I think the ship has sailed on Blease, the fact that he can't build on his tank is very concerning.

I think the ship is still within sight of the harbour.

IT"S FINALLY GAME DAY!!!!!!

All the talk can finally stop! All the speculation, all the rumours, all the news stories, all the "training the house down", all the "Mark Neeld era", all the admin can finally STOP!

IT'S FOOTY'S TURN TO TALK!!!!!!

Round 1 2014 is a fresh slate. The past years mean nothing. Right now we are in the exact same position as every other club. Today we are as close to a flag as anyone and its what the 22 lads who pull on the red and blue do between now and the last Saturday in December that makes the difference. Today we get back to what all of this right here is all about and that is 120 minutes of the greatest game there is. The Demons future starts today.

GO DEES!

Hate to be pedantic, but 5 teams are already ahead of us, and closer to the flag. But the sentiment was admirable !

Byrnes is a key player if we are to win this. His ability to play his role, get in the right spots at link up with the midfield will be important to us kicking a winnig score. Similar with Bail and his running ability in our fwd half.

I can't agree. Brynes is very patchy and has a low work rate and Bail is like a rabbit in front of headlights when he is in a scoring opportunity. So if our fate rests on these 2 then we are in big trouble.

The side picked is exactly the side I would have picked based on available players. Its not the best in name but it is the best based on fitness and filling the required roles of the side. Anyone wanting Blease in the side ahead of Bail or Byrnes did not watch the pre-season.

I go tonight confident. I go expecting to win and win well. Leaving with a loss will not be satisfactory under any circumstance. If we adhere to a consistent level of good intensity and adherence to the game plan the result will look after itself.

GO DEE's. Give em hell.

I can't agree. Brynes is very patchy and has a low work rate and Bail is like a rabbit in front of headlights when he is in a scoring opportunity. So if our fate rests on these 2 then we are in big trouble.

I guess we will find out tonight....

I guess we will find out tonight....

I still reckon we will win. It's just I don't rate Byrnes & Bail. I hope they play well but Brynes goes missing and Bail is either injured or gets stage fright.

IT"S FINALLY GAME DAY!!!!!!

Round 1 2014 is a fresh slate. The past years mean nothing. Right now we are in the exact same position as every other club. Today we are as close to a flag as anyone and its what the 22 lads who pull on the red and blue do between now and the last Saturday in December

GO DEES!

What's happening on the last Saturday in December? Hahaha

I think Byrnes will play a lot better when he can concentrate on being a forward, in the last year he had been getting a lot of his kicks way up the ground and then trying to deliver it into a forward line where the opposition out number our one or two forwards. He would also significantly benefit from having forwards to crumb off. not something you saw too often last year,

so what time are we all meeting at the Westgate bridge if this all goes pear-shaped again>?

so what time are we all meeting at the Westgate bridge if this all goes pear-shaped again>?

I'll be at that "pokies" place on Bourke and Spencer drinking myself to death.

Is the inference from this article that diligent recruiters should insist on muscle biopsies on all candidates as part of prioritizing their selections? By extension, should we consider genetic engineering and maybe stem cell technology? Maybe we should sign up Mr Danks to work on all this as his next project?

It may well come to that with a spread of indices tied to forseeable game plan. Such a plan might even eg incorporate a couple of of high-index fast-twitch types.

It probably wouldn't hurt either to examine pedigrees (but no doubt this is anyway done in a discreet and polite manner). An Ablett X Tuck progeny clearly offers a superior blend of muscle tissue types and the pudding has thus been proven.

Colin Garland on SEN in a couple of mins.

What's happening on the last Saturday in December? Hahaha

That's when I'll learn to check what I type before I post it

Interesting that the general media/ex footballers still rate us so poorly. I was only listening to Glen Jakovich yesterday on radio and he firmly believes St Kilda will "ambush" the Demons tonight.

I look forward to calling in next week and reminding of that comment.. Hopefully.

Im not sure how i feel. im not a religious person but geez im saying a silent prayer. Improvement is what I want to see and how our new look midfield goes. A win is what I want but if we lose I hope its not a thrashing. I couldnt handle that.

Time to move to the GAMEDAY thread.