Doggo

IMO the most likely 22 for Round 1...

B: Garland, Martin, Warnock

HB: Bruce, Frawley, Grimes

C: Morton, McLean, Buckley

HF: Petterd, Miller, Davey

F: Wonaeamirri, Bate, Green

FOLL: Johnson, Moloney, McDonald

INT: Spencer, Rivers, Sylvia, Bartram

Emerg: Dunn Cheney Jetta

Cheney, from all reports, has been consistently good playing in every PS match so far, and has probably earnt his debut, though i feel he may be the unlucky 23rd player. Jetta's debut probably isnt far off either, especially should Davey and/or Wona be under injury-clouds.

Just for something different given our plethora of tall defenders, all of whom are in top form, AND for the sake of team balance, I wouldn't mind seeing Rivers rotating off the bench thru the forward line as a floating 3rd tall. I know he hasn't played there much or trained with the forward group in the pre-season but, given our non-existent forward line, Jared's natural talent and marking ability, and the fact that Warnock, Martin and Frawley all seem to be ahead of him in terms of fitness and form down back thus far, it might well be worth a crack. Many have suggested Garland up forward, especially considering his junior career as a FF, but i just can't see Bailey doing the old 'chop and change' to him now at this stage of his development, given the rich form he is in and how rapidly he is growing into an elite defender. Thoughts?

EDIT: I forgot Jones. Personally, i don't think i can find a spot for him (maybe in for Petterd), but i've no doubt he'll be in the side for round 1.

Dogs have 14 clearances this q to our 4

Hey twist, where are you getting the stats for this game from??

(Has anyone seen my Wheels clash jumper? it needs to be returned to the mantle!)

i think rollo may have it? benny definitiely left it behind. i was one of the last to leave with rollo and a couple of others. not sure who took it though, but we all knew it was yours. i'm sure u'll get it back!

watch the footage, looks like he kicks him in the balls, I wouldn't be suprised if he is sacked for it.

http://player.video.news.com.au/heraldsun/...KZrItj9T_fVA8oU

Just saw it on the news, and yes, he does. First he knocks Cloke out with a big left, then kicks him in the balls... f*ckin funniest thing i've seen in a while. I'd be lying if i said i didn't burst out into the biggest laughing fit i've had for months... Ohhh, that's entertainment!

Surely 17 and 28 could be allocated to Strauss and Blease? Both were high enough draft picks to be allocated lower numbers...

Also, it's my understanding Blease and Strauss both wore 28 and 17 respectively at the National Champs for Vic Metro. Makes sense they play in those numbers next year, given both numbers are vacant...

PJ is overrated in my opinion. People get caught up with his physical attributes, but he has yet to dominate a game as either a ruckman or a key forward.

And Jamar has??????

hoping that cribbes responds to my emails, because we are desperately in need of a ruckman...

doggo, benno and madness have filled in (in past games) but these guys are better suited to other roles...

come in cribbes, robbo24 and any other past players or new players...

we need you...

I don't mind playing in the ruck again, i think i've done a decent job in the centre square in the past, but ideally it would be nice to have a strong (tall!) ruckman take the majority of the ruck and myself play a smaller support role. This match is gonna be a very tight and fierce contest (well, for forum games anyway) and we'll definitely need to win the midfield battle and be switched on all day. They'll be hungry to beat us after last time.

Cribbes is a very accomplished player and very tall ruckman, come in mate!!

Given what Hards and Ernie have said and what we already know, that makes...

1 Buckley

2 Jones

3 Bartram

4 Watts

5 McLean

6 Bate

7 Miller

8 Frawley

9

10 Morton

11 Johnson

12 Sylvia

13

14 Dunn

15 Petterd

16 Grimes

17

18 Green

19 Maric

20 Garland

21 Bell

22 Moloney

23 McDonald

24 Robertson

25 Cheney

26 Meesen

27 Rivers

28

29 Newton

30 McNamara

31 Wheatley

32 Bruce

33 Wonaeamirri

34 Martin

35

36 Davey

37 Warnock

38 Hughes

39 Jetta

40 Jamar

41 Bail

42

43 Bennell

44 Valenti

45 Whelan

46 Blease

47 Strauss

48 Jurrah

49 McKenzie

50 Healey

Zomer wore 35 and Spencer 42 in season 2008, so its fair to assume they'll continue in those numbers in 09.

FWIW i'd prefer Martin and Wona to keep their respective 33 and 39 in 09.

A word on how the rucks are going, especially in any kind of contesting situations, would be nice.

I would also like it to be known, that while the real russian (Jamar) can't kick, I am nothing like him in those stakes, so rest assurred laces out for everyone.

Looking forward to the service from your impeccable footskills...

