hemingway

Spot on, he keeps going at each contest. amazing football maturity on young shoulders. He also has the capacity to take pressure marks and kick pressure goals. Not only a good head but a cool head. He just has the workmanlike quality that tells you that he will always be there at the contest or in tight situations.

Must admit to hating the term celebrity. They are not heroic, famous or particularly noteworthy. They may be known because they have TV or media credentials but nothing more. Some may think that is noteworthy. I am more interested in the kids, the mums and dads, the unempIoyed and those making an honourable living. I have a little more time for sportsmen and women, writers and musicians. If there is going to be a list of public figures, someone like ex Seeker Bruce Woodley who has been a committed Demon and spectator over the long-term should be on the list. I have more time for the committed rank and file Demon supporters I saw at the G on Friday. By the way I took my Collingwood supporter wife who said she had never seen such passionate and emotional supporters in her life, including the Collingwood army. The outpouring of emotion is a wonderful thing and makes this old game of ours and this old team of ours important and worthwhile. There will be one helluva Demon Army once the train gets up a full head of steam. No doubt at that time the celebrities will come out and identify themselves as Melbourne supporters. Cannot abide fickle supporters,

Breggsy being worried is being a melbourne supporter. worry or anxiety never goes away. only a flag will fix that although there will still be many worrying that we will fall back down to the bottom again. As far as education standards, demonland offers far more than any tertiary institution. it offers a full syllabus on human behaviour and life skills generally. on demonland you have the rich tapestry of life with more characters than an Agatha Christie novel. Your time is well spent.

crouching tiger, hidden demon or in simple meaning never underestimate the enemy.

so you can check out the new girlfriend?

Not just poor form, downright disgraceful. I have more time for the enemy than I do for supporters who boo or deride their own players. Should be excommunicated or put in the bull ring with a few live bulls.

Given your moniker which is one of the best on Demonland, I am not sure if this real love or fictional love. As well as his good looks, Bernie does have long legs and when he lets fly from 50m out with one of those trademark long bombs I do get a tingle up my spine just like when I see a beautiful girl half my age walk down the street in front of me. A bit hard to find here but definitely found on the boulevards of paris and rome.

Although I have contributed to the discussion on Watts, it really is becoming tiresome. He has to play on Friday night particularly after last weeks game. He is obviously going to play so lets hope he has a good game and justifies his spot. However, the match will be a test for the whole team not just Watts. I respect the views of Roos and the coaching staff in regard to his selection. I have great faith in Roos man-management.

. I think my comments have been taken out of context and perhaps should be reread although boredom and time may make this unlikely. But Beezle old chap I hope you are right. I hope for the same outcome but our view of the international importance and priority differ.

A reality check for us all when we look at the Demons so called failures. Thanks Junior a really useful post.

Interesting opinion. I do not agree that we are a superpower, but I do think that Australia is highly respected for its sports governance. Folks such as Kevan Gosper and John Coates are highly respected and have given Australia a reputation as fair and honest brokers in the politics of world sport. I do not think the world is looking to us. It may be a different matter if it was soccer, athletics, cycling or an international sport. However, I am sure people will be watching and there will be a level of interest in the outcome and any precedents it has for team sports. As I mentioned I truly hope I am wrong and WADA appeal.

Actually I think you were probably the best Bobby. I would be happy to see you on the flank today or tunna or barrie, but you might have to cut out the smokes, post training beers, hamburgers and do some extra laps of the oval in order to play as a defensive forward and to learn to run both ways. And you would have to learn all about structures and playing your role. And just as importantly learn the new football lingo so you can follow the coaches instructions and those team mates directing traffic. However, I reckon you would tell them all to get stuffed and just go out and carve them up in your own laconic way.

I retract the word hyperbole your honour mr justice binman.

i hope WADA do step in but i have my doubts. In most world organizations AUS is at the bottom of the pile. At very least not a high priority. Whether there is an appeal not only depends on evidence or lack of it. In this case, despite all the circumstantial evidence no Essendon player tested positive. Yes, I know there is the Armstrong case but that was prosecuted in the US by USADA and mainly through the dogged persistence of Travis Tygart. Also, we had the dam wall smash when rider after rider came forward with some big names that could not be ignored. No such thing has occurred here. However, whether WADA take on the Dons will be influenced by international priorities, staff resources and how much external pressure is placed on them to appeal. Alongside an assessment of how long an appeal will take, at what cost and use of resources, and liklihood of success. My betting is they will not appeal. I hope I am proved wrong.

