I think we can win 5 or 6, which worries me. I love my Demons and I go every week, but I've been going every week for the last 15 or so years and it's time for success. Success is very very achievable if we gain #1 and #2 picks in next years national draft. The greater question should be: If Round 22 comes around and we're in a winning position at three quarter time, Watts has bagged 5 (oh, I dream;)) and we've won 4 games for the season, is there any point in winning that last game? Should we do what Carlton did a few years back and take off certain players or manage the list in a certain way? Personally, I think we should. Because if we can get another key position Watts type player (potentially John Butcher) and a Judd-esque midfield type like Tom Scully, in 3 or 4 years we'll be lifting a trophy.

I know it sounds terrible, but with the Gold Coast and potentially Western Sydney draft concessions over the next 5 years, we won't have a chance to continue our re build phase. At the moment, I still think we lack another key position tall; a forward and a pacy midfielder and have thought so since before last year.

Now that we have Watts, we have a chance to build a power team. Watts isn't going to win us a premiership by himself, he'll need others. The Mortons, Jones', Moloney's and the McLean's will support someone like Scully with their grit and determination and Davey, Buckley and Bartram etc can provide the pace from the back.

We have an extremely promising backline with key talls Col Garland, Matty Warnock, Jared Rivers, James Frawley, Stef Martin supporting pacey smalls like Matty Wheels, Jamie Bennell and (by the way, isn't Sean Wellman doing a terrific job with the backhalf?). We're finally building depth at the back, that has barely ever been there in my life time (21 years).

Another thing about the new Demons and reasons to be positive for the future, is that finally we seem to know exactly who we want to draft and we seem to be getting it right. I loved Daniher but for years during his era, we seemed to consistently draft the wrong types of players. Granted, a lot of that is to do with the incredibly overrated Craig Cameron, but Dean Bailey and Barry seem to know the right attributes our new players need. We needed a pace injection and what did we get this year? Pace and a key forward, which we clearly needed.

Anywho, sorry about that. I went off into a fantastical ramble. I'll try to contain that from now on.

Losses are always real. I've never known the MFC to lose on purpose. That would be a slur on the 22 players taking the field. We will not win more than 4 games this year because our list is not yet capable. It is also important we provide every possible opportunity for our young list to gain some experience this year at the highest level.

I think it's more a case of handling our list cleverly. I think that's what they're doing. I was told by someone close to Wattsy that he'd play round 4 or 5 and they obviously changed their minds on that one. Now they're saying Round 11 apparently. This is an example of clever list management. I would say give Watts a go even latter than Round 11, but anywho, I suppose we'll have to give him at least 10 games this year.

I'd say they'll be careful with one of our best and most promising defenders (although they're all very promising) Colin Garland and won't rush him back either. I think we've certainly tried our guts out, the last 3 or 4 weeks and probably the entire season and our skill errors have ensured that we haven't won some of them (ie certainly Adelaide and probably the Eagles too). I'd expect though, that nearing the end of the season, our skill errors will begin to drop off and we might just be in danger of winning in an upset or two. I just had another look at our fixture and we could easily win at least 7 games this year.

I want us to win win win, but in reality we just need to show commitment and improvement. I hate to say it but get the priority picks, suffer the pain now and reap the rewards for years and years to come as a power house.

Spot on. I'm right with you.

I have a sneaking suspicion that our young guys are getting better a little too fast. West coast, Fremantle and Richmond are all weak sides and I think we may beat them all (assuming we play Richmond and WC again). All it would take from there is one upset against someone like North Melbourne or the Hawks and we've thrown our priority picks away.

Did anyone else notice during the final quarter against WC that when we were overhauling them DB pulled our two best mids off the field?

I want to play well & grab the occaisional win against better teams, But NOT let those teams at the bottom, scuttle our just deserved rewards for the pain & suffering we're enduring.

Wins make my whole week better !!! Lets look at the big picture 4 wins and 4 wins only is all we want. They only teams we need to beat this year are as follows;

1. Richmond (DONE)

2. Collingwood on Queens Birthday

3. Essendon

4. Carlton

This for me is as close I can feel to winning finals, By the way Queens birthday is by far the most important

Wins make my whole week better !!! Lets look at the big picture 4 wins and 4 wins only is all we want. They only teams we need to beat this year are as follows;

1. Richmond (DONE)

2. Collingwood on Queens Birthday

3. Essendon

4. Carlton

This for me is as close I can feel to winning finals, By the way Queens birthday is by far the most important

That's true. I'm with that. Beat our biggest foes.

As for Bails taking off our two players, would that have been Flash sitting off for ten mins (I did notice that, but it didn't even occur to me-good man;)). Who was the other one? Brucey?

As for Bails taking off our two players, would that have been Flash sitting off for ten mins (I did notice that, but it didn't even occur to me-good man;)). Who was the other one? Brucey?

I think Jones may have been the other.

Yeah it was Jones. It was meant to look subtle but Davey and Jones on the bench is not to subtle.

Did anyone else notice during the final quarter against WC that when we were overhauling them DB pulled our two best mids off the field?

Probably more to do with only having 20 fit players than anything else.

has any one changed there minds? We definetly deserved to win yesterday and the doggies are quiet a good side IMO.