Mel Bourne

No, your comment just belies a certain ignorance. Not everybody who takes drugs is an out-of-control sports-idiot. I’ve known many wonderful and inspiring people who aren’t afraid or ashamed to pepper their brief time on earth, with pleasurable, illuminating and enlightening moments spent in altered states. As a professional musician, I can assure you that if it weren’t for drugs your favourite band would sound very different or most likely not exist at all. I shudder to think who they might be though.

Or Catch 22. My gut says the club aren’t as concerned about his mental health, as they are about his physicality. Aside from his new-found family man status, getting out of WA is a big factor. There’s something rotten in the culture of both the WA teams. Admittedly, Bennell has been a contributor to this issue, but both teams have been pretty negligent when it comes to preventing certain members of the community - specifically bikies - gaining access to the clubs. I know this was a constant frustration for Ross Lyon. WCE have been making a concerted effort to address this in the past couple of years, wit the Dockers dragging behind a bit. The city, as well as the club, would be good for him.

Don’t get me wrong, I hold a lot of faith for Jake Lever. But his highlight reel at the MFC thus far would be very short, and pretty underwhelming. He was edging towards elite/A-grader/whatever-you-wanna-call-it at the Crows. Some might say he even got there. But he does not have that kind of status now. He’s currently in no-man’s land between past and (hopefully) future form.

“I just think I’ve still got a lot more in the tank. I’ve come this far and I’m not going to give up, just because of my latest injury. I’m not a person who will just chuck the towel in and give up. “I love training and I love football. Without football, who knows where I’ll be? “Getting a third opportunity at the highest level would be life-changing for myself and my partner and my family – it would be the luckiest thing. It would mean a lot to me and my family.” I’m pretty convinced he means all of that. He’s got very different, very real priorities now. And I’d say a much healthier perspective.

Don’t worry. Dr. B has got this. https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/52/14/929

Hey, I never said I wasn’t part of the consensus either. Let’s get him.

I’m not sure I’ve ever seen so much consensus on a Demonland thread.

I can get excited about drafting any player, in any position, who is a potential elite-disposer of the ball. And the footage I’ve seen of Hayden Young tells me he is exactly that.

Grew very tired of the ANB bashing that went on here, this year. He’s obviously not an elite player by any stretch, but he tries his guts out on the field and his running stats back that up. If a player who is putting in as much as possible still frustrates supporters, then it’s an issue to take up with our recruiters, not the unfortunate punching-bag of a player. Anyway, let’s hope he finds some form and this is all a moot point by the end of 2020.

Needs to do less podcasts with the Institute Of Public Affairs.

Very happy to find a like-mind with this one! His debut kick/goal (vs Geelong) was one of those rare moments of promise this year. He also showed some excellent forward skills in the Freo & Essendon matches. Has had to show a lot of grit to get to where he has so far. Not a silver-spooner, and despite what he’s delivered so far, is still yet to have a full pre-season with the club. He gets overlooked a strange amount. Buckenara didn’t even bother putting him on his list, and none of the other Demonlanders noticed!

True that, but if you thought your mate was - though great to hang out with - not much chop on the field, wouldn’t you be content just to catch up with him at BBQs?

It’s kinda strange how a titan of the game (Dangerfield) would push really hard to get Jenkins to play in his own team, yet so many people on an Internet forum think he’s rubbish.

Demonland should come with a form guide.

So you’re confident we have the kind of forward line required to win a premiership?

It did originally pertain almost exclusively to clothing (first adopted by tailors on Saville Row). Now it pertains to a friggin’ donut or dog treat.

Gun player who may very well be our next Brownlow medalist. Crucial player in our bid for a flag(s) over the next five years. Can be a bit of a dique sometimes. Needs to iron that out.

Good stuff. Let’s hope they don’t do any brick-related exercises there.

Interesting. Do you know who signed up for that trip?

His sure-footed disposal provides the supporters with moments of rare calm. But when that aspect of his game is off (which thankfully isn’t too often) he can be a bit of a non-presence. Hard worker though, and those stats posted above say as much. But yeah, would be great to see him go from “quiet achiever“ to “noisy dominator”.

Hardly a smashable offering. That’s all more or less how it is.

Yeeeaah boi, that’s some good stuff right there. A very tidy left-foot snap when required too. Love it.

Totally understand why you’d keep a lid on it during the season (for the reasons you mention), but not sure why it would need to remain confidential beyond that. I just would’ve thought both for his own reasons (trade worth, deflection of unfair scrutiny) and the supporters’ (simple reassurance) it would be better than what is largely assumed - that he was just a bit crap. ??‍♂️

Can anybody tell me why it would be kept a secret that he was playing injured? Wouldn’t AB himself want this information out there?

I recently spent some of my precious time on earth sifting through a thread where one person said they had info about a rumoured trade, which was followed by four pages of people guessing (in vain) who it was. The “I know something you don’t” post, is becoming increasingly irritating