joeboy

6 - Viney ( a complete game ) 5 - T,McDonald ( reliable, effective, convincing ) 4 - Watts ( loved his new found endeavour and passion ) 3 - N.Jones ( prolific and led from the front ) 2 - Kennedy ( short in stature but big in endeavour and heart ) 1 - Oliver ( focused and skilled )

N.Jones - sublime unselfish skilful Vince - loved his energy Hogan - match winning quarter Salem - cool and composed Watts - valuable and invigorated Viney - supremely complete game Gawn - made a difference Tyson - something still lacking Oliver - a wonderful debut Kent - some inspired plays Frost - a few moments Garland - occasionally found lacking Pedersen - just a game T.McDonald - some major moments O.McDonald - far from convincing Bugg - not great debut Kennedy - an exciting debut Garlett - always looked sharp vandenBerg - performance gradually improved Jetta - was a rock Harmes - has been better M.Jones - no obvious howlers

N.Jones - more of same Vince - genius defensive switch Hogan - dominates and signs Salem - smooth moving backman Watts - finally silences critics Petracca - justifies the hype Dawes - pales into insignificance Viney - maintains upward rise Lumumba - proves his worth Trengove - the Cinderella story Brayshaw - assumes major significance Gawn - our All Australian Tyson - injury free improvement Oliver - another inspired draft Dunn - successfully marshals defence Stretch - limited game time Kent - a major player Frost - effective swing man Newton - just filling in Garland - career best season Pedersen - a solid season Kennedy-Harris - others are preferred T.McDonald - thrives on responsibility Weideman - learning the art Hulett - learning the requirements O.McDonald - becoming brotherly clone Hunt - slowly justifying faith Neal-Bullen - second year blues Grimes - tries but lacking Bugg - an inspired pickup Spencer - injury plagued year Mitch King - building required body Kennedy - irritating Magpie supporters Garlett - all Australian forward vandenBerg - our own Barlow Jetta - all comes together Harmes - providing X factor M.Jones - a stop gap Terlich - little game time

I take a slightly different approach to yesterday's win than many here: We won ugly and were brought down to the level of our opposition's inexperienced team to achieve it.Yes I know we're not in a position to pick and choose when we display our A game endeavour, but sometimes good teams underperform but still win, like we did yesterday.. and that MUST be a good thing when we consider our recent history.

From Jack's mother: Ahggggghhg He's going nowhere!!!!

Dawes WAS in rehab group today but was running a series of 800 metre sprints at an impressive speed and easily accounted for Jetta and Spencer ( no surprise ) who were doing the same manouvres Of more significance to me was that Dawes was noticeably bigger and muscular than his leaner ,paleo-inspired body last year. He actually looked amazing?

Petracca not training?

I attended my first pre season training session today and my observations were: Gus was running heaps of laps in company with Cross, the latter being probably the fittest on the park... unfortunately Our captain looked strong and fit though he was restricted to non contact work whilst I was there. The most impressive sight for me was CP who looked in peak condition ,moved beautifully , and dare I say it, had Ablett-esque traits. Hogan has lost much of his puppy fat but not his swagger There were more assistants on and around the field than I've ever seen before at training.. It seems as if the football department has been cashed up.

I'm old enough to remember the 60's when we 'owned' the MCG and a banner appeared at every game, extending the full length of the front of the outer grandstand , as the Southern Stand is referred to now, and it read: Forever forward dashing Demons, the greatest ever exponents of perfection football, and masters of the MCG. This banner was symbolic of all we were once ..a brilliant team, the sole occupants of the 'G, arrogant, and successful. I still dream ( in 3 word phases ) of those days.

N.Jones - rarely lowered standards Dunn - rock in defence Hogan - promise of greatness Salem - classy when playing Watts - rarely raised levels Toumpas - little to excite Dawes - Jane not Tarzan Viney - found new levels Lumumba - steady, not valuable Brayshaw - exciting debut year Gawn - cause for excitement Tyson - rarely played unhampered McKenzie - never impressed selectors Stretch - limited by size Kent - a huge loss Frost - cause for optimism Cross - professional and determined Newton - some random cameos Garland - steady but lacking Pedersen - never got going Michie - struggled making inroads Vince - was everyone's favourite Kennedy- Harris - injured and limited T.McDonald - was mostly outstanding Riley - limited without pace O.McDonald - made impressive inroads Neal-Bullen - showed occasional glimpses Grimes - generally unfairly maligned Garlett - effective despite limitations Howe - obviously coach's pet Jetta - a crossroad's year Jamar - coach looked elsewhere Spencer - rarely bothered statisticians Bail - failed to impress M.Jones - made limited impression Terlich - not on radar Fitzpatrick - one decent game vandenBerg - excited us all White - promising first game Harmes - exciting final round

For what it's worth , Watts was in the assembled group of injured and Casey players who lined up to cheer Cross off the ground after the siren. He was wearing his Demons' jacket and was as excited as the players as he hugged whomever was nearby.

