Deemania since 56

Jolly well posited; it shows, despite the recurring argy-bargy from some contributors, the serious track watchers and amateur journalists have been doing a phabulous job for DL participants so far this pre-season. Thanks, guys for your efforts of which so many of us are eternally grateful.

Totally impressive, something to really look forward to on the first couple of game days. Let's hope that he is awarded for his abilities and enthusiasm - receiving a role in the team that really makes a difference - not just an out-of-position assignment.

About time we kept things close to our chests (hidden intents).

Some of us have prayed religiously in repetitive mantras for a forward line system change - and we have been harping on about it for a decade, at least, as if we were the disciples of cant and criticism with our never-ending cries for forward line movement, space exploration, lowering the eyes to pick opportunity instead of chaos, having 'prongs' of travel to reduce congestion and opposition spoiling. It sounds, (at this stage), that Troy is finally moving things along in these needed directions, an apostle of great football, and doubly interesting is the fact that we now have some of the personnel to achieve such logical purity.

Proud of the boys in red'nblue this pre-season. The competition for slots in the team is at an apex; with that, all who possibly could have trained hard and seriously to cement thoughts into the coaching and selection panels both now an into the '25 season. This is a greatly improved preparation, a marque of what may now very well come and setting an elite minimum standard of performance potential for the new season.

Great club, Tyntynder, and a great deal of talent came out of Swan Hill in past days. A really enthusiastic sports town. This kid sounds impressive - hope we can make something of his Demon training experiences.

Yet these assorted grimaces may indicate some degree of the level of pain or discomfort that he is physically experiencing, still ... and would include smiles of satisfying recoveries and resuming civilities with teammates, perhaps?

Atta boy!

It is a good pattern, just get it done, Dees.

Petty, for efficiency of effort and contribution, should be returned to the backline, full stop. His link-man roles are going to be important down there, and I suspect that this will give Lever more freedom to 'roam in' for his intercepts and timing (for marks coming into or across the backline) - whilst Salem is a champ, he is unsuited to these roles of which he has been expected to imitate (mostly unsuccessfully). This will give some pivotal receives to Sparrow and Rivers, plus Windsor/Langdon and perhaps, some of the newer but enthusiastic forward-line equipment. Aiden is going to play a leading role, I hope, in assisting to create forward clearances, unsettle packs and forge space pathways for the more dedicated, leading forward assets. Carna far Ken Demons.

Sparrow certainly could make a difference - there is still a good deal about him that could erupt, be utilised for 'team' purposes and at the individual level. He has some great skills, a great physique, an excellent kick for distance and a stubbornness to take the knock in possession/handballing/pick-ups. I expected his turn of form from earlier stages, last season ... however, these attributes seldom came together. I still believe that he has hidden explosive, dominant and commendable upsides to his potential .... his confidence needs a boost to really 'go for it' at every opportunity ... possibly a latent and currently hidden asset lies within his 'feeder' roles with team members rather than the long bomb to upfield hopefuls. Come on, Spaz, there is much that you could offer and by now, to exploit in the game plan.

Such scrupulous identification is basically racism, no matter how you observe it. Categorisation based on race, genes and predominating cultures.

I feel 'petulance' is the wrong connotation in Tracca's case. A massively critical injury with further complications is far more critical than a recovery from 'soreness', a 'disease' and/or serious bruising or other impact conditions. That he has resumed training with a purpose only he can provide, in such a short time for 'full' recovery, speaks volumes for the kind of athlete that he has been, is now and will be after absolute, full recovery beyond mere readiness to put the boots on, again. I'd take it all a little carefully over time, well beyond readiness to get fit and well without further complications in a period of a couple of months alone. Now is not the time to interpret and suggest his supposed tardiness towards full training is only half-hearted. That assessment can only be made months in advance of now but I am sure, and faithfully believe, no such negative assessment on his attitude is involved. I just know that he is itching to burn those shackles that perhaps are still lingering in his readiness, his current performances and his overall well-being as preparation for the season to come - when that season comes. Christian is more important than this current moment. His best footballing role is more important sometime in the not-too-distant future - far more important than any other player or team demand.

It could be interpreted as a case of poetic licence as accidents are somewhat likely on the footy field. I just want to see a little more Demon mongrel onfield, to complement the apparent increases in capabilities with our list; insofar as this is a driver for success, can - and to what degree - could a 'big-bloke' forward like Aidan assist in such a contribution? Really looking forward to a genuine Rock of Gibraltar up front and seeing him progress early in the season to deliver these goods.

Best summation on Tracca so far. He is, just like Viney, the heart and soul of the Demons who has agonised over a severe injury cloud for so long, so seriously, and it is imperative for the Club and the supporters to allow him to come out the other side of such trauma. Professional? No doubt in my mind. Club committed? You 'betcha. Watch Tracca take us to where we want to be in '25 ... Onyer, Tracca.

Great work, great listing, quite revealing when interpreted.

Yet another budding prospect for such roles.

With the likes of our developing squad, my best guess would be for Chandler to do the job (and he will do it slightly differently than Nibbler would) but we have all seen him gut run from the wing to the pocket, cross over and make a presence on the opposite fwd pocket - and score with his great goals from 50m out. He is also a good tag on opposition possessions - lots of grunt and mongrel to (a) stop the possession (b) win the ball or tap out to a teammate (c) win a 'free' for his tackle and take a subsequent, steady set shot (for the latter, his accuracy is very good).

There is a little 'hidden message' in that image. Let's hope that he writes a few more messages after training hard and developing.

Tasteless suggestion but absolutely, beautifully posited. We are starting to produce some levelling playing field arrangements ... some mantras scream '...mids, mids, mids...' whereas a more useful mantra for the Demons' fans could be '...mongrel...mongrel...mongrel' and '...poor bugger fancied his chances...'.

And Fairy Nuff, too.

Encouraging. Has some toe to complement marking, mongrel, kicking distance and clearing opposition droppings from the pursuit of the ball. Nice maturity, too ... done the rounds in good leagues.

Yes, it is a valuable realisation to consider the developing assets that we have in our footballing system; so many aspects of recent selections and subsequent experience, development and game style formation place us well for the near and mid-term advantage. Let us hope that 'system' onfield is not a repetition of 'old' errors, fanciful 'learnings' and static fringe dwellers, as we have seen over the past couple of years.

Speaking of which, Disco is our one forward who leads out to receive for goal opportunities; with a step upwards, he must be encouraged to continue this practice ... now he has a few more midfielders (most still developing but not looking backwards) from whom his meal ticket could reasonably be enormously nutritive. I really hope that our more experienced yet static forwards get the message and lust after forward line spaces.

Rivers, Tracca, Clarry, Viney to boot. Perhaps, a chastened, improved Sparrow, as well. Something smells frigging awesome.