Pates

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

11 hours ago, rpfc said:

Without sounding like a Social Justice Warrior or being too ‘Woke’ - go and look at some of the passive aggressive, to outright toxic, comments on social media on Daisy’s retirement. 

Read through that and tell me that a bloke would get the same treatment. 

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. 

15 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Do elaborate, please.

As I posted, I’m more than happy to hear reasons as to why Griffiths should not cop some criticism for our fade-outs.

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. 

15 hours ago, durango said:

There is one place we have never tried the old elsternwick golf course.

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

4 hours ago, DeelightfulPlay said:

Kozzy has unfortunately often been targeted by racists on his social media account, so maybe he decided to take a step back from social media?

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. 

7 minutes ago, dice said:

You can't be serious. Gutnick was ousted in 2001 and up until then Olympic Park was in the hands of Athletics Victoria/Australia until Brumby, McGuire and Fildes did secret deals to obtain it for Collingwood in 2008.

Gutnick, ignoring all his failings, deserves a life membership for helping Melbourne survive during the wretched merger period

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.

14 hours ago, dees189227 said:

Yeah but that means she'll start her coaching at Geelong. 

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!

2 minutes ago, binman said:

To be honest, i don't have a great sense of how strong the lions are, having only watched them the once - when we played them.

I get the lions will have a home state, if not a home ground, advantage. And probably have an advantage of having more training etc in the heat. So, they deserve to be favorites.

But after the regular season, we were only split by half a percent, or some such. And teams have barely scored in the second half of our games all season, indicating both a strong defensive system, but also probably superior fitness levels.

And whilst we may struggle a little with the heat, assuming the predicted potential thunderstorm doesn't come during the game, the conditions will really suit our running, give and go handball, high skill method.

The lions are currently 1.39 favorites and their line is 9.5 points. Both seem well out of wack to me, and so the 2.92 you can get for a dees win is great value.

But even better value is the 9 point start we are getting, a line that will surely shorten before game time.

Yes, the lions are a high scoring side, but we have the best defence in the AFLW, as evidenced by the fact we gave up the least amount of points this season, a crazy low 184 (the lions were next with 193 and then a pretty big gap back to the crows on 217).

And we are no slouch on the scoring front either, having scored only 19 points less than the lions in the regular season. We are also in much better form than we the lions rolled us by 15 points in round four.

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. 

I have to admit I’m torn on this whole stadium debacle. On the one hand Brisbane fair and square won the rights to host by just pipping us at the post for percentage. On the other hand this venue seems grossly inadequate to be hosting a grand final of a professional competition (which is what they keep pushing for). I would almost have said play the game in Sydney at Giants Stadium, that way it’s not being played at an undersized venue and incomplete ground, and the Lions aren’t playing away. 

I get the decision not to host it in Melbourne, much as we would’ve loved it to be here. 

1 hour ago, Palace Dees said:

Either way, during the season we need to find out over several games if Petty can play forward and Turner can hold down a key back position. The beauty being this can happen in the same games. Let's not wait until the last 5 minutes of the season again. 

Urgh don’t get me started on that. 

Honestly given his output last season I’d be really worried if the match committee were relying on him being our main focal point up forward. 

I like Petty in defence but I really would like there to be a serious consideration for playing him as a permanent forward. 

15 minutes ago, Katrina Dee Fan said:

Jeez I hope to hell Adelaide thrash the pants off Brisbane this weekend!!

Even better I’d rather them lose after the siren. 

8 hours ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

Again, it’s the AFL springing a second season in a calendar year (with insufficient notice) that’s the problem.

Brisbane would obviously need more than a few weeks to sort out a venue. It’s the same reason that prevented us from playing our first final at Casey.

Things likes renovations, concerts, the cricket etc. are planned early in the year or sometime last year or even further back in time, things that clash with an entire footy season being staged.

As for whose responsibility it is to manage ground availability… again those three letters: AFL. Any and every aspect of a W season hinges on AFL approval. 

Fair call, the AFL have created this debacle and it’s them that need to wear the consequences. 

Apparently Cairns being considered should Brisbane win through. If the AFLW actually agree to go with it then they will rightfully labelled as a laughing stock. Crowd will be nothing, buzz will be zilch, atmosphere of a practice match. 

9 hours ago, deejammin' said:

I think the AFL should call Geelong’s bluff on the whole home final thing. At the moment they’re having their cake and eating it too by complaining about not having a home ground advantage but playing at grounds big enough for all their supporters to attend. Call their bluff, give them a home final at HMBA but set strict limits on tickets 40% allocation for Geelong members, 30% for the opposition, 10% for AFL members, 20% general admin. Watch Geelong beg for an MCG home final when their members realise less than half of them can attend. 
 

As to Marvel for the GF now that both the Gabba and Metricon are unavailable it’s a no brainer. Not only is it the only suitable venue left for the GF it also has the advantage of a roof to avoid the shambles in Adelaide today with crazy weather. Brisbane have strong support in Melbourne, if they make it, and at least one Grand Finalist has to be from Melbourne (it better be us). Too bad Brisbane, can’t get a decent ground, you miss out. Plus there’s a history of playing GF’s in Melbourne regardless of contestants in the mens game, let’s bring that into the AFLW as well. Go dees! Thrash those Kangas!!! (I’m slightly worried about this one, they should’ve beaten us at the G earlier in the year, we’re in better form but so are they, this won’t be as easy as some in this thread think). Go Dees!

 

Brisbane need to accept some responsibility on this, surely they should’ve been canvassing the grounds for the potential home grand final weeks ago when they were top of the ladder. Is it the competitions responsibility to be micromanaging the teams on their ground availability?