Whispering_Jack

Based on recent performances, we're lucky to have one player in the top 50. It's up to our players now to produce the form consistently throughout the season to warrant selection on that sort of a list by the end of the year. Simple as that.

Even better is Jimmy's on the Monday night after we win our first game for 2010!

I reckon I might be on to something.2010 TAC Cup Sandringham Dragons 2.2 6.3 7.4 9.5 (59) Northern Knights 3.5 9.7 10.11 14.14 (98) GOALS: Sandringham Dragons: Jacobs 4 Gillespie 2 Boyd Reilly Sharp Northern Knights: Barden 2 Marcon 2 Veal 2 Caddy 2 Maric 2 Lincoln Mascoulis Currie Longer BEST: Sandringham Dragons: Jacobs Dermott Garside James Fallon Boyd Northern Knights: Caddy Witkowski Barden Marcon Veal Maric

Dappa, you haven't seen me when I really get going.

A couple of years ago, when the Zebras were still affiliated with the Demons, a group of Demonlanders used to watch them play from a position underneath the social club at the Trevor Barker Beach Road Oval. At half time one week, we noticed this young teenage kid was taking shots for goal with (presumably) his father and he was a deadly accurate kick for goal even as far out as the 50m line. After a bit of detective work someone came up with the story that it was Addam Maric's younger brother who had come to TBBO to watch his young Demon sibling play for Sandringham. The kid looked like Addam Maric and he certainly had the same effective kicking action as the first year Demon who had been celebrated the year before as the most accurate kick in the TAC Cup competition. Well today the TAC Cup season opens with three Round 10 games (yes, I know this story is starting to sound a bit fanciful but this part is definitely true) and lining up for the Northern Knights Under 18 team is a young Nicholas Maric, just turned 17 and playing in a forward pocket. I asked myself whether this could possibly be the same young kid with the deadly kick from TBBO and my initial detective work suggests that there's a relationship there. Although Addam played for the Calder Cannons and Nicholas is with the Northern Knights, they both come from Greenvale in the northern suburbs. Young Nicholas is just knee high to a grasshopper at 168cm 60kg but he still has time to grow to Addam's 179cm. Anyhow, I'll be looking with interest to see how young Nicholas goes today and in the future with the Knights. I hope both brothers can get among the goals in 2010 and if any Demonlanders make it out to Visy Park this afternoon, your reports would be greatly appreciated!

Judging by this article, it seems that Austin's latest hamstring injury is a lot worse than expected - Wonaeamirri wants to be back for Darwin clash Based on the story, it's a 10-12 week injury. What happened to the good old days when, if you did your hammy, you were out for three weeks?

Having given the matter some thought and realising that next Saturday Buddy Franklin will be sitting in the stand watching his team playing Melbourne and wondering why he's sitting there and why Kennedy is free to play that round against Brisbane, I've decided that the system isn't all that bad!

I heard the tail end of the interview and one of the presenters was very complimentary about the way he plays and said that if Bater was playing with Geelong he'd be a star. I don't know about that but he certainly has the opportunity to step up again this year and, with the added talent and maturity at the club, the fact that we currently occupy a lowly position shouldn't hold him back.

I don't suppose anyone noticed whether Brock McLean turned up to watch some of his new teammates in action? What's that? Oh ... strike that question. I should have realised the game was played at Casey Fields.

Give me a break please. Judging on that part of the vision which the AFL saw fit to release I would say that Josh Kennedy must be blessed not to have been cited. Well we might ask why the AFL hasn't been prepared to release the total package? IMO we've gone back to before the time when Nick Maxwell put McGinnity out of business. The head is no longer sacrosanct!

Doubt that Fitzpatrick or Gysberts would be eligible. As far as I'm aware, they haven't missed any NAB Cup/Challenge games due to injury and I think you need to have been severley limited in this regard to be eligible.

On Jack Fitzpatrick I couldn't agree more. To throw him to the wolves now would be wrong. He's about 10kg off the weight you would want a 200cm player to be at and he needs a year or two of coaching at a level or two below AFL before he's ready. That's a fact of life. If we want him to reach his full potential then give him some time. He's fast for a big man and he can take a mark but there are so many things he needs to learn. This is no disrespect for the kid but he might even spend some time in the Casey Reserves before the season's out (possibly even at CHB) assuming we ever get to a point where our list is at full strength. It won't hurt him one bit - all part of learning.

