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An easy morning for training, sunny, not too cold and only a little breeze. The mood seemed subdued. Rehab had Joel Smith in it, Oscar Baker doing laps and Neville Jetta being tested. Nev later joined the main group. Plenty of drills were done. Mostly hit ups with small kicks. Seemed they were working on the basics, especially by foot. The forwards had Sam Wiedeman, Mitch Hannan, Jake Melksham, Dean Kent and Tim Smith. Tim joined the Casey group near the end of training. Plenty of goal kicking practice for them. Mids working well. Charlie Spargo going to boundary throw ins but not in the centre bounce. The backs included Michael Hibberd and Josh Wagner (later joined the Casey group). Casey also included Tom Bugg (forgotten man). The simulations became congested on several occasions. They seemed to be going more direct with less emphasis on spreads. The defensive aspects seemed strong. Max Gawn was training well. Tom Mcdonald leading the forwards with instructions. Nathan Jones giving plenty of encouragement. The bonding session was very vocal and seemed genuine in their joy for each other.

Popped in at training for just over an hour and nice to see Joel Smith back training - albeit just with Crossy. Saw his scar and the medicos appear to have done a great job. He is setting himself for a return next week v GWS and imagine he will be sporting more padding than his dad used to don. Hope he doesn't rush back - he's way too important if we make finals. Jetta also was initially in rehab group but after about 45mins joined the main group, so he'll be right to play. Baker the only other rehab player and he was just doing laps - he reckons the VFL prelim is his target. Melky and Hibberd both looked fit and eager. Unless they hurt themselves in final bit of training they will be playing. Pedo training with backs, Weid training with forwards. As to side, I will be surprised if there is not four changes. Obviously, Hunt and Hogan are out and Spargo needs to reboot in VFL, while the experiment with Pedo as intercepter did not work and Hibbo will be back to play that role this week and with the Eagles down to two tall forwards - Vardy and Darling - it's hard to justify having three tall backs. That means it's a question of whether Pedo replaces Hoges as our second tall forward, or whether Weid gets the job. I'm loving all the rhetoric on other threads, but as I've said before, Weid now has the agility to play AFL, he just needs the confidence and the rule changes next year will help him. Ultimately he has to play because why spend the whole week training Pedo as a backman if you want him to play as a forward. So Melky in for Spargo, Weid in for Hoges, Hibberd in for Pedo and Fritsch sent to defensive rotations for Hunt, leaving one more spot to be filled by either Kent, Hannan or Bugg. I haven't got a clue which one, but Buggy looked more fired up at training than I've seen him for a while.

I'm in favour of the club replacing the free scarf with every membership with a 30 minute session with a sports psychologist to help me cope with the footy season.

I'm not sure how or why, but I have lost a lot of interest in this season following last week's loss. Maybe it's because I know for sure that no matter what happens in the last two matches, we are no real threat of winning anything of importance this year. My interest will probably be restored if we win this week, but I still went and booked a work trip for the day after the GF because I know the only hangover I'll be suffering will be from watching yet another grand final without Melbourne in it.

No more than loosing to Geelong twice, Port and to Sydney last week. This year it has been more just failing to get the job done against the better teams that has cost us. Sure the St Kilda game was disapointing but many of the top sides have lost to lesser teams during the season, as I think the competition is that close where you have a bad game, an underdog has a good one and senses a victory and gets up on the day. We have done pretty well by AFL standards getting the job done against lesser teams. Geelong bad losses: Bulldogs, Adelaide, Essendon; Hawthorn bad losses: Brisbane (twice), North; Port bad losses: Freo, Essendon, Adelaide; Sydney bad losses: Suns, North; GWS bad losses: St Kilda (draw), North, Essendon. This not beating top teams thing is starting to get over hyped and over rated. Last year we beat 4 top 8 teams (Adelaide, Port, Essendon and West Coast), but still missed finals, because we had dropped so many games to lesser sides. I feel like we have been so much more competitive overall and consistently better this year, that I'm hoping we look at the lack of beating a top team to this point as more of a querk than any kind of mental deficiency or lack of ability. It's about beating who ever is in front of you on a weekly basis and the rest is retrospect... but only time will tell in the next two weeks I guess.

