DEE fence

Not that I disagree with you, but just an anecdote, a mate of mine is an agent for NHL players in NY and he has a 1st round pick gun (playing a few seasons now) who absolutely goes mental if anyone speaks about his weight.

I was quite intrigued by how many top 8 AFL side's counterparts in the VFL are languishing in the bottom half of the VFL ladder, Swans, Essendon, Carlton, Collingwood. Made me think the cupboard is a bit bare elsewhere as well. In 21-23 when we were red hot, no doubt, Casey was firing, just a reminder grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence, and maybe we are not so far away.

Here is the knee, reminds me of nik nat with his carelessness, maybe not Mitchell level but definitely developing form. VID-20240702-WA0018.mp4

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C83OZvWJ4Cb/?igsh=MTYxbm00eWtsa2Ribw==

Where do I contribute to paying Long's fine, absolute joke, Maynard holding his head. May was rightfully a fine, this needs one as well.

Apart from Petty clunking some marks, (liked Gawn giving him a boost post game), did anyone notice that one grab by JVR, that was the most exciting thing I've seen this year him losing the double grab.

I agree with you, however was more recent than that, Sam Mitchell made a career out of hobbling blokes, (loved when Yze ribbed him about it on 360). Anyway what I was getting at, is even the perception of some sort of bounty would bring alot of heat. Little Goffy was clear that it was filth supporters not the players, but even joking about this at a function where club people are would be a very bad look.

In the NFL Sean Payton was stood down for a year, the New Orleans Staints had a $500,000 fine and loss of draft picks for the 2012 bounty system on opposition players, Collingwood would want to be very careful.

I'm ready to put another $100 on he plays next year as well/doesn't retire. It is still raw for him, he has just lost his young man's cloak of invincibility, which I am sure a few of you can remember... He is practically a god, his physical condition is phenomenal, and in his mind his body has just betrayed him, it is a big adjustment, give him a minute. But everything about him suggests he is a competitor. I don't think he has spent six years lying about how much he loves the club and his team mates and his sense of identity is tied up in that. He ain't quitting yet, although I am very sure the people who love him would probably prefer he did. And there is the crisis, the thing that people love him for, gives him identity and purpose also puts him in peril, however it is not like Gus's injury which is at a tipping point, i.e. structural irreversible brain damage. Trac will heal, his identity will take over and he will play again. While I have never been an elite athlete, and If I'm a god it's as Bacchus, but I have been to hospital as a result of sporting endeavors (10m fall onto concrete anyone), motorcycle crash at turn 4 Philip Island (and a few others that have done ribs etc), I can tell you my first reaction is - I'm done, never doing that again, famous last words. Trac has buckets more of competitive instinct, he will be back.

100%, how cool were all the ex-players watching with Dad. Not least Yze turning up to watch his mate's son play. Think of all the pressures Yze has in his life and made time for his mate, class act that bloke. But Nathan telling his son that he hope he gets to sing the song had me fist pumping (and misty eyed).

Watched the IV, he's still a Demon, totally open about it still being raw, everyone should stop tilting at windmills though, as he said hindsight is great. $100 says he's a Demon next year.

Thank you Trac, really appreciate your effort. Get well soon.

Thanks for the feedback, I have no argument against anything you say but curious for thoughts on our gameplan. All the players you mentioned are contested animals, our gameplan is not playing to our strengths. Also cannot argue that heads dropped, but the why they dropped is not just personal, and not typical of the last 4 years.

Something is missing, yet to see anyone who has nailed what it was. Over four years we have seen pride and effort in the jumper, that is the reality, last Sunday was a confluence of diabolical events that I am yet to understand. Re the gameplan it worked fine against St Kilda, and there have been glimpses of it coming together this season, but there has to be a rational non emotional reason our execution was so abysmal, it wasn't just the game plan that had us playing [censored]. I was ready to sack McQualter after the game, now I'm scared that the team has lost sone unity for some undisclosed reason. I was hoping to hear that they had a bug. Not an excuse but with the number of new players this year we are actually witnessing a mini rebuild. Painful and never perfect, I just hope it's not going to miss the output of our older stars. Also it does kill me that Port have 3 mecurial mids: Rozee, Butters and JHF and we have none. Windsor maybe in 12 months + could maybe be that mercurial mid (or McVee but I don't see it). Pickett is impact only and the rest are all broadsword, fierce and proud) but having holes poked in us by the rapiers. Sydney seems to have a fleet as well. Tying this to the gameplan, we have to bring play back to a contested game, our strength, something about our gameplan does not play to our contested ball strength.

