Webber

Wow. Fair to say none of us saw this coming. That last quarter was the most uncompetitive, dispirited and ‘defeated’ I’ve seen this team play since the dark days. Hard to conclude anything other than that there’s something seriously broken about this group’s psychology. That, or its fragility is something extraordinary. The quality of elite players in this team makes it even more worrying. Either way, this will send shockwaves through the club, and obviously the coaching group are going to be in the firing line.

Here’s what’s apparent after this half. Both teams are bottom 8 standard. North Melbourne are more skilled, more competitive, and more effective at the contest. Inside attacking 50, North Melbourne are far more threatening. Melbourne’s goals are far less less convincing, and their set shot kicking is very poor. But then so is North’s. If North had better defensive organisation, they’d be another 3-4 goals up. As the on-field personnel present, they also appear to have oodles of upside compared with Melbourne.

🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤬

As none of you have done so yet, I’ll take the credit. Thanks AFL.

Has the AFL ever made the logical decision at the time it’s most indicated/needed/deserved? They always hang onto it for a while (season or two), before then making the blindly obvious change. Mind-numbingly frustrating.

Poor bugger. Happened right in front of me, and I obviously feared the worst. He’ll need the full 12 months, and a conservative build it will be, but he’ll be back. All 3 ligaments will have ruptured. ACL will be grafted (and done as soon as his swelling is controlled), MCL repaired and same PCL. There may be meniscal damage that they just haven’t bothered reporting, and there WILL be joint surface bruising, which will dictate a large part of the conservative approach. If ever the AFL needed motivation to alter their list supplement policy, it’s now.

Consider our keys not playing, and the horrible wind, that was a very good half. The old guard who are out there are doing their thing….Petty and Lever dominant, AMW very good (he takes Knuckles spot for mine), Jed Adams v good (lovely left foot), Bowey and Howes same. Kozzy, Clarrie and Riv carrying the very undermanned midfield. Langford getting lots, and using well, same XL, fabulous left foot included (great signs that they’re totally comfortable). Taj, Billings, Sparrow and Sharp doing well. Roo, Jeffo and Disco all working hard (wind is killing forward 50 marks) to create options and contests. Oh, and what a relief to have Tom Campbell this year for Max relief, he’s just plug n play competitive, and making Xerri v grumpy.

Clarry just did the most superb candy-sell on the run right in front of me, then dished off a perfect handball. My heart sang. He’s back, baby!

See semitendinosis pic. ‘High’ means closer to the bum, i.e. the ‘origin’, or attachment from the sit bone of the pelvis (Ischial tuberosity). The more tendon involvement (roughly seen as the white tissue), the slower healing, therefore longer rehab and return to play. All full recovery from ANY hamstring tear starts at 3 weeks.

Pedalled down to training yesterday too, and can happily confirm the thoughts and observations of others on here. Looking fit and happy, the boys. Notables for me - Really really pleased to see ‘Charles’ Spargo at full stride-out pace looking great (and super fit bodily). If he’s a season starter, we’re getting an extra back on the list, and I reckon he’ll be driven like no man to make it stick. Jack Viney continues to amaze with his sheer ‘one way’ to play and train - you’d just hate to be matched up with him in competitive drills, but he will ALWAYS set the standard. Kozzy IS mesmeric. Makes me smile that the non-Dees footy world still doesn’t get it. Clarry’s having a great time, back to his best ‘happy hands’ around the stoppage and through traffic. Obviously loving the energy and group intent, to which Nathan Jones is such a brilliant addition - welcome back Chunk. And finally - the 3-headed Demonland pod monster does exist. IRL! Can confirm that no only is @binman a real boy, so too are @george_on_the_outer and @Demonland/Andy. No digital puppetry or A.I. here, no algorithmic airwave deceptions, just flesh and blood assailing a mic or three.

The idea of Windsor off half-back seems totally logical to me. With a bigger tank, and more physical maturity and experience (to defend), why wouldn’t we (like Judd McVee) put him somewhere where he can generate attacking play earlier? Wing is essentially a link role, half back is a generator role, and we need that, with speed. I expect his kilometres covered to increase this season, and halfback will allow that - colour me excited.

