DemonDave

some bloke from Tassie called Russell Robertson was drafted, demoted to the rookie list and ended up with a decent career, so its by no means a certain death knell for a players career, but it is one step closer to football purgatory... Having said that I dont see Nev improving the necessary levels to justify promotion. I say we give all our rookies 2 out of the 3 games in the pre-season, see how they each perform at the relatively higher level, and based on the player that shines who fits our needs gets the nod...

Jeremy Cameron played 16 games his first season, Jonathan Brown played 13. I dont think its going to happen that he plays every game, he will be carefully managed, and given a rest at least twice during the year (possibly the week after a road trip to Perth to spend time with the family like he did this year?). Given we also have Clark, Dawes and Fitzpatrick that can play the tall forward role its not as if our forward line would be barren without him. I'd hate to see him suffer from OP or some other overuse injury that blights young stars pushed too hard too soon, but then again I think understanding managing fitness loads has got a lot better nowadays that those type of injuries arent as prevalent..

9 wins would be a jump of 7 extra wins for the year. Without looking up stats specifically, when was the last time a team improved to that degree? I assume Port wouldve improved 5 or 6 in 2013, but nowhere near 9. I think West Coast may also struggle this year, theyve lost Kerr and Cox is on his last legs. Of both "coasts" I expect them to finish below Abletts mob. Thus our first month or so, to follow the Port analogy, is crucial. Despite being at the Dome, we should be St Kilda, are a real chance against WC here, play the Giants, Carlton and then Gold Coast again at home. We are a genuine chance in the first 5 of these games to go 4-1. After that it gets much, much harder of course...

I thought Cross spoke really well on the night mentioned that football was as much about the wellness of the mind as it was the body, and in his mind he was still as hungry as ever. Also mentioned that the first day of training, the enthusiasm and energy about training belied the fact we were 2-20 last year. He mentioned that having characters around the place, motioning to Vince standing next to him, made it an enjoyable place to be.

That was a massacre! Right from that bewildering opening snap and safety it wasn't to be the broncos night. Very solid team effort from seattle epitomised their season, refreshing to see a defensive player named mvp too.

game day! the Millers beer is in the fridge, got my niners jersey on to jinx seattle and a couple of mates almost here!

The Superbowl starts at 1030AM! And thanks for the replies, the Commencement dinner sounds familiar now..I guess this is a subtle rebranding of the event...

As much as I loath the Seahawks thanks to Sherman and Carroll, this is a fantastic story that, when I showed the missus today, admitted brought a tear to her eye: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2549199/Deaf-Seahawks-player-treats-adorable-twin-girl-super-fans-Super-Bowl-tickets-surprise-meeting.html

Denver 24 Seattle 17 - MVP is almost always nowadays the winning QB (as the Brownlow is for midfielders) so I cant go past Peyton M. Long range forecast 49ers to win it all next year haha!

Has the club ever had an event such as the '2014 season launch' event,as per email that members just got today? This would potentially explain why the AGM no longer has the info night component, instead they can monetise it to the tune of $198 per head to hear pretty much the same thing ...

Sounds like a concession to the theatre goers that attend Swans, Giants, Lions and Suns games. So they now know who their players actually are. Its hardly 'Americanising, it happens in soccer around the world too...

Cracking game that one, plenty of big yardage plays, and crushing defence. Great last drive by Kaep, but a great play by Sherman. He's probably the best corner in the game, but he's also easily the most idiotic personality in the game, did anyone see his post game interviews? Gotta say even if Crabtree hadve caught that ball, wouldve been a huge ask next week for the defence with Bowman doing his ACL. Have taped the Broncos-Pats game so watching that now!

Broncos 38 Patriots 31 Niners 20 Seattle 10

Thanks for uploading the pics 666,appreciated!

