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There are very few permanent small forwards these days. Most rotate through the midfield. I think the argument is moot.

Whatever happened to having a Captain and a Vice Captain?

A senior player that is not a 100% commited despite his talents is of little value to the club both on and off the field. That was Frawley. He was unwilling or unable to go the hard yards to help push us up the ladder. I am sure his commitment level will be much higher at the Hawks and will deliver what they expect from him. I think it was the best move for all parties. Allows us to move on with one less impediment. We got a prime draft pick. Frawley got his money and shot for a flag and the Hawks got their gorilla tamer.

How many times has "I'll trust the coaches" been said over the past seven years? That's up there with "in Barry Prendergast I trust".

Wish i could be as a cool as you. Thanks for your humour and the ability to brighten a day. Actually one of the few posters i look forward to reading,since ive been on this site. All the best for chrissy,tdi.

Just an interesting bit on training, spoke to a few of the players, one of the issues we had in the past is stoppages, if our top liners were not there, ie not on the field, couldn't get there in time etc we got killed, Roos wants the whole team to be able to participate in stoppage work, hence the emphasis at training, where you see forwards and backs doing stoppage work

Just on the Spencer topic the one thing I absolutely love about him and a fair few of his teamates should seriously take a big leaf out of his book, is that he is always in the thick of the action sticking up for his teammates when they go down. He goes in and bats for his mates and doesn't take a backward step. Remember he lost his [censored] against the cats Nab Cup when Toumpas when down and the week before he did it against Dustin Martin who was trying to rough up Daniel Cross, threw a few good ones at Warnock from the blues too.. He just loves a good scrap. That game against Brisbane when Pedersen got dropped and no one ran in to stick up for him was one of the most disgraceful act I have seen the club dished up this year. Hopefully that will be the last we see of that.

A fit Jesse Hogan A fit and running Jimmy Toumpas Second efforts from Jack Watts Injury free year for Tyson and Jones (again) 40 goals from Jeff Gartlett No one leaving as a free agent Wins to excite my kids A few Jeremy Howe screamers 8 wins ...as a minimum A win over Collingwood on Queens Birthday Jack Viney winning the Brownlow

For mine, this is one of the greatest xmas songs ever written...

Furthermore to that, is it a shock horror that the coaches said something positive about a player in preseason. They're not going to be telling the Demonland scribe any plans they have. No offence to TDI, but he's like the media to them, they have their weekly interview where they roll out the company line and say lots of words that have very little substance. I take the player conversations with far more credence. We bought in a stay at home forward called Jeff and the other small forward will be some mix of JKH, Kent and potentially one other. I'd imagine they'll rotate through wing, hf and fp.

Like to c that gift rapped!!

Like this?

Given our recent history I don't think people are expecting him to be a superstar from his first game. I am sure they would wait until his second game.

Now 'DI', I understand you backing up the players, and I'm with you when others bag players and call them names like spuds etc. However, one of the good parts of this forum is to discuss players, what we perceive to be their strengths and weaknesses, where they should play. It's a bit like chat or good old argument with mates over a drink or whatever. Now no matter what they have told you I think that Kent will not play as a permanent forward this year and will rotate through the midfield. If I was a betting man I would have money on it. I don't think Kent has enough tricks to be a permanent forward, think of players like Motlop, Rioli, Stevie J (when he plays there). I think some of his strengths such as running and long kicking could be used to better advantage further up the ground. Petracca when ready is a better forward prospect, he is a goal kicker, Garlett will rotate up the ground but will be the number one crumbing forward so places will be tight. What do you think Kent brings to the table as a permanent forward? I really don't care what a couple of coaches say, a lot depends on the question and timing of it. I'm more interested in your view.

Can't miss something you rarely had...

