DEE fence

My dad, who was not without a clue about footy, always said you need a Ruckman in a Grand Final - would GAWN/GRUNDY be the best big man duel ever in a Grand Final????

IIIFFFF we make next week, I want to beat the Pies, I might be dead of a heart attack though, and for sure suffering every stress related condition ever. As a 3rd generation Demon, my hatred of the Pies is marrow deep, a hundred years of loathing. Collingwood has found another gear, running like we do, will be a ding dong context. I would like to see Rance get smashed by Viney though... in fact I wouldn't mind seeing him smashed tonight as well.

^^^ This, I was always worried about missing out on Dew, but have to say now there is a question mark when you see his shape. Of the finalists - Buckley/Simpson/Goodwin/Hardwick they all look to have terrific rigs, certainly worth respect, I wouldn't mind paying to see Goodwin Vs Buckley go at it on the weights. Clarkson carries himself well too, I reckon aerobically he'd even shade Goodwin, then again maybe not. Overall I would say we have the fittest coach in the current list (Buckley can't run because of his hamstrings). Thoughts on other coaches (I wonder if there is any correlation between the coaches fitness and how the team is going, Leigh Matthews and Mark Williams are the last slightly tubby Premiership coaches I can think of). Carlton - Bolton is an ant, but has no choice, cannot get fat as a small man and coach an AFL team. Footscray - Bevo's chest is close to slipping, but still has some serious guns. St Kilda - Alan is still trim. Freo - Lyon looks very unhealthy - on a par with Dew, looks like he needs viagra. Brisbane - Fagan doing ok for an old fella, I would want to play for this guy. Essendon - Worsfold lost weight this year, looks like he could still bench a 100, maybe weight loss drugs?. Sydney - Horse has been getting heavier, he's well past his 102 kg playing weight, could this herald a slide in the Sydney list. GWS - Leon is getting soft around the middle, maybe not the example for GWS's colts? North - Brad has been fighting turning into Dew, has slipped and recovered (I know what that is like, the slipping part) Geelong - Chris needs a big preseason - his skinfolds would be worse than mine and he's 6 years younger. BTW.... If you think I am procrastinating at work you are correct.

Serious, respectful question, why not both? I see us becoming a great club again as more opportunity to enjoy our history as well, instead of feeling like it is faded glory.

Well Done for mine, super impressed at how the club has managed the media and made itself available. They have absolutely harnessed everything positive about the finals campaign, am still working my way through the videos (love seeing shots of happy fans). I haven't seen it as drinking bathwater or any of the similar tall poppy type comments, but allowing everyone to enjoy the positives of the journey. I also think Goodwin has really given of himself which must be pretty tough, but he has demonstrated allot of nouse, he kept a lid on it for the season but has shown the insight to make himself available and tune into the vibe going on around the club. He has built a team of hockey players not downhill skiers for mine, they have demonstrated courage all year and am super proud of the club. Win, lose or draw on Saturday very happy with how the club is travelling.

Write LeCras's obit now

Agree-Fritsch's disposal always seems calm, I really rate how composed he is and i think there are synergies with team mates because of that. But not in the FD so what do i know. I think it would be mighty tough call, I think he has done his job better than Smith can and he'd be a bit sad at getting dropped.

Jacquelyn is certainly a possibility, her Son is Maximilien so we have Gawn covered.

Thank you-My partner is Olivia so got that covered already

Almost in tears reading this thread, is incredible how much we weave the fate and fortune of the club into our own lives to mark significant and very personal events, feel very close to all of you. I will be going batsh1t crazy here in Rome. We have our daughter due next Monday and in my mind the good fortune of expecting a healthy daughter is linked to how thehr club is going. And i know how objectively stupid that sounds, I'm even reconsidering the name should we salute in the GF.

@david_neitz_is_my_dad Fully awesome pics, made my day.

Rome, Italy, willing to host for the game or negotiate with a pub - any takers let me know.

