club full of subtle hidden defeatist attitude... which turns itself into an internalised social mindset, and social party atmosphere... This to help get through the seasons of hell. Enter Barassi, or even a Neeld... and this attitude and defensiveness has to be smashed open... removed and repaired. It takes years to do this. And a lot of mental pain for all, and a much playing for oneself, survival instinct... and a lot of work. Under theses mental attitudes and defensive mindsets, learning rarely occurs within anxious minds. (see the think tank) Johnny Northey inherited a club that was already turned around into the correct direction... sailing, tacking, with the wind in its sails... but just not the scores on the board to that point. Add in a few good (fortunate) recruiting decisions... and we were almost away.. Add another emotional ingredient... and the side grew in belief enormously, based on the feet, legs and shoulders of 'Slug' Jordans kids. Remember 'mumbles' Bailey, a young Chris Connolly, Battiston, Wight, Lyon, Yeates, Grinter, Williams, the Lovett's, O'Dwyer, Eishold, Newport, Fidge boys, young Healy, Campbell, Febey boys, Lovell. etc These boys were the platform that the late 80's and early 90's success stories, were built upon... Add the senior recruits to the mix and a fresh faced Coach, and away it rolled. Sadly, this WIN attitudes waned in the 90's some time... and a Hollywood theme grew. ...

Bulldust.. that's fertilizer for the game.

I'm 2.5Hrs away from it. And I am doing my bit to get this fun family night noticed, chazza. I doubt I will be able to get there and have no kiddies to take as well. My boy is mid 30's. and somewhere in Melbourne? don't know who he barracks for.

Well you've made some effort then, chazza.