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Feel a bit sorry for Hunt & Dunstan Even though l don’t agree with the Melksham decision he’s still a Demon & we should get off his back & support him

People need to relax. Seriously. Whatever we get back for Jackson will be overs. We'll name what we want and either Freo get it done or he goes to West Coast. Given the flexibility clubs now have with being able to trade draft picks etc, I don't understand why posters think Freo couldn't facilitate a trade. If they want him, they'll make it happen. If we were to land Lobb and a draft pick like 7, I'd do it in a heart beat. Then from there, if we had our eyes on a player in the top 5, we'd have the ability to trade up. The possibilities are many. Everyone relax. Jackson is a super player but the composition of our list and spread of talent over a number of years is more important than holding onto a player like Jackson at all costs.

Lol.. Which half? The first half of the year where we won 9 in a row or the 2nd half of the year where we won 7 in a row to charge into the finals series where we completely obliterated teams. Under Greg Stafford last year - Bayley Fritsch kicked 59 goals including 6 in a grand final. The most in any grand final since Darren Jarman in 1997. An unbelievable stat that's been laying dormant for 15 years. - Kozzie Pickett kicked 40 goals in just his 2nd year of AFL as an 19 year old. Compared to the past great small forwards in the game such as Cyril Rioli, Stephen Milne and Eddie Betts at similar age he completely blows all 3 out of the park. - Our grand final score of 21.14.140 was the highest grand final score since 2007 when Geelong thumped Port Adelaide. I can keep going if you want..? Look, people can bag Stafford all they want, but when it came to the pressure cooker of last year's finals, our scoreline and dominance in forward half territory was the most dominant displays we've see from an AFL club for years. It was elite by a fair margin.

He's not a replacement for Clarry. If anything, he's a replacement for Sparrow, Harmes and Trac down forward, to free them up to take on more of the midfield/Clarry role.

For real? My posts are going as well as my punting tonight ill see myself out

I do.

Are you not a Ben Brown fan Nev? I had no idea.

One media pundit (I'm sure it was Barrett) actually said that we can't ask for much, because he won us a flag. And the fact he was previously pick 3 doesn't matter ecause we've got our return. Given this is the calibre of people working in the footy media, I'm not holding out much hope of a reasonable discussion on his worth.

100 point wins are great but I much rather the 74 point wins. They just feel better and last longer.

Sorry its late Demonlanders but had a few things on so I'll get straight to the main points If Clarry plays on Sunday it will be the greatest feat since that bloke from Galilee allegedly walked on water a couple of thousand years ago. He performed a fitness test of sorts but clearly did not want to use his injured hand. Harrison Petty and Bailey Laurie were NO SHOWS at training I think Daniel Turner came of second best in a match sim and took no further part in training, I say think coz I was a bit far away. If it was him then another piece of bad luck. T Mac was in rehab and did a few light drills and could return within expected time frames Joel Smith Likewise was involved in some match sims and then completed run throughs. He did have a slight limp though If Petty misses Tomlinson looks likely Hard to get a line of who of Weeds, Mitch Brown gets the call up. I don't think Van Rooyen is in the frame. Weeds was bustled out of a few contests, but Mitch Brown kicked a couple with some clever play. I reckon Max will play quite a bit up forward Dunstan WAS part of main Mids group Chandler slipped a few times coughing ball up to his eternal frustration Best trainers were Jack Viney, Trac, Dogga, Langers AND Nibbler. Spirited session for the most part and selection will be interesting One other thing. Reporters were teaming in the ground today but do you reckon the Fence was any chance to get in. Nar no way known! GO DEES Best to all P.F

This is a terrific article which suggests the Barassi Line is moving northwards. The Barassi Line is a theoretical construct developed by Professor Ian Turner, historian and mad AFL supporter. (If I remember correctly, I think he supported Richmond). The Line separates the northern and eastern, rugby league supporting Australian jurisdictions from the southern and western ones. This article claims the line is moving northward. I'm sure the AFL will be pleased, although the article stops short of examining whether the cost has been worth it. Definitely worth a read if you like the bigger picture of AFL as a cultural phenomenon and/or as a business.

I'm stunned Melksham gets a gig over Dunstan who was recruited for this exact scenario.

The flip side is that Stafford is doing a great job with a depleted fwd group that for 12 games of 16, kicked winning scores to help get us a % of 130+ which may be the difference between top 2 and 3rd or top 4 and 5th.

He’s currently much closer to being a very naughty boy

I’m talking about THIS forum. (I know I wouldn’t last five minutes on BigFooty and similar which is why I wouldn’t bother to even momentarily visit those sites.) But I believe the standard of THIS forum is such that nastiness purely for the sake of nastiness doesn’t belong. Constructive criticism? Sure, bring it on. But straight-up insults, yeah nah.

FFS, listen to Gawn's admiration for Stafford, Goodwin's acknowledgement of his role, the fact that every other team has gone to work on us because of our dominance, and people postulate he is no good because he wasn't a gun FF? Only ever been one good FF, that became a top coach and that was Norm Smith. Fair dinkum some folks should just learn to say 'thank you', we are bloody lucky to have Stafford on staff.

Melksham, ffs. Hasn't played for 3-4 weeks and was a training cone last time he played. This is a bad call, he clearly has pictures of Goody

The suggestion is that Freo will have to lose players, deal with other clubs to get early picks and then on sell to us.. I imagine it will be Tim Kelly like, have to be a top 10 pick (Freo will need to acquire from other clubs by trading out players) Freos original first rounder (pick 15-18 range and possibly next years First rounder as well. Jackson is 21, has 12 years ahead of him, this aint getting done for much less.