We win obviously

This preview from a WCE supporter is not unreasonable reading. I liked this bit For Melbourne, a team more used to playing in front of 22,000 Stockholm syndrome sufferers in the middle of a Melbourne winter, running out on a warm September afternoon to that reception will be as foreign as operating the Ticketmaster finals menu. But this isn’t the Melbourne of old- the Melbourne of old was the team that coughed up a certain finals spot to us last year. The Melbourne of old lost whenever the heat was really put on. The Melbourne of old was brittle, flashy but with a soft underbelly. If you haven’t watched Melbourne in the last month and think this is going to be a walk in the park because we’ve got a few players back…. You haven’t been paying attention. Preamble With no West Coast playing this weekend, there was room to sit back, relax and enjoy some good quality football. It’s all been on the up and up since the trapezoid goalsquare came in, so kudos to the Shape of the Game Committee. As I sat back and watched the blue and red army swarm, I realised what a remarkable comeback story this is. The club was down and out not too long ago, and now I was watching them power through for a huge finals win. Their opponents had beaten them handsomely in the previous matchup, so that just makes it even more special. You could feel some real energy and spirit in the team song, and as ‘The Grand Old Flag’ was belted out and the players started excitedly looking towards next weekend at the new stadium, a tear rolled down my cheek and one thought crossed my mind- isn’t it great to see West Perth in the Grand Final again? A picture I took of Nathan Jones for my boudoir photography class (picture 45/714) Amble It is said that the effects of being an opposition player at Perth Stadium is like having your brains smashed out by a slice of lemon wrapped around a large gold brick- the cascading wall of noise, the cacophony of verbal barbs and the musical harmonies of the almighty boo. They all work together to create uncertainty, disharmony, and an uneasy sense that you may have left the gas on at home. For Melbourne, a team more used to playing in front of 22,000 Stockholm syndrome sufferers in the middle of a Melbourne winter, running out on a warm September afternoon to that reception will be as foreign as operating the Ticketmaster finals menu. But this isn’t the Melbourne of old- the Melbourne of old was the team that coughed up a certain finals spot to us last year. The Melbourne of old lost whenever the heat was really put on. The Melbourne of old was brittle, flashy but with a soft underbelly. If you haven’t watched Melbourne in the last month and think this is going to be a walk in the park because we’ve got a few players back…. You haven’t been paying attention. Melbourne was always meant to take the next step this year. They were meant to do it last year. But this time it feels real, there’s an energy and momentum about the team that you couldn’t quite believe in until they finally got back into the top 8. The fact that they’ve done it without Lever and without Hogan for a lot of the season is a huge credit to Paul Roos and pretty much no one else. The Eagles have found themselves in the odd position of hosting a Preliminary final almost behind everyone’s back. After a season that included a 10-game winning streak, they stumbled after the bye when they had to play a cobbled together forward line of Cripps, Waterman, McInnes, Sumich, Ted Tyson and the statue of John Gerovich. While that was good enough to beat no-hopers like GWS, it couldn’t handle the injection of pace and pep of a side like Essendon, or the brilliant collective minds in the Adelaide coaches’ box. However, in a match that both cemented the Eagles top 2 credentials and simultaneously almost doomed their premiership ones, the victory over Collingwood at the MCG was the very definition of bittersweet. This was the victory that the doubters wanted to see, and promptly pretended didn’t happen. In the absence of a game-changing megastar, the Eagles had to resort to two game-continuing human jumping pads. The results were mixed but managed to lift the team to second thanks to wins over some poor sides, and an after the siren victory over Port in boring, foreseeable fashion. The most predictable and dull sequel since the direct to VHS movie The Return of Jafar. And then came the finals, after the week off filled with award ceremonies, trade talk and rule committee discussion. I never make brash statements, but if that interests you when we’re on the precipice of finals, your alternative lifestyle needs to be kept away from others. Collingwood had the 22 best players on the ground but were overcome by poor umpiring and an uncouth crowd that helped whoever they were playing into the prelims. Can I make a brash statement? No team has ever been so clearly the second best in the competition, earned two home finals, played such good football under duress, and been spoken about as little as this team. Part of that is the loss of our best players. Part of that is the perception of our MCG form. Part of that is the fairy tale of Collingwood and Melbourne, while we play the Big Bad Wolf. But mostly I think it’s because we’re just too nice. And so here we are. At the new stadium, in prelim final week, against Melbourne. Up The Bloody Coasters Media perception of Melbourne vs West Coast Quick Questions What’s changed since the recent meeting in Round 22? Likely to be Ah Chee and Sheppard out for Schofield and Kennedy. Darling with a full game hopefully. Jack Viney in for Dean Kent for the Demons. Both teams will be stronger than last time What are the critical matchups? Tons of potential good ones in this game. Melksham taking McGovern away from the play. Barrass v McDonald in the Battle of the Tommes, Gawn v Two Ruckmen that aren’t Nicnat, and the brilliant Neville Jetta v Willie Rioli. In the middle Viney, Brayshaw and Jones head to head with Redden, Shuey and Yeo. Cole and Schofield on the dangerous Weiderman and Petracca, the taggers in Hutchings and Harmes will have big jobs on probably Oliver and Yeo. Seriously, there’s great battles galore here in what should be an awesome game. How will it be played? Like most finals, fierce and fast. Melbourne are chaotic with their movement going forward, but give you chances to score the other way. This could be a high scoring game if both teams forward lines get going. 91 to 108 in the last match. Who has the X factor to turn the match? Jack Viney and Elliot Yeo are my go-to guys for consistent brilliance in this one, but for turning a game in a moment Christian Petracca and Liam Ryan. If those two show some magic we’re in for a special game. What needs to go right for each team? Eagles need to draw the midfield battle like they did against the Pies and let the forward line go to work. They lifted at the crucial stage after being outworked for two quarters. The Demons need to capitalise on momentum because they’ve had periods of dominance in both finals that didn’t show on the scoreboard, and they will hurt away from home. Who takes more out of Round 22? Probably the Demons. That game showed they could match it with the best teams, in a hostile environment. They’ve got the wood over the Eagles in recent matches. What’s the feel-good storyline? Melbourne in their first finals series since 2006, chasing their first flag since 1964. West Coast defying pre-season doomsayers to compete for another flag, after losing several key players during the year. They only had one logo on file to be fair Expected Line-Ups B: Jetta O.McDonald Lewis F: Rioli Kennedy LeCras HB: Salem Frost Hibberd HF: Cripps Darling Ryan ? Jones Brayshaw Harmes ? Hutchings Yeo Masten HF: Melksham T.McDonald Hannan HB: Duggan McGovern Jetta F: Weiderman VandenBerg Petracca B: Hurn Barrass Schofield R: Gawn Viney Oliver R: Lycett Shuey Redden IC: Spargo Fritsch Tyson Neal-Bullen IC: Cole Sheed Venables Vardy Headlines you Probably Won’t Read -Brave Eagles overcome obstacles to book well-earned Grand Final berth -Eddie McGuire complains that his team gets extra break for Grand Final over higher finishing side -Andrew Gaff signs for the Baldivis Brumbies on 7-year, multi-million-dollar contract -Channel 7 praised for even handed commentary amidst crowd barbarity -Early finish allows losing Demons to get to bars before they shut in backwards hick town Gil and journos combing for stories from 2006 to bring back up Predictions Nothing more to add really. We’re the underdogs in our own home final. How have we slipped so far? Sack Simpson. Eagles by 199. Make some god damn noise you hooligans.