I am absolutely certain that the recruiting guys are interested, as they will be for dozens of other talents coming out of contract. I must say the highlights from his first game were impressive. Some have commented on his tackling, which was intense and effective. I also loved his disposal hitting targets both when free and more so his strength and accuracy when tackled. I know highlights are highlights, but looked to do nothing wrong and a lot right. One can only wait and see however - right price, right timing, right role.........???????

true, but waving the flag doesn't have to involve the biff (or anything else reportable)

Merry Christmas everyone. Thanks for making this such a great site

3 points if all 3 get up for you ... I think I'll end up doing something similar with my tips. The pattern that has emerged (and that pattern probably emerged last season) is that the conservative route doesn't really work when trying to find 3 road winners ... anyway, 6 of the 8 participants can still win it so at least it's all gone down to the wire.

More chance of Norms wish being granted.

I'm not getting bronze this year that's for sure

Here is a link to the 'ology snaps. Enjoy => http://demonology.me/threads/training-photos-19-12-2014-exclusive-to-demenology.1435/

I think it is an encouraging sign that people aren't clamoring to throw Brayshaw and Petracca in at the deep end. Rightly or wrongly, I think there is more trust in incumbent players (both in clubland and on the boards) to get the job done in this era than when Trengove and Scully were automatic walk up starts after their draft. It shows three things: 1. Positive change in 'blooding' philosophy 2. There is genunie belief in the cattle. Whilst the list isn't perfect - it appears capable of executing Roos game plan 3. Those on the park are less likely now to give up their place so easily with good talent itching to get out there The capacity to climb is actually (finally) there now. Get it done Dees.

I wouldn't be so sure about this. Their crimes if found guilty in my view would be very unlikely to be covered by insurance. It is early days, but after a guilty verdict by WADA etc they will be left with no friends and most insurance claims will be null and void. Then there are the law suits: if they are guilty there is no insurance cover which I am aware of which covers criminal activity, and this will be criminal activity . Even a wealthy club like ESSENDON will go broke confronted by this.

That seems to be the EFC strategy, or more correctly when the players have retired..

Yeah the fact we get 3 free to air games in Australia is pretty good! Yeah it always seemed strange to me that they have so many games on a Sunday, guess were just used to the AFL been spread over the weekend. Yeah defintly going to be a nerve racking Monday morning for both of us. I shouldn't jinx us but I think we both SHOULD win but I have learnt those two words and NFL don't go together haha

A pre trouble Jurrah, alongside Hogan, with Dawes, Howe, Watts and the crumbing of Garlett, Kent and JKH, oh if only.

I would agree with that 'chook' and in fact have been howled down in the past for arguing the same. I'm not as bullish on Kent as many, not to say he won't be a player but to date he's only shown small glimpses. I would like to see him playing further up the ground this coming season and getting a lot more ball. That's going to be the make or break for him, can he get the ball.

Wouldn't be surprised if Fitz replaced Dawes - he finished strongly last year and looks like he will get a full preseason for the first time.

On an overall basis, we do quite well in terms of live games ... Foxtel hasn't done any games this season but that might have something to do with the broadcast rights ... the quality of the games on 7mate has been excellent. Unfortunately, they picked the wrong week to do a late arvo game with not much riding on it - unless the Rams win of course and then Arizona would have everything to play for. My wish would be if the NFL had a Saturday night game every week (as well as the Thursday night game) I see the NFL have flexed a couple more games to the late arvo this week - Packers/Lions game included. So much to play for with both your team and mine. Raiola out for the Lions helps us - I'll take any sort of advantage

I agree that he won't make it as a pure forward but I think he could be a very good high half forward or wingman.

Really keen to know KC......... Is there any possibility of a name change to the Casey Demons ? Until and unless there is - many will continue to regard the Casey- Melbourne affiliation as a temporary one.- which is no good for either club. The suggestion that Melbourne's VFL-affiliate might play at Punt Road is an illustration of that temporary mind-set. Does Shannon Byrne's appointment reflect stronger oversight from Melbourne than may have been the case previously?

One Captain please and let be Jones.

You are really overrating him if you put him up there with Tyson, he's shown nothing to indicate he will get to the same level.

