Pates

Just saw this on the Fox Sports website the call it a farce with the low crowd: https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/teams/melbourne-demons/afl-news-2021-melbourne-demons-vs-brisbane-lions-crowd-giants-stadium-why-was-game-moved-alice-springs/news-story/a0bca13a993a158ed7881f534de13004 The question mark being why wasn't the game moved to the GABBA where they would get a massive Lions crowd. This just shows how dumb Andy Maher is, why the bloody hell should the Lions get a free home game? They got a MASSIVE leg up last season and still couldn't get the job done, the game was in Sydney so hardly a huge trek for the Brisbane fans, and yet very clearly the Dees fans outnumbered the Lions fans. For once it was the right and fair call to have the game at a neutral venue, if anything it should have been at the SCG where I think there would've been more of a chance of people going. And well done to the Sydney based Dees-faithful, you did a cracking job of creating an atmosphere.

I would've preferred we pushed this game in the following week's bye round. I think there could be a real chance of thing be open enough by then and if so the club should be writing to the AFL indicating they owe us for lost revenue. Will be bizarre if there's a mass exodus of Melbourne fans going up to Sydney for the QB match which should be at the MCG.

There’s a great expectation by the football world and media for a team’s rise to be linear, 12th to 10th to 8th to top 4 to premiers. It rarely, in fact I don’t think it has ever happened that way.

I’d be very happy for us to wear it again next week v Pies.

It’s very possibly too late for this but I think Sam would really benefit from a stint in the backline. I really feel that it’s one of the things that makes Tommy so good as a forward, he understands the defenders mindset from having played there. I also think he’s never been given a single job, he’s always been pitching into different areas. As I’ve said, that time might’ve come and gone, but he just looks unsure of himself. Definitely doesn’t have the look of a guy that feels like he belongs in the 22 of the ladder leaders.

Start of the season he was easily one of the top coaches under pressure, I think a journalist has their big call as him sacked by about round 8 with Williams taking over. There were plenty on here that wanted him gone as well, absolutely credit to Goody in having belief in himself and more importantly the players. I keep saying it, there is plenty of footy to play in the year so I’m just enjoying the ride (as I’m sure Simon is as well!).

If the QB game is going to be at the SCG we need to get out there and pump the proverbial out of this. Make tickets half price or two for the price of one, send a whole bunch of leftover merchandise/members scarfs up to hand out to people (don’t care if they’re Sydney fans, get them cheering for us). Do whatever you can to get people through the gate. I also nominate Hamish Blake (who lives there now) to be sent down the slide and maybe throw in some NRL personalities as well. I’m resigned to the fact we’re going to lose out financially, let’s just make sure we make the day the best it can be.

Didn’t see much at all tonight, but I did see him compete to bring the ball to ground against one of the games best defenders. Maybe that was his role, I’m not sure, unfortunately when he finally did take a good reactionary forward contested mark it was touched and then took the late one but shanked the kick. Lucky for him Ben Brown has no VFL to get some form.

I know we’ve had a lot of wins so far (I feel weird saying that!) but for me that is season defining. It’s one thing to win when everything is working the way you want, it’s a totally other thing to flip the narrative of a match against really quality opposition. I haven’t been able to watch much of it due to poor internet over here but fair to say I’m really going to enjoy watching this replay. Looking purely at the numbers I love that we were able to flip the game in clearances and contested possessions. Given the year we’re having you almost could’ve forgiven the players at half time to say, “well this is just an off night” but they stuck their heads in and gave everything a red hot crack. There has been plenty of occasions we as Melbourne fans have been utterly ashamed and humiliated. Today I couldn’t be prouder.

Our clearance numbers are become a really big problem now, against a team that has a three pronged attack (meaning Lever has to stay accountable) it gives them such a good look in goal. Sounds as though we’re lucky to only be 20 points down, I haven’t been able to watch (or even listen) to much it because my signal here is pure $**t. Might be a good thing. Over to you Yze and Goody, gotta find a way out of this hole. If there within 2-3 goals at 3 quarter time we can give it a red hot crack at the end.

