1 hour ago, Cranky Franky said:

Overhyping him ? Here on Demonland - shock horror - That has never ever happened.

Demonland has never been short of hyperbole & hubris.

Breaking News: Passionate supporters on a fan forum display excitement. More at 6

Has there been any evidence at training so far this pre-season that he might be a supporting ruckman?

He could do what McVee did in his 2nd year at the club or be a bust like young Woewodin, when you put effort into fitnest and training intensity a player with potential may be able to go to the next level whatever that maybe.

I hope he does the McVee in 2026 like all demonlanders wish, not the alternative he has the size and from all reports the intensity to be the 2026 success story.

Edited 8 hours ago8 hr by durango1946

5 hours ago, Roost it far said:

He needs a better haircut.

I am generally a proponent of MFC players having decent cuts, but there are risks involved.

I think if you look back on the years that Ed Langdon and BBB had after they got rid of the long locks, they had relatively mares of seasons, so I wouldn't be recommending it for Jai.

17 minutes ago, adonski said:

Is Malcolm Blight still selling Noel's caravans to grey nomads?

Edited 8 hours ago8 hr by Tarax Club

Good luck to Jai, he’s putting the work in to leave no stone unturned in getting the best out of himself.

Midfield is a tough gig, lots of craft to learn and when you develop and become a midfielder of note opposition mids coaches will do what they can to counter your influence and you have to evolve and adapt again.

If he becomes a regular mid who does a job with some impact it’s a step forward, not all mids who impact have big possession stats nor are they all A graders.

He’s a long way from it and not suggesting he will ever get there but Josh Dunkley didn’t become a midfielder who influenced games overnight

4 hours ago, Go Ds said:

It wouldn't surprise me if he establishes himself as a useful part of our best 22. But are we overhyping him? Hopefully he'll just be getting on with business regardless. And hopefully even if he does have a few quiet games fans don't feel let down based on their (not the club's) (over-) expectations.

Oh goodness it’s not hype it’s fact based observation — a breakout is certain w/o injury as to breakout simply means he establishes himself as a definite best 22 player. Which he WILL.

25 minutes ago, Tolstoys Nudge said:

Oh goodness it’s not hype it’s fact based observation — a breakout is certain w/o injury as to breakout simply means he establishes himself as a definite best 22 player. Which he WILL.

Incorrect in my football world.

I've always accepted "breakout season" as being when an established player "elevates" & becomes a gun player, match winner or puts their hand up for B&F or AA.

2 hours ago, Cranky Franky said:

Overhyping him ? Here on Demonland - shock horror - That has never ever happened.

Firstly he needs to establish himself as a regular senior player - then after a few seasons he may elevate & have a breakout year.

Demonland has never been short of hyperbole & hubris.

To be fair to Demonland, I think alot of the cues that folks on here have been following are the press releases from the club and interviews with players, coaches etc that have been pumping up Jai's tires.

I don't have any huge issues with this from two perspectives:

1. It could be good to give Jai this confidence and/or reinforce to him and others I the playing group that dedicated training ethos and performance is noticed and will be rewarded with opportunities to play that role at senior level. It's amazing how much difference just confidence can have to a player and perhaps the coaching group have recognised that as something Jai needs to take that next step.

2. Given the trade period we had, the club has to sell some hope that we have players with potential to step-up at senior level, fill the roles of some of the senior players we've lost, in order to generate interest, sell hope and sell memberships early in the season. Vitally important for our ongoing sustainability in the current position of the club.

Even if Jai does fail to deliver on these early indications of potential to perform at a higher level, I don't think we loose much through being wrong on the above. Probably also takes the heat off others, whom might actually step it up and have breakout years even if Jai doesn't.

4 minutes ago, Cranky Franky said:

Incorrect in my football world.

I've always accepted "breakout season" as being when an established player "elevates" & becomes a gun player, match winner or puts their hand up for B&F or AA.

34 minutes ago, Tolstoys Nudge said:

Oh goodness it’s not hype it’s fact based observation — a breakout is certain w/o injury as to breakout simply means he establishes himself as a definite best 22 player. Which he WILL.

Going to sit on the fence a little bit here and say that both things can be true and it's all relative to the players level to start with.

An establishing player can have a breakout year that establishes them in the team and an established player can have one where they go to an elite level.

In my view, it's all about a player taking their game to the next level in a big step, rather than one of slow incremental improvement.

50 minutes ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

To be fair to Demonland, I think alot of the cues that folks on here have been following are the press releases from the club and interviews with players, coaches etc that have been pumping up Jai's tires.

I don't have any huge issues with this from two perspectives:

1. It could be good to give Jai this confidence and/or reinforce to him and others I the playing group that dedicated training ethos and performance is noticed and will be rewarded with opportunities to play that role at senior level. It's amazing how much difference just confidence can have to a player and perhaps the coaching group have recognised that as something Jai needs to take that next step.

2. Given the trade period we had, the club has to sell some hope that we have players with potential to step-up at senior level, fill the roles of some of the senior players we've lost, in order to generate interest, sell hope and sell memberships early in the season. Vitally important for our ongoing sustainability in the current position of the club.

Even if Jai does fail to deliver on these early indications of potential to perform at a higher level, I don't think we loose much through being wrong on the above. Probably also takes the heat off others, whom might actually step it up and have breakout years even if Jai doesn't.

Or you could watch him train on multiple occasions if you have the opportunity. I do, I did, I believe.

He was a "slow burner" at Casey but he started to impact in the second half of the season.

I have no idea whether he can make it but he is the size and build of the modern mid fielder. He also has a strong vertical leap which makes him a nice marking target.

Good luck to him.

Of course pre-carnival form on the track will need to translate to actual manifold performances in the reale season.

May his tyres remain pumped up in spite of the 3 H’s Hubris, Hyperbole and Hysteria.

Edited 3 hours ago3 hr by Tarax Club
Verisimilitude edit

2 hours ago, Tarax Club said:

Of course pre-carnival form on the track will need to translate to actual manifold performances in the reale season.

May his tyres remain pumped up in spite of the 3 H’s Hubris, Hyperbole and Hysteria.

...and Hope?

11 hours ago, Go Ds said:

But are we overhyping him?

Yes. They’re making him sound like the next Patty Cripps.