Adzman

Two clubs you don't want to be under performing at are Richmond and Carlton. Both of those coaches are in the hot seat right now, and Mick is trying to avoid getting the axe by any means necessary. A great coach for his time, but even Mick knows this could be his last hurrah as a head coach at an AFL club. If the Blues can't get close to finals he is done. Hardwick will probably be given the benefit of the doubt, however I think one or both could be done by seasons end if their respective teams cannot find a way to start putting wins on the board.

The Demons becoming the Yankees of the AFL? What a ridiculous statement! It cannot and will not happen with a salary cap in place. No AFL team can achieve this sort of dominance because sooner or later you run out of cap space, lose key players and require a rebuild. You don't have to rebuild as a wealthy MLB club, you can buy a top up every year, making your brand successful year in and year out. This is what the Yankees are, and are in a league of their own for dominance in their sport. The Yankees are not post season contenders because people buy their baseball caps, and attend their games. They are not pennant contenders because they get good TV slots for viewership. They are successful because Steinbrenner (now his son) spends huge money on the team. If the Yankees have a need, they spend money to go and get it. This is not an option for an AFL club. With the cap in place, all teams will have to rebuild eventually, meaning attendance, profitability and fans start dropping off when you lose. The MLB has NO salary cap.Just the Luxury Tax system which allows wealthy teams to spend. The AFL does. And lets be real for a moment. If the AFL where ever to remove the salary cap, it would be those mugs Collingwood that could afford to become the Yankees, not the MFC.

I think we did well, but if we cast our minds back far enough we have really stuffed up at the draft table. I think this deal looks particularly good because we have drafted so poorly in recent years, and actually appear to have added not only two quality players, but players who might ascend to the top of our playing list for the next decade. A very exciting change from years past, but we can't get too ahead of ourselves yet. Salem has a lot of learning to do. Dom looks a million bucks right now, but his form is no doubt going to taper off late in the season being that he is young and hasn't played a stack of footy at this level. The next two trading and draft periods are crucial. If we can find a few more win-win deals then the dees will be positioned to climb out of the cellar. Enjoying Dom and Salem so far.

I think Spencer's signing might shed some light on some potential truths. They might include: 1. Jamar might not go around after his contract expires, which is why Spencer will most certainly be required (Helps Gawn out, ahead of Fitzy at this point in time) 2. King might not cut it, and for depth's sake the team needs someone to come in and get the job done. (Jake can do that) 3. Roos and Co rate him, and believe there is room to grow.(Even the haters have to admit his form is getting better each year) 4. The Dees might be looking to up their ruck stocks again this upcoming draft, and require Gawn, Spencer, Fitzy and perhaps King to look after the role post Jamar while we groom a player likely to be picked up in this year's National Draft. 5. List management would prefer to trade for other positions at seasons end, believing that there are bigger issues to address on this list outside of our current ruck stocks. I think Spencer has done enough to get another contract. He will be used as a backup, which will be handy if Russian of Gawn go down.

No doubt he has become a solid and reliable back man for us. Looking back from his debut season to now, he always had the right tools to become a solid AFL player, but seemed to get moved around the ground too often, was in and out of the team and never really developed the consistency required to play at the top level. Dunn is a fantastic success story. He has worked tirelessly on his game and is now one of our better players. I look forward to him being a solid fixture over the next 3 seasons. This signing is the best news I have heard all week.

Richmond have a playing group that lacks leadership on the field and control off the field. Cotchin is admirable but isn't surrounded by a committed and united group. I expect Richmond will be harsh when evaluating their list and will spend to turn it around quickly. Expect them to be a player trade week.

Dawes is the obvious inclusion for gawn. Riley is hard at it, and is rested which could pose as a problem for Collingwood. Toump was okay, but could make way for Riley.

Interesting to reflect on this topic now, as Roos and co have completed a mid season review of their own. I think at this stage of the year if you are not contributing on a regular basis at Casey then it raises the question as to whether or not Roos sees you as part of the list moving forward. Jetta and Bail have gone from clogger's to contributors and look handy for us. Question marks remain for Blease, Tappy, Nicho and Evans. The next few weeks will be interesting, but my honest opinion on our list is that Roos has already made up his mind with some of the players on our list and we might not see them again.

The key is to keep Gawn fit and playing footy. Spencer has been handy but is a clear 3rd option in the ruck. Until we draft another talented kid he will remain a depth option for the dees. Fitzy is an enigma wrapped in a mystery. Roos may look to use him in different roles, maybe even see what he can do down back. I still think he has some value, maybe just not as a ruckman.

Sad end to a hard fought contest. Most of what has been said covers how most of us feel so I won't bang on about who I like and don't like and who should play where. Brynes for Riley moving Salem into starting team would be a move I would like to see.

The most supported club in the state goes by the "Pies". Can't get any tougher than a nickname that resembles hot pastry and filling....... Dees is fine!

I think the big thing for me this week is to see what we actually have with a fit and in form Neville Jetta. Kent making way due to injury is disappointing, as he was starting to build some nice form for us and looked like someone who could hold onto his spot in our best side. Jetta gets a chance to show the club he is more than a VFL killer.

