DEE fence

Literally my week is ruined when we lose, I stew on it, am grumpy, etc, I defy anyone to say they are more [censored] off than me. I have not stopped thinking about the losses, Freo, Swans, Geelong, bloody Collingwood, (Dogs I really wasn't fussed) I've got no dramas with calls for players to be dropped, not at AFL level, bemoan tactical coaching mistakes, that is all fine and dandy, even if I don't agree or I think the positives of a player have been overlooked. But what drives me bonkers is when folks have a go at a players integrity, call them soft or whatever. This is like my children are being insulted, and makes me furiously angry (after already being surly at the loss). So while I believe in free speech etc, insult my kids, then watch out, am talking generally and not you specifically. My French wife thinks I am clown when watching footy, but indulges me (i've posted about this before but it got deleted)....anyway... Sometimes reading Demonland, I think I'm the deelusional one, that I am cooked, and that I have no clue about football, because I still see so many positives, like watching Melk get better two weeks in a row, Sparrow having a ripper game, Brayshaw's bravery backing into packs, Kozzie's immense fwd half pressure. I am not blind I see the need and things to improve (I pray that Salem turns a corner soon), I'm just not a zero sum kinda man, and when I balance it up I still see plenty to like and don't think the season is done. I've put more people on ignore this year than I have done in the rest of my time on Demonland. And I really do believe we are not finished yet, 2 more wins and a finals series it will still be the second best season of my 52 year life (1988+2000 we were always a long shot, now we are deadly dangerous). So in essence, throw your punches, just no low blows... NB. The Swans loss where Paddy McCartin had a blinder I must admit I was happy for the bloke, what a journey he has had.

The Season Yes, Demonland No, I have loved the season, we are still considered benchmark, we will play finals, we have superstars, every promo ad on Fox finishes with Melbourne holding the cup, we get features like 'this is me' on 360. We play some beautiful footy, our rebound and heart are a joy to watch. Demonland on the other hand feels like a time machine, the posting about trainwrecks, sniping the integrity of the players and other banalities makes me think Neeld is still coaching. We are a great club, show a bit of spine...fair dinkum...

just like most of us, for me Young Ones is a relevant cultural reference, 'you complete and utter ba$tard'. Was sure they will be aiming for the highest number views on G&G. Am beyond happy with this, was already over the loss but now it is a good news week. I think Brayshaw is a key part of our attempt to build a dynasty.

Melks has his best game since 2018, loving his work and seeing way more in efforts, just goes to show the selection panel has a clue. Weids providing some moments and obviously loved in the team. Hope 1st qtr wasn’t his only cameo. Gawn snapped his form slump, looking very sharp with his taps. Viney BOG with Sparrow going really well. Would like the Sparrow haters to come out and eat humble pie. Clarrie and Petracca looking like silk Brayshaw elite game tonight. So many good things

Really that is super annoying, if anyone had a link to Simon's comments would deeply appreciate it.

On content alone and not gender, I find Daisy more insightful than just about anyone. Was Carey the gun of guns, yes he was, but he is also proper FIGJAM and the hoary reminisces he offers doesn't actually give me much idea on tactics, which Daisy does offer. Daisy knows her stuff, gender has nothing to do with it.

His must be broken, mine says the same as yours...

Ah 1991 vs Essendon - Elimination Final 20 possies for the win. I tend to think everyone is as old as me.

Must admit first thing I did was check his stats after the game with a similar though, but too short and not the second coming of Dunstall, we already have a like player in Bailey Fritsch who with 6 in a GF I am comfortable with. We need a KPF and for me that is 194 plus, don't get me wrong I think he is a good player and 'nice to have' but not a 'need'. Of all the forwards going around have a big crush on Naughton, would take him over McKay, King or Curnow, never going to happen though. My second choice would be Logan McDonald but again just not likely.

Luke B doesn't count? I definitely consider him a MFC player and not just a journeyman.

