Demon Spofforth

Our customary one quarter no-show will occur in the first quarter with us down by five goals at quarter time and me losing my $h!t a number of times over our failure to man up or over-possess. We'll slowly chip away at it over the next two quarters before both teams go goal for goal in the last and me losing my $h!t a number of times due to dodgy freekicks given to the likes of Roughead and Breust. Gawn/Clarry/Jones will combine to win the last couple of centre clearances though, resulting in the Dees kicking the last two and winning by 10. I'll then lose my $h!t again, this time for good reasons.

Sorry but I am very beaten up by the previous incarnations of the last 12 years. And in that time I've heard plenty about development cycles as we've gone through rebuild after rebuild after rebuild. Still not even one final in all that time. I'm definitely hopeful of finals this year and a premiership in the next 3-4. That's why I'm here. That's what will make the last 12 years worthwhile. But given our history (long-term and recent) and our relatively young/inexperienced list, I just don't think its outrageous for someone to suggest we won't play finals this year. That's all I was saying.

I think Robbo is a [censored] as much as anyone. But I didn't disagree with everything he said. I don't trust us yet either which is why I have to keep my hopes in check. They've let me down way too many times. He was also very right about how we talked a big game last year and tried to be ruthless but we went too far re: suspensions and co. And then when it came to the time to be really ruthless and unrelenting - Round 23 - we failed abysmally. So yeah, I can understand some people/commentators not picking us for the eight at this stage.

Yep, fan day was 16 Jan in 2016 according to my facebook records. The 2017 fan day was on 4 February. Both were Saturdays so that kids could go regardless of whether school was back or not. Anyway, I'm moving on. Obviously won't be changed now. Go Dees!

The Dees camp goes until 5 Feb so no other clubs are using the facility on the Saturday. It's usually the first Saturday in February (last two years anyway) and kids have always been back at school by then. Only reason I can see is that the Footy Dept decided they wanted the Saturday to be a closed session or have the boys doing something else that day. As I said above, I'm disappointed with the decision but can also understand the Footy Dept having the final say.

Thanks DV. Grinter FC will be returning in 2018. Can't wait.

As a Brisbane-based supporter, very disappointed with this. Not bagging the club as being hopeless or anything, but as others have said, this has been scheduled for the Saturday morning each of the last 3-4 years and been a big success with 300-400 attending and plenty of local media exposure. We drive up every year and my two young boys love it, being one of the highlights of the year. They've been asking me for weeks when it'll be and are now very confused. I appreciate the footy department comes first but scheduling it for Friday instead of the traditional Saturday is actually worse than not having one at all and just claiming the week is a closed one. I see there's plenty of Demonlanders taking the pi$$ and seeing no issue. That's a complete lack of understanding of how successful the Saturday sessions have been in the past and the exposure the Dees have been able to have with young kids , local media and the general footy community up here. Really feels like an own-goal.

Here's some info I put up on one of the draft threads: Oskar played for Wilston Grange (my local team) up here in Qld before being poached by NEAFL team Aspley early in the 2017 season. Has pace to burn and kicked the NEAFL goal of the year from memory running/dodging his way from half-back before slotting it from 50 on the run. He will take some time and doesn't win a heap of the footy but his outside run and pace means he can have a real impact on games regardless. A mate from WG says a few other AFL clubs are interested as well. Was a Lions Academy member but was cut two years ago which seems to have spurred him on.

Oskar played for Wilston Grange (my local team) up here in Qld before being poached by NEAFL team Aspley early in the 2017 season. Has pace to burn and kicked the NEAFL goal of the year from memory running/dodging his way from half-back before slotting it from 50 on the run. He will take some time and doesn't win a heap of the footy but his outside run and pace means he can have a real impact on games regardless. A mate from WG says a few other AFL clubs are interested as well. Was a Lions Academy member but was cut two years ago which seems to have spurred him on.

I'm thinking us, the Saints and West Coast to finish on the same amount of wins meaning final 7-8-9 placings will come down to percentage. Sorry, but I think the overall 'opinion' of this thread is a bit optimistic.

Report on MFC site said he and Hibberd will train in the rehab group until Xmas given they've had a year off and the club doesn't want to overload them too early.

Good draw for us at a glance. But again no game in Qld for supporters up here. Think that's 4 out of the last 5 years. Oh well, won't mind a bit if we make finals.

OMeara deal done

I hope so too but apparently it is Carlton

Dunn and 51 for 47

Equivalent of pick 35 is fair. I'm not too fussed about not having a 1st and 2nd rounder this year. We've had 4 top 10 picks the last two years. We can afford to miss a year.

Let's see how things pan out first. We'll know for sure at 2pm tomorrow.

Done deal. 48 and 66 for Lewis, 57 and 68

Dees-Hawks meeting this afternoon to work it out apparently

AFL are going to review it so there must be some concern

Contracted legend of the club and current best and fairest gone for pick 88. Just doesn't seem right and the way Hawks/Eagles have colluded is a little fishy. Contract backended in coaching years to avoid player salary cap?

SMitchell officially an Eagle

Agreed. Steele and Stevens don't dramatically improve the Saints at all despite some of the media swooning. Rumour up here in Qld is that the Saints are trying to offload Armitage (Qlder) to Suns/Lions for a good pick so that might explain the strategy.

Can't see how we could get Rockliff for Dunn and pick 28. Rockliff's 26, already played 130+ games, is a club captain and an All Australian. I'd be very happy with getting Rockliff but can't see it happening with the current resources at our disposal. Dare say we not his favourite either after promising to rookie him but then didn't.

Freo compo for Mayne is pick 23. Think that means our second rounder is out to 30 now?