Jaded No More

Their biggest strength for the last decade has been their midfield. It is what they have based their entire game plan on. So while they have improved both ends of the ground in the off season, their midfield has gone backwards, having lost Dunkley and Hunter. Will be interesting to see how that changes their game style. Bont will have to play a lot more midfield minutes now, and they will need Treloar to stay healthy. Otherwise it's fairly slim pickings in terms of pure class. McRae and Libba are accumulators, but they don't hurt you like the other two do.

Everyone is over here death riding Freo. Meantime I am death riding Port, so Kosi goes to Kochi

The really unfortunate thing is that we have 3 very hard games to start the season, so this is a very unideal time to be missing 4 key players in our best 22. If this was happening rounds 7-9 where we play North, Gold Coast and Hawks you'd be far less worried, but starting the season 3-0 vs 0-3 is make or break. Hopefully Viney and Fritta will play next week. Can't see us pushing Salem straight in without decent match preparation and honestly, if we risk May and he blows up the calf and misses half the season, I would be furious. Calf injuries + old age = bad news.

Old man injury that one. Hibbo and Jones both had heaps of trouble with it. Definitely not worth risking. We can’t win a flag without him so he has to be managed conservatively. Just sucks that we have 3 very hard games to start the season.

I’ll be at the G. Like I always am. Looking forward to it.

No Viney opens up more midfield time for Kosi, ANB and maybe even Chandler so it makes sense that we have an opening forward especially without Fritta. I am much more concerned about covering May than the other 3 outs, because the only options are Tomlinson and Turner. One is not in good form and the other is an infant.

Really surprised by Laurie. I’m guessing with Viney out they might just play Kosi and Trac purely through the midfield, and with Fritta out it will make way for both Chandler and Laurie to play forward. I would be surprised if Laurie is the sub. Hate to see a debut done that way, although tactical sub now means he is probably a certainty to get a run.

Nothing quite like the wheels falling off before round 1 has even started. This is what being a Melbourne supporter should feel like! \

NRL has just gone to a 14 day mandatory time off following a concussion. Finally catching up to the AFL.

At least we've learnt our lesson. Don't burn your playing list in Round 1.

Turner will be next in line surely. Petty to FB, Turner CHB and Lever third man up. Will Hibbo get a call up as he can play "taller" than he actually is? Either way, nobody is May. It's like trying to replace Oliver. Can't be done.

Well we are doomed

Curse you Norm Smith / Jack Watts I need someone to blame for this!

Me too. It can't just be a simple "someone stepped on his foot". You don't miss that much footy from a bruise. Must be something more sinister. A hot spot they are trying hard to manage or a hairline fracture. Viney sounds like some bruising/swelling maybe a low grade PCL?

I really like that we now have both the option of a physical card, so I don't have to muck around with downloading the ticket, and also the digital version. The digital membership and ticketing makes it really easy if you want to pass your ticket along to someone else without physically needing to give them your membership card.

Will be really interesting to see how the massive hike in cost of living and interest rates will impact membership and attendance across the league this year. They are upping the cost of food and drinks at games, but ticket prices seem to have remained the same. It would also be interesting to see if clubs who have a lower socio-economic supporter base will see a bigger hit to membership numbers, whereas I imagine West Coast fans will still go on wait lists to pay $2000 to watch their team suck 🤪

No need to waste time talking when you have the talent of Clarry. He does all his talking with the ball.

I might be wrong but I think I was the first female poster on D’land way back in the day and I’ve never felt anything but welcomed. Maybe it’s because most posters didn’t know I was female?

He’s done a full pre season up until the foot thing. He also happens to be the second biggest goal kicker in the competition over the last two seasons. He’s a walk up start at every club in the AFL.

Gold Coast are my smokies for the 8. They have a good midfield and Touk is a bloody star.... he is welcome to come to the Dees when he's had enough of that horrible jumper 😁 But in all seriousness could they finally make it? At the expense of Collingwood would be absolutely stunning!

Who is going to tell Viney he won't be fit to play round 1?

I can count at least 3 of us in this thread alone 😀

Richmond will need a LOT to go right for their aging stars to win it. It happened to Geelong last year, so it is possible, but Geelong have a much better spread of aging talent (and the home ground advantage that guarantees them 10 wins a year), whereas I think Richmond need Dusty, Cotchin and Reiwoldt to turn back the clock to win it.

Swans for me. They have the wood over us.