Deeoldfart

Meek and weak for half the game. Other teams take note: you now have the recipe for beating Melbourne! Gutted!!

One good thing. We are close enough if good enough. Now show us what you are made of Demons!

Great article, great insights. Thanks Max!

Crunch time! I'm very 'on edge', but I think we will stand tall.

Oh no! What happened to our mantra of "one week at a time"? ?

At this stage of the weekend, we are one win and 15% ahead of Geelong. Hopefully after tomorrow, we are two wins and a bit more % ahead of them. Nice! On the other hand, we must win tomorrow to maintain a % buffer over Hawthorn, and our other potential rivals.

Another strong game by Dec, Drunkn. Based on radio broadcast, he was involved a lot, and was mentioned among the better players. My assessment from afar is that he stood up very well in defence, in the absence of Pedo .

Great win by Casey! 21 points at the end.

Goal Freeman. Casey now by 20 in dying minutes

Dean Kent now has three.

Pedo in for his versatility and 'insurance' value. I like that! Hunt in for his pace. I like that too!

Jonesy on 360 was very confident that Max would play. Party line? Dunno.

........... agree, and we could have a lot to lose.

No Melky for another week according to Goody.

Too young, too good, too soon. RIP Jarrod.

Either that's plain crazy, or my MFCSS just took a severe turn for the worse. Regardless, I hope our players don't see it and believe it.

For info: Tom Morris 'On the Couch' just said words like don't be surprised if J Hunt lines up for the Dees against the Swans. Roosy broadly concurred with this approach, saying something like Hunt for Smith speed for speed makes sense ....... followed by the qualification if Hunty's had enough time in the VFL.

Enjoy the Demonland banter; have a few (too many?) drinks; (hopefully) recover; review the game to death taking into account all the Demonland prognostications; move on to thinking about the Eagles game some time late in the following week. Perfect preparation.

I did the predictor again after the weekend results, and the likely fallout (injuries and suspension). Trying to be as objective as possible for a diehard Demon, I had us beating the Swans and the Eagles (which looks easier now) and losing to GWS. Final result had us ending 5th, and playing the Hawks in the first Elimination Final. However, other permutations have us finishing as high as 4th and as low as 9th. Bottom line ......... buckle up for the ride, this is going down to the wire. Stock up with your prescribed BP / heart medication and preferred beverages.

6. Oliver 5. Salem 4. Brayshaw 3. Harmes 2. Hogan 1. Frost

A strong win against weak opposition today. Sing the song: enjoy the win: recover well; review the game; and move on quickly to prepare for next Sunday arvo at the 'G". The demands increase every week from now on boys. Go Demons.

Goody looks nonplussed in the box late in that quarter. My armchair emotions are a bit more outlandish.

Live ladder is 131.1%. Keep it going, and don't let up Demons!

No late changes for either team.

I'm not sure that my sanity (or heart) can cope with another tight finish (even if we win), but I know that no part of me will cope with a loss. Just get it done Demons.