Little Goffy

Trouble is, we're interesting. Couple of weeks ago; "Demons surge into premiership contention on back of ferocious, team-first game". This week; "Demons have unrealistic view of their position, lack team culture and are over-the-top with their aggression" I'll rephrase. Trouble is, we're interesting and they're vapid gits. We'll cope.

Wow, fringe players during an injury crisis and a series of 6-day turnarounds, and they're on the [censored]. Most people aren't interested in trying to be great, and that's fine, really it is. But if you want to play in the best 22 of a rising AFL club on the fringe of the top 4, when everything is at stake, then yeah, a slice of greatness is what you need to want, and need to be prepared to commit to.

Melbourne Football Club Supporter Syndrome. There was an experiment demonstrating MFCSS back in the 1970s, the 'golden days' of psychology (back before there were ethics boards and all that terrible red tape). They put a dog in a cage with an electrified floor. Periodically they would run a current through the circuit, inflicting pain on the dog. The dog would try to get away from the pain, searching for any spot without current, but it was all painful. The 'researchers' kept repeating the test until the dog gave up trying to get away from the pain, and just remained still and whimpering each time it got blasted. Then they flicked a switch which meant that part of the floor was no longer electrified. But of course the dog had given up searching, so even though safety and relief was literally centimeters away, the dog kept on taking the pain over and over. MFCSS in a nutshell.

Would assume he'll be gone for quite a few weeks, and he was only just holding onto his place anyway. Will struggle to appear at AFL level again this season. Serves him right, idiotic and shameful thing to do. Stupid git is going to miss a flag, that'll be a lesson to others.

Right now that full set of 'second string' midfielders are ALL having poor days, and it isn't being covered by outstanding games from our top group. Fumbles, missed connections, lack of run for defensive pressure, not much forward target power. We've turned things around from much worse positions after even worse first halves, so not letting myself panic, but wow there's plenty to correct in the half time break. Melbourne Demons: SHOW ME WHAT YOU GOT!

So, uh, half time of the Sydney game, and I'm wondering if anyone right now wants to argue that we have no need of an extra quality contested ball winner who can also use it pretty well?

The 'is it drafting or is it development' debate is much more fun when we're debating why it seems to have worked. One might almost suspect that in a good system at a good club, each supports the other. "We need players like this... hmm... how do you reckon you'd go developing this kid, and tell me, do you think this talented puppy-fat midfielder could be transformed into a full-game player?"

Bizarre to think that Selwood is closing in on 250 games. In my mind he is still the 'kid who never was a kid', turned up in his first season and was immediately a great player. and by his second season was rightly amongst the best midfielders playing the game. However, I don't think the two are really a like-for-like comparison as players. Over his career, Selwood has kicked a lot more, to Viney's leaning to handballs. Selwood also spends more time delivering inside 50 and hitting the scoreboard, while Viney's tackling and pressure work is about as relentless and effective as it is possible to get. I think you can kind of sum up Viney's best attributes looking at his glorious game against West Coast. I wouldn't say he was the matchwinner himself, the way Selwood often is, but Viney's effort kept is within range, prevented the habitual "20 minute 5-goal hole" we've been plagued with, and I'd say he was the key reason we were then in a position to fight back. The difference between Selwood and Viney is almost an embodiment of the clubs they arrived at. Selwood arrived as a club hit the absolute peak, full of confidence, talent and experience, looking for that final surge of brilliance and commitment. In contrast Viney came to a club on it's knees and in need of people prepared to never drop their heads no matter how grim things got, in a game, in a season, in a whole career. I guess instead of the above rant I could've just posted this - 7

Had similar thoughts after Dangerfield's calm, measured response to Newman's daft little posturing. Footballer of the past, meet footballer of the future. Can't help wondering what Dangerfield will do after football. Or maybe he'll just surf and raise chooks in a nice home with a view of the sea.

Funny thing, I've done a bit of proof-reading of English-second-language people, uni essays and the like, and there were distinct moments during that article I was noticing the same mistakes. Strange way to lead off the article, too, have a moan about a non-existent 'problem'. We Demon supporters have been remarkably cheerful over the miserable journey. Maybe Kingy needs to ask Flanagan, you know, that guy who actually spends time around fans.

Can't help thinking about how finely balanced it all is, and there we are right in the thick of it, 4 weeks in a row of playing teams trying to claw some kind of gap into the 8. We have another 'in the thick of it' period to come, with games three top games over four rounds, against the Crows, Port and [Fake Club No History]. It's almost like this current run of 4 decides whether we deserve to be in the finals, and then there's another run of 4 games which decide if we deserve a top-4 finish. All capped off with a late run of MCG games against relatively weaker opponents (Saints, Lions, Magpies) where we get our best 22 all back from injury (touch wood) and playing as a unified, relentless machine. At least, that's how we'll look back on it, if the possible becomes the probable then becomes the actual!

