The Sailing Demon

OUT: Maynard: Was out of his depth and unsure if he was tagging or what but 39 each to Gaz and Selwood would suggest he didn't Wagner: Slow, weak, not particularly smart, won't be here next year. Garlett: Lack of forward pressure and needs to be sent a message. IN: Tyson: (Maynard) Hs is a ball magnet and I have no idea why wasn't selected (Seems like a personal issue with Goodwin) Brayshaw: (Wagner) Steadfast and tenacious off HB, tough as nails and can always drift forward for a goal (Why wasn't he selected either??? another coach issue?) Bugg: (Garlett) Stick with me here, If you look at Buggs scoring shots per game he is up there with the best small forwards in the comp (Betts, Greene, etc., his forward pressure, speed and tackling are severely underrated and if he could just convert a little more would seriously be considered one of the best small forwards in the comp. As always, happy to be proven wrong by performance and if you all think I am wrong please let me know!

Can anyone pass the status of Tommy Bugg and Dom Tysons hair? As the 2 best mops in the team I want to be sure that when I flick on Fox footy on Sunday that I will be graced with their 10/10 hairstyles.

Ah this is way too easy! Obviously Hogan, Jetta, O-Mac, Hunt, Viney, Jones, Pearce, Hibberd, Oliver, Gawn! Love them!

Gawn 44 H/O's and 18 disposals Hickey 13 H/O's and 1s disposals. Suffice to say the monkey is off his back and he is back to monstering the comp <3

Maynard unsung tonight...9 Tackles 15 disposals...The kinda role player you want in your team. Good job CM Also, Tyson with 8 tackles! not bad for the second best looking dude at the club...Next to my boy Buggy.

I love it, we try a different tact in a praccy match and this site goes into melt down...Goes back to normal game plan that we have drilled and back to kicking these nobidies up and down Casey Fields. #Trusttheprocess

Ahhh the last round of JLT. Footy wouldn't feel the same to me if I was doing anything different! What's that you ask? why, the same I have been doing for the past 3 years!...Floating in the middle of the ocean slowly refreshing the fox footy page because once again my TV maintainers cant get the game on a screen! On the plus side, I'm home Monday for a few months and get to watch the opening months of the season which is a rarity for me! Demons by about 40...Should be 70 but we aren't capable of crushing teams by 70-100 points yet. Great to see all the usual posters back at it in here too! *Winks at Rthan Tremblay..."G'day shippmate"

I have had a few of these situations throughout my career where I was told to TOW the line. As a younger guy I sulked, and approached it with immaturity and shut off for days. But as I have grown up I have come to appreciate the patience that was held with me because ultimatley that patience helped me to become who I am not only as a professional but as a person. I am not perfect, my general loquatious nature means that I can tread on toes every now and then and say things I perhaps shouldn't. I know that when I am pulled aside and given a roasting (professionally) that it is because they see my potential and want me to reach it. As a manager of people very similar to my younger self now I take more pleasure in helping the kids like me grow as opposed to just letting them go off track and eventually let the system kick them out. HOWEVER in some cases, there are people that can't be helped and no matter how many angles taken by different people, they just arent the right fit for the job.

You'd be 100% correct haha. this isnt my good friend Steven is it?

Okay mate sorry. 2 spelling mistakes and use of an incorrect term. I will go back and enroll in another year of education just for that. If that's what you took from my post then I feel sorry for you.

