This team will play Finals in 2009, guaranteed

[Yze_Magic 3]

BACKS

Matthew Whelan - important veteran defender who will be out to prove a point in 2009

Stefan Martin - big kid showed a lot of promise late this season

Matthew Warnock - turned into a very handy defender under Bailey

HALF BACKS

Simon Buckley - electrifying run was a highlight. Averaged over 20 touches. Smokey for the Bluey next year

Jared Rivers - let us pray that he is fit. Absolute star.

Brad Green - clubs best player and hopefully skipper next season

CENTRELINE

Cale Morton - even just a few extra kilos will see him dominate games regularly

Brent Prismall - as good as a Demon. Wont debut wil mid year, but wll be worth the wait

Aaron Davey - his pace will be important for the Demons through the middle

HALF FORWARDS

Colin Sylvia - is about to explode after a fine 2008 season

Brad Miller - Seems to have found his feet as permament forward

Matthew Bate - huge season coming up after interrupted start to 08'

FORWARDS

Nicholas Naitanui - freak of nature will wreak havoc with his size, leap, speed and second efforts

Colin Garland - ready to move forward with Rivers, Martin and Warnock manning the defense

Austin Woneamirri - will have a field day at the feet of Naitanui, Garland and Miller.

RUCKS

Paul Johnson - just gets better every year. Besides Buddy, best giant at ground level in the AFL.

Brock McLean - will he ever play a full season? If he does, the Demons will benefit greatly.

Nathan Jones - will have less pressure on him next season and should explode

INTERCHANGE

Addam Maric - could already be the best user of the ball at the MFC. A gem.

Brent Moloney - will add some firepower to a midfield in dire need

James McDonald - no spring chicken but still the spiritual leader

Paul Wheatley - veteran presensce will be important

EMERGENCIES

Ricky Petterd - could easily be best 18 if he can overcome constant bad luck

Russell Robertson - 30 and a snapped achilles doesn bode will for permanent forward spot

Chris Johnson - showed a bit this season, but still behind a few others. But a very handy emergency

Not quite there - Lynden Dunn, Clint Bartram, Mark Jamar, Michael Newton, James Frawley

[biggestred 4,436]

drugs are bad

[jabberwocky 2,301]

Only a minor improvement on what we fielded this year.

4 wins realistic, 6 wins maybe, 8 wins would be an excellent result. Still a long way to go to be a finals team.

[Pates 9,556]

.....

Love the optimism, but it's very unlikely. I'm looking at about 6-8 wins next year, steady improvement but nothing special.

[LeBron James 41]

drugs are bad

[Chook 14,702]

I love you, YM! This is the kind of thread I'm interested in.

[Goodvibes 3,596]

Grimes not good enough YM?

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

Emphasis on the future team.

FB: Whelan Warnock Garland

HB: Petterd Martin Grimes

C: Morton Moloney Green

HF: Sylvia Rivers Davey

FF: Wonaeamirri Miller Maric

Foll: PJ McLean Valenti

Int: Jamar Buckley Bate No.1 draft pick

Emergency: Jones Dunn Newton

EDIT: Emergencies changed.

[Mono 454]

..........

Nathan Jones - will have less pressure on him next season and should explode

.......................

Every chance if he keeps putting on weight; he'll be the size of a small hippo, and about as effective.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

Every chance if he keeps putting on weight; he'll be the size of a small hippo, and about as effective.

Jones has actually slimmed down, not that he was ever all that big.

[Mono 454]

Jones has actually slimmed down, not that he was ever all that big.

yeah, I know; he said he had lost weight over the summer - less weights, more sprinting. Looks to me like he has whacked it all on again: no acceleration, modest speed.

Never all that big? You're kidding. He's built like a brick sh*thouse.

[Red and Blue Flame 142]

i'll be satisfied with 6 wins. we won 3 this year. and we were insipid

nxt yr, bailey will know how everyone plays etc

[Little Goffy 13,037]

Ahhh...

2009 finals is possible, always. I wouldn't expect it, but there's enough to hope for it.

But I think the long term picture is good. I've felt pretty good about the future even since nutting out the finances and realising just how little off-field improvement we need to hold steady next year while we keep developing.

