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Keilty will be an emergency this week, just to give him a taste of the pre-game routine, and incase a big man goes down. Was told it was a reward for his latest form.

I spoke with Frosty at a club function last weekend. He was ok with going to Casey and knew his form was down and stated that this happens. Determined to work hard and get his spot back. No hint of unhappiness. He is a Melbourne boy and Wesley graduate who wanted to return from Sydney to be close to his family, (even if his brother is in Brisbane but not getting a game). Tactically it may not have been ideal to postpone contract talks to years end and get dropped but most of the contract renewals have just started. We don't have that many tall defenders and Frosty plays tall or short and has pace, it is his disposal that is lacking. I would be loathe to see him leave

Happening.

Back slaps for Watts and Salem at training this morning after the huddle in the centre of Gosch's Paddock towards the end. They are in the team. Frost prominent in terms of a bowed head for much of training - the separate thread on his future may well have some currency.

So outs for them Pendlebury Fasolo Wells Greenwood DeGoey Varcoe and Sinclair Outs for us Viney Injuries about even?

His career was cut short.

Jack's Back!!! ??? ➡️ Ins: Jack Watts, Christian Salem ⬅️ Outs: Billy Stretch (Omitted), Josh Wagner (Omitted)

He learnt from The Master

I've always rated Jon Ralph.

What!?!?! This is news to me! He's still at work so I haven't spoken to him yet. I wonder why they've done this, if he was getting a debut I assume he would've been told by now, and he hasn't rang me to tell me so. So maybe they just want to use him as an emergency, or possibly a backup for finals?

I am a newbie. Signed up in July. And to further put myself out there, I AM FEMALE. I love the dees, hate the hawks & have brainwashed one of my daughters to support the grand old flag. The other daughter is a work in progress....

https://www.triplem.com.au/sport/afl/news/jars-drops-some-intel-on-the-future-of-jake-lever-and-mitch-mcgovern Jarman thinks lever is gone and will join us on some very good money

I think your average Demonland punter fails to acknowledge the emotional impact selection can have on the playing group. Morale is super important. If the players see inconsistency in selection or the coach playing favourites then they lose heart. Good football clubs are built on trust and honesty. When the coaching group lays down expectations and leaders create minimum standards you can't just throw that stuff out when we get to September and say "just name the best 22 regardless of form". They need to see follow through on all the talk coming from the coaches and leaders. Team-first is an expression we hear a heap. We also hear a heap about players who know and understand their role. 'Best 22' is an interesting concept. Best 22 in talent? Best and most balanced 22? Maybe we should focus on the most effective 22. And then perhaps go further and focus on the most effective 22 against the opposition for that week. I fear for Jack Watts. If our gut instincts are right and he gets selected tonight, I hope he delivers. It's been a long and arduous journey and I've held on to the belief that one day Jack will be smiling along with the rest of us but he can't dish up what we saw since his return this week. When up and about there's no doubt he's in my most effective 22 against any opposition but inconsistency continues to plague his game. And it's hard to trust someone whose performance fluctuates as much as his.

Perfect changes. Finals here we come!

Couple of things here. 1. On the Mac Block thing - OMac dropped much further down the draft than anyone expected. Tom (and Oscar) thought that he wasnt going to come to the Dees once we used 40 on ANB as everyone was surprised Oscar fell so low. So Tom didnt say you have to draft Oscar or else and he isnt here because Oscar still is. They are independent men. 2. Frost is great, I like him, but Lever is an upgrade. OMac and TMac have been the 1 on 1 guys and OMac is the guy down there who understands the backline spacing. Frost has been the 2nd or 3rd tall for the last couple of years and that is his role. That is also Lever's role as well, and he is much better at it (sorry Sam). 3. We rated Lever 5th in the draft. (Heeney, Petracca, Brayshaw, McCartin, Lever). Lever was interviewing with us a lot coming up to the draft and he was the only other one in the conversation for picks 2 and 3. At one stage he thought that he'd end up at the Dees over McCartin. We know the injury dropped him a long way down the draft board and if you think about it right now, this kid was number 5 on our board. 2 years ago we had pick 4 for Clarry. Hypothetically, if Carlton came up and said for pick 4 you can have our pick 12 and our third key defender (Liam Jones?) we wouldnt have taken it. If the Crows are willing to hand over Lever for a first rounder and Frost, as much as I'd hate to loose Frost, I'd be asking where I could sign.

