11 hours ago, big_red_fire_engine said:

Everyone seems to be assuming Jetta is a shoe in for a small back spot. I found the wording of Macca's update on him interesting...

It’s been a really good summer from Neville. He trained incredibly hard during the off-season break and has given himself every opportunity. He’s now part of a really competitive group of mid-sized defenders/wingers, so he’s up for the challenge of winning his spot and keeping his spot. He’s always been a gentleman and he’s still a gentleman, and he’s highly-respected in our footy club

On 11/1/2016 at 0:45 PM, ProDee said:

Jetta is our best lock down defender and has improved his attacking game, but it's still below what I'd like.  His kicking and creativity is lacking.  

I want us to be a top 4 side, which for me means moving past players of Jetta's calibre.  He's a good player, but not good enough or damaging enough with his disposal for my liking. 

Now, if Smith or Wagner cannot defend a small like Betts or Wingard for example as well as Jetta then Jetta stays ahead in the pecking order.  But if they can then they immediately go ahead in my rankings.

Jetta is one of the best small defenders in the competition and has been for three years now.

He's not going anywhere near Casey.

2 minutes ago, Clint Bizkit said:

Jetta is one of the best small defenders in the competition and has been for three years now.

He's not going anywhere near Casey.

He will be one of the first picked in my starting 18, I just see this as he is not as much a lock as all have assumed. I actually think whilst he does not win a lot of ball he is usually clean and somewhat aggressive with this ball movement. Whilst he actually bodies up well on larger opponents I wonder how much relates to his lack of height and speed in a zone style defence. 

 

11 hours ago, waynewussell said:

I see Hibberd as a versatile swing man in defense... He can get away with playing as one if the three key talls or a true flanker/disperser... Wagner is in the same mould, a little lighter perhaps, but developing similar skill set and the same courage running back. Filipovic reminds me of a young Martin... a very tall midfielder with a better kick. 

Im glad someone see this aswell. Made the comment that after watching his highlights he reminded me of a Stef Martin. Is very agile and quick and does alot of follow up work like a midfielder.

21 hours ago, McQueen said:

How has young Dion Johnstone acquitted himself to the standard?

I've been impressed by Johnstone.  I watched him in the rehab group before Christmas and he was having shots at goal and had no trouble from 50 metres.  He's not looked out of place in any of the drills I've seen but neither has he ever "caught my eye".  I don't really think we'll know where he fits until we see him in match situations.  I've been a track watcher for some time now and I think judging players by there track work is fraught with danger.  James Strauss and Sam Blease did some of the best work I've seen but only behind Jamie Bennell. Enough said.

But unlike the past we have a recruiter who really hasn't put a foot wrong since his arrival.  Jason Taylor and his team have done what few before have and that's nail the early picks.  But more he's picked up some good players late.  Oscar (who I rate more highly than most), Jayden Hunt, AVB and the like show he's able to spot talent.  There isn't a player on the list now that I think doesn't deserve his spot.

That's a long way of saying I like the boy and hold hopes but it's really too early to judge.  Does that help?!

2 hours ago, Clint Bizkit said:

Jetta is one of the best small defenders in the competition and has been for three years now.

He's not going anywhere near Casey.

So you are banning him from watching the Casey Demons?

21 minutes ago, Vogon Poetry said:

There isn't a player on the list now that I think doesn't deserve his spot.

 

And there we have the building block, in the rebuild of a once great club.

For the first time in ages, we have a good long list of players.

Next open training session Monday at 11.00 at Gosh's Paddock. I rang the club yesterday and had this confirmed! I'll try to get there and present my enlightening thoughts for all you lucky Demonlanders!!

35 minutes ago, Vogon Poetry said:

I've been impressed by Johnstone.  I watched him in the rehab group before Christmas and he was having shots at goal and had no trouble from 50 metres.  He's not looked out of place in any of the drills I've seen but neither has he ever "caught my eye".  I don't really think we'll know where he fits until we see him in match situations.  I've been a track watcher for some time now and I think judging players by there track work is fraught with danger.  James Strauss and Sam Blease did some of the best work I've seen but only behind Jamie Bennell. Enough said.

