Pates

We've been playing poorly and only looked to have a bit of flow about us towards the end. But jeez the umpires are killing us. How that ANB 50 isn't paid given EVERYTHING we've seen this year and the soft ones that do get paid is completely beyond me.

So I was at a stag do on Saturday which centred around a mate who's a big Dees fan. After going to one pub for some drinks we then went on another place to watch the Dees, not gonna lie it reminded me that no matter how far we've come our mighty Dees still have the great ability to ruin a party! I can't remember much because we got into a fair bit of booze, but we just looked off in all aspects. 2nd to the ball, not enough 2nd, 3rd and 4th efforts, skills not adapting to the conditions (twice we've been undone when the ball and ground is slick). I think what frustrated me was there seemed to be an element of accepting the day as a loss after a while, there didn't seem to be that hunger to come back. Anyway, alcohol (and since then a stomach virus) has managed to wipe away most of the tripe we witnessed. It makes ANZAC eve a massive match for us, it has to be a statement that we are not to be f---ed with.

I would much prefer to see JVR given a run and keep Harry in the back line. That said I don’t want him to be stay at home, if something in game needs to change I’ve got no issue with throwing him forward. Don’t wait until the final 4min of our season.

I’m ignoring the Hawks result, they live up to the colours on their jumper. I don’t have much confidence coming into this match, they’ve had the wood on us for a while. We can’t play anywhere near that poo that we played vs Brisbane, it will be over at half time. The positive part of me is looking at a few things: Our defensive general May is back, Viney and Fritta will be better for their runs last week, Brown is in great form, and I’m hoping that JVR will finally be brought in to add some excitement to the squad. First game of the year for me, so hopefully they put in a good showing.

**** wow, they’re going through the doldrums of a few bad years after a dynasty and already they’re crying about being carp? Get stuffed and have 50+ years of pain, then talk to us.

Ok look, the points system sucked but what I don't understand is can't they have a caution system where repeat offenders that do a number of "small" acts end up getting a one week suspension. It seems the most obvious way to go about it, the caution can hang for 6 weeks before it goes away if people don't want it always there for the entire season. In isolation I would agree that all these incidents don't merit suspension, but give them warnings that leave them open to potential suspension and they might think about doing something idiotic the next time.

While you can't control GETTING injured, you can control management of players and loading through the year. I would be shocked and disappointed if our fitness/injury management team didn't recognise some significant mistakes throughout the season. The most glaring was the decision to take Max over to Perth for the WC game. I get that you should always respect the opposition but there are times when management of players is absolutely critical, Geelong mastered it last season and now it's on the selection team to place faith in the squad to ensure players that are tired or playing through pain are given an opportunity to rest properly. We need to get back to being fast finishers, not limping over the line.

Hope he gets his life back together, but he burnt us so he’s not going to have anything to do with us again.

Can you link to where you’re seeing these comments? Absolutely disgusting and pathetic for people to say a bad word about her; she’s been a champion of women’s footy, a champion of the game, and should go down as a legend of the footy club. I find her special comments far more in line with the modern game compared to the likes of Dermie, Carey, and I’d throw in Gary Lyon as well (just to show I’m not biased 😉). Interestingly I remembered having a debate with an Adelaide person that argued she shouldn’t have the standing in the game that she has. They were arguing Vic based bias, but the fact is that without Daisy pushing the women’s game as much as she has I really doubt they would be in the 18 team position they are now. The Dees B&F will surely be named after her at the least.

I’ll possibly pose the point that rather that torching Griffiths, there should be all praise for how bloody next level Burgo is at his job. It can’t be understated how big a get he was for the club. That said it MUST be an issue corrected over the off season.

Personally I’m happy we’re continuing this. Somethings are more important, and us keeping a close relationship with the communities up there and helping to grow the game there is not only a great thing for the club but a great thing for the people up there. We know the ground better than anyone in the AFL now as well so it’s becoming a special place for us to play.

Sad to see Gibbo go, hope he’s going onto greener pastures. Seems a genuinely good bloke and seemed a good sport with Gus and Gawny.

Too late on that one, it’s being converted into a wetlands/park.

This to me seems like an absolutely plausible reason, social media is toxic at the best of times but throw in racism and it’s so much worse. Some of the garbage he’s been subjected to is disgusting, if he has stepped away from the platform I say good on him.

Yeah from memory that was during Gabriel Szondy’s time as president, and unfortunately our finances at the time were so dire there wouldn’t have been 2 cents to rub together to put in a bid (though that’s where government/AFL funding would have been nice to assist us).

I don’t know if it’s possible but will the feasibility report of possible locations be released? Wasn’t it a multi-million dollar bit of funding to provide us this opportunity at establishing where the base could exist near to the MCG? One area that I can think of where there might be land that could be converted and be utilised for community benefits is around Port Melbourne where there could be some industrial land that we could also make into a hub for our womens team as well as a training facility.

I’m genuinely at a point where I’m thinking we have no option BUT to look elsewhere from the city. We have been at this point of looking for somewhere to be near the MCG since I first started following Melbourne in the bloody 90s! We missed the boat on options that came our way, the likelihood of them coming along again is low, let’s look elsewhere. Still try to keep it near to the city (at least with a view of the city) but we are trying to find the perfect option and it might simply not happen.

I won't go deep into detail but had a pleasure of interacting with Kate Roffey today, expressed to her how bloody proud I am of the club and that everything that's gone on in the last 16 months has been a fantastic ride to be a part of. She's a great operator, really down to earth in the way she speaks to the fans and the media, zero hint of an ego. I remember a few years ago there were laughs from the footy world about our lofty expectations, well here we are.

Learn just enough to return to the MFC to take the reigns from Stinear for the Womens team (once he steps down as multiple premiership coach) and creating the Daisy Dynasty.

I get that it’s hard delivering a speech after losing but surely you just keep it straight to the point: congrats to the winners, acknowledge your teammates and staff, quick thanks to the sponsors, and thanks to the fans. Should be no longer than 2-3min. It dragged to the point I switched off and only came back for Daisy’s speech (which went only as long as it needed to). I still can’t believe I’ve seen Demons teams with 3 premierships in the last 16 months. Bloody proud.

Far out my heart is struggling after that. Well done girls, what an incredible achievement, so proud. 2021 AFL premiers 2021 AFLW grand finalists 2022 VFL mens premiers 2022 AFLW premiers We've got quite a club at the moment. No one deserves this more than Daisy.

Damn this is going to be tense, first goal of the last could determine the winner. Both defences not wanting to give an inch. A but more composure and we’d be a goal or two further in front but the pressure from both teams has been immense.

Bring it home girls!

I think the interesting thing about this venue choice is that they will have home support advantage but they haven’t played on a match on it either, so they will be new to its dimensions and quirks in the same way we will be. I can only hope that there will be plenty of research by the coaching staff on it to determine particular points of interest and be wings to exploit at certain times. By the way has it been established if our players will get an opportunity to train on it prior to the match?

So I’ll admit from the start I haven’t been following the AFLW as closely as I would’ve liked this season, but I was curious from those in the know that with the shorter season and not playing every team, which of the two clubs had the easier draw? The fact that we missed out on hosting the final by such a narrow margin makes it very interesting in that regard, though I do know there were some games that we should’ve been way more accurate in front of goal.