DEE fence

I can't help but think someone on DL is the parent of this charming young person. Anyway I would like to nominate them as Mother/Father of the year, they have clearly done an OUTSTANDING job. I am planning on upping my game as a result. https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5fqM8FygJX/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link To this child, (free from MFCSS) I wish you future happiness and a life completely different from my childhood in the 70s/80s. (It moves me to think that this child has only been alive while Melbourne has been good...)

I actually believe the coach on this, that they have worked on Kossie, and that he wasn't trying to snipe Soligo. Sadly while I believe his guilt to be less in this specific case, he's getting the tax for his prior actions. Whoever pointed out the hand being open is also correct, goes a long way to towards intent not being a bump. He's still going to get a week and I still love him.

Reading the Gather Round commentary, it is almost universal praise for MFC, that and they like seeing Adelaide supporters implode. Praise for McVee, Trac, Kossie, Lever, May etc, our recruiting, that we were stiffed on frees And this gem as well “Nobody has mentioned that Melbourne are off a 5 day break in one the most bruising games of the season. The game against Port was next level tough… and close. If this was us the week after we would be about 50 points down by now. They are A+.“ https://discourse.bomberblitz.com/t/gather-round-2024-non-essendon-games/32013/73

Noticed a friendly fist bump between SG and CO with genuine smiles on both faces that was good to see post match.

Across the journey Ross Lyon coached teams are the most inaccurate teams when it comes for kicking for goal. Is a special gift.

Interesting this makes me think @WheeloRatings who else seems to have an outside influence on when they are playing or not playing, in recent history, would do it myself but am clueless.

Actually thought the umpiring was better than our mess. With these umps we would have won by 5 goals.

Dogs aren't mailing this in, having a fair crack

God if JUH could kick straight, they'd be a goal up, barely made the last. He is a million dollar player though.

Dermie is a [censored] stirrer of the 1st order, unlike BT and Brayshaw and a few others who are gooses all the time, he is capable of the occasional astute observation, but then can't help himself and has to be a clown. Could have been one of the best in commentary if he wanted. Tom Morris lecturing about the Sydney Hicks story being tabloid and not worthy of reporting made me throw up in my mouth. Would have been a train crash if Oliver had hit Fogarty, no percentage in it. Smart to pull up is not the same as short steps, same game Oliver marked it above his head knowing his ribs were open and took the contact, that is bravery.

Looking at the lists, God Bless JT, and from fond memories of Football Park, clearly it was a state game ... SA A. versus SA B. Obvious that the locals resented having to support the B team.

Watching the game again and I think Billings was very unlucky not to be in the goals and I really like that he didn't stop trying to score. I hesitate to turn him into a whipping boy just yet. I also noticed we're carrying a few injuries and the bye cannot come soon enough. I think Chandler, Oliver, Trac, Viney, May, Brown and Lever are all carrying niggles in urgent need of a rest. Am not going to drop my bundle if we lose to Brisbane. Obviously hoping for a win. In better news - Tmac has turned the clock back years, even his field kicking and decision making seems sharper. Dylan Thomas comes to mind for our veterans Do not go gentle into that good night. Brown, and Melksham hopefully later look like they are not going to die wondering. And Brown definitely has fire in the belly even if he didn't hit the scoreboard his endeavour is there. However watching Port dismantle Essendon (with a fit JHF and Mitch G) made it clear we really put some blood and sweat into that win. We are not that far ahead, there are a few teams where it will be fine margins. Oliver needs his hand, we want Petty forward, and we cannot lose an ounce of our pressure game. I also am not sure about Salem in the middle, something about his timing seems off, not attitude but I think he's better when the play is coming to him. Most urgent however is JvR getting his hands back, he's lost something with his timing on holding the ball, his attack is great, but either an injury or mental demons have really got a hold of him. Carlton (who I still do not credit as truly good) and GWS have some weapons to trouble us, is going to be a titanic season and have mad respect for the way the team is going about it.

I think Kozzie's direction might save him from 2 weeks, I'd take one on the basic premise of protecting the head. In real time looks innocent and actually much more innocent that the Bailey Smith incident, slow mow looks like he lined him up. But both running in same direction and looks like he was trying to squeeze past Soligo. He also seemed apologetic which is unlike him. Must admit will Kill me being first team to have a suspension from the 'Dog' rule.

6 May - If the Rock met May on the football field he would be a pebble. Inspired, trust the match committee, and we needed him. 5, Trac for giving 100% all night BOG, but for May's bravery. 4 Mcvee. Silk 3 Lever. Inspector Gadget, disguised like a baby giraffe, moves like a leopard 2 Gawn. Captain 1 Sparrow, another solid game. Crows came to play, we did well.