But unlike the past we have a recruiter who really hasn't put a foot wrong since his arrival.  Jason Taylor and his team have done what few before have and that's nail the early picks.  But more he's picked up some good players late.  Oscar (who I rate more highly than most), Jayden Hunt, AVB and the like show he's able to spot talent.  There isn't a player on the list now that I think doesn't deserve his spot.

That's a long way of saying I like the boy and hold hopes but it's really too early to judge.  Does that help?!

Being able to kick long and with accuracy is only one attribute. More importantly, you need to get the ball often and be able to defend ferociously when you don't have it. If he hasn't caught your eye to date, that might suggest that he needs to do a lot more work to justify a spot on the list.

However, as you say, it's still early days.

Quick observations on Johnstone from very limited knowledge:

Aggressive and in your face

Strong for his size/build and tackles to hurt

Will be very good defensively inside 50

Can kick long for a small, but not a deadeye d*ck around goals.  Will have his share of gettable misses

Determined, but doesn't have any magical traits.  Good at most things without a standout skill

Speed good without being any wow factor

The above are opinions based on limited knowledge.  I like the selection and think he has the basic attributes to make a go of an AFL career.

47 minutes ago, The Great Pretender said:

Being able to kick long and with accuracy is only one attribute. More importantly, you need to get the ball often and be able to defend ferociously when you don't have it. If he hasn't caught your eye to date, that might suggest that he needs to do a lot more work to justify a spot on the list.

 

He's done enough to justify his place on the list to Jason Taylor and that will do me for all this years recruits.  I'm just of the view that you can't judge much from PST and that it is what happens in games that counts.

Pro has given a summary of his attributes and these are what I've seen said about him rather than what I've seen.  Oh, and just because he hasn't caught my eye doesn't mean he hasn't done good things.  If you've attended training sessions there is a lot going on and it's easy to miss things.  I haven't noticed Jack Viney yet but I'm not writing his season off as a result!

20 minutes ago, Vogon Poetry said:

He's done enough to justify his place on the list to Jason Taylor and that will do me for all this years recruits.  I'm just of the view that you can't judge much from PST and that it is what happens in games that counts.

Pro has given a summary of his attributes and these are what I've seen said about him rather than what I've seen.  Oh, and just because he hasn't caught my eye doesn't mean he hasn't done good things.  If you've attended training sessions there is a lot going on and it's easy to miss things.  I haven't noticed Jack Viney yet but I'm not writing his season off as a result!

 

There's definitely been more chat about Dion Jonstone than Tim Smith and Declan Keilty, which bodes well for him!

On 13/01/2017 at 10:30 AM, waynewussell said:

Hulett back on. Melksham talking tactics with Salem. Petracca to Weiderman nice play which leads to Harmes slotting one from 40 with everyone looking on. Time for me to depart. Cheers all

Thanks ww, and all others, for all your reports and especially today's lot.

All sounds exciting stuff.

I await the season with quiet confidence. 

Quiet confidence be buggered, this is as exciting list as the Doggies if not better for depth, I am predicting a top four finish, damn the torpedo's, damn the nervous predictions.I'm putting good doh on the DEES to utterly surprise and rattle the AFL fraternity and Blitzkrieg the finals!

GO DEES!!

1 hour ago, AllMyTeamsAreWank said:

There's definitely been more chat about Dion Jonstone than Tim Smith and Declan Keilty, which bodes well for him!

Only going off glimpses in the main drills more so than any detailed look at them or anything from Friday but probably the best thing I can say about all of these 3 is they haven't looked like first year players in the drills. 

Petracca burst passed a would be tackler the other day and Keilty slid across and tackled him. Really good agility for a big. His kicking has looked solid and so has his decision making. 

DJ has a neatness about his decision making and disposal that is similar to Billy Stretch. Kicks the ball low and hard and on both sides.

Tim Smith has found the ball and moved it on smoothly. 

