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My source tells me this morning that the calf is much improved. Max could not fully weight bear on that particular side earlier in the week but is now walking freely without discomfort. Will be put through some running tomorrow morning and if he pulls up ok he will be right to go. My source is confident Max will play which was music to my ears!

I've been saying this for weeks. If we fail to win any of these final 3 games we do not deserve finals. Even if we win this week and then lose the last two and be "unlucky" to miss out I will still maintain we don't deserve it. This year we did a great job of beating the teams in the bottom half and matching it with some of the teams around us but we still haven't taken the scalps. Yeah Adelaide and North are technicalities. We need scalps to stop those cliches and wins in 2 or 3 of the next few weeks will go a long way to shutting people up. Fail and they have every right to mock us as pretenders.

Misson has got to go.

Im sure many make their rating of ANB the same way they rate most others... their highlight reel This kid will never have the flashy fend-offs, the huge pack marks, the big spoils etc etc... He just isnt that type of player. What he does do better than most is run to contests, run to make space, run to fill space, run to block, run to present, run run run. Every team needs players of this type, and i reckon we are very lucky to have him. Reminds me a lot of Cotchin in that regard... Not a huge highlight reel, but heaps and heaps of repeat efforts that others dont or cant provide. Get around him.

No, playing Petty instead of Frost did.

The only way Buddy dominates this game is if they move him to half back, because that's where the pill is gonna be.

There’s that clichè again...: “MFC and it’s supporters drinking their own bathwater.” “Have not beaten any team in the top 8.” (Even though Adelaide and North were in the 8 both times the Dees won). Even if we beat Sydney, “still haven’t beaten anyone in the top 8...” They won’t stop. So.. Time to break the shackles in these next 3 weeks Demons - arguably the toughest run home of all in contention. Win all three and top 2 is within grasp (Port over Eagles at home!) and a home final. Aim high Dees! It’s time.

You're the man, Jane!

According to Goody, who is currently on SEN, Hunt is a good chance of playing this weekend.

Hope you haven't bought a ticket to Sydney.

Dickson and Dal Santo on Fox claiming Oscar has to be the match up for Franklin due to a “lack of other options”. Then went on to speak about the need to cut down Buddy’s leading space and nullify his athleticism. Not a single, solitary mention of Frost. Can the bar for footy analysis actually get any lower?

It’s shameful that we lost to the Saints. Talk about coughing up four points. They are an appalling side.

We should pitch for Round 1 Eve. Surely we can blockbuster that one.

Versatility is Pedo’s strength and his Casey form has been outstanding. I know that doesn’t translate to the firsts but with Maxxy sore and OMac and Frost uncertain in their ability to thwart buddy it is a common sense selection.

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2018/08/09/goodwin-provides-viney-injury-update/

I always thought we wouldn’t get far with Harmes and ANB in the side. I was very wrong - both have become important cogs in the wheel.

Spargo has no pace?? What games are you watching

The Frosts.

The price of the team winning and the site becoming more popular. Visits are up and there is more excitement. As site owner if there are more people discussing more topics then it is a good problem to have. There are ways to go directly to the last post that you read on a topic. Click the red star or circle next to a topic to take you to the last post read or from the homepage click any topic and it will take you to that last post read. I will take it under advisement to merge all topics into one mega topic. ?

Last year against them we didn't have Nathan Jones, Jeff Garlett, Jesse Hogan, Angus Brayshaw, Christian Salem, Bayley Fritsch, Charlie Spargo and Aaron Vandenberg.. While their side is actually not too similar to the one they have this weekend. It wont let me upload a screen shot from last years line ups, but our side for the weekend is levels above last years! No excuses this week!

It would appear Casey will have a distinct advantage in this game, given Sandy seem to be planning on having only 17 players on the field (given they have named no-one in one of the back pockets...! LOL)

The club got back to me and indeed they'll be wearing armbands in remembrance of Jarrod. Black ones.

