DemonDave

Best of luck Fages, and thanks for your great work over the last 10 years. You've always been friendly and willing to chat to me and my friends at functions and interstate after-matchs. From all accounts you've done a greast job at every position you've held at the club. It was only on Sunday at Sandy I said hi to Chris as he walked past, and then watched him deep in discussion with Paul Gardiner on the outer wing for the first half 20 meters from us, only now it appears obvious what the discussion may have been about..

When you're a professional athlete, being paid 200K+ a year to present your body in peak physical condition on a daily basis, its simply not good enough to be continually found out drinking into the wee small hours of the night during the season. Shane Woewodin cut out all the excesses in his life, got himself into his absolute best condition possible, and won a Brownlow as reward for his dedication. How many times do you hear of James McDonald or Nathan Brown being out and about till 4AM at a club? These guys don't have as much ability as Sylvia, but present themselves in the right manner and try their absolute guts out each week, they get best they can out of themselves. McDonald may well win back-to-back B&F's, and Brown should finish Top 10 this year, reward for both for their hard work. Sylvia on the other hand still has 'potential'. The other Melbourne player drafted with him in the draft is talked about being our next captain. Next year is show something or pack your bags for this wayward individual..

Damn I missed this.. Put simply he was the most exciting player I've ever seen play in my lifetime. Yes there have been better players, Flower, Lyon, Neitz etc but none that for sheer excitment made you look forward to seeing a single player play. Jeff Farmer came close, but alas he's now a Docker and the magic is less frequent and just not the same... He used to get pelted with stones at Victoria Park, where he'd be systematically tearing Collingwood apart, he recounted this to someone I know who spoke to him at training during his playing days. His goals in the Reserves, back in the day when you saw the reserves before the seniors, were amazing, and thus he could no longer be ignored for the seniors in his first year (reminds you of anyone on our list currently?). He started off in the seniors as if he'd been there for years, and continually wound up with 12-15 shots at goal per game. Truly breathtaking to watch. His post-career activities are as equally steeped in intrigue as his playing days, here's hoping at some stage he resurfaces and regales about such days as that at the G where he tore the Kangas apart...

A question for Barry, is Mark Williams out of contract next year? Could there be any ulterior motive with this decision?

My favorite memory? Watching David Neitz and David Schwarz tear them up in the Under 19s Comp, thinking 'these two guys are gonna be awesome in the Red and Blue one day'.. It was a final at the MCG, and the Demons had played in both the Under 19s and reserves finals, and as we were walking along Brunton Avenue after the game I spotted Neita, and asked him for his autograph. He was genuinely taken aback that someone would recognise him at that stage, and happily signed away and had a few words to me. Others are his hit on Luke McCabe, his game against the Dogs at TD when he kicked an absolute bag, his developement as an inspirational leader, and just his overall 'likeability', he seems a really nice all-round guy, who also just happens to now hold just about every record there now is for the oldest sporting club in the World. Well done Neita, you deserve every accolade you get...

Ugh, dont remind me that my wonderful night got ruined in the last 5 seconds. I had to bolt from the Dome to a city Pub to catch the game, turns out I should've stuck around the big phone box and sucked in the winning atmosphere instead...

I had exactly the same feeling as you Stinger2, the AFL has clearly jumped the gun so that 'their' big anniversary is front and centre of peoples minds at the start of next year. Who apart from the Melbourne diehards can remember the Demons press conference a couple of months back to announce our impending 150th? And yes it did happen. It may well see a strange scenario occur, whereby Kevin Sheedy as ambassador is out spruiking the Australian Rules 150th (not the AFLs), and at the same time as coach of Melbourne out spruiking our very same birthday. Strange days indeed...

You need to get down to TBO more often then, DD36. I'm guessing we've been on the ABC about twice this year? Summers is a class player at this level, and would probably be some outside chance of being rookied, he's had 3 good years now at VFL level, his disposal would be upto AFL standard without a doubt...

Neaves played for Sandringham reserves this week, so I'd say he'd be longer odds than Godfrey for the Brownlow to make it onto the senior list by the end of the year..

This has been raised several times before, the deadline for promoting rookies passed 2 or 3 weeks ago, we can't promote anyone now off the rookie list. And besides, I think Bode is too one sided anyway to make it at AFL level. He showed some good signs today, but he's been on our rookie list long enough now for us to have made up our minds on him. He won't be re-rookied next year. Peter Summers and Gallaghers efforts were outstanding, and particularly their last quarters, they basically dragged some of the more senior Melbourne listed players **cough..Bizzell, CJ..cough** over the line. Paul Johnson to me looked miles better than Jamar, showed several glimpses of his Liston form, he will surely be straight back into the Demons side next week. Pickett showed that yes, he probably will get his farewell game very soon, although his ill-discipline threatened to undermine all his hard work on at least 5 occasions today, costing at least one 50metre penalty goal. Lynden Dunn really had no impact on this game, its a worry that we haven't found a position for him yet. Nathan Carroll, pleasingly, looked a class above this level, indeed kicking that goal was a pleasing sight, he'll also come straight back in for first crack at big, bad Barry Hall next week (please, dont put Miller on him again!). Garland again showed glimpses and composure, but is still far too raw. I think it would hamper his developement at this stage to throw him back upto AFL level just because he's 'a kid', he'll gain far more experience playing at VFL level and being involved in a successful finals campaign than he would warming the pine for the Demons.