I guess the term 'wild card' can be deceptive. Some years teams scrape into the playoffs with 8 or 9 wins as a wildcard, like the Packers this year (Albeit aided by a now fit again HOF QB). SF won 12 games and had the 5th best overall W-L record in the league this year. We just happen to be in the same conference as the team with the best record. Tellingly, SF's 4 losses this year though were all against teams still in the race (Indy,Seattle, New Orleans and Carolina). I remember watching the Saints on the road at Seattle a month or so ago with a mate on TV, and after 5 minutes you could tell that Brees & co were going to get walloped, they just couldnt handle the crowd in Seattle. Kapaernick struggled with audibles there earlier in the year also, yet on the return trip to SF without that noise we were clearly the better team so their home ground advantage this week is profound. The game that intrigues me most this week is Indy@New England. I have seen them play some amazing games this year, yet there have been others where Luck and his receivers just havent clicked. I dont think the Pats have played all that well this year, obviously being affected by the loss of Welker and Gronks injury woes, Bradys 2 traditional favorite targets. Yet the query is if they finally hit their best for how good could they be? Maybe we always have unrealistically high expectations of Brady led teams these days. If you took away the scoreboard last week, and looked at raw yardage/first down etc stats, you'd have thought the Bengals would've come away with a win. San Diego are clearly the weakest team left in it, but a nothing to lose attitude suits Rivers, hes a decent QB who flys under the radar a bit. Still, Denver like New England have the potential to devastate teams on offense. Can Peyton get another ring to cap off a record breaking year?

This guys Bulldogs blog is quite good, http://www.bulldogtragician.com/ if you search for Daniel Cross inevitably the next adjectives will be about ''floating punt kicks''. So I guess we have to temper our expectations that he's going to have a Travis Johnstone-esque laser boot on him. No real surprises in the time trials although Trengove is usually part of the top trifecta with Nicho and Tommy Mc.

Indi 31 Pats 24 SD 7 Denver 34 San Fran 21 Carolina 10 Saints 14 Seattle 25

Good close game, albeit not a great spectacle in trying conditions at Lambeau today, boy it looked cold! A wind chill factor in the minus teens they mentioned. Seems that Kaep saves his 'running' legs for when he plays GB, again that was the difference in the end converting that 3rd and 8 which wouldve been out of field goal range. Rogers made a heck of a few plays too, particularly that improbable scramble out of a pack when he broke out of a tackle to avoid the sack, clear out and still hit Cobb. Sign of a quality QB. Like our chances against the Panthers next week in this form, although they did beat us mid season. So both NFC away teams, who had superior win-loss records this year than their hosts yet still had to travel prevail.What do people think of the talk of them re-doing the seeds again after the regular season is finished regardless of divisions? This would've seeded SF at 3, and NO at 4 and Philly and GB on the road at 5 & 6. We had 4 more regular season wins than GB. On the other hand, given its always historically been this way change might not be wanted. I remember a few years ago in the NFC West where Seattle scraped in with a less than .500 record so it has its quirks. Huge games next week, in the AFC Andrew Luck's Colts travel to New England. I haven't been altogether convinced by Brady & co this year, and can see Indy keeping on rolling into the AFC Championship game where I think they will play Denver who should be far too strong for the Chargers. NFC wise, I'm hoping the Niners can overcome the Panthers in Carolina, when was the last time they hosted a playoff game? We didnt have Crabtree last time we played them, he is a playoff specialist as seen today. New Orleans at Seattle promises to be a beauty. Two undersized QBs with beautiful arms. I'd say home ground advantage with that damn racket they make could be the difference for the 'Hawks.

Devastating result for KC. Wow what a comeback.

Wow, what a drive (and finish to the drive with the fumble recovery!) by Luck... Game on indeed now!

Chiefs 31 Colts 10 Saints 17 Eagles 14 Chargers 14 Bengals 31 49ers 27 Packers 20

In the VFL Members area, up towards 'that' end. Ugh dont want to relive this day anytime soon...

As an occasional peruser of the training rundowns, can anyone tell me how Michael Evans has been going so far this offseason? Fully recovered from his foot complaint? And to those questioning Dawes worth, look at how Collingwood have struggled to replace the valuable role he brought to the team. First Lynch and now White brought in to try and replicate his role... And thanks to those that have posted their views on todays session in here...

Saw about half the team at a pub in Richmond Friday night, it was only early around 7PM, having a dinner and a beer together. I assume therefore they have weekends off at this stage of the year?

Chiefs Patriots Niners