I know the AFL player rankings are a strange beast and IMO seem to be about 6 months behind actual form, but I thought I’d have a look at the Demon players to see where they sit. What I found was pretty interesting (I thought). The Demons have 7 players in the top 100 (Oliver, Gawn, TMac, Jones, Petracca, Melksham, Lewis) and amazingly 17 in the top 200 (Lever, Harmes, ANB, Jetta, Viney, Salem, Hibberd, Hunt, Garlett, Tyson). Hogan (202) and Brayshaw (226) on current form are arguably low and OMac (225) isn't too far behind. I compared this with the other top 10 teams to see where we sit, see below the list: Richmond – 7 in top 100, 10 in top 200. Butler (201), Ellis (212), Rioli (217) and Short (220) just outside WCE – 5 in top 100, 11 in top 200. Cripps (235) GWS – 7 in top 100, 13 in top 200. Taranto (209), Haynes (210) just outside. Demons - 7 in top 100, 17 in top 200. Hogan (202), OMac (225) and Brayshaw (226) the next best. Hawks – 6 in top 100, 10 in top 200. Henderson (221), Impey (224), Burton (233) next 3. Pies – 8 in top 100, 10 in top 200. Thomas (206), Maynard (207) just outside. Port – 8 in top 100, 13 in top 200. Powell-Pepper (203), Watts (215) just outside. Swans – 4 in top 100, 10 in top 200. McVeigh (205), Rampe (213), Mills (219), Rohan (229) Cats – 6 in top 100, 12 in top 200. Stewart (230) North – 5 in top 100, 8 in top 200. Tarrant (204), McDonald (211), Macmillan (216) As you can see 17 players in the top 200 is a considerable achievement. GWS and Port the next best with 13. I was surprised to see Harmes (130), ANB (134) so high. Going into this weeks game: We are missing Melksham (91), Lever (108), Viney (164) and Hibberd (178) so we have 6 in the top 100, 14 in the top 200 (if Hunt plays). The Swans on the other hand have 4 in the top 100 and 9 in the top 200 (Zac Jones missing). As an aside, Bayley Fristch has the 2nd highest ranking of a first year player behind Tim Kelly. If we can get Melksham, Viney and Hibberd back for the finals we'll be well placed to make a charge. We have the cattle. Hells Bells

Watch the replay of last week's game and you will know why.

Wtf is Sam McClure using as a hair do? Looks like someone’s taken a dump ? on his head and then moulded it into something like Demi Moore attempted in Ghost.

We praised pedo last year when he rucked because he was almost an oversized midfielder at times. In reality his inclusion is probably to split time with Gawn and go forward to put more pressure on their backline. I think it's good planning because if Buddy gets ahold of frost you'd think T.Mac would have to go down their and give it a crack.

the irony is if we lost to the crows twice and north they would now be in the 8 and they would be 3 more games we lost to top 8 teams! haha surely some people understand in a close season if you beat teams, they are less likely to be above you. pretty sure Confusious said that, or maybe Robbo

Probably.

A cold morning. A staggered start. Rehab had Jake Melksham, Michael Hibberd, running and ball work. Mitch King doing light duties with them. A small group trained with the running coaches till joined by the rest, absent Max Gawn. Max on the paddock in track pants and runners. No obvious strapping, walked laps and did a couple of runs. Drills done professionally. Cam Pederson, Jayden Hunt and Josh Wagner in the defense during simulations and doing well. Jayden ready for speed and Cam is zoning well. Lachlan Filipovic was doing some drills with the mids. Though during simulations was ruck practicing with Mitch King and not in the contest. The intensity of simulations built up as the players made more contact with each other. Thought Neville Jetta and Jesse Hogan were a bit hampered till they contested, looking good. The squad trained well. from Kev Martin

Hunt replaces Bernie and Pedo replaces Smith. Can't see what the fuss is all about with some posters. Sydney aren't the quickest of teams, so Hunt's pace should be a weapon. Pedo's form warranted selection, along with Smith hurting his shoulder his inclusion shouldn't be a surprise.

