Leaderboard

Is happening today down on the Mornington Peninsula for those that are interested. Lots of players in attendance I'm told. Good luck to Adam and his lovely bride

Medium\small backs 1. Lever 2. Brayshaw 3. Salem 4. Rivers 5. Bowey 6. Hibberd 7. J.Smith 8. McVee 9. D.Smith Key backs 1. May 2. Petty 3. Lever 4.Turner 5 McDonald 6. Tomlinson 7. Adams 8. Schache Outside Mids 1 Langdon 2. Hunter 3. Brayshaw 4. Harmes 5. Sparrow 6. Jordon 7. Woewodin 8. Howes 9. Laurie Inside Mids 1 Oliver 2 Petracca 3 Viney 4 Brayshaw 5 Harmes 6 Sparrow 7 Jordon 8 Dunstan Rucks 1 Gawn 2 Grundy 3 Schache 4 Verrall 5 Farris-White Medium\small forwards 1 Fritsch 2 Pickett 3 Petracca 4 Neal-Bullen 5 Spargo 6 Melksham 7 Sparrow 8 Harmes 9 Chandler 10 Laurie 11 Moniz-Wakefield 12 - Sestan Key forwards 1 McDonald 2 Brown 3 Gawn 4 van Rooyen 5 Grundy 6 Petty 7 Schache 8 Jefferson 9 Verrall

I think we need another Kozzie type. I know he is a rare player, but his “type” to me is our priority and obviously if he leaves if it will be a major priority. Toby was looking like our best chance but he is gone, so I would think in the off season it will be our priority. Our off season this year, has imo potentially solved a few of our problems, in the ruck and key forward and defence positions. Hunter could be a major pick up and Schache could have more impact potentially than Weid. It’s probably the best list we have had in years.

So you’d consider sacking goody in 2023 after he broke our drought and finished first and second in H/A the last two years? That would be absolute madness injuries and underdone players surely the main reason for our poor form late 2022 even if Goody goes 10-0 again next year people won’t give him any credit.

The pressure is rising on Goodwin?? Really? why do the herald keep banging on about this? They had a full article on this last month. Goody has been the most successful coach in the league over the past two years, arguably only Scott ahead of him. He has helped assemble and develop an amazing group. Once the list gets fit, rested and does a full preseason, I have us as premiership favourites staggering how underrated Goody still is. Compare him with Bevo - won a flag then missed finals the next two years but no pressure

Was clearly hampered by an ankle last half of the season, seemed to be coming off to get it re strapped and treated nearly every game

Shoulder surgery and delayed return to full training is a lot different to cleaning up a thumb issue and straight back into full training.

His extended family, who will remain anonymous here, have been long suffering Demon people. Sitting in the same seats on level 1 on the wing of the Olympic stand for as long as I can remember…. that’s all you’ll get from me on this one.

Let's take the season one week at a time. Remember 2021. Who guessed at the beginning of the year that it would be our time in the sun? So let's not waste time on rampant speculation, wild guesses, hopeful dreams and ill-informed commentary before the season has even started. There are too many talking heads in the media for us to compete with. Just enjoy reading training reports and encouraging the boys. GO DEES (one week at a time)

yeah, Jacko fed us alot of BS in the end. Kept the club in limbo all season and shot through at end of season after playing bog ordinary. im certainly not in his camp like alot of other posters here.

We need to unpick how we went from 2021 second half specialists to 2022 second half faders. This aside, partner a fit TMac with a maturing JVR and get Lever back fit and in form. Sort those three and we are set for another shot at success and that is before we consider the upgrades with Grundy and Hunter and the likely breakout improvements that may come from our 2nd-4th years (outside JVR). This assumes that all that went right this year remains steady, which of course is unlikely to occur. I dont believe any teams best touches ours its a matter of whether we can get the stars to align once again.

Jeelong notwithstanding, I have always held a clear and unflinching view of your sanity picket.