Some here have taken to putting in their tips really early ... I put mine in straight after I post the TV games. A few have missed the odd week. Here are the three 7mate games for next Monday ... (ESPN are doing the regular Redzone & SNF) 5.00am - San Diego @ KC 8.25am - Arizona @ San Francisco 12.30pm - Cincinnati @ Pittsburgh All the week 17 games By the way, 'GtB', which team do you support?

Latin for Today.

No. Our list is far from complete. Another key forward. A good ruck to replace Jamar, maybe 2 if Gawn or Spencil do another knee. Another 4 very good mids to replace McKenzie, Bail, M Jones and Cross (prob retire end 2015), possibly Hunt as well. We lack a midfield depth of 12 quality players. IMO Zac Jones would be a great addition, at the right price of course.

It was for the foot. We demand a refund!

I dont think he shirked the issue , He took a bump when off balance and went down in a tangled heap.Did appear to shape to throw more when both players realised the stupidity of any such contact. There is a need to play hard when required. I think that teammates are that, this is not just an individual game, Support must be given. it should always be within the rules and certainly size and strength should be applied to advantage which will sometimes include intimidation by presence. It seems Roos knows how and when to use aggression and is teaching our team well.

He is on his back on the floor and King goes to pretend to throw a cheap shot at a completely unprepared target. Despite how big you are natural instinct will cause a flinch due to the vulnerability of the position. Stupid Spencer, he should have got up and thrown a haymaker to make himself look tougher. Your last three posts make you sound like the biggest dork, kinda guy who throws a cowards lunch on the footy field and thinks he is the king

I sometimes wonder about them myself when you see two players who are supposedly different heights standing next to each other, from what I can gather by speaking to them, surprisingly a lot of players have no idea what their real height and weight is, they rely on \the fitness and medical staff, when you ask you get "I think', either that or they don't really care as much as we do

Of course it isn't required. But when you make reference to your experience in supporting your argument, I'm just not sure that everything you've experienced in local footy would correlate to the AFL. Dunn did swing forward at times also but he's never really starred, and after being moved around his entire career I'm sure he appreciated being able to settle himself into the backline for the majority, where he will now stay. Besides which, are you suggesting that Dunn has become a better defender than Chip Frawley in the space of two seasons? I mean he's done very well but I would disagree if that's your contention. Dunn wouldn't command 600k a season at a reigning premiership side. I'm not going to rewrite history to make Frawley a dud now that he's gone. Sorry.

I have an idea: We leave it how it is until the season stars. Then with every win we add a person to the banner. It can be based on how overall deserving they were or it can be if they are best on ground and a key part of winning that game. Then as the season goes on hopefully we have lots of faces on the banner.

Yeah nah, Frawley was still our best defender. In 2013 he conceded 25 goals in 17 games, with his direct opponent kicking more than two goals twice. Since 2009 he has conceded 1.7 goals in the reverse Coleman which stacks up against all the elite fullbacks of the past decade. One on one T Mac was gaining on him but if I was to trust anyone to nullify a key forward it would be clearly have been Frawley with his strength and speed over 20m. He was moved forward because he was deemed to have the capability to do so, which early on was proven correct. I wouldn't have thought it had anything to do with his merits as a defender. His headspace affected his game in the end but it doesn't alter him being our best defender. How big a loss he will be remains to be seen, but I'm hopeful of Frost coming on quickly and T Mac continuing his improvement to make the loss somewhat negligible. And in the overall equation with Brayshaw being the gain, I'm happy with the overall outcome.

Imagine what it could have been with a full pre-season. (The only way to use Tyson or any player as evidence in this, would be to compare performance with and without a pre-season. In Tyson's case, we don't have the former.)

"Could be true" isn't the same as "always true".

Do you think it's possible that an interrupted/completely absent pre-season may actually hamper performance during the season? Could that be way the excuse is always whipped out - because it may actually be true?

I knew you were a fake when you didn't talk to Salem about Arsenal..

Actually chap, for the grand old age of 62, I'm not in that bad a shape, if I say so myself, if it will assist you in something going forward, I could PM you one if you like