Neil Crompton

I always watch the D's no matter what the standard (just complain later). I'll watch any other game if it is a good flowing exciting match. I think a lot of people turned off the game when keeping off-football was the rage. In its infancy that was often slow, boring, bruise free football - and for good reason people turned away. Then congestion football tended to thwart the keepings-off style and many more fans were lost. In more recent times teams like Richmond (spit!) initiated a style of game that was exciting to watch - and others, including the D's, have produced their own versions that have made watching footy so much more enjoyable. Like most things in nature, natural selection generally works out in the end - it just takes a bit of time. In the case of football, it is also the desire and quality of the coaches to produce a winning formula that has the satisfaction of the viewing public - who essentially pay at least part of their salaries (us!) - as a prime factor in their plans. Imagine a film director making a film that didn't consider the viewing audience. He wouldn't be allowed to make another. Perhaps if we had more intelligent coaches, we wouldn't need the Gils of our world interfering with our game so much.

Has there been a survey of what the players think about a night final? Also has there been a survey of what the footy public want?

I went on it and lost 6kg in the first month. Sort of went off it by adding scotch and vino to the diet - and would you believe, i put it all back on, and some. Useless diet

Really nice to get honest, personal answers to the questions asked, instead of simply toeing the party line or regurgitating tired old cliches. i think he will be in demand all season, not only on the field, but also off as well. If i were a journalist, i certainly know which player I'd be seeking out for comment.

FND please reread my post of yesterday. If you do you’ll realise, I hope, that the point of it was not to criticise those that wanted his head, or those like SWYL and myself among others who were criticising the then current performances. I was saying that it is a long season, and just like last year, we should have a bigger perspective than just a couple of poor performances, if they do occur this year. I also said that this September will be our turn to shine and I believe that. But you are welcome to read into my post whatever you like.

I would have thought the title of the topic “Is Goodwin the right guy” would have been a big enough clue.

Look up the topic “Is Goodwin the right guy?” and go back to the April posts.

I must be missing something (probably just dumb), but i cannot see how the 666 rule is going to change things too much at all. At the centre bounce, aren't there still only 8 players in the square? And won't the wings still run in as they used to? possibly from the rear of the square now, as the extra man back used to do? If this hasn't changed, where will the impact be, at least in the square? Also, i don't see how a man-on-man forward and backline at the bounce will cause crowding. Can someone smarter than me please explain this?

Sorry, just the on-line discussion that occurred following your last reply, and my posting of your response.

This is a significant change in Demonland thinking since April 2018 - where it seemed every man and his dog was calling for his head (with a few notable exceptions like Moony and wiseblood). So if we have a slow start this year, or a significantly bad loss, I hope we can all keep some perspective and remember last year. Our time to shine will be September. There will be some slippage along the way, but as long as we keep building to peak come Spring, i will be a happy man.

since the "publicity" have subscriber memberships increased from the 280 previously quoted?

Attitude? I would have thought excitement that, after about 5 months, out team is playing football again! Finally something to watch, and something concrete to base our analysis on. It’s going to be a special year, so excitement is the attitude i’m taking.

Won a “premiership”

Prediction for Port. Jack Watts to be in top 5 in B&F this year.

Sorry CF. I might be wrong but I can’t think of too many big men (194+) in our squad that are better than him “below their knees”.

Nev

I was going to ask the question about Oliver and his shoulders last year and how they affected him. Don't remember hearing anything about him having shoulder problems at all (other than him always having them taped). Maybe i missed something. As for the article, i have always loathed these comparisons. They hopefully mean nothing to the player himself, and they are really just to fill out media quotas. Having said that, I've seen Oliver do things that I've never seen another do. I think we do have someone special here. But a special player without the backing and support of teammates doesn't mean a lot from a team performance basis. Look at Cripps and Carlton, the Bont and WB. We are a great side with Oliver in it. Without him we are still a great side, because we have the support. Carlton and WB's are not.

I just subscribed, and I asked Admin how many Demonlanders there were and how many were subscribers. I was surprised by the response: "There are over 5,000 registered members of Demonland. About 280 are subscribers. These numbers don't take into account guests who visit the site but have never signed up. More guests are reading the site at any one time than members reading the site." It would be nice for the percentage of subscribers to increase to support the running of this site. I mean we all enjoy it, but only about 5% are financially supporting it. With a lifetime membership of only $60, that, for some of the younger ones on here will work out to be about $1 a year. Where else can you get such great entertainment for just $1 a year?

Hi Andrew - this site is a great initiative, happy to help keep it going. By the way, how many Demonlanders are there, and how many are actually subscribers?

For someone who has come from a basketball background and who has only played 11 AFL games, i think Joel Smith is doing extremely well. Both his skill level and his "footy smarts" should come with more experience. If these elements come along to the same level as his defensive skills and his athleticism, I think he could end up a gun mid field player one day.

FMD, i put $100 on demons to win 2019 premiership yesterday - and you come out with a comment like that today! Now i have to try and get my money back.

Nice piece of work ProDee. The only selection I'd question at this early stage is Hunt - as much as I'd like for him to be there, he may have to earn his spot again. Joel Smith i think will get a gig before him initially - not sure what position though.

On the basis of an earlier post, I'd like to see the MFC make a stand and boycott this competition on the basis that one of the teams has been picked solely on the basis of race, while none of the other teams have. In this day and age of inclusion and racial tolerance, we should not be seen to be promoting race as a point of difference. I am really strongly opposed to this concept. If it had been a state of origin basis, as others have said, then ok - it would still be a [censored], but ok.

Joel Smith Fritsch Petty Hore

In this enlightened day and age, where “inclusion” and racial tolerance is supposed to be the norm, why is the AFL engineering a competition where one team is solely based on race and none of the other teams are? Either all teams are based on ethnic background, or none are. How do the AFL expect to cut out racial taunts from spectators at games, when it’s the AFL who are promoting race as a point of difference with idiotic competitions like this? Just another example of how poorly run and how out of touch our AFL leaders are.