Hiya, what is TWSNBN? anyway Leon is in the gun next year, coach under most pressure i reckon?

For a laugh I bought a fine French cheese platter after each of the finals wins so far, quaffed with some Bordeaux. My brother went skiing R23 though and we had a really good laugh about it. And there a Demons stickers on the cars, which are European. We draw the line at voting Liberal though (-; Embrace the cliches I say.

So far have shared barcodes twice, and everything has been fine. Really happy to help fellow Demons in Perth too, as well as family. Being in Rome this finals season is way too frustrating though.

Therefore more important than everything bar your partner and your kids, and that is assuming they are good kids.

@dl4e I would liken Lord Nev to George Gregan (especially the tackle on All black Jeff Wilson). And yes I have also been thinking about comparisons to Wrecker (who was also a good ball user if I remember correctly.) The heart in both of these men is just enormous. I am in awe.

Write GWS off at your peril, they were massively stuffed with injuries this year. I am glad we are making hay this season because they could be a bloody big road block next year. Reading about the new talent they have coming in kills me.

Is affordable via Hobart - just checked - get a one way ticket to hobart, and just get off at melb on the return 2:20 pm ‐ 4:50 pm Virgin Australia nonstop 4h 30m HBA ‐ PER 12:35 pm ‐ 8:35 pm Qantas Airways 1 stop MEL 6h 00m PER ‐ HBA Operated by Virgin Australia $872

Gold - Chortle

I asked for a whatsapp number and some photos/name so I knew who I was dealing with and have handed over two barcodes. I have family in perth and 3 barcodes left so by Sunday night should know whether these are free.

I think there plan b needs o'mera, he was a huge out for them, the outside game was what they had left with the cattle they had. We beat a very good team tonight

6. Viney 5. McDonald 4. Jetta 3. Hibberd 2. Gawn 1. Salem