I would have thought had Jurrah been fit and firing the Miller/ Hughes views would be academic.

Agreed...

Yeah, I reckon Hughesy needed to show a bit more last week in the wet, with his output, to demand his spot. IMO he'll be back.

In todays way of recruiting mature players in compromised drafts, we could do a lot worse.

It was not wet last week, Hughes is a spud and i hope he will not be back. List Clogger of the highest caliber.

It was not wet last week, Hughes is a spud and i hope he will not be back. List Clogger of the highest caliber.

Wow! and what are your views on Newton?

Yes SCG. The big question with PJ now is - Is he completely out of chances or with one more year and a preseason (cause he missed the last one) can he get back to some of the promise he showed? I think no, he just can't cut it at AFL level, he doesn't have enough weapons and has too many weaknesses.

And come off it, Hughes' first game was better than any of Watts first 3. But really Hughes now has to fight back and play another 5 or more decent AFL games. We really aren't lacking mid sized marking forwards if we have Petterd, Jurrah, Bate and Sylvia up and going. Hughes just doesn't have the size to be a big forward or the speed to be dangerous when the ball is on the deck to get a game ahead of those other 4.

I think right Now, PJ has some small trade value. If we give him another 1 Yr,,, Then I think that will be his last contract @ the Dees,,, with our young rucks, & we need the space to play them.

IMO, we must offer him to others who want a backup ruck.

Hughes IMO, has shown just a glimmer of something,,, worth a small contract as a mature possibility. I agree he has to keep pushing out very good games this year, & stay injury free.

It was not wet last week, Hughes is a spud and i hope he will not be back. List Clogger of the highest caliber.

Was it last week @ the 'G', the week before @ night. Last week he needed to do more,,, so did the whole team. Thats the way it goes that when the whole team is OFF, then the newcomers struggle as well. I won't hold that against him.

I'll back my judgement to stand up re new talent any time... See > Jamar/ Garland/ Warnock/ Blease/ Wonnaeamirri/ zarharakis/ shoenmakers/ Talia..

Get in early mate.

PS: In these times of compromised drafts, this type of player is of value.

Edited May 21, 201015 yr by dee-luded

It was not wet last week, Hughes is a spud and i hope he will not be back. List Clogger of the highest caliber.

Cheap shot on a guy who has worked against the odds to get a run! He has my admiration just through his shear guts and determination to hang in there and not throw the towel in when, no doubt, the temptation must have been there many times over the journey.

And I, for one, would be thrilled if he ends up half as good as that other "spud" ("spud" Frawley -- or his nephew, "chip", for that matter)!

Hold your head up high, Danny, and continue to improve! Some of us are right behind you...

I think we might see Jetta get the nod with a late withdrawal.

I am guessing Jamar might need a spell to freshen up. Spencer to take his place allowing Jetta to come in.

I cant see us playing two ruckman in Jamar & Spencer on a hot night in Darwin. That would be crazy! I think we only need one to take on Brogan and Trengrove.

If this would happen I think we have a really good side in this week!

I just spoke to my brother Tim (Demonland contributor "Timmuns") who is in Darwin for the game. He said that he spoke with Jake Spencer at a promotional appearance at Casuarina shopping centre this arvo. He asked him if he was looking forward to playing in the slippery conditions. Spencer said he isn't playing as he is definitely an emergency. Lynden Dunn was also at the promo, and said that both he and Spencer had flown up earlier than the rest of the squad. Given that Strauss is in Yuendumu, presumably Neville Jetta will be the replacement, as alluded to by other posters on here.

Edited May 21, 201015 yr by Rosso

Spencer has been knocking the door down for selection, so, by your reckoning, we should just ignore him & he might go away? Gc-17 would Snap him up in a heartbeat.

He's gonna be a good player for us, but needs games & is not as far away as you may think, (18 months - 2 years I'm prepared to bet). IMO he's well more advanced than Jamar was in year 3.

Miller is the obvious replacement to come in to take Bate spot as they play a similar role. Also we need his strength & size, (as long as he brings it) for the team, against the bigger teams {geelong/carlton/collingwood/adelaide/st-kilda}, when Bate comes back they'll adjust the roles.

This we need to do while jack builds his body & before we recruit another young key forward.

I just spoke to my brother Tim (Demonland contributor "Timmuns") who is in Darwin for the game. He said that he spoke with Jake Spencer at a promotional appearance at Casuarina shopping centre this arvo. He asked him if he was looking forward to playing in the slippery conditions. Spencer said he isn't playing as he is definitely an emergency. Lynden Dunn was also at the promo, and said that both he and Spencer had flown up earlier than the rest of the squad. Given that Strauss is in Yuendumu, presumably Neville Jetta will be the replacement, as alluded to by other posters on here.

