Ron Burgundy

Not to forget what he has clearly achieved with Pedersen, Dunn and, to an extent, Frawley (as a genuine forward option).

I'll back Paul Roos and the match committee on this. In the meantime, keep flogging the anti Watts line - it's not as though it's been done to death. Please enlighten me though - given that you think Watts should be dropped, please explain to me each of Watts' roles on the weekend and where and why he failed in each role? Cop a tip - simply saying he lacked intensity is convenient, but ultimately not especially illuminating.

Outside of the boundary line perhaps?

I have been a big supporter of Watts. Last night I was calling for his head. His performance was bordering on bizarre. It was as though someone spiked his Gatorade with marijuana just prior to the warm up.

Nope - worst trade ever. Actually, no it isn't - Franklin to the Swans for $10m over 9 seasons wins that one. And nothing will ever beat it.

Have you actually watched any Demons games over the past few years? Do you understand where this club is coming from? The answer is Ground Zero. Our midfield last year was considered the weakest fielded by any club in VFL/AFL history. It was deplorable. We've come a mile under Roos. A country mile.

I suggest you watch each of those games again. And then watch every single game that we played last year. And, cop a tip, I understand that we didn't actually win either of those games given that the scoreboard at the end of the game tends to reflect the winner and the loser. We deserved to win the Saints game and didn't. We didn't deserve to win the Suns game and didn't. I maintain however that we should have won each of these games. On any construction, that's an improvement from last year.

We genuinely should've won the games against the Saints and the Suns. West Coast was an unmitigated disaster. Carlton was a bloody great win, and not one I had pencilled in prior to the start of the season. GWS - like the few weeks prior, hard to win sans a forward line, especially away from home. GWS are no mugs, at Metricon at least. Could've won it - ultimately didn't deserve to. 1 from 5. Not great. That it should be 3 from 5 is bloody brilliant though, especially given that we've not really had a forward line for most of that time. So yep - I'm judging it favourably. And that I'm annoyed that it's not 3, possibly 4, from 5 serves to demonstrate just how far we've come under Roos. I love Paul Roos. Like Gonzo, I'm just sweating on some crucial signatures before the end of the year: Roos, Jackson, Frawley, Dunn and a couple of not yet known big names from other clubs. Edit - iPad typo

I rate Watts. He has class. What I don't rate is some of the relentless and inane criticism of him from certain of the keyboard warriors here.

Totally agree. I am genuinely sick to death of the mindless Watts bashing by certain posters here. It's boring. And it's not clever. I expect every other club in the competition would gladly have him on their list.

I was perhaps being overly simplistic. There are obviously a whole range of statistics that are telling, eg, inside 50s, goals kicked, final scoreboard, etc. Structurally we look sound at the moment. Something we've not really had for a very long time. That being the case, I think we can, and should, win this game - but, to my mind, that will be determined by our ability to maintain a disciplined intensity for the whole game. And, in my observation, tackling pressure seems to reflect this more than most other statistics. Hence my perhaps overly simplistic statement - we win the tackle count, we win the game. In short, I want to see ferocious intensity for the entire game today.

My point was about intensity at the contest. For the entire game. It beggars belief to think any team can win a game if they get smashed in the contested possession and clearances count.

We win the tackle count. We win the game.

Absolutely agree.

Midfield contests will obviously be the key to the game, but, if we keep up the tackling pressure/intensity for entire game like we did against Carltank, I reckon we'll win this game.

With the recent bad news about Mitch and Trenners, surely a couple of players now need to be elevated into the Leadership Group. That said, I'd like to see three: Dawes, Vince and Cross. These three deserve to be, and should actually be, in it. Views?

Hope Simon Goodwin is also in the mix.

It disappoints me that he's no longer in the leadership group, given that he's clearly one of the leaders at the club.

Nailed it Ron.

I've a very good feeling about today. I've not had that for either of the past two games, but structurally we look much better going into this one. Reckon we might sneak a win here.

Top post Goodvibes - nice sentiments. Geez we need a lucky break though - I'm starting to believe that this club is cursed. It's been ridiculous. As an aside, Shawshank Redemption is one of the all time genuinely great movies. In fact, I might watch it yet again right now.

Was speaking to Kevin Sheedy a month ago or so. He said the most important guy in the club these days is the recruitment bloke. Said Carlton have been ridiculous poor in this respect, and us not really any better. To be contrasted with the Swans and Hawthorn, whom he said were simply superb in this respect. Also said we will deeply regret not selecting Josh Kelly. They've since signed him up for two more years. It's all good news following this club.

I was just really looking forward to seeing him return. This is a tragedy. I feel like a broken hearted kid. Get well Mitch.

I agree WW. That Paul Roos seemingly also does adds credibility to the view that you've expressed above.

He was Roos' BOG only a week ago.