This is terrible news for the club. This year is getting worse by the week! Hopefully Mitch can find a way to work through his illness sooner rather than later. He will be missed! With Mitch now gone, we really do look like a b-grade club. Lucky for us we can't get relegated. ....

It is a damn shame Rod Grinter's son James never panned out as a father son selection. He would be in is early 20's now. I hope Lovett's boy ends up panning out for the club.

I won't cover off the negatives, because I think this thread has nailed it. What I thought needed a shout out was the effort by Daniel Cross in the middle. Game high 11 tackles, didn't find heaps of footy but used it well when he had it despite being under duress. I didn't think Bail was terrible. Ran hard, found some footy and was a useful link man when we where running. That glimmer of hope for a 5-6 win season has all but gone. What matters now is how we go about closing the gap between us and your Hawthorn types.

1. Jimmy Toumpas- A year under his belt, we might see some glimpses of why he was so sough after early in the draft. Has been working hard, and will get every chance to prove his skill and talents in 2014. 2. Chris Dawes- Showed real leadership on the park, but was injured far too often to be able to show what he was made out of. Chris will be out to prove the doubters wrong, and will add some much needed game day leadership to a developing forwardline. With Hogan and Clark to form a trio of terror, he could be inline for a career best season if fit. 3. Dean Kent- Was a bit of a surprise packet last year providing a bit more than we all probably expected. I will be interested to see how and where he will be used as a player. Kent is a player with some real upside, and could take another big leap forward next season.

I thought we would go with Templeton for pick 57 when watching the live draft. His pace was a question mark but given we have some question marks over our guts I thought we would have a look at him just in case our recent acquisitions run into injury problems or do not develop at the level required. Surely Eli gets a look as a rookie somewhere. I think Mitch Harvey could be worth a look as a rookie prospect. He is going to take a while to develop, but we have some young tall timber developing so a 3 year rookie spot to see what he is like could be a good rookie listing. Darcy Hourigan might be worth a look also.

Thorpe is an interesting case. Was a highly rated teen who lacked the application and required attitude at the top level, but has reportedly sorted out his maturity issues by spending some time back is Tassie. We lost Sylvia who could be played forward, and by all reports Jack Watts will be used as a midfielder this season. I think Fitzy will be used in the ruck given Jamar and Spencers limitations around the ground, meaning we have Howe, Hogan, Dawes and Clake down forward. Is there room for Thorpe as a depth player? I think the Dees will blow their dough on midfield stocks on the trade table and then at the draft table. However if Thorpe is available as a rookie then I think he would be a great candidate to put in the rookie list.

Carlton are in the box seat. I think once Daisy Thomas' future has been decided Chapman will be the next player into the club. Carlton are very active at this point in discussions with teams and players, and look to be building a team capable of going deeper into the finals. Chappy fits the role of a September Specialist who could help elevate them during crunch games. I wish him luck at Carlton. I can see the Dees making more of a push for Daniel Cross who is slightly younger and appears to have more left in the tank.

Interesting that GWS are trying to get some more experience in there by offering up kids. Smart move really, considering that they are in need of list balance and have plenty of other kids waiting in the wings for opportunity. It all depends on asking price. Any of the senior players we have had that have any trade value have left via free agency. If picks are an option we could certainly have a look. If roos plans on talking with Jolly, no doubt he is going to be floating our ruck stocks on the trade table. Spencer and Jamar have little to zero trade value, and Fitzy would net you unders as would Gawn. If Gilles is being traded to the Crows, would the GWS buy low on Jamar and net a picks for some of their kids? I understand Jamar isn't worth much at all, but for list balance he might be useful is Mummy gets hurt. If Jolly isn't coming back to demonland, then Roos might stick with our current ruck stocks, but is interesting to see how Jolly could be signed without at leas moving one of our current rucks.

I have been a Texans fan since the David Carr days. I can tell you that Watt and Cushing are harder than any of the players in the AFL. If anything the Demons need to learn how to play like the 'Swat Machine' J.J Watt!!

Hawthorn want a ruckman, and Longer is at the top of their list. Brisbane have already stated their interest in Savage. These two sides will be talking early Monday morning. Let us hope the dees can get a word in before any paperwork gets submitted. Savage to Brissie and Longer to the Hawks with some pick swapping looks like a no brainer.

If pick 2 is being talked about all other clubs are listening. Even if they want to keep him pick 2 should be enough to start trade discussions. We will be aggressive with recruiting players roos wants. If he wants rockliff I can see a deal getting done.

Could not crack the Demons forward line for 2014. Behind Clarke, Dawes, Hogan, Howe and I am certain that Fitzy is the next guy to go down forward when depth for bigger bodies becomes an issue. J-Pod is a J-Pass for me.

With Buddy off the table Sylvia is now one of the top UFA in the AFL. We know Freo have some money given they were players in the Buddy sweepstakes as early as May this year. There is still some hope around that Sylvia will stay, however I think that the chance to play finals and get an equal contract to whatever he would at Melbourne would sway him to make the move to Freo. If this does occur, we must make sure that the compo selection is used for the betterment of developing the list, not to be used to find another "mature body" akin to last years Neeld disaster of finding whatever scraps clubs were willing to send us. If we pick up Cross he can fill Sylvia's shoes for a season or two, and that compo pick should be used to find a player who can potentially give the club 10 years of quality football.