Deemania since 56

He's a raw talent, young Bedford, with some impressive parameters. He strikes me as one whose depth of footy experiences and preparation are still 'limited' but about to be enormously and quickly enriched. He's clearly into the big time without pedigree; when he is nurtured and shown skills more deeply, he will rip the competition apart.

Bedford, with the correct development, is just micro-seconds away from being incredible on the footy field. Fight we must.

Imaginative? I'd think 'listened to...' by Goodwin.

The two if them, Harmes and Hunt, forming the Heckle and Jekyll of the Dees' mobility machine, such a duo of talent seldom (if ever) brought together as tandem operatives across half-back to fwd-50. They have actually complemented one another onfield in bursts of teamplay, usually with Hunt beginning a 'run' and finding Harmes who could finish it off very handsomely with his many talents. I'd often think - watching this duo - at games that this is a combination for coaches to take advantage of the synergy and effectiveness of what they only occasionally had an opportunity to do - contributing to a flow of attacking footy and passing off when necessary to other teammates so that momentum and intent were not lost. Such may be the by-product of the long bomb? Sadly, to my mind, this synergy was not recognised and hence, was neglected, ignored, not seen, regarded as 'happenstance' and not part of years of ineffective onfield instructions/controls when such methodologies were so desperately needed. Well, the combo is broken. Let's hope we can retain Harmes, at least - he is so uniquely versatile - perhaps he can establish a linking role with one or two of the puppies who are about to be exposed to the big time more frequently in 2023.

Bluddoath!

A re-signing of Kozzie right now would enable him to look forward to - and cement into place - and wonderful and reliable Demon career - and put to rest all this speculative bulltish that takes away from his attentions to prepare for the 2023 season.

Trade radio guys and other footballing journalists/commentators are doing nothing that can be regarded as 'reputable'. They are almost a blight on the daily horizon.

I am expecting a more widespread improvement and ascendancy onfield for both Rivers and Sparrow, their skills and youthful fitness/recovery being anticipated by the Club for 2023...the losses of Harmes and Hunt are sad, but they both have had many opportunities to shine more consistently. The loss of Bedford (as a raw talent) is the loss that I am most concerned about and both Chandler and JJ are going to need to also 'step up to the plate' to cover the current yet not articulated team modifications.

Lovely story. We all must have memories similar to these. For me, it was the Southern Stand, first deck at the front. A pie, maybe a hot dog later, a small hip flask of Dad's best rum stowed in a hidden spot under the duffel coat, and if lucky, a cheese and gherkin sandwich or two from Mum. Dillon, Parke, Alves, Tassy J, all absolute heroes!

Adem wasn't a shirt-fronter by any means, he was not overjoyed playing rough, either. It was sad when some opponent 'got' him as he was easily hurt - but he played on, once recovered. He was the epitome of 'silk' and as such, did not require a great deal of courage; he just had the class to read the game, take the opportunity - usually earlier than expected - and win the ball or effectively initiate a play that took the ball to teammates. That is why I'd consider him a great senior coach. His smarts, in the crush onfield, were amazing and many Dees' players in the same side learned heaps from his methodologies.

Nice presumption. It is all very handy - particularly if we are to play a better planned game style with fit players only to take the field. We must also overcome the 'favourites' syndrome, so the more fish we have swimming, the better we can address these matters.

Excellent player with unique skills. Better than SG as a skilling coach, in my opinion.

Absolutely. Internal Club development and fault mitigation is urgently required across the 'training' season - otherwise we are not doing justice to his footballing career and another club may well see it as an 'easy fix' - striving to get him onboard for raw talent up forward. He is fast, he knows how to kick 'em; he links well but is restricted, mainly by two factors: taking possession of the ball and physical presence. Yze is the man to correct these limitations.

Yet when rumouring about trades in and out, we must consider the game planning, the talents we have and the opportunities that these possibilities may hold; otherwise, the trading is a waste of Far Ken's time.