@Rodney (Balls) Grinter yes his goal kicking was running at 81% during 1st third of last season. His sets shots have been a thing of beauty and he’s is very high, if not leading in assists. I was more commenting on everything but the goal kicking which obviously stands out, it is the defensive pressure going up beyond what I saw in ‘23, I would say he tried the same things last year, he seems to make the tackles stick more now in ‘24, and has multiple efforts in each play (Sparrow has improved in this as well btw). My handle is DEEfence not DeeATTACK, sorry, ducks head…

I’m going early with this but have been watching Chandler very closely this year and I see a different player to last year. I think he’s upped his endurance by about 15%. His pressure acts, and tackling have improved, and he remains brave as. I would very much like to see a proper I/V with him to get more of a sense of him, I’d like to believe he is a very decent young man. (Gus and Gawn he was hamming it up) To my point, he is ANB 2.0, lots of hard defensive running, role player, and I think we are quickly starting to rely on his defensive pressure, it is something about his effort that makes me think he has moved past a few on the list. I was genuinely nervous when he’s had some leg knocks as I don’t think he’s obvious replacements match him for defensive efforts. For mine most improved player so far this season. Oh and if he’d kicked that snap that hit the post in the opening qtr last week, I reckon he’d almost be in the votes, was a great bit of work that just missed.

You could almost start a weekly thread - Army tales or the like, I always enjoy your stories of who you met or what you observed from the cheer squad. Anyway I’m going to mention this in the Kade thread, but I really feel he’s becoming a ANB 2.0, does so much defensive stuff, I actually worry when he looks like missing with a knee.

Size of the fracture has little to do with the pain, and for instance a Bennetts fracture leaves the joint so unstable you can't tie a shoe lace. Anything near the CMC joint is a show stopper. (Had a few, was in so much pain my jumper caught fire in front of a heater and didn't notice until I smelt it - no not high) Also, just quietly reading Adelaide board, this match could be the end of Gather Round, if we do the expected and don't mess the bed. Massive Jinx to say this but 'RIP Gather Round, Killed by the MFC 2024'

As a Gen X, I've seen many gun (homegrown) defenders, my favorites in no particular order (Wight would be 1) are: Lovett, Whelan, Jared Rivers, Jetta, Walsh, Wight, Chip, Salem and Garland - I thought he was a ripper, who would have been a Lever/Alir/Blakey in a decent side and heralded as the prototype interceptor. A few others have had good cameos in the men's department, and this is no disrespect to Hibberd/Lever/May who were recruited not grown. All this to say, I have every confidence that McVee will sit in DEE fence's little pantheon. His calmness under pressure is truly elite, I would make him a sub boat captain (if Trump doesn't torp AUKUS). Rivers/Bowey every chance to join as well, but recency bias at play

Great reference, even if I dislike every team he played for, anyway had to look this up and lo and behold: I think Claude has this kind of gift – he's been the best player in the team for years but people just don't notice him, don't notice what he does-Fernando Hierro. Not saying ANB is anything other than maybe the best runner, but the parallels with their defensive work is definitely there (although I think it was racism that saw CM leave Real Madrid)

I think we are doing better at blooding kids than either Geelong or Hawks did in their pomp

it's subjective, but I thought May had more to do with us being good than Richmond gets with Lynch, on Premierships though... can't really argue, I would say if we swapped lynch for May I don't think we win '21.

Genuine question, while I wouldn't mind cheaper, you'd have to say he was and is worth every cent. We bought a IWC not a Timex. 2nd question, did we do better with May than Richmond has done with Lynch?

100% MB, I should probably research this OP better, but am going to go with 'feel', Hunter seems to receive a lot of outside ball, and I think the team trusted him as soon as he came in, Caleb is earning that same grace that Hunter was gifted with. I never felt like Hunter's disposal beyond 15m ever approached par. I already think Caleb has shown more desire to get his own ball, and is definitely better 'at range' with flatter kicking (great in a wingman) Hunter has a mountain of work to get back into the team, and is not best 22 atm. Caleb is crazy brave whereas Hunter is professional and considered, I like Caleb's desperation more. And his fitness is elite, I see no need to rest, bar him getting some sort of knock.

ANB reminds of a Chief of Staff, supporting the General (Trac) during a campaign, enabling the decisive actions. I also think he is a great example for nurturing your talent. We nurtured Wied and some others, and sadly didn't pan out, we did the same with ANB, and it did, and we didn't just get a player, we got a culture, our game style require brutal effort, people like ANB have helped develop that (Viney and Max being the principles), I can't help but think the way Chandler, Kossie, Rivers, McVee etc play is based on seeing the efforts of the leaders like ANB. And by nurturing I think that makes more of a team than just throwing people to the wolves. Compared to the time when Green was Captain (that's too hard we're not doing that(at training)- is that true or urban myth???) I feel ANB was one of those that shook the bruise free tag.