Damo

On a different track, I wonder if when we get back Garland, we can drop McKenzie and get Jack Grimes to play his stoppage role? Grimes seems to always take a tall(er) forward, and struggles. I believe he may do better than Jordie in that role and win some footy of his own. We need Nathan to play positive not negative football, and I get itchy all over watching McKenzie.

Watts needs to be played at Casey. I wonder what we would get for him in a trade.

I have always considered Tapscott and Gawn to be unlikely to be regular players at AFL level. If they do get fit enough to be regular I will be happy and surprised. Not sure if other clubs rue missing out on them.

They said a key demon was out for the year leading into the sport report. When they said it was Jack I felt relief. Then guilt. I feel for him and hope this has been undiagnosed for a while and can help him run again.

I like Jake, but the thought of him running and kicking the ball back up to him is pretty funny.

I disagree, Spencer does heaps more. If there was leadership shown then Jake Spencer showed much of it, getting in and fighting for the ball and clearing pathways for midfielders. For a rover(excuse my last century terms) to see your ruckman get down and dirty, is very inspirational.

Mitch - Theon

"Look at how quickly many of our supporters have thrown in the towel. ." Right....

Its almost like we now have been conditioned to not care any more. I hear unthinking smarties say things like "oh melbourne supporters desert in droves" when in fact we have been strong and resilient for many many years. My whole life I have hung on. Only late 80's and early 90's were we strong. We werent really good enough in 2000 to be there but we got there. The way this club and the AFL goes about its business, it will be way too late for the large mass of supporters before anything really happens.

What about the depression I'm feeling?I feel worse when Mitch Clark grows a leg and is picked up cheap for next year by Fremantle. I have not one once of sympathy for the big goose. Not any more.

While I have some sympathy for those looking on, spare a thought for those players who just make it into the 22 that played. By just scraping into a team means you are looking for the stars down field that lift you to your own best game. Its soul destroying when at least 3 of the best 10 players that you train with, aren't leading the way.

There are many reasons why this is uncalled for, unfair and disgusting. But its really funny.

For 17 years a bunch of old hacks(we weren't then and some will say speak for yourself) and myself do circle work twice a week. The demon jumpers used to make up 20% of the colours "going around". We are an inner circle of demons. Most of us have lost kids to other clubs. Now Im getting emails from the most fervent supporters I know truly asking at what time do you give in. All I can say is that like a nick name you hate (Ive had a few) you cant change your label. Even if you follow the saints or North, everyone who knows you knows you will be a demon forever.

Roos says he has non-negotiables. Fact is the players can "Opt out" as they might believe some talls have.

We could knock off Carlton given Dawes Viney and Garland are back in 2 weeks. I think we are behind in players and con-testability, but if the planets align and they believe in themselves, it could happen. Im waiting till then.

At what stage does this thread go to a different forum or WJ BB and RR asked to confine themselves to PM? We've bigger fish to fry.

I have heard this as well

I would keep Trengove before Grimes. His only out is that he will be injured again soon. Then it will be "oh come on, he is injured because .... blah" I cant believe that you cop flack for declaring that he is not up to it.

There is also the fact that our eggs are generally in the one forward line basket. This makes our predicament a little more precarious than many other clubs whose injuries are scattered more widely. Made further exasperating by having such a promising Pre-season. Many people unfortunately were giving this start of the season "one last chance". There are quite a few posters that have either changed their name (really gives me the tom-[censored]!) or have moved on.

Pot. Kettle...

I find it interesting that you think there is no link between the two.

As I said in the other thread it is possible Roosy is playing Rope-a-Dope and all the pieces (well some) come out to fire round 4 Vs Carlton. If Viney, Hogan and Dawes are up and going by then I think we've got a good show. Yes I know long odds....(that that is a strategy)

It will all become clear to me if they are playing funny buggers when we see who is ready to play round 4. We stand a good show of beating the Blues.

I agree that the due diligence in the recruitment of Dawes may have lacked some vigor but most agree we had to do the best deal we could. I note that many more post season operations and pre-season setbacks happened at Carlton, but their coach told everybody (it seems) to be on the park round one. They were underdone and Daisy copped flack for a bad start. Still MM pointed the finger and said, "youre playing" to, it seems anyone who looked up. It was almost a perfect storm for us Demon Supporters who had watched a genesis in coaching, recruiting and outlook, this pre-season. You hope that like Pete Townsend said, we wont get fooled again. But I was. I feel robbed.

I did trust ASADA but as time goes on, I dont understand why they cant/dont announce anything. Its just the passage of time that is becoming suspicious to me. If I was Dank (and I dont want to assume his guilt) I think he has been smart in waiting for the notice to appear in court as LooseLou above has stated.