Demon positives: - Grundy will be great, as he can really play, and will add to Max fitness wise, re rest during matches and if either slightly injured, can miss a week or two, still having AA ruckman playing. - Hunter a step above JJ on the wing, he won a B&F at Dogs, can really play. Also JJ is ideal 23 player, can cover multiple positions. - Longer pre season for all. - Kossie, Sparrow, JJ, Bowey, JVR, Rivers, Petty all that year older! - TMac & BBB seemingly fit! Tomlinson 2nd year back after knee injury might be moving better, so more realistic back up! - Having won a flag, know what’s required and that our best can do it!

Cant stand Geelong. How many key dees players have they recklessly injured in recent years. Viney smashed jaw, White almost killed with a vicious kick to the head and Oliver this year.All at the cattery i think. No reports of course.

Tiers, did you take a wrong turn somewhere on the internet? What else would we do in the off season!!

Tough one. All coaches are under pressure all the time. I guess I was assuming the coach under pressure implies he is close to being sacked. Like I said 6-8 key players were carrying injuries last half of last year so imo this does not add any pressure to Goody. Stability wins flags, if we were reactive and sacked Goody which many on here supported in 2020 we would not have a flag imo and could have lost key players. To answer your question, I would tolerate one down year over the next 3 once it is short lived and Goody still ‘has the players’ and has the vision and believe

I don’t care how many champions we have, my concern is that if we come back with the same game plan as last year - particularly our forward structure and entries - then we will be lucky to make the eight this year.

True, but he been given bugger all chance to prove himself in the past two seasons.

I’m genuinely staggered that Jackson’s in Bali at the moment. Thought he’d be spending every minute of every day with Mum and Dad to make up for lost time…

I am saying that if we are half way through the year at 6-6 the pressure will be on. Ignore where we finished last year and consider we won 6 of our last 14 games. For arguments sake though how long will you accept this list having a 50:50 win loss ratio before pressure on the coach should be considered? To be clear I rate Goodwin and therefore doubt we will be in this position.

I sort of don’t mind how this year there is a tendency of the mainstream media (and therefore the public) to write off Goody and MFC. It means we can start the season flying under the radar, so to speak A complete opposite to what happened last season. I feel that we, both the team and supporter base, (or could just be me) don’t have to endure feeling the pressure of everyone wanting to benchmark against and beat the reigning premiers. Looking forward to season 2023…hoping it goes like it did for us in 2021….GO DEES!

Not true. The Club wanted to keep LJ, right up to the day he left. Our President at The B&F made that quite clear But a Plan B was put in place a long way out.

Great points D4Life, Some extras mow( bonuses), Also Salo Rick Trac and BBB plus Tmac back and all will have better less interrupted and much greater fitness ALL season especially at the pointy end of the campaign Coach and Selectors will be more flexible and choose players on form not sentiment. ONE of Chandler AMW Laurie Schache or the recruits Jeffer Adams Seston or Verrill will play and make the Seniors grade probably as a 23 selection. No last half fade outs as players are all fitter and not played "nearly fit ". So much upside for a team that finished 2nd on ladder and similar % to 2021 with very hard Draw. Bring 2023 on!!!

I think we have pretty good depth all round. We have 7 medium to 8 if you count Turner small backs to pick from. We have 5 key backs to pick from, some may not think Lever is a key back. We have 6 outside mids to pick from. We have 8 inside mids to pick from. The ruck is where we have the least depth with only 3 to pick from. We have 9 medium to small forwards to pick from and we have 7 key forwards to pick from.

Don't forget Steven May's broken jaw with the errant elbow which when you look at the vision was intentional trying to stop May's tackle.

I don't get Richmond...they've picked up 2 good to very good (not great) mids. They replace Edwards and Lambert who to date have been better. Prestia is a big injury.. Lynch is struggling with injury. Grimes another injury concern. Cotchin is done and Reiwoldt not far behind. Martin is the mystery...will he or won't he.

Why does this review think we'll lose to Richmond in Round 6 (Anzac Eve)?

You were booted off here last time you posted rumour and innuendo. Do it again and there'll be no coming back under a different name. But I'm sure the 'real story' is fascinating. "Kid who moved back home to be closer to family doesn't spend all day of every day at home with mum and dad"

Chandler has yet to prove he is good enough at AFL level.