That 50 was a disgrace to the game, I defy anyone to hate Essendon more than me, but that is a shambles. I did love Essendon losing though.

So be honest, how many times have you watched Darcy creme the Merde, I'm losing count. Sam Darcy gets my 6 points in this week's votes.

Have these been requested/taken already for the final?

Hard to separate 'want' from 'think' Carlton (hate this) Dogs (Never going to get an easier free hit) Hawks (Not convinced re Snowtown) Weagles (yo yo phase of rebuild, whereas Saints DGAF) Geelong/Richmond (50/50 Geelong has been a bit off for a month according to the sage, in other words they stink) Us, just, we like Alice, but Freo has had our number for awhile. However I'd like to think our improved rebound wasn't just a Saints thing but a plan coming together GC, easily, home factor is something.

Cursed the moment they hired Cipriani as the marquee player. I like Union, am old enough to remember Gregan, Ellis, Nobody and of course Campese. Was genuinely excited when Melbourne got the Rebels, but the operation has been the antithesis of the Storm. Rugby has been a hard watch for awhile now, entitled, brattish players who are superstars before they have paid their dues, little team culture etc. If they don't fix it we will be (or are) a middle tier country like, Italy, Georgia etc.

I spent many years getting nervous watching Melbourne rebound effectively. JMV has been a brilliant replacement for Hibbo and even better for my heart. Please can we leave him where he is, he saves certain goals all the time. I was super interested in the vision shown on 360 of all the collingwood mids bar one grappling to give one player a one on one contest in the middle, I'd rather we tried that, because Clarry or Trac 1 v 1 i would think would fall to us 70% of the time.

Not sure if your as old as me but Madden had way more space that Gawn had. Watch 4:15 through to 6:00. While Madden had to deal with much rougher play, Gawn got huge defensive pressure with blocks and holds, no coach is ignorant of what Max can do. While Gawn/Grundy didn't have the immediate result we wanted, I seem to remember Gawn kicking 5 in a prelim.

Is no disrespect to those awesome Demons to acknowledge Max as GOAT. Madden was very very good, but also played one out, We would win by cricket scores if Max played one on one in the forward line.

6 - Gawn - God mode activated, I deeply love and am moved how it takes the game so personally. Flower and Barrassi hold a place in the pantheon that can't be touched. But Max is the best Captain ever for the MFC, and I think the best ruck ever. 5 - Viney - Looked 10% faster today, really feel like he's been carrying something since the Port game that he has just got over today. He also looked god-damn happy, sometimes he just seems to be suffering for the team, he looked like he was free and having fun. 4 - Tmac - playing with authority. 3 - Neal Bullen - Looked like he belonged in the middle, how much did you love him telling Petracca to have a ping at the goal, made me smile. 2 - Tomlinson - Has leaned up, looked like '21 pre knee version, after that game, Howe, Turner and Hore move back in the queue. (I also don't mind how tall we are down back because our mids defensive efforts help with fast smalls). Way to take your chance and not sook 1 - Salem - This game makes me think he will be right for finals, after the loss of Bradshaw we badly need his QB +10 votes for Lever celebrating May in the box. McVee - that was a flex on the goal line with the one hand ball hold I gave Salem over Langdon and Viney preference because I though we were much better set up coming out of the back half. Also Hunter had a go. Trac looked great, Oliver improving, Could have given Kozzie a vote, we look so much better with him starting on-ball, being a papa suits him, and he has cleaned up his game heaps , no stupid niggle.

Not to put a mozz on it but Lever out and we still have just given up 5 goals to 4th qtr. Great coaching.

Was listening and every time I hear his name though I thought the cats had it #too old. Cats press conferences have become must watch TV, only a matter of time b4 it replace drip tray on Front Bar and they bring back under the pump.