Good common sense selections. Saturday is as good as a final for us. Must win.

If you're JFK (and Vanders) you wouldn't want to play a poor game with Melksham and Hibberd due back next week.

Back and chop out ruckman Good call I reckon, and overdue

I’ve seen him as expendable and having value at the trade table, however... I’m beginning to think we’re attempting to build more versatility into his game without depending on him to dominate in a foreign position. In the near future, I can imagine: Vince/ Lewis retires Jones to HBF Tyson into the midfield rotation Not all that far-fetched. I think as supporters we have the tendency to foresee young players maturing & developing, but ignore the decline of those in their prime. At least, I do sometimes.

Go Pedo! I reckon he is in to give Max a chop out, as much as to replace Smith. Bernie may just have played his last game with Hibberd to return soon - even more so if Hunt plays well. JKH very lucky.

Retuned in good form Tom Dyson

Will play.

It isn't just their well known players we have to watch out for. Last week George Hewett had 25 disposals @ 80%, 10 Clearances and they have a bunch of handy, young small forwards. Not sure we have a bunch of small defenders. We aren't good at wet weather football and Sydney have exploited that in the past so lets hope for a dry day. Not feeling confident. Edit: more confident now that Jane02 has reported Max a likely starter. Will help neutralise Syd midfield

Listened live. Sounds as though Hunt will play unless he's foxing.

I had totally forgotten about the other scissor kick.

I don't recall Franklin ever kicking big bags of goals against Melbourne. He is generally good for 3 - 4, but our losing streaks against Hawthorn & Sydney have been more about being flogged in the midfield. Win the midfield, fill the space in front of Franklin to stop his leads and we win the game.

true. And Richmond haven't beaten anyone above them on the ladder.

Yeah I get the feeling that they'll be looking to solidify a team heading into finals and the FD would be keen to see if they can get game time into Hunt to be a part of that and this is the perfect opportunity. We need the desperate Jayden back who plays with intensity and provides pressure wherever he's positioned.

Nah [censored] geelong winning. Love seeing them out side of the 8 and dangerflop cracking the [censored].

This is the week the footy world discovers that Frost…actually not that bad at footy.

Frost v Franklin is the key

I'm actually not on the wating Meth Coast to beat Port bus, I'm about making our own destiny and if we play our best we should beat Sydney and a Meth Coast without Gaff, Nicnat and Possibly Kennedy(retirement is not farxaway). Like 87, 98 and 00 finish strong boys and build on the momentum

Not sure if this is relevant, but Sydney has played its last eight games on the same two grounds - the SCG and Etihad - neither of which much resemble the MCG in size.

Uh oh, we've been talked up, it's a big high profile game being broadcast everywhere, and there's a lot to gain. I must not panic. I must not panic. I must not panic. By the way, if all the right results happen this round, we can actually be two games and 15% points ahead of 9th (Geelong), with obviously only two rounds to go. For once we'd be on the good side of the 'only really a mathematical possibility' saying. In fact, in a show of how mad this season is, all but the Richmond - Gold Coast and the Carlton - Fremantle games matter to our final position. Best Case - The right results in seven games, and we are not just in the 8 at the end of the season, but secure in at least 7th with any chasers needing to win all remaining possible games and gain at least 15 percentage points, just to catch us even if we lose both remaining games. We would also only need one more win, specifically against GWS in the final round, to guarante a top-4 finish. Worst Case - We finish the round as one of four teams on 12 wins, two inside the 8 and two outside, with another two teams on 11 wins. And we'd have by far the toughest draw of the four teams on 12. Of course, we'd also still only be one win out of the top 4. I've been annoying people for weeks saying over and over each week that 'this is the most important game for the Demons in almost 12 years', but, well, this is the most important game for the Demons in almost 12 years.