Demonated

I'm looking forward to seeing what Kent can do at the back end of the season. Last I checked we have only 2 goalkicker with more than 10 goals. That's obviously not good enough and shows we don't have enough options which is clear from watching the team. Kent is one that is capable of chipping in with 20+ goals a year so we need him to flourish. Same with Petracca next year.

Long term I think he is more suited to play as a back. However, for all his kicking woes, he still changed the game when he went forward. He does have his faults but I love his endeavour and heart. Trying him as a forward sporadically for the rest of the season (maybe a quarter here and there every few weeks) will add a different dynamic to the team I believe. He is a great athlete and has always shown a willingness to learn and never gives up. Long term he is our #1 backman but if it can help the team and help him grow as a player, why not trial it now and then. Also means we get a proper look at Fitz who I believe deserves a bit of a go before the season finishes.

Got to keep ANB in, he is doing his job and will benefit more in the long term playing in the 1's. Gus appears fine and should play, I understand all the concern about Gus (and people suggesting resting Hogan again last week) but if they are right to play and there is no added risk, play your young guns. There is no point putting players who make a difference in cotton wool because we fear for the worst due to supporting MFC for years. HL, Grimes and Vanders (start and sub off if he gets tired) to come in. Bail, Spencer and Jones to come out. JKH can wait and Spence is dropped due to expected wet conditions. If there was to be another change it'd have to be JKH for Stretch, but I'd prefer Stretch this week.

I'd say he would be leading our votes per game for sure. Has been our most consistent performer this year IMO. Him coming back has been so very important to the team. You only need to look at how Vince and Jones have performed since his return to see how his defensive game and contested work frees up other midfielders. His impact on our midfield goes well beyond stats. I thought he stalled a little in his 2nd year, but he has made amazing progress this year. Roos is a perfect coach for a player like Viney.

I'm not opposed to going after big names but have absolutely zero interest in Danger. I reckon despite all that he has said that he will leave for money, not team success, etc. He is (in my eyes) a selfish player who loves the spotlight, I don't think he plays for the team or shows much leadership. Individually he is brilliant but I'd rather a Luke Parker type for much less money. Since Brayshaw has come along and with Petracca coming in next year I have less concerns with getting a star in. I think we should try build a Sydney-like midfield, not one with a player on 1 mil a year. We will need to be giving Hogan a mil a year too when his contract runs out.

Also I'm not sure if anyone knows with any certainty, but we rated him above McCartin and Petracca didn't we?

His rate of improvement is like nothing I have seen at this club. I said it in another thread but I'll say it again he has no weakness to his game. First few games I thought brilliant, he is a kid who is as tough as they come and brilliant defensively but could use some composure with the ball in hand, something that will come in the next year or 2. Then in the collingwood game he showed that he had that composure and balance with the ball and was instrumental in setting up our forward thrusts and assisting goals. Then in the last couple of games he had showed that he has breakaway pace and is a daring player. He just keeps showing more and more with every game he plays. The sort of player that is just so easy to coach. Selfless, tough, athletic, skilled, good in close and in space. Great defensively yet also a weapon with ball in hand. That play where he intercepted that Selwood kick was amazing. He could have gone back on the mark and looked for a target and played it safe but decided he had the pace to burn through the middle take a bounce and set up Spence for a goal. What sort of 10 gamer has the confidence let alone the ability to do that? I don't usually like making big sweeping statements but I will for Gus, he will be our best mid since Flower played for the Dees. Despite Jones' consistent performances the last few years, Gus has more weapons in his arsenal to dominate. Actually that's not even a big call, I think most see this in him now.