6. Kysaiah Pickett 5. Christian Petracca 4. Jack Viney 3. Ed Langdon 2. James Jordon 1. Michael Hibberd

I'm tipping there are other Australians that don't know there are 1496km between the two places...

^^^^THIS^^^^ He deserved every single goal, he ALWAYS does the defensive acts, today he got his richly deserved chocolates. Snap on the left and right, he is the best two sided player we have had since when? Honestly can't think of another, and seriously how dangerous is he at the 50? would rather he was kicking from 50 than Hogan, generates so much power in his kick. A good tough win against a good tough side that has had the wood over us at this ground (anyone remember that old thread when will we break these embarrassing records?), Port were on, and we beat them when they were close to full strength. I guess the chicken little sky is falling types don't understand that we are not playing the Washington Wizards, the other team is trying to win. Viney had an ok game, (I am his biggest fan) but thought his disposal was more mixed today, however his hardness is invaluable, a key factor for finals. (Personally would have liked a bit more legal hurt on a couple of the power folks). Sparrow really nailed a couple of tackles and is getting better, is still a very young player, I think people need to rethink their benchmarks for him, no way he is dropped. Our wings made up for the poor return from the midfield, both Lingers and Jordan worked their ar$e$ off, This is a good news story for us, Jordan has come on so strongly, another very young player doing everything asked. We look better on a dry deck, not that our skills are bad but we play such a high pressure type team game that the margins for correct execution are very tight. I am reassured that playing finals with better weather works for us. Also our players seemed to hold their feet in today's game (they didn't in Geelong), which makes a massive difference in getting to the next contest, none of our blokes are shy of repeat efforts, but if you don't have your feet, you're not going to get there to the contest. Trac played a good game, his ability to get another player into space and time is genius, and I just love his fair play, one of cleanest going around, always hard but always fair. Brown (I am still out to lunch on whether he stays in the team, I was so frustrated with his recent form), but in honesty he looked good when they connected with him, really pleasing to see. ANB had a good game, having another strong season provided some good connection and great pressure, it is a measure of his improvement, that the bad day is the aberration that disappears between one week and the next. Salem is (will be) the good news story of our finals campaign, I have absolute faith he will get better, just in time to remind everyone of his potentially Norm Smith winning form. He isn't right yet and we are still winning, so when he comes good I think our rebound and goal scoring will boom. Which leads me to say Kudos to Brayshaw and Hibberd, who do a power of good work defensively, seriously would have a heart attack without them. Lever showed huge courage to stay out in obvious pain, dead set worried about his shoulder, we need him as part of our Spartans down back. Spargo some good moments, glad the haters have to STFU. Didn't mind his cameos on the ball, got a few tricks that fella, stealing the ball out of a Port players hands would've burnt. The UGLY - I know I am entering dinosaur territory, but when for Gods' sake will we stop these Port cee u next TuesdayS hitting Max off the ball, we know it is going to happen, I don't see any pressure coming back. So many cheap shots, I actually see this as a team and coaching fail. Onya Max for not giving up, love you to bits. Bedford did enough, stays, was always doing repeat efforts and plenty of pressure, played all the team rules. Melksham turned up, his best game since 2018, but makes way for Clarrie. But I really loved his kick to Brown. edit, I now read he laid 5 tackles FMD the penny dropped at a minute to midnight on his career. Harmes has found his mojo again, would be interested to know his KM, I think the amount of work he puts in goes unremarked compared to the running of Lingers/ANB's. Tomlinson had an solid game back after his 'mare earlier in the season, super happy for him. What to do with Petty, I hope we make sure Petty is properly over the 'rona, we have had a bad run with players having low energy levels after having the bug. Some more magnet spinning coming I think. May is still a little off the boil, but better than last week trajectory headed in the right direction thankfully, he'd never miss that spoil normally. Jackson not sure what to make of his game, need to re-watch, loved the goals but he felt a bit invisible, it's not like he is a small forward. Lastly center clearance, there was a 127 game sized hole, normally filled by a red headed clearance God; you don't swap Thor with a Falcon without noticing a reduced output, yes they are all heroes on the team, but it just makes clear how invaluable Clarrie is. We would of course get better in the middle over time if he was out for longer (please god I do not wish to test this). But think in any other era of the last 50 years, if we lost a Clarrie, we would have all been at the train station at 3/4 time, the team found a way and we will welcome back our red-headed god with a big smile. I am super happy they rested him.