So with Carroll dropped, that only leaves White and Junior Mac as our players to have played every game this year. Wonder what the all-time low for this figure is? 1? None? We must be close! Ferg has played some good footy when given his chance, but unfortunately Sylvia selfishly took him out against the Bulldogs last year, and he broke his thumb after a promising start against Wet Toast, at least they've given him a few weeks to show his worth when fit...

Congratulations to Sheeds for the dignified way he carried himself through today, that seems like a recurring theme with all the coaches this year, or maybe we're just comparing to Grant Thomas the imbecile and his exit last year. Sheeds would be a massive asset to whichever organisation he goes to, wether it be coaching another league club, or working as some kind of ambassador at the AFL, as Vlad has hinted he'd like Sheeds to do. And end of an era, I'm sure all Essendon fans will feel strange today.

I'm pretty sure there's been plans to knock down and rebuild that fence for quite some time, so they're not really extensions just improvements to the ground. The wall has been practically falling apart the last 12 months...

I tend to agree Rhino, he doesnt deserve the game, but I just feel the club will give it to him as a 'farewell gift'.

I can't get the odds up right now, but sportsbet.com.au had Jones listed pretty highly in their Rising Star market. From memory Pendlebury was $2 favorite just ahead of Selwood (who had a blinder on Saturday against Pendleburys Pies). Petterd had now blown out to over $100, obviously his season now over. Until Jones gets nominated, I wont bite, but if he does, might back him.

On a side note, have we had any player suspended for games this year at the Tribunal? I'm struggling to recall one. Holland got reprimanded for his 'head contact (butt)' on Brad Johnson, but other than that we've had a pretty good discipline record this year, unlike say the Dockers

So that would have to be Tom Paterakis' best game for the seniors I take it? Can anyone tell me where he played? Huge concerns for Byron Pickett stranded on 199 games, one feels that Melbourne will give him his one game out of courtesy to get to the milestone sometime between now and the end of the year, but he's not doing himself any favours if he's injured...

You'd think based on these numbers, and the way our best&Fairest is voted on, that Junior would be a short priced favorite to defend his prize...

Hmm, Maybe have a look at the tape of Wards last two games, he's been outstanding (I watched the Essendon game last night), and Brown was in our best 3 last week too. These guys, while much maligned, are playing pretty good footy right now, knowing their spots are up for grabs. If you were to pick a side on form now, rather than a mix of form and reputation, these guys would be picked ahead of say, a Brock Mclean. CJ to me is definitely playing for his career also, I thought his hesitation at times last week was costly, but it does take a couple of games to get used to the pace again at AFL level after playing Sandy for so long. For what its worth, I think Buckley struggled with the pace at times, quite often just two steps behind where he was supposed to be, but otherwise presented himself well and his posession delivery was very good, he's got a pretty decent leg on him.

Correct me if I'm wrong, didnt Ben Holland play out the Richmond game with his injury? Why then would he have missed last week and even still be test for this week? Seems strange for 'only' a broken nose...

Great to see Moloney named, lets hope he can get through a game pain free...

Well done to Simon Godfrey, its a great achievement to reach 100 games, he's had to work 10 times harder than some of the guys with more natural ability, he epitomises the blue collar work ethic that is needed at our club. Whilst they haven't all been matchwinning games, and he's hardly gone about it in Brownlow-vote worthy performances, he is no less worthy of any praise bestowed upon him for this milestone than any of our superstars when they got to 100. Lets hope Simon leads them out through the banner tomorrow night with purpose, and does a remarkable stopping job on Brent Stanton or the like, and is able to lead the team off the field in victory side-by-side with our departing coach (There, I had to mention Daniher somewhere in this post!). Good luck Godders!

Err, Grant THomas made the finals almost every year he was at St Kilda didnt he? Having said that, the man is an appaling waste of space, I'd throw in my membership if he came across in any form...

"Push It" by Salt 'N' Pepa accompanying footage of Anthony Rocca and Travis Cloke giving us all those frees for in the back...

This is indeed a sad, yet inevitable day for the club. I’m sure I’m not alone in wishing Neale all the best in his future role, whatever that may be. You’d go a long way to find a more honest, humble, down to earth bloke. Yes, he’s had his highs and lows as our coach for the last ten years, but always has he had the best interest of this, our great footy club, in the foremost of his thoughts. His passion for the game and the players he had around him was contagious, and I think he’s done the right and honorable thing by the club in declaring his intentions early. Good luck Reverend, thanks for the memories, may you forever remain ‘Cherry Ripe’..