An objective sometimes thrown up at Draft time is 'team balance'. I reckon our chaps did a pretty good job on this but fell a bit short. They did a good job bringing in Xavier Taylor, Latrelle Pickett, Riley Onley, Kalani White and Oscar Berry, but I suggest, in letting Christian Petracca, Clayton Oliver, Charlie Spargo and Deakyn Smith - yes, Deakyn Smith! - go, and retiring Nathan Jones early, they missed a greater opportunity. Credit to the Board, though, for its contribution to balance in its selection of our new coach (he's such a good fit, and already so familiar, that I feel quite comfortable moving on already from 'Mr King' to 'Steve')

This team might not seem balanced, but it really is. Why? [PMs, blah, blah, blah - you know the drill!]

B:	Jake BOWEY	Xavier TAYLOR	Kalani WHITE
HB:	Jake LEVER	Blake HOWES	Nathan JONES
C:	Xavier LINDSAY	Bailey LAURIE	Christian PETRACCA
HF:	Trent RIVERS	Daniel TURNER	Clayton OLIVER
F:	Bayley FRITSCH	Harry SHARP	Latrelle PICKETT
Foll:	Max GAWN	Kysaiah PICKETT	Charlie SPARGO
I/C:	Jack VINEY	Riley ONLEY	Deakyn SMITH
	Shane McADAM	Oscar BERRY	Coach: Steve KING

We won't be trying to fix everything in one off season. Just getting the ball rolling imo.

26 will be a transition year.... from what we were ( fill in blank ) to where we're going in 27 and beyond... finals and flags.

It might not seem so unbalanced once we see the nature of the beast ( unfold ).

Actually looking forward to the first bounce.

Just now, beelzebub said:

We won't be trying to fix everything in one off season. Just getting the ball rolling imo.

26 will be a transition year.... from what we were ( fill in blank ) to where we're going in 27 and beyond... finals and flags.

It might not seem so unbalanced once we see the nature of the beast ( unfold ).

Actually looking forward to the first bounce.

Oh yeh.... the quiz.. lol

Never mind me

Each row is worth the same scrabble score, provided Trent Rivers is on a double word score, the H in Nathan Jones is on a triple letter, and you cheat extensively.

But I actually feel like I'm on the right track here.

(I am the dog that brings its own red herring to the hunt)

3 minutes ago, Little Goffy said:

But I actually feel like I'm on the right track here.

Hmmm, I was concentrating on the followers.

Imagine if Charlie Spargo stood on Kysaiah Pickett's shoulders. He'd then be the same height as Max Gawn.

56 minutes ago, beelzebub said:

Actually looking forward to the first bounce.

...of me?

...out of here?

These always remind me of Ol' Jeff's cartoons.... just gotta find the bloody hook !!

12 minutes ago, beelzebub said:

These always remind me of Ol' Jeff's cartoons.... just gotta find the bloody hook !!

Nice memory, BB!

It's an under-appreciated aspect of Demonland, being a source of nostalgia.

16 hours ago, beelzebub said:

Actually looking forward to the first bounce.

The first “bounce”?

A thing of the past now, I believe…

29 minutes ago, beelzebub said:

These always remind me of Ol' Jeff's cartoons.... just gotta find the bloody hook !!

I'm sorry I haven't made it this easy for you all!...

So, 🦗🦗🦗, somewhat! 😏

Amazingly - for what he came up with, not that he did come up with something, of course - @Demonstone has given me 2 answers that apply and are direct consequences of the intended actual answer. He has the Victoria Cross of 'participation' awards accordingly.

But the hard-currency medals are all still up for grabs.

The answer is not related to footy, or to MFC, or to anything beyond them. It's all there right in front of you on the page in the OP.

Edited November 25, 2025Nov 25 by Timothy Reddan-A'Blew

I declared myself 100% stumped and request, nay, DEMAND clues.

Ideally clues that give it away completely at the exact moment I next check demonland.

Im still overthinking ( obviously ) these bloody things .. I do see a couple of subtle clues ... ( this done after a few Proseccos , standing on a chair , on my head squinting )

I mean.... this is clear as ........MUD !!!!

15 minutes ago, beelzebub said:

Im still overthinking ( obviously ) these bloody things .. I do see a couple of subtle clues ... ( this done after a few Proseccos , standing on a chair , on my head squinting )

I mean.... this is clear as ........MUD !!!!

Not gonna share deets but I PMd “Timothy” with a query and I do believe I am now on the precipice of breaking this whole thing wide open.

JK. I still have nfi

@Ghostwriter has spotted something important. She now teeters between glory and madness.

No clues there. Just a sympathetic observation.

You don't need anything else but that team sheet to find the balance I claim for it. Concentrate: centre your thoughts and you'll be left right there with the answer.

7 minutes ago, beelzebub said:

@Ghostwriter has just PMd me a pic of that piece of paper!

Edited November 25, 2025Nov 25 by Timothy Reddan-A'Blew

WE HAVE A WINNER!

@Ghostwriter COME ON DOWN!

If the W Awards venue is still set up, that would be fitting!

13 hours ago, Timothy Reddan-A'Blew said:

WE HAVE A WINNER!

@Ghostwriter COME ON DOWN!

If the W Awards venue is still set up, that would be fitting!

No longer teetering between glory and madness, but fully embracing both!

I'm still stuck and teetering between surly and sullen.

1 hour ago, Little Goffy said:

No longer teetering between glory and madness, but fully embracing both!

I'm still stuck and teetering between surly and sullen.

Are you counting on me to spell it out, perhaps, LG? You, too, @beelzebub, and any others lurking secretly? @Demonstone, you were so, soo, sooo close, too.

Edited November 26, 2025Nov 26 by Timothy Reddan-A'Blew

4 hours ago, Timothy Reddan-A'Blew said:

Are you counting on me to spell it out, perhaps, LG? You, too, @beelzebub, and any others lurking secretly? @Demonstone, you were so, soo, sooo close, too.

Does a bear...

I just realised…

I beat Demonstone!

🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳

Edited November 26, 2025Nov 26 by Ghostwriter
Added more party emojis coz this is a momentous occasion! 🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳

5 hours ago, Timothy Reddan-A'Blew said:

Are you counting on me to spell it out, perhaps, LG? You, too, @beelzebub, and any others lurking secretly? @Demonstone, you were so, soo, sooo close, too.

You’re practically giving the answer to them, TRAB!

We can’t all be as smart as I am 🤭

On 25/11/2025 at 05:28, Spirit of '87 said:

The first “bounce”?

A thing of the past now, I believe…

First “throw up!”

28 minutes ago, Ghostwriter said:

You’re practically giving the answer to them, TRAB!

We can’t all be as smart as I am 🤭

The worst of it is I know he IS effectively describing the answer....

It's staring me in the face...

And I'm still overthinking it