The Panglossian

Did any other Demonlanders hear Blight on SEN this morning with Gary Lyon? Seedsman's after -siren torp goal has rekindled interest in my old hobby-horse (as it did when Hunt released a torp bomb way back). Blight echoed some points I've made before. 1. With a shot from 65metres after the siren, no-one can make it with a drop punt(assuming no wind). There is a chance with a well executed torp.Coaches ban torps because they're "low-percentage"...a risk. So no-one practises them. If they did practise them, they wouldn't be high risk. KIcking a drop punt from 65m after the siren is a zero-percent option. A big torp might only be a 5% chance, but it's a lot better than nothing. 2.They are fun to practise, and would add variety and enjoyment to training. 3.Even if a torp. "bomb" into the forward line comes off the side of the boot, it should catch opposition backs out of position....a "chaos"ball. Yes...it might go straight into the hands of the opposition and cause a costly turnover. But how often do we see drop punts go straight to the opponents, but drop punts aren't banned.? 4. For kick ins, occasionally a signal should be made so our players mingle near the centre circle, the kicker should run his 15 m, then let it fly with a torp,which should land in a nest of our players,possibly forward of the centre. But " it might result in a turnover ", it is argued. But these full time footballers have plenty of time to practise this skill....they're all talented athletes! A "duffed" torp should be the exception. 5.It's inspiring when a player roosts a torp as a "line-breaker". Remember when Frosty let fly last year? The whole team lifted. Nay sayers will argue...but what about when he turned it over with duffed torps? That's my point....if they're encouraged to practise it, miskicks will be the exception! Summing it up, Malcolm Blight and I think it's been negligent of coaches to overlook this potential weapon. Come on Demons, let's have a "torpedo-led recovery".

I came away from the game thinking Petracca needs a stint at Casey. But after watching the replay, I thought he did a few constructive things. It was just the two bad errors....the dropped chest mark near goal at quarter time, and the intercepted pass later inthe game costing a goal ,that stuck in my mind. I hope he's given another chance against the Peptides....he's ready to have a good game, I reckon, and it'll make a big difference to the forward line,

I had a miserable time at Kardinia Park last Saturday night. Not only did I sit in the rain for two hours watching my team being humiliated, I was "egged" (a victim of an egg thrown at me from a passing car), on my way back to my car(which I had trouble finding!) It reminded me of the abject despair I felt after round 12, 1998, when we were down 15 goals to one at half time against Geelong, and ended up losing by 95, on the MCG! We improved the next week, only losing by 85 pts in torrential rain to St Kilda, again on the MCG. BUT........ later that year, we won two finals, beating the eventual premiers(Adelaide) by 48 pts in the qual final. We should have been premiers, despite morale earlier having been at absolute rock-bottom, as it is at present. No-one could have guessed we'd do so well after round 13, when a lot of membership cards ended up in microwaves! I feel confident we can turn it around soon. The guys tried their guts out on Saturday, but NOTHING went right. Their confidence dropped as Geelong's rose. Our best players showed some form(except TMAC...but it wasn't a key forward's night.....even that grinning visigoth, Hawkins didn't kick a bag in an 80 pt win.) Don't give up, Dees fans. Let's get started by pumping the pharmacists on Friday night.

I thought Gawn deserved Brownlow votes, but Joeboy didn’t consider his game worthy of comment.

Infectious enthusiasm....admirable.

One of the many disappointing features of last Saturday was the lack of noise from the Melbourne supporters. The small number of Port supporters managed to make more noise than us. I know it can be argued that they had more to yell about than us, but where was the encouragement from our supporters when we still had a chance to steal the game? If Collingwood or Richmond came out after the three quarter time huddle behind, but in striking distance, there would be a huge roar from ther crowd .Even more so in Perth and Adelaide for their home side. But not us......if you yell out “ come on Demons”...( or something more original!), people look at you, as if you’re disturbing the peace. The only time we have a home ground advantage is on the MCG in the finals,when all the Demon supporters turn up and get excited. The players respond. It’s human nature!

It would be interesting to compile 2 lists.... 1/ Demon recruits who fail to get through their first season due to season-ending injuries in the first few weeks 2/Demon recruits who get through their first season unscathed. I reckon it would be about 10:1

What about those Vic. cricketers!!! Home Shield Final, probably v. NSW. Going for a clean sweep of the trophies! Pattinson was venomous in the 2nd dig. Don't know how Tremain can get back in the team.

