JJJ

Yep. I knew an opposition club board member who was friends with Gubby when he was at GWS. He gloated about signing old mate Tom prior to his last season with us. Don’t like him but he was pretty good at getting shady stuff done.

It’s another thread but the trading for McAdam still confuses me. We needed small forwards who can read the play, hit the contest with speed, kick goals and pressure. McAdam plays like a small key forward.

If you want to hear what players, past and present, and agents are talking about head to Lamaro’s in South Melbourne. The sheer volume of footy people who hang there is incredible. I happened to spend an afternoon there last week and heard interesting stories about the Dogs, Dons, Freo, Tiges and as the regulars know I am a Dees supporter, Melbourne. I won’t post what I hear as I think I was basically put on notice last time BUT what Dazzle said about Petracca was very similar to what I heard on Friday. Clubs will be testing the strength of that rumour no doubt.

I don’t think he has disappointed. We liked him last season and he’d shown some improvement in the WAFL. We will have a large deficiency in key position players next season. T-Mac, Schache, Tomlinson most likely gone at seasons end and a very underwhelming start for Fullarton, it makes sense to bring someone we like in, let him learn the game plans and people and get a full preseason in. People who are annoyed by his presence or think he has nothing to offer really should be looking at players like Viney Oliver Bowey McAdam Fritsch and Sparrow as players who have not hit the mark this season. (Viney gets a near pass as he was playing well before his injuries)

That’s the most disturbing thing to me. We go on about culture and playing a Melbourne brand of footy but once a team starts picking and choosing and needing massive bakes from the coaching staff to perform, I get worried. It won’t be one issue alone, but a collection of issues that have hit critical mass. Fitness, confidence, inexperience, injury, outside noise etc Good clubs put the fire out before it becomes an inferno. I look toward the coaches and Gawn & his lieutenants for leadership but I think we should be reviewing that group and reinvigorate the nominated leaders with some youth such as Rivers.

Sadly. Not sure what Salem has on Goody but this isn’t the first time he’s rushed him back after injury. Those changes really sucked the jam out of my donut.

I think I heard during the broadcast that he was the leader in AFL listed players goal kicking ladder.

I am one of those who didn’t think he’d make it at the start of the season. I am still a tad skeptical but I am 100% aligned to Fence in that he should be played to expose him to the level prior to next year. My expectations for him this year are low; hit the contest hard, show some nous in drawing the footy and chase defensively. Anything above and beyond that is a win at this stage.

His agent owes us a favour!! That is a long contract.

It’s fair to assume that even the most positive player would understand that the deck is stacked against them playing finals. Given the whole preseason theme was about redemption and playing finals, that would be a difficult pill to swallow. The mood probably reflects that to a degree.

And it’s not like Stengle hasn’t got form in this area….

I was in the Geelong Presidents lunch that day. I had an interesting interaction with the then MFC CEO prior to the game followed by watching an even more interesting one at the end. It was a massive mistake by Jimmy to bring that man back to the club. Re the game, I don’t recall much of it. I sat in my seat and watched the game in preference to the ear smashing I was getting from Geelong people inside. Board members, staff etc it didn’t matter, if they saw someone wearing red and blue at the function we were fair game to those people. As a result I will barrack for any team in the AFL who plays Geelong. Except for Essendon. In that case I hope for scoreless draws.

If we miss the finals, it’s better that we miss by a lot. We’d get a bottom 6 draw next year if we finished 13th. Id rather us try to win and in-still good habits into the younger brigade but if things go to form Friday night, we are a chance to go winless the rest of the year. A healthy list and an easier draw would be awesome for us.

I agree that we need a reset. Although I don’t see much difference between finishing 8th (if we miraculously make it) or 10-12th in terms of draft hand. However, I would like to see Jefferson and Doggy Brown squeeze in 1 or 2 games if possible and trial young players who have stalled, such as Bowey, a run in a different position.

Someone who is suffering from mental illness could potentially be more susceptible to the false narrative pushed by footy journos. Cornes pushing the story that we should offload his contract followed by journos speculating that Oliver is unhappy and/or the club is too won’t be helping Clarrie. Its amazing, given that everyone has an idea of Clarrie’s mental state, that these low life’s don’t drop the story or at least get called out by other journos with something resembling a moral compass. The whole thing is very disappointing and a horrible reflection of the general public’s thirst for news and the organisations that feed it.

Is that pic legit? I don’t watch the show he is on. I’d rather sleep.

The internet and forums like Demonland are a weird place at times. If Binman and (insert disgruntled Demonland member here) were to be having these debates over a beer before a game, there would be way less vitriol and more constructive conclusions. Instead, people on Demonland get very personal and worked up about someone else’s opinion.

Watched the Kangas vs Blues 2nd half. LDU is exactly what we need. Wins his own ball, kicks well on both feet and grits his teeth and explodes from the contest. I would give up a lot for him but I’m pretty sure he’s said recently that he wants to stay.

There were a bunch of very influential Carlton supporters who wanted them to trade Cripps when he had a couple of injury interrupted years. Questioned his focus and commitment etc. I guarantee they are happy the club trusted their judgement and kept Cripps.

I’m stunned. Two weeks ago I was told he still had an offer from Adelaide. I love him as a defender. Not so much as a forward. He was serviceable today in a woeful team though.

We should see if Salem gets us anything though

Billing’s holds the ball in a very unconventional way. The result was worse.

Good mark by Petty. Drifted in from the side like a defender… 🤔

Their speed, patience and foot skills are picking us apart.

I love the way Serong hunts the footy at speed.