Pates

The Saints did everything they could to ensure he was playing more in a one on one role rather than intercepting. That's good tactics. By all reports he's had a good pre-season so he's not going anywhere. No change, although we might want to consider Moose in as a second ruck. That would be the only change I'd consider.

Max 6 JVR 5 Windsor 4 Petty 3 Culley 2 Kolt 1

I'm so happy for the boys, this must feel like they've exorcised some demons after last year's loss. If anyone says anyone else is the greatest ruckman of all time other than Max than they have rocks for brains. That is one of the most immense perfomances ever from a ruckman. dK had you take rests while Max the warrior stayed out there, and not only that he beat all comers. If he doesn't get the 3 Brownlow votes it's a bigger robbery than Nas. But the most pleasing thing for me is the players who have been whipping boys contributing. JvR kicking 5 in the first half is incredible, but what shouldn't be ignored is that he kept competing all day. It's set up for him to have a big year. Petty looked right back at home in defence. Sharp had a big say in the last quarter. JC (who has somehow already become a whipping boy) was very good all day. Kolt may have been beaten but he never gave up the fight and should've had a goal to his name to cap off good work. I tipped the saints, I have no issue with getting that tip wrong.

Just waiting for him to sign it off with "THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER!!!"

This is the thing I think I'm getting from people on hear that they've given up on Caulfield because we've had setbacks in the planning and negotiation. This is a big project, it was/is never going to be smooth sailing. But it's worth fighting for and trying our guts out because I don't want us to settle for a second hand Waverly park with no chance of expansion. I feel like we have got the right people making the right moves and negotiations, we could have the worst year on the field but if they can get Caulfield over the line this will be the most success the club could have short of a premiership.

At least when he does get his chance (and he will) he won't have to wear the dreaded sub vest.

Call it MFCSS or whatever, but watch him become an absolute jet of a player, then get drafted by a totally different club, with the media suddenly pushing for "Grandfather-Grandson" picks to be allowed, meaning every other club suddenly gets priority access to young talent while we watch this guy rip up the AFL. And yes this sentiment is proudly brought to you by the NGO rule they changed just for us, meaning we missed out on Mac Andrew, only for them to change it right back.

Everyone had a positive reaction to the Irish jig during the Jim Stynes tribute game last season, I'm shocked that that hasn't been followed up.

Last season's opener I would say most neutrals would have picked GWS, we came so bloody close. I think being the underdogs will suit this group. Wouldn't surprise me if we come out of the blocks and kick the first 2-3. I've tipped the saints but I'd say the pressure is more on them than it is us.

I'm going to slightly defend the club here (only slightly). We are the only club at a disadvantage of being born out of the MCG, all thee other teams had spiritual homes in their designated area and they owned the assets. What I will say is that the club sat back for decades watching places get built and the housing/land market get squeezed and did nothing. Then when it was decided that "oh we need a home that's not the MCG" it was too late or we passed up golden opportunities. Then as you said we've chased this dream of space in the shadows of the MCG but that whole project never sounded real. Caulfied I have a little more hope over but until the thing is signed off and they've broken ground I'm not holding my breath. But here's the reality, whether it's Caulfied or something else, we as supporters need to stop worrying about it being near the MCG. I'll take being in the suburbs (though not as far as Casey). I'm so sick of us going through this, I remembered being first explained this stupid issue when I was 12 years old and really getting into the footy. I'm 39 now, this is a joke.

Good to see Culley and Fritta available for round one, both have put the work in over the off season and deserve their crack at it from the start. I'm really hopeful the AMW can start to press his claim through Casey.

I feel what this debate hammers home is that we don't/didn't have strong enough leadership, BUT that players that we were paying huge amounts of money seemed content to sit back and not take ownership of leading high standards. I mean Clarry was attached at the hip to Max last off-season, you couldn't ask for a more professional footballer who demands the highest standards of himself.

I feel like an announcement has been teased every damn year, and that is probably why the members are antsy and desperate for a solid, official announcement. Now Caulfield does feel a lot further down the line than the likes of the area near Goches Paddock, and ideas like Melbourne Uni, Fishermans Bend, and other mooted ideas, but still until the ground has been broken I'm not getting to revved up.

I know this is a thread about Clarry, but honestly I put Gus's hit by Maynard as the main beginning of our downfall. He was 100% the glue between everyone and I think he would've been captain in the future. He was the glue not only from a personal standpoint, but on the field he was the player we could rely on to go practically anywhere and fill the role required. As for Clarry, he's where he needed to be for both himself and the club. It was a messy exit, but if he succeeds at the Giants I'll be happy for him.

It's sad that May, like so many others from the premiership, aren't getting a proper farewell. He's been such a warrior for us, and it's sad he won't be chaired off the ground in front of the members. Still he will always be the best defender I've seen us have at the club, without him we don't win the flag. Whatever his personal issues are I hope he's able to work them out.

Good to get him locked with Tassie on the horizon.

Happy for him, he was destined to be one of those players that would just float around and never get his chance. Glad he's getting it now. The way GWS treated him was a great example of poor people management, there was no reason to keep him around at GWS but I reckon he would've got games for us last season.

Completely agree with this and I had an argument with another Dees fan over it. Viney has been a fantastic servant of the club and I've loved his career from the start, but the way he and his manager took advantage of us in a weakened position to get an extra couple of years on his contract (when he has already had injury issues) really rubbed me the wrong way. I get it, he's human and ultimately has a life and family outside of the Dees, but when you look at other clubs and see players sacrificing salary/years on their contract to me it reflected poorly not only on Jack but the culture that we have failed to build.

As pointed out on here the thing that excites me the most about him is his body size. If he's able to translate his talent into making full use of his mid-size body he would be a massive weapon for us. Like all the other draftees, let's not put pressure on him. Having Kozzie at the club will be the best thing to help him settle.

Look I'm on Gawny's side of things, I hope he's able to sort his life out because it would be a monumental waste to see it go down the drain. My only gripe is that I get vibes of him blaming environment and other people, he needs to take accountability for his mistakes. It's going to be far harder seeing him play against us than Trac for me.

I think something that is really good is Jeff has been fantastic at pumping up his tyres while also being honest in that he would be a project player. Given he's been picked up as a rookie, I think most fans will recognise that he will take time.

Hate to say it but it's what is passing as a form of entertainment these days. You almost have to troll to get response and engagement from both fans and the media. I get where you were coming from that it felt a bit on the nose, but I feel like we need to start being able to gve as good as we get. Online for too long we have looked old, bland, and vanilla.

Gibbo was awesome and a great example of now knowing how good you have it until he goes. His content was a little ore polished and less social media, but it was really interested content that I always enjoyed. It should also be said the loss of Gus and Gawny to the club's online presence was felt. I'd love it if it got revived again, Gus could be a little more interviewer of Gawn being a non-player.

This is just random musings but I swear I've been noticing the clubs social media accounts being far more active and dare I say it more creative (or at least more relevant in the current climate). We had the CJ video doing the rounds, "Man of Steele", Checkers, and I just noticed a Max Gawn post referencing the Simpsons. One of my biggest criticisms of the club in recent years is our online presence has been absolutely shocking in creativity and fan engagement. I'm really hoping that the recent activity suggests they've addressed that and will be looking to be more than just a token account.

I think many North fans would argue that they are on much stronger ground than us. We don't even have a home base.