I just see Spargs, given a fairer shake of the sav by others in the team, as mighty similar (but a little slower) than a young bloke we once had tearing other teams apart - particularly up forward - Tricky Ricky we used to call him and the ginger beanpole did everything he could to get him into the play and off for a couple of mind-bending passes, receives and goals.

D4life actually raises a terrific point about Spargs getting space by himself to receive and deliver (or line-'em-up) yet is being ignored by nearly all of his teammates. The 'long bomb' has significantly weakened our team and so many of our players still keep attempting to kick 'that one' that reaches a forward target successfully. Seldom, rarely, almost never occurs. Spargs may well have kicked 20-30 goals in the 2022 season if the game plan had 'permitted' it to occur. This has to change. Jordan's effectiveness overall is commendable and his kicking to Spargs remains a vital cog in the wheel of deliberation. He can see the more frequent potential, knowing Spargs' is just about our best 'deliverer' and 'feeder of forwards'. It's game plan stuff, once again ... it is stuff that should be better rehearsed and exploited.

Not sure that I agree with the entire list of player suggestions, above, but the Premiership did get away from us (as we have proven to be static and presumptuous whilst still being highly dependent on the few). However, some of these players needed to be brought into the team of reducible capacities, without doubt. The writing was on the wall for us; we failed to see that the game plan was dated and well scrutinised, the wellness of players proving to be an enormously significant reason for more mediocre execution and ability to resist - after Round 10 - cascading losses across 100 minutes of footy. Rotation was indeed the most obvious need - it is no longer a 'lesson', it should be 'doctrine'.

The game plan does require some tinkering, but a little more than '...a bit of...', as we blood newbies and young 'uns into the fold that will give us more: speed and endurance, and game day alternatives with less reliance on what was once known as the 'best 22'. Clearly, we need to stop exhausting our troopers, as this increases physical risks and injuries amongst those who are prone - already proven throughout season 22. We must aim to develop - preferably within - a 'best 26-30', with gaps filled by youth or several recruits who have capacities that we will require to negate and out-play opponents that have currently taken our top rung on the cocky-perch. We are capable of being where we want to be in season '23 instead of being a team of excellent players bearing and demonstrating the costs and dependencies associated with lowering numbers of selectable players due to the limitations of our now well interpreted modus operandi. It is really up to the coaches, Club leadership and innovation to get us to that finish line - all within and across the next twelve months.

Went out with my new chainsaw and cut some great firewood. Resisted everything about the game. Now to find out the score.

The outrage of Scott after a loss - and such an important game, at that - is what I am patiently waiting for as an end-of-season pick-me-up.

Members might be better served if they were polled on the Grundy deal - and supporters if so requesting. We sit here with a thousand recommendations of varying influence and opinion (which is healthy) but have little 'input' to the decisions that are sometimes made. Some decision in the past season have been breath-taking; the old '...paddling the river in a barbed-wire canoe...' has been a regular occurrence. Having watched our VFL side begin to peak, playing a game that became stronger and more unstoppable towards their finals series - and eventually reaching a crescendo at the right time due to advances in teamwork and execution - it was evident, early, that there were overdue infiltrations of youthful talent across the field of play that should have been inserted into the big-time (albeit in small numbers) and thus, receiving support and encouragement in the AFL side and its game plan to really strengthen our opportunities despite fielding injured players and reputational individuals sadly out of good form. I honestly feel that recruiting Grundy invokes a holding of breath for most Demon supporters, just like some of the decisions made to play tired or injured personnel, singular game plan capacities and continuously pursued but unspecific 'learnings' for next week.

Absolutely! Just one, well supported with existing talent - and an improved game plan or two.

Time to think about another Irishman; a mobile, tough medium tall. Then we will take pressure off our draft outcomes. Return airfare to a couple of our recruiters, please.

Big bombs in - must stop. It destroys our strengths and is extremely uncertain. Predictability for our opponents must cease.

We'd be stronger developing from within - and the recruits well-suited to our intended game plan and forward connection(s). We don't really need two physically tiring rucks; we do need potential, refreshments and outstanding coaching, the latter particularly on game day.