6 - Jones ( defied suggestions of injury to return to inspiring best ) 5 - Viney ( tough, uncompromising and took right options today ) 4 - Salem ( smooth as silk and classy disposal ) 3 - Gawn ( dominated the centre bounces as he should ) 2 - Hogan ( gave the team confidence with his ruthless attack on the ball ) 1 - Harmes ( took some great marks and showed class) Apologies to T.McDonald and to Brayshaw for a great second half

Jones - finished in style Dunn - versatile and determined Hogan - aggressive and exciting Salem - a classy mover Viney - great all game Brayshaw - dominant second half Gawn - provided great advantage Stretch - occasional wrong options Cross - out in style Newton - early season form Garland - safe and instructive Michie - prolific and effective Vince - determined to win Kennedy-Harris - some useful cameos T.McDonald - totally unstoppable defending O.McDonald - mature decision making Neal-Bullen - had no impact Grimes - same old same Garlett - needed more involvement Howe - typical cameo performance White - strong and skilled Harmes - tough and talented

6 - Cross - His disposal is horrid but you can't ignore his work rate 5 - Gawn - wasn't intimidated or overwhelmed 4 - Salem - actually looked like he cared and disposed effectively 3 - Grimes - had a positive impact after being subbed on 2 - T.McDonald - reverted to some horrible disposal but tried hard all game 1 - Dunn - looked like he cared

N.Jones - tired before injury Dunn - a solid contribution Hogan - had little influence Salem - regularly displayed class Watts - regularly lost contests Viney - bad habits returned Gawn - was not disgraced Stretch - tried but raw Cross - disappointingly our best Newton - plodded and watched Garland - tried but loose Michie - just lacks quality Vince - finishing year poorly T. McDonald - valiant but careless O.McDonald - showed some poise Grimes - impressive when subbed Garlett - was hardly noticed Howe - sporadic and gone Jetta - slow and loose Spencer - insipid before injury M.Jones - hopefully last game Neal-Bullen - out of depth

6 - McDonald - makes up for lack of natural ability with a huge heart and wonderful effort 5 - Michie - tried, with limited success but better than the rest 4 - Salem - showed some endeavour and a little of the class that we know he possesses 3 - Grimes - gave a damn but is still so predictable under pressure 2 - Gawn - made a difference for a short time 1 - Dunn - just because

I'd actually appreciate being told that there's a flu epidemic at the club, or that Jones has a damaged vertebrae in his neck, Dawes is short sighted, Hogan has signed elsewhere in 2017, Howe has signed anywhere in 2016.....anything so that we can understand why this crap of a team performs so incompetently week after week

Jones - just a shadow Dunn - season's worst game Hogan - had no impact Salem - showed some class Watts - played without heart Dawes - played without ability Viney - was rarely sighted Lumumba - poor before injury Brayshaw - little to commend Gawn - tried but beaten Stretch - just lacked class Cross - age has wearied Newton - has no tricks Garland - made poor choices Michie - showed some promise Vince - game to forget McDonald - our only winner Neal-Bullen - little to enthuse Grimes - same old errors Garlett - 2 minute performance Howe - not on field Harmes - far from ready

6 - McDonald ( versatile performance and no coincidence we lifted when he went on ball ) 5 - Vince ( far from his best but at least he racked up possessions ) 4 - Viney ( lost in the first half mire , but redeemed in the second) 3 - Harmes ( still very rough but his endeavour couldn't be faulted) 2 - Dunn ( held up well despite the onslaught and wasn't embarrassed) 1 - Hogan ( for 3 goals , little else)

N.Jones -.was surprisingly selfish Dunn - excellent despite pressure Hogan - had limited opportunities Watts - appeared relatively disconnected Dawes - tried but failed Viney - better second half Lumumba - erratic and frustrating Brayshaw - needs a rest Gawn - failed to inspire Cross - was shown up Garland - just a game Michie - lacked the smarts Vince - couldn't carry team McDonald - easily our best Neal-Bullen - was lacking finesse Grimes - effective when subbed Garlett - far too spasmodic Howe - had limited interest Jetta - loose before injury Bail - lacked basic skills M.Jones - tried but limited Harmes - had a dip

6 - Viney ( 4 excellent quarters ) 5 - Hogan ( intelligent game and took marks at both ends ) 4 - Tyson ( looked to be moving freer and disposal was effective for the most part ) 3 - Dawes ( his bad is rotten, but today he had a positive impact) 2 - Gawn ( didn't break even but wasn't disgraced by the best in the league ) 1 - M. Jones ( far from pretty to watch but he provided some good run)

N.Jones - looked surprisingly lethargic Dunn - some uncharacteristic turnovers Hogan - a commanding presence Watts - not on game Dawes - season's best performance Viney - bullocking and effective Lumumba - hit and miss Brayshaw - limited on flank Gawn - far from disgraced Tyson - finally on track Cross - played important role Garland - loose and lethargic Michie - just a game Vince - disappointingly well held McDonald - never imbued confidence Neal- Bullen - provided some life Grimes - loose and slow Garlett - mistakes proved costly Howe - did just enough Jetta - no heroics today M.Jones - surprisingly provided run Harmes - rough, not ready

6 - Vince ( blanketed Pendlebury and won his own ball all day) 5 - Gawn ( continued his stellar run of performances ) 4 - Viney ( what a workhorse and has erased careless errors from his game ) 3 - Cross ( as long as he doesn't kick he can play for a number of years more) 2 - Hogan ( always a target and rarely let his teammates down) 1 - Dunn ( I don't recall him making an error)

Jones - dynamic when needed Dunn - unstoppable in defence Hogan - constantly provided target Watts - dynamic link man Dawes - tried but clumsy Viney - wonderful tagging game Lumumba - dynamic and safe Brayshaw - great second half Tyson - lethargic and wasteful Cross - outstanding tagging role Garland - excellent defensive drive Michie - just lacked nous Vince - another wonderful game McDonald - was rarely noticed Neal-Bullen - failed to impose Grimes - better second half Garlett - just a cameo Howe - finally 4 quarters Jetta - displayed great endeavour vandenBerg - tough and disciplined Harmes - made an impression Gawn - knows he belongs

6 - Viney ( took the right options and smothered an important opponent ) 5 - Vince ( racked up possessions and restricted an important opponent ) 4 - Gawn ( great first half ) 3 - Grimes ( made mistakes but backed himself successfully) 2 - Jones ( best of the rest) 1 - Dunn( was rarely beaten)