Dappa Dan

Seems