The Taciturn Demon

I'm with you. Absolutely understand Harmes' best football was well behind him, and wasn't shocked or angry that he was traded. But Harmes, Brayshaw and Neal-Bullen are real cultural fabric players. We miss their best footballing attributes, but maybe the collective absence of their non-football stuff will be even more deeply felt. I've loved watching Alex Neal-Bullen play for the Demons. He's one of few players (Jones and Robertson come to mind) I've seen improve very significantly reasonably late in their career. Although he may be remembered as a 'role-player' there were absolutely games where, without him - his relentless run and ability to link up - I'm certain we would have lost. You can't say that about too many players.

The market being Justin Reid?

I just want to see them keep trying new stuff in the centre square. Good to see both Kossy and McVee in there at the same time last week. If we have any chance of being decent next year, we need to find a way to become consistently competitive at stoppages again. Now, with very little to play for, is a good time to try stuff.

First time the Dogs have gone negative since the Paleozoic Era.

No more exciting footballer in the competition at the moment.

Oh [censored]. As my primary school-age daughters would say, BURN!

It's incredibly tough. Every time I sit at ground level, watching Max alone exhausts me. It's a relentless barrage of physical pressure. The resilience of all footballers at the highest level is remarkable. But Petracca was in extraordinary pain. They might not have known the extent of the injury, but they could surely see this wasn't the time to take the "suck it up" line. Demanding he return to the field strikes me as both unprofessional and futile. Even if it turned out it was badly bruised ribs, is he going to tear it up? And on the subject of "suck it up", is there a history of Petracca taking the easy option that would make these insistences necessary? I've never seen even a hint of it. Sorry, I'm not having a go at you or suggesting you're making it up. I'm also not saying football clubs should be like kindergartens, where everyone's feelings are scrupulously taken into account. But this strikes me as really poor. If there's truth to Petracca's disgruntlement, I can easily see this being at least part of the cause.

I've now come across this numerous times. Is that true? I understand football is a brutal sport and the airbrushed veneer we see is vastly different to reality "inside the club", but demanding a badly injured player return to the field is nothing less than appalling in my eyes.

I've been lurking on Demon forums and social media communities for 20-odd years and this is close to the best post I've read. The diagnosis of the midfield problem is so well expressed and incisive.

I don't care what history says. In my mind, now and forever, he did it deliberately, aiming the gush, in full knowledge of who Scully was and what was about to happen.

Reminds me a lot of late-career Jordan Lewis. If you look at the stats alone you can make a case for him. If you watch the game, it's much more difficult.

Well put. We know from bitter experience, you should never lie down during a season. But there's a massive difference between playing for draft picks and making sensible decisions to get players ready for next season, and using essentially dead rubbers to try new things.

I totally agree. Max said in a recent video he rates him as a ruck, but you can find adequate rucks elsewhere. Above average tall forwards are much rarer. One thing that frustrates me apart from the fact it must take a toll on his body is us getting the ball at half back and me thinking "OK, where's JVR?" And the answer is behind or near the player with the ball because he's playing in the ruck. When you kick the ball into the forward half of the ground as poorly as we do, it's so important to have someone who can compete in the air.

I totally agree. Max said in a recent video he rates him as a ruck, but you can find adequate rucks elsewhere. Above average tall forwards are much rarer. One thing that frustrates me apart from the fact it must take a toll on is body is us getting the ball at half back and me thinking "OK, where's JVR?" And the answer is behind or near the player with the ball because he's playing in the ruck.

You may well be right. I generally lean a bit pessimistic and have been way off in my predictions about the Demons many times before. But... ...I think coming 12th or 13th and having a percentage at least 10 points away from every team in the eight points to something more than being unlucky in a close season. I also think football supporters are generally good at pointing to bad luck and how blights their teams but completely overlooking bad luck that affects - and, more importantly, is overcome, by - opposition teams. I can absolutely see why our football department would be keen on Houston. But I think we also need: * A ruck we can confidently bring in when Max is unavailable. * A dependable, ready-made tall forward in the Ben Brown mould (I think the Petty experiment was well worth a try, but it hasn't worked and he is the clear Steven May replacement; van Rooyen is going nicely but needs help) * At least one, but preferably two or three, players who can in the next two years make a difference at centre bounces and in winning clearances generally - if this is McVee and Pickett, excellent, but they then leave holes * Any predominantly outside player with really good foot skills (Hunter and Billings haven't worked) * A player who does a similar job at a similar level to Tomlinson and McDonald Again, I'm erring on the side of pessimism, but I think a bounce (at least a big one) next year is unlikely. I'd prefer that we put plenty of eggs in the draft basket and aimed to fill these gaps over two or three years than go all in on 2025, a la 2007.

Always worth keeping in mind. But if there's any truth to the rumour at all, he won't be cheap.

You've argued for him really well, but I think the club is edging into the delusional if they think one (or even two) very good 28 year olds can help us return to the top 2 or 4. Yes, a lot has gone wrong this year. No, we no longer have an excellent list capable of winning the 15 to 19 games you need to guarantee a double chance, let alone win finals. We need to plug lots of holes, not one or two.

I'm not convinced on this likely bounce-back based on better pre-seasons and natural improvement in younger players. The problem I have is that, yes, Oliver may improve very significantly on 2024. Yes, Petracca may come back as good or better than ever. Yes, we'll have another chance to adjust the game plan so that it's neither predictable nor completely unsuited to our team. Yes, we have exciting players under 22. But if I'm being completely honest about our best team in 2025, taking into account retirements and even being optimistic with injuries, is it just... well... good enough?

Gosh that's stark when it's listed like that. I actually haven't given up on McAdam or Fullarton being playable, but even then, this is a worrying lack of depth.

I didn't know this. Was he not offered a contract at Melbourne?

Strongly agree with this.

I don't think we can, but I think we should still trade it.

Not anymore, I don't think.

I'm hoping we have two! Even if Clarry returns to his very best, I think we're crying out for new midfield talent. How would you describe the draft group this year in comparison to the last few?

His landlord is a soft touch. A skip with a working lid and a beautiful view of the concrete smoko area... $220 dollars a week... minimum.