The heart beats true

If you reckon the ruck position is overrated imagine what would happen to our game plan, largely built on contest and stoppage, if we had no ruck? It’s not just about the 2 players, it’s about the way we play. We set up to play this way based on a dominant ruck (Gawn), or at worst a ruck that can compete and change the way we look (Jackson). When Jackson left we backed in our system to stay the same and to make us competitive, and got the best replacement. We are 4th, even though we’ve missed our best stoppage (and most important) player the last 5 weeks. Theres so much upside to getting Brodie - to the consistency of our game style, extending Max’s career, and providing coverage. Also Brodie is a quality, knowledgeable footballer, and that offers us a lot behind closed doors.

Can’t help but wonder if Kenny’s contract will end up being the undoing for Port. He needed them to be up and about, but can they sustain it for a long season? They’ll have doubts. I don’t see them preparing to be at their best in September.

That’s disgraceful. Melksham and May are actually good friends. They had a moment, and it ended up being a public incident. That’s so poor to try and create a link to that, where none exists.

I actually agree with you Kev. I just can’t stand supporters who only go to the footy to antagonise other people.

I’m watching the replay. Jack Viney’s goal was even better on TV. His willpower is unbelievable.

A difference of opinion isn’t hurting the world anywhere near as much as antagonism. I’m cool to sit with my people.

Congrats Ron! I hope for Remi’s sake (and mine) she spends her whole life with people asking if she just became a Demons fans because they win all the time.

This drives me nuts too. The MCG staff are so poor at letting people sit wherever they want. Last night Brisbane fans just walked into our reserved seat section and sat where they wanted. If you pay $600 for a seat to see what amounts to 10 games the least the MCG staff can do is protect the value the club places on the seats. It’s literally their only job.

I was interested to see that we scored 4.5 in the last quarter, to 1.1. Brisbane completely stopped and we absolutely dominated. Their 1 goal was from that horrible Daniher free, where he threw himself forward like he’d been shot. God help Brisbane in a last quarter against Collingwood at the G now. They’ll be psychologically destroyed.

Game day threads are wild, but I’ve realised it’s just a reaction to the last thing that happened. It’s like watching the footy with an angry goldfish.

I get the frustration with the VFL fixture, but I have to hand it to the Club. Organising a match with another club in the finals window is terrific for the morale of players trying to break into the seniors.

Was right in front of me. Umpire blew his whistle very early, so was going to pay the free, and then Lever marked it so he awarded the mark.

Just got home from the ground. My parents are both in their 70’s and travelled a couple of hours to come stay with me and go to the game. The Demons give us a reason to be together and a common passion. To see my mum and dad hugging strangers after the siren was the best thing I’ve seen all year. And then to walk out of the ground as supporters kept singing the song was magical. It’s only a game, except when it’s not. Thanks Dees. I’ll never forget that. I owe you one.

As opposed to you, on an internet forum.

I’d vote for Spargo for the entertainment factor, and to watch Picket Fence have an absolute melt down.

I just went to have a look at this in the app and my god the comments on instagram 🤯 Makes Demonland look like a Mensa meeting.

I thinks he got a really beaten up elbow. He can’t take a mark, and he’s lost all his touch.

God I hope Brodie comes back in and plays an absolutely blinding finals series. I’d like nothing more for him to show what a good player he is. Far too many being smug about a guy whose best makes him a top 20 in the comp player.

Just one change… https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1379140/round-18-team-dees-recall-young-spearhead

Is there a way I can find out what the ticket allocation will be at KP for away teams once the stadium is completed? Currently the allocation is a joke. I tried to buy tickets for 3 of us at the last game and literally 1 minute after tickets sales open they only had single seats left. I can’t help but feel like that’s not a coincidence.

I’m definitely taking a stab here, but if I was running the footy department I’d be telling everyone the most conservative information about Oliver. I suspect that’s what’s going on. Nobody is unhappy if he pops up a week early, but there will be fury if it goes on any longer.

AFL.com listing Oliver as 2-3 weeks, and Hibbo as a week. Interesting.

This is all a timely reminder that it’s now been over 10 years since we sacked a coach. Our current coach has the best record of our last 17 coaches! I know we are dealing with the weight of expectation, but we should also appreciate that we are living through a great time to be a Melbourne supporter.

I wonder how long this has been on the cards? It’s almost like Hardwick’s manager knew about this 6 weeks ago. 6 weeks ago it was all a bit ‘too’ much for Dimma. Now he’s ready to take a call about a new gig? Give me a spell.

But with crocs and socks on, obviously. So a head like the 1860’s, and feet like a 90’s 4 year old.