Maybe you've out done yourself? Maybe your relentless campaign has us all scared. Maybe Oscar can't play footy. Maybe we need to keep Frost.

Damn, I thought this was going to be about The Bachelor.

Yes. Even his critics here are saying he is in our best 22 and should be in the team for finals. A worse case scenario is Jack is not selected this week and also plays at Casey during the AFL bye and comes in for the Elim, if we make it. But it would be a brave Goodwin to leave him out this week and risk losing and then the planets misalign and we miss finals altogether. If that happens I would be ropable! It would be an even braver move to leave him out of finals altogether (if we make it). #bringbackjack

Its not you, its them. Tyson is solid as a rock and a huge part of our midfield engine.

Aside from the disbelief I have after reading that suggestion Pencil is out injured

From the thread title alone, i thought it was the early betting odds for this week's game!

I think Goodwin has shown a harder edge in the last few weeks - ramping up the pressure and expectation prior to finals. A good thing.

Watts on the half back flank and wing. Put Vince around half forward or use him as a tagger. I don't like Vince being used to kick the ball back in.

BIG congrats to Dec Keilty for being named an emergency. Due recognition for some outstanding form in the magoos.

Watts.... Kicks....Goal!!! Part 2. I don't want it that close though, I'm on my last valve.

Agree with all the aforementioned, with the exception that Jack Watts has an opportunity to become legends for the club over the next 2 - 6 years (as do many players with his potential on our list). Let's face it if we hope to be a good team and play dominant seasons, finals and grand finals in that sort of period, then it presents a lot of opportunities. To gauge a player's ultimate value to the team simply on what they produce in the next few weeks is foolish in the extreme (not accusing you of that Wrecker). I often think our expectations of players are unrealistically high. There are few players in the history of the game that have gone through their careers without some kind of form slump and very few key position forwards that have been dominant players early in their career. Again if we are realistic, Jack Watts is not really a traditional key forward and will probably never be a bone crunching courageous marking type, but he has the potential to be an extremely damaging player in his own way through his elite feild vission, feild passing and shots on goal. Whilst he has let us down with perceived effort/courage on many occasions during his development (and even some recient history), he has also stood up on many occasions in big moments and been a match winner in games. As we improve as a side, I think life will actually get easier for Watts and as well as him gaining in confidence and understanding of what it required. For this week, going his on the contested possessions, tackling and report/MRP that he has produced at Casey, he clearly has the intent back and that combined with Jack Watts playing at even half his potential best is better than what either Wagner, Stretch or Hannan have produced in recient weeks. The up-side to Watts far surpasses any of the aforementioned.

Jack Watts has the opportunity to be a legend of this footy club over the next two months. don't fear for him, he haas played 150 games, his time is now.

For a guy in his sixth season on AFL list, Frost's development has stalled badly this year. He is clearly an excellent athlete, but he is not a natural footballer. Some of his decision making and positioning has been awful this season. I'd like to keep him around, but not on stupid money. I'm not sure what his bargaining position is whilst he is at Casey, so hopefully he comes to his senses and takes the club's offer.

Thanks Beeb, next you will be saying my lucky red socks don't work!

When did Alex Rance become a star? He also had fundamental skill issues until he was about 23, which is the same age as Frost. Liam Jones took until 26 to come good. Ted Richards is another example of a late bloomer. Jeremy McGovern did not get a game until he was 22. Just because Frost struggles at times with his skills, doesn't mean he won't improve.

You get the connection between form and performance right?

