FWIW, it's the anniversary of Pearl Harbour today.

Other than that there are still stories about footy in the media even though it's December and we're on the cusp of the Test series:-

The 20 young guns set to light it up in season 2015. Who is your clubs young gun?

Melbourne to tread carefully as excitement surrounds key forward Jesse Hogan

Your club's best 22 for round one, 2015

Interesting...no room for Dawes in our best 22. Off season journalism...sigh....

Your club's best 22 for round one, 2015

B: Neville Jetta, Lynden Dunn, Colin Garland

HB: Heritier Lumumba, Tom McDonald, Jack Watts

C: Jack Viney, Bernie Vince, Daniel Cross

HF: Jeremy Howe, Cameron Pedersen, Dean Kent

F: Christian Salem, Jesse Hogan, Jeff Garlett

R: Mark Jamar, Nathan Jones, Dom Tyson

I/C: Jack Grimes, Viv Michie, Sam Frost

Sub: Angus Brayshaw

New: Heritier Lumumba (Collingwood), Jeff Garlett (Carlton), Sam Frost (Greater Western Sydney)

Unavailable: Chris Dawes (suspended), Jack Trengove (navicular injury)

Bit of water to go under the bridge, but not too sure re the above. Both ANB and Stretch have played senior footy, so would probably be closer than Brayshaw. Salem perhaps, but then based on training reports only (early days though ...) Toumpas and JKH could also be knocking on the door.

Bloody Dawes. Unnecessary suspension.

Interesting...no room for Dawes in our best 22. Off season journalism...sigh....

He is suspended for Round 1. it is not a matter of room!

On the basis of preseason reports I reckon The Toump will be playing.

Three of the top eight young guns are Dees. No great surprise.

The surprise is Aaron Vandenburg at #13!

I'd be tempted to swap Pedersen and Watts... this year Pedersen did some nice things in defence and with good delivery to the forwards and with Watts being an accurate shot on goal, I think it could be worth the gamble.

Three of the top eight young guns are Dees. No great surprise.

The surprise is Aaron Vandenburg at #13!

Yeah, but I really have my doubts about how he will go as a forward... no matter how hardened they say he is. I've heard of small forwards and goal sneaks, but this may be taking it a little too far:

3. AARON VANDENBERG (Melbourne), 22

H: 188cm W: 90kg

Drafted: No.2, 2014 rookie draft

Ready-made ball winner could step straight into the Demons’ forward line, if he is promoted, after averaging 31 touches in the NEAFL last season. Roosy loves his reliable, hardened midfielders and Vandenberg could give the Dees some extra depth. Had 56 possessions against Eastlake. Nice size at 88cm.

Edited December 7, 201410 yr by hardtack

Id have Bail in before Grimes.. Grimes would want to burn it up in the nab challenge matches!

Yeah, but I really have my doubts about how he will go as a forward... no matter how hardened they say he is. I've heard of small forwards and goal sneaks, but this may be taking it a little too far:

3. AARON VANDENBERG (Melbourne), 22

H: 188cm W: 90kg

Drafted: No.2, 2014 rookie draft

Ready-made ball winner could step straight into the Demons’ forward line, if he is promoted, after averaging 31 touches in the NEAFL last season. Roosy loves his reliable, hardened midfielders and Vandenberg could give the Dees some extra depth. Had 56 possessions against Eastlake. Nice size at 88cm.

This is where the HUN have got it wrong.

He was drafted purely as a midfielder to become that big bodied mid that Roosy craves. He will have stints up forward but will spend majority of the time up field.

Personally, love this team on paper, bring on round 1!!!

Yeah, but I really have my doubts about how he will go as a forward... no matter how hardened they say he is. I've heard of small forwards and goal sneaks, but this may be taking it a little too far:

3. AARON VANDENBERG (Melbourne), 22

H: 188cm W: 90kg

Drafted: No.2, 2014 rookie draft

Ready-made ball winner could step straight into the Demons’ forward line, if he is promoted, after averaging 31 touches in the NEAFL last season. Roosy loves his reliable, hardened midfielders and Vandenberg could give the Dees some extra depth. Had 56 possessions against Eastlake. Nice size at 88cm.

