The heart beats true

I read the Viney thing slightly differently. Players are hyper aware of the fact that if they come off after a knock the Doctor is duty bound to look at the incident and begin concussion protocol. It doesn’t take a genius to realise, right or wrong, that highly competitive professional athletes will do anything to continue to compete. I think Jack was annoyed about the line of questioning from the trainer as he may have been concerned about what she was implying with her questioning. She’s just doing her job and he doesn’t need to react so dramatically, but I’m also cutting him some slack because he’s also doing his job, and his career is built on determination and bravery.

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/four-points-danger-holds-destiny-franklin-s-little-buddy-dee-minus-for-mids-20210704-p586qo.html Michael Gleeson nails us here. 10 marks inside 50, compared to 6 for the Giants - so when we get the ball forward someone is there. Smashed at stoppage and clearance is the problem. Midfielders getting beaten. I really do think it’s that simple.

This is very strange logic Dazzle. Last year Richmond lost to Hawthorn and Sydney. Does that devalue their premiership? Its about putting together the best body of work you can to give yourself the best opportunity in September.

That’s very insightful regarding our age demographic. Just another reason to be excited as a Demons supporter.

Don’t know what we are pretending to do? We’ve got a game plan, and it’s very obvious for all to see. We’ve got good players, which is also very obvious for all to see. We are down on confidence - particularly through the middle and going forward. Even that is interesting as our 2 most prominent forwards - McDonald and Fritsch, played well yesterday. We’ve won a lot of games ugly this year, unlike some other teams which win by 10 goals or not at all. We are happy to grind. I wouldn’t dare call May, Oliver, Gawn, Petracca, Lever, Salem or Langdon ‘Pretenders’. That core group give as much as they can. TMac is worthy of being in that group too. We’ve got incredible talent coming through in Jackson, Pickett, Rivera, Jordan and Sparrow. We are down on confidence and I suspect some of our prime movers are carrying injuries. Get our tails back up and some reward for effort going forward and we can, and have, beaten the best. Have a little faith.

I was on the fence about Brown coming back, but off a short break and with our lack of efficiency forward of centre it’s not going to make us worse. I also think our forward line pressure has been way down the last month, and if anything it’s kept Brown out of the side - due to concerns he won’t compete as hard as a running, small player. I’m now starting to think we need him there to at least let the little guys go to work. We’ve had so few repeat forward entries the last few weeks, and even less crumbing opportunities.

Gees I hope the media go hard after our midfield for serving that up. We need an absolute rocket.

The midfield are to blame. Entirely. Beyond disappointed.

This loss is entirely on our midfielders

Such a disappointing loss

We continue to lose stoppage after stoppage. Midfield coach has been absolutely slaughtered this week, and Oliver, Viney and Petracca have all been well done. If I was a defender I’d be having some ‘open’ conversations with the midfield this week. I really feel for them.

Our midfielders have literally lost us this game. They have been terrible.

Agree. Have to lock the ball in our forward line for a while, get our breath and structure back, and then put them under pressure. Have to do something about winning a Centre clearance.

You said it.

I don’t understand those begging for Brown. He’d be getting nowhere near it, because we are continually losing the ball at the coal face. Even it up at the contest and then we can see what our forward line looks like.

I’ve counted 6 free kicks directly from the Centre bounce to the Giants.

We have to win the ball at the contest. Our plan to win it back in 50 is killing us around the contest.

‘We are the something something Suns, We something, something, something’ Nailed it.

Riewoldt whinging to the umpires and swearing at them after the game. He had the audacity to have a crack at Kozzie. He can go and get [censored].

And Jones listed as injured. Any ideas?

Damien Barrett spoke about Melbourne’s drafting from 2017 to 2019 on the AFL site over the weekend. 17. Spargo Fritsch Petty 18. Jordan Sparrow 19. Jackson Pickett Rivers All playing consistent roles for the team. He was essentially arguing we’ve drafted as well as anyone - particularly in 17 and 18 when we didn’t have early picks. One third of the team in 3 drafts is exceptional.

Sounds like a Demonland Game Day thread to me.

Booooooooooooooooooooo! (sorry, couldn’t help myself)

I reckon he did his part today, so will be fascinating to see what the coaches do. I hope he is the missing piece for us.