Just having a listen to AFL nation speaking of AA spots, plenty of Dees mentioned but they completely skipped over Salem who is having an outstanding year on the half back line. If you ever needed to see his importance look at the one game we’ve lost so far! I don’t know how he keeps being forgotten.

I had a feeling that was the case, I mean it’s not even the Queens Birthday that day! And they don’t give us in the UK a “bank holiday” for it either! ?‍♂️

Forgive my ignorance but is Queens Birthday public holiday a national day or do different states recognise it on different days?

I remember last season the AFL only made like 400 seats available to a game in Brisbane despite there being a maximum about 2000-4000 people allowed. I hope they haven’t made it reduced capacity to save a buck, if anything I would’ve thrown thousands of free tickets at local schools and universities to get people through the gate.

Absolutely fantastic, well done to the MFC. Couldn’t be prouder.

I’m actually on board with the idea of shifting our bye to next week and making the Pies game the week later. That gives the AFL a chance to reassess and potentially have the game at the G with crowds reduced. It also means that a decision doesn’t need to be immediately made.

But the problem is the hotel system still has the corridors as red hot zones that you’re most susceptible to contracting the virus. Facilities and air-flow are the two things that I think need to be improved. Placing potentially infectious people into hotels that aren’t built to be used in this way is always going to have issues. You could have the quarantine for 100 days but then on the day you leave have a new individual infect the area and your stuffed. I’m actually surprised the government didn’t properly look into a “house arrest” style where you wear an ankle tracker to prevent you from leaving. Keeps you away from the public and keeps you away from new (potentially infected) arrivals. Damn those people that couldn’t do the right thing and just bloody self isolate.

I still can’t fathom how the AFL saw a clash with the bulldogs indigenous guernsey, predominant red with bits of navy blue vs predominantly royal blue with hints of red and white. Can only imagine after the ANZAC Day blunder with Pies and Bombers they’ve got skittish. Anyway it’ll be great to see us where it this round, and if there’s perhaps a opportunity maybe we wear it again if there’s a navy clash.

Yep there were so many missed opportunities that game, I even remember Huddo’s call as Bennell streamed towards goal “this is why they got him he’s a great finisher, and he.....misses”. I feel like the biggest difference this year compared to last year is that we take those chances to manufacture goals.

I’ve felt that as well, still missing the odd howler but they do seem a lot better now. TMac would be my choice for kick after the siren.

He’s someone that you’ve got to pay a lot of respect to, I think in his case the way to stop him is the win the ball. If he gets lots of uncontested possessions he can hurt you pretty quickly, that said he’s not one that shirks from the contest either. Some big match ups all over the ground, I was really annoyed we lost last year and we’re a much better side now. Really excited for this one!

Good and simple change. I like the way the FD have been doing ins and outs, not trying to over complicate it. Best guess is that Jordon will have first go on the wing. I feel like this is a big week for Weid, he has to at least start being a cog in the machine, I feel like right now he’s not sure if he belongs. Kozzie as well, he’s been relatively quiet in the last month, against one of the best teams and on the big stage it would be great to see him get back to form.

Yep you’re right, being overseas I sometimes skim through articles but I missed that about it coming from SA. In a lot of ways it would almost make more sense to have a week to 10 day quarantine, with a final four days in isolation (which is rigorously checked). I’m coming back from the UK in July and I’m going to self isolate for at least 2-3 days (or at the very least minimise contact with people). Sounds like you’re a higher risk of catching it on the way out than another time.

Yep I’m really hoping the team has learned from the game. Despite being roughed up Max almost always got good purchase on the taps but the smashed us at bounces and stoppages. I really think we have to at least break even with that. I sometimes forget the Mitch Robinson at the Lions is the same guy who called us bruise free. I would love for one of the boys to tackle him hard enough (but legally) that has him slow getting up.

Brown’s experiencing the same frustration the Sam had to go through last season. How do you push your case for selection with no way of getting form? Any chance of the leftover players in Victoria can play each other in a toned down practice match in the same vein as last year?