Damo

Like everyone else, I know nothing about it. But the thunder is roaring and I expect rain. I just think there is something yet to be revealed. When that happens(if it does) I will still think its unfair to MFC, but fairness is not the issue. The one thing I would bet on, is that what is so far revealed is just overture.

Fair cop. But if it werent the postings of Maurie, Fan and yourself i wouldnt be reading. The slings and arrows of nuffies, pensioners and outraged harridans against Fan in particular are more revealing than any "evidence". I have no comment on something that hasnt happened other than to say that Im waiting for the other shoe to drop. I believe The AFL wouldnt have created a show without having a big reveal in the 3rd act. I think that reveal wont happen until Caro is back in her chair. I expect a confession or a written proof of collusion. Are we guilty? Of course. Are others? Yep. Will we get pinged? Yes.

After only 48 posts in the topic.

B-H monitors conspiracy theories

If you work in a middle management role in an unhealthy workplace and the regulators of that workplace formally explain that their wish is to create a strong and sustainable workplace and in doing so, would like to ask you a few questions and hope you will be frank with them... For all the posturing about tactics and strategy, it is actually very hard to lie for most self respecting people. Especially those who work in leading young sports men. If you do decide to lie, you would need to be coached probably, which in itself should be a total anathema to your personal standards. Think about it.

The adjective "Balanced' is being used as an affirmation of being a "Gemini" and also as a description of Andrew Bolt. It would give me something to think about if I wasnt working.

Ive got 28 coming on Xmas day(most are bringing Lamb, turkey etc), just had a newly single mum lob till Boxing day (with Needs, binge and complaints), Now have to book a horrendously expensive return fight to sydney New Years eve for a funeral(met her once). Let me say Wayne Wussel those pictures lighten the load. Merry Christmas everyone. Go Dees

We now have many more players that are accountable and the coaching staff are trying to put in place systems to stop us from being thrashed and to make us harder to play against. We know this. We have new youngsters that are unproven but plenty of experienced players offloaded or swapped for low picks (except Dawes) to stop the collective dropping of heads. We don't have new guns ready to rock in 2013. Those that support Neeld do him no favors by giving high game pass marks. My determination of success next year will take opposition into consideration as well as not being thrashed. That's the biggie for me. We aren't the only team expecting to improve. I expect to improve to 12 wins in 2014. Being competitive in the last quarter is what I'm looking for in 2013. 7 wins.

I'm not sure who introduced the concept a week or so ago of Floors and Ceilings. It may have been in discussion of Pick 4. Anyway we now have more players who don't have very high possible ceilings I.e. Morton and Gysberts, but come in with a higher floor I.e. Rodan and Pederson. Good ordinary footballers. This indicates to me that while Neeld is making sure there are no more 186's he can't guarantee we will improve as rapidly as North, GCS and GWS. Taking this as an indication, I think 7 wins including at least one Victorian scalp is a pass mark for me. I'm not happy with it, but push comes to shove, I will take hard fought losses and fewer wins for the next year at least rather than the Blue-sky mining we were living with.

I would hope that Watts would be on the list if not "now" then at least by the end of the year.

I have searched for 30 minutes and cant find anything to support my (mis)understanding of the injury to be hampering him for a year. Quite Happy to be wrong. If he can do a pretty full pre-season we should improve. In my mind he and Jones are now our most important players.

My understanding of Mitch Clark's foot injury is that it is a 12 month recuperation. If he is just doing slow laps now, I cant see him playing unrestricted by his foot before the middle of the year. He is the worst injured of our team ATM. If he comes back as good as he was before it broke, fantastic; and if that wasnt until round 15 I would still be happy. I see Mitch Clark as the first pick in the forward line. Surrounding him with other teams... castoffs i.e. Pederson and Dawes. This could actually be great for all concerned as Dawes and Pederson may flower under Clark. But Clark is easily a level better. Its possible that North and the Pies might say "Gee should we have given up these payers that cant make our 1sts?" I doubt it. If it is left to those second stringers without Clark straightening them up, to hold the ball in and assist goals, I cant see it happening for four quarters. Without attending training I actually prefer Dunne to Pederson in the forward line, if Dunne is fit enough to play out/concentrate the whole game. I stand by my assertion I have made lots of worse posts than this one.

I dont believe we will win many more games in the coming season. While part of me is sick of false hope at this time of the year, another reason is disappointment we didnt land a rumoured Big Fish midfielder. Im really happy for us in the coming years with Viney Toumpas and Hogan, but That is Then, This is Now. I dont believe our own Mitch Clark will be 100% this year at all. At all. We may very well win 8 games (I dont think we will) but if you look at our draw that may not mean we have improved much. To show real improvment we would need to beat at least 3 Victorian sides.

