Deeoldfart

My eyes seriously welled up when I saw the photo of Jack ....... but the reality is that if we want to become a ruthless and hard-edged footy team, we will have to use that same ruthless hard-edge at selection. It's a tough, tough business.

Max King named in both the senior and Development squads. Probably as much a statement about the high quality of our developing talls as it is about Max's progress, I guess.

Great story of opportunity, persistence and hard work. Nev has become our most reliable defender, and l'm thrilled for him and his family, the footy club and all of us supporters who have grown to love him.

38,831

Yep, and the departure of Frawley fairly early in Roos' tenure left a hole for a kpd that will take time to fill to that level of competence and experience.

Good thread! Player development is another critical element which will determine how far we can progress with the current list, and I think most of us agree that the signs are very positive on this front. We have already seen the likes of Gawn, Viney, Watts and Jetta come on in leaps and bounds under the current program. If this scale and speed of development / improvement can be replicated by our talented youngsters (Salem, Brayshaw, Oliver, Petracca, Hogan and probably Hunt), then we will quickly have a bona fide 'finals ready' list, assuming we can retain all or most of them. Add a few untried but talented kids with (apparently) high ceilings, who are currently being 'developed' at Casey (Weideman, Hulett and maybe White) and we will have a list which could take us deep into September in the not too distant future. Of course there are lots of 'ifs' and 'buts' about this scenario, but imo, if we continue to teach and develop our current core list, while bolstering the known deficiencies discussed elsewhere on Demonland, we'll find ourselves in a very good place in 2 or 3 years. I'm loving the ride right now, and have high expectations!

Good stuff Demonland and Demonlanders. The standings for the top half dozen, and the margins, are spot on. Gee we are good!

Excellent summary Ernest ............ fools and buffoons all 3 of them.

Nice: Brayshaw shines in Casey comeback

It's impossible to be satisfied with a loss in any circumstances, but going into the game I was hoping for a four quarter contest, and probably expecting a small loss (as per the recent Hawthorn game). Sadly, we did not deliver on that expectation, and let them play like millionaires in an embarrassing last quarter. We were out bodied and outplayed by a more experienced team for much of the day, but there are absolutely no excuses for the late capitulation. Too many passengers on the day, but some positives from a few of our youngsters, particularly Hunt, Frost and Wagner.

6. Vince 5. Hunt 4. Watts 3. Gawn 2. Jones 1. Petracca

Very good article about a kld who is still finding his feet in the man's world of AFL football. The mind boggles at the heights he could reach in the next few years. A bloody ripper, that's for sure. So happy that he wears red and blue when he seemed destined to be a Saint.

I'm remarkably relaxed this morning, which is most unusual on game day, and even more so with so much riding on the result for us. I don't quite know how to interpret this new gameday feeling, but I'm putting a positive spin on it, and assuming it's a good omen. Illogical I know, but Dees by 9 points in a low scoring affair.

29 disposals, named in the best, a couple of goals and presumably on reduced game time after a long lay off. Seems like a pretty fair effort from Gus.

'Strange' would not be my choice of words.

Based on a couple of reports from training this morning, Training - Friday 17th June, 2016, it seems like 'no change' to me, with Michie the travelling emergency.

Might be a good ploy at the SCG next weekend Ralphy.

6. Gawn 5. Vince 4. Kent 3. T. Mac 2. Jones 1. Tyson

I remember a Herald Sun headline after a QB clash many, many years ago. Melbourne had defeated the 'colliwobbles' (as they were known back then) and the header the next day read "From Magpies to Feather Dusters". I'd like to see that header repeated tomorrow please.

Absolutely we do,

Just as we were a foundation club in the men's competition.

Reading between the lines, Tom will be a Demon in 2017................... but like others, I'd just like him to sign now so we can all move on.

I'll be driving down the Hume for the QB clash on Saturday morning, and watching what I can of the Casey match on TV in the arvo. I'll welcome any insightful training reports to further whet my appetite for Monday's game. Thanks in advance for anyone who is able to give us interstate / country members some summary information. Your work is always greatly appreciated!

I remember the story too Thrice. Nev has become solid gold, Lewis was never better than silver plated, and is currently quite tarnished.

Nev is a ripper, and in 2016 he's been the 'glue' in our defense. Reliable, hard-working, courageous and building his game year on year. A fantastic story of persistence and hard work and a typical Paul Roos prodige'. As a free agent, other clubs will have him on their radar, which bodes well for Nev's finances. I dunno what all that equates to in dollars, but imo he has easily established himself in the top quartile of players at the Club, and should be paid accordingly. I reckon 3 years is the right term.