DEE fence

do you reckon Hird thinks about that bump when he loses to the Dee's two years in a row??? Probably doesn't but I'd like to think so.

Another ego lost to the game, oh well, can't wait for some other journo's to follow

Rolls Royce skills, Garry Lyon called it one day when he wrote an article about trapper not doing the work to put on extra bulk to protect himself

I do think RF basically kept the club alive in the dark 70's he was the only thing I could hang my hat on in the school yard and I still hate dipper and ironmonger for trying to kill him. We could do with another 'saviour' type player - I think Chris Grant was that for the Dogs.

The club is 150 years years worth of stories of thousands of peoples, the last six years (and my childhood in the 70's) is not enough to even remotely make me think of giving up. With my family connections to the club it is basically my tribe, a group I identify with and thankfully because its a sporting club stupid things like religion and race don't come into it. That said if the club became a plaything of some Russian ogliarch or Clive Palmer type [censored] then I would think the club had died. As much as I thank JoeG for his input I was glad when he withdrew from the club because I did not want to see my club used as a vehicle for a political agenda. I also see Free Agency as a serious threat to clubs like ours and remain very nervous about it. My two children have no choice and I have/will blackmail them at every turn - I was very proud when my six year old daughter (at the time), called a Penrith player a 'bumsniffer' after he ridiculed her for supporting the Dee's (she was living in the hostile territory of the Blue Mountains) and he had been canvassing the school room asking each child who they supported in the NRL. My son was signed up even before he was born and that was 2010 when we truly stank as a team.

still posting garbage, the issues LJ is facing are way more than needing a mate for a chat about. I am heart broken that we have lost three indigenous players recently, I consider indigenous footy to be free flowing and attacking footy which I enjoy immensely and want as a hallmark of the club. I also consider sport as one of the best ways to deal with the scourge of racisim and I want my club to be a part of that (be clear that I'm not accusing or implying anything here, just saying why I care). Anyway three players who I would have loved to see succeed have left, the thing I'm calm about is that they didn't leave because of any garbage reasons to do with being indigenous, which is the way it should be and one of the reasons AD is a mentor. So if you want to say AD has had a terrible year, no argument, just stop this baseless garbage about him not doing his job as a mentor its not what I hear from the club. As an aside I remember being at a night game between GFCvMFC where AD tore them a new ar$3hole (this is pre hamstrings forward pressure days) when I was sitting amongst a Geelong group and I was cheering AD to have a grumpy old bastard say 'little [censored] (sic) will never amount to anything, will go walkabout they always do and never a star" I replied is that what you think about all of them and he replied with some cr@p that I won't type here, to which I said, fair enough what about polly farmer? to a person, every Geelong supporter turned and looked at this [censored] who said nothing, he and his wife left shortly after, we won the game.

it did and still does sound like a cheap shot at Davey and nothing you've added is anything other than speculation without any basis on facts, which is that Davey might have undermined the team, big call in my book to accuse someone of treason with no facts.

grow up

This will be better than Sumo wrestling, a phenomenal clash of egos... MM has the Midas touch when it comes to making an emotional connection to players and getting them to play well, (from a source who is close to the coal face) and is the guy who will get them to run into the line of fire, but this will not be enough to deal with his own problem. He also has a monumental ego on a par with any other figure in the game (and present in the Carlton board) and humility is not in his lexicon. I think the clash of egos at the blues will be huge and I don't think the blues will profit from it (this part I'm quite happy about as I hate them in a way that is generally a prelude to violence). And nothing in his arrival, if it happens indicates that the CFC board will pull their heads in. You think the whole Pagan saga would have taught them a thing or two, and Mick's ego is going to be end of him, by the time the CFC spits him out he'll regret the BS he gave Ratten. I don't reckon Judd will be happy about it either and he can sit and spin on his Visy packaging wrapper (still sad on him as well) minor edit for spelling

The paper said 1971 - Melbourne was the last time a team F'd up so badly after a flying start - must admit that depressed me before I went and had a look at Bomberblitz

It seems like everyone has been happy with the recruitment of Mitch Clark and he has demonstrated all the skills both hard and soft that we want to see when on the ground and with his team mates. Which makes me curious, I don't believe the whole 'go back home' story of when he was traded, yet I can't see why he wouldn't have fitted in with blokes like Voss and Brown. Not that I mind I like everyone (i think) has been rapt with him being a Demon. Was there some resentment between him and Brown over the cheek fracture? Two bulls in a paddock sort of competition that neither could back away from? Anyone have any idea on this?