Just glad we're not the dogs. Talking about bringing in Barry Hall; not that there's anything worng with him but that kind of loads up on the 30+ guys. Their build a big stairway but if it crumbles under them, they'll be dropped in the poo from a great height.

And I'm glad we're not North. Still no sign of the 'White Knight' and they simply didn't get the boost to attendences that they needed, even after these consecutive years of playing success. They are also in the poo once a few older guys are gone, and that poo has a bitter edge to it. (erk, not a good mixed metaphor there)

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

He's built like a brick sh*thouse.

So he should be.

I still prefer Valenti, but I don't think Jones is that bad.

[Red and Blue Flame 142]

interesting to see if we make any more list changes. does anyone know?

[Mono 454]

I still prefer Valenti, but I don't think Jones is that bad.

I agree on both counts. Just couldn't let the "Jones exploding" bit go. <_<

Seriously though, he must gain speed and acceleration to take the next step. Only way is to lose weight. (By the way, I'm not inferring he's fat! To the contrary, its all muscle; too much muscle.)

[Yencks 8]

can we either put garland in defense or attack and leave him there for good

NO brad miller/brad green movement for garland please

[Dreamin' Demon 10]

Watts instead of Natanui

[Chook 14,702]

Watts instead on Natanui

Rich > Naitanui > Watts

[Yze_Magic 3]

Watts instead on Natanui

Hell no.

[Mono 454]

(See 1st post)

Absolute nonsense.

drugs are bad

Good one. <_<

[Neita3000 37]

Natanui won't play out of the forward line. He'll be used as a ruck rover.

Prediction 2009 leading AFL clearances

1: Sam Mitchell

2: Jimmy Bartel

3: Nicholas Natanui

4: Garry Ablett jnr

[Mono 454]

Natanui won't play out of the forward line. He'll be used as a ruck rover.

Prediction 2009 leading AFL clearances

1: Sam Mitchell

2: Jimmy Bartel

3: Nicholas Natanui

4: Garry Ablett jnr

Y_M?

[dazzledavey36 49,818]

jack grimes will explode next year! has got the best head on his shoulders i have seen since robert flower! a genuine chance for rising star next year.

[Guest DemonSG]

BACKS

Matthew Whelan - important veteran defender who will be out to prove a point in 2009

Stefan Martin - big kid showed a lot of promise late this season

Matthew Warnock - turned into a very handy defender under Bailey

HALF BACKS

Simon Buckley - electrifying run was a highlight. Averaged over 20 touches. Smokey for the Bluey next year

Jared Rivers - let us pray that he is fit. Absolute star.

Brad Green - clubs best player and hopefully skipper next season

CENTRELINE

Cale Morton - even just a few extra kilos will see him dominate games regularly

Brent Prismall - as good as a Demon. Wont debut wil mid year, but wll be worth the wait

Aaron Davey - his pace will be important for the Demons through the middle

HALF FORWARDS

Colin Sylvia - is about to explode after a fine 2008 season

Brad Miller - Seems to have found his feet as permament forward

Matthew Bate - huge season coming up after interrupted start to 08'

FORWARDS

Nicholas Naitanui - freak of nature will wreak havoc with his size, leap, speed and second efforts

Colin Garland - ready to move forward with Rivers, Martin and Warnock manning the defense

Austin Woneamirri - will have a field day at the feet of Naitanui, Garland and Miller.

RUCKS

Paul Johnson - just gets better every year. Besides Buddy, best giant at ground level in the AFL.

Brock McLean - will he ever play a full season? If he does, the Demons will benefit greatly.

Nathan Jones - will have less pressure on him next season and should explode

INTERCHANGE

Addam Maric - could already be the best user of the ball at the MFC. A gem.

Brent Moloney - will add some firepower to a midfield in dire need

James McDonald - no spring chicken but still the spiritual leader

Paul Wheatley - veteran presensce will be important

EMERGENCIES

Ricky Petterd - could easily be best 18 if he can overcome constant bad luck

Russell Robertson - 30 and a snapped achilles doesn bode will for permanent forward spot

Chris Johnson - showed a bit this season, but still behind a few others. But a very handy emergency

Not quite there - Lynden Dunn, Clint Bartram, Mark Jamar, Michael Newton, James Frawley