None of the 3 have really jumped out with blistering pace or racking up the ball which are the 2 things that stand out in the match simulation training and the contested aspect of drills has mainly been in tight which doesn't favour a key defender or two forwards. 

For reference with Clarry this time last year all I could see was he had a bit of agility, his decision making looked decent and his skills were good enough to get the ball where it needed to go. It wasn't until the first intraclub that there was really any way of judging what he might do at AFL level.

Thanks WW and all other posters greatly enjoyed appraisal and comments, Glad to hear that Liam's injury is not to serious, the anticipation is building, starting to feel really good about 2017. Go Dee's!!!

15 hours ago, picket fence said:

Quiet confidence be buggered, this is as exciting list as the Doggies if not better for depth, I am predicting a top four finish, damn the torpedo's, damn the nervous predictions.I'm putting good doh on the DEES to utterly surprise and rattle the AFL fraternity and Blitzkrieg the finals!

GO DEES!!

That's the way Picket! Clearly your new meds have kicked in

15 hours ago, picket fence said:

Quiet confidence be buggered, this is as exciting list as the Doggies if not better for depth, I am predicting a top four finish, damn the torpedo's, damn the nervous predictions.I'm putting good doh on the DEES to utterly surprise and rattle the AFL fraternity and Blitzkrieg the finals!

GO DEES!!

 

Made a bet with a Collingwood supporter on the same. She laughed and said I'll take your money. Then I said double or nothing they (Collingwood) finish in the bottom six and Buckley is gone by round 18... She didn't want to take that one.

I'll probably lose the first bet, but only because the talent is so young, but I'd be really surprised if this group isn't seriously challenging for the flag in the next 2-3 years

From Maccas report McKenna is putting his hand up for early selection. Be interesting to see him in the pre-season matches 

On 14/01/2017 at 10:46 AM, ProDee said:

Quick observations on Johnstone from very limited knowledge:

Aggressive and in your face

Strong for his size/build and tackles to hurt

Will be very good defensively inside 50

Can kick long for a small, but not a deadeye d*ck around goals.  Will have his share of gettable misses

Determined, but doesn't have any magical traits.  Good at most things without a standout skill

Speed good without being any wow factor

The above are opinions based on limited knowledge.  I like the selection and think he has the basic attributes to make a go of an AFL career.

That sounds like something we need.

How big is he at present?  Aaron Davey type? Does he look like someone who can bulk up a bit without losing speed?

18 minutes ago, monoccular said:

That sounds like something we need.

How big is he at present?  Aaron Davey type? Does he look like someone who can bulk up a bit without losing speed?

 

I was surprised at his small frame when I went to training last month however, I was more surprised with his ability. Did not look out of place at all and had probably only trained with the club for a few weeks at that stage.

I wouldn't say Aaron Davey type. Probably similar size to a first year Billy Stretch when he first rocked up. Nowhere near the pace of Flash but he was very agile, moves well. Every single kid on our list is bulking up nicely, I`ve no doubt he will follow suit.

1 hour ago, monoccular said:

That sounds like something we need.

How big is he at present?  Aaron Davey type? Does he look like someone who can bulk up a bit without losing speed?

I'd say he is like a smaller Petracca in body shape.  Also, Maynard is another who reminds me a bit of Petracca, only bigger!

On 13/01/2017 at 7:06 AM, waynewussell said:

Arrived 10 minutes late due to Bridge Rd Tram! Cool morning, no breeze, damp underfoot but no rain at the moment. All accounted for except Tyson, Kent and haven't noticed Garlett yet. JKH celebrating membership of the main group with flouerescent orange boots!

Did Tyson and Garlett eventually front ww? 

19 hours ago, picket fence said:

Quiet confidence be buggered, this is as exciting list as the Doggies if not better for depth, I am predicting a top four finish, damn the torpedo's, damn the nervous predictions.I'm putting good doh on the DEES to utterly surprise and rattle the AFL fraternity and Blitzkrieg the finals!

GO DEES!!

Can I have a lend of $ 500.00 Pro ???

Sorry, Pickett.