True thing Luci, though they tend to be the older ‘proper’ journos who are either marginalised or have been put out pasture by their previous employers.

When it comes to the AFL media, I don’t believe ANYTHING.

Could this be your new ‘Swallow’ binners? Repeat for 1 minute on the hour …… “Lindsay….Lindsay….Lindsay…..Lindsay…..”. Guaranteed cure in 2 to 3 days. 😎

Watched one of his Casey games this year (how many did he play?), and the kid was simply electric - all the skills you can’t teach - whilst seemingly having none of the learned ‘system’ traits. The commentators were beside themselves, so I don’t know how he would’ve have escaped other clubs attention. If he can be taught, and fit in/improve to elite levels, wow!

I remember in his first praccy match (vs Bulldogs at a country venue I can’t remember), he almost took a speccy, ran to the bench soon after and threw up. Immediate thought was that this kid will go until his body, not his mind, just blows up. In a good way.

Defeatist : this glass is p*ss

Swans have been grossly, woefully uncompetitive in 2 grand finals in 3 years. Whatever they’re doing in the lead-in week is just plainly the wrong thing. Otherwise, not sure how I’d feel if I was a Swans supporter.

One of the things that’s remarkable to me is how blatantly the media ignore the obvious contradictions that are Jack Viney and Max Gawn to the ‘disaster’ culture narrative they’re trying to spin about the MFC (let alone the flurry of re-signings from our young guns). Here are our two greatest leaders, passionately, vocally committed to the club, both of whom drive standards of professionalism that would be the envy of any player, EVER, both just re-signing to make them one club players. Both of whom weathered the pits of this club’s recent history, then drove it to the ultimate success. How does any player not look to them as exemplars of the professionalism in loyalty we fans treasure most? How does Max Gawn’s resolve as the playing group’s leader, (arguably I guess) the best ruckman ever, a SEVEN-time all Australian, become frankly irrelevant in any media discussion about our club. Even more staggering when his media appearances around the CP5 saga were quite brilliant - consistent, empathetic, resolute. If I were a player seeking to model my career on anyone (on or off-field) it would be these two, and as a supporter, I know who I hold in highest regard as true Demons.

Excellently summed up. Not sure the 10 evolutionary steps are taken by many (most?) people though……3 often seems to do it

Agree, and that they assume a position as legitimate journalists is arguably worse

Oh good, another piece of quality, integrity loaded journalism from Tom Morris. (I won’t be listening).

Not since watching Robbie Flower (in 1987 particularly) have I gone to the footy fully aware that in watching Max Gawn, I’m experiencing Australian football greatness. Something singular and unrepeatable. It’s the same feeling I had watching Shane Warne bowl, or Haile Gebrselassie run. The broader audience won’t realise this until he’s retired of course, for the reason as stated - he’s just Max, and his immeasurable excellence is just what we expect. That he’s become the leader and personality we see, with a sage demeanour beyond his years, is just extra. Well done Max, you are truly that waaaay overused word - a legend.

@WalkingCivilWar, your reporting is priceless. In a single post, you’ve given us lesser Dees fans the only information that matters, thus rendering every piece of toxic, muck-raking, click-baiting garbage from the likes of Tom Morris and his slimy, self-promoting ilk irrelevant. As someone invested in a sympathetic, considerate, always respectful engagement with the people you’re ‘reporting’ on, you’re more a journalist than they could ever hope to be, simply because your approach grants you access to the truth, without those so-called ‘journalists’ frankly pathetic need for attention. Not only that, but your calling out the fact that some players DO read Demonland, and are personally injured by the critical nonsense that goes on here, way too much, was wonderfully gutsy. I truly believe it will change some behaviours. I know it’s been said, but you’re a treasure, nay, in fact a Princess (and I too know which one 😉).

Go well and enjoy your retirement BBB, and the pile-on of deserved love on here. You were a joy to watch running around in the Red and Blue, and we can only hope you’re staying on for the AFLW team. A beacon of great club culture right there, which of course NOBODY in the media will find newsworthy.