mo64

Huh? So why did you make the comment that "popular does not always equal the best", if not to imply there are better games? If so, what are the better games? If you asked me in the '80s which game is the best to watch, I would have argued AFL without a doubt, despite the fact that I was playing soccer at the time. But once the domestic competitions started importing foreign players, the standard and aesthetics of soccer has improved immeasurably. Conversely, AFL reached it's peak in the '80s and 90's when you had Lockett, Dunstall and Ablett all kicking 100+ goals a season. Since then, the AFL has continued to tinker with the rules and interpretations to improve the "look" of the game. These days, I'd rather watch a neutral game of NFL, whereas I have little interest watching an AFL game between teams I find boring.

You're insinuating that AFL is the best game. What are you basing that on?

The AFL has changed it's rules/interpretations more than any other game, in order to make it more appealing, and yet people still bring up the argument that it's the most exciting game in the world. My thoughts on watching a Soccer game is the same as watching an AFL game. You get some good ones and bad ones. But the atmosphere at a great soccer game is unrivalled. The issue at hand has got nothing to do with the game itself. It's seems like it's a combination of some poor administration decisions, and a bunch of morons. Deducting points from clubs is a start, and banning flares is a must.

I was more referring to Ben Brown having to play the role of a pack horse in the absence of T Mac. Ben Brown's strength is marking on the lead, but he wasn't allowed that luxury. Fritta is able to kick goals in a variety of ways. I'm not expecting Jefferson to play in a similar manner to Fritta. But I can see JVR being capable of scoring in different ways. As others have said, Jefferson looks like a project player.

Cadman is at GWS. But if we continue with our game style of kicking it into the forward pocket on top of our key forwards head, then Jefferson will find it tough. There is no evidence of our superior mids giving our key forwards silver service. In fact Nick Larkey at North had it easier than our key forwards.

Thanks Ben for all your hard work. The amount of content that you provided for both the men's and women's team was incredible.

How did you find out about the "secret shows"? I walk past The Croc on my way to work, and always check to see who's playing. I was so [censored] off when I saw YouTube clips of their gig. Personally, I'd rather see them at a smaller venue than at a festival, but being able to see The Cosmic Psychos as well will make it worth while. I'm jealous that you're going to see Nick Cave. Does it include all the Bad Seeds, or just Nick and Warren Ellis?

If you watch the replay, I think the ball would have ended up stopping 2 metres from the goal line. Regardless, it was poor by Ch 7 not to show it. Fantastic effort by all the girls, but our primary mids in Hanks, Purcell and West were incredible. After watching all the postgame speeches and interviews, the Lions AFLW team are now my most hated. The captain obviously had a winning speech prepared, and thought she may as well use it. The BOG winner of a losing team shouldn't be giving a speech. But Starcevich takes the cake in his postgame presser. He talked about how good the pregame entertainment was, even though he couldn't get to see it. Then said that it was probably better than the game at times. He wouldn't have said that if they won. He came across as a sore loser.

Is the Coaches Award any different?

Spargo's "football smarts" are overrated. Sure, he can hit up a target from 30m, but his lack of football smarts means he can't find his own ball. In a team where our key forwards are instructed to bring the ball to ground if they can't mark it, Spargo's return of 10 goals is poor for a player that should be a crumbing forward. It would be disappointing if the likes of Chandler, Laurie and AMW weren't given the same opportunities that Spargo has had. Whilst I wasn't a huge Bedford fan, I could see that he had upside, but he's left for more opportunities. I fear that the other 3 could do the same if Spargo continues to get gifted games despite mediocre performances.

That's a much younger me talking to Strawbs O'Dwyer on the ground at the end of the game. Not many Demonlanders can say that they've witnessed Melbourne winning a World Cup.

Undoubtedly Demonstone's hardest challenge. My brain is scrambled.

Will get picked up for sure. Hopefully by us.

I concur with the points that @DeeSpencermakes. BBB and T Mac are critical to our structure, and we can't pretend that we'll see the best of them again. And I think the same applies to Grundy. Coming off consecutive long term injuries, I want to be convinced that he will be an asset, and not eat into the 1st ruck minutes where Max excels. We have plenty of scope for improvement through the growth of our kids like JVR, Turner, Howes, Laurie and Woey. Some players struggled when they returned from injury, so player management could be an area of improvement. The players tried their guts out, but had nothing in the tank in 2nd halves of games.Our game plan is taxing on the forwards and mids. Goody and the coaching dept will need to tweak some things with our game plan depending on personnel. Overall. anything other than a top 4 finish after the H&A is a failure. We have the talent to win another premiership.

TBF, most of us would have been more outraged if we let Weid go and didn't have a direct replacement. Schache potentially has more strings to his bow because he has played as a KPD. Unless we get a mature aged ruckman in the rookie draft, I'd say that Schache will be our starting ruckman at Casey, which is where Weid finished. Schache's acquisition makes perfect sense, but isn't likely to be a game changer either way.

The points you've made are the crux of the matter. Both Hunter and Grundy are best 22, but their impact is dependant on our game plan. Neither player would be suited to "chaos ball". As @rpfc noted, Hunter on the wing should allow JJ more time in the middle. Trac, Clarry and Viney need their workloads managed, because the fact that we were constantly overrun in games, is as much to do with the midfield as anywhere else. Let's hope their acquisitions suggests a slight shift in our game plan.

Thanks GNF.

Hunt is AFL standard. He played 40 games over past 2 seasons in a side that finished 1st and 2nd after the H&A.

Well if Dogs are paying part of Hunter's wage, and Pies are paying part of Treloar's wage, then effectively Pies are paying for part of both Hunter and Grundy. Thanks Eddie.

That's a great deal for someone who should be in our best 22.

? Then surely we hold onto Weid.

You'd be correct if T Mac and BBB didn't have huge question marks on their durability. There is also question marks on whether Grundy and Gawn can play as forwards. As it stands, when it comes to KPFs, we are pinning our hopes on JVR, who hasn't played a game. Weid didn't address our KPF issues because he wasn't good enough. But he did show something as a ruck/fwd at Casey. And we do lack ruck depth. I'd feel a lot more comfortable with our KPF depth if we committed to Petty up forward next year. Then there's no pressure to play a half cooked BBB or T Mac every week.

Premiership teams are built around midfields, not ruckmen. You left out Nankervis who is a triple premiership ruckman. Dogs won a flag with Jordon Roughead as their no.1 ruck. When we flogged the Cats in 2021, Stanley was considered a dud. Hickey is a journeyman. Witts was a discard. Jackson is not a top flight ruckman yet. He may be in the future. But I'd guarantee that JHF will be a very good/gun midfielder.

Short memory @layzie. A Demonland poster set DL off with the Naughton rumour. It doesn't take much to set DL off.

Guns n Fuschias.