So this is actually my first post on demondland after 2 yrs enjoying game updates and supporter rants. I decided to finally sign up and post this topic as I for one (and could be the only one) really enjoyed watching our team for once be first to the ball in a contested situation. We threw our bodies in hard and won numerous free kicks for this reason. My wife's a collingwood supporter (I know, no comments required) and even she noticed the difference in our endeavor and attack on the ball. So for the supporters who came away from last nights games diassapointed, do not threat. Noah has arrived and is taking us to an unfamiliar land of bash and crash contested football. It's scary, we are all afraid of change however supporters need to adopt the same attitude. So let's get into the arc and enjoy the ride because the destination is a far better place than where we have been. Let's enjoy it people!!!

I am unabashedly a huge fan of Neeld. I was very impressed with the first 10 minutes of the Suns game - especially for the bruise free approach to which you refer.

Beyond that, I found last night's performance very frustrating. Some good signs, but our inability to win and then retain possession for big chunks of the games was annoying.

That said, I felt that we would've won both games in the regular season. In short, I don't think too much can be read into either of those games.

Magner and Nicholson looked good too IMO, as of course did Howe. And Mitch Clark is just what this list needed.

I am unabashedly a huge fan of Neeld. I was very impressed with the first 10 minutes of the Suns game - especially for the bruise free approach to which you refer.

Beyond that, I found last night's performance very frustrating. Some good signs, but our inability to win and then retain possession for big chunks of the games was annoying.

That said, I felt that we would've won both games in the regular season. In short, I don't think too much can be read into either of those games.

Magner and Nicholson looked good too IMO, as of course did Howe. And Mitch Clark is just what this list needed.

If you had to upgrade one of Magner and Nicholson after last nights performance which would it be?

Good point, very hard to make too many assessments due to the weather and NAB format. I felt that with the playing the wings style of football and knowing most of the kicks OOB that gave the opposition the ball would normally result in a contested situation the season proper, we would have controlled the play more often and kicked more goals.

After the first half of the GC game the mrs turned around to me and said "you have a man crush don't ya" refering to Mitch Clark.....I think I just might!!

Magner for me. At one point he had the ball on a string and put the ball inside 50 a few times as well. He could become a cult figure at the club by seasons end.

If you had to upgrade one of Magner and Nicholson after last nights performance which would it be?

I expect this will be a very, very hard decision for the club to make.

Personally, I love Nicholson's pace. Equally Magner is a hard at it ball magnet, which we need.

On the basis of last night's performance, definitely Magner. In terms of overall team needs, probably Magner too. But Nicholson brings a lot too.

If you had to upgrade one of Magner and Nicholson after last nights performance which would it be?

Don't we have two spots now anyway?

Upgrade them both...

Gawn/Spencer

Loved Magners aggression , Love Nicho's pace.

Take both.

We can actually upgrade 3 if we really wanted to.

1 for us having only one veteran. And 2 for Gawn and Spencer being on LTI.

Not sold on couch just yet, need to see more of him. Thought Tynan showed some real competitiveness and willed his way under packs on more than one occasion. Can see why we picked him up based on Neelds game plan... at pick 50 something could be a steel along with Sellar.

Not sold on couch just yet, need to see more of him. Thought Tynan showed some real competitiveness and willed his way under packs on more than one occasion. Can see why we picked him up based on Neelds game plan... at pick 50 something could be a steel along with Sellar.

Lucky for that cause' not many of our first rounders have....

Nicholson's disposal is so, so atrocious.

There were some good signs, Jones at times looked like a top 50 player. Bate looked better. Clark will be good. They ran out the game. Just need some silk in the midfield.

Nicholson's disposal is so, so atrocious.

There were some good signs, Jones at times looked like a top 50 player. Bate looked better. Clark will be good. They ran out the game. Just need some silk in the midfield.

Trengove being the silk?

