1 red eye 1 blue eye

Home from watching at a friends place and haven't read any of this thread so have no idea what the reactions are but for me I am really proud of that effort, I could bring up plays and moves which might have been the difference but that's not the point of this post. The commitment was outstanding it was exactly what I hope my team can deliver every week. Disappointed obviously, but not anywhere near as feral as I have been in the past.

I know Chook fortunately we have 3 more games to practice it.

I agree re the smaller grounds and that will help us, I think we'll play it well but I think the weakening of our back line will result in them kicking a few more goals than us.

That's true but in that 1st qtr we burst out of the blocks and then midway through the first the Cats worked their way back into it and then carried the momentum into that 2nd qtr debacle. They are proven to be a much more efficient team down there and this is equally as critical a game for them as it is for us, they are going to be formidable make no mistake. I will be the happiest man alive if we get over them but in the meantime I have the bit in a vice like grip between my teeth.

We lost narrowly Rd 1 and that was at the MCG, Cats dominated the first half we dominated the second, at KP they won't give us that opportunity. A bridge too far I'm afraid.

We were that many pegs below them. Too good pies.

Beaten in every facet of the game

In my minds eye I see his face so clearly and I think that demonland remembering him each year has a lot to do with that. I think it's terrific and congratulate those that post this yearly tribute.

J Howe

Odd or op shop wedding I think ET. Did Harmsey forget a shoe or just wearing oddies? Jones too? Anyway looks like fun.

I'm extremely keen. Get in now while this article is fresh and negative and secure the lad.

Jack did rock up to pre season looking flamboyent. Did the "look" get the coaches off side, you wouldn't think so, but him and Max were fooling around in the middle of Nov, publically showcased it and that hair do did scream fun. Coincidentally we didn't get the AA Max this year either, not even close. Possibly the poor form of both players has frustrated the Club? http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/melbourne/jack-watts-shows-up-for-preseason-training-with-eyecatching-new-look/news-story/f0014c3c4fe19a9c116d0fdb24e1b538

If Watts is swapped out for a forward with Michael Hibberds style of intensity and the ball gets locked in that forward line more often and for longer, then I can see this making us better.

So consistent, I was waiting for a toward the end of year drop off but he maintained his possession numbers although I don't think he was releasing players as well. Made some gobsmacking ly good plays and should go alright in the b&f I'd reckon.

Bernie would have meant what he said to Goody and I'm happy with his re signing, but I'd like to think he'll be doing everything possible still to make the 22 and in turn keep pressure on others to work as hard or harder to take that spot.

Mature and probably correct advice Older demon.

Me too Dazzle, actually, I've been getting worse as the day's gone on, disbelief from morning to lunch, depressed from lunch till heading home and now I'm just bloody angry! And someone just yelled go eagles out the front of my place, probably saw the MFC sticker on the back of my car.............awesome.

Upbeat in the rooms, where did you hear that? If you saw the after game vision in the rooms they were light years off upbeat.

I'm surprisingly calm, possibly a newly learnt default setting. An inept team game played today. When the cameras went into our rooms after the game they were sitting as per normal and exceptionally despondent. Then Petracca comes into the frame and he walks around giving his team mates one by one a pat of reassurance, he arrived at Max and Maxy accommodated but it was such a laboured attempt and his body language looked especially ordinary. They know how poorly they've played. Good on Petracca, that was great to see from a young player, trying to rally the boys but from that vision the rest of them looked mentally shot.

Watched the game a couple of Suburbs away and decided to aggressively walk home and check out the demonland post game thread. The showers started as soon as I stepped out the door. The rain steadily increased and by the time I rounded my Street corner it was torrential, people took shelter under shop fronts and I suspect I looked a bit of a goose in my dress shorts and a shirt as I power walked back into the wind and rain. I was punishing myself and was almost enjoying it. I arrived home, dripping wet, put the key in the gate and the rain stopped, I looked in the direction the weather comes from and there it was, blue sky, "yeah fn right" I said to myself and had to chuckle. My mood was lifted, demonland was down and I spent the rest of the arvo and evening feeling not too bad!

I wear ear muffs most of my working day, countless times I've hit my head and been saved by the band connecting the muffs together, that's a strip around 40mm wide so the full head gear really should help a lot and I'm glad to see Gus wearing it. Some mentioning that it'll be a target, but I have a theory the opposition will be more likely to avoid it, especially in the AFL. I suspect most players don't mind hurting their foe but wouldn't want to end a career, case in point being Frosty and his concern for falling over Wingards leg. Also might help avoid the thuggery ala Gus's last concussion in the VFL. A cheap shot to the head of someone wearing a helmet really would be seen as a reprehensible and gutless act.

I'd resigned myself to not seeing Trenners on a footy field again so this has come as a very pleasant surprise. Very happy for him and would be terrific to see him slot seamlessly into the team. Can't wait for Saturday. Best of luck JT.

I admired him as a footballer but after what's happened you just cannot state he was 100% clean. I remember on a couple of occasions how quickly he healed from injury, at the time that added to how gobsmackingly good he was, but now I can't be 100% sure. If he was tainted I'm sure he wasn't alone, I'm 99% convinced that cheating has been widespread and is the reason why the AFL had to alert the Bombers, they were busted anyway and this isolated the problem. Essendon have taken the drug taking rap much like we took the tanking one. With this in mind, should he present the medal? No, but it would explain why the AFL want him to.

I'd like to see Kent try the right peg with set shots

Go you good Dante!