He always makes a stand, just sometimes it’s the Alamo and sometimes Rorke’s Drift. Will never die wondering will our Jack!

Good insight, totally 👍

FFS, listen to Gawn's admiration for Stafford, Goodwin's acknowledgement of his role, the fact that every other team has gone to work on us because of our dominance, and people postulate he is no good because he wasn't a gun FF? Only ever been one good FF, that became a top coach and that was Norm Smith. Fair dinkum some folks should just learn to say 'thank you', we are bloody lucky to have Stafford on staff.

Because I am procrastinating I checked this but Buddy has the (2.5) equal 2nd lowest goal average against us over his career (Geelong is 2.5 as well), and 2.4 versus the Hawks, maybe he has been going soft on us, who would have thought? 3.95 against Essendon actually makes me warm to him quite a bit, I would have been a firm no other wise. Actually the answer is still no, defensive forward pressure is key and he is as bad overhead as Weid is as ATM.

Biggest downside to losing is the trolls come out to play, that and Essendon/Carlton supporters being up and about...Personally I think an 8th forum called 'Troll-land' should be created on Demonland wedged between General Discussion and Forum Help. Anyone condemned by the mods as a consistent mouth-breather should be locked in there, and we can visit them and poke them with sticks etc.

Vale, a very strong innings.

Is it childish of me to take pleasure in Richmond's loss? I must admit to having a quick look at PRE

Thanks for flying the flag, don't stress the money, your good karma account is full, along with every other supporter who travelled. (Have only done it twice for 0-2)

Was sure we were going to win going into tonight. Really kills my weekend losing. Fair play to Geelong they had circled this game from a way away, got their stars right (Dangerfield looked explosive over 10m) and as was well written in the gameday thread, Geelong have come up with a better plan. I also think a short break hurt us a bit, a few players looked NQR, May won't play another bad game like that. There were also some individual acts of excellence. Trac kicking goals again is a positive, ANB had some great touches, Petty has grown all year, Viney had another ripper game. In the grimace department, Harmes wasn't his recent damaging self. Sparrow had a bad game, but get off the kids back, he is working hard, gets another run, I felt like he got a lesson tonight he will take on board. Brown does not survive on that roving goal, was furious in the 4th with the dropped mark. If he is going to play like that then might as well blood some new players like JVR, something is not right with BBB he needs to fix it out of the team. I would rather it was kicked in front of Kozzie than Brown right now. My temper goes through the roof when I see posters criticizing effort/heart, they all try, every last one of them, yes the execution goes wrong sometimes and can grumble about that but the stuff that goes to the integrity of a player is just wrong. @Demon1987 is a dead set troll, looking at his history he only turns up to bait posters, not even funny, just a mouth breather. FWIW I didn't think the umpires missed or gave too many, Oliver had a high shot missed and Hawkins is kissed on his bee [censored] regularly, but overall was a par performance from the baby flies. Have now shifted to Bowey needing a spell, swap for Rivers, Bedford gets maybe one more game but wouldn't complain if Kade got a go. Spargo has mad credits with me, he does a power of work, he stays. Was a cracking contest though for the 1st half, sucks to be on the wrong side of the result.

GO DEES, GO YOU GOOD THINGS

FU to all the Fl0gs writing off the team's effort, they haven't given up.

https://timesnewsgroup.com.au/geelongtimes/sport/jones-heart-still-beats-true/ So is anyone going to watch Nathan run around on the 9th? I am hoping he has a bit of fun. Have been watching a lot of interviews and loving the honesty he brings.