Media would suggest Freo give us their first pick, say 16 and deal done.

Interesting report in on MMM Perth this morning with Lachy Reid (demon man) who says Freo are clearing the decks for the arrival of Jackson, Acres and Logue and Lobb all getting substantially less in terms of contracts than ithey should. Says Demons not interested in Players and it could take 3 first round picks for Jackson. Sadly he also said Angus Brayshaw is Freo bound as well. We should brace ourselves.

I think the idea that you have to have done X as a player to be able to teach players to do X is outdated. Surely it's more about their knowledge, analysis, ability to problem solve and communicate? I don't know if Stafford is a good forward coach or not but I have heard players talk about how his approach has been really helpful with their goal kicking.

Spoiling for a fight @Cranky Franky? I'll land a couple of jabs as a response. 🥊 1) This is a forward line that won a premiership 17 games ago 2) Optics are one thing, and the stats are, we are scoring more per game than last year.

There's been a lot of 2nd/3rd string ruckman, who sort more opportunity elsewhere and became very good established ruckman at their new club. Our very own Darren Jolly and Steph Martin are just 2. I look at Darcy Cameron at the Pies and think that he's more impactful than Grundy. As Dazzle pointed out, a ruckman's ability around the ground is equally important as their hit-out numbers. Meek's numbers at WAFL level stack up well. He could be excused for his low possessions in his last game against West Perth, because the ground was covered in water. I watched the game because a mate is involved in West Perth's coaching. If Meek's is steak knives as part of a potential Jackson trade, I'd be rapt.

If Preuss can stay on the field for more than a few weeks at a time he stands to be a premier ruckman. It wasn't so long ago that Gawn was smoking darts after training and could barely string more than 5 consecutive games together. Once the momentum picked up towards the end of 2015 it never stopped. Preuss can be the same. I don't get the ridicule aimed at the bloke around here and the footy community.

I am not thrilled with these selections but I trust the coaches. They’ve done a good job the last two season.

Sam Reid is a very good footballer...has been cruelled by injury. One of the best swing men in the game when he can get on the ground.

If opposition fans were to read these boards they’d likely be confused. “Wow. This is how they talk about one of their own?!” It’s disgraceful.

Tonight's Round 18 Team Selection Heavyweight Blockbuster at Festival Hall! In the red and blue corner: (The Champion) Reigning Premiership Coach Simon Goodwin, his Selection Committee and his team of assistants with vast experience of playing and coaching at the highest level (at left in photo). VS In the black corner: (The Challengers) Demonland posters who have no experience at AFL level but who like to think that they know more than the professionals (at right in photo).

Yet if Luke was at Collingwood they would be saying 3 first rounders or no deal.

I understand a RFA can go to the club of his choice, but his current club can match the offer. If not, the current club gets a compensation pick based on the terms of the new contract. Stand to be corrected if this has changed recently

I wish - look at our last 3 wins over 100 points 1) vs Carlton Round 9, 2018 2) vs Carlton Round 6, 2004 3) vs Richmond, Round 21, 1993 Based on the above, the next 100 point win should be somewhere between 2029-2032

The comparison to Jack Watts is nonsense. The club is in premiership mode not development mode, and there is no expectation of JVR to change the club's direction. Hawks made an awful mistake in blooding a raw Dermott Brereton in a final. Oh that's right, he kicked 5 goals. If we lose 2-3 of our remaining games, and still have an issue with the T Mac role, you would not give JVR a game regardless of VFL form? Bowey looked like a Year 9er when given a game last year. And if you watched our VFL games, JVR is more physical in the contest than Weid.

No game last night, as AFL couldn’t find another team off a five day break, after playing interstate, to play at the Kitty Litter construction venue.

lloyd meek or Lloyd Braun?

Great teams can cover the loss of a star player. And if we can't cover for Oliver as a premiership TEAM, then clearly we're not the team many think we are. Sides like Carlton and Collingwood have been able to cover the loss of their best players. If we can't beat Port up there, I can't see us finishing top 4. Melbourne supporters still have a soft underbelly.

You are really blaming injuries and covid? We only have one long term injury in T Mac. Lions got smashed with covid last week and Freo earlier. Our 'luck' is fine. We need to work through it, steal ourselves and build into form for finals

Cody Weightman frustrated by all the talk about Ginnivan being the most annoying player in the league. Still wants the title.

Time for Gus to play in the guts...

Goodwin out

Mick Malthouse ?

This is like the Demonlanders potting Troy Chaplin as a poor defensive coach

I stopped reading this post at "...MMM..."

Freo have zero draft or trade capital. I can’t see how they get a deal done for either, let alone both.

People overstate the value of ruckmen. Gawn is the exception because of his marking ability both forward and back, but he is a one in a generation type of player. We're not going to be able to replace him when he finishes up, but hopefully we can squeeze an extra year or two out of him by being sensible with how we use him. All we need is someone in the Darcy Cameron mould who can crash in hard at centre bounces and have some sort of presence around the ground. If Meek can play that role, I would gladly bring him in (with or without Jackson).

The AFL imposed soft cap has meant line coaches are doing much more than they were originally hired for. Greg was hired as a ruck coach and he still does that, as well as forwards. Yze does game day tactics and mid-field. No club can hire multiple coaches to perform coaching in individual areas, like they were able before COVID.

you mean our premiership winning forward coach...

I'll be singing "Joy To The World" if we win.

Sparrow maybe but Jordon has been one of our most consistent, racking up 20+ possessions on the wing which is elite.

Another premiership?