I am by nature a pessimistic person....but even I have a "bit of a feeling about this year".....I often expect the worst and hope like hell for the best but seeing the training reports and the signs coming out of the club. I am a little optimistic

When I watch the games, my right leg moves by itself when one of our players has a kick....It's like I am trying to help him kick it.

It takes all types I suppose.....

I do the same Boss ..... I was never any good on the left!

And in relation to your first para, you should have a chat to Old Dee!

From the sounds of things, we finally have a Football Department that knows what kind of environment/standards are required to develop a group of willing players into a top flight AFL team (there's little actual evidence of this yet, though I could point to the differing paths taken by Blease and Gysberts last year: the willing player works hard and significantly improves, the unwilling player doesn't and gets dumped).

Now that the group is 100% willing (I presume those gotten rid of during the trade period were the unwilling ones), the kids coming into the club now (Toumpas, Hogan, Viney, Kent, Barry, etc.) will only know one way of doing things, the right way. So if I'm being optimistic, I'm actually most optimistic that we'll be able to turn draftees into good players with greater regularity now.

Or, to put it another way: imagine if Jurrah, Morton, Gysberts, Bennell, Woneaemirri and Cook had arrived at a club where, from day one, they'd been given no option but to conform to elite training and preparation standards? Sure, not all of them would have made it, but I reckon at least one of two of them would have. With the power of hindsight about the Bailey years, I'm comfortable saying that Dom Barry, for instance, has a much greater chance of making it than Jamie Bennell ever had, purely because of the radically improved environment that Barry has entered.

Sure.

Sylvia has barely fired a shot for the decade he has been here. Dunn has not been able to cement any position as yet in his 99 games. Blease has 8 solid games in the bank but that's it. Strauss has it all to do to keep a spot on the list. Tapscott has to show he can do more than excellent shirtfronts. Davey has regressed amazingly in the last 2 years. Jetta has yet to show is anything more than a tough little nut. Rohan Bail makes awful decisions and hasn't come on since 2010.

Not to mention that Byrnes, Rodan, Gillies and Pederson have to prove they are worthy of AFL games that other clubs felt they weren't.

We have a number of players that have a great deal of work to do and I don't really feel my inference that Viney will soon surpass them is that inflammatory.

I said before we officially got him that he would be in our top 6 midfielders in 2013. He is going to 'show up' a few I would say - opposition players and Demons alike.

I am all for allowing you to continue looking over your shoulder at the past, as long as Viney plays his role that will do me, you have named a few players who have hardly managed a full preseason ever or for a couple of years, let's wait and see before making judgements on this year.

Although I agree with other posters, if you don't perform this year, you risk not being at the club next year

I am all for allowing you to continue looking over your shoulder at the past, as long as Viney plays his role that will do me, you have named a few players who have hardly managed a full preseason ever or for a couple of years, let's wait and see before making judgements on this year.

Although I agree with other posters, if you don't perform this year, you risk not being at the club next year

Looking over my shoulder?

I am looking at the current state of things.

Our list got a massive overhaul and, unless people quickly change their current trajectory, the overhaul will continue.

We have got more question marks than a game of Guess Who...

Looking over my shoulder?

I am looking at the current state of things.

Our list got a massive overhaul and, unless people quickly change their current trajectory, the overhaul will continue.

We have got more question marks than a game of Guess Who...

I don't like to get into one of these [censored] for tat, but you are basing you view of the current on the past, I can see why you are saying what you are saying, but as I have said that is the past, we haven't kicked a ball in anger yet in 2013.

I have spoken to Aaron Davey, to use one of your examples, and watched him at training, he is happy, healthy and fit looiking, he has always been a skilful footy player, so hopefully he can put it together this year, I don't really care what he did in the past couple they are finished,.....same same with Sylvia and Jetta..........it may all end up a horrible mess again but we will only know that in August not February......I for one will be going to the NAB cup games with a fair bit of optimism this year........I want to have a look at them in actual game conditions

Proof of puddings, coming soon.

I don't like to get into one of these [censored] for tat, but you are basing you view of the current on the past, I can see why you are saying what you are saying, but as I have said that is the past, we haven't kicked a ball in anger yet in 2013.

I have spoken to Aaron Davey, to use one of your examples, and watched him at training, he is happy, healthy and fit looiking, he has always been a skilful footy player, so hopefully he can put it together this year, I don't really care what he did in the past couple they are finished,.....same same with Sylvia and Jetta..........it may all end up a horrible mess again but we will only now that in August not February......I for one will be going to the NAB cup games with a fair bit of optimism this year........I want to have a look at them in actual game conditions

I can go along with that, although i can see rpfc's opinion too.

The difference this year is that there are absolutely no excuses. Prior to 2013 there have been some, not that i always believe there should have been excuses.

Going forward there are no excuses for failure, & that is the way it should be. AFL is the most brutal game in the world.

Sure.

