Deemania since 56

Great questions, Skuit. Really, these are starting to be nagging questions, daily, as the season keeps nearing. With reference to what is going to be a bumper season and an invincible team down at Casey, all of these players would fit in very nicely, in those roles. However, with the Mighty Demons first 22, I guess most will fade for the coming season as key acquisitions moving up from the aspirations that they have held in the recent past. King is getting better, but this has been a fairly long journey. He is very good at the tap. Gawn stridently asserted that Filipovic had '...all the skills...' and was suitably competitive. Another season of development and these two could be poised for a 2nd ruck role - or handy off-the-bench types. Given such development, I would think one of the two could be a 1st ruck in times of need, with AFL exposure to assure such a decision. Keilty is already an 'off the bench' prospect to fill gaps when needed this coming season, surely. He plays both back and forward and would probably out-mark most AFL opposition players, and be in position to take the chance. McKenna is largely unknown but there is considerable support for his retention. Match appearances may well give us more indications. Spargo, to me, looks like a Garlett replacement should it ever be needed, heaven forbid. Speed, fwd pressuring, agility are his assets and I think, if trained in the role, possibly very dangerous for clever little snaps and freakish scoring. Despite the limited observation of him, Spargo reminds me of Ricky Jackson, except quicker. Surely that is a good thing? Fritch is a gun. I would expect him to pressure several players that we currently utilise in the fwd line - on the flanks. I'd expect him to be a regular. Baker and Petty look very good - and it will be the Club's development processes that will hold these two back, if at all. Each has a role and would contribute well. The difficulties with 'depth' are major considerations, too. Who and why do we substitute a player into the side at the disadvantage of another who has already proven to be at a useful standard? The only opportunities will possibly be in our 'aged brigade', our loyalties that affect our decision-making, and a sense of risk-taking. I'd play Petty as the Full Back to replace OMcD - but here is an example of my bias, once again. Still, great questions that we will all ponder upon across the summer, Skuit.

There may well be something that Harley has that we need except it is being kept low key until his conditioning is improved after an interrupted career, so far. We surely would be unlikely to so willingly pay another salary, these days, if there were doubts. If we did and he doesn't pull the skin off the custard for us, then no future contract - and I would give a pay rise with the difference to Clarrie for being so inspirational. Fairy Nuff?

Thanks, Bombay Air. Nice city, it is too (Bombay).

You are luckier in Sydney than we are in Adelaide, as far as airfares go. We can sometimes get a cheap one-way flight to Tulla but usually it is a way out single direction to Avalon. The return trip costs up to 6 times the discount fare paid to get to Melbourne and seldom are there 'both ways' tickets at discount. To achieve these 'discounts' and airline profit opportunities, we usually must travel on a Wednesday and return on a late Sunday flight that would be readied overnight for a return to Melbourne on Monday morning. That means finding relatively cheap accommodation Wed,Thurs, Fri and Sat - usually about $240/night. For two, it is expensive. We drive over quite a bit to see the Dees, averaging about 6 or 7 trips per year and each trip takes about 10 hours each way at the speed limits. Still, we love our footy and team so we sacrifice. At least we get some reasonable TV and cable coverage, these days. Combine our Memberships with a pie and a beer at the game, and car rentals if we fly, then we have a millionaire's hobby to contend with just to stay in touch with our interest. Is that any way to treat a 'purebred' Melbourne boy in his retirement? Hahahahaha ha....

At the beginning of the season and at the end of the day, wise words.

Yep, a real winner lies in waiting. It is a jungle out there, either side of the Amazon River, that mellows into a rainforest. However, beware of piranhas lurking in the muddied shallows. It is a great shame that gate receipts and club memberships are inadequate to sustain sport, these days.

You're correct, Saty, I find myself writing negatives far too often when I attempt to think of positives. I have not resolved this, internally, at this point but articles and discussion points like yours assist me in achieving a broader perspective and at times, cause a sense of regret about certain comments that I might have made hastily. It seems as though these considerations are part and parcel of being a long-term Demon supporter, the Club's history and the continuous struggle to see our players, year by year, rewarded with success. Go Dees!

Yep, the talls (and certainly minus the Weed) could well play together on the fwd line, at once, doing different things that make dominating half fwd and the goal mouth area a virtual booby trap for an opposition. With our runners and flankers in support of this, per man for example, it would be scary for an opposition to defend against - much like a basketball zone defence/attack and remember, our runners and flankers can nearly all kick accurately over at least 50 metres if so required to deliver goals. Sounds bloody effective as an alternative strategy to the now-infamous 'Demon bomb' up the ground. A mobile area strike team with fwd pressure from the rest of those brave men in red'n'blue. Less reliance on one person to out-muscle, out-juggle, out-position, then out-possess and/or out-mark opponents. However, I'd like Tom McD spending most of his time in the backline where he is a killer. Hogan, Pedo and perhaps, a resting Gawn/Melksham/Frosty/Smith.

Great to hear that Dean Kent is back to fitness and can resume training seriously.

One hellava team and playing style. Overt evidence of how the umpires controlled the outcomes of previous matches for this team.

No kidding? I thought that those two integers when squared by the polynomials of a pre-Raphaelite error continuity led to manic depression and an infinity of goals kicked against you - or missed - when factoring with other field progressions. Thanks for the clarification. I will watch out for these criteria.

There are doubts on both Oscar and Weideman. These are 'readiness'-related and exposed by attribute displays. I believe we have the 'grit' in some others of our 'young brigade' to better fill these gaps and lapses in performance and drive. Not many will agree with me but that is footy and supporter thoughts, of which we are all entitled. I know what Devil's... Detail means when mentioning '...that sick feeling in the stomach...' and its frequency as these two players are called upon to contribute to the team's success. Anyway, 'Carna Dees!

Has self-reflection replaced footy intent?

Perhaps.....

Do you reckon Pedo can kick 45 goals this coming season? He seems ultra-motivated across the past 12 months and this could be the year. Pedo is a game changer.

Great shots but of these, it really looks like Melscham has mad strides with his balance and poise over the past few weeks. Very handy bloke to have in the fwd line.

Great effort and execution - his capabilities are often amazing.

Hate to harp on Oscar but there is a young footballer who must lift a considerable amount - just not competitive either in skills and/or in what appears to be his on-field attitude and endeavour,

Bah-Wah! I wanna go to the pre-season, too.

'He'll slide to Casey & Petty'll take his spot'...' Not a bad consideration. Incestuous family ties (Tom, as brother) need not hinder such an awaited outcome.

He was accepted by the umpires as too good for the encouragement of votes, I guess. How could such a powerless team be given votes in the first place? I am sure these were contributing reasons. He was due at least 2 Brownlows and we know it.

Leoncelli became great. Very damaging and could not be let loose. It was a shame that level of performance took a few years to develop.

Absolutely!

Good alignment with Rigoni. Guy was very similar to ANB. ANB is very similar to Guy. Both made a significant improvement to their mobility to augment their existing attributes.

Interesting, I'd say that Port, for example and hopefully Collingwood, too - are in for a tougher than normal year. Scattergun approaches abound and taming the shrew will be tough for a consistent season ahead. These days, it is rare to see a 'young-ee' with talent star across a game, let alone put in four consistent quarters. It does happen, of course, but it is rare. However, the player who uses his skills and attributes for team purposes - which is also often rare - regardless of age, generally makes that big difference. It aligns itself to some modification of coaching skills and directions in order to be effective.