Maldonboy38

After a crappy end to the season, this brightened up my day a bit. Pure gold.

Martin is a gun, I just hope his best footy lasts as long as his contract. Yes, he is shy, different, comes from a thugg-ish family, is covered in art work, but bloody hell I wish more players played like him. I wish SOME Dees players played like him! Strong, quick, takes risks, lifts his team mates, and his kicking makes me drool. The Tigers are a VERY good football team this year. I know we hate them but Hardwick and the club have done an amazing job getting to where they are. Well done for securing martin. But 5 players taking 25% of TPP is a recipe for problems about 2 years from now. Real problems.

1) Lever 2) An outside mid. But the outside mid must be consistent and with high percentage efficiency disposal skills. We swept in and picked up a forward in Hannan who has very good goal sense and came at a bargain price - I wonder if there is a youngish outside mid in VFL or a premier rural league who we can swoop on? There don't seem to be many floating around in the AFL who can't get a game at their own club. a)Motlop - I oooh and aaah at him on the TV screen - about 3 times a year! No thanks. b) Whitfield - definite consideration

Now THIS made me laugh - droll, but very, very funny. If I was close enough I might share a whisky or two for making my day, Biffen. The orange cone came in a very close 2nd. Aah, the joy of cynicism. It makes me feel soooo much better!

I am still as grumpy as a Scot at a charity donation, but I can't believe some of the stuff being proposed on this thread. Hulett, Trengove, Kennedy and White look the closest to being delisted. Apart from them, even as bad as missing finals is, it would be a total waste of the Roos era to start swinging the hatchet anywhere it can strike blood. Our list doesn't need some wild, unfocused slashing - it needs a surgeons precision to help a very talented list improve. Possible to trade - IF we can improve our list: 1) Frost or TMac as much as I don't want to lose either of them. Might get us a Lever type defender. 2) Salem or Tyson if we can use them in conjunction with other draft numbers/current players to recuit an A grade midfielder. Probably not possible, they are probably not enough currency to get what we want. Garland might move on to coaching, and Spencer will get a gig somewhere else. With some recent rookie elevations, I actually can't see too much more movement than this, so no more than 6 list changes.

Very difficult to separate my boiling emotions from the reality of our improvement. My wish for 2017 was that we would be in every game we played, and for the most part every game we played we could have won. We saw real improvement from our young guns and a few surprises in Hannan, Harmes, ANB etc.... Hogan's annus horribilus, getting Lewis on board, record membership etc... The club did feel like a good place to belong for the first time ina lomg time. However, if it wasnt for my broken rib I would be out in my shed smashing up old tools, throwing crap at other crap, and stomping around crushing unknown objects into the concrete - I cannot believe how absolutely enraged I feel after watching the Eagles glide into the 8 against a pathetic Crows, after we folded to the Pies, lost to Freo on the MCG, and lost to #%÷€×&*×#ing North twice in the year. I just want to injure someone or something, preferably a crows supporter, a Dees player, or some innocent bystander who barracks for any other club. When will this MFC-following curse ever end? I need whisky - and not Johnny Walker or Monkey shoulder - a real one like a Dalmore 18.

Since 2014 we have addressed a lot of gameplay issues, fixing problems through recruiting, development and direct coaching. I still consider marking to be the most important skill in the game after kicking because it gives the team 5 - 7 seconds to set up and/or move and no one can touch the ball carrier. It is a free hit. Hogan is a beast at contested marking and Weideman is tracking really well. TMac is very good and OMac is developing in this area also. But only Petracca and Brayshaw of our midfield brigade are any good at contested marking so we need to improve this over the 2018 preseason for oir midfielders. And we still lack the outside runner who can receive the 2nd handball, who is skilled enoughand quick enough not to have to handball each time. Lewis Jetta, Isaac Smith, Scully (hate typing that) Crouch etc...

THAT voice. Once heard, never forgotten. Seems a life time ago now, being drawn to his voice on the radio. He was one of those rare people of his generation who had followers - people turned on the radio just to listen to him. RIP, Harry.

After the 2.5 hour drive home to Bendigo, some game notes: Thanks MCC or whoever, for closing the car park again - being on the road meant I did not know until I got there, so had to park in some God-forsaken Richmond back street that looked suitable for a Dustin Martin party. Missed the 1st quarter. And rhe car park was fine. My man Brayshaw - wow, what a great return. Agree about Pedo. Although I have become a Watts fan, he would do well to watch a full replay of Pedos game today. Gut running, physical impact, strong marks and tackles. I continue to believe we are a better team with him in , regardless of how many talls we have available. Jones - now officially my most loved Dees player since Flower. The 3rd quarter was really bad. Really, really bad. Our unpressured turnovers almost cost us the game. I am not sure my ageing heart can take being a Dees supporter for too much longer. We flirt with defeat at least twice a game and it is killing me. Although we were ravaged by the umps in the 3rd quarter, the bad umpiring actually went both ways. The couple of frees we got both looked dodgy. A bad quarter for the umpire review for all involved. The most pleasing thing today was the impact at various times of Harmes, ANB, Hannan, Brayshaw, and OMac. These players playing their part when needed has happened for each of our wins this year. Our development coaches need a huge nod of recognition and maybe a pay rise. Thank you to other stupid rubbish clubs for Hibberd (a bit fumbly today), Melksham and Lewis.

