DemonDave

I sat in the front row yesterday, a rarity for me. So I got to watch some players a bit more closely than I normally would (ie. I was bored with what was happening in general play). Sylvia was one that stood out, for all the wrong reasons. He would make one half chase while trying to keep the ball in the area, and then literally give up. No second let alone third or fourth efforts. It was appaling to watch, he really is letting down guys like Brad Green, who despite his deteriorated pace in his twilight still ran hard to try and chase every tackle (his slowness never gets him to the player but thats not the point), I would almost drop Colin after these efforts yesterday, time and time again he did it. But then again I dont know how different it is to a normal game, surely the club doesnt accept these half-efforts every week? His three goals were junk goals, when the game was on the line he was nowhere to be seen.

Our reigning best and fairest winner. Has one less than satisfactory year and people on here want him out the door! Dont say loyalty is dead...

McKenzie is a plodder, he would get absolutely slaughtered by Hill. From what I saw of the Freo game today he didnt play that well, could we dare play Blease 1 on 1 on him, just to see how he goes if given a 'task' rather than just run around asking for handball receives to take guys on and have shots for goal whenever he has the ball? Pav is the main worry, he has been in sublime form this year. If Frawley isnt playing, Rivers has to go back. I wouldnt trust Sellar to man him up if he is fit again. Mayne is also in good form, and I think would be too nimble for Dunn, so possibly Garland also has to go back (if this is the case Cook would surely get a run). Ins based on the Casey thread: Green, Davey, Morton, Gysberts Outs: Magner, Bail, Bennell, Tapscott Variables: Frawley (injured or suspended) (Cook in if this happens and Rivers or Garland to go back) Spencer (out if Jamar is fit again) Nicholson (if injured, Tapscott to survive)

How many players have kicked 5 goals in a game for us since The Russian did it vs the Blues at Etihad that day? Not many I'd suggest. If Carlton can persist with pretending Hampson and/or Kreuzer are forwards then surely its worth us trying out for at least a couple of quarters again. I quite like the way Martin throws himself at everything when playing in the ruck, he didnt do too badly on Sunday considering he hasnt played much this year.

Thanks HT, I didnt see the Casey game this week and have only given a cursory glance to the match reviews, knowing there wasnt going to be many pleasant readings in there. Given Id say not many played well at all down at Werribbee, do we bring in a 'known' player, albeit with well spotlighted frailties such as a Petterd instead?

Tigers in recent weeks have lost Vickery for the season, Grimes for a month, King for a month and Jackson to suspension for two weeks, so certainly have their own personnel issues right now. For mine: Out-McDonald, Bail, Tapscott In-Cook, Morton, Gysberts For every one good game Tapscott plays, he has 4 or 5 where he doesnt look like anything else but someone wanting to take an opposition player out. I still dont know where he will end up playing for us (if at all)...

He is 22 and coming off a knee reco! Geez

What about their other #1 draft pick, Bryce Gibbs, he hardly seems to be living upto the tag of a #1 pick right now either..

I heard that guy giving his sales spiel, and then late late at night a couple of nights ago using the same advertorial I heard him at it again with the late night hosts.. They have a rudimentary website up: http://goalkicka.com/ IT looks like an archery target hung up with string. Hmm. Maybe the Swans have lifted their workrate across the ground ten-fold, and leave their forwards in much better goalkicking positions this year than trying to say this gimmick is solely the reason they have improved?

daisycutter, its cold and the wind down the 'water slide' end in particular is causing havoc with some of the kicking for goal down that end..The scoreboard innaccuracies reflect the conditions somewhat.

Big Tom Boyd for Metro looks a very likely KPF, albeit under age, three out of their seven goals so far. Given Jack hasnt had a run for over a month, Im not surprised hes not dominating. Still, he has equal most tackles so far and absolutely cleaned someone up in the centre square a few mins ago.

Devastating news for Clark and the club. He's on 29 goals, the next two best are Jones and Howe. Will he still end up winning our goalkicking?

