Dappa Dan

Touchy. Are we not allowed to talk about players who are under some threat? It's fine when it's someone you don't like, like PJ isn't it?

I don't know that that's true, that Sheedy's thuggery is obsolete. It worked for the Hawks and their "unsociable" football which is the same rose by another name. In the paper today they suggested that the reason they picked up form recently was precisely because they became thugs again, and have had suspensions more than any club this year. Yes, you're right, thuggery is certainly what Sheedy produced, and my post probably looked like I was advocating bashing players. What I mean to say is that flirting with that line is something I'd like to see us do. A cricketer could stop bowling no-balls by putting his delivery toe 6 inches back. It's not that much of a difference, right? Well talk to any fast bowler and they'll say they'll go as far as they possibly can, even risking getting called for a no-ball. I'd like to see that ultra-competitive attitude being brought to our physicality. Part of footy, one of the BEST parts is physicality to the man. As these boys get bigger there will be intimidating players, like Tapscott and hopefully Watts who can impose themselves physically on a fifty-fifty ball, risking high contact etc. I think Riewoldt would be a good example. He's known for his athleticism and engine. But by gee the guy knows how to work a pack. Get these boys to that point we'll be laughing.

Sylvia will get tagged by the whole Tigers list. And when he's off the ground they'll go to Davey. Which means Scully and Trengove will get the room they enjoyed earlier this year when the midfield was all healthy. Also... What if DB has decided PJ is to play the last 4 rounds regardless? Then who comes out? I hadn't considered that, and it's a distinct possibility.

I read in "Inside Footy" today in the ladder, that according to them we're still a chance to make finals, but not sure if it would be worth it, or words to that effect? What are people smoking? Just because Essendon limped in last year and went backwards this year doesn't mean it's a BAD thing to make finals. Our list couldn't look any less like the Dons' if it was made up of farm animals.

Two words. Jim Stynes.

Yeah. I'd be disappointed if Jones was dropped. He was one of our hardest workers when we were under the pump in the second half. And Morton is probably the wobbliest after Wonna, who in patches has excited. Would love to see Aussie keep playing,but that's probably selfishness on my part, because he's exciting when he gets near it.

I reckon emg will be: Wonna, PJ, Miller So INS = Trengove, Moloney OUTS = Wonna, PJ.

As per your signature, what's wrong with your Range Rover? Cliche boy...

Ever since I read that in 2000 the Bombers, one of the best sides of the modern era and one many argue was the best in a single season, had something like DOUBLE the amount of suspensions, or weeks suspended... I realised that a bit of controlled aggression can help your win-loss ratio. I would expect a team made up of teenagers (too young and wide-eyed to remonstrate), and senior consumate professionals the likes of McDonald, Green, Bruce... Would lead to a theme being set where discipline is paramount. But I dunno. A little aggression isn't a terrible thing, is it?

Wear mine every week. And not necessarily at the games. :D

You forgot Grimes. But yes.

It was around that time. Daniel from McKinnon. I mentioned Jordie, because the subject was going to be Melbourne. Finey is very excited about us, and was saying how we're going to be number 1. Pikey said "why?" Then went on to say that just because we have a lot of draft picks doesn't mean we'll be successful. That Carlton have stockpiled theirs. My call was to rebuff that, but by this stage they'd moved on to asking what KP forward MFC could look to snare. I mentioned that we had 3 CHFs playing in Watts, Dunn and Bate and that all were playing up the ground, and that we needed a FF more. Pikey went on to say that Watts is coming along slowly for a #1 pick, and that we need something between the ages of 18 and 21 for some of these kids. The last part I would have agreed with but by that stage they'd moved on, so I hung up. So the Miller part wasn't suggested by me, but yeah, they may have gone there. Pretty pissweak. I was looking forward to hearing what Finey had to say about the Dees. Pikey wriggled off the topic at every turn, unless it was reminiscing about his glory days watching ox kick 9, and himself kick 4 in a quarter.

