Deemania since 56

.... and worst!

It is well past due time for the VFL competition to be better administered and conducted, with improved coverage, status and alignment to AFL clubs and supporters, such as pre-main game fixtures, venues and promotion, for example. Some of us supporters really miss the 'reserves' competition as it was formerly known; it represented a whole day at the footy in one venue, providing tremendous information flows to crowds of supporters on their team and that of opposition sides, and to their attendees.

Irrelevant due to their upstart demands being regularly met by the AFL, and ability to offer top dollar to the player as a nurturant incentive.

We have done really well over the last two years in recruiting younger players with talent and great potential. Just like fruit on the vine, allow these future Demons the chance to ripen over time ... recruiting one ruckman just is not the sole outcome of our development or onfield success.

Geelong will come from behind, in the 'dark, out-of-picture nowhereland', and snatch him above all other clubs.

BB had better adjust his diet a few days before the Hawks match - massive amounts of Popeye spinach are needed - because he is going to get 'arm-chopped' and 'head-belted from behind' each time he extends for a mark and this tactic will last all game - because the umpires will never see it occur, not even once.

Anything can happen to any club in the present, few weeks of footy before the finals. In a conversation, several people including myself were not surprised that Brisbane dropped away - and expected them to drop further away from a top 4 finish to the season prior to finals. Some sentiment of the same flavour was extended to the Bulldogs, and Geelong. As for the Demons, most considered a finish in second top position to be the case but could not specify who would take top of the ladder position given the above. The lap of the gods is a precarious site to launch a convincing assault. Whatever the crystal ball gazing, it is going to be tight. There are going to be surprises - one of which may well be the continuation of the ladder positions as these now stand. Carna Dees! I am very happy with what the Dees have achieved this year, in so many fundamental ways including game mastery. Despite the scheduling and attendance handicaps, it's been a great footy season for us.

At this very moment approaching the game against the Hawks, ANB could be rested - not that he needs a rest in reality - just to trial another of particular capabilities who is currently 'hot' in the Casey games. This player needs good skills and a keen determination. Prior experience at AFL level would be beneficial to augment the team structures and training preparations that currently exist. Chandler would be the best possible example of a suitable, achievable opportunity in place of ANB.

Mongrel time, moreso than ever. Go for the jugular, Dees. We need AVB to straighten up all opponents from now on and at the same time, establish and extend an attitudinal killer instinct across the whole team. We cannot lose one more match played in 2021; we all know what that includes.

Regularly noticed over a few seasons. They also have exclusive rights to 'hold' players rather than defend allowably, and 'arm chop' at marking contests. Without the sum total of these umpiring anomolies, they would most probably still be a mid-ladder basket-case again.

We just have to hit the Hawks hard - very hard - so bring in AVB to sort a few nasties in their team. AVB was allegedly BOG for Casey last weekend, playing a very commendable, experienced, fast, linkaged game. Time for a newbie, too - in the backline (Bowie?) to release Hunt for some attacking, sprinting practices upfield against the Hawks.

Cameron currently has a dicky hamstring. He was subbed off early in their match last weekend as a 'safety', 'conservative' measure. If he plays again in the next few weeks, he is going to face a real threat to being on the field for the remainder of the season, including finals. If so, his loss to the Geelong team will cost them during the finals. If he makes the teamsheets across the next few weeks, he is not going to be capable of going at 100% lest he be subbed off with a more severe injury than its status at the current moment. Looking forward to playing them again, minus Cameron.

It is imagination, but I am seeing Brizzy wither on the 'near end of season vine' and Footiskrie perhaps facing the same set of gremlins. Noticed the Bont (for want of time to write his name correctly) got a little sore just before the final siren, that might be more severe than expected. Anyway, clearly ahead on the ladder - now for the end of our dress rehearsals. Geez, I'd like AVB to line up for us against a washed-up Hawks team next game!