people are just expressing their views Ron. sure there are some harsh comments that go over the top. But most are reasonable comments from reasonable people. but to refer to "Watts bashing" is just hyperbole. Indeed your whole sentence touches on the arrogant....oh yes all the critics are idiots, I know better type attitude. It seems to me that even the critics of Jack want him to succeed. however, there is simply a lot of frustration particularly from supporters that attend games. you only have to attend games to share the agony of supporters when they see what they see. they are not all idiots or wrong. and they are not all "haters". It is mostly an expression of frustration. they are also the same ones on their feet and cheering when Jack takes the game on and does something special. Just as tedious are folks who jump in and defend Jack through thick and thin and will not accept any critical comment. That is also "mindlessly predictable."

50 years of false dawns. I am depressed I am going to bed.

The title of this thread and posters describing the tiger's crumbling under pressure and being a soft side is very bad karma. I love posters positivity but not having a crack at the tigers lack of intestinal fortitude. This coming from Demon fans is a bit rich. We have had one game where we gave played tough uncompromising footy. Tiger fans have more reason to be happy than we do. Based on wins and form they have more reason to be optimistic about this season. I suspect many Tiger fans will expect their team to smash us. Lets just get across the line for a win. Anything less will be a major disappointment.

Barry Vagg was a good player in a great team. Very similar will of the wisp style to Tunna but not with the same magic. Tunna was a match winner. Both players could drift in and out of a game. Interesting comment about toughness though. Vagg was regarded as a player who was susceptible to a bit of man on man pressure including the old knuckle. Tunna would do nothing for several quarters and still be influential when it mattered. On occasions he could be flattened but still get off the turf to kick a couple of quick goals to win the game. Watts disposal skills are far better than either Vagg or Tunna, but his reading of the game is not in the same class and as yet he does not have the same capacity to influence a game. However, like Vagg and Tunna were in the good old days, Watts could be "value added" in a successful team. As PRAHA pointed out he could be the cherry on the top in the right circumstances.

Interesting comparison and comments. However, despite his thin angular body and will of the wisp style, Tunna never shirked a contest. Indeed, he got regularly clobbered for putting himself in the contest and under the hammer.

great summary.

Any hope for Watts would have long expired under most other coaches. Not under Roos. I admire Roos for backing his player despite the negativity. Despite the frustration, I think it's the right call. However, Jack's fortunes and his career at Melbourne will be determined by how the team plays. If the team starts winning games, Jack will be an important part of that success. The reverse will be the case if we continue to lose games.

As I read yesterday in one of the commentaries, you need courage, toughness and intensity to play AFL footy. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, Jack does not have those qualities. So really nothing will change, until there is such competition for spots that Jack cannot be retained just because he has a beautiful kick or creativity. He would not get a game in many sides. And I like Jack and want him to succeed. However mid twenties, 6 years down the track, I am reconciled with the view that nothing will change. However, lets reevaluate at season end.

I can never understand why TV commentary is so voluminous. Radio commentary is an entirely different matter. However TV is a visual medium in which the picture tells us the story. As Richie realized the fewer words the better. Bruce has become a bore and a distraction with his endless statistics. His tennis commentary is the same although his athletics commentary is good. Soccer commentators on the whole have learnt this lesson particularly if you watch European games. Yet commentators here run off at the mouth describing every detail of the action and then special comments guys bore us to bits with their opinions and micro analysis of plays etc. There is no silence. Its a bit like being at the ground itself, where we are bombarded with noise, ground commentary and advertisements. Don't start me on the new electronic signs around the fence and grandstands which are constantly flashing messages and lurid colours. Such a distraction to the eye and headache inducing material. The game experience does not need to be hyped up. In terms of the TV commentary, the standard is low. The commentary team engage in on-going matey banter including personal jokes and asides at one another a little like the Channel 9 cricket commentary. The football public deserves better than what is dished up. Best not watched or sound turned down.

man this "training" thread just keeps getting better. sorry junior. love some of the comments...."animal consciousness to intellectual consciousness to spiritual consciousness", serious movie buffs on board at demonland and a welcome distraction to my impending feeling of doom. i stopped my medication after the first game but going back on from today. but there is a crack in everything that's how the light gets in. thanks leonard.