Maldonboy38

It could be a meaningful award but it needs to be more than just stats or subjective opinion. Then the best player would be clearly displayed. They need to sort this out: for the sake of Gary Ayres who must cringe at its irrelevance, but also because it should genuinely be a prestigious award. Finals showcase the best of our game.

I would love to know the stats after half time of the Bulldogs forward line. I can't think of one of them who did anything of significance. Their goal kickers were Bont, JJ and Treloar - all midfielders. Or did Naughton get 1? But my point is, that apart from Salem as a standout, none of our defenders had blinders. They simply worked as a unit and nullified the Bulldogs forward line. Hats off to our defence who found a way without Lever, May and Petty taking intercept marks. With all the focus on our amazing midfield I hope this does not go unnoticed.

That patch in the 3rd quarter. Go back and look at it again and again. Jackson, Viney, Oliver and Petracca all bullocking, following up, fiercely ball hunting, and sprinting away once we had clear possession. All 4 of them. That is the best midfield footy I have ever seen: BREATHTAKING!! But I have to keep coming back to Brayshaw. He remains my favourite player. His endless gut running, taking body hit after body hit, and THAT mark and goal, and for the first time in a long time we clearly saw his skill.

When I was born, in 1965, my dad's first words to me were "G'day Barass"! He was actually a Swans supporter born in South Melbourne but my mum and her entire family tree were Dees people, and Barassi WAS Melbourne in those days (shortly to depart to Carlton) Mum died 2 years ago after neglect in a nursing home, but she LOVED the Dees, was my greatest supporter when I played, and watched every Dees game she could. She would be gushing and glowing tonight.

I don't give a fig about dynasties, power-clubs, curses, MFCSS, how great Bontempelli is, 186, Neeld, "the benefits of losing", game analysis, mark of the year, goal of the year, recruiting, the trade period, the cricket, Covid, vaccinations, the rise of China, the decline of the US, renewable energy, or any other subject matter. I am sitting in a quiet lounge room drinking scotch knowing this one simple thing. MFC are 2021 Premiers. And to all those Essendon supporters after the 2000 Grand Final - eat my shorts! You are carp and we are the best. WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!!!!

Just had this conversation with my daughter when she asked "what do we do next year? No curse, no "haven't won a 1st round"? I said "the narrative has changed. Everyone is now chasing us. We are the best." MFCSS is dead and buried.

6. Petracca 5. Fritsch 4. Brayshaw 3. Oliver 2. Salem 1. Jackson

I haven't cried yet, but I reckon when the noise dies down and the family goes to bed, a few tears might fall over a wee Glenfiddich. I have waited so long and feel so calm and happy.

Luke Jackson into the middle. Trac turning beast mode up to 11. Angus Brayshaw (still my favourite player) was simply gob-smackingly brilliant.

56 years I have been following. Today, vindication. We are the Premiers, we are the Best. Everyone else can go cry in a corner. I am numb with happiness.

Luke Jackson into the middle = masterstroke. But seriously, after 56 years of this (my age) I'm not sure I can take the last quarter unless we romp home.

We have been able to reset all season. time to hit the reset button now.

Petty can't do all the aerial stuff. Start winning the ground ball at stoppages. And stop fumbling. And Fritsch, your howler was a momentum killer.

First Goal: Tom McDonald Norm Smith: Jack Viney Most goals: Bailey Fritsch Winning Margin: 26 points OK Demonlanders, go for it. We can't just watch/listen to channel 7 for 5 hours!

I am surprised how meaningful that was for me. Steve Smith and Peter Giles - players I have forgotten about for too long. Today means so much for so many. Bring it home Dees.

G' morning, fellow Demonlanders, welcome to IT! Congratulations to all those up just after midnight to start this thread. Was very close to also jumping onto the laptop and getting started then, but Billy Brownless' "little man in my head" spoke up, wisdom prevailed, and trundled to bed. Actually slept well. Having a late brekkie now with coffee in my Robbie Flower mug (reserved for VERY special occasions). Feeling OK until I realise I have to wait until 7 ($@%^&%$@$) pm! So, activated my GF day emergency plan: Coodabeen champions at 10am Water some plants Watch the U19's WA v SA final at 1pm. Then annoy the carp out my entire family, pacing and whinging with some Canadian Club until the game starts. GO YOU MIGHTY REDLEGS!!

My wife has sown 10 supporters scarves into a a rug.

I was born the same month, same year. His angst is my angst.

Flag flying at letterbox, 2021 scarf on fence, many other scarves around the front door. Daughter home-cooking pies and red-and-blue cup cakes. Wife has gathered scarves from last 10 years and sewn them into a throw rug/blanket. Canadian Club and Shiraz for the game (probably start about 12.01pm as the nerves set in). Glenfiddich 18 ready for the celebration.

O please, they better not do this too much - I have a game to watch and stomach knots to untie every 2 minutes.

So difficult with so many good recent wins, and about 26 players who are GF ready. I would probably go Hunt for the medical sub because he can help out on any line - forward, midfield or back. But the selection committee mantra has been to follow a line of form and fitness so fully understand the no change.

Watching the Jones interview, 1 thing is constantly underrepresented. He was a bloody good footballer. Brilliant at evading in-close attention, underrated goal kicker, could run all day. He was more than a "inspiring figure" and I wish it was mentioned more.

Waiting for One the Couch to start, tuned in to AFL 360 listening to Hardwick and Clarkson talk around how they coach in finals and grand finals. Absolutely brilliant. I haven't paid much attention to either of them over the years, but wow, you can tell why they coached Premierships. Much of what they said was a matter of balancing: player personalities, attack v defence, how much to say... etc...

In my house, you follow the Dees or leave. At one point of prolonged thrashings, my eldest son - 6 years old at the time - starting noticing Gary Ablett jnr and told me he wanted to follow Geelong. After almost vomiting all over him I asked him "do you like food?" He replied 'Yes". I stated calmly "then you barrack for Melbourne". Fortunately, only a few weeks later we were watching a game and he noticed Liam Jurrah. Melbourne devotion immediately restored! Thank-you Liam Jurrah! Jurrah was a freak with some of the most grace-filled skills I had seen since Robbie Flower. He made you watch him. But I don't think he would have survived a season in 2021. Defensive pressure is the foundation for everything now and that is something he simply didn't have. If his son has enough talent, draft him.

If I take the Brownlow as an umpires award, I can accept it. They have a unique and (mostly) unbiased view of the game, and can only notice what is around them. Even with this in mind I look at players like Gawn, Mundy, McCrae and Miller and wonder how they could score so mildly when Oliver, Bont Wines etc... can rack up BOG's. Sometimes after attending a game live, I am gob smacked to find out on the way home that a certain player had so much of the ball. Thinking about defenders, the Brownlow seems to award those who MAKE the game, not those who thwart or STOP it, however meaningful the defenders role is. Backmen like Hardeman, Wanganeen, Hardy, and Glendinning all had a definite play-making ability that saw them make the play, so maybe that is what the umpires notice.