Sylvia has barely fired a shot for the decade he has been here. Dunn has not been able to cement any position as yet in his 99 games. Blease has 8 solid games in the bank but that's it. Strauss has it all to do to keep a spot on the list. Tapscott has to show he can do more than excellent shirtfronts. Davey has regressed amazingly in the last 2 years. Jetta has yet to show is anything more than a tough little nut. Rohan Bail makes awful decisions and hasn't come on since 2010.

Not to mention that Byrnes, Rodan, Gillies and Pederson have to prove they are worthy of AFL games that other clubs felt they weren't.

We have a number of players that have a great deal of work to do and I don't really feel my inference that Viney will soon surpass them is that inflammatory.

I said before we officially got him that he would be in our top 6 midfielders in 2013. He is going to 'show up' a few I would say - opposition players and Demons alike.

Well said

The reality is that we ever want to become a REAL football club we need to produce several elite players. As a club we have NOT shown in the past that we are capable of developing players to this level. At this moment the only 2 near it are Clark and Jones. We are all of course looking to the likes of Trengove, Watts, Grimes, McDonald, McKenzie, Blease, Howe, Viney, Toumpas etc to become these players but clearly we are a long way from this happening. The contributions of Dawes/Rodan etc will help us somewhat to be more competitive with some of the lower sides but they will not make us contenders.

Of course the overall function of the coach and the side is crucial, but unless we see some of the above players actually turn into all-australian standard players as individuals we will get nowhere. That's our challenge.

I don't like to get into one of these [censored] for tat, but you are basing you view of the current on the past, I can see why you are saying what you are saying, but as I have said that is the past, we haven't kicked a ball in anger yet in 2013.

I have spoken to Aaron Davey, to use one of your examples, and watched him at training, he is happy, healthy and fit looiking, he has always been a skilful footy player, so hopefully he can put it together this year, I don't really care what he did in the past couple they are finished,.....same same with Sylvia and Jetta..........it may all end up a horrible mess again but we will only know that in August not February......I for one will be going to the NAB cup games with a fair bit of optimism this year........I want to have a look at them in actual game conditions

What a strange view.

I can't look to the previous few seasons to judge players?

All I am saying is that we sit here comfortable in our positive prognostications but there are so many questions marks over the heads of this group.

I hope they turn the corner but Iunless you sit up and realise where they are going you will never acknowledge that they have turned that corner.

Frankly, I have Davey in the starting 22 - I rate what he can do but to ignore the last two years would be diengenuous to all invoved. If he doesn't want 2013 to be his last year in footy - he has work to do.

I am a positive person but I am well aware where we are at.

I do the same Boss ..... I was never any good on the left!

And in relation to your first para, you should have a chat to Old Dee!

My attitude is born from decades of being slapped down Deeoldfart as you well know.

This time last year I kept telling Dees supprters to keep a lid on it because we were putting basically the "same Cattle" on the park that produced 186 amongst other disasters.

I tipped a win by the lions in round one.

Guess what we were crap all year.

Well almost all year.

This year we have changed a large number of the cattle.

Time will tell if the cattle are better.

But right now I do feel a lot more confident than this time last year.

I am expecting a win against Port by 1 -2 goals.

IMO 8 wins for the year would be fantastic.

Go Dees

What a strange view.

I can't look to the previous few seasons to judge players?

All I am saying is that we sit here comfortable in our positive prognostications but there are so many questions marks over the heads of this group.

I hope they turn the corner but Iunless you sit up and realise where they are going you will never acknowledge that they have turned that corner.

Frankly, I have Davey in the starting 22 - I rate what he can do but to ignore the last two years would be diengenuous to all invoved. If he doesn't want 2013 to be his last year in footy - he has work to do.

I am a positive person but I am well aware where we are at.

aaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.....there I feel better now

My attitude is born from decades of being slapped down Deeoldfart as you well know.

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

But right now I do feel a lot more confident than this time last year.

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

Go Dees

Yeah Old mate, we know all about being 'slapped down' don't we? ......... but Hell, it's 1 February and we deserve to feel good about ourselves and the prospects of our team. We have earned the right!

ps. I love your growing confidence. Pragmatic but positive baby steps at this stage is fine!

Yeah Old mate, we know all about being 'slapped down' don't we? ......... but Hell, it's 1 February and we deserve to feel good about ourselves and the prospects of our team. We have earned the right!

ps. I love your growing confidence. Pragmatic but positive baby steps at this stage is fine!

Could not agree more mate but the problem is the other 17 teams could not care less.

I think this year is good for more than 1 geniune win.

Surely our luck will start to turn.

I have a warm and fuzzy feeling

God I hope I have not spilt my coffee!

I hope that this is the year. It seems that the club is focused on winning games now rather than going by the old mantra 'Just wait in five years time!' I have been burnt before so I will reserve my judgement until I see some results.

I herd they had to take this photo 10 times because every time Viney would stair into the camera the lends would explode.

aaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.....there I feel better now