Unlike what many here say I agree that Spencer has a lot of upside. If he can string together 10+ games I believe he can get on a roll and really perform. Reminds me of Mumford and I reckon he'll get picked up by a contender.

I wouldnt write Frost off. He has some flaws for sure but he also has lightning pace, can take a mark and is strong. I'd be happy if we was a Lever for Frost swap of course but having both would give us some flexibility.

Pies where into him.

I'm going to stop eating pies and start training for a track and field event. Discus.

If he's not back in this week then there's more to the story than we are being told. Nobody can seriously say with a straight face that we're better off with Wagner or Stretch in the team than Watts.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/jake-spencer-set-to-test-free-agency-as-he-chases-more-opportunities-outside-melbourne/news-story/8d58bcbd8489895520b45da1c9add900 Jake is a work horse and team first type of player but his body has repeatedly failed him throughout his career. With Pedo signing on again for next season and succeeding as a back up ruckman l'm happy for the MFC to move on. Best of luck Jake

Sooo, anyone else excited to hear the boys sing the team song after the Saturday win? Talk about the hairs on the back of your neck standing up. It will be sung loud and it will echo through the whole MCG.

Probably belongs in the Lever or other list managment thread, but no way I'd give Frost and a 1st rounder for Lever. No way I'd give up a 1st rounder altogether for Lever either. We have fairly solid key position and other backline players as it is, when you consider we have the two Mc Donalds, Frost, Jetta, Hibbard, Hunt and possibly Salem in that group. I don't know what the facination with Lever is in that sense anyway. I really think we still need a few more quality mids to replace the aging Jones, Vince and Lewis. Unless we could somehow snag a bargin ready made player, I actually see going to the draft to target quality genuine mids as the way to build our list in future years. Sometimes you can get lucky with late picks, but I really think that there still has to be some correlation with low picks and ultima quality/ability (i.e. Clarry, Judd, Hodge etc).

AFL.com says Watts in. No surprise really.

Did anyone else hear on sen this morning talking about the umpires not wanting to retain the bounce because of too many injuries. It went on for a while then some caller from WA rang in to say he was involved with the umpires and the problem is most of their " top or best" umpires were too old, that's why they are copping injuries. They then went on to list all those 40 and over, talk about a dad's army there were about 8 of them. He also said because they get paid so well now none of them want to give it away, but its holding back the development of those in their 20's.

Collingwood CAN take us out of the finals. Not alone, but they can provide the foundation. Bucks will implore them to play for the jumper, the club, their pride. To go out on at least a winning note. To spend 100% and leave nothing/NOTHING out there as there is for them no tomorrow. There is a thought that when at war beware the foe that has nothing to live for. He may well present as your worst nightmare. Make no mistake....they have something to play for....it's just not what we have !!

I want Frosty to stay. Big, fast aggressive blokes don't grow on trees and if it true he's got the sulks being played in the 2s it'll only be worse if we start shopping him around. As for Lever, I'll believe it when I see it and if we're not careful we'll lose Frost and have neither.

We're way more injury depleted than them.

Its good that Jake can look for a new home with the security of knowing he can stay at the Dees if he doesn't find a club that will give him more opportunity. Pleased that the club isn't just going to delist him if he doesn't get a gig elsewhere.

Hi everyone, long time reader, first time poster. Hope to be able to contribute on Demonland from time to time but the bar is set very high. There are some very knowledgeable (and humourous) posters on here!

Get stuffed.

Welcome back, JW

Plapp's VFL report: Jack Watts: Jack had 20 possessions, including nine contested possessions, 11 marks, three clearances and kicked one goal. I thought he played a significant role on the weekend, particularly in the middle part of the game, where we needed to change some things up in the middle of the ground. He was able to play as a midfielder and give us some composure, plus some fierce ball movement, which opened up and gave us some scoring opportunities. That was a significant move in the day, which added real value in that part of the game. I was happy with his team-first attitude and engagement of VFL footy. He had a big influence on the game for us.