D4Life

While I would love to see point 1 occur, petracca go wild, I think supporters in general have an unrealistic expectation of Half Forward or Forward Pocket players when it comes number of possessions and goals. If Melksham, ANB or Spargo averaged 2 goals a game, 15-20 possessions a game and 3-4 tackles, across the season they will have a great season. But lots of supporters seem to have far greater expectations.

If Smith misses, definitely not playing a Hore from Collingwood! Much prefer Spargo in. Rest of team looks good.

Very good side. Agree coaches will go OMac ahead of Frost, ANB instead of Stretch. Spargo has to crumb in the pocket, using Van DB off bench. Hard to know what to make of JLT form, seemed haphazard and defence pretty loose. Be great to see Viney back in, and Melksham is a key part of forward line functioning properly. Can’t wait for the 23rd!

Very good team, but looking at last years team selections, OMac will get nod over Frost, Lewis over Hunt(early in season). Round one - Preuss in against Port onto bench, ANB into pocket and Hannan out for mine. Harmes on wing Fritsch on bench. In waiting room: Backs: Lever, Hunt, Frost Mids: Stretch, Sparrow, Maynard Utility: J Smith (has the speed and can close opponent down) Forwards: Garlett, Hannan, T Smith, Keilty Team just looks a step up from last years finals team!

Max Petracca Fritsch Preuss & KK

Nice to remember Jakovich in particular that game against North when he kicked 11 goals and about 10 points and was just running around getting the ball for himself, he was a freak! schwartz before he got injured, the nine goals against the Swans, he was going to be a superstar! Farmer kicking 8 against Fremantle at Etihad! But it’s gotta be about 2019: Melksham Weideman Petracca ANB TMac Spargo or Farmer if he comes good Gawn & Preuss dropping into forward line Oliver swapping with Petracca Adding May, Preuss and KK just brings another dimension to the team. If Hunt can get it together and J Smith take the next step it’s going to be hard picking a best 22! Roll on round one, can’t wait!!!!! Gawn Brayshaw Viney Harmes Oliver KK all in the middle feeding the forward line, sounds good!

What are the odds/stats on Champion Data finally getting it right?

De Goey played on flank but even if he plays full forward. If he and Cox go down, who is their third tall? Who is Swans, second tall forward, if Buddy goes down what happens. My point still stands not many teams have two key tall forwards, let alone three. Cats - Hawkins then who? Hawks - Roughead nearly finished, Gunston almost half forward. GWS - Cameron & Patton

If Riewoldt & Lynch both go down, Richmond have? If Cox and ???? Go down Collingwood have??? if Darling & Kennedy go down Eagles have ???? Big KPF are hard to find and very few come up to speed within a few years of being drafted. Hogan was one of the few. Demons have TMac and Weideman on the way. If either go down the Demons may look to Preuss to do a Cox like role, or turn to TSmith, Keilty, Petty or even OMac. Not many if any teams have a good 3rd big key forward!

Very good team, I’d make a few changes: Lewis to interchange Salem to half back Harmes to wing Preuss to bench Melksham to flank Petracca or ANB into pocket Spargo for Garlett (unless Garlett improves 200% on 2018) By season end Lewis out, Fritsch in Note: don’t think lever will make round one, so Fritsch in.

Apologies, couldn’t help myself on Sparrow!!

Definitely Sparrow, heard he flies down the wing!

As players get older, slower and gradually worse (except Cameron Smith@ Melb Storm), supporters, commentators all tend to highlight poor games. I know against the Swans, Jones didn’t seem to be running, maybe he was injured, but did make me consider, how long has he got to go! From a loyalty perspective, it would be a hard hearted Demon who wouldn’t want to see him part of a flag! As this years GF showed, margin between winning and losing is fine and you can’t carry any passengers. Lets hope Jones has an injury free pre season and has a great year, but in the end the club/team is greater than any one player!

Teams rarely have their best 22. Look at round one - Lever won’t be in the team. Realistically it’s a best 26. The 22 above is very good, then as backup Frost, Vanders, Preuss, Hunt. Hannan worries me a little as he can go very cold at times, but can see why people like him as he can also fire. Still have Smith, JKH, TSmith, & Maynard who can fill in and I’ve probably missed a few more! Disagree we’re like Lyon Saints - Gawn, Oliver, Brayshaw, & Viney stars. TMac & Lever will be close! Fingers crossed Petracca takes that next step!!

Co captains worked well this year. Let Viney get a full year playing 20 plus games, under his belt before being the only captain in 2020.

Richmond dipped to 13th after 3 years of making finals, before winning a flag. Hardwick was riding the players too hard & evidently he realised or was made aware of it, made some coaching and cultural changes. Football approach was simplified, players started enjoying the game and boom - flag. Pies after slowly going backwards for Six years under Buckley, as he was too hard, changed his approach, Nick Maxwell influenced the culture, players started to enjoy playing and they got within 45 seconds of a flag. Melbourne players evidently very happy with Goodwin, shows in continued improvement and with a bit of luck will go close 2019 or 2020! Sounds like club will extend him before 2019, he has been part of developing the right culture, it would be hard to see him leaving if he gets signed up for a 2-3 year extension.

While a few weeks on I’m still disappointed that Hogan wanted to and has left, drafting May, KJ, and Preuss has strengthened our obvious areas of weakness. Add Lever coming back and hopefully Viney having an injury free year, and we have a strong platform for success in 2019. A little more zip & skill on the wings, and another good small forward and defender would give us almost a perfectly balanced list. The Hawks kept winning flags after Buddy left, and I’m hoping that our best wins in the last few years were without Hogan in the team, is an indicator we can cover losing him. Looking forward to another successful season in 2019, making top 4 and being in a position to have a real crack at the Flag would be terrific! Go Dees!!!!!!!!

Assuming one of the reasons Pert on board was big sponsorship experience, although he did have Eddie in his corner previously.

All Demons supporters turn up and make it profitable for the club. A good chance to start the season with a win.

Bernie was very good for the Demons, really made a difference in our growth & improvement. Seems like a great bloke! He looked pretty relaxed playing golf and having a few beers and snacks at Riversdale GC yesterday afternoon!

I’d rather punt on some kids and maybe find a gem later in the draft. We got both Macs at 53!

Bundle numbers 43,47,48&49 for Kelly!

The best thing about this draft is we already have a strong 22 with 6 decent players as depth. If we could snag a player ready for2019 would be great. Seems like a zippy small forward and another outsidemid with speed & skill would complement the list.

Agree. Be pleased to see Lever in round one, however might be Preuss to stand next to Cox!

Agree the best teams just make it happen. Collingwood got to 3rd with only one win over a finals team, being us unfortunately. Then played a strong finals month. The Demons dropped 4-5 games by under 10 pts, Cats 2&3, Saints 2, Port 10(robbed) and Swans? We win 2or 3 of those and top four spot was ours!