Damo

If I was going to guess who is going to have an injury just before the end of Pre-season I would pick the big Pruess. I hope they start tapering him off but keep him fresh soon. I have no inside info BTW. He just looks like he is going way too hard early daws.

I hope there are more articles coming out that have others as the team(s) to beat. Im over the constant hype. We haven't done that much yet.

It is very early to assess where we may land. We have had a couple of years of relatively minimal injuries. We brought back Vanders and Viney isnt out of the woods quite yet. We also had a pretty big pre-christmas walking wounded that although we are reassured that most if not all will be in full training next week, Im not so confidant. I hope Tom Mac is able to play most games. You only need to look at a couple of other clubs, say Carlton and Giants to be reminded of our good management and good luck with injuries lately. I feel confidant knowing that my team of the year 2019 will probably be quite different by Queens birthday but I am really impressed with the apparent struggle for every spot in the 22 coming into the year. Quality on all lines and on the bench. Hmm, Im sure I say that nearly every January.

I like Pedo and he has been good for us but Smith has capacity to have a better year. Its neither a puzzle or a reason for argument.

This is why we need to be absolutely ruthless and desperate to get what is to me is our very first flag. We have bathed in the bathwater of not-quite-right teams so much in the last 50 years. My hatred of other clubs will be uncloaked in 2019.

I cant believe he survived that fall. I hope he is ok.

Jetta, May, Salem, Lever, Hibberd, Oscar Gawn, Viney, Oliver, Brayshaw, Kolodjashnij, Harmes Petracca, Weideman, Neal-Bullen, Melksham, Tom McDonald, Spargo Jones, vandenBerg, Fritsch, Lewis, Hannan This is my best 22 going on from the template above. I think, like the Swans best years we may only play 28-32. May is a no-brainer, he is in. Some are in by default: Kolo, Lewis, Oscar, Spargo and Hannan because it IMO is for them to lose their spot early rather have to earn it. Then we have few who I expect to play quite a few games this year and the reasons differ. In order of who gets most games: Preuss - The chop out. 8/10 games - Lever mid year may see changes on many lines Frost - Im a fan of him and Oscar, but I think Oscar needed to hit another level late in the year. Frosty did. Low hard passing was a revelation. 8 games - same as above but might push through J.Smith - Coaches really rate him 7 games - a swing man will find a spot Hunt- back in business - will be tried from half back to HFF - 7 games Petty - Again big things expected. 4 games JKK - keeps impressing early in the year and I always wrongly think it will click, slightly faster, slightly better disposal - 4 games Then its anybodies guess but I think Sparrow and Bakes might play. From here I have to choose who will lose games on either form, new injuries or longer than expected recovery. The obvious ones are Viney, Jordan and Jonesey. But I think we carry the No.2 most of the year but maybe niggles see him sidelined. I see only 12 games each. I dont know where to hand the black spot next, but Hib, Nev and Melks have manned up relentlessly despite injury. Will they get a chop out? Unfortunately I see Jake Lever not getting his mojo back until late in the year, but he will be carried as thats the coaches way.

Brendan McCartney believes how important pre-seasons were. Many players have still to do a full pre-season and how crucial it is to, not only fitness but interestingly, to skill. He said that it is only when the player is at their peak and have totally grown into their body, meaning height as well in Weids case, and actually undergoing a 1st preseason in Vand den and J Smths (I think) case, that the silky side of skills blossoms. I hadnt realised he was foreseeing a large percentage of our best players were going under the knife end of year. It does make you gasp to see how Jack Viney and van den Burg came in at the end of season and took the bull by the horns so to speak. In any case it seems to me the telling part of 2019 will be how we go in the 1st half dozen and the last few matches.

Ever since Melbourne took BT outback at the Alice game, he has been very biased towards the Demons. Thats my impression.

Im not sure of the point in the game against the Cats in the EF but it was in the 1st quarter I think. It was a torrid piece of play, there is a loose ball on the outer wing and Biclavs is sprinting towards it. You see him look up and he takes a couple of short steps. van den Berg came at him like Roger the kangaroo and won the ball easily going through Biclavs like he wasnt there.

I dont post much. You have incorrectly replied or taken out of context my last 2 posts. Please refrain. I dont need you to "stick up" for the club on any of my observations. I don't rate your reports and its is not that you disagree with my posts, it is that you make out I said something I didn't. For the record,i) I didn't bag Garlett although I was ignoring you, ii)I am quite sure the players I have referred to are experiencing an interrupted preseason (your inability to notice this is a giveaway to your knowledge) and iii) I made no reference at all to 1st year players. And if you are going to reply again please dont bloke me. Bloke is not a pronoun.

10 of many's best 22 with a very interrupted pre-season. Injury looms as our biggest opponent for the 1st half and maybe all, of 2019.

There is no point playing Garlett in bad weather. He just wont fire and he hasnt been lucky with conditions. And yes it makes him flaky. It is what it is. Dry windy day suits him.

#unfortunatelookintomysoul I was idly watching the History of the Eagles the other night when Glenn Frey said we are the best band in the world but need to get Joe Walsh to join to give us more balls and we will be AWESOME. I thought to myself "Steven May...".

Poor old demonland. I guess it is the time of the year.

Petracca does nearly everything quite well. He is though, exceptional at winning a contested ground ball and using his power to get to his feet without being stripped of the ball. Even when multi-tackled. He can then get rid of it without being penalised. It may sound commonplace or not very fancy but he does it often and incredibly well. I bet Goody loves this more than anything.

I understand any issues Hunt had are addressed and while he wont be completely rounded i.e. kicking disposal, the other attributes he brings will see him in and out of the 22. I expect a huge Pre-season and my tip is he and J Smith are the big improvers this year. I think unless you are a bona fide star we will be working with 26-30 in and out of the firsts. I hope so anyway, we need to play fit for 26 games next year.

"Retaliate first!"

One additional reason to trade out next years 1st round for this years draft is that from next year we may be looking at trades for some players in which we will require an early pick for. Im only thinking that if things are going very well from next year, we will encounter salary cap issues along the way.

You think therefore you am.

Im so Footy hungry Im trying to read into the photo things like 1) oh no theres seven going into a back half of 6, who misses out? 2) where is Frosty?, 3) Why is May 2 spots in front of Lever? Why are 2 not folding arms? Is Paul dead? etc

Our season has suddenly gone from pre-season plus about 20 rounds to pre-season plus 26 rounds over 2/3 years. Thats why we need 26 or 28 firsts. Frost, Hunt and Vanders will all get a good chance to stay in the team. For example Spargo has faded in some observers sights because he just was not suited to the distance and we are in a position to rest rather than inject/strap/push players into finals. Spargo and Fritz especially. We were really burnt out against the Hawks but got over the line. Eagles we were totally exposed. Thats my understanding of why we are shoring up all suspect areas, and why Jayden Hunt for one is in for a big comeback.

I hope he goes well. Good Luck Tommy Bugg (to the tune of the Clashs Tommy Gun)

Joel Smith, Jayden and Harry Petty. Sam has already made the step.

My understanding is that Sam has just finished growing taller and has not yet done a full pre-season. He isnt even 22 until late June. It is fair to hope for a lot more each year from now. I was a convert, but those that know more than me, expect greatness.