A new 1987

[dieter 3,325]

Dudes and dudesses

Maybe because spring's sap is rising in everything but my lemon tree, I feel like there are things happening in the Demon camp similar to the time before 1987 when the phoenix almost rose again under Northey. The germ of this hunch is in the latent quality of the players blooded in 2015. All of the 2015 recruits showed something, White in the last game, Neale-Bullen, Stretch, Harmes, the Flying Dutchman, Brayshaw, a guy called Hogan etc etc.

Then there'll be Petracca, Trengove, Frost, the return of the very under-rated Pederson, and whatever the savvy cats drag in over the trade period.

Please exit Terlich - a noble warrior who keeps shooting his team in the foot- M. Jones - God bless him, but he ain't got it - ditto Bail, McKenzie, Fitzpatrick and, unfortunately, Grimes.

Because of the likes of Hogan, Gawn, Viney and the old core of Dunn, Jones, Garland, Lumumba, Dawes, I can see a bright future.

Yes, Hogan is a cross between Neitz, Schwartz and Jakovich sans the Slavonic attitude.

[dieter 3,325]

I forgot to mention (Clarke) Kent. Now, if he can stay fit, there's a Dewie Stue-like beast waiting to happen. (as in Stue Dew.)

[frankie_d 1,471]

Love it. Great post. We need a bit of raw place... Disappointed to see Treloar go to the pies, but I've got faith in the recruiting boys

[Sir Why You Little 37,039]

See what happens in a few weeks. We gotta trade well

No reason why that can't happen...

[Wadda We Sing 10,685]

Remember it well, yes many similarities me thinks as well......

[Timothy Reddan-A'Blew 5,131]

Ahh, 1987 - my collective favourite football memory!

The squad that embarked on 1987 (those with career 50-plus-Firsts-games):

From 1986, Bret Bailey, Adrian Battiston, Tony Campbell, Chris Connolly, David Cordner, Simon Eishold, Rod Grinter, Greg Healy, Danny Hughes, Steven Icke, Ricky Jackson, Alan Jarrott, Alan Johnson, Brett Lovett, Garry Lyon, Peter Moore, Stephen Newport, Russell Richards, Steven Stretch, Sean Wight, David Williams, Brian Wilson and Graeme Yeats, joined for 1987 by Glenn Lovett, Steven O'Dwyer, Earl Spalding, Jim Stynes, Todd Viney and - with a little licence (32 games) - Warren Dean.

1987-to-2016 individual comparisons anyone?

R. Flower (d'oh!), Peter Giles (the only 1970s debs still around in '87)

Edited September 9, 2015 by Timothy Reddan-A'Blew

[praha 11,240]

We're reaching the point now where consistently good football (not necessarily wins every week) should be the bare minimum KPI.

<50 games with at least 1 game in 2015:

Hogan

Viney

Toumpas

Salem

Brayshaw

Gawn

Stretch

Kent

Frost

Newton

Michie

JKH

McDonald

ANB

White

50-99 games

Trengove

Tyson

McDonald

Grimes (still has a place imo)

Jetta

Then we have a very small group in the 100-150 range

Dawes

Garland

Garlett

Howe

By 2017, a lot of that first group will be closing in on 50 games, and that second group on 100-150. A majority of our players will be in that bracket.

That is exactly what you need to be a finals side. We currently have a massive gap in the 100-200 range that I think is reflective in how badly we drop off between our best and worst.

When you think about that, the future is actually very exciting.

I suspect that 2016 could still be a slog fest, the team still trying to find its feet. Finals isn't a KPI, it's a goal, something to aim for, but by no means a minimum requirement. Let's not set ourselves up for disappointment. Consistent football is what they should be eying down more than anything, and if finals come out of that, bonus! By 2017, finals will be a bare minimum KPI.

Goodwin is going to walk into what will probably be one of the most balanced sides in the comp.

Edited September 8, 2015 by praha

[Nasher 33,616]

We're reaching the point now where consistently good football (not necessarily wins every week) should be the bare minimum KPI.

<50 games with at least 1 game in 2015:

Hogan

Viney

Toumpas

Salem

Brayshaw

Gawn

Stretch

Kent

Frost

Newton

Michie

JKH

McDonald

ANB

White

50-99 games

Trengove

Tyson

McDonald

Grimes (still has a place imo)

Jetta

Then we have a very small group in the 100-150 range

Dawes

Garland

Garlett

Howe

By 2017, a lot of that first group will be closing in on 50 games, and that second group on 100-150. A majority of our players will be in that bracket.

That is exactly what you need to be a finals side. We currently have a massive gap in the 100-200 range that I think is reflective in how badly we drop off between our best and worst.

When you think about that, the future is actually very exciting.

