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sad so to read this , no words can be said my deepest condolences goes out to you brad and family anyone who has lost a wife ( partner ) , the mother of their children , I can tell you its so F&*King hard , so hard to tell the kids so hard to get up again try explain it to a 6, 9 and 11 year old , I can feel you pain Brad and know exactly whats coming , I really hope the club gets around you and you have support . you will miss your wife everyday , every minute , the little things that break you down , over and over again you never forget , you sadly learn to live with it . I tell my kids about their mum any chance i can. Mark

And given the ball will be on the deck quite a bit we'll also miss his ability to bend down and collect ground balls. Might miss his elite pointing ability as well.

Could be a real surprise for us Demon fans. I have watched him since he was about 12 or 13 playing for Sale Magpies footy Club U/16's and he has worked so very hard to progress this far. Is a real chance to play a lot of AFL. At 18 he may still grow a tad but at present is just slightly shorter and lighter than Josh. Like his brother and sister Lara (Melb Vixens Netballer), he is a student of the game he plays. Has talent in spades and is respected by all down here in Sale and Yarram where his family home is. A real hard worker too which might be a bonus this year. The whole family are sports achievers of the highest calibre. Good Luck Kyle.

I haven't done a close comparison but is it the same posters who don't want him playing in the seniors that are now complaining that he's been suspended and therefore can't play in the seniors?

I saw this yesterday on Brad’s Instagram and have found myself thinking about it multiple times over the past 24 hours. What an absolute tragedy, been recently married myself I couldn’t imagine what it would be like to lose your wife let alone the mother of your children on top of that. Really puts life into perspective, a bad day at work, stuck in traffic, the small minute things that we get caught up on in our day to day lives really mean nothing. Let alone a lot of us getting caught up on the current state of our football side, it’s sad it takes tragedies like this to realise what is really important in life. I am sure the club will get around Brad & his family and provide the support needed

Our thoughts are with Brad and his family.

Ridiculous. Lewis has been a phenomenal get, and was a key driver in our success in the finals last year - and in helping install the hardness we needed to get there.

We should look at purchasing the three precogs from Minority Report so they can predict the future of our players.

There goes our premiership chances.

Either you haven't seen many of the players in the last 20 years or you have a strange assessment criteria. Are you claiming Stretch is worse than Tom Gillies, James Sellar, Troy Davis, Jace Bode, Isaac Weetra, Tom McNamara...(I could go on)? I don't mean to disrespect any player I've just mentioned, but let's stop being so emotive and be a bit more realistic in our criticisms.

I might be easily impressed, but I like that the last four letters of his surname are the same as the four letters of his first name.

Seriously - I cannot believe some of the comments here about Lewis. Just pathetic.

Hey all, A few of us are making the pilgrimage to the Top End this weekend! Firstly, the Dees will win. You heard it first. 21 points. Secondly, I have a spare grandstand seat, so if you need one, or know anyone that does, let me know. Thirdly, it’s a big weekend in sport, with the mighty Spurs trying to knock Liverpool off in the Champions League. I have arranged for the SkyCity Sportsbar to have the game on (kickoff 4.30am Darwin time, Sunday morning), even though the bar itself will be shut. So my bro and I are planning a big post-win celebration, followed by the game at the casino. All welcome to join!

Some of you guys are incredible. Need: Fast outside runner with silky skills, good overhead and can kick goals. How many players match this description in the whole AFL? A dozen? Most would have been top 10 national draft picks. This is a draft that’s the best of what’s left. Take the best of what is available. Dunkley looks solid, comes from a strong football family and is 19. He isn’t going to be Josh Kelly or Lachie Whitfield or Tim Kelly or Hugh McCluggage or Ollie Florent. But he might turn into a good player like his brother.

We wouldn't have got Lewis for 2 yrs... and we had to put salary-cap space somewhere... rather than overpaying kids that hadn't deserved it then. He was brought in to teach and direct, and since he's been in the side, we've improved... and then got to the Prelim final, in his time with us. He has definitely helped us on-field, and off.... but many people are just looking to hang their Angry-Hat on someone... and preferably someone who came in from outside. ... cannibalistic fair-weather supporters, looking to cook someone for no good reason. Just because we're having a poor year, and he's getting past it... some think they can strip his flesh. He's getting older, and less needed. Lew deserves much more respect from the legion, than he's receiving.

