Demonland Crystal Ball 2017: Your predictions for next season

[binman 37,923]

28 minutes ago, Rocky said:

 brayshaw to continue to struggle with speed of the game. 

I don't get why some posters seem to have cooled on Brayshaw and i don't get this comment. He is a gun and a completely natural footballer who reads the game beautifully. He struggled last year with concussion but also couldn't put an extended block of senior games together. 

I 100% disagree that he struggles with speed of the game.

With a half decent run of injuries i expect a huge year from him and one that will remind people why we took him at 2 in the ahead of Petracca in the draft.

[Demonsterative 1,907]

On 26 October 2016 at 10:17 AM, picket fence said:

Ok I'll try again, in your opinion is he in the best 22??

If Harmes, Bugg, Kennedy, Vanders are considered 'best 22' Trenners after a full pre season is certainly best 22. It's a matter of how much his injuries have taken away for him. 

[Lord Travis 10,158]

1 hour ago, binman said:

With a half decent run of injuries i expect a huge year from him and one that will remind people why we took him at 2 in the ahead of Petracca in the draft.

...We didn't take him ahead of Petracca. Petracca was pick 2, Brayshaw was pick 3.

I agree with you though. Brayshaw is a natural footballer and struggled with a range of different injuries this year from the very beginning. First the knee, then multiple concussions. He'll hopefully have a good run with injury next year and remind everyone why he is so highly touted. His first season was really good until he tired late in the season.

[Constant Mongrel 571]

23 hours ago, binman said:

I don't get why some posters seem to have cooled on Brayshaw and i don't get this comment. He is a gun and a completely natural footballer who reads the game beautifully. He struggled last year with concussion but also couldn't put an extended block of senior games together. 

I 100% disagree that he struggles with speed of the game.

With a half decent run of injuries i expect a huge year from him and one that will remind people why we took him at 2 in the ahead of Petracca in the draft.

hey bin, brayshaw is personally my favourite player, but in 2016 (for whatever reason, concussion, niggling injury or time out of the game) he struggled. he was slow. between the ears and across the grass. i hope he turns it around. but he never got out of second gear last season and i have a feeling it might continue.. i hope i'm wrong! also, petracca went 2.

Edited October 28, 2016 by Rocky

[DemonLad5 1,637]

Terlich to be re-listed as a rookie, play round 1, go on the win the brownlow (55 votes), Coleman medal (114 goals), Goal of the year (bicycle kick from the back pocket), Mark of the year (climbs to the top of the goal post and jumps off to take a screamer while Franklin has a shot from 50),  Jim Stynes Community award (donates his entire 5mil per year salary to charities around the world)

Dees make the grand final. Terlich kicks 11 from the back flank and wins the Norm Smith after 68 disposals, 22 tackles, 32 marks and 11.2

Melbourne win by 1 point after Terlich marks it with his tongue at full back and unloads a barrel after the siren.

wow that was fun to write

[monoccular 16,042]

On 26/10/2016 at 10:29 AM, Abe said:

Right now no, but he's not far off, and a full pre season into him, he should regain some pace and hopefully he's capable of playing a role.

not sure how any real MFC supporter could hope Trenners won't make it back the way you clearly do.

I suspect that the majority not would agree with the sentiments raised in paragraph 1, though the last phrase may be popular  

I suspect that the majority agree with the views you expressed in paragraph 2

And, with disappointment, I personally doubt, though I hope I am wrong, that JT9 does get back and play an important role in our progression. 

Edited October 28, 2016 by monoccular

[Harbinger43 87]

Kent to surprise on the upside more than people expect

Tyson to go to another level

[CBDees 3,162]

Garlett  back to his best and JKH to star in the opposing pocket! 

[FlashInThePan 1,893]

Gussy is a gun and provided he gets a decent run at it, he will dominate in 2017. He is an excellent natural footballer and, besides that little brain fade where he tried center the ball via the MCG lights, he is s great user of the ball as well. Not only that but he regularly bobs up for a goal even when he is having an average day. 

He Trac and Oliver all bring something special but different to the mix. Can't wait to see the 3 of them playing regularly together under the guidance of Jones and Lewis.

[Hellaintabadplacetobe 4,089]

 

Petracca will be considered elite by season`s end.

Hogan will kick 55 plus goals.

Dees will win a final. 

[Rodney (Balls) Grinter 10,578]

On 26/10/2016 at 2:32 PM, McQueen said:

He's a smart player - makes very good decisions. Build his tank and we'll see him get a lot more of the pill.

My only concern is more concussions.

Agreed 100%.  Improvement will mainly come through additional physical maturity anf experience.

I think one other area that could make Gus a better player in this sense is to learn when to go, when not to and how better to protect his body (particularly his head).  I know it's a fine line in footy, between aggression/courage/putting your body on the line and protecting it, but I do think there is such a thing as crazy brave.  It's more than just bad luck that he has been concussed so many times.

  If players like Gus don't learn how to keep themselves from getting serious head knocks, sadly they won't have much of a career.

[FlashInThePan 1,893]

6 minutes ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

Agreed 100%.  Improvement will mainly come through additional physical maturity anf experience.

I think one other area that could make Gus a better player in this sense is to learn when to go, when not to and how better to protect his body (particularly his head).  I know it's a fine line in footy, between aggression/courage/putting your body on the line and protecting it, but I do think there is such a thing as crazy brave.  It's more than just bad luck that he has been concussed so many times.

  If players like Gus don't learn how to keep themselves from getting serious head knocks, sadly they won't have much of a career.