Thought Gysberts was quite good today, still rake thin but put his body into the packs, seems to read the ball really well. Stef Martin was also good in the conditions, although the inconsistency of his disposal is frustrating. Presented well up forward playing in front, and was capable giving Spencer a chopout in the ruck. Not much to write home about for most of the others. Bennell while he didnt get much of it was very constructive with his disposals. Couch apart from the winning goal was tagged extremely effectively. Davis was solid but ultimately beaten in the air too many times by Wilkes. Petterd very ordinary game someone of his experience needs to do more, seemed more intent on the niggle. Tynan- how many times did his brother kick it to him today? Just OK. Spencer tried hard ultimately beaten but was not terrible. Strauss - Great to see him get a game under his belt. A few of his kicks were sublime. Sheahan - fairly anonymous, moved forward to little effect later on. Williams - Didnt get much of it in first game at senior level I've seen from him but looks like a capable forward. Of the Scorps listed players Panozza, Riseley, Tynan and Collins the standouts. A great win in the end in trying conditions...

Sky news Australia, based in Sydney of course, having a whale of a time butcher our suburb names that they've never heard of before. Gotta love our centralised news services... Only a minor shimmy in our household, but 5.5 is a big deal.

Definitely it was "Finals Over", my memories are with RGRS on this one. Good to see my mates who made the "Ooh thats gonna bruise" get another run on the websites last week too..

For Range Rover and whoever else plans to have fun on Sunday, here are the million dollar memories I whipped up in 15 mins yesterday for the traitor. (posted them in the wrong thread before). Print them out and have fun! Two choices for the flipside.

Zing! Such was the criteria when were looking at a coach and assistants, the all important 'winning culture' and 'successful club IP' traits were all the rage. Bring him into the club ASAP. We probably havent had a flag winner since Peter Vardy have we?

Going to be hard now for OKC, Miami have shifted the momentum their way massively, and are now at home for the next two(?). Cant see them getting beaten from here, unless Durant and Westbrook put on some stupendous shooting performances. Spoke to one of my friends who is now on the Heat bandwagon, giving me crap about Spurs missing out on the big dance again, and I asked him "Can you name any of their other players other than the Big 3?" "How awesome is LeBron" was his response.....

And here is his Demonwiki stub: http://demonwiki.org/Robert+B+Johnson

Great to see another star from our golden era recognised: http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/138468/default.aspx

Good luck to Jack, this guy cant take a trick, chronic Fatigue in his junior days and now type 1 Diabetes. From MFC site article, he and the club have contacted past and present players from other clubs to see how they managed the condition, great to hear them leaving no stone unturned in aiding him. Here is the MFC article: http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/7415/newsid/138234/default.aspx

Amazing the impatience of supporters and the media. The whole Jack Watts criticising that has been a national sport over the last two years has been hysterical. And yet over the past week I've heard Dermott Brereton respond to criticism of Ryan Schoenmakers by saying "Hes just a kid let him develop" on SEN, and then this morning Robert Walls defend Lachlan Henderson by saying 'Hes only a very young kid" in defence of his lack of output. These two are 22 and 23 respectively. Watts is 21. Its great to hear the Cook is starting to show some of the ability that meant we used pick 12 on him..Lets keep nurturing him, let him develop at a natural rate and when he's ready reward him with a senior game...

So every time a journo gets it wrong based on the perception of others, they should resign? Wow the newsrooms of Australia would be barren. We'd have to rely on the twitterverse for our 'news'

Too similar to Aaron Davey for mine. That particular niche on our list is already filled...

Both series locked at 2-2, heading back to the higher seeds home court. These two series have so many possibilities from here. Wow! I think given the Celts have been only managing it in OT means the Heat have more upside, whereas I think OKC have more potential room for upside in their series as well. Time will tell, Im so so busy at work but still trying to find time to sneak a look at the live updates!