Goodvibes

Apart from the media frenzy and "reporting" of rumour and innuendo, can someone tell me the difference between the Scully and Sylvia contract situations?

2014 Premiership Forwardline: FF: Davey Cook Jurrah CHF: Morton Watts Howe I like the idea of Cook and Watts rotating. I hope they'll both be very big units by 2014 enabling each of them to play out of the square. This, however, would be a waste. Both have good engines and beautiful foot skills and could play centre half forward. Jurrah will enjoy the freedom he'll get once Watts and Cook mature and I like him playing closer to goal but with the potential to push up the ground, particularly given how the modern game looks to be evolving. I know everyone is a little down on Davey (with good reason) at the moment but I'm hoping he'll be the ultimate icing on the cake player and the icing for me should be in a forward pocket. We know from his first couple of years that he has the instincts. He'll be in the last of his 4 year contract and a little bit of symetry (returning to where he began) would be nice. I'm as disappointed as the next person with certain aspects of Morton's game but he's still a keeper for mine. His contested marking has really improved and I think the long term plan of the footy department is to play him as a high half forward. He can use his tank to give us run and then get forward into dangerous positions to take advantage of what we're hoping will be a difficult match-up for any opposition team. Howe is certainly flavour of the month at the moment but with good reason. He's been super impressive. I was expecting a highlight package and we've got ourselves a very well rounded forward. We know he can leap but he's got nice skills on either side of his body, reads the player well and most impressively works hard defensively. Jurrah, Davey, Morton and Howe all have the crumbing skills required to work off Cook and Watts and as we know Watts is very good below his knees. I like the balance, height, speed and potential run of this forward 6. My only concern is the defensive side of some of these players but if there is a taught skill and I'm confident with the depth we're assembling we'll have players pushing hard for spots and anyone lucky enough to be selected in our forwardline will be working hard with or without the ball. Tapscott could easily rotate through the forwardline and I'm sure in three years time we'll all be talking about the next exciting goal sneak that could push Davey out of this line-up.

I think they want Sylvia. Press the 'panic' button.

Go and have a nanna nap.

Interesting call. Warnock on Fev, Garland to Petterd, Jetta to play a defensive forward role on Blease. McDonald to Dunn. Some good match-ups.

That's a handy looking forward line.

There's only one thing that has changed since his press conference - he played a game of footy and sadly that was enough to get all our favourite journos writing more speculative pieces. I trust in Tom.

The very fact that the club hasn't (publicly at least) lobbied the AFL is a positive sign.

I think this does Jack a disservice. He'll stay because he's gone on the record as wanting to be a (queue the cliche), "one team player". I believe him. And for what it's worth, I believe Tom too.

That made me giggle. Classic Freak.

No, not concerned just being a smartarse. I'm having a shocker this year and for once I'm actually trying.

The same could be said of the Bulldogs this year. Is Eade a bad coach? I thought you belonged with the chorus of Melbourne supporters who felt they couldn't really judge Bailey until this year. Half way through the season we've established that your concerns above are valid but surely the consistency issue can be explained by age, experience and the level of injuries we've had. I was concerned by our form prior to injuries too but 3 or 4 games is too small a sample to judge our coach on. What would Bailey need to do over the second half of the year for you to give him an extension? We're usually patient when it comes to young players improving maybe we should show our coach the same level of patience. Coaches can change and improve too. I too think you've placed far too much emphasis on Viney's quote regarding tactical training earlier in the year. Call me a stalker but it's your number 1 goto when you're having a crack at Bailey. We've had reports from pre-season training suggesting work was done on implementing and playing against a forward press. It took Clarkson three years to implement his premiership-winning zone. PS sorry about your Dreamteam performance this week. Chin up!

Bate's fourth should seal it.

Bate kicks his third to tie it up. Assist to Maric.

Blease goal, Scorps in front. 26 minute mark of second term.

Goal to Petterd, just 4 points behind now.

Try this one: http://www.sportingp...-0-0&sID=179432

A best on ground performance from Blease tomorrow would cap the weekend off nicely.

30 tackles between McKenzie, Scully, Trengove and Gysberts. I like our future midfield.

That's a particularly strange view from a member of a football forum. The issue isn't how much time we spend thinking and writing about football or in this case a football player, it's how much time we spend on here when we should be doing those other things that normal, mature, well adjusted people apparently do. It's the investment of time that defines all dedicated Demonlanders as more than just your average follower of football or sports in general. Pretentious music lovers like myself will tell you that the people who frustrate the most are those who say they "listen to anything". Blaaaaaaaaaaaaah! You've just come onto a football forum and had a crack at someone for doing exactly what the forum was established to facilitate. Bizarre. Thumbs up to the OP.

I hear he's into Hillsong.

Firstly, my reference to the McLean trade was clearly an example of sarcasm and secondly, your references to Moloney, Jones and Davey are technically opinions. Davey is in the middle of a dip in form. This is not new to him but I'm still confident that he will give value over the last three years of his contract because the 'kids' around him will allow him to be the cream and not the filling that we currently require him to be. He's never been close to All-Australian selection which says alot about a club who has him as their highest paid player. I respect Moloney and Jones very much but don't see a place for both of them in the same team. If you support the view that McKenzie is/will be a better player than Jones then you can see our problem. Jones is mistakenly referred to as an inside mid. He actually plays very much like Sylvia without the polish and a yard of pace. The club weren't falling over themselves to give him a big fat contract at the end of last season for a reason. Moloney is certainly a heart and soul player and his much discussed connection with Jamar makes him a genuine asset but I'm confident that Scully, Trengove, Gysberts and McKenzie will be considered better clearance players with more tricks up their respective sleeves in the very near future. If we traded one of Moloney or Jones for a tight checking back pocket with pace and good skills I'd support it.

and the same ones who suggested McLean was dispensible . . . hang on. Please don't compare Scully with Moloney or Jones.

I agree entirely Jaded. I was just responding to the assertion that Jones or Moloney would be worth little in a trade scenario. Having said that, Hawthorn traded Croad and the team understood why and they drafted their current captain and Croad was still willing to return to the club.

For those of us who can't get down to see the Scorps, can you give us a rundown of how he's been travelling in the games you've seen him play?