Definitely my favourite win since the 2000 prelim or that final where a young McLean won the game in the last. It wasn't just the win but the way in which it occurred. Everyone played for each other and there was a sense of desperation amongst all our players that I can't recall ever seeing before. We did it with quite a young and experienced team and it just feels so different to all of our 'false dawns' of the past decade. I feel the need to highlight some particular player efforts. Vince for completely changing the way in which he plays, he was a good player at adelaide even very good for one season but was never a desperate player and often went through the motions. Has turned into a contested and physical beast while still maintaining his polished skills. Jones deserved that win more than anyone else out there. You could see how much it meant to him after the game and the respect that the entire playing group has for him. Him and the next bloke both appeared very emotional after the game. Watts has turned a corner in the last 3 weeks. I wouldn't classify them as his 3 best individual games but certainly his most promising. Has come back into the team and while not by any stretch a contested player he is beginning to go when it is his turn and show more physicality. In the last few weeks he has finally decided to show some more of that pace that everybody knew he had. Took players on with his speed through the middle and wasn't afraid to make mistakes. Viney has been brilliant when not injured this year. We really missed him when he was out. Has been consistently good all year and is really growing as a player. He played Selwood 1 on 1 without help as Roos and his teammates trusted him to complete the job. Absolutely killed Selwood, who aside from maybe 2-3 touches had no influence on the contest. Gawn played his best game by far and showed more intent than I have seen before. He won't play like that every week but he now knows if he jumps and extends the arms that he will out mark almost anyone. Also gives our midfielders great drive, particular from the centre square. Stretch and ANB showed great sings for players with very little experience. They are both a long way from being physically developed but added a touch of class. Great coaching leaving these 2 in after last week and a win like that would do wonders for their confidence and hopefully fast track their development. Finally, Angus Brayshaw. We as demons supporters have spoken for year about the need to recruit or trade in a midfield gem. When we drafted him I just wanted to see him play 10-15 games and find his feet at this level in his first year. He came in straight away and showed physicality and courage well beyond his years. I would have settled for that alone as a first year player. Instead he has gone on to pretty much improve every game and show he has good speed, poise and skills for such a young player. Almost everything he touches turns to gold and he doesn't appear to have any weaknesses in his game. I'm very, very confident he is the elite gun in the middle that we have been desperate for all these years. Jones and Vince are playing out of their skin but I think Brayshaw will be a different type altogether. Absolute future captain material and his relationship with Jones is great for growing the culture of our club. Bit of a long winded post I know but wins like that don't come around very often and the intent and resulting elation on the players faces after the game are the reason we are all football fans. We will make mistakes we are still young but it's the sense of purpose that must remain. The way the players are speaking of the team and one another shows that we may finally be getting on the same page. Exciting times ahead!

He is almost certainly our most important, but it's a stretch to call him our best. I'd have him 4th in our B&F right now behind Vince, Tmac, And Jones. By the start of next year he should be our clear #1 player.

He has broken even or won his battles with the best mids in opposition teams. He is showing more desire and hardness than I have seen previously from him. I think he has been better than Jones and Tmac so far this season so based on this year alone he is our best player in my eyes. Has successfully gone head to head vs Pendles, Danger, Cotchin and Bont (who he absolutely tore to spreads and was the match winner). For me he is playing at his B&F level from Adelaide. Seems to have matured a lot as he has gotten older. To suggest Viney or Brayshaw, who have both been very good this year, are at his level is plain wrong.

I think we still lack some speed and composure through the midfield. With Jones, Vince, Vanders, Brayshaw and Viney we now have a bit of midfield grunt but some breakaway speed from the contest and precision kicking from the middle would be perfect. Maybe look for a Isaac Smith sort of running wingman. I don't know how many/if any are available but Kent is the only one in that mould that we currently have.

Carey is actually my favourite person in the media. He isn't influenced by everyone else like so many in the media but actually says what he believes rather than conforming to the norm. Not afraid to give anybody a bit of a serve but also gives credit when it's due. It's pretty encouraging when you hear his speak of Hogan, he is one of his biggest fans. For Hogan there is no better endorsement than from the greatest player to ever play the game (In saying that, another of the greatest in Leigh Matthews obviously was making comments without understanding Hogan's game).Hogan is so damn impressive because he along with Jeffy are the ones that the opposition are trying to stop, and with the exception of the Fremantle game, he has still managed to have an influence every game. Just knows how and when to impose himself through work rate and sheer aggression. He doesn't have senior forwards to hide behind but rather than shy away I think he relished the opportunity. He wants to be the man.

His off the ball stuff was amazing. Not only his tackles but his pressuring and blocking, when he does miss a tackle or the player gives it off he continues to hunt with ferocity, even if he is only able to get a touch to the player he ensures that pressure is always applied. Played an amazing all-round game.Grimes did some stuff I haven't seen in a while. He did a couple of kicks off his left I didn't know he was capable of, one in particular out of defence onto the wing was absolutely brilliant.

Didn't watch all the games but he was impressive. As for Vince he is certainly close to an A grade talent his best games are very good. Needs to consistently stay involved as he is also our most damaging mid when on no offence to Jones.

Probably my favourite player at the moment. In the video before his debut when Roos told him he was going to be picked you could see the sheer joy and relief on his face. It's great to see that getting a game meant so much to him and he has taken the opportunity with both hands, this is probably a dream that he had almost given up on. His physicality is unmatched in our midfield, Jones and Brayshaw have the same tenacity but not the same brute strength and power. In regards to his disposal, it seems fine to me. Not amazing but it's not a weakness and he plays within his limitations. Will only get better.