You'll be moving like Jamar though!

here is the updated game thread :

sunday, february 8 at 2pm...

venue is gosch's paddock...

playing for "the duke" (the earl splading trophy)...TBC...

past record is dees 1, blues 0...

confirmed players...pringle, Doggo, funky41, Charlesy, Heater, Oxxx, Mclean4brownlow, scotty, Imtoohot, Wise, the_russian...

players TBC...Benno, becks, dazzledavey36, 45hotgod...

confirmed coaches...redleg, Whispering_Jack...

confirmed helpers...rollinson 65(from demonology)...

helpers TBC...legend...

injury list...rivvo(from demonology) - the knee (waiting on MRI to confirm the dreaded ACL)...

apologies...Cactus, Wolfmother, Toot182, george_on_the_outer, tarzan16...

starting positions to be decided by the coaches on the day...

please post on this thread to complete our numbers for february 8, and new players let us know what position(s) you would prefer to play...

Lee (the russian)!!!! [censored] Yes!!!

Lookin' forward to wearing the red and blue with ya and smashing some bluescum.

Feb 8th, lock it in!

Feb 1st and Feb 8th both suit me fine rollo.

RE metal studs. In my days as a rugby player and AFL umpire I have come across both metal and plastic studs alot. In my experience, rugby players frown on plastic stops, which is very interesting considering you are more likely to be stepped on or rucked in rugby than in footy.

I actually think the plastic stops are more likely to cause injury as they tend to 'burr' when players run along concrete etc getting sharp edges which slice other players if they step or slide across them. With metal stops, the stops stay blunt at all times, i have never seen metal stops get sharp, as they are rounded off and smoothed.

I also cant understand why people would think that you would get worse bruises from metal stops than plastic stops. If someone steps on you with either you will get bruises.

FWIW I wore moulded sole touch footy boots on Sunday not my metal stopped rugby boots, mostly because I didn't want to scare anyone with my stops!

I've never worn metal stud boots before as i've never played rugby, and the rules in every aussie-rules league i've ever played in have always prohibited the wearing of metal stud boots. That would probably be why people would get the impression that metal studs may cause more damage.

But point taken though, i have recieved more than my fair share of cuts and bruises from 'burred' plastic studs in the past.

Thirdly, it's been brought to my attention since the game that one of our ruckmen might have caused some injury to your ruckman through clashing with him in ruck contests with his sharp stops. These sorts of things were not condoned by the coaching panel and hopefully, next time will be brought to our attention and that of the umpire during the game so they can be dealt with appropriately.

We all do our best in these games to highlight sportsmanship and the enjoyment of the game and you have our assurance that this will continue to be our objective every time we meet on the field.

HarveysDeciple,

I believe i may be the ruckman in question here regarding the sharp stops. However, I've just had a look at my boots and can assure u they are definitely no sharper than any other set of regular long stopped boots. No metal studs here, just plastic, and not torn up or sharp edged.

Sorry to the Saint's rucks for causing any injury, but i'd just like to put my hand up and clear my name of any wrongdoing.

In re: to demonsam... Shame, shame, shame.

Sorted. Thanks mate

Great article rollo, looks like a lot of time an effort went into that. Thanks heaps, very in depth analysis and player by player summaries. Nice!

Edit: Also then, thanks to WJ for a superb write-up! "Mr Fixit"... i like it

Doggo, check Nugget's thread (the next in the list) mate

Hey 45... exhausted all options mentioned in that thread, and still no success.

Trying to upload a new avatar pic from the recent win over Saintsational and keep getting error messages.

Seen here...

Anyone help get this thing loaded up?

Many thanks in advance,

Chris

I've just uploaded pics and vids from yesterdays game to the Demonland facebook site.

There's some ripper action shots in there mate... especially like the one where i look like i'm about to launch into a 55m bomb (my new facebook profile picture)... pretty sure i shanked it though! lol

EDIT: Just been on the saintsational forum, and it seems they've accused one of our ruckmen (of which i was one) of wearing metal studs... If any of you Saints blokes are reading this, i can assure you that the stops on my boots were indeed plastic. I know it was a friendly-forum match, but it's still footy... Harden the f*** up! Corkies and stud marks are just part'n'parcel of playing in the ruck... don't think i haven't got a few myself either! My right quad is literally blue and purple!!!

I know we've said we'll be giving Watts #4, but i'd really love to see him running around in Neita's #9 for sentimentality's sake. One champion full-forward passes the baton onto our next one... romantic story wouldn't u say?

Btw, i don't mind rotating thru the ruck/forward pocket again like last match, but let me know if i'll be rucking before match-day so i can come prepared and bring a shin-guard this time... Had what felt like a bit of the Jeff White 'gangrenous shins' after the last game...

I'm definitely in!

whos the tall islander lookin bloke?

I'm guessing that would be me. With the socks up. (OnLy bloke in the team with socks up i think)

Saturday, Sunday... i don't mind. Honestly, i have no preference between the two.

Dec 7th would be an alright date.

Just tell me when and where and i'll be there!

Third quarter

I may have got the wrong quarter, but Doggo provided a real highlight with a great speccie. He judged the mark so well, and hung in the air for so long. It was a genuine screamer.

You're too kind Rollo. It was alright, but no 'genuine speccie'. Pity i couldn't slot the goal (from 20m out, slight angle...)

One of my 4 or 5 behinds for the day haha...