Boots and all

In my view, it's partially the weight of expectation that has delayed JW from getting to stage he's at now. He has been bashed from pillar to post by media and supporters alike. I now want to sit back and enjoy the second half of his career. I'm sure there will be many great games ahead!!

Today I would say the same. Tomorrow, after knocking the Swannies off, and with a spring in my step, I say get him back.

Exactly, they are as scarce as hens teeth. We would almost certainly have to trade for another. Unless, as I mentioned in a previous post, O Mc and/or Frost come on very quickly.

Congrats to the young fella! I hope he soaks it all up. There is nothing like the feeling of winning a GF...in any sport.

I do admit his deficiencies are frustrating to say the least (especially decision making and disposal) and the FD are probably left pulling their hair out in frustration at times. I also don't see any significant improvement in these deficiencies. I do think that his abilities in both body on body marking contests and intercept marking are both sensational. The key to our backline in the future will be ensuring our flankers and pockets provide him with good options...he just needs to learn to take them.

I think in hindsight you may be right AF. We need as much cash in the kitty for Hurley as we can manage. It would be very disappointing to lose T Mc though, we really need both players. Unless of course O Mc and Frosty come on quicker than expected. The other concern I have is, should T Mc leave, does this also give O Mc reason to leave? I think O Mc will become a solid backman with time.

T Mc really is in a position to get overs from us, given our backline deficiencies. Is his manager just playing the game, knowing his value to the Dees. FWIW I would be happy to pay over market value to retain him at the club, whatever that might be.

Not if he's already made his decision.

Plus, a good tall, even if unable to take the mark, can outbody their opponent and bring the ball to ground to our advantage. Incidentally I see Dawes as an excellent proponent of this.

Gee, you would hope not. Surely, any Essendon player worth their salt would be maintaining their fitness in the knowledge they would be playing again after this season. I think Hibberd would be great for our defence. Opposition sides will very focussed on negating forward thrusts through the flanks with both Hibberd and Salem playing there. Hopefully this will relieve the pressure on our less effective users of the ball e.g. McDonald brothers, Frost, Garland etc.

I agree. We still have structural problems in defence, which good sides seem to regularly exploit, as will average sides on their day. IMO, a win or loss to Carlton or St Kilda could easily be decided by one poor quarter of football from us, which still occurs too often. Despite this, I still believe we are capable of beating any side if we play well. On a different note, I recall the AFL having a policy whereby the draw for each club is partly influenced by their final ladder position during the previous year i.e. play more often against sides that finish in similar ladder positions. Can anyone confirm that this is actually the case? If it is true, this will make our rise up the ladder more challenging.

Pulled this from the ABC website. I wonder if he decided to go with his mothers surname? CYRIL KALIPPA RIOLI: I came here (Tiwi Islands) in 1941 from Nguiu. Then the mission started. They said, "You've gotta go cos you're not a full-blood. You're going up there for a mission started for half-caste people. I was brought up by missionaries to grow up and be a decent person, you know? They gave us opportunities to go to school and to do work after school when there's a break. All sorts of sports at the same time. And that's what we took up. But I wasn't at school long enough. But at the same time, I was brought up to try and do the right thing, stay on the right track, you know, don't go off the track.

Yep, keep your $50. Though I will be delighted to be proven wrong.

I couldn't stand him years ago, when he was calling games on radio. Nothing has changed, in fact he has managed to become even more idiotic...if that's possible. I honestly believe that he considers himself hilarious but really he is just a [censored].

Especially when the eveners come in the opposition forward half or worse still, inside 50.

Also helps being either first to the footy or in possession of it, as is generally the case with winning sides.

First opinion related post here, although I have read Demonland with interest for many years. I now question the need to target Prestia at all. An experienced KPD is critical for us in the next trade period. Our defence currently seems our weakness. There's my two cents worth anyway.

Can't even remember the last time we did that. That would be awesome.

Great to go into half time with a lead. If we can tidy up our disposal we should win this easily.

4 goals to Lynch already. We just cannot seem to stop quality KF's.

Another injury for the suns. They are going to have big problems with their rotations.

Nice one son of a gun.

Good start to the quarter Dees.