I also wanted to comment on the one step forward, two steps back theme. I believe this is just one of the things that happens when you're dealing with young teams. There will be inconsistencies from week to week and from player to player. I'm sure we will win games this year and next that are beyond our wildest expectations today and we will have some tough days at the office as well. I haven't written us off for the opening game against Hawthorn either - we just need the stars to align and no more injuries ... please!

Apologies to all the Nathan Browns of this world for getting them mixed up with their twin brothers but I believe Mitch has been playing mainly in defence lately. With regard to Craig Cameron's comments about James Frawley soon after he was drafted, I believe he was being quite definitive and he maintained that we shouldn't be too surprised if he was capable of being used in a number of different positions and that he felt he was capable of kicking goals if moved up forward. At the time, he was much lighter framed and Craig thought he might start off on a flank or a wing. I don't know if Craig is allowed to post here now that he's moved on and become the virtual el Supremo at Tigerland but I'm sure some of his old mates might be able to confirm this with CAC1962 (or is it CAC1963?). On reflection, as much as I'd like to see Frawley tried at CHF (even as a one off), I don't think it's going to happen this year. The NAB Challenge matches were probably the best times for experimentation and I doubt that our FD would take such a big risk in the first round of the season notwithstanding the absence of Buddy and the possible absence of Roughhead.

Well summed up AlphaDee but one correction. I'm pretty sure that Luke Tapscott was there because I remember thinking how he was moving around well considering his recent hip operation. I think functions such as today's are important for fostering future support for the club. I took my grandkids (who I've brainwashed completely) and they loved being among the sea of red and blue clad youngsters (and not so young). It would bloody well help the cause of course if the team started winning games!

Speaking at the club's family day today, Jim Stynes said there were 8,000 at Casey yesterday. When the players were introduced to those in attendance, you got to see and feel how many walking wounded we have on our books ATM. I had noticed James Frawley's absence in the latter part of the game yesterday. Today, I saw the reason. He was limping noticeably and had his right calf bandaged. At a guess, I'd say it's not all that serious but I never went to medical school. Liam Jurrah and Daniel Bell had their arms in a brace and Cale Morton was getting around on crutches. Naturally, Colin Sylvia wasn't there and nor was Aussie. Most of the players who were rested yesterday e.g Bartram, Grimes, Rivers and Joel Macdonald all looked as if they would make it to round 1. I think Col Garland would have to play a full game for Casey to get a gig. That gives us up to 5 players to come in for the Hawthorn game and 8 plus Colin Sylvia to go out. At least that gives us many more possibilities for the season opener and less reason for doom and gloom than what we're seeing from some quarters. And on the Casey game, don't get carried away with Jack Fitzpatrick's two goals. The first was a gimme when it was delivered to him while alone in the goalsquare, the second came after a strong mark and a 50 metre penalty. He worked hard, has good pace but needs to put on bulk and is a long way from playing AFL. On the other hand, Jordan Gysberts played a terrific game and shouldn't be too far away. Garland played well down back and I hope he pulled up well and plays a full game next week. As I said earlier, he's an outside chance for round 1 but he will be an aquisition when he finally gets back in the side because he's a class player.

Could all be a moot point. I'm at the MFC Family Day at Eppworth Hospital Luna Park with the grandkids. James Frawley just limped past with his calf bandaged.

I think perhaps Carlton hasn't won a practice match which seems to put us in good company . On our game plan, if it's the handball thing then the coach has a hell of a job in front of him because the current skill levels are letting him down badly.

It was Craig Cameron who drafted Frawley and I remember him telling a group of supporters a few weeks later at a Demonland/Demonology sponsors function that he believed that this player would, when he matured, be capable of fulfilling a number of different roles and that he was sure he was capable of playing forward as well as down back. I don't know if a move forward would work for Chip but we certainly need something extra in attack at the moment. At this point in time when expectations are low, I can't see that it would hurt to try something different. Interestingly, while there was debate going on via this thread and at the ground yesterday, Worsfold moved defender Nathan Brown forward and, lo and behold, he kicked a couple of goals in WCE's seven goal run that broke open the game.

Well, we definitely need someone with some physical presence up forward and with Rivers and Garland both set to return there's no reason why it wouldn't be worth a trial. Good thinking Finks. Right out of the square!

One of my favourite parts of the evening was the vision that Bails shared with those in attendance of some highlights of the NAB Cup Challenge. Tom Scully's goal was a special because of the way he ran to position to accept a pass from a team mate. It's been so long since I've seen a Melbourne player set up a goal so effortlessly (at least that's how it seemed) and Jack T does it as well. Still, I'm trying to keep a lid on things so please just ignore this .