Until we dont have to include non-performers like Davey, Tappy and Garland in our Best 22, we wont be climbing the ladder very far. Garland and Tapscott have very few runs on the board in my opinion.

The petition is gathering steam. Please consider signing the petition above and/or pass it on to your mates and any other forums you think might be interested. Since the other day when it was hoped to get to 100 signees, it is now 739. Im sure plenty are from Demonland.

If you feel strongly about ABC canning the show, and a friend of mine does, so he has created a petition asking the ABC to reconsider. Sign the petition. Sign it or ignore it or pass it on, or you can contact your ABC http://www.abc.net.a.../contactabc.htm and let them know what you think. Even if you don't like footy, this transcends football, it's about good television programming, giving an important section of our community the opportunity to showcase their talents.

Sophie's choice, but I would prefer to lose pick 3 and Hogan goes into next years draft. We get pick 4 which would now be 3. We get back pick 13.

Nope. His dad was told by Prendergast that he would be taken with the pick that was used for Blease, his teammate. Rory was his captain. Strauss and Bennell were then chosen before him. New house, new dogs, the darl has moved over. He is happy. his folks arent particularly but accept it. He was looking forward to the Demons at the time. Says he is a one club man.

According to a workmate who was with James Sellar on the weekend, he is happy and staying at the Dees. Just saying.

The Tom-toms seem to have quietened. My take is that the AFL have told the clubs on the QT what picks they will get for all FA, and they have agreed to keep it quiet for now. I reckon Cam Pederson and Farren Ray are already ours either for compensation or for trades that are linked to compensation. So they need to not release info. Dont know, just reckon. But if players were told Im sure some twit would tweet.

Right now im just happy that Dawes selected MFC as the place he would prefer to go. If we pay with pick 20 I think its about right but believe there is more we have to give Collingwood. I dont even mind if we go with Gumby. Whatever, last week when Dawes said he wanted to go to MFC was a boost.

I must be getting old. I cant remember seeing any apologies coming when good old Hugh said we were a bunch of give ups, and he would be clearing his locker if we didnt pick Jack Watts as Number one.

We must use picks 4 and 20 to build on our young emerging dynasty - The Jack Pack - Viney, Trengove, Watts, Grimes, Fitzpatrick and their young future star mates etc. For decades the Demons have always been short of superstars. Triple premiership teams have them in spades. Geelong - Ablett, Bartel, Scarlett, Hawkins, Kelly - all 1st round quality (many father son) (It's our turn with Viney!) The Lions had the fab four and more. Nigel Lappin was pick 2. Justin Leppitsch 4. Voss, Aker, special deals from memory. Black 2nd round ( it's not an exact science, this drafting. ) The Hawks have got at least 5 superstars. They got Hodge at 2. Roughead and Franklin at 3 and 5. Jordan Lewis at 7. Rioli at 11. Chris Judd went at 3. Matthew Pavlich at 4. Nick Dal Santo and Bob Murphy at 13. Dawes and Wellingham are fringe players in a strong Collingwood team - they can look ok topping up a premiership team, but bring them to Casey and they will be exposed as the average players they are. Dawes looked ok with Travis Cloke and Leigh Brown alongside, to take the oppositions bigger bodied defenders and leave him with the 3rd defender sometimes. He never kicks more than 3 goals on a good day, plenty of times zero. He was in the magoos a few weeks ago. He's a magpie reject. He and Wellingham together are definitely not worth a first round pick. A 3rd round perhaps, a 2nd round if you're crazy, but our 2nd round is going to a future STAR with great pedigree! Welcome Jack Viney! Hope you have a few new quality young guns alongside you starting pre-season, to share the weight of expectation, to build a bond with and to build a strong, star-studded premiership team with!

When I consider i would have to learn to play golf good enough to possibly win when I gave it a good go or that I might have to enjoy lawnmowing, I realise Im stamped for life. I would lose interest if i didnt support a club and i cant change. I pay membership, MCC and give up on Sportspages, footy tipping and any proof I know about football in conversations where Im asked who I barrack for. I invariably answer that I support Melbourne and accept that many people think they are smarter because they barrack for a team they dont pay for but has won premierships. Some times I get road rage about it and other times I just scare the dog. I think Malthouse going to Carlton would be easier than me trying to appreciate a different jumper.