From memory, one was due to his style of footy, the other was just an unlucky footy in the face in the 2s

[Return to Glory 7,718]

Oliver to push for All - Australian

[Rodney (Balls) Grinter 10,578]

I fully expect Trengrove to be a different player next season.

We all hear about how much difference a full preseason can make (i.e. Max Gawn).  Trengrove had less than not having a preseason in the respect that he had to totally rebuild the strength back in a twig of what may pass for a leg.  It was somewhat miraculous that he could even run, let alone be half competitive at VFL level.

Without really knowing the guy, I get the impression that Trenners is an absolute professional in his dedication to training and should give himself every chance. If he can have the sort of Max Gawn impact after a full preseason, I'll be happy with that.

[Rodney (Balls) Grinter 10,578]

2 minutes ago, FlashInThePan said:

From memory, one was due to his style of footy, the other was just an unlucky footy in the face in the 2s

I also seem to recall one Vs West Coast 2015, where it was his courage charging back against the play when he copped another serious head knock.

I understand fully that footy is a contact sport and accidental high contacts are somewhat inevitable, however some players also contribute to their own demise by pushing the boundaries too far - think Jonathan Brown in his last few seasons.

[Bossdog 2,002]

After our first loss, Demonland Will:

Demand the dropping of 12 players immediately

Demand the delisting of 5 players

Demand a change in the coaching staff

Demand players go back to Casey to learn how to play football

Demand that Oliver and Petracca be captain and vice captain.

Demand that said 12 players never play in the AFL again

Demand that our 33rd player be traded for Dangerfield.

Demand that the administration be changed (We all know that it starts at the top)

Demand that Lewis be traded at the first as he was never any good.

 

Any that I've missed???

[The Reverend 1,704]

Remind me, what did the doggies do???? 

Hmmm, Dees to beat Dogs by 5 points in a nail-biter. Hogan to kick his eighth after the siren. Jack Viney - Norm Smith medallist. Max Gawn - AA plus Brownlow.  Severe beer shortage for several days. Massive hangovers, lost jobs, population boom.

The Reverend cries for a week and gets entire upper body tattooed with a Melbourne jumper.

 

Go Dees!

[pinkshark 935]

On 10/26/2016 at 6:45 AM, Abe said:

It's not about a best 22 on paper, that changes every week, it's about the 22 players who can play their role the best and i am backing Trenners to be in that mix for most of the year, he was in our top 25 players for a good amount of last year which was a huge effort.

Very well said

[pinkshark 935]

On 10/27/2016 at 3:30 PM, binman said:

I don't get why some posters seem to have cooled on Brayshaw and i don't get this comment. He is a gun and a completely natural footballer who reads the game beautifully. He struggled last year with concussion but also couldn't put an extended block of senior games together. 

I 100% disagree that he struggles with speed of the game.

With a half decent run of injuries i expect a huge year from him and one that will remind people why we took him at 2 in the ahead of Petracca in the draft.

good onya Binman.  totally with ya.  he struggles with no part of the game. 

[Moonshadow 16,157]

Brayshaw is a very, very classy footballer with an excellent footy brain. I predict that with a good preseason he will be top 5 in 2017 Bluey.

[Rodney (Balls) Grinter 10,578]

My smokey is for James Harmes to become an elite bullocking type midfielder, regularly impacting games with powerful bursts out of packs and into the forward line.

I'll be a bit half pregnant on my next prediction:  Wondering if we will have a backline star studded with AA backman by the end of the year?  

Tom McDonald has that kind of talent and potential in him if he can stay uninjured and maintain his form throughout the whole year, with the other potential candidates being Jetta, Hunt, Hibberd and maybe even Oscar.  If we start stringing the wins together, it's amazing how players in successful sides get all the accolades.

Regardless, if he is good enough to take the step all the way to AA nomination, I have high hopes for Oscar next season as my recollection was that it was at about this age that Tom really started to fill out and had the physical strength and confidence/experience to start really imposing himself on opposition players and became a reliable, solid defender.

Edited October 30, 2016 by Rodney (Balls) Grinter

[Dwight Schrute 16,749]

Word on the street is Trenners has been working with a sprint coach and the plan is for that to continue through a large chunk of the pre season, giving himself every chance.

[Stretch Johnson 2,568]

Big improvement from Oscar McDonald and James Harmes

Viney to push into elite bracket and become the on-field leader and barometer

Oliver, Hunt and Petracca to become household names

Lumumba to retire. 

Finish 5th

Edited October 31, 2016 by Stretch Johnson

[Dante 2,562]

On 25/10/2016 at 10:23 PM, picket fence said:

Trengove?? Who's postion will he take and on what line?? Eh?

Tell you what, you name the team/players that will play every game from the first match to the last and I'll tell you who he will replace and what position he will play.

Sounds like you don't think we will have any injuries, form slumps or miss matches during the season and will play the same 22 every week for the whole of the year.

 

[Dante 2,562]

I'm expecting a big jump in output from Vanders, Gus, Harmes and Kent, they were all a bit down last season due to injury and inexperience. Harmes makes some mistakes but he will eliminate these and be a consistently good player, I love the way he takes the game on. 

Hunt will go to another level as will Hoges, Trac Clarrie and Billy, they will feature in the B&F next year.

Jordan and Bernie will be feared and may receive a suspension or two, Bern was lucky a few times last season.

Salem will show why we got him in the first place and will silence the doubters, this kid has a heap of ability and has the skills to be an elite player in the competition.

Max and Nathan will continue to play to their high standard.

It wouldn't surprise me if we play Weed on a flank or in a lesser role until he gets the strength to take on a key position.

What can you say about Jack, he just seems to be getting better.

Finals next year and we can beat anyone on the way through.