He'll be the Muggsy Bogues of the AFL.

Interesting...no room for Dawes in our best 22. Off season journalism...sigh....

Fail..Fail and again...fail!

This is where the HUN have got it wrong.

He was drafted purely as a midfielder to become that big bodied mid that Roosy craves. He will have stints up forward but will spend majority of the time up field.

I think its because he started as a forward when he had a bit more weight to him before he became a midfielder. So my guess is that the authors of the article are taking the same approach they have with petracca I.e., first year more time forward as getting used to AFL (if he plays).

The 20 young guns set to light it up in season 2015. Who is your clubs young gun?

Jesse #1

Angus #3

Petracca #8

and ,,,,,,,,

Vandenberg #13 !!!!

Was not expecting to see him on that list, wow

Jesse #1

Angus #3

Petracca #8

and ,,,,,,,,

Vandenberg #13 !!!!

Was not expecting to see him on that list, wow

ffs hh, it's only clark and landsberger, what did you expect, something informative?

I think its because he started as a forward when he had a bit more weight to him before he became a midfielder. So my guess is that the authors of the article are taking the same approach they have with petracca I.e., first year more time forward as getting used to AFL (if he plays).

And not everything is written in stone either, Wunders ... we do need a 3rd forward fit and firing .. in fact we need 3 tall forwards fit and firing (if we play a 3rd tall forward)

Some players can play tall and some talls can't take a mark to save themselves. I'm expecting the unexpected with regards to our forward line - the only "absolutes" are Hogan (if fit), Garlett (if in form) and Dawes.

Other candidates are Pedersen, Watts, Gawn, JKH, Salem, Kent, Toumpas, Howe, Fitzpatrick and maybe even Petracca, Vandenberg, Neal-Bullen, Brayshaw or Oscar McDonald could spend some time forward - we do need to create a functioning forward line.

it should be remembered that we can always promote a rookie if we want to ... it should also be remembered our forward line was largely dysfunctional in 2014.

We've got a number of options as compared to previous seasons but not a lot of those options can be relied upon as yet.

Yeah, but I really have my doubts about how he will go as a forward... no matter how hardened they say he is. I've heard of small forwards and goal sneaks, but this may be taking it a little too far:

3. AARON VANDENBERG (Melbourne), 22

H: 188cm W: 90kg

Drafted: No.2, 2014 rookie draft

Ready-made ball winner could step straight into the Demons’ forward line, if he is promoted, after averaging 31 touches in the NEAFL last season. Roosy loves his reliable, hardened midfielders and Vandenberg could give the Dees some extra depth. Had 56 possessions against Eastlake. Nice size at 88cm.

On footywire, the new draftees are listed as 114 years and 11 months old.

He'll be the Muggsy Bogues of the AFL.

At 88cm he could also be the John Holmes of the AFL.

Interesting...no room for Dawes in our best 22. Off season journalism...sigh....

Dawes is suspended for round 1.

It's actually not a bad effort considering it's from the HUN.

At 88cm he could also be the John Holmes of the AFL.

Perhaps.... but he'll have to tie it round his waist to run and will most likely pass out if he gets a boner.

This will be inconvenient.

At 88cm he could also be the John Holmes of the AFL.

In which case, I seem to recall Norman Gunston chewing the fat with him.

Hung and hung again. Hello Jackie Lambie.

Who does she barrack for?

Not Clive or Tony it would seem.

Years of entertainment to come.

I'd be tempted to swap Pedersen and Watts... this year Pedersen did some nice things in defence and with good delivery to the forwards and with Watts being an accurate shot on goal, I think it could be worth the gamble.

I suspect Watts and Howe will both be forwards this time. We have enough defensive cover for now with Lamumba, Dunn, Tommy, Jetta and Garland. What we need is to score half a dozen more goals each game and that means giving Hogan some help up forward.

http://m.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/tom-mcdonald-hopes-brother-oscar-can-join-him-in-backline-after-arriving-with-demons-pick-53/story-fni5f91a-1227147703667

"Between myself and him and (ex-GWS fullback) Sam Frost we have three pretty good talls who can hopefully play in the backline together for the next ten weeks"

Lol maybe 10 years , great proof reading?