Credit where it is due Frawley gave Buddy a bath, don't think he even scored a point. First time since 2009. Hogan was even fan voted as the best forward for the week. McCarthy played well I will admit and is Jesse's main competitor in the rising star IMO but I'm still baffled how Hogan didn't get nominated. I know it doesn't mean much but I would have liked for him to get the recognition for a brilliant game. Congrats to Bernie too absolutely destroyed an opponent most rate higher than him. Living in Adelaide I have seen plenty of him over the years but I don't remember this hardness and tenacity at the Crows, even in his B&F year.

His point to get Sydney into the 96 grand final after the siren was kicked outside 50 and he cleared the fence. I just want to have confidence that Hogan can make the distance when he marks from around the 50m line because many forwards have to find the ball out there too. I'm not concerned about his accuracy to be honest I think his skills are fine just maybe that he doesn't have great lenght to his kicks. Either way, it's certainly not Hogan who needs to fix parts of his game, he is the most talented player on our list already. I'm more concerned about Tysons foot skills, Salems ball winning, Toumpas speed, Dawes hands or Watts intensity than any question marks over Hogan. Could not have asked for a better start from him.

Yea I'm also a little concerned about the penetration on his kicking. Seems like he can barely leg it 50 at the moment which is very unusual for such a powerful bloke. His field kicking is nice but once again seems to lack penetration. Maybe I just haven't witnessed it yet?

I know logically I'm going wayyy too early on him but I think if he can establish a spot in the team he will be my favourite demon very soon. You could see how much he wanted to make his debut in that video and the part with him being told by Roos was uplifting. It's so nice to see someone who wants nothing more than to play at the highest level and doesn't take it for granted like some other players seem to. There was no chance he was getting dropped this week, as I said in an earlier post, he provides a different something to the other players in our midfield rotation in that he is a physical beast. Viney and Jones have the same attributes but without the size, it's something we have sorely lacked (amongst other skills).

Correct his instincts in tight and in that contest in particular were spot on and he showed no signs of hesitation. Was exciting stuff and perfectly executed.

yea I agree I guess. This is Roos challenge this year. How many games does he have Vanders, Brayshaw, Newton and Toumpas play if they all keep their form and how many of those games are as sub. It's important that they all get used to being able to play 4 quarters of AFL footy. A mate who plays in the league spoke to me of how most players will actually lose some fitness during the season due to the extreme nature of preseason now. The amount of running they do significantly decreases during the season and the very best they can hope to is maintain current levels. I'd love to see Vanders play as much as possible though as he gives our side another element which isn't probably replaced by any player on our list who didn't play on Saturday. I hope he is only rested 2/3 weeks throughout the season and made sub rather than play at Casey/rested so we can get about 18 games into him.

That hit on Rischitelli showed the sort of intent that we have been lacking for a decade. There are plenty of big bodied midfielders going around but plenty of them actually don't throw their weight around. Vanders showed he is completely comfortable with the physicality of the AFL game immediately along with the ability to take an overhead mark and decent foot skills. I think he should play most/all games for us this year as he can set the tone for us physically in the middle at times. Jones is hard as anyone but he gets himself hurt more than hurting others while Viney is a beast but not many are going to be intimidated by him. Vanders gives us a more unique mix through the middle along with Gartlett and Lamumba providing the speed.

McDonald Jones Watts Garland Garlett Viney Best game I have ever seen McDonald play I reckon. Looked very confident under the long ball and provided rebound. Viney could have been higher but I think part of the reason Ablett was nullified so well was because he isn't quite ready to be playing again.

I'm fairly certain it was against Howe that Jack Martin started to find space on the lead and take some marks. Unless he does have a niggle, there is no way Roos backs Garland into round one, Garland responds with his best game since 2013 and Roos then drops him. It would be a very basic and very stupid coaching error and would mean Roos has no plan or reason behind picking him initially, which wouldn't be the case.Both Vince and Dawes should come in for Toumpas and one of Kent/JKH with a small possibility of Brayshaw. None of them deserve to be dropped but it has to be one of those 3. Vandenberg was very important and should keep his spot while Frost will be very important supporting Jamar against Mumford. I think we leave out JKH for this week slot Vince straight in and start Kent sub. When Brayshaw fatigues (say mid 3rd- 3QT) we bring Kent on for some speed and allow more midfield time for Vince/HL. Obviously they may go another way but I would love to see the above happen. Doesn't compromise the pressuring and toughness of our round 1 team and allows us to potentially break the game open with speed and skill later on.

He was easily in Sydney's best and by far their best in the first quarter when it was still a ball game. I thought he was BOG at quarter time.I'll be very happy to see Vanders get a game, looks to have some exciting attributes about him. As someone said, I wouldn't bother about having a designated defensive forward as the suns have great rebounders. Will just have to be a forward unit defensive effort.