I suspect that 2016 could still be a slog fest, the team still trying to find its feet. Finals isn't a KPI, it's a goal, something to aim for, but by no means a minimum requirement. Let's not set ourselves up for disappointment. Consistent football is what they should be eying down more than anything, and if finals come out of that, bonus! By 2017, finals will be a bare minimum KPI.

Goodwin is going to walk into what will probably be one of the most balanced sides in the comp.

Good analysis. I'm bullish on the future too, but there is a lot of things that can go wrong. In that first group I only count 5 players I'd consider near-certain to be valuable contributors and maybe 3 out of the second group. We need nearly all of those names listed to fire if we are to have any sort of success. The range of possibilities is huge with such a young group.

This reinforces the need for bringing in players in the 50-100 games range for me.

[beelzebub 23,377]

Nasher...im sure there out looking for them. Ive a feeling we might land a surprise or two but wont be from the pool everyone ( or near ) suspects.

Im reserving any real optimism til i see who is cleared out...and the ilk of those coming in.

Id also like Goodie to have more influence game day but eeffectivly a separate issue.

[Webber 10,468]

We're reaching the point now where consistently good football (not necessarily wins every week) should be the bare minimum KPI.

<50 games with at least 1 game in 2015:

Hogan

Viney

Toumpas

Salem

Brayshaw

Gawn

Stretch

Kent

Frost

Newton

Michie

JKH

McDonald

ANB

White

50-99 games

Trengove

Tyson

McDonald

Grimes (still has a place imo)

Jetta

Then we have a very small group in the 100-150 range

Dawes

Garland

Garlett

Howe

By 2017, a lot of that first group will be closing in on 50 games, and that second group on 100-150. A majority of our players will be in that bracket.

That is exactly what you need to be a finals side. We currently have a massive gap in the 100-200 range that I think is reflective in how badly we drop off between our best and worst.

When you think about that, the future is actually very exciting.

I suspect that 2016 could still be a slog fest, the team still trying to find its feet. Finals isn't a KPI, it's a goal, something to aim for, but by no means a minimum requirement. Let's not set ourselves up for disappointment. Consistent football is what they should be eying down more than anything, and if finals come out of that, bonus! By 2017, finals will be a bare minimum KPI.

Goodwin is going to walk into what will probably be one of the most balanced sides in the comp.

Once again a top notch analysis, praha. Tending toward a blue sky / off season appraisal, but I like it, and who's to argue. Go you mighty Demons!

[H_T 3,047]

Agree with praha, 2016 may still be a slow burn with a little more improvement. 2017, some 40 years on may be closer to the 1987 excitement - which would be awesome.

[Emerald 1,744]

2016 preliminary final;Melbourne vs. Hawthorn.Hawthorn leads in the dying seconds of the game then Hodge's rough play gives away a 50 meter penalty in Melbourne's backline,the siren blows and Dunn kicks an 80 meter barrel to get us into the Grand Final.

[Emerald 1,744]

2016 preliminary final;Melbourne vs. Hawthorn.Hawthorn leads in the dying seconds of the game then Hodge's rough play gives away a 50 meter penalty in Melbourne's backline,the siren blows and Dunn kicks an 80 meter barrel to get us into the Grand Final.

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

are you sre it's not 2010 instead of 1987

only time will tell

[Little Goffy 14,552]

If there's enough good trading and development in the off-season to have us arrive in 2016 able to be dangerous and get a sniff of blood, the effect on the 'scarred' players of our recent history could be electrifying.

Can you imagine the likes of Garland, Grimes, Watts, Dunn and Trengove all playing with real confidence, boldness and focused aggression?

Genuinely difficult to picture, but oh it would be a sight to see.

Also intriguing to think that those five, plus Jones, will be just about the full count of players still at the club from as little as four years ago. Might not even be that many.

[ILLDieADemon 804]

So how many more days till next season?

[Adam The God 30,260]

If there's enough good trading and development in the off-season to have us arrive in 2016 able to be dangerous and get a sniff of blood, the effect on the 'scarred' players of our recent history could be electrifying.

Can you imagine the likes of Garland, Grimes, Watts, Dunn and Trengove all playing with real confidence, boldness and focused aggression?

Genuinely difficult to picture, but oh it would be a sight to see.

Also intriguing to think that those five, plus Jones, will be just about the full count of players still at the club from as little as four years ago. Might not even be that many.

I can imagine Garland playing with aggression. I can imagine Grimes trying really hard, perhaps improving his decision making and still kicking it out on the full and missing targets under no pressure. I can imagine Watts with a bit more aggression, but ultimately never enough to play in a Roos side. I can imagine Dunn playing with real boldness. I can imagine Trengove coming back and being a solid citizen to replace Crossy and become a really important leader at the club again.

Will much of that happen? I don't think so. I'd move all of them on except Dunn and Trengove to be honest. I'd happily trade Garland and package Watts for a good player. I'd look for a trade for Grimes and if we can't find any suitors, I'd make him captain of Casey.