Ash Browne is courageous. According to his Twitter: "Might need to wear protective armour when I cover the Melbourne praccy match for AAP tomorrow. http://bit.ly/b37XJV" No need for protective armour among Demon fans Ash. Just put on the Mossad gear; horn rimmed glasses, red nose and tennis shoes and you'll be right. They all look like that out at Casey anyway. Of course, I will demand a right of reply on BPL in the likely event of a Melbourne victory v Hawthorn in Round 1.

The Devils Advocates had their first function for the year last night at the offices of city firm Freehills. Here are just a few random notes: Jimmy spoke at the start and he was full of anticipation for the season. He spoke with admiration about the way the playing group is preparing itself for the campaign ahead - much better than in his day at times when the team was down. There are so many reasons for optimism about the club at the moment. The Prez is looking tall, mean and lean and, while he's going through some tough times, he has that infectiously uplifting attitude that made him one of the most amazing success stories of the game. He's as committed as ever to seeing the club through to a better future. Dean Bailey gave us a great insight into the pre season so far. From the aweful start at Subiaco to a less than six day break v Essendon and then to Adelaide on a charter flight that took 2 hours and 20 minutes he painted a picture of how the playing group is developing. We have had our obvious disappointments with the injuries in a short space of time of Cale Morton, Liam Jurrah and Daniel Bell but on the credit side has been the determined attitude of the very inexperienced teams we've put on the park. Bails showed some footage from Saturday's game starting with Liam's great goal and including some fantastic footage of Tom Scully, Jack Trengove and Jordie McKenzie and I'm not going to get carried away by what I saw in the brief excerpts - but they backed up what the otherwise unhinged commentators were saying on 5AA in between their gushing over Tippet and Walker and the rest of the Crows side. Bailey referred to Jurrah's injury and the challenge he faced but pointed out that he and the other injured players were all young and would recover and be valuable members of the team in the coming years. I don't know if it was a slip but he spoke of Liam's injury as being "12 weeks" which is a bit better than the 16 reported. The good news is that we are getting a decent number of players back from injury in the next couple of weeks. Aussie, Bater, Beamer, Cam Bruce and Col S are back this week. Colin Garland will also be back but possibly with the Scorpions. The Flash isn't far away either and we should see Sam Blease and Jack Watts in action in a couple of weeks via Casey. PJ is also improving with each session. An interesting question was raised about the forward line in the absence of Jurrah and Bailey indicated that he would be looking to players like Lynden Dunn to fill a similar role as a forward but that he also wanted there to be plenty of goalkicking power and pointed to Ricky Petterd's last two games (4 goals in each), the fact that Addam Maric was coming along and the return of Aussie as a goalkicker. He also planned to use Brad Green up forward and would continue to try Stef Martin up there. He also indicated that for this week's NAB Challenge match v West Coast he might use Mark Jamar in a key forward position as he wanted to have a bigger body in the forward line. The comment was made in response to the last question for the night so there was no time to ask the next question about who he was going to play in the ruck but I suppose by a process of elimination it would have to be Jake Spencer and Stef Martin this week. Nick McCallum interviewed our two J Macs. Junior, in his 14th season is as enthusiastic as ever despite the club's three bad years in a row and Joel is determined to overcome the kick in the bum he got after being delisted by the Lions. Then followed the auctioning of some items by auctioneer Phil Kingston of Gary Peer & Associates and the obligatory raffle. It was a great night and good to know that the club is continuing to receive great support from the legal fraternity including a fair smattering of judges. After the AFL's horror off season it was reassuring that, unlike at some other clubs, this was the only occasion in which our players had to face the law.

Well, it might be that you're right and when I read what some posters have to say I'm not surprised (I also read what the moderators consign to the trash heap which makes it even less of a surprise). Nevertheless, let's give some credit to the players. Most are not brainless imbeciles and in fact they're a pretty savvy group who are fully aware that those who produce unhinged rants comprise the minority of supporters, that the majority who come on here are true supporters in the literal sense of the world and that constructive criticism and measured discussion aren't going to hurt anybody. I know for a fact that some of our players do read Demonland and enjoy it. They're not stupid!

Thanks to Rudeboy for your input. It should be noted that the recovery time from shoulder operations varies from person to person. My elder son required a shoulder reconstruction as a result of a football injury at the age of 18. His surgeon proscribed a recovery period of 5 to 6 months but told him that, in the case of a professional althlete, the recovery time could be reduced considerably with the appropriate rehab work. So whether they have recos or other work on their shoulder areas, it's a case of hard work and perseverance for Liam and Belly and using the next few months to work on improving in whatever areas they can while they're out of action.