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The classic 'GNF' move...

I know this’ll come across as straw-clutching but I remember seeing your post which did paint a different story: https://demonland.com/forums/topic/46882-hayden-young-drafted-by-fremantle/?do=findComment&comment=1772824

Reading’s not your strong suite? I can’t think of any one other sports writer (or non sports journo, for that matter) who comes close to capturing the spirit of the game in the way that Flanagan does.

Personally I think it’s too early to write Dunkley off as ‘depth’. He’s been in the system for half a season, was highly rated in that mid-season draft and has played senior footy. It took his brother Josh a few years to get going and his whole family are sporting achievers so there’s a lot of scope for him - particularly being a young bloke. Rivers inclusion in the senior team will be dictated by Hibbo’s availability and form. A season developing at Casey will be fine however I do I agree he looks a likely type to slot in to the team earlier rather than later.

Martin is leaving us and heading back to Tassie, I hope he keeps writing. "My words about footy upon parting: you need at least two people on the AFL Commission representing grassroots footy," writes Martin Flanagan, who is heading back to Tasmania. "We’re heading into a rough, tough century. Grassroots footy is where the game’s version of climate change is occurring." https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/my-parting-advice-for-the-afl-20191227-p53n3d.html

I'm interested in whether you posted that you were "digusted" with our drafting before or after it was leaked to you. Also keen to hear your explanation for posting inside info from a club official on a public website if you're so concerned with leaking?

I have never bet on this club. But I will be having a decent go this year for top 4. As good a list as we have had in a long time. Touch wood we remain injury free leading into 2020.

Troy Broadbridge, who played 40 games for the Demons passed away on this day 15 years ago. Troy married Trisha Silvers on 18 December 2004. Eight days later, while spending their honeymoon in the Phi Phi Islands, Thailand, he drowned after being swept out to sea by the tsunami that followed the Indian Ocean earthquake. Trisha survived. The red headed defender was a terrific team manager. He will always be remembered.

Yes i found that in The ABC archive many years ago. Great Band “The Hookers” They could really play in the studio and live. in the studio you have to get it perfect, because that is the way it will stay forever. “Love’s not good enough” was always a favourite long before i found this gem

Good pick-up - just as Lord had been patting himself vigorously on the back. Not only did we not select Young, Sydney did not bid on Green. ?

I've gotta hang up, can't communicate.

BAAALLLLLL!

He's the best by a country mile, Loved it when he was 'embeded' at the Dees for a season or two.

We’re at least top 6 next year. Anyone who thinks otherwise doesn’t know how to think. Think properly at least.

All of our injuries were the reason Dunkley got a game, he’s depth at best. I agree re Rivers, I think he’ll push his way into the team early on.

So in a clear exercise of self promotion, a poster claims to have an anonymous MFC club link and after a number of attempts, names 12 of the first 15 picks correctly (not 13) and that's proof that our club has gone from tight lips to leak city? Righto. Despite the belief that sources should not be revealed, I'd want to know the name of the club source at a minimum before giving credence to a contrarian poster.

Good luck to you too Macca, don’t mind this one at all. If we don’t talk before Wednesday have a Happy New Year mate.

1-13 margin bets still aren't up on Laddies so I took Detroit & Carolina at the line (+12.5 & +13.5) Good luck DZ and let's hope we get a Christmas dividend up. You never know!

Yep, was just looking at the NBA markets and I’ll throw in Toronto against the Thunder tomorrow at 10am. Pick your own line market- Raptors -4.5 .

I'll add in the Packers 1-13 You got another one for a pic4 DZ?

Cheers mate, TAB has Saints 1-13 at $2.50. West Bromwich to win and over 2.5 goals against The Boro appeals to me in the morning mate. It’s around $2.15 on TAB.

For what it's worth I like the New Orleans Saints again DZ (1-13) although that option isn't up (yet) on Laddies. History tells us that in week 17 of the NFL the teams that need to win generally do win ... but all the games are divisional match-ups so the games can be close. I fancy my chances on those 1-13 margin bets.

Chicken (real name Wilfred) played 150 games for Fitzroy and won the Brownlow in 1933. He was a tiny 170cm and 62kg and earned his nickname as a child when his mother could never catch him!

@Macca you happy to put in this week? Could be just the two of us again, Wadda is still on holidays.

Not to interrupt a classic Demonland lynch mob, but I believe Lord Travis was referring to this post of his which was astonishingly accurate. Always interesting seeing some who contribute so little being so quick to criticize others who try to.

mebbe gideon haigh? vic marks? martin is a terrific writer, as is his (booker prize winning) brother richard is proof positive (as is augie march's glenn richards) that they can definitely still write down in tassie

During my time supporting the club, Neita has been the one that has stood out for me. I started supporting in 1998 and never saw the likes of Garry Lyon lead this club. From what I have heard though, a fierce leader who was highly respected within the club and AFL community was Lyon.

This article where he gives my old man a good ol pump up reflects his love of grassroots footy, a great man.A beer with Dummy puts sport in glorious perspective

Great, great find SWYL. i found that fascinating. Was cool seeing them "unmasked", just making music in the studio. Kinda fun to hear the mistakes too - your ears are so tuned to how the record sounds that anything out of whack really stands out. I've only dabbled with recording but it;s a bloody unforgiving & often laborious process. Cool seeing Ross Wilson's role as producer.

"Grassroots footy is where the game’s version of climate change is occurring. The game is shrinking at its base. Best thing I saw in footy this year? More African kids coming through. For the same reason, we need women’s footy to prosper." I only hope Gill & the Commission are not asleep at the wheel with this...unfortunately I think they may be. Or perhaps it's just self interest being put ahead of the game.