The idea that the club owes anything to Jack because he was "Loyal" is moronic to say the least. I have been a supporter for 26 years now and have felt the same anxt and hardship that we all have but year after year I wear red and blue, get into arguements with other footy teams fans defending us, pay my membership and go to/watch every game I can. I live in sydney and I fly interstate often just to see our boys play. By the logic that we should keep the players due to loyalty then I would say 99% of us Demonland members would deserve a game in red and blue. Jack is an interesting case. and although I have a completley different career path to him I think him and I have some similarities. I joined my job in 2008 at the age of 17, showed a lot of promise early and had regularly under performed do to general lack of interest. very good at my core job, one of the brighter kids in my working environment and had heaps of good friends, and if I put in more effort I could have probably been along further in my career, but instead I relied upon my natural ability to my arrogance and coasted along. It wasn't until I was sat down by my bosses and had my resignation signed for me and I saw people that I considered below me in terms of job ability started surpassing me due to attitude and professionalism that the penny dropped and I started being accellerated through my career. Not trying to make it about me because it's not but heres my lesson learned.? Did my employer owe me anything? NO Was my career path solely decided by myself? YES Did I deserve chance after chance to improve my attitude and general mood towards the organisation? NO Thankfully I pulled my head in and im into my 10th year in the Navy with a lot ahead of me. Also, I am not sure who here plays local footy but the same goes there. At my local club if you don't train and prepare the way the staff want you to and what is expected of you then you don't play, simple as that.We don't get paid, or anything like that, but you owe it to the people taking their time out to coach you, and play along side you to tow the line and give them the effort they deserve. Whether you're premier division or division 5, the same standard is set across the board, no matter how good you are or how much the team needs you, we have had our captain dropped after he missed a team session on a Thursday night because he chose to get on the [censored]. Jack and I are similar ages (26/25) so I would like to think I have a geenral idea on how his mind works. He, just like me (Any my missus will agree to this) have a [censored] load of growing up to do and still consider ourself one of the boys and still a bit immature, and just like him, I have junior people in my organisation look up to me whether they like it or not. The standard that you hold is the standard that is set. So for me to say "Yep, trade him, [censored] him" would be rich however when I was staring down the barrell of a resignation I wasn't surprised and didnt expect my bosses to show me any leniency any more (Thank god they did). Jack, don't be surprised at the situation that you have created for yourself, would we all love to see you in red and blue next year? sure, but do we expect a hell of a lot more from you? Yes. Get to the early training days that the first years have to attend, train harder than anyone on the track and hold yourself to a standard. But if you even for one second think that the club, playing group, coaching staff, members and fans are even going to let you put a toe out of line then youll be playing for Casey and removed from the club so quickly then youll want to look for a new job.

I'm sorry mate, I understand what you're saying, but reality is that they are gearing up to play against the Swans in the finals and we aren't simple as that.

Ohhh in true ironic fashion, Demonland has become a place of fire and brimstone over the past 72 hours, and rightfully so. I tip my hat and have nothing but respect for Jonsey, I don't know why he persists with this club, he is like the awesome bloke who loves a girl but she keeps [censored] him over and just when things come good, she does something else, he can't help but bleed red and blue...much like us I guess. I agree that words are meaningless at this stage and trust me, there's a plasterer coming around to my place later today to fix the damage that my ever so passionate fist did to my poor innocent wall. But the next action that counts will be in March next year when round 1 hits. we just have to wait til then. I am seriously disappointed (But they may have their own reasons) that it was only Jones that fronted the media. Gawn, T-Mac, Vince, Goodwin. any of those 4 care to explain why they weren't there? I am hearing a lot of "This will spurr the boys on to eprform next year" Does anyone else see that and think BS, they've had plenty of opportunities over the past 24 months to find stuff to spurr them on and have done nothing but disappoint. the last 2 rounds of last year, numerous occasions this year etc. But you know what really burns the most? what reallllllly burns me to my core? Right now there is a team who had its list gutted, had to pick up draft rejects, had its name forever shamed by the worlds biggest sporting supplement saga sitting in 7th and gearing up for its finals series. As much as we all like to poke fun at Essendon we have to give it to them, they showed grit, persistence, and rose to the occasion enough this year to prove they deserve to be there, they were in the EXACT situation we were win, sitting on the cusp of the 8 facing a lesser team around the same position on the ladder in order to secure their spot, and they did that. I think I might take 6 months of AFL, it's NFL season soon and my Oakland Raiders were an underperforming joke to the league who hadn't made playoffs in years were taken to the playoffs last year by their star recruit Derek Carr (Wears the number 4...ironic isn't it) See y'all in 2018. I'll still be here, floating around the ocean following the games any way I can (Which is usually updating the fox footy website)

Collingwood won't trouble us. You can't fight human nature, and when there's nothing to play for (And you kinda hope your coach gets the sack) you can try to fire yourself up as much as you want but at the first sign of push back your mind naturally starts going into self preservation mode, Mad Monday mode, and theres a few players there that have their minds on other things. The beleief in this young group is huge and they grew up watching the Demons lose. to be a part of the team that broke the 11 year drought and the pride in saying "We did that, we are the reason that the Demons don't get laughed at anymore" And it's just business as usual for Jordan Lewis...Another September where he has to work. Demons by 24.