6. Jones 5. Pedo 4. Harmes 3. Brayshaw 2. OMac 1. Lewis.

My favourite current player, great to see him back in. Not expecting too much from him after such a long break but at least he gives us outside run. He goes in very hard, but I love his outside play.

I am with you all the way, although I was born 6 months after the last premiership - 1 month more of MFC pain. I want sustained success, and although I love the Dees players, it is the club/team which has my support. If/when this current list hits consistent finals-winning football, it will be on the back of team not individuals.

Interesting stuff up at the GC. Eade definitely walked unknowingly into a basket case, similar to Pagan at Carlton. Maybe not so much in terms of list, but player unity, moral and culture were totally dysfunctional. Added to that, the players didn't seem to gel with him. Yeah maybe he should have got more out of the list, but we Dees fans know too well that a crackpot cub simply can't produce the goods. Sad for him really, I reckon he is a very, very good coach. Mark Evans has a lot of work to do. If PJ got us up off the canvas in 3 years, it might take Evans 5 up there.

Windy conditions change everything. You have to change the way you defend. Also, the smaller, crumbing players have to play to the wind, not to the normal places where the ball would likley drop (e.g. following the punch direction in a marking contest). This makes it difficult for Hogan and TMac, but also difficult for Ben Brown. So, our ground skill players will win or lose us the game. Garlett could tear this game apart today, and I reckon ANB, Petracca and Viney should shine. I HATE windy football - horrible to play in, horrible to watch. I will be at the Eaglehawk v Sandhurst game in the Bendigo Football Netball League trying to watch the gzme AND stay tuned to the AFL app.

Whatever his motivation (and my goodness there is some vitriolic balderdash on DL at times) Tim Watson is spot on with his comments. I can't for the life of me figure out why oppositions are not putting more work into Hibberd. He is cutting every game to pieces. As for his left foot emphasis, if you look closely his Dees team mates free up his left hand side and maybe the Bombers players weren't smart enough to do it. Opposition teams are in a bind though because if they tag Hibberd with a defensive forward, then Hunt and Frost will get off the leash.

The close games are brilliant, as is the form of the Dees. The tough in and under contests of modern footy can be brilliant when 2 teams are evenly matched. But the constant congestion, almost no-one forward of the ball, and reduced one-on-ond contests are tough on the eyes. Perhaps the bad games are the worst they have ever been.

He has had some bad moments, but I would take him at the Dees in an instant. I hated Jordan Lewis with his bullying and bravado - until he came over to us. Now I love him! Rance is a bloody good footballer.

I actually don't mind most commentators, even BT. The only one who gets under my skin is Dwayne Russell for his clear anti Dees bias. I was listening to the radio on the weekend and both commentators were women. I dont care what sex they are as long as I can understand the footy, and they have some ability with the English language. Now the door is open to whoever wants to commentate, we will see more women invovled.

Huge game today. Should be very close with some sore bodies at the end of the game. Both teams look evenly matched, with our forward line stronger on paper then their defence, which might prove the difference. Jack W 150. Have a look at his career highlights on the MFC website / app. Sometimes we forget just how good he can be. Jack T. Welcome back. I hope you play a belter and slot into our 22 moving into finals. Jack V. I reckon he is going to tear this game apart. Dees by 13 points in one of the games of the year. Petracca BOG. Hogan 4, Watts 4, Garlett 3, Hannan 2.

Great idea having a mascot named after a relatively current gun player, and the indigenous emphasis just adds another dimension to it. But 5 mascots does seem a bit much.

From what we have seen so far, he looks like a 200 game player. Great to see him signing on. There is a huge upside to Billy, and I see him developing into a line breaking player who delivers to our forwards with classy kicking.

6. Lewis 5. Hunt 4. JKH 3. Oliver 2. Melksham 1. ANB Hibberd was everywhere, but he was fumbly, and he kicked blindly or badly too many times. In modern footy, disposals are easy to get down back, and even though his intent was outstanding, his effectiveness was limited.

I hate fumbly footy. They had spare players on their attacking side of every stoppage, free and unmanned for most of the night. 1 handball forward and they were away. At least 12 - 15 times. I have a sore throat from screaming at the screen. Please, please, please can we get some class players back soon. JKH was very, very good.

I understand some of the comments about everyone deserving a 2nd chance, and how it could provide a powerful conversation for those recovering from mental illness. I also agree that he is one of the most gifted footballers I have seen play the game - I have him in my best ever 22. But I have worked connected to rehab services and programs most of my life, and unless Hird comes forward and acknowledges his wrongdoing, the opportunity for a 2nd chance and recovery are pipe-dreams. Perhaps 2 cases in point are people like Wayne Carey and Barry Hall. Both demonstrated they had very ugly parts of their character. Listen to them now. They are open about their wrongdoing and are invited into anti violence groups to talk. Perhaps if Hird demonstrated something similar people would warm to him. But as long as he remains aloof, indifferent and unrepentant he will remain on the outer, rejected, and stuck in his self delusion.

Unfortunately, I CAN understand this. The AFL continue to oversee the game as if it is a soap opera, or 6 movie trilogy fantasy movie. James Hird is simply the star of a previous episode and revamping him will bring them ratings and dollars. The fact he wilfully led his club into a "drugs in sport" debacle, has never apologised, and made the whole game feel dirty for a 3 year period, makes no difference. He is a golden boy, a premiership player, a Norm Smith winner blha, blah, blah... If he does present the medal, I will have to turn the tv off for that period. Unwatchable.