I rang SEN tonight and reminded them about Jordie as Finey and Pikey talked about Melbourne. They said nothing in response.

Ox picked Cooney before anyone else. Could be right on it.

Astute footy heads elsewhere will know that Frawley is the main reason we're able to win games. WIthout him, the opposition would kick 2 more and we'd kick 2 less. That would mean we'd be on 3 more losses than we've had and we'd be looking at another wooden spoon. Not sure that'd get him over the line though. People ARE precious about this, and Frawley will have a minimum of 3 jumpers in his career. Maybe more.

That's the one. Jeez. We really weren't that good that day. Neitz completely smashed by Manton. Farmer didn't do much. A few passengers too.

Not sure what game it is. Hoping it's the final from 2000. Looks roughly the right period. Yep. 2000 Qualifying final. Great game, never seen it from go to whoa. Shame I'm the only human awake at this hour.

Love to see Tappy get a game at the dees. That's 2-3 weeks in the ones where he's been among the best. Even if it's only for 70% game time, and he gets it a couple of times. Would be a confidence builder. And if it was round 22 it'd be a home game at the G.

There's more than a few positives. It'll instill belief that these kids are working the right way, and set the tone for the remainder of their careers that if they pay attention, work for each other and listen to Dean they'll be rewarded. What's more, you can't put a price on finals experience. Even crappy elimination finals. Add to this the fact if we made it we'd be in 8th... and more than likely play Freo who would finish 5th. We pushed Freo to the brink at Subi, and if we could get Jack to kick that clutch goal (or Dunn, who's in career-best form) then we play the second week against, probably, the Saints... And you'd think that game would be at the G. That's a good chance at 2 finals, one of which is at the G for long suffering fans! Oh. And don't forget the last final we played in, and the last final Freo won was against us over there. How sweet it would be to stitch them up 4 years after they did us in a semi. And another thing. We bottomed out as badly as you could imagine, and would push Carlton as the worst side of the decade. To say our bottoming out period, in which we missed finals, only lasted 3 years would be an amazing turnaround, considering where this list was in 2007 and 2008.

GOAG... Bail is super. Love this kid. A great team is made up partly of it's big 5 or 6 players... they get all the press. But they're nothing without second tier guys. Bail is a little ripper. His use may not be extraordinary, but it's useful. And when the pressure is on, his kicking doesn't wilt. He's got pace, smarts, he goes is good and hard. He's making BP look VERY clever. One of my favourites. A player I feel justified getting behind. I reckon he could be our next Nathan Brown type.

At the start of the year I had hoped for 7-8 wins. Maybe to stay in the hunt until round 16. After the lions win in round 5, I had changed that to ten wins and staying in the hunt until round 19/20. This year has exceeded my expectations. How often do we get to say that about the dees?

Seriously? That's a big call. Nothing but love for the guy, but I'd love to see a forward line with Hurley and Watts. In fact with Bate, Dunn and Watts all playing up the ground we're in desperate need of a bustling player. This isn't a slight on Jordie. I just have a lot of time for Hurley as a footballer. Despite the colours he wears.

Watts' game came with the good and the bad. I've been hoping he could either kick a bag of four, OR rack up 25+ touches and play 4 quarters. He did the latter, but wet weather is not his friend. I was sitting with 2-dozen dees fans, and the room was making a LOT of noise whenever he went near it. And not a lot of it was good. Personally I'd LIKE to see Jordie get the nod. But Hurley will get it. And rightly so. If Watts got 30 touches playing HBF with 13 marks we'd be making a big deal about it too. What's of more concern to me is Jurrah. Will he be dropped? He was pantsed tonight. And 2 players have to make way for Moloney and Trengove. The other, I think, might be PJ as the Toigs don't have rucks.

I was wondering how long it would take for someone to notice this. Unfortunately for Jordie, every good week he's played someone else has played a blinder. This week he ticks all the boxes... including being part of a win. And somehow a bomber beats him to it. Always the bridesmaid.

Don't you start, Clever.