rpfc

No he isn't. The very fact that he could leave and his on-field presence be replaced by a kid in Hogan should tell you that.

I said last year in the midst of rumblings over the players wanting Neeld out that Frawley was not in the top 5 players at the club. Jaded and a couple others scoffed at the notion - a year is a long time in footy. But the point is that no one is irreplaceable but also that there is something to be said for keeping talent around if you can. We were all so worried about losing players last year, specifically Frawley, and now we are swaying too far the way in my opinion.

You are kidding yourself more than me with this. This is a professional sport and a game of inches - if you are behind in any facet of the game it will show in every facet. You are the one who says the lack of skills is the reason we struggle as a team and as individuals - well, fitness is also a massive part of the professional footballer. Looking at every 'reason' you don't agree with and calling it an 'excuse' is another Ol' Demonland Special...

How is that?

We can't trade him. The disconnect here is that there is an absolute preference for a star mid over Frawley and that is what those that want to see him leave see when they think about the compensation he would bring. But that is far from a fait accompli and many of us think it would be better to keep what we have then hope for what pick 7 will bring and wait for for the kid to develop if we keep the pick.

Garland is coming off an injury interrupted pre-season, it was not going to be easy for him to slip right in. He has plenty of credits earned and is a leader, he is a long way from being dropped.

You should have just left it as the above, stmj. Which has been what you have been saying for a while now - that we don't have an over abundance of talented ball users. I am not sure many on here disagree with you, we do, however, find it distasteful the way you constantly talk them down. We don't live in this rosy future where all our players have desire and can execute consistently. We live in the here and now where we appreciate having some blokes who give a sh!t and are showing the promising kids what it takes the get the most out of yourself. And it isn't a simple as you make out - would you like me to search for references to Jetta and Pedersen and their lack of ability that you have made? The difference with them? Confidence and a role they can execute. IIRC you had a go at me earlier this season about my belief in 'roles' but Pedersen has found one, Jetta too, maybe a couple others will also be able to fulfil something in Roos' plan?

Massive plus for McDonald - his engine. He is a unique athlete playing a role that athletes can play - a negating role.

I am sorry, but the rate at which some of you think we should improve is unrealistic. And now there are threads about the 'good' young players we have and how they are fundamentally flawed. Improvement has been seen by some of our most maligned players which shouldn't surprise you - all Pedersen and Jetta needed was confidence, fitness, and a role they could execute. Helping Matt Jones with his decision making and McDonald with his skill sharpness and selection is a tougher sell. Some of you see my realism as acceptance of our current lot - if you think that - you are, I'm sorry to say, a bit dim. We are coming from a long way back and our list is simply not at a standard that some of you think it is from your reaction to this loss. Some will go, some will need more time to improve, and some will need to be allowed to properly develop (I laugh at posters who think JKH is 'AFL standard' already).

I am glad we have progressed to the point where we can put lines through promising kids names. Why don't you look at his age before you determine his fate? This thread is a steaming bag of nonsense. McDonald is a promising tall defender who needs refinement - he will be sticking around.

So many simple mistakes made, and by our best players. That game was even if not for our catastrophic mistakes that led to NM goals. And Salem needs to play for Casey for a month.

What the hell does that have to do with the Barenaked Ladies?

Yeah, 'One Week' was huge and a few other things...

Maybe?

I think it will be a two goal game either way. We don't have the killer instinct just yet and NM are still riding the wave of desire and application. What I do not want to see is a period of the game where they slam on 5 goals in 10 minutes. These guys always manage to walk over us for periods like that and it needs to be stopped.

Infamous for the ramifications for FS bidding, and famous for everything else.

There were posters like you who were adamant Watts was off last year. Your opinion is not based on anything other than your own exposed neurosis.

He infamously signed a 5 year contract as a 16 year old so he has another year to go on that thing.

Killing the ball with his fist is one of the top things a ruckman should do in a game. He will most likely remember to do it next time...

I said a few months ago that Pedersen got crap he didn't deserve on here that questioned his worth as a person. Got called on that comment for some reason. Have a look through this thread and don't just read the terrible jokes - comprehend the the underlying tone - it is of a a group of supporters eating alive a player for having the gall to play for our club. You can eat your humble pie but we should be showing some self-reflection about the kind of BS we spout about Demons.

lol A Melbourne fan found a way to criticise the club for NOT manipulating the system to its advantage. We have come full circle...

I used 'slam dunk' as a reference to CIA head Tenet's assertion that the case for Iraq having WMD. No-one probably got it, but talking in blanket terms of fact when there are no hard facts - is not a good practice. And people use those US terms because they can't be bothered thinking up ones themselves, and because the US sporting landscape is far more developed. Concepts like FA and equalisation will only continue to be brought up.

Does it? How would you know - wages are not released and the cap increases about half a million a year.

Great news! Just an aside - the sooner we move to 'high draft picks get 3 or 4 years automatically' the better...

It's as if you think there's nothing in it for us if Frawley stays... I can see your argument but it is not such a 'slam dunk' - at a base level - keeping good players is a good thing and not something I would metaphorically shrug at.