Wow, what a ride so far!
I have been a Demons supporter for 55 years, and a member for somewhat less than that period. Like other Demon oldies, it has been more heartbreak than elation. The 2 GFs I have seen were absolute slaughters … we were never going to win either of those matches, and sadly were not even competitive.
So, random thoughts about the PF.
Firstly …. Jee-long. I hate them so much.
Hawkins – thug, Selwood – thug & cheat, Rohan, lol, Smith – Mr Smirky, Cameron – lol, Dangerfield – total jerk. And Scott. His press conference was abysmal. He started off giving credit to the Demons … but it soon drifted into making cryptic excuses for Geelong’s failure.
As for our boys, it’s all been said about Gawn, Oliver, Petracca, May, Lever, Salem, Jacko et al.
The football department are amazing. They obviously saw things that we didn’t. I totally didn’t rate Spargo – too small, can’t kick far enough, can’t tackle, not fast, no tricks … etc. As did plenty of others. Well, we all got that wrong!
Nibbler. I didn’t rate him either. In my defence, neither did the club. They tried to offload him in the off season. Integral part of the side.
Viney. I was critical of him too. But it has to be said that he is built to play finals. Having said that he has obviously (at long last) listened to directions not to continually try to break through tackles. Great match.
Oliver plays a different style of football to past seasons. Instead of rapid fire handballs to teammates under pressure (often backwards) his first instinct now seems to be to move the ball forward. Often by bursting out of the pack, running forward then a kick to advantage. I love his interactions with Trac … and so they!
I previously thought that we lost out of the deal with GWS where we traded a high draft pick for 2 picks. They ended up with Kelly, and we got Salem and Tyson. Although it didn’t work out with Tyson, Salem has proved to be just the type of player we needed. That’s not to say that Kelly isn’t a great player … he clearly is. Although MFC would have taken Billings with that draft pick, not Kelly.
Bowey … thought he was too small. Wrong again. He’s great.
Harmes. All good.
Kozzy .... now more poised. Last year he missed a lot of gettable kicks for goal. Now he's nailing them.
Sparrow. I queried his place in the side. But the football dept held their ground. He’s obviously cemented his place in the side. At the expense of Jordon, probably because he’s physically bigger and stronger.
Rivers. Probably a little lucky to hang on to his spot in the side. But the football dept have held their nerve, and would drop him. His overall body of work this season justifies his spot in the side for the GF.
Ben Brown. Couldn’t understand why he wasn’t in the side earlier in the season. At the expense of Weiderman. Poor Weids. But it has to be said that he was given every chance to cement his spot in the side.
Hunt. Poor Hunty … got injured at the wrong time. Once you’re out of the side, very hard to get back in.
Smith. Lucky to get the gig a few weeks ago. But unlucky to get injured. Had he not been injured, I’m sure he would still be in the side. His loss is Hibbert’s gain.