No matter what Wallace says, rehashing and glorifying him being assaulted on the field I find incredibly distasteful.

I’m a Garlett fan and still a believer... I’d like to see a final bench of: Melksham, Kent, Garlett and Fritsch. Plenty of run and pace there.

Maybe you're just making arsumptions about the hole thing.

He could have done better during the bye.

I’m probably naive but I liked his positivity which hopefully will filter through to the playing group. Despite Hogan’s absence I think it will be our strongest unit for a while. We just might be a sneaky chance.

I liked Goody's presser today. Although his game day coaching hasn't been great, I feel he is getting better at being more dynamic and identifying issues as they happen. It's only his second year with with the reigns after all. When we lose as many games as we have this year by a couple of kicks, it's really just up to the players at that point. We're closer than ever before, and I'm backing Goody in as he seems to have the respect and buy-in from the playing group. That's one of the most important aspects of being the head coach in my opinion, the rest can and will improve in time.

First, Wallet watches every game of AFL football every week, and has every right to put his light on things. He was one of the first last year to rule-out Adelaide early in 2018 when they were red-hot. Roosy for memory, was one of the first to rate Richmond in 2017. Second, I actually agree with Goody, in that the 17 games within a kick speaks volumes. Wallet and Lyon (8 by default) is average commentary in my view. I won't be slitting my wrists unlike the simpletons, if we don't make it. For those clowns here that raise Rod Grinter, just shows you how empty and inept some 'contributors' are here. The Fraser Annings of Demonland.

im coming out of the depression from sunday and now I am confident we will win like I was last week wtf is wrong with me??!?

No, I'm afraid that Jack. Louie and Bob have all left us now.

Every year for the last four years Hardie has stated he has inside information that Hogan will be going home. He has no idea.

A question 000. Do the players do any goal kicking practice running into goal and having a shot from 55m to 45m out? It frustrates the hell out of me that we have players that are good kicks for goal trying to pin-pass a low bullet to a leading player, when they could potentially run an extra 5 meters and have a shot. I can only really think of a few occasions this year where we’ve had shots on the run from about 50m. Lewis (x2) v Crows, Salem maybe another couple. It seems to me that the odds of stuffing up the pass & mark & shot for goal would be higher than having a single shot on the run. It may be a distinct tactic that the players are being instructed not to do but Jesus it annoys me.

Need not too worry about all the commentary on Gaff! He will be a Demon!

People are kidding themselves if they think Weid hasn't earned a call up to replace Hogan. His last month at VFL level has been very good. Round 19 - 2 goals... couldnt find the official stats for some reason, but the coaches review said Weid was imposing and just missed out on votes. Round 18 - 24 disposals, 7 marks, 7 hitouts, 2 goals Round 16 - 12 disposals, 4 marks, 7 hitouts, 2 goals Round 15 - 17 disposals, 6 marks, 7 hitouts, 4 goals Round 17 was a bye.

1st minute he had the opportunity to handball to a running Jeff Garlett into open goal but selfishly elected not to and got ran down holding the ball. Garlett rightly gave him a massive spray.

We are lucky Saints and Crows have been disgustingly underwhelming this season. If they hadn't have been, the Media would be riding the Demons even harder. We have a list that should be pushing for top 4, yet here we are wondering if we will even play finals. Goody needs his team to make finals, or the noise next season around his job is going to get very loud.

When we get all this noise from the experts and the experts on here I always remember what Blight said at the start of the season. Looks like he was pretty right to me. It's relevant to the discussion on Goody, the players and their mental weaknesses as some like to call. It's all "fugazi"... Too many pushed expectations too soon, we are so close but not quite there. We may well make finals but we're a way off yet and despite wanting us to be contenders we're just not ready. I'm comfortable with where we're at, yes I would like to see us in the top 4 giving it a shake but key injuries along with the list profile made it highly unlikely. This is why we're not quite there yet...I know many won't want to hear it. https://www.sen.com.au/news/2018/03/06/dees-will-struggle-to-make-the-eight-again-blight/

Honestly our selection committee have some kind of man love for Spargo. I like him, but I would be bringing in anyone else after last week's performance. I want Kent to have a run before his contract is up and we have to make a call on his future. #playkent

Umpires by 4 goals.

it would go nowhere near getting it done - it would be daylight robbery for us if he's leaving meth coke, it's as a free agent, not in a trade

If we don't make finals you can all blame me. After a salubriously delicious long lunch and many frothies one Saturday a few months back I booked a finals package including the GF. Since then we have had a bad run in form and injuries. ( I actually do feel responsible!)