It has to be Trengove but we need a lot more.... Jack Viney will not bring silk, his kicking is at times woeful from what I've seen of him play. Gets the ball but turns it over. Think Jones pre 2011

Nicholson's disposal is so, so atrocious.

Might be a bit harsh, didn't see any clangers last night and he set up play with a nice kick forward for a Silvia goal.

Magner. Nicho was soft a couple of times last night... Not happy. See gold coasts first goal and then a contest on the flank about 5 mins later where he didn't even chase. Not too fussed but it won't get him upgraded.

Just caught the lions game again through replay on fox and Nicho was pretty good in the last ten minutes. The player that really stood out was Howe....leading up the ground, tackling, getting to the bottom of packs and then went for a trademark hanger. I know he was the fresh man on the field but even the commentators said he will be dangerous this year. Looking forward to seeing him in action against the pies.

Just caught the lions game again through replay on fox and Nicho was pretty good in the last ten minutes. The player that really stood out was Howe....leading up the ground, tackling, getting to the bottom of packs and then went for a trademark hanger. I know he was the fresh man on the field but even the commentators said he will be dangerous this year. Looking forward to seeing him in action against the pies.

To be labelled "Bruise Free" during that game against Carlscum in 2011 was one of the lowest footy moments i have ever felt. And that was before 186!!

Thankfully the memories are dimming. Like my old apartment before i completely rennovated.

I expect this will be a very, very hard decision for the club to make.

Personally, I love Nicholson's pace. Equally Magner is a hard at it ball magnate, which we need.

On the basis of last night's performance, definitely Magner. In terms of overall team needs, probably Magner too. But Nicholson brings a lot too.

I would love it were Magner to become a ball magnate - maybe even own a few and get good returns on his investment..

And, he is already a ball magnet.

I agree with this big time. It's very obvious that we haven't had a silky midfielder for a long time and while we have some grunt atm we need the class package to really complete the picture. Think Judd, Burgoyne, Ablett, Kerr, Cousins, Pendlebury, Goodes etc. These players create so many opportunities through their ability to extract the ball from stoppages and then use it brilliantly. Trengove may get their but won't do it with that explosive style. Maybe more like a Black, Hayes or Bartel. Sylvia has many of the attributes but doesn't do it consistently.

It looks like bruise-free footy might be a horrible memory now but everyone please take a valium. There is no way that Neeld will fill the midfield with only grunt players. We can't fit all of Couch, Magner, Nicho, Moloney, Jones, Sylvia and Bate, into a side that also needs Trengove, Gysberts, Bail, Blease and maybe even Grimes also as a midfielder. Grunt is important, especially considering 2011 but it can never be everything. We need outside runners like Davey, Morton, Blease, Kel Lawrence. Just sit and watch the next 2 NAB Cup games and the preferred Needl team makeup will begin to emerge.

I think Neeld has at least created serious competitions for these mid spots-which cuts out complacency .

It looks like bruise-free footy might be a horrible memory now but everyone please take a valium. There is no way that Neeld will fill the midfield with only grunt players. We can't fit all of Couch, Magner, Nicho, Moloney, Jones, Sylvia and Bate, into a side that also needs Trengove, Gysberts, Bail, Blease and maybe even Grimes also as a midfielder. Grunt is important, especially considering 2011 but it can never be everything. We need outside runners like Davey, Morton, Blease, Kel Lawrence. Just sit and watch the next 2 NAB Cup games and the preferred Needl team makeup will begin to emerge.

Yep. Davey seems to be everyone's new whipping boy (after Morton), but last night it was evident how important his creativity and skill was compared to just hacking it forward. Another thing that need addressing is, apart from Tapscott and Strauss, most of our defenders have flawed kicking actions which require everything to go right for them. Bartram, Rivers, Grimes, McDonald, Macdonald, Garland, Bennell and even Frawley all lack penetration and accuracy with their kicking. Frawley makes up for it by breaking the lines and balancing himself. We are desperate for some laser-like kicks.