DemonDave

Gerard Healy was snapped up in the great Dr Edelston buyup of any name players to try and boost his struggling Swans side, he simply offered anyone of note enormous wads of cash to play up in Sin City. Who could blame any of them for refusing? Greg Williams, Bernard Toohey, Merv Neagle, Healy and a host of other players all headed up there in the one offseason, which of course simply can't happen nowadays. Oh for the times when your status was rated on how pink your helicopter and Lamborghini were, and how vacuous the bottle blonde on your arm was.

Yep, thats why he's won the VFL goalkicking 6 times, and again this year leads the leagues goalkicking. I suppose you're also going to blame him for Michael Newtons stunted development too...

Well I was at TBO yesterday, and took my radio along to listen in at the same time. I appreciate that it's great you're getting VFL footy out to the masses that can't get to a game, i was disappointed to find the call in my headphones was about 6-8 seconds delayed. It made it impossible to listen play by play to the call, but if you did miss something, you could tune in to see what you missed (such as Chris Lambs report). I did chuckle to myself when you referred to newton as "Roth". Quality guys. Onto the game, the main thing that came out for mine was the ability of James Frawley. This guy can seriously play. He was everywhere in the first half, it was as impressive a half for a first gamer at Sandy seniors you're likely to see. Sadly he tired in the second half noticeably and that prevented him getting into the best. I think the Melbourne match committee have stamped his papers as a priority to get into the side, don't be surprised if he's given a run next week on that performance. The other guy that impressed me was Neaves. This guy rucked all day, without a rest and had a good impact around the ground as well as winning his fair share of centre bounce hitouts against an AFL experienced ruckman in Guy Richards. I'm sure he'll come under contention to be listed by the Dees at the end of the year. Chris Johnson was good, but I don't know if he was best on ground. He rebounded a lot from the half back line, but his skills sometimes let him down when kicking with the wind, frequently kicking it over his targets head. The guy has all the skillsets to make it, but appears unable to take the next step. I liked the coaches 3/4 time address, when the game was seriously in the balance. We only had a 15 point lead at the break, and were kicking into the wind, after Willi had seemingly swung the balance of the game with goals to Brett Johnson in that 3rd stanza. He implored them to keep their heads, and concentrate on kicking well into the forward line, as they were kicking it to the best forward line in the League. He wasnt wrong, and the boys responded perfectly to his call. (Pity we couldnt kick straight early in that last quarter though!). And that forward line certainly was loaded. It also has to be remembered that we lost out VFL rep center half forward in Rod Crowe early in the first quarter, as well as Chris Lamb to injury I believe in the first half also,so to play so much of the game with only 2 fit changeable blokes was very commendable. I thought Sauntner at least broke even with Wakelin, Robbo was damaging and wont play another game at Sandy for the rest of his career, and it was the best game from Newton I've personally witnessed (given i've missed a lot of his big haul games), although he still needs to work at doing the little things better (the 2 points he got from playing on hastily points in case). Paul Wheatley played a great game, but twice got a hit on his heavily strapped problem shoulder and looked in all sorts of pain, so its clearly not right still, thus I dont think he'll be considered next week. Dutchy was a rock today, virtually nothing got passed him. He's as honest as they come, and will again be considered, matchups pending, next week. We had Billy Picken standing behind us for two quarters today, he has the loudest voice I've ever heard, as he coached his son playing out there for Willi, yelling at him every step the poor kid took. Former hawks premiership player Russell Greene was also there to watch his offspring go around, looking a million dollars still in his designer leather jacket as he paraded along the scoreboard wing. Also saw Stephen Tingay walk around the boundary line at one stage, i wonder what stinger is up to nowadays after his ill-fated appointment as a Melbourne fitness staffer? This Sandy team is really flying now, still undefeated and able to handle anything thrown at them. It will be great to see the likes of Valenti running around with the big V on, in these dark days of seeing the Demons lose every weekend, at least we still get our enjoyment of seeing Sandy win on a weekly basis in the quest for the FourScore. Go Zebs, you Beauty!

And Ben Holland still has dressing on the wound he got from when Brad Johnson (*cough*allegedly*cough*) head-butted him....

Heard earlier on the radio that Rusell Robertson has been selected to play for Sandringham this week. Can anyone shed some light on this or bring us the team? I'd be assuming that Wheatley passed his fitness test and will be named for the Zebras as well this week.

This scenario, is not too dissimilar in a lot of ways to the Steven Johnson of Geelong dilemma the cats had. Here is a guy with tonnes of natural ability, and yet mentally he’s streets behind the rest of the list. Johnson had one too many off-field discretions, and the Cats hand was forced, slapping him with a 6 week ban and denying him the privilege of training with the senior squad. Johnson worked his guts out, got his body right fitness wise, produced a string of best on grounds in the VFL and has come back as strong as ever at AFL level. I can’t see why Byron can’t do the same. Here's hoping anyway!

No Thanks, if we're to have a different coach next year, I'd rather it be one of the new breed. Like his seeming heir Mr Daniher, Sheeds said nothing to suggest he'd be coaching the Dons next year, he almost all but confirmed he wont be there from his answer to questions...

They said on the radio it was a season low posession output for West, so there you go, Godders has done his job with aplomb for the third week in a row....