Percentage!

Its the 5% im worried about!!

Weed is officially in.

I think we will see this now, we aren't going to change our game style so we need 3 talls up forward to compete in the air. Frost gets Darling and Pederson is basically in to play on Mcgovern no matter where he goes In Melksham, Hibberd, Weiderman, Kent Out Hogan, Hunt, Garlett, Spargo Line Up Jetta Frost Fritsch Hibberd Omac Lewis Jones Oliver Salem Petracca Pederson Vandenburg Melksham Tmac Weiderman Gawn Brayshaw Harmes ANB Kent Tyson Kennedy Harris

I'm hoping this is the case. He may try, but just doesn't seem to do anything particularly well, and some things not so good at all (foot skills, decision making etc.) I'd much prefer Hannan or Kent for the role.

Me maybe but not you.

Like Jaded, i’m not feeling the usual pre-match anxiety that normally follows the Thursday chat. I think deep down I have almost accepted that we have blown it for this year, so the expectation for the last 2 games is not so high. If we do the improbable then I will be over the moon. I may well feel different on game day, but I almost prefer this current state of mind. It’s so much easier on the old ticker. On reflection we are certainly a better side than last year. While extremely disappointed we have stumbled this year, the fact that we have, simply shows we are not yet ready for the big dance. We’ve effectively had 5 years of progressive improvement. No one should be disappointed in that. Maybe the rebuild has not been as quick as some would have liked, but while we are not yet the real deal, I don’t think we are too far from it. In this age of instant gratification, having patience is not an easy emotion to embrace. As someone who sat on the wing and watched as our back pocket player snapped the winning goal in the 64 grand final, I know what having patience means. But in all those intervening years I have never felt more confident in a playing group as I am in this one. So i’ll enjoy the rest of this year, whatever the results of the next 2 games, while knowing that next year, 2019, will be ours. Go Dees.

Nah he's a shocker, up there with Morris, Langdon, Whateley, McClure and Hagdorn.

Is fast becoming one of our most frustrating players. Made 3 terrible errors in the first 5 minutes against Sydney. Does some really good things and has talent to burn. His one-step high balls that he kicks makes me want to scream. FFS man go back from the mark and kick it long and low.

Out: Spargo, Hogan, Hunt In: Melksham, Hibberd, Kent

That's true. But they have some excellent field kicks who hit targets and forwards with good technique that take their chances. They also have a ruckman who has good technique ans can be relied on to kick goals when he has the chance

It's becoming glaringly obvious that it will come down to us having to beat GWS by 35 points to make it. We will then win by 30 points with a behind after the siren, having led by 66 points during the 3rd quarter

Only 5% chance of missing? Our boys will take that as a challenge

There have definitely been some subtle changes in Sam’s role. He’s stronger, is doing more ruck work around the ground and is becoming a well rounded player, rather than type cast as a KPF. He needs a breakout game at AFL level and if that happens, we won’t see much more of him at Casey.

Swyl, i reckon I saw Big Maxy play in the first Demons game I attended. What a talented guy: could play footy, could bowl and also watched him calve up NSW as a lower order batsman in a shield final in the early 70s.

So, could this ridiculous 6-6-6 knee jerk reaction by Big Chief Knee Jerk Gillon actually help us, against our will? Moonshadow - can we nominate you for coach? It is quite clear that nobody on our coaching panel or in our leadership group have ever even considered this simple solution to all our woes, otherwise they would have put it in to action and have it executed perfectly and precisely. Please forward it to Mr Goodwin.

:-( and I would prefer the 9% of being premiers :-) Statistics are only correct 60% of the time and are wrong another 60% !

While I don’t think James Harmes will make the final 22 (but you never know), this nomination certainly recognises the sheer dedication this kid has put into his game since being elevated off the rookie list. Maybe not A grade but certainly a very solid B to B+.

That there are only two Tigers and zero Eagles is telling on the value of experience