The Love

[Mantis]

We seem to be making it a real focus to celebrate each others achievement this year more so than the others... not fake made up shit either, the proper stuff.

We have a number of ''A'' grade celebrators with the likes of Bruce & Weightman being more excited than Naughts when he sits on someone's head.

On Sunday 2 examples really stood out to me were:

1/ Hunter celebrating Naughts taking a speccy (if you don't know which one it's from Wally's kick in the last qtr) with the big roar & double fist pump. I'm not sure if it was due to the mark or his work to put a great block on Barrass (who ended up on his ass), but it was great to see. (check the vision)

2/ Wally losing his mind (like we all did) when the skipper kicked his outrageous goal.

Is anyone else noticing 'The Love' and the sense that the boys are enjoying each others success & creating something pretty special?

[comrade]

We seem to be making it a real focus to celebrate each others achievement this year more so than the others... not fake made up shit either, the proper stuff.

We have a number of ''A'' grade celebrators with the likes of Bruce & Weightman being more excited than Naughts when he sits on someone's head.

On Sunday 2 examples really stood out to me were:

1/ Hunter celebrating Naughts taking a speccy (if you don't know which one it's from Wally's kick in the last qtr) with the big roar & double fist pump. I'm not sure if it was due to the mark or his work to put a great block on Barrass (who ended up on his ass), but it was great to see. (check the vision)

2/ Wally losing his mind (like we all did) when the skipper kicked his outrageous goal.

Is anyone else noticing 'The Love' and the sense that the boys are enjoying each others success & creating something pretty special?

Hunter was in fine form on Sunday with his celebrations. He was up and about when Macrae kicked the goal in the last and there's footage floating around of him doing a bit of a dance on the field after the game. He's clearly in a very good head space and his form is following suit.

Also, I wish someone looked at me the way Bruce looks at Naughton after a big mark and goal.

[SonofScray]

We seem to be making it a real focus to celebrate each others achievement this year more so than the others... not fake made up shit either, the proper stuff.

We have a number of ''A'' grade celebrators with the likes of Bruce & Weightman being more excited than Naughts when he sits on someone's head.

On Sunday 2 examples really stood out to me were:

1/ Hunter celebrating Naughts taking a speccy (if you don't know which one it's from Wally's kick in the last qtr) with the big roar & double fist pump. I'm not sure if it was due to the mark or his work to put a great block on Barrass (who ended up on his ass), but it was great to see. (check the vision)

2/ Wally losing his mind (like we all did) when the skipper kicked his outrageous goal.

Is anyone else noticing 'The Love' and the sense that the boys are enjoying each others success & creating something pretty special?
100%

We are seeing a more concerted effort across the board, Bruce really has shown some leadership on this front. Libba too. They look like they want to have fun and I think it is helping us keep the foot on the gas when we break teams. Enjoying the grind, which was a real mantra at one point, is being balanced out with enjoying the outcomes too.

[Rocco Jones]

I 100% agree with this. It’s brilliant.

[bornadog]

Just shows the belief in each other and the enjoyment of footy and winning.

[1eyedog]

Hunter was in fine form on Sunday with his celebrations. He was up and about when Macrae kicked the goal in the last and there's footage floating around of him doing a bit of a dance on the field after the game. He's clearly in a very good head space and his form is following suit.

Also, I wish someone looked at me the way Bruce looks at Naughton after a big mark and goal.

Haha Brucey has a bigger man crush than Dunks or Ads.

[Happy Days]

I’ve really noticed this too. It’s almost certainly to do with us being good as hell but the vibe around the place is fantastic.

For all the goals that he kicks that don’t count Bruce has been a real driver of this. In hindsight it’s probably a big reason why he stayed in the side all of last year.

[The bulldog tragician]

Haha Brucey has a bigger man crush than Dunks or Ads.
New t-shirts on the way?

I think the OP has really hit the nail on the head. I commented early in the year that joyfulness had returned to the team. It seems the brief lockdown added to the camaraderie. Good footy teams are usually tight units, and there’s a closeness and feel for each other that’s great to see.

(By the way who wouldn’t love to have a ringside seat to the freakish marking of Naughton and the amazing goal by Bont?)

[westdog54]

We seem to be making it a real focus to celebrate each others achievement this year more so than the others... not fake made up shit either, the proper stuff.

We have a number of ''A'' grade celebrators with the likes of Bruce & Weightman being more excited than Naughts when he sits on someone's head.

On Sunday 2 examples really stood out to me were:

1/ Hunter celebrating Naughts taking a speccy (if you don't know which one it's from Wally's kick in the last qtr) with the big roar & double fist pump. I'm not sure if it was due to the mark or his work to put a great block on Barrass (who ended up on his ass), but it was great to see. (check the vision)

2/ Wally losing his mind (like we all did) when the skipper kicked his outrageous goal.

