Halfway through the Freo game, when it seemed all was lost, in desperation,I remember thinking....OK, we're going really badly, but there is a couple of positives....Colin Garland and Austin Wonaeamirri.

Since then,Warnock,Buckley,Bate,Sylvia,Valenti ,Chris and Paul Johnson and Martin have all raised my hopes. Meanwhile Green, Miller and Wheatley have all looked like top-class AFL players, and Whelan, Bruce and Davey all showed the class we know they're capable of.Dunn and Bartram continue to improve. McLean looks like he could be a top ten player,and if he could make top 5... WOW!

Rivers is a class defender at normal fitness. Moloney realises he has to perform to make the team when fit.

Jamar did pretty well against Charman, who's certainly not considered a weakness for Bris.

Don't write off Meesen(young and 200cm.). Zomer could be a key forward in 2 years.

I'd like us to have the first draft pick(Naita, Rich or Watts),but I reckon we can be back to an onfield force with, basically, what we've got.

To me ,the big question is, what's more important, coming last and optimising draft picks, or improving team confidence by getting used to being competitve....winning games!?

What do Demonlanders think? Am I too optimistic? Are draft choices our only hope?

definitely reason for optimism!

but i still think it will only be 2010 when we start our climb up the ladder- this is bc next year we will lose so much experience (Neitz,White,Yze,Holland,McDonald etc)....

our young defence looks so promising.

Garland, Warnock, Martin, Frawley, Rivers, CJ, Grimes, Pettard, Wheatley

our midfield is developing nicely (but still needs a couple more guns)- Mclean, Jones, Valenti, Dunn, Moloney, Morton, Green, Davey etc.

our forward line is thin, but also has some nice players developing well- Miller, Sylvia, Bate, Wonaeamirri, (Newton?)

However i still think it's CRUCIAL that we stock up on young talent in the next 2 drafts.

I am obsessed with getting 1 of Rich or Naitanui. They will be absolute superstars. i will be kinda dissapointed in we win 5 games this year and get no priority pick and pick 3-4. call me a tanker, but we need young talent more than any other team in the afl. it would be a crime if PortAdelaide got a higher pick than us coz they decide to drop every good player they have for a 17 yrold hack.

I believe that DB knows exactly where he would like us to be at the end of the season.....

That is the main thing as far as I am concerned....

I forgot Morton, Bell and Petterd. All could become top 50 players. I deliberately overlooked Newton , Robbo and Junior .(hope I'm wrong).

I forgot Morton, Bell and Petterd. All could become top 50 players. I deliberately overlooked Newton , Robbo and Junior .(hope I'm wrong).

Gawwwwwnnnn!!!!

I'm to very optimistic.

The playing squad will be excellent in three years, its now just a matter of sorting out our off-field worries. Which im sure Jimmy will take care of.

I hope Meesen makes the cut by the way.