No injuries please, but a good melee would make me laugh, really want Essendon out of the eight so yes to Carlton winning. Keen to see both St Kilda and Geelong in the Finals, while far from being a supporter I love an underdog, and St Kilda in the finals would be huge. My nasty side has really enjoyed Essendon's 'fall from grace' since they lost to us. Like a few have said I loathe Collingwood, Carlton, Essendon, Hawthorn and can't love any of the interstate teams except Sydney just a little bit. Figures of hate over the years have been Elliot, Kernahan, Long, Lloyd, Kennett, Wallis, HFC and EFC during 80's just cos. Collingwood - because they pinched my GF's whisky bottle. Yet again this has been a season when the press (sorry WJ but i like bagging the media) got on the bandwagon early talking up Essendon and Carlton, way before it was justified. If I was a bit more OCD, I'd be mailing the writers their clippings about Carlton and Essendon. In terms of team potential, and how good the team is at meeting their potential, this is how I'd group the league at the moment (maybe another thread I suppose). Tier 1 (think Regiment (SAS)) teams in the comp IMHO (in no order) are Hawthorn, Geelong, Sydney, St Kilda, Tier 2 (think Commandos) Adelaide, Collingwood, Tier 3 (2RAR) Carlton, Essendon, Kangaroos, West Coast, Richmond, Tier 4 (Chocos) Brisbane, Bulldogs, Freo, Tier 5 (Bangladeshi Peace Keepers) Us, GFC, GWS, Port Obviously the big in-consistency in this grouping because its outside the eight is St Kilda, but my argument is that with a coaching change, age of the list, and the heartbreak of some close GF's the fact that they are still about the mark with an old core says great things about the StK culture which used to be the worst in the league. I really think we could see a bottom 1/2 of the eight get up this year.

I often think posts about former players as coaches indicates a high level of belief in voodoo or 'rubbing Buddha's belly' for wealth, as the link as to why someone is going to transform players into their level of ability seems very faith based. However on this occasion I can see Ling having that effect and would be on-board with him as midfield coach, hell I'd be happy if he pulled on a jumper.

Super double Nah - Sorry but not convinced on the logic of this at all. Yes lacks pace, more than compensates with footy smarts and courage - while not a Fletcher or Scarlett has that same sort of drive to win at any cost, and flies the flag for the team (remember the Essendon game this year and his ripped jumper). And because he has never relied on pace as his weapon he doesn't fall off the perch so quick, he will always be a smart footballer, so worth keeping a few more seasons. I like that we've had a good back line its not the thing that needs fixing (except for kick-ins, someone for that role would make me happy as I have heart attacks nearly everytime I watch vision)

Can't you just PM the cheap shots - really annoying to read straight insults when trying to understand what happened in a game played 9000 km away from me.

Daft not to retain Rivers, he has excellent ball sense when fit and contests everything to him close unlike many. And I don't get all the love for Cook, it doe's not make sense to me that he hasn't been given a chance yet there must be some story to that. Jurrah is pending that one is simple. Everyone else - fair enough, patches of form are no guarantee all though I accept that Blease has more potential than most. But right now, I do not see 2013 as any different to this year - closer margins and team effort is where I have set my expectations.

got to be more to the story, and a drink or two can certainly help your sanity, look at the elite olympians who have a bit of a choof, including the greatest swimmer of all time. Mental down time is needed, its is impossible to be 'on' all the time. so like I said, something between Bucks and Swan

yes I am, it's a misery though, cos some doofus cut the fibre cable and the net has been to slow for streaming ever since. Followed it today (its still Sunday here) on lie score updates while travelling through Lewa Downs (I brought my mother over for her 70th and have been spoiling her with some Safari's). was bloody close but I got pipped i think.

chuckle, will tell at least one of them to their face when back in OZ, though instead of idiot I'll probably shirk and just say goose as Walls has been polite in person...but for sure a goose.

A short post because its not Demons - but Walls is a goose a'la Sheehan and Robbo. Stupid article to say the cats had no chance. Malthouse was also wrong when he said they wouldn't play finals. I see Geelong and Swans in the grand final. Why the age gives the man inches is beyond me.

44 points - red fishies please

ace post - I reckon the journos actually harm the game with their nit picking, they make everyone feel the need to be beige, will never see another Whaco Jacko

Considering what has happened at Essendon can we calm the F@7& down? Change is coming, we are crap, but the club is not standing still, they are working towards fixing the list. Neeld made it clear there will be big list changes this year.

1956 Olympic Year Grand Final is worth mentioning that we beat the Pies in front of 115,803 spectators, by 71 points and lost two games in the regular season.

liked the north players response, forceful but nothing that would get them suspended. Judd really can be a mongrel can't he...