Dee luded, have you been watching Casey games and formed your opinion on that basis? Happy to stand corrected if you have seen more evidence and can post such evidence on here, but I have seen the one Casey game this year only (vs Coburg) and he looked sooooooooooooooooooooo far off AFL level and never even remotely close to making it in a team that dominated!!!!

Rosso, I hope you're right. Would be fine with either Jetta or Dunn over Spencer. My opinion, Spencer does not have what it takes and will not make it.

I just spoke to my brother Tim (Demonland contributor "Timmuns") who is in Darwin for the game. He said that he spoke with Jake Spencer at a promotional appearance at Casuarina shopping centre this arvo. He asked him if he was looking forward to playing in the slippery conditions. Spencer said he isn't playing as he is definitely an emergency. Lynden Dunn was also at the promo, and said that both he and Spencer had flown up earlier than the rest of the squad. Given that Strauss is in Yuendumu, presumably Neville Jetta will be the replacement, as alluded to by other posters on here.

With all due respect, its highly probable that Spencer has sold a complete stranger a pup. If it is true it would be indiscrete for a player to divulge issues on team selection before a match.

Caveat Emptor.

Yes well we'll see haha, all I know is that Dunny and Spencer were there today twiddling their thumbs waiting to sign autographs and Spencer actually asked me what time the training was when I said I was going to watch the rest of the team train lol! Cos when he told me he was an emergency I said "I thought you were selected for PJ" to which he said "it might have been a typo..."

Then when I spoke to DB at training when he came to inspect the ground he said "Spencer is every chance to play"

Very coy... Gotta love it...

So I'm not sure, but I hope Nev plays instead

ps see the 'Darwin - who's flying up' topic for my mini report on their training sesh... ;p

Robbie Gray is out. Terrific news.

In Darwin for the game. Just saw the coaches (Bails, Mahoney etc.) and a few of the hierarchy (Cameron Schwab, Chris Connoly) at a local coffee shop. Bails is a really nice guy. He saw me in my Melbourne hat and initiated a conversation from a couple of tables away (I'm a bit too shy to just go up and interrupt their coffee). Looked very relaxed and seems like a great bloke. Reckons we've traveled too far to play this game and therefore we must win. Don't know if that's a good rationale for why we'll win tonight, but he had to say something conversational B) B)

If I wasn't pumped before, I definitely am now!!!

Go dees.

P.S. As an aside, the hat I bought that Dean Bailey noticed was purchased from a store a few doors down from the coffee shop. The store had no other Dees merchandise available. When I asked why, the guy told me he sold out of Melbourne gear ages ago and that the company that manufactures our gear is completely out of stock. Since we started winning, sales have gone through the roof and the manufacturer has nothing to give to the store. They were desperately trying to order more in for this weekend. Success really does do wonders - even if it's only baby steps so far.

Edited May 22, 201015 yr by pringle

In Darwin for the game. Just saw the coaches (Bails, Mahoney etc.) and a few of the hierarchy (Cameron Schwab, Chris Connoly) at a local coffee shop. Bails is a really nice guy. He saw me in my Melbourne hat and initiated a conversation from a couple of tables away (I'm a bit too shy to just go up and interrupt their coffee). Looked very relaxed and seems like a great bloke. Reckons we've traveled too far to play this game and therefore we must win. Don't know if that's a good rationale for why we'll win tonight, but he had to say something conversational B) B)

If I wasn't pumped before, I definitely am now!!!

Go dees.

P.S. As an aside, the hat I bought that Dean Bailey noticed was purchased from a store a few doors down from the coffee shop. The store had no other Dees merchandise available. When I asked why, the guy told me he sold out of Melbourne gear ages ago and that the company that manufactures our gear is completely out of stock. Since we started winning, sales have gone through the roof and the manufacturer has nothing to give to the store. They were desperately trying to order more in for this weekend. Success really does do wonders - even if it's only baby steps so far.

Yep he's def. a nice guy in person, had a chat to him for about 5 minutes on the ground before training last night, he asked me about my trip up here and what I was doing for the rest of the week which was pretty good of him I thought.

LATEST WEATHER FORECAST: (as per weatherzone.com.au)

6pm - Intermittent rain, 30 degrees (chance if rain = 60%, humidity = 75%)

9pm - mostly cloudy, 28 degrees (chance of rain = 8%, humidity = 80%)

so could go either way really with the weather...

The daily forecast says ---> Possible shower, 25-33degrees, chance of rain 80%, likely amount = 10-20mm

and we haven't had any rain today so far... So who knows!

I'm Hoping for a bit of rain myself!

Ps...

Darwin current weather...

(from weatherzone also)

temp. = 30.5, relative humidity 67% FEELS LIKE = 35.5