Anyone who says it's a success if we have more wins than last year but still fail to make the finals have rocks in their head. It's like me getting 50% on an exam which I need 80% for and then getting 70% the next time and saying "I done good". No mate, you did not pass the acceptable standard, you fail. Try again. I'm in the military, close enough isn't good enough and it hasnt been in the past 10 years of my career either. Fact is this. Richmond have been a laughing stock for years now for no good reason. 3 of the last 4 seasons they have made finals and this year are sitting pretty for a double chance. Essendon were in more [censored] than the early settlers and look at how their resilience has shown and now the entire AFL community is rooting for the drug cheats. GWS were given every concession under the sun and have taken every opportunity and are GF favourites. Swans started the year at 0-6 and are payng $4 to win the flag. And 11 years on it's still the same old [censored] Melbourne. "Oh, but the whole comp is more competitive this year." Mate, if i'm in a class full of students and I am still under the average exam score I can't sit there and justify it to myself by sayin I am only below the standard because everyone else is so smart...guess what? you're still the dumb ass that cant grasp the concept. I'll still pay my memberships. I'll still be on Demonland every day. I'll still go to as many gamesas I can. I'll still meet new family members with a Demons top and Demons Teddy. I'll still watch every game by hook or by crook. And I will still love my Demons more than anything. But damn, the last time we made finals I was 15, and I have still voewd that the first final I ever go to will be a Demons game. I don't wanna be 27 with still no finals.

It'll be a typical Hobart day, cold, grey, windy, but relatively dry. I wouldn't mind some rain, Will somewhat neutralise Ben Brown and his telescopic go-go gadget arms with a slippery footy but hey, Our side looks bloody deeeeeeeeee-licious. Expecting a lot from Hibberd tomorrow, we didn't have him earlier this year and he has been insanely lethal coming out of that backline, I wouldn't be surprised if we see him and Nev in the AA squad of 40 and even the 22. In my humble opinion our run and carry off half back will be key tomorrow. Hunt, Hibberd, Frost...those 3 fellas love taking on their oponent and I have rarely seen them beaten in a foot race this year. Nifty Neville Jettas magic tomorrow will need to be turned up to 11 and I expect a great win.

Looking at flights to Hobart and They want to charge me around $400+. Hows the audacity?!?! it;s Hobart, not Monaco. Looks like i'll be watching at home or at the Light Brigade hotel in Paddington. Any Sydney-siders here that have a decent local?

I saw the attendance and admittedly was a little disappointed. As my name would suggest, I was at sea with the Navy (30th day straight and still no port visit!) and wasn't able to make it. I live in Sydney but fly down and across whenever I can (Syd to Melb flights are disgustingly expensive if you can't fly out at 9:55 on a Tuesday night on a full moon only when the sun sets in the north east etc.)

Just reading everyones predictions for the remainder of the season is giving me heart failure and the nervous poo's. We need to win (Obviously) this weekend or the Port game will mean nothing. HOW GOOD IS FOOTY!!!

We have the lowest percentage in the 8 and are only in there by 1 game and peple are thinking of resting players? Give me a spell.

If fit, and docs say yes I would say drop Trenners and bring in Jones. I like Trenners and all that but if it's between him, Vince and Jones then the answer is obvious. HOWEVER, I think they will give Jones another week and leave the team unchanged. (Would love to see Trenners play well and make the decision a hard one!) Vince a week later...The only player I would say that will make way for him would be JKH and frankly, he has been impressive on his return, good tackling, speed, and has been taking the game on and backing himself so that's no certainty. Boy oh boy it feels good to have the good selection dramas again as opposed to fielding our depth depth players (And still playing pretty well )

Read my optimistic mind mate!

If GWS play like this in two weeks then we will already be 5 goals up by this stage.

That indigenous gurnsey is so slick too! I will be purchasing one I think!

Well well well, what a week in footy does. Always good to have the wood over both SA teams in the 1 year. If we can stay fit I would peg us to be a chance to win every game for the remainder of the year to be honest. GWS aren't as big and bad as everyone says, North will get pumped by us next week, Saints, Brisbane and Collingwood all speak for themselves. No trips west, no trips to the NT left for the year and our injuries are all coming back at the right time and we only managed to lose 2 games. I am up and about tell you that. Hibberd and Nev wouldn't surprise me if they were both named in the AA 40 players list. Good to see Hogan have influence, Viney did well and Melksham has really showed his value and although not yet, I am starting to feel like he is start to show us why he is getting paid what he is. Time to start believeing I think people!