Is anyone else noticing 'The Love' and the sense that the boys are enjoying each others success & creating something pretty special?

You only need look at the club's Facebook page after a win. It's smiles and arms around each other everywhere you look.

Naughton and Bruce have a real bromance going. They're always side by side in the rooms after a game. It's nowhere near Dunks/Treloar levels but there's definitely a lot of love there.

Weightman is just an infectiously positive young man, whether he's got the ball or not.

[WBFC4FFC]

100%

We are seeing a more concerted effort across the board, Bruce really has shown some leadership on this front. Libba too. They look like they want to have fun and I think it is helping us keep the foot on the gas when we break teams. Enjoying the grind, which was a real mantra at one point, is being balanced out with enjoying the outcomes too.

Regarding Bruce celebrating, it does show how much of a team mentality they have at present, given it was in the last quarter and Bruce (from memory) did not kick a major for the day. This was the first time this year. Great to see he was not worried about this. (I thought he did OK on the day and did have a couple of shots at goal).

[jeemak]

I’ve really noticed this too. It’s almost certainly to do with us being good as hell but the vibe around the place is fantastic.

For all the goals that he kicks that don’t count Bruce has been a real driver of this. In hindsight it’s probably a big reason why he stayed in the side all of last year.

Not that you're labouring a point or anything..........

[Happy Days]

Not that you're labouring a point or anything..........

Me? Never.

[jeemak]

Good OP, and spot on.

Winning makes a massive difference, but players get more enjoyment and more satisfaction if they're in it together, own the results and see rewards for their efforts.

Kicking away from WCE in the last after a bit of a slog early, in what was a tough week for the team generally, is probably about the best reward you're likely going to get in a home and away game (think Sydney 2015). So glad the players did it and got to enjoy it.

[Bulldog Joe]

I have noticed that through the year as well.

Naughts was so excited for Bruce in the North game and everyone is so excited when Astro launches.

I particularly noticed Naughts urging everyone in to congratulate Hannan when he got his first goal (I think against Port)

[bulldogtragic]

It’s been on of the real joys for me too. Over all sports champions or champion teams can be the no nonsense, boringly professional almost to the point of not enjoying it. As an outsider you can go well that’s good. Then there’s what we have going which is as good as the aforementioned teams/players, but the excitement and joy of our players allows our fans and everyone else watching to be infected with the excitement and joy. I think it brings in more people to our journey this year and for winning the ‘dogs are my second team’ folks to outwardly supporting us in finals. Plus we are more marketable and top of mind for broadcasters and winning hearts and minds if future members. More simply, it reminds us of what footy is meant to be: fun. My highlight for the year was Weightman’s celebration when Naughton took a huge grab late against Port at Port. If Jamarra gets a game or more this year and kicks his first, the fun will get dialled to 11. Taking such delight in each other and each other’s attributes or output is such a rare thing. May it long last.

[DOG GOD]

I have never seen a more focused TEAM belief than this group at the moment. They want to play for eachother, play their roles, and enjoy that winning feeling.

[jazzadogs]

I feel like we don't have any 'me, me, me' types - no Fritschs or Jeremy Camerons. That makes a big difference to everyone buying in to the team mentality.

It's been really nice watching the boys enjoy themselves, and makes the viewing experience a lot more enjoyable for the fans as well.

[jeemak]

I feel like we don't have any 'me, me, me' types - no Fritschs or Jeremy Camerons. That makes a big difference to everyone buying in to the team mentality.

It's been really nice watching the boys enjoy themselves, and makes the viewing experience a lot more enjoyable for the fans as well.

You touch on something really interesting actually, and until you posted I hadn't been able to put my finger on what I had been thinking/ feeling about the Melbourne forward line.

I've seen things from McDonald, Pickett and Fritsch over the first couple of months of the season, but also not sure if it was last week I saw it from Jackson where I've thought hang on, these guys think they're pretty damn good and might be getting ahead of themselves.

Credit to the rest of the side, I don't get that from anywhere else (albeit Oliver is a bit of a douche and Gawn attracts my chagrin because he thinks Melbourne is special because of its coffee - seriously if you want to make me cringe say that), but the forwards sometimes seem to be setting themselves up to be made fools of.

[BornInDroopSt'54]

The 'love' shows the belief in the team. Bevo said before the game on Sunday that "there are a few things we pride ourselves on" which I translate as all have a strong belief in the group. They really believe in our team and what we can do with everyone firing. So the love comes out for each other when standards are high and met.

[SonofScray]

Sort of a slide note: Naughton has really sparked joy .

His arrival and high flying efforts are such classic, visceral examples of pure footy, the real unadulterated exciting moment of footy. I think he has really created the circus,stances for this to happen with his skillset.