What this analysis shows is that we have no gaps or obvious weaknesses anywhere on the field with numerous options and alternatives everywhere. The cattle are there. It is now up to considered man management, a repeat of the 2021 injury profile and the quality of the coach's decision making to get the best result from this list. GO DEES

Great depth chart WERRIDEE it has been a great Trade and Draft period for Dees, we now have a better balanced list and Schache provides that extra coverage for CHF, CHB and the third Ruck option. Just need a couple of the kids and younger brigade to take that next step then watch out opposition sides.!!!

What's his MFC connection?

Start with 1 Fitness 2 Not picking teams on form

Jacko Will only be remembered a Freo star as long as he plays like one and is in their inaugural premiership. OTHER wise his cameo at the Dees and GF relevance will be part of our folklore and his career.

I feel JVR must start in Seniors early ( in Melksham's place) and give us a difference on the forward line. one of ANB Sparrow or Spargo might have to make way for Chandler or another half forward running type Turner /Tommo might play important role in defence if Petty (in desperation or in cameo roles) goes forward. Depth is greater so pressure on all players on the list to make the best 23.

Lever has to find his '21 form again had a pretty poor year for his standards. Clubs started to work him out by limiting his intercepting.

Why not…he is in Bali for Xmas with his good mate Trey Ruscoe, from the Pies. I guess family time can wait until the season starts. Real stench of Jessie Hogan about where this is all heading 🤪 welcome to the deathride, Dogga

I still think we have a 5 year window for the premiership then it will get harder so we have to make this our year after a terrible finals series. It won't be easy. Collingwood will improve with Mitchell and McStay, Richmond will improve with Hopper and Taranto, Brisbane will improve with Ashcroft, Gunston and Dunkley and Freo should improve with Jackson and O'Meara. We have most spots covered now with the inclusion of Hunter and Grundy. THE BACKLINE That's our foundation that won as the flag in '21. May and Petty continued on their good work and Brayshaw was a revelation across half back but a few went missing in '22. Rivers wasn't his usual self. Bowey couldn't get a game at the end of the year, Salem was terrible hopefully he will prove next year that it was due to injuries and Hibberd could very well be on his last legs. We need them to hit 21 form again. THE MIDFIELD Is a great strength with Oliver and Petracca arguably in the best few midfielders in the competition. Viney and Gawn also were great. Langdon had a good year without being great needs to find his '21 form again if we are to advance next year. Hunter will help him on the wing a great player when on song but can lose form, he's won a B&F and a premiership so he can play hopefully we can get the good Hunter. Brayshaw is intriguing his best form was at half back but he has made it clear that he wants to play midfield. I think he will start in the midfield and play a bit back if need be especially if they don't use 2 of the 3 in Bowey, Rivers and Hibberd. Harmes and Sparrow should be mainstays and it will be interesting to see Jordon fight for his spot in the side. THE FORWARD LINE Our clear weakness. We have a great crumbing forward in Pickett I expect him to spend more time in the middle this year and a great medium forward in Fritsch. Brown played injured so we didn't see the best of him and McDonald couldn't get out on the park in the second half of the year which proved costly. A weakness could prove to be a real strength if van Rooyen can be useful. Competition for spots is healthy and if van Rooyen can put pressure on Brown and McDonald it can only be a good thing. If fully fit I say Brown and McDonald get first crack but if they are sore or out of form van Rooyen gets his chance it will be exciting to see if he can add a new dimension to the team. Neal-Bullen and Spargo will be there again but it would be nice to see them kick more goals to go with their good defensive work. Melksham will be an interesting one he can play a defensive role on anyone down back which should make him a handy sub. Gawn as CHF Didn't work in the end so I expect McDonald to CHF and Gawn to play all over the ground like Grundy where need be. BEST TEAM B: Lever, May, Rivers HB: Salem, Petty, Brayshaw C: Langdon, Petracca, Hunter HF: Neal-Bullen, McDonald, Pickett F: Gawn, Brown, Fritsch FOLL: Grundy, Oliver, Viney IC: Harmes, Spargo, Bowey, Sparrow SUB: Melksham EMERG: Jordon, van Rooyen, J.Smith

We didn't want Jackson as soon as we knew we were going to get Grundy it was a done deal halfway through the year. Pickett is different we don't have a replacement for him for a start. He's a country player not a city player like Jackson the lure of going home is not that great compared to a city player as has already been mentioned if there was a country WA team in the AFL he would go there but there isn't so we will be fine Kossie will stay.

