Deeoldfart

You owe me London , 'bub. ?

Agree TPF39. Also, it's easier to manage on-field minutes (to say 65% game time) at VFL level, than it is to do the same in AFL without compromising team results.

I agree it would be good to add some Porsche qualities, to complement the horse-power that we've already assembled in our engine room. For mine, I don't see anyone on our current list emerging to fill that role. Salem comes closest, but consistency and fitness have always held him back. No doubt the draft will offer up some possibilities, but it is 'hit and miss', especially having to wait until the second round in 2018, and in any event, draftees will take time to develop into the role. I'd therefore be looking to trade in an established B+ / A grader, but the price will be high. Gaff would be great, but is probably out of reach. Time for Jason and Josh to do their thing.

IMO Clarrie chooses the right disposal option as well as, if not better than any current AFL 'coalface' player. Sure he chooses the wrong option occasionally, but what AFL player doesn't? All I would change right now if I could, would be to put an Andrew Gaff or Isaac Smith on his outside.

6. Oliver 5. Brayshaw 4. Hogan 3. Gawn 2. Hibberd 1. Lever Plenty unlucky including Jones, the Brothers Mac. and Lewis.

Four points is four points I guess. We did what we had to do for a solid win, but we must learn to 'put the foot on the throat and keep it there' when we control large parts of games like we did today.

Now we need to break them in the 3rd and go on with it in the 4th!

No late changes for either team.

The Saints have had a week of 'soul searching' and 'home truths' so I'd expect them to come out hard. Withstand their early flurry, get the game on our terms, and then let our superior talent dictate terms.

First gameday for 2018 when I haven't felt 'edgy' first thing in the morning, so I'll treat it as a positive omen. Demons by 7 goals.

There were some promising glimpses against Essendon that bits of our game might be starting to fall into place, and if we can build on those our superior class should give us a solid (maybe 6 goal) win against the Saints. But 'ruthlessness' and 'percentage builders' are another dimension altogether. If it is going to happen at all, it will have to wait until Jack Viney returns and our midfield can settle with our best players in and around the ball, to take full advantage of Maxy's ruck dominance.

I'm no doctor, and like many around here I suffer from more than the occasional bout of MFCSS, but a break at the base of the thumb that required surgery seems like more than a single week lay-off to me.

I'm with you FireIn. Nev was back to his courageous and reliable best today.

6. Gawn 5. Jones 4. Jetta 3. Salem 2. Melksham 1. Fritsch

I agree 100% guys, but the key for me is encapsulated in daisy's final sentence.

I'm proud that our Club has a social conscience, and applaud this decision. Too many lives and families are 'wrecked' by addiction to pokies.

Hope lives eternal od. Stupid by my own admission, but true none-the-less.

1. The Gawn, Oliver and Petracca combo is very good. Add a fit and firing Viney (fingers crossed) and we could have a midfield that is widely feared. 2. Our mind-set and tenacity to fight back from the brink, even though maybe half the team had overall 'ordinary' games. 3. OMac was our best defender on the day. Who would have thunk it, given the more high profile team-mates that were all around him.

BUM!!

Most unlike you Andy, but yes, it is a silly question. It's impossible to even contemplate what Demonland might look like if we miss out again. Can Mods and Administrators be suspended?

Nothing of substance re contract talks, in fact the 'bumper payday' refers to the prospect of a large pay rise should he continue to make a success of his move up forward ....... which in turn suggests later rather than sooner in the year. Speculation by the writer.

Thanks for that.. I've heard nothing about the injury, other than a brief comment from Goody in his post match presser where he said Nev should be right for JLT2.. Obviously nothing too serious.

Neville?

Nah mate. I'm waiting for a Flag, so probably some time later this year for me ......... that's on the assumption that they will do it for a wrinkled old fart like me. Most likely require a general anaesthetic.

I've seen this written elsewhere HaH, and I find the suggestion of blackmail disturbing. What convinced you that it is 100% fact (?); or is it just speculation?