You ought to try to live here! It's a daily dose of double-barreled prejudice and loathing when it comes to footy. I was even asked to take my Demons cap off my head at golf, playing a comp round with 3 Crows and 2 Port fans. (They could see that I was well ahead on the scorecard.) All was in jest, of course, but underlying the banter was a plethora of ill-will for anyone coming from the east of the State border. Victoria does not exist ... for any good reason at all, except making the best draught beer and having good-looking shielas.

Your comments on JLeppitsch have been confirmed over the past few viewings. Actually speaks with authorative knowledge and does not waste our time being fickle and 'entertaining'. Rather than siding with the boys onfield, he is one of the boys.

I most certainly hope that Goodwin does not forget just how (good) Potent Petty can be up forward, as well. An ideal forward in reality with just a little more weight and muscle to gain before next season. We have a great footballer in the making, here.

Salem has a football brain, knows his limitations, knows his strengths. In many stages and moments of a game, he uses his incredible judgment to instantly self-organise to the immediate environment in which he is operating in order to elicit exceptional delivery skills by hand and foot to a teammate. These skills are so good and so well-above average that he looks too composed to many; in fact, some put it down to idle laziness. It just ain't the case. Salem creates his own time schedule in split seconds, never panics in his deliveries, makes ground and disposes accurately. What more could a team want?

Not a great deal to say about this thread - we have all hoped (for so long) to see the possibility of Sam playing consistent, good footy, whatever the role he is allocated. He seems to achieve this marque for his game in the Casey team. If that is where he is comfortable, then let him continue in these roles. Depth is a luxury, but a pleasant outcome for the present.

Selection.

Very valid point: he is better at leading or running towards an incoming ball than most FFwds - almost unstoppable within the rules of the game. One might think that our team members would have known this; booting the ball for an on-spot landing was grossly ineffective; kicking the ball too long so that it went over his position was even worse. In most of these cases, he started off moving forward to the ball and was forced to retreat (or let it pass over him) hoping for a opportunistic ground recovery that statistically, was just not on. His trailing opponents were better positioned for a mark or tap-away as a consequence. It was also an indication of how well he can move and in that process, leave a defender increasing metres behind. Streamline this process into more exact incoming opportunities thorugh better footwork from teammates and he'd kick at least four goals per game whilst still releasing TMac, Fritta and peripheral forwards to roam, lead to alternatives and compete, deep into the midfield domains. The concept of triangulation from forwards needs to be considered, providing a triad of prongs to receive across the width of the forwards' zones with BB out front and TMac/Fritta more laterally. We have the smalls to rove in all these configurations (and bring these littler dynamos closer to the play and respective assaults on the big sticks).

This team will be too fast and too aggressive for Whoreform. Both Harmes and ANB will probably play an improved role in a team that moves the ball with some surety through the adoption of their running skills and physical pressure acts. AVB would also be an asset most probably in the role performed by Harmes. There is going to be a settling effect across the Dees' players, as well, in which increasingly rapid possessions, plays and clearances will predominate, and these skills need consistency of performers, techniques, and strategies. Limited - rather than 'no' change would be most beneficial. Carna Dees.

Viney also moved the ball on much quicker this week, he did not pause, hesitate or stop the 'flow' when in possession of the ball and certainly, did not retain the ball to draw a tackler. He did the team thing, and in that role - on top of his stopper role against Ollie - he frequently maintained the momentum his teammates had instigated, contributing, not exploiting.

...and the opposition were uncomfortably aware that Brown was always present!

Yes, Harmes has a proven ability as a tagger and that, within a competition that is largely fairly even at the top, is a very handy aquisition to utilise to advantage. Cleaner hands - one touch - rapid but effective disposal - all signs of milestones to achieve from Harmes. He is close but not quite polished - he certainly gets to the possessions and opponent-negating standards required to execute skills at this level. Once achieved, Harmes will be another reliable pathway to Demon attack.

The last sentence is astute predication.