The New Demons

[demonwithin 46]

Went to Geelong and Casey fields through the pre season and on what I saw on Saturday at Casey the Geelong result would have been the same regardless of playing a more senior side like what we did on Saturday. So this begs the question - Do we play a future side rather then a current side as I have a feeling the results will be the same maybe just the margins different. So on this angle I think we should look at the following side for Round 1

Bell Frawley Martin

Batram Rivers Morton

Wheatley Jones Buckley

Davey Newton Bruce

Neitz Sylvia Maric

White Mclean McDonald

Pettard Moloney Meesen Dunn

On putting this team together I havent included Bate because of injury. When going through the playing list besides the well known fact that our tall defenders stocks are shaky I noticed two alarming things we dont have that every good side does. That is pace and half back flankers who have great disposal (hence Morton on a back flank)

I know this wont be the side but I could put up with the losses and not get despondent if it was a side like above rather then have Yze, Green, Carroll, Robertson etc out there dropping their bundles at the first opportunity. The other one I would have on notice is Mclean - great kick and hard at it but he is injury prone and not quick and I hoping the body language on Saturday was practice match body language because for a future leader it was not good.

Now saying all that I will be there 4.40pm Sunday 23rd March barracking loud and annoying all the Hawthorn people around me hoping I am worst judge in football and the Demons prove to me I know nothing about the greatest game in the world and the greatest club in the world

[Keepin up with the Joneses 48]

Went to Geelong and Casey fields through the pre season and on what I saw on Saturday at Casey the Geelong result would have been the same regardless of playing a more senior side like what we did on Saturday. So this begs the question - Do we play a future side rather then a current side as I have a feeling the results will be the same maybe just the margins different. So on this angle I think we should look at the following side for Round 1

Bell Frawley Martin

Batram Rivers Morton

Wheatley Jones Buckley

Davey Newton Bruce

Neitz Sylvia Maric

White Mclean McDonald

Pettard Moloney Meesen Dunn

On putting this team together I havent included Bate because of injury. When going through the playing list besides the well known fact that our tall defenders stocks are shaky I noticed two alarming things we dont have that every good side does. That is pace and half back flankers who have great disposal (hence Morton on a back flank)

I know this wont be the side but I could put up with the losses and not get despondent if it was a side like above rather then have Yze, Green, Carroll, Robertson etc out there dropping their bundles at the first opportunity. The other one I would have on notice is Mclean - great kick and hard at it but he is injury prone and not quick and I hoping the body language on Saturday was practice match body language because for a future leader it was not good.

Now saying all that I will be there 4.40pm Sunday 23rd March barracking loud and annoying all the Hawthorn people around me hoping I am worst judge in football and the Demons prove to me I know nothing about the greatest game in the world and the greatest club in the world

Not a bad team in 2 years time.

I am Brad Green's biggest critic, but at least give the poor bastard a chance to play where he can have some impact - in a forward pocket

I can't help but feel that we are reliant on Frawley morphing into Silvagni by round 4. Give Carroll some credit, when the ball wasn't going in 100 times a game in 2006, he was pretty handy.

It never ceases to amaze me how much better any side you pen to paper looks with the word 'Rivers' in the back half.

I'll reserve my judgement until after round 3 - then play the kids.

[Old Man Rivers 326]

Not a bad team in 2 years time.

Every chance you can add 2 No. ONE draft picks & a priority pick in 2 years time

[Keepin up with the Joneses 48]

Not a bad team in 2 years time.

Every chance you can add 2 No. ONE draft picks & a priority pick in 2 years time

And even then we are probably 3 years away from really rocking.

We can't expect these blokes to come in and turn us around straight away when it is obvious that our senior bunch is a combination of not good enough, and not interested.

[demonwithin 46]

And even then we are probably 3 years away from really rocking.

We can't expect these blokes to come in and turn us around straight away when it is obvious that our senior bunch is a combination of not good enough, and not interested.

I agree and thats why I am happy to play with a team resembling the one outlined. I thought Martin looked ok at Geelong and the thing with him is that he is big enough to be KPP !

If it was up to me I would bring Macnamra, Cheney, Valenti all in at some time early in the season.

[Gouga 570]

No, no, no! We need to maintain a balance. Playing a team of kids will not fast track development. Kids need to be introduced to the team when they're ready, not when the team requires.

I agree some senior players need to make way, but not all. DW, are you suggesting Green play out his career at Sandringham?

Also I'm starting to get sick of Carroll being a scapegoat for our poor season last year. He did a reasonable job with little to no support. He was good in 2006, and from all reports good in his two games so far this year. He remains our most viable option at full back.

As for run off half back, we have two good candidates in Bell and Petterd.

I'd prefer a balanced line-up come round 1:

B: Wheatley, Carroll, Whelan

HB: Bell, Rivers, Petterd

C: Bruce, McDonald, Green

HF: Robertson, Miller, Sylvia

F: Davey, Neitz, Newton

FOLL: Jamar, Buckley, Jones

I/C: Bartram, P Johnson, McLean, Moloney

And before people jump on me for selecting both Jamar and P Johnson remember we are playing Hawthorn. Both Campbell and Taylor are too big for White and both do little around the ground. Jamar and P Johnson are the only two capable of competing in the centre.

[mo64 5,881]

I'd prefer a balanced line-up come round 1:

B: Wheatley, Carroll, Whelan

HB: Bell, Rivers, Petterd

C: Bruce, McDonald, Green

HF: Robertson, Miller, Sylvia

F: Davey, Neitz, Newton

FOLL: Jamar, Buckley, Jones

I/C: Bartram, P Johnson, McLean, Moloney

Balanced line-up with Miller, Robertson, Neitz and Newton in the forward line? We'll get slaughtered on the rebound.

[Gouga 570]

Balanced line-up with Miller, Robertson, Neitz and Newton in the forward line? We'll get slaughtered on the rebound.

What a stupid comment. Forwards are selected to kick goals.

Neitz has kicked 628 goals, Robertson 379, Newton kicked 14 goals in 9 games last year and Miller is our only option at CHF with the injury to Bate.

Who do you suggest we play down there? Rivers, Whelan?

I agree Robertson needs to improve his defensive skills, but both Davey and Sylvia are in my forward line and both will put plenty of pressure on opposition backmen.

[jacey 333]

And before people jump on me for selecting both Jamar and P Johnson remember we are playing Hawthorn. Both Campbell and Taylor are too big for White and both do little around the ground. Jamar and P Johnson are the only two capable of competing in the centre.

White's career is over if Campbell and Taylor are considered better.

Charman, Everitt, Jolly, Lade, Brogan, Cox, Sandilands, Hille, Laycock, Ottens have all given White baths b4 and i can see it happening again.

McIntosh, Simmonds, Maric, Cameron Wood, King, Gardiner - are too big and rag dolls White.

Only team missing is Bulldogs and Carlton. Hudson would fancy himself breaking even and Hampson is getting better.

We should've cut and run a long time ago ...but we are where we are so who do we pick?

Doughnuts, PJ or Meesen?

I'm with Gouga. Doughnuts and PJ. Maybe some responsibility might help Doughnuts. *Stops laughing *

We need a change in direction in terms of the ruck.