Have we had a worse run than other teams with injuries to recruits? I think of Petracca doing his knee, Scully, Hogan, Lever,Watts,Hunt,Blease, Molan.....help me... there would be at least half a dozen more, ( ?Gawn)....... whom we recruited with high hopes , then their early careers were severely handicapped by injury.Now Neitchke, though he’s a low draft pick, so we don’t know what we’re missing there, but it will hold him back. When it happens to your own side you notice it, but perhaps not when it happens to the opposition, Have we been worse off than the others? I bet Hawthorn gets a good run with Scully, like they have had with O’Meara, who has always had injury concerns till he came to them. I think Collingwood has had a bad run, too, but they deserve it! Also GWS but there reserves are unlimited.

It’s a pity we opted for Paine as skipper. Wade is no worse as a keeper( though both are ordinary), but he’s a much better bat. Our batting would look much stronger with Wade at 7 instead of Paine, and someone else captaining(? Hazlewood), till Smith is available as capt. again.

7 left -handers, I note.

Watching Australia play India is like watching a district team playing a Test team. Dont be too confident about Sri Lanka..... let alone the Poms.

I know Handscomb sincerely thinks he caught it, and Kohli annoys me.......but the ball hit the ground. Kohli got a shocking decision. I can’t believe the commentators saying it was out. The whole series could hinge on that decision, and I’m convinced it was wrong. I admired Kohli for hiding his emotions as he left the field. He knew he wasn’t out.

Two out of three aint bad! red and Blue in 2019!

Surely we Demon fans must be attracted to Prince of Arran......those colours!!! Meets Yucatan on better weight terms than the last time they met. Apparently Prince was boxed in a bit early in that run, though Yucatan looked very impressive in the run home. Cross Counter has good colours too, and is Richo's tip(or was it Dr Turf?)

Duh. Ignorant comment.

I’d like to see May up forward( where he played as a youngster) I can picture him pole-axing a few backmen(eg Rance) It seems to me we have more backline depth than forward, and he could be most useful in attack.

Has May ever played forward for GC? I seem to remember him taking a strong mark and kicking confidently for goal on one occasion. Can anyone confirm or refute this? With two-metre Peter and Lynch up forward, plus a backline always under pressure, May would rarely be tried forward for GC, even if he showed promise there. I like our backs and their "back-ups". Could May's strength and aggression be useful forward if we lose JH there.?

In the fifties before the game, the entertainment consisted of a military band. ,who would split up ,with a small group (“ the ball”)marching through small goal posts, for a “goal”. I used to like the goal umps in their butchers’ coats and big white sun hats. After a goal, they would collect the right hand post flag first, then collect the other flag from the other post. Sometimes that was how you could confirm what score it was before they waved the flags, if you missed the quick finger signals. Also , the boundary umps, in their brilliant white shirts and shorts, and long black socks, sprinting back to the centre, knees high, then doing perfect “drop punt spinning” throws back to the similarly dressed ump, before prancing backwards to the wings. Also, all the police coming out to line the boundary line,once there were a couple of minutes to go( how my heart sank in ‘58!)

There was a fair bit of time left after Froggie's goal. The ball went deep into their forward line. Magpie Ian Graham nearly marked, and could have been paid a free, but wasn't (times have changed....good on you, Ron Brophy!) Barry Bourke cleared it and the siren went. I'll never forget the joy! Like Dante, I expected us to keep winning premierships year after year. It's been pretty rough since then, and the many thousands of Demon faithful should be proud that they've stayed with the Demons so long, for so little reward. That's what's made the last month so good!

I can’t hack those two thugs pontificating on the Gaff affair. Gaff’s gaffe was a one-off shocker from a previously fair player, and he was lucky to only get 8 weeks. Matthews repeatedly perpetrated cowardly ,behind the play atrocities ( Giles, Smith and McMullin for us, and every team can quote similar incidents against their players) Even worse is Judd, who on two occasions was found guilty of attacking the eyes of opponents.....the EYES! Obviously delicate, sensitive, and important structures, crucial to a normal life. Not satisfied with that, he “chicken-winged” an opponent with a known shoulder injury. He was also guilty of deliberately standing on his taggers abdomen, and twisting his stops into his guts. The guy is a vicious, heartless hypocrite, and should never comment on unfair play.

Did you have a good day.? I sure did,and it only took me 10 min to get there,! You deserved it, coming down from PNG,! ut

Geelong seemed pretty "pumped" during their premiership years under "Bomber"

Oscar has beaten Hawkins, Roughead, , Riewoldt, and Daniher in succession. I've forgotten who he beat at Brisbane; they tried several on him. I thought he was good last season, and he has improved. A.A. in the near future.

But it’s all clear with the block chain.