Check this out Biff

Why is it Crap?? Lord Travis has backed himself up rather well, maybe for once you are ill informed Dry, it is possible.

If I recall correctly, Troy pushed Trisha to safety before subsequently being swept away. Last act on earth was to save the life of another, at the expense of his own. Hero.

I had the pleasure of sitting with Martin at the footy a few years ago. (Friend of a friend.) Brilliant writer ... top bloke. I don't know whether he reads this. But if so ... all the best Martin !!

No that is perfectly normal behaviour for a Melbourne supporter.

Hugely missed last year. On his 2018 finals form he would be transformative for our forward line defensive pressure. He is one of several "new recruits" - like a fit TMac and Brayshaw - who could give us a memorable year in 2020 and beyond.

I'll never forget reading the scrolling headline during the coverage for the first time that Troy Broadbridge was one of the many missing people. I hoped so much to hear the news that he'd been found alive. I've never been prouder of the club than I was after the tribute game to him vs Essendon. RIP Troy

I can't decide what joke to make here. Should I go with the 'game being santised' theme or the 'homoerotic fantasy' theme?

“AFL legend Brendan Goddard”. Lol Good grief, did he write it himself?

I read, I briefly pondered then decided no. Let it ride.

Yeah, he has. 3 Blueys, likely 300 gamer and potentially our games record holder by the end of 2020. Not to mention the personal characteristics of the bloke in his work ethic, consistency of performance and fitness and his unmatched loyalty. Personally I find the shift in supporter mentality towards him the last year or two (in certain circles) absolutely p*ss poor and symptomatic of a weak supporter culture, which is of course ironic given how much supporters love to complain about club culture.

Dunkley already played a few games last year, so with a full pre-season he might be able to establish himself. Personally I saw nothing to suggest he'll make the grade, but the coaches obviously rated him. Rivers I can see pushing for a spot early. He's got all the tools to make it as an AFL player, starting off half back as a rebounding player and then potentially pushing into the midfield over time. He's got good pace, good aggression, good kicking skills, good decision making, good intercepter too. He'll likely be the best of our three 2019 draftees early in their careers. He'll make it IMO.

I think he might just be one of those rare players (like Fyfe, Stephenson) who play well early despite their under developed frame. I look at Jackson's basketball highlights on youtube, and peak at his high rebound stats in basketball. The kid plays basketball with aggression and just tears down boards. Looking at his basketball highlights, he is gritty and aggressive. I didn't actually expect him to be as athletic as he was on the football field. I think he plays early and plays well. He has natural aggression. Basically the opposite of Watts in that regard.

Always missed, but never forgton.

Sydney Swans draftee Dylan Stephens would hear new Melbourne small forward Kysaiah Pickett breathing behind him on the field and knew he was in strife. The two youngsters, who are best friends, have played against each other and together many times over the past few years. Stephens, who was pick No.5 in this year’s AFL National Draft, quickly learned he needed to act quickly when Pickett was lurking in the vicinity wearing an opposition jersey. “I think he’s absolutely ready for it (the AFL),” Stephens said. Newnes reveals why he turned his ies, AFLPA rally behind Beams in late“For him, what he can do with the ball is amazing, but if he doesn’t get his hands on it as much as he would have liked he can impact the game in other ways defensively. “He can clean people up, tackle, pressure, and even for me playing against him, you just know he could be anywhere. “He’ll catch you in no time and his presence, you hear him breathing behind you and start to panic and that impacts your skills Don’t be fooled by Pickett’s 170cm stature. The teenager, who was the bolter of the draft after being snapped up by the Demons at pick No.12, likes to hurt opponents and has done so on many occasions. Although, Stephens said he thankfully had never been cleaned up by his mate on the field. “I think he looked after me,” Stephens laughed. “A couple of times he’s had me and lifted me a little bit and then just took me down a little bit. “If I were anyone else I think he would have gone straight through me.” “As a person, at first he is quiet and that’s how he’ll come across,” he said. “But when you get to know him he comes out of his shell a little bit. “And when he does, the kid doesn’t shut up. “He doesn’t stop talking.”

i don't understand the denigrating of viney at all for me it's either jack solo otherwise it's jack and max as half-skips there's a LOT that goes into being captain these days beyond what we see on field

All l need to do is think back to crunch finals matches against geel and hawt in 2018 where he drove the team forward with huge tackles and pressure with no match practice in the lead up and lower midfield minutes. Injury would be the only reason you would replace jack and even that doesn't make sense but don't trust me read player ratings for yourself. Top 3 mfc players in both crunch games Jack Viney: 9: Couldn’t have asked for any more from a guy who hadn’t played a game for 62 days. Won 20 disposals and didn’t give an inch with 11 tackles. JACK VINEY: 8 Like one of those energiser bunnies, just wind him up and watch him seek and destroy. Imagine what he would be like in finals when fit ! We forget too easily sometimes.

Funnily enough I agree with Dal Santo. Could be in the minority but I’ve felt unsure for a while about Max being solo captain. Max is a marvel captain or not. Personally, I’d like to see them back Jack in as the solo captain for next year and stop the co-captain model and if they don’t, Max is a ready made replacement. I keep going back to the 2018 Elimination and Semi where Viney was just outstanding after missing a chunk of football. My belief is he can get back to that. Either way, I feel we are in a good position leadership wise for 2020. Get May, T Mac and Lever out there full time and the support crew looks good.

Can’t wait to see this bloke explode in a game, looks the goods.