Taking a moment to confirm Redleg's background is law, not medicine. I mean, obviously you're thinking of the remarkably similar treatment for tinnitus.

Hmm, I wonder. Daniel Wells (pick 2), Lynden Dunn (15), James Aish (7), Varcoe (15), Treloar (GWS concession pick, de facto 2), Hoskin-Elliot (4), Adams (13), Grundy (18), Scharenberg (Pick 6), Freeman (10), De Goey (5), Moore (F/S 9), Sidebottom (11), and Pendlebury (5). Top 6 picks - 6. First round picks total - 14 vs Lewis (7), Jones (12), Watts (1), Melksham (10), Trengove (2), Tyson (3), Hogan (mini 2), Salem (9), Brayshaw (3), Petracca (2) Weidemann (9), Oliver (4). Top 6 picks - 7. First Round picks total - 12. HAAA HA HA HA HA. Hey look, it's another way Collingwood can go and eat ---- .

All this, and Carlton in two weeks... Here it comes... heeeere it coooooomes....

Ha. Rohan Connolly may or may not think the Demons can win a premiership, but what is for sure is that he thinks a bit of hype aboutt he Demons right now will get some click-throughs.

Bwa ha, I played with the ladder predictor and had us finishing second on % only, playing the other top 4 teams, Geelong, then Adelaide and finally GWS, to claim the premiership. Obviously. I may have forgotten that sometimes there are losses even if you're going well. It's just been so long since we lost a game, I can't remember.

Now is not the time to externalise our locus of control. We'll play in Darwin, we'll win, and we'll sit solidly in the top 4. Then a few weeks later we'll play in Canberra, to claim top spot. With a quick visit to Tasmania first, for conditioning to the climate, of course.

Anyone else quietly sending good vibes to all three underdogs today? Fremantle beating Geelong puts us in the top 4 instead of the Cats. Carlton beating Richmond puts the Tigers a full game and solid percentage behind us. Gold Coast knocking off St Kilda puts the Saints that little bit further behind in the chase. And to be clear, this is just for amusement and satisfaction. After the last three rounds of proverbial '8 point games' it is quite clear the Demons hold their destiny in their own hands and have a notion of what to do with it. We are, after all, the form team of the competition! HA!

Not since another game against the Eagles, one week and 12 years ago, have I felt this positive about the Demons. The poetry of these last three games, each one against an opponent at the same spot on the ladder, each time winning and moving on one more step. It is all very beautiful.

Less than 100 behind Junior for total tackles, too. Ha! Found a bonus note for those still enjoying the fact that Collingwood have gone backwards every year since 2010. Melbourne have improved their result by at least two wins, in every season since Jones was made acting co-captain. The captain that took a club from 2 wins and 54% to... to where? His worthiness for glory is beyond debate.

Following your example of Dogs defeating North probably ending it for North, I'd reckon there are three other games this round which, combined, pretty much end finals hopes for the four losers. Essendon over Sydney Port over Collingwood Geelong over Fremantle Richmond defeating Carlton would provide the formality of ending the Blues theoretical hopes. Buuuut Carlton's one virtuous tradition is making Richmond fans cry, so we'll wait and see. And if those five games all go against the favourites, we're back in a ridiculous jam, with Collingwood, Sydney, Fremantle, Essendon and Cartlon all on six wins. St Kilda slipping up against Gold Coast would put both of them on 6 wins, too. Ha! In theory, we could have 10 teams sitting on 6 or 7 wins at the end of this round, with just 8 wins pushing a team into top 4, and 5 wins making you bottom 4.

Would we get a player of Brayshaw's potential, with the pick we might get in exchange for him. No. Obviously. His concussion issues would be 'priced' just as harshly by any other club as we might. The best value is in keeping him. Particularly if you're looking for speedy players - speed is one of the few things you can evaluate clearly prior to drafting, and there's no harm in throwing around a few more late picks in search of the next Jayden Hunt. And let's be honest, you can never have too many tough, smart inside midfielders with good vision going inside 50.

AFLx. Or, as we mortals know it, 'having a bit of a kick and a laugh down at the park'. The long-term plan for the AFL is clearly to introduce merchandising and ticketing for every casual kick of the ball. There will a law passed kind of like the free assembly restrictions under martial law. "Nobody is allowed to gather in groups larger than three persons unless first booked through ticketmaster and while wearing appropriate branded products".

Doing it tough, them footballers.

Hibberd notched up 8 clangers and 10 coaches votes.