beelzebub

this is something lost on many I feel.. We dont need to perfect the team tomorrow as there WILL be still opportunities to add to it. All other teams will be just as handicapped ( bar GC and GWS). We dont need to undergo major reconstructs as we have been, just fine tuning

Interesting though isnt it that we arent the club any longer that stuffs up !! ?? So far we have won big and small. we wont get every prize but our batting is none too shabby This speaks volumes to me as to how the club is travelling. Often its quoted that you need to get your off field affairs sorted before your onfield ones will follow suit. So far...so good

That I concur heartedly. But if we say ...move to the point where it had fallen down, beyond repair, restitution or mutual advance then , I suppose the only course left is to lance. I see your point though

next year ?? or over his career ? a) 22 B) 250

Arguably youre correct as there is no other Newton...but in context as you want it understood....what is it , or what does he do , that we cant replace exactly?

I disagree...they rid themselves of an infection.. holistically they will triumph from this. Disenchantment is a a canker. Left unresolved it festers. Seemingly on the surface many will feel teh Saints jipped. As to immediate recompense..an arguement can be definitely mounted. Longer term..an read there ...by the time next season starts. The Saints will be better and stronger for it

Our role as a club isnt to be a policeman with regards to the why's and wherefore's of players determinations. Thats for the AFL to administer. My old man was pretty wise.. his maxim was ..what Is...IS !! By looking at it in reverse then also what isnt...ISNT !! There ISNT any desire by LB to be a Demon. Why for us to bother..why for us to trip him up on his journey to another club ? is that what we do as a club ? Our primary focus is on ourselves, what we have, what we can get and how we make it all better and amalgamate it into a winning entity. Ball neednt be a part of it... in fact no singular player need be a part of it. If you need any ONE to make it work it will fall down and apart on you when it falters. You create the mechanism by which all participants contribute and thats a healthy club , with sound leadership and direction. The FD follows suit and the combatants ( aka players ) are picked and amassed for the abilities and skills that can be harmoniously brought together into a singular unit known as a team. It is true some players can lift others around them by their sheer presence and proximity. Luke Ball inst one of this ilk. he is good, not brilliant. He is far from indespensible. Will StKilda really be any worse off for todays loss ?? No. Is there any magical skill , unique to Luke that we ought to be chasing at all costs ? No . Perspective fellow Demonlanders, persective and context. Im fairly sure that this club will manage quite well with or without him. If he doesnt want to be a demon, why on earth drag him screaming and kicking. Please...no more about...because we can. I can smash a butterfly but am I better off for it. ? Synergy is the notion that the sum is greater than the parts. Thats what a champion AFL ( or any ) team is about. All parts working 100% for the same cause . It only truly works when all elements want it to. and in this light theres a fair deal of difference between someone putting in an equitable performance because they feel they have to and one delivering on belief. I have this idea that the MFC is creating a team that not only can do the job but believe it can, not for the club even, not for the supporters even but for themselves. You cant have passengers, whether it tourist or first class in such units. Under the present climate of events Luke Ball would be a passenger at best. We deserve better. The other team members deserve better.

all in all ..listening to Harrington , Predergast and co you just get the heartening feeling we are doing things different now !! Seems much more directed and hard-nosed. we might just have got our act together....bodes well I think whatever the decisions made...they'll be well weighted and deliberated.

Demons HQ (Twitter) latest from MFC twitter For the most part we've forgotten about this guy amongst all he hype of players coming or not comng aboard in upcoming weeks. Jack will put a full preseason into his training and be much the better player in 010 for it. In some respects weve got another handful of all but new guys to come back in. Im sure jack will be fitter, stonger and more focussed next season and able to play without so much of the limelight, that now to be directed at Scully and Trengove. He showed us he has talent, class and poise and with this he will become a bit more match smart as a benefit of his limited exposure this season. Looking forward to the Jack show in 2010

NO...just that Ball is short sighted and has no taste !!!!!

