Dee's Dinner in the West last night

[darkhorse72 1,782]

Hey All (my first post so be kind)

Great event for us WA supporters to have the players for a dinner last night with all in attendance including the coaching and support staff.

Since we very rarely ever get to meet the players as they often leave straight after matches for flights home it was great to catch up and finally meet a lot of the new boys. (The last time they did a group event Viney was captain ) We also met some of the old boys such as Darren Kowal and Dean Irving. To some this will be old news and some rehash.

Anyway since I read a lot of the boards here with adding too much, I thought I'd give some of the conversations I had with the players and coach.

We had Bruce and Junior on our table which was great and I asked them about the differences in coaching from Neale Daniher to Dean Bailey.

The biggest change besides all the new development skill coaches is that Bailey has set plays whereas Daniher had a general game plan on moving the ball - which explains a lot of the players decision making processes during his years.

Mark Jamar is really enjoying being the main ruck and his performances are starting to show it and he loves playing footy (he was the only player who mentioned this). He says he will play as long as he can even after AFL.

Chris Johnson - starting to enjoy his footy after getting a real chance and was really happy with the change in management (coaching) so I think he's about to come good. Which is great for us and him. When I spoke to Bailey about Chris he said they're really working on hitting targets with his kicks but he's found like last week, and with a lot of the players they will often hit a hard target but screw up the easy ones!

I was a bit embarrassed as I didn't recognise him as I've only seen 3 games on TV over here this year as they are always on Fox (which I don't have), thank god for radio streaming over the web. And hadn't seen a lot of him in the last few years when we got good coverage as he never got a game.

Colin Sylvia - one frustrated boy about no being able to get his game going and maintaining the required consistently. I didn't raise the issue he did, so he's working on it and it'll click for him soon.

Nathan Jones - talk to him about the hard time getting the main tagger most weeks, but he'll get there.

Junior - his body is getting there, and hopes to play on next year.

Cam Bruce - enjoying the footy but with all his running as he averages about 15 km a game, its taking a toll and he's taking more than a day or two to recover each week.

Paul Wheatley - congratulated him on his great torp last week and a pity it didn't come off. He said he did let the boys know that was where he was going. Would have been great with one of the big boys running off the back of the square to crash the pack and take a mark in the centre.

I spoke to Bailey for a bit as I raised the fact that the Dee's under Daniher had no set plays. He said he was very surprised as well when he took over which is why I think the boys have taken so long to adjust. He also mentioned even back in his playing days at Essendon even then they had a few basic set plays with Sheedy. We spoke about how the boys are improving and like us he gets frustrated at those good passages of plays that get turned over by the last fumble or missed target as we're about to set up score! But he is happy that those turnovers are no longer resulting in goal by default by the opposition, like earlier in the season as we're getting control of the ball back.

Only chatted briefly with the other boys while getting autographs. But the young boys a lot bigger than I expected especially young Morton who is going

a big size (hopefully powerful) midfielder in a few years.

Otherwise there were about 200 people there and we raised about 7k on the night for the club.

Now to enjoy my only live game tomorrow.

Cheers

Kane

Anything else I remember I'll add later.

[w00dy 146]

great post... thanks for the info... very insightful...

[Chook 14,647]

Wow. Great insight into some of the closer goings-on at the Club. Congratulations on such an informative first post.

[DemonDave 1,078]

Awesome post, some great insights, thanks darkhorse!

[darkhorse72 1,782]

Thanks guys

Also Bruce said he never expected to play AFl, only got the phone call after he finished exams, with the invite to tryout and then ended up on the supplementary list as we all know.

[Yencks 8]

great work and great post

i hope they get a win tomoro for u

[Jaded No More 59,781]

Thanks for posting that, really informative stuff.

I think CJ has benefited from the coaching change more than anyone else, as finally he is getting some opportunities to develop his game at the highest level.

[71 Molloy 266]

You can sure work a room Darkhorse.

And these were some of your conversations. Anyone you didn't talk to?

[True Believer 1]

You can sure work a room Darkhorse.

And these were some of your conversations. Anyone you didn't talk to?

sounds like a great night.... thanks for the post. Hope tomorrow is a great WIN for you all. I'm off to Sandy tomorrow to the Presidents lunch, and then to watch Sandy and our MFC (other) guys play.

[Gorgoroth 12,431]

Cheers for that, really good read.

[darkhorse72 1,782]

Yes, tried to catch up and chat with Miller but he was always busy with someone so I only got his signature on the jumper. Got to all the players to at least get their autographs on my 150th jumper (going to get it framed now) but as you can imagine with 200 people there they were very popular.

I got to speak with Baily after the players left as he and connolly hung round longer. The only disappointing thing was Jimmy wasn't there, so maybe at the aftermatch function at the game.

Another initiative they have done on this visit:

Is for 100 dollars, ten people will go into the rooms while the players warm up on the ground to go through all the planned match-ups with Chris Connolly, before joining the boys in the room for Baily's last address to the players before they run out. Should be brillant and one of the best $100 I have ever spent.

[tez 6]

Yes, tried to catch up and chat with Miller but he was always busy with someone so I only got his signature on the jumper. Got to all the players to at least get their autographs on my 150th jumper (going to get it framed now) but as you can imagine with 200 people there they were very popular.

I got to speak with Baily after the players left as he and connolly hung round longer. The only disappointing thing was Jimmy wasn't there, so maybe at the aftermatch function at the game.

Another initiative they have done on this visit:

Is for 100 dollars, ten people will go into the rooms while the players warm up on the ground to go through all the planned match-ups with Chris Connolly, before joining the boys in the room for Baily's last address to the players before they run out. Should be brillant and one of the best $100 I have ever spent.

Firstly great first post hope to see more from the west like that, enjoy your day i got to go to the rooms pre game aginst Richmond but didn't get the opportunity to do what you are so envious

Good luck enjoy, GO DEE'S

[Kiss of Death 708]

$100 to sit in and listen to the final address before the players run on the ground, what good value for money. If only you could take in a video camera!

[Neita3000 37]

This is why we can't let Sylvia go.

Alot of ppl have a misconception about him that he doesn't have a 100% dedication but the talented youngster certainly does. You only have to look at his comments to Darkhorse to see that he wants to succeed.

[Rogue 585]

Another initiative they have done on this visit:

Is for 100 dollars, ten people will go into the rooms while the players warm up on the ground to go through all the planned match-ups with Chris Connolly, before joining the boys in the room for Baily's last address to the players before they run out. Should be brillant and one of the best $100 I have ever spent.

That would have been a good experience

Thanks for the info.

Shame about the result!

[beelzebub 22,705]

This is why we can't let Sylvia go.

Alot of ppl have a misconception about him that he doesn't have a 100% dedication but the talented youngster certainly does. You only have to look at his comments to Darkhorse to see that he wants to succeed.

words are cheap... actions speak volumes..

[H_T 2,941]

Great insight DarkHorse. You know how to work the room sure enough. Good to hear about Col's view on himself.

[Keepin up with the Joneses 48]

This is why we can't let Sylvia go.

Alot of ppl have a misconception about him that he doesn't have a 100% dedication but the talented youngster certainly does. You only have to look at his comments to Darkhorse to see that he wants to succeed.

I think Sylvia wantsa to succeed

I just don't think he's really prepared to put in the work and make the personal sacrifices which will allow him to succeed

I don't see him wanting to work at it.