He did have a back injury which significantly hampered his pre-season I believe.

Neither of our small forward rookies Bedford or Chandler have managed 3 goals in a VFL game. Dunkley, a midfielder, kicks 3 in his first game. I like this kid already.

I recall the last game against the Willies in Williamstown was shall we say rather rough and ready, most of the roug stuff coming from the hard nit Willie boys. It sounds to me Lewis stuck up for himself. Posters on this site regularly amuse me. On the one hand everyone wants players to stand up for the Max, then they take the mickey out of a bloke who doesn't take c(r) ap from biffo heroes. In the meantime regular offenders like Ablett and Fyffe walk away scot free...

Appreciate every damn day you have with your loved ones and live every day to its fullest.

I lol’d. If this was a season that mattered I’d be furious. He’s just about finished as an AFL footballer so who cares. Who was it in the Casey thread who said Lewis was harrassed all day and did well not to belt anyone? Whoopsie!

We'll miss his outside run and speed in the Darwin humidity.

Why Frost? He has exceptional this year. Yeah has the occasional brain fade, but makrs up for it with his dash and ability to want to tak risks. Oscar should be the one gone. Got towelled up by Himmelberg to the point where they actually had to move a first year player in Marty Hore onto him. Adds absolutely nothing to this teams whatsoever. Frost, May and Lever are my chosen tall backs. May to get the number 1 forward, Frost the 2nd and Lever for the 3rd. Hore to play that roaming intercept defender which then frees up Hibberd to play as a run and carry defender.

"Leader"

Heaven forbid if the poor kid comes on here and reads some of the comments by the same usual [censored] that write off these kids every year whoever we draft. Welcome Kyle!

Spoke well on SEN this morning when driving to training for an 8am start. Sounded happy with a bit of country in him. Said it was 'bloody terrific' (or something like that) to being recruited by Melbourne. Let's reserve judgement and hope for the best

He's excellent. But he wouldn't commit to the club long-term. He wanted to play in Perth. We 100% made the right call. Our problem isn't trading Hogan, it's the complete lack of form of TMac and Weideman combined with the ineptitude of those kicking it to them. Agree. The non-shepherd of TMac's shot at the start of the second killed us. We had a modicum of momentum at that point and could have got the crowd up with an early goal. TMac not making the distance is bad enough, but no one in the goal square to shepherd it through is unforgivable. Absolutely unforgivable.

I'm one of the first to say we need more pace and outside run/skill and wanted us to use multiple picks taking some gambles, but it's also true that after Oliver, Viney, Harmes and hopefully a rejuvenated Brayshaw our inside ball winners do drop away pretty quickly. Jones is close to the end, Petracca hasn't shown he can step up and be a midfielder, Vanders' foot is stuffed, Maynard's gone backwards. After that it's Sparrow and that's about it. Same thing goes for ANB, Spargo, JKH etc as that half forward who rolls up to the midfield. If he can tackle, get contest to contest and hit the scoreboard then he has a chance in that kind of roll as well. Keen to see him play for Casey.

Sorry Kyle. You probably deserved a bit better that us mate. Not even an hour into your MFC career and some of these so called “supporters” labelling you already. Good luck son.

Hmm...Welcome to Demonland.... Who is this new poster, Kyle? Whats his profile picture? Can he go toe to toe with the likes of DV8? Would he decipher the rambling rantings of Picket Fence? Could he give Uncle Bitters a metaphoric, linguistic sponge bath? ...so many questions!!!

Yes and with both feet. He’s just not accurate.

He will play at Casey this weekend.

Any chance he appeals they could give him 12 weeks

First condolences to Brad, his boys and the families, so sad to have your wife and mother to pass so young. Well said JV7.

There really isn't any reason to play this guy any more this season...give someone who is going to be there for the future a go

Ok, I've resisted long enough but I'm finally convinced... Retire him! Can't put up with this [censored] from a supposed leader considering our desperate list situation

That's correct, unless he gets a good run in the second half of the year, other teams will have no reason to pursue him. Doubt he'd even get a go as a delisted free agent because he's only played the 11 games but been injured in a couple of those as well. plus he didn't come through the junior pathways so hasn't got that to fall back on. I think he'll stay and they'll patch things up with his old man, just hoping he can get a decent run at it because I think there's a fair bit he can add to the team.