keep in mind that was his "CV" tape...hes probably come a long ways from then..Seems quite adept at picking things up. many many years ago.. 1983 to be precise.. I used to go have a kick in the park ( Regents, when I was bumming around London ) with an Irish guy I worked with.. now he couldnt bounce our ball to save his life... but he could mark and kick within a few weeks. Gee what a concept... an Irish guy playing Aussie Rules ... careful who or why you dismiss out of hand !!

who ever we really really want we get via the PSD..if a recycled. All else must now be from teh ND for us and we need to be clever about our picks 18, 34 and 50. It would now suggest Martin has his future cut out in the ruck, if only pinch hitting. Keep in mind there will be more coming on board next year...and a few more to go. The list isnt complete or 'quite right' yet...still a work in progress ( as it will always be ) just a hell of a lot closer to a very decent team than before

whoa...that workout is so out of context really to our game it can hardly give an indication as to he adeptness towards Aussie Rules.. it obviously got his foot in teh door at the Filth...he was able to keep extending his trial.. and hes got 2 years. Rubbish ?? Probably not

I think the surpises if any will occur from 11 onwards.. Trengove and Scully would have to be about as set in stone as humanly possible. There was many mentions of height. This might allude to potential KPP.. if we take MT in the PSd then there is much scope for 'surpries" at 11 18 34 and 50. Still Talia and Black would be ideal at 11 ...but possibly Butcher will still be there ( not my preference..but hey ) this would start to satisfy height as mentioned..So to does Mitch via PSd.. Sort of get the idea with the Meese delisted that a Vardy type is very much on the radar.. Going to quite fascinating . Seems BP and Co are much more cohesive a unit now. I think we will remember the drafts of 09 for a long long time dont really want to create another thread of already covered players..just trying to show how what was said could be accomodated

good to hear of the tailored approach !! Club has improved enormously

you do realise theres a whole country full of these guys !!

keep in mind the FD have some idea as to whos about to come on board. They obviously feel now Newton is expendable ( welcome to the camp FD !! ) and now have the vehicle to facilitate either his exit or sever kick up the rear ( and into action ) Meesen is possibly a tad unlucky as I would have put Bell in his place. Meesen was starting to show something before injured , not a lot...but an improvement. Would have been keen to see that continue. maybe it will via magoos...probably wont. Newton is on his 10th life

thankyou...thought that might be the case.. so any smokies will have to be in the ND ( most likely )

Just a quickie regarding rookies....as even im bloody confused on this a bit now. How are we fixed re rookie spots should we have to pick up Meesen and/or Newton as promised. Are there any more slots left for rookies ?

and yet the other release appearing in the Hun suggests he will nominate for the ND..and or possibly the PSD. StKildaS site speaks of both drafts.. Dont get excited people... he will go in the ND

maybe put them on either flank with total licence. The prospect would send shivers up other's !!

actually...how does it work if say Meesen gets picked up ? Would any subsequent contract simply make null and void ( by agreement ) the MFC one.. Do we have to pay the ( MFC ) contracted amount for the first year with pick up club topping up , if required ? or are we simply off the hook with new club to sort it out ( highly unlikely but offer it up for discussion )

The problem then is that we ourselves would have to fulfill these 'outrageous' terms etc. And he may not be worth it ( yet ). But..on the surface yes. As a practicality..NO. Much better ( though a little more risky ) to have him nominate for the ND.. Melbourne and Hawthorn know of him better than others apparently.. whilst the Lions and Roos are keeping a quiet eye. Now looking at these four teams' picks : Brisbane Lions 27 47 76 92 ( unlikely to use 27 or 47 on a raw smokie ) Hawthorn 39 46 57 58 69 70 73 88 ( more than likely to use 39 and 46 on better known draftees) Melbourne 1 2 11 18 34 50 66 82 98 North Melbourne 5 21 25 37 41 53 85 ( might bring 41 onwards into play depending on how keen ) Melbourne really have 34 and 50 to play with. 1, 2, 11 and 18 will all go the way of established thinkings.. and to some degree known entities. 34 and 50 can be variously speculative. We wont be able to get away with the sheer murde rof last years coup though

ahghh point taken...my bad !! good point actually

not quite.. ND picks remain unchanged.. we now have an opportunity to pick someone else with PSD1