Let’s just hope it doesn’t end with ‘Heaven knows I’m miserable now’.

I hope he stays with us if for no other reason than for the little kids in the Alice. A legion of adoring Kozzie fans who look forward to this match for months out every season. (Him kicking six this season was merely the icing on an already delicious cake for these kids.) And the feeling is reciprocated in full. By all accounts Kozzie is in his absolute element when playing there. I realise that more than one ’enticement’ factors into a player’s decision to stay or go. In Kozzie’s case, I just hope this is one of them.

I’m more an optimist and typically prefer focus on all great things Demons: 2021 AFL flag 2022 AFLW flag and Casey flag But I can’t resist the anti-Cats theme around Demonland. - Good to see Duckwood gone (could play & lead, but will be missed)! - Hawkins protected species, gets all frees and not getting rubbed out! - AFL bias toward them as ex Cats or relations have had significant roles at AFL. - Cattery huge benefits financially(govt funded), umpiring bias, get 8/9 at home, then often 6-8 across MCG/Marvel so away not as big a disadvantage. - Recruitment wise, cost of housing, provided a big salary cap advantage. By my calcs at least a 10% advantage, that allows them to keep an extra A grade (eg Cameron) & b grade player! - Bad losers, Scott 2022 prelim! Yes they deserve credit for being well run from Costa/ Cooke era onwards. But I really don’t like them!

If that was the case no one would be looking to leave us. We've won more games than any other team over the last couple of years. This won't be about success but geography, family and crowds. If he prefers the town of Adelaide, having family around, and big adoring one-eyed crowds, you couldn't blame him for leaving for port. We love him but he spends a lot of the year doing ridiculous stuff in front of a sparse or quiet MCG. But more than any other player we've had leave the club, he's the one I really want to stay. Whereas I was somewhat resigned with Jesse and Jackson, I'll be utterly heartbroken if kossie leaves. An extremely rare player, a rare endurance-speed combo, supreme skill off either foot, significant power (kicking 55 with his frame is not easy), disciplined and defensive without the ball, spunk flash brilliance and marketable all round. One of my favourite ever MFC players and he really is just scratching the surface at 21....he's well on track to be far better than any of the modern day small forwards (including Cyril and Eddie at the same age). There are very few small forwards that have kicked 40+ in consecutive years around period, let alone at the age of 21. I wanted us to pick him and was thrilled when we made the reach in the first round. Wouldn't be fair for someone else to benefit from the risk we took and investment we've made - I want to be watching him at the G for the next 10 years. We will be a significantly worse team without him and he was a very large part of the flag year. Unfortunately if he does leave, it won't be for two first rounders. Even the best small forwards don't have that kind of currency - Rankine's recent value is about the best we could hope for. I really hate that there is a thread for this. Saddening.

Purely as a contingency, I'll be death-riding Port as well as Freo in 2023, just to make sure they can offer us at least a top-5 pick and change. ;) But seriously, Kysaiah Pickett is a rare player. Not many forwards - let alone small forwards - top 40 goals in a season in consecutive seasons, and he has managed in every full season he's played!

Us winning the flag and Freo the spoon would be the ultimate double.

"You do not win flags relying on goal sneaks" Did he watch last years granny! Can't take a best 22 seriously without Bowza

Freo finishing last would be nice - of course we'd all love to see that But it won't be happening. I was terribly disappointed Jackson left. I have now come to terms with his leaving and feel we will actually be a better and more consistent team with Grundy as his replacement To me he is the biggest loser - he's walked away from a great team, a club with a huge amount of history and the opportunity to play alongside the best ruck and arguably the two best midfielders in the competition I still feel he will regret his decision in due course

You are now seeing girls drafted that have played juniors for a number of years, been in u18 programs, they are conditoned to play football at this level. They have been doing knee programs like netball and basketball to strenghten muscle to support the knee. The game itself isn't like it was for the first few years, it was like the players went extra hard to prove they can play the game, now we are seeing more skillful players and very Athletic.

Yeah pretty sure that was originally what they had in mind for him At least that was the word floating around during the trade period