Pity they still can't get it right in terms of having an audible siren then! Waverley Park has the best playing surface in the league for years, and it didnt make it a good venue. The crowds are near capacity as the venue only holds 17,000 people, our game against Port would've been a sellout down there. I thought Neale was very cagey when he was directly asked if he would be or wanted to be coaching Melbourne next year. He did however remain upbeat about us making some sort of comeback up the ladder this year, quoting that we won 10 out of 12 last year. Overall I thought he presented himself fairly well, pulled his usual tricks of not answering tricky questions by having a joke and laugh about himself.

Me and two mates are heading upto Sydney, its my fourth year in a row. Will probably see most of you in our area (assuming we've all got club allocated seats), and at the after match function!

Generally one player will be left out of Sandy as a reserve for the Melbourne game. I'm guessing the club always knew that Moloney and Johnstone wouldn't come up (especially as Sylvia wasnt even named in the Sandy side), and thus would've needed one more spare player.

Erm, check the scoreboard again mate. And to wish Saunts an injury, well I dont think that even deserves a reply.

There are a trumpet and saxophone player that play at all MCG and Telstra Dome games. Before the game, they continuously swap between the two teams theme songs that are about to play, and at the end of the game, they're just playing the theme song of the team that one. I've never given them a cent, but they do add a certain 'colour' to the whole entering the ground experience. So they're not strictly Melbourne people. As for the trumpet guy, I don't mind him. It may get a bit tired by round 22, but for now he's OK...

Myself and 3 of my mates are heading up there, we go every year, its a great trip! Lookingforward to more rowdiness at the aftermatch function, assuming we win yet again! I dont think I've seen them lose up there in thelast 4 years....

How many goals did Mark Williams get while Bell was on him though? His continued lack of awareness means he'd have no impact in the middle of the ground. While he's shown still more improvement and consistency this year, the half back line is still where he's best suited.

Lets bring bag Freddie Cook! He's kicked hundreds of goals in his career...

We've won both of our last quarters this year and clearly showed we have a bigger fitness base than both St Kilda and Hawthorn resepectively. So BB is not to blame for our poor start or shocking run with non-soft tissue injuries. Its our confidence,skill level and coaching that has let us down and leaves us at 0-2.

Drop Ben Holland? Sounds like a plan. We may as well drop Robbo too, I saw him drop a mark last night, and David Neitz missed an easy goal in that last quarter too. Drop him for Michael Newton who at least knows how to kick goals. For that matter, Travis Johnstone got thrashed by Baker, give him a run in the VFL to get some form too.

Why on earth would Holland be omitted? So CJ or Ward can play on Kosi? Ridiculous. Dutchy takes him, or the resting ruckman, and Carroll takes Gehrig. The Saints Team reads as: St Kilda Team Backs: Steven Baker, Sam Fisher,Brendan Goodard Halfbacks: Jason Gram, Matt Maguire, Leigh Fisher Centreline: Andrew Thompson, Luke Ball, Leigh Montagna Halfforwards: Robert Harvey, Justin Koschitzke, Jason Blake Forwards: Xavier Clarke, Fraser Gehrig, Stephen Milne Followers: Matthew Clarke, Lenny Hayes, Nick Dal Santo Interchange: Jayden Attard, Aaron Fiora, Andrew McQualter, Michael Rix EmergencyL Shane Birss, Barry Brooks, Brett Voss They've got two talls, and a possible resting ruckman in Blake (they have selected 3 ruckmen). The other forwards are crumbers or resting onballers. The teams are in, the excitements building, bring on the game!!

I'd doubt they'd use an opinion piece by some AFL hack as their motivation for tomorrow night! Maybe under the auspices of Grant 'Cornflakes' Thomas they would, but I think Ross Lyon has slightly more intelligence than Grant. I'd say the video of last years Final would have had a fair play in the clubrooms this week as motivation instead...

Great news, it means he'll be captain when he next comes out of contract...

West Coast has suspended former captain Ben Cousins indefinitely. The Brownlow Medallist has been suspended for breaking team rules after missing a weights session on Sunday morning, chairman Dalton Gooding confirmed today. "Ben has a number of very personal and private drug issues which the club is helping him to work through," Gooding said. Gooding said the length of the suspension was not set, but could be as long as the entire season. Throughout the suspension, Cousins will not be able to train at the club. This is a similar punishment to that handed out to Michael Gardiner last year before he was sacked by the club. Cousins will not be playing for his WAFL club, East Perth, this weekend.

You could go straight to the source and ask him if he has one, apparently he's coaching St Bede's at the moment, contact details are on this page: http://www.stbedesmentonetigers.com.au/Mai...%20Contacts.asp

The thing that pleases me most about this squad is Brent Moloneys name again being listed, suggesting his revival is gathering a nice pace. He seemed to get through the 2 1/2 quarters he played last week rather well, having a growing influence as the game went on. If we can get 20 games out of him this year, we'll be travelling very nicely.

Most points have already been covered, but a couple of observations: - Robertson was thrashed by Gaspar - Carroll was also soundly beaten on the lead several times by Pettifer and Schulze - Deledio kicked what was clearly a goal early in the 1st quarter, and it was given a point to everyones amazement. - Polak tried to line up and take out Fergs just before 3/4 time, hardly seemed to connect, and his reward for a cowardly act was injuring his shoulder and sitting out the rest of the game. Quality stuff from the new Tigers recruit. - The form of our 3 marking forwards after Neitz: Miller, Robbo and Dunne, is a big worry right now.