One thing I would say, is that I think it somewhat makes more sense to pick up a player in this mid season draft where I think you get a better opportunity to track development post U18 level, than it does taking a pick in the 80s in the national draft or last pick of the normal rookie draft. Those late picks, you could be taking more of a prospective stab at who might be any good out of what's left. Regards how good Dunkely may turn out to be, would we have used this same opportunity to pickup Freitch, Hannan, Vandenberg or Hore in past years? I think we probably would have and so, I believe there is every likelihood that Dunkley could end up best 22. It seems to me that recruitment works something like this: 1. The top end tallent both football wise and athletic stand outs go in the national draft; 2. Those with average athleticism, but good work ethic, commitment and good football brains and/or combined with a bad draft year go in the rookie drafts. Good footballers might not shine through at U18s level, because it's 'all about me' with the guns trying to show off their wears to recruiters and the good footballers team players are less valued, because the recruiters are by nature of the marketplace looking for the stand outs. Time at senior level post U18s gives those second teir players the time and opportunity to differentiate themselves from one another. From what I understand, the success rate of rookies once drafted in terms of senior AFL games played is pretty high and there have been a number of premiership teams with a high makeup of once rookie listed players, so no way am I writing off what Dunckley could be for us.

If they take 41 shots they have to run laps, except they've already run that week's allowed number of metres. So they have to do 20 pushups, except they've already done that week's allowed number of bicep contractions. So they have to stand in the naughty corner, but that's being used by Melbourne Storm for their training. So they get an earful from a coach, but their ears have already absorbed that week's quota of decibels. It's a real dilemma. The tail wags the dog.

Frost and Hore should both remain in our side. IMO Salem and Frost have been our best defenders this year and Hore is coming along very, very nicely. I sure hope this thread title wasn’t to infer that one of THEM should make way for a returning injured player? IMO they’re currently above Wagner, Oscar, Lockhart, Petty, Keilty, Lewis, Stretch, even Fritsch lately and perhaps some I’d rather not mention. Lets hope the FD decides wisely!?!

So you’re telling me drafting a reserves player in the middle of the season hasn’t solved all of our problems? God we are hopeless.

His father was a toughie ... and played alongside Roos, the two of them controlling the Swans backline like two knights on a chessboard. He'll be just fine and terrific in two years. Development is the issue, particularly at the MFC. We've had talent before ... Anyway, young man, best wishes for a fantastic Demon career and it would be great if the rest of the Club can turn things around so you can share the pride.

Dunkley in, spargo out.

He’s 19 for Gods sake so must have a big upside and by the look of him no backside. Let’s leave the judgements be and give him a go.

Put him on the plane to Alice. That's as good goal kicking form as anyone on the list

He also plays half-forward and kicked 3 goals on the weekend. Stop the whinging ffs.

For my mind it’s simple now, season is done, so make sure we are best prepared for next year: - Don't play anyone unless 100% fit, healthy and with appropriate game time at VFL level under the belt - Play everyone who needs to build experience and game time at senior level with a focus on learning and development. Play a really simple game plan that encourages them to use their natural instincts - Make sure anyone who will need surgery prior to preseason has it done ASAP so that they can actually do a pre-season - Start the search for new line coaches, fitness coach, kicking coach ASAP and get them on board immediately to maximize time to gel with the group prior to next year - Cop the AFL fine for not tanking with good grace and move on

Can't have too many quality mids. As Bernie, Jordan and now Jones have pulled out of our midfeild, I think we have actually looked a little lean there at times, when an Oliver, Viney or Harmes is rotated out of the midfield. Doesn't hurt to have the extra depth in case of injury or form slump either. Vanders made a huge difference to our game late last year as a powerful forward and impact midfielder. Who know if Vanders will be back or if Dunckley can be as good, but if he gives it a crack, then you never know. Chasing that classy outside mid, we could just have easily ended up with another Sam Blease or Jimmy Toumpas outcome if the right player wasn't available.

Or best available? You can only take what's there, not sure how many speed/overlap players that might realistically have played AFL were up for the draft.

What's really starting to [censored] me is this [censored] look everytime...