Damo

The bottom line is that our $ contribution to the AFL, whether it be from TV rights or merchandising, would be amongst the bottom 3 clubs in the competition.

This is an uncomfortable but valid point that by excluding, does not paint a fair and complete picture.

How many companies would retain a failed CEO in an interim role?

George Bush.

I am going to throw my support behind Paul Gardiner, I rate him highly. Of course I don't actually know him all that well and I can't say that he is or isn't to blame for our current misfortune. What I can say is that he represents us well in the media. He is the champion of the smaller clubs and the only president that doesn't mind getting his mug in the papers defending uor club atgainst the AFL and the larger clubs.

That is my un-informed opinion anyway. I like him and I hope stays.

Thats very good. I can actually hear your Homer Simpson voice. You should add a "doh" occasionally.

There is nothing wrong with Wheatleys speed or skills.

He is a great long and accurate kick.

He trains beautifully.

When he plays and the pressure is on, he plays within himself. He does not go.

If he is kicking out from full back he will wait and then kick 20 meters to someone in the back pocket. He may kick long from full back one in every three or four kicks.

he has a leap that is rarely seen.

I think he should be an elite player.

However, he has whatever you would call the OPPOSITE of White line fever.

I find him deeply disappointingly as he has been on the list for eight years.

If I had to pick someone to play for my life, I would rather have Simon Godfrey in my team.

Those that keep pumping up Wheats tyres are IMO believing what he is capable of (a fair bit)and not what he shows.

If Dean Bailey makes headway with him, he has won me.

You confuse "stories" gossip and innuendo with facts.

Me too.... and I am not Robinson Crusoe.

You are very astute to sort the wheat from the chaff Rhino!

Maybe we can sell this new grandstand i just saw.

Yes its that time of year to put off decisions.

Ive heard so far:

1)Lets wait for a practice game.

2) lets wait till we get some of our 22 back

3) Bailey is experimenting

4) Wait till the real thing starts

5) Wait until round 2 when they have played themselves in

6) lets wait until round 15 until we can see what we have got

I havent yet heard but I am waiting for:

We will be much better for Queens Birthday

We will be better after the break

Bailey hasnt got a settled Marketing/Membership division

Bailey was stuck with such and such assistant coaches

Bailey didnt have time to assess the national draft and get a better swap for TJ

The real reason we dropped the Demons from our name

Greg Denham on SEN with KB has just said he considers McNamee is "over the line" for the CEO Job

Chris Connolly may very well be our best pick up over summer.

You only have to look at Robbie's performances when he played for Victoria to realise in a good side he was one of the best... he didn't do it just once he was always in the best players every time he played for Victoria in very, very strong teams. Call me parochial, but as much as many North fans admire Schimma, Flower would give him a bath every day of the week and twice on Sundays. I know many non-dees who feel the same way. It's Mike's list so it's his call, but if you look up "The Encyclopedia of League Footballers" the first paragraph on Robert Flower says it all:

"Acknowledged as the best player in the VFL, pound for pound, over one and a half decades of consumate artistry."

I'd also prefer someone like Jack Dyer's assessment of Barassi compared to Whitten. Dyer regarded Barassi as the real Mr Football - Whitten was better at selling himself, RBD just cared about winning - something that Ted rarely achieved even in his time with the big V.

Dyer repeated that story often. He thought it was cruel that RDB was given second placing behind Ted who touted himself without any modesty. Dyer didnt come at Teddy and Lou's immense self appraisals.

Barass always had a modicum of modesty about his achievements. Or he tried to anyway.

Anyway I saw most of them play, but I was too young to assess Ron.

I saw Lethal at his best and I saw Ablett and Carey at their best.

I put Leigh Matthews (who as I pieboy at the MCG I saw often) and Gary Ablett as the best I witnessed.

I dont know who's on third base because these two were a fair way out in front.

It would be out of Williams and Carey I guess.

i dont rate the Doulls Walls and ayres who were luxutiating in flanks when they should have been CHB/CHF.

I cant split Flower and Daicos as favorites because their play was truely inspiring and they would be in my top ten.

Thanks for listening....

I'd prefer to put a positive spin on it. It confirms (to me at least) that we are heading in the right direction. The future looks bright under the new regime.

Yes. That is good spinning.

I didnt read into the article what you did. I think it says bunker down.

There is a Low pressure system on the way.

But the brightness you refer to may be a silver lining... I guess.

Yes I dont believe Hannabal should be allowed to be a Master demon. Lets Vote!

This thread is boring.

You are kidding, right ?

No. Although I do understand how some can view it as part of master plan.

I am genuinely feeling sorry for Dean Bailey.

The season hasnt started yet and he cant win a trick.

I wonder if he is giving direction to the leadership group?

Im glad that we now have a no-nonsense approach that has unfortunately made Brock a three time loser.

This is as hopeful as I can be...

Geelong

West Coast

StKilda

Fremantle

Port Adelaide

Hawthorn

Brisbane

Collingwood

Adelaide

Sydney

Carlton

Melbourne

Essendon

North Melbourne

Richmond

Bulldogs

Rodney Eade to be sacked by round 16.

Well I thought the fire had died out a bit too. It still seemed strange to read that the venerable H was being accused of being an apologist for the MFC. I was half expecting to read that we did well to select Chip Frawley soon.

But no, Mo. FWIW I agree with you, BUT youve walked into the King St Sportsbar and asked the wrong guy to pay for the pool table.... (went to school with Phonse, as he was called then, never saw it coming. Thought I knew him well too...)

"a ligament made of industrial-strength polyester fibres is used to replace the torn natural ligament"

That knee is going to sweat something fierce

It's great news if it works, but it's also good that someone else is being used as the lab rat for this procedure first, because a lot can go wrong with such a delicate body part.

Good luck to him though!

He isnt the first. Doug Hawkins tried it in the early 90's and it worked. He was very lucky as it only works occasionally. Mark Doran talked about it on SEN. They use Goretex. kevlar wears out!

if it works and it still apparently is a bit of a long shot, he will be back by june. Otherwise he goes back to a more traditional rejig.

Wheatley and Green do play for their career all the time.

Just like the Ooze plays for his.

They want to play 250+ games in their career.

So they manage themselves through games. They rarely give more than necessary. Green goes sometimes and it sticks out when he does.

None of them go like Neitz, Carroll, Jones or McLean.

They dont put their careers on the line. They put their bodies.

What do you think would be the motive given its would seem counterproductive for existing members/ supporters, no media coverage and little upside of attracting interstate supporters on the basis of one scratch practice game fielding rookies, possibles and few senior players?

Well that clears that up....

While I think Aaron is a very good player, we dont really need another in the same mold.

Let's be honest our recruiting over the last 10 years has been ordinary at best we have recruited too many similar type players and now we are paying the penalty. It's all well and good to say that everyone has missed on some players but we have missed out on a swag more than the other top clubs. I won't do the statistics but when you see clubs that have remained at the top and are still recruiting better than us you wonder what the hell is going on.

I am beginning to have doubts about the three that we picked up as bottom age players, Bate, Dunne and Newton, they have not set the World on fire with Bate seeming to be a bit slow Dunne in and out of the side and Newton imo a bit soft. We have the worst ruck set up in the comp apart from White who is ageing and no one capable of roving to him anyway. Whether we win or lose the tap we usually don't get the clearance. We have not picked up one star player in the last 10 years and the only player we have that even approaches Franchise status is David Neitz who is close to retiring.

So when we didn't get Alwyn Davey why do we seem surprised?

Spot on.Should be pinned up.

Get ready for a good old fashioned lynching Robbie.

Brown will not miss over that incident.

I think he will. He has got form and his eyes were not on the ball.

He tucked himself up to hit him under the armpit with his full body.

I thought Kruezer did well to get up. No wonder he missed his shot at goal.

Unfortunately Hawthorn's list is long and strong atm.

Just going on Point Kick outs, which in conjunction with kicking for goal, is the best method to work out who has best disposal;

I would say Yze then Davey then Neitz then Green.

If you look at our kicking out disasters Whelan and Wheatley were so bad, that often TJ had to amble from the centre to kick out.

I reckon if Wheatley kicked long to the wings, he would have been a much better option but most of his (bad) kicks come from going short to the pocket.

He is more accurate kicking longer distances than short in my opinion. he has a talent that is rarely used but highly rated by supporters.

Over on 'Ology they are saying he is OK and participated in this mornings swim.

I'm not concerned in the slightest - looking at the team we took up there.

Does anything concern you about our pre-season? Do you firmly believe things are going to plan?