Pates

If we’d lost most people would’ve said it was a 5-10min period that cost us. The whole other time the game was largely on our terms. But hey if they want to believe that and go in with that attitude fine with me.

I think this is a golden reason why I think there should be reward for efforts through the season.

I think there should be consideration for a premiership ring or something similar to American football where all players that play through the year get recognition for the contribution to the team getting there. I think premiership medals for the team on the day is fair, but jeez it just feels wrong that someone like Jonesy is missing out on this and even worse having to choose between family and the outside chance he might get picked.

I think Hunt should be considered as the sub, this isn’t a charity gig or anything like that, if Hibberd is coming in for Smith as reported Hunt is a player that could provided the flexibility required should there be an injury across the ground. He’s played forward, back, and midfield so for me he makes logical sense as a player to be the sub. I had a feeling we would be seeing Hibberd in the finals.

Tough on Smith poor bloke starts to find a place and then gets injured (again). Hibberd for Smith does seem like the logical replacement but I hope Hunt is in the calculations as well.

Tough call coming, I don’t know if we can find a way to bring in Hunt. I was all up for Smith out for Jayden but the flexibility of having him in the team may be too good. I actually think Hunt as sub could work quite well, can play back or forward and could even inject some pace into the midfield if needed.

It’s not what life does to you but what you do to life that counts - Jim Stynes Make this count

There are things that I’m sure certain players who were involved in that debacle of a day back in 2018 that will be helpful this week but there are so many differences in the situation compared to what we’re in now. May and Lever are the two that stand out to me, we have Frost and OMac as our two pillars back then and while we didn’t lose it in defence (we lost it everywhere that fateful day) there can be no doubt on how much of an upgrade this is to our current situation. As an aside my brother had been telling me for a while to start listening to the DeeBrief and I got into it late last season and leading into this season. It’s been good to listen to that pod because while there are times I don’t agree with what’s being said it actually just reminds me of hanging out with fellow Dees fans after a game and shooting our mouths off a little. It’s been a small thing that brings a smile to my face, well done to all involved.

A random question but are they allowing a banner to be made as a run through? Obviously the Demon Army can’t get over there but if local Dees fans can do it would it be permitted? It’s just be great to see the boys run through a banner!

Unless I’m mistaken Optus Stadium is also basically the same dimensions as the MCG. Definitely an advantage it not being at KP but there can be no illusions about the cats, they have the experience and know how to win in these moments. That said, if we play our best we win.

Two years in a row the Lions have had an advantage that other teams would cry out for in finals (home ground/crowd) and it’s amounted to nothing. The dogs are getting their pressure game going again but really I think port will account for them purely because Port will have the week off and the Dogs just had a fierce encounter.

I think particularly if we happen to have more success this season (not saying anything to jinx it) i think he would be hilarious to have on. Good to hear he’s a demon, I know this is mentioned at times but jeez it must be tough for family to hear their parents get potted (put mildly) in the media and by fans. I just think back to that joke pic last season of the locked down Melbourne council flat that had the paper rewritten to say “Sack Goodwin”. It was a fun little interview, Langdon is clearly held in super high regard by the club as is Viney. Funny to think that people though he a Goody had a falling out following his demotion from captain, but any fan opinions that Jack shouldn’t be picked are obviously way off the mark within the club.

In the review there would’ve been way more lessons out of that 8 goal run than the rest of the game. The players know what happens when we’re able to play to a structure, but them winning it out of the middle constantly meant our structures were taken out of the equation. Even early in the third quarter you saw that first objective was to make sure they weren’t winning the initial centre bounce. Once we get the second stoppage we reset and set our zones. Even with those logical thoughts there are mental demons that remain for me with the cats. Max’s goal after the siren helped put a lot of them to bed but there are lingering memories that I doubt will ever fade away. In a lot of ways it’s poetic that to get to our first GF in over 20 years the cats stand in our way.

Not gonna lie, the nerves have kicked in already. Geelong have given us some of our worst moments in history and I’m not sure I could stomach us missing out on a grand final to them.

I’ve said no. I think years down the track I would recognise this was an excellent season but this is far and away the best opportunity we’ve had in decades. To not take this chance to get into a GF would be a very bitter pill to swallow.

It’s funny you discuss accuracy in front of goal because if Fritta has the accuracy he had 2019-2020 then we probably aren’t in a prelim. Goes to show that taking your chances as a forward is primary, Fritta has done that this season and been fantastic. TMac used to be my favourite kick for goal in the team, this year not so much. I’m certainly in the camp of TMac will not be dropped next week and should we get to the big dance he won’t be dropped for the GF. We play so much of on structure and even if he’s not firing he’s allowing Fritta and Brown to play their roles better. I think the week off will help him and he will no better than anyone that his output has dropped. I’m back him to have a big say in our final push.

If the doggies bring their pressure game it flows through into the rest of their game. The Lions and Port both have both through beating the easy teams but not getting the job done much against the better teams. The doggies have scalps against the good teams but just stopped dead right at the end of the season. They can still be quite damaging, their bigger issue is that I don’t think they can win the flag without Bruce. Lions in straight sets is very possible. With Toby out I think the cats will get the job done, I’m just hoping that it’s a super bruising encounter and they leave the cats limping into next week.

I will always remember the pivotal role that Dom played in that amazing first up win at the Adelaide oval. He was a valuable pick up for the time in that he was ready to go straight into the team and make an impact. Importantly when Roos brought him over he made it clear that Dom was expected to play his role, nothing more. Thanks for your time at the Dees, hope he gets on us for the finals!

I’m not sure if this is an open question or what but certainly I think we’ve had more success with our incoming players vs our outgoing players. The ones that I think we botched more were back in the late 2000’s and early 2010’s when we would trade players for picks, then failed to properly develop those picks.

I don’t necessarily disagree with you regarding Bailey, I think there were some insane things going through the club and talk of a players strike of sorts has been discussed. The fact that it sounded like it went from Schwab getting the sack to Bailey getting the sack just shows that the club was chaos personified. Whatever happened that day was bigger than whether a coach was any good at his job, I will admit that at the time I was of the opinion he had to go for the very reason you mentioned. I feel in retrospect this was an error as Bailey had a good relationship with the players and when things clicked it clicked well. We had a talented bunch, but there were glaring defensive issues that hurt us that year. In the end though it has lead (eventually) to the success we’re having now. I also agree with some sentiments that Neeld may well have been acting in accordance with the direction the club was telling him to go, but just took it way too far. (He was still a god awful choice no matter how you look at it)

I would say that the chances of that happening at 0 right now. Danny Boy’s presser yesterday pointing to light easing of things such as fitness and extension of radius. Nothing about gatherings and believe me I was keeping a sharp ear out for it as my fiancée and I are desperately trying to get married, but there wasn’t even mention of a potential for groups of 5 outdoors. (People are bloody well doing that anyway 🤬)

I think the sad thing to hear is that during the Neeld era there was fear and dread about turning up to training. I’m sure he wasn’t alone with that as well, when there’s that kind of atmosphere in any organisation you are never going to have success. I hate Sheedy, but even he would’ve been a much better choice as say what you like about him he has a passion for footy and it came out in his players. It sounded like Neeld had a passion for discipline and being unlikeable. All this matching players up against each other, punishing those that came in the bottom part, AFL is competitive enough as it is without pitting teammates against each other. I remember seeing in Hell and Back, Burgess would do these competitions but the winners were praised, the losers weren’t chastised. Thank [censored] Roos came in and flipped everything on its head. I actually think Jack would’ve turned into a much better (possibly still playing) footballer if he had someone like Roos from the start. Dean Bailey’s (RIP) sacking was a mistake by the club sadly.

Was shaking my head hearing the BS about him being told at the start of the season he would debut after a 10 week program no matter what. I mean we all knew it but far out what a joke of a club we had back then, commercial benefit dictating team selection makes me want to vomit.

You don’t trade players that are closely loved within the club, it breaks the cohesion in the playing group. Aside from that Gus has also been doing a very underrated job as a defensive winger. If we are to get Cerra, it should not be at Gus’s expense.

McGowen has got to be one of the least likeable people from Oz citizens outside of his state. I’m sure he’s someone who’s now being hailed as some kind of legend by the WA folks, but jeez he just should not step foot in Melbourne or Sydney. I wouldn’t wish the pandemic onto anybody, but I’d love him to walk a 5km radius in our bloody shoes.