The heart beats true

I watched the MMM interview on YouTube with Max last night. He handles himself so unbelievably well. He never just says something as a platitude. He explains his emotions well, and he seems very real when he does it. He’s had to eat so much [censored] for the club over the last few years. In my opinion he’s one of the greatest Demons of all time, not just as a player, but as a person.

Those are great points Bobo. A logical organisation would concur. 😂 I see the incident is different just because Howe contributes to the clash more actively than Evans did. Howe leaves the ground, and that is enough of a variable for the AFL. I also agree with you that it seems insane that the AFL tries to argue about what a reasonable player would do. Both incidents were insanely quick. I just would temper anyone’s expectations about there being any relationship between these incidents and an expected outcome. There’s enough variables that the AFL can concoct whatever they want as an outcome. This is by design. 👍

I personally don’t agree that this has much to do with the May incident - because Howe sees Newcombe and they both contribute to the incident in a way that can be argued is about both of them trying to protect themselves/bracing. Evans, stayed wide open, and so if May was going to make contact Evans was always going to get absolutely creamed. I’d also argue that May had to guess where the ball was and turned his body to protect himself regardless. He just got undone by the bounce, and his experience to brace first but maintain his line. I see this differently because Howe sees the collision and tries to protect himself - he leaves the ground. It’s a really interesting case, but none of it ever adds up to a better understanding of how the game should be played, and that’s what infuriates supporters.

I don’t reckon that can be a suspension to Newcombe. I don’t see how he can handle that differently. Which means it’ll probably be 5 weeks.

I really like what you said @Jaded No More I stopped posting for the first 2/3rds of 2025 because I just found the vibe had become so antagonistic and angry. But I’m one of those egomaniacal nutcases, so eventually my sense of self importance kicked in - and I’m back! I think everyone should remember that if we ran into each other on a train after the footy we’d be happy to have a chat. I’d like it if we could all remember that when we speak to each other on here. We all want, and love, the same thing. Now, and always, Go Dees.

It is my great privilege to be the first to ask… ‘Is Chaplin the right guy?’

I just said the same thing in the Goodwin thread Casey is an Albatross 👍

Talk about accepting mediocrity. It’s been a problem for 40+ years. That’s an indictment on everyone who has ever been on the board of our club in that time. We are exiting our most successful period of the last 60 years, and we ‘kinda, sorta, probably not’ have a plan for maybe doing something at Caulfield. All boards for the next decade need to understand that they are solely responsible for finding us a home. If they aren’t doing that they are treading water and dragging the club backwards. The fact we won a flag while working in the way we have is actually a massive accomplishment. Go look at what the Bulldogs or Geelong have as their training base. The gap is embarrassing, and it’s only the board and the administration who are to blame.

I think Clarry, rightly or wrongly, might be perceived as a big part of the cultural issue. I think with Simon gone he will go too. Our form took a solid decline from Mid ‘23, right when Clayton’s off field stuff started to become public knowledge. If I was walking into a new job and had the choice to not have to deal with the dead wood I’d chop it, if even just for the optics and psychological benefits. It’s also worth noting that Petracca was openly critical of a lot of parts of our club last year, but was at pains to point out that it wasn’t Goodwin. His relationship with the club will shift again because of this. Perhaps the club already knows a lot more than we do, and that also weighed into the Goodwin decision. Some of the recent decision making might have been brought upon because we are going to have to attract senior players over the offseason. We will see.

I think this is what a lot of clubs are arguing, but it does make me sad to think Jack Viney might have played for Carlton. It’s such a romantic part of our sport, but when you look at the Daicos, Darcy, and the Ashcrofts it’s also a huge advantage.

Since Rnd 14 there’s been 35 games between the top 9 and the bottom 9. It’s 34 - 1 (Sydney 10th best Freo 8th, in Sydney). This is the most imbalanced, unequal season of AFL ever. It’s FINALLY getting some media attention.

Watching Jay Clark on First Crack. His argument about Tracc leaving is because he only attended 7 Centre Bounces on the weekend, and Goodwin is sending a message. Or, as I saw it, we played a side with a weaker midfield we know we could beat without him, and we need to blood younger players in the midfield - like Windsor who attended the most centre bounces for the game. He’s just making stuff up.

I was just saying to someone during the week ‘when was the last time you heard anyone from AFL HQ talk about equalisation?’ We aren’t heading to a Premier League situation. We’re already there.

St Kilda are so unbelievably ordinary.

I heard a guy who makes footy YouTube content talking during the week about big side bias. For context he said if he makes a video about GWS he might get 100 views in 24 hours, for The Bulldogs he might get 1000 views, but if he makes a video about Collingwood it will get 45,000+. He said the difference is almost unbelievable, and that he literally can’t say negative things about Collingwood or his business wouldn’t be economically viable. Fox would have much better and more specific data. They tell their special comments guys who to barrack for. Without doubt.

WTF DOES ‘BUM BUDDY’ MEAN? STOP SAYING DEROGATORY STUFF ABOUT GAY PEOPLE. I WON’T [censored] STAND FOR IT, AND I PROMISE IF YOU SAID IT TO MY FACE YOU’D LEARN THE HARD WAY TO NEVER DO IT AGAIN. GROW UP. IT MAKES YOU LOOK LIKE AN IGNORANT [censored].

A nice day at the footy. Boys had a dip. Young players showed their class. Premium members seating and rooms at Docklands are very nice. Happy days.

Anyone watching on the TV - what happened when Gawn went down? He went straight to Baker after the goal.

It’s damning, but it was damning 12 months ago when Pert and Roffey got axed without any plan. It was knee [censored], but also relatively popular. The article itself tells me nothing new. I find Caro does this a lot. She just reheats administrative stuff all the time. It’s her weird football niche.

You might be on to something.

Sorry I’m late to this, but I feel like the circumstances surrounding Angus Brayshaw's retirement had a very profound impact on the playing group. I think it’s fair to say that it wasn’t just that they saw someone they work with have their entire career taken away, but also that it had no consequences - in fact it had an entire sub industry advocating for an injustice purely for financial benefit. I think we all convince ourselves, because what choice do we have, that good creates good and bad creates bad. Then when something like this happens and an entire billion dollar industry wilfully agrees to look the other way you can’t just convince yourself that it’s all worth buying into again. I don’t think Petracca’s ‘get me to a bigger club’ argument last preseason was coincidental either. He saw, with very serious consequences, how the system really worked, and where the power really sits.

I like him, but if you make him put his hands down he’s a lot less impactful.

For real?

We shall call you Catriona - the most direct Irish translation of Catherine, which is the origin of the name Karen.

I filled out the survey. Here’s what I asked for: Whatever happened to the lovely young man in his Dinner jacket who used to play the Bugle at Melbourne home games? Bring him back. We need more mature Gruyere on the menu in the Dining Room. No local substitutes either. I like my cheese like I like my bank accounts - Swiss. And… It’s not enough to require members to wear a collared shirt. Security must be checking that the shirt is either Ralph Lauren, Trenery or Rodd and Gunn. Country Road is permitted for summer sports only. As per the current rules an R.M. Williams shirt will be allowed if the member is a Geelong Grammar alumni. Absolutely no short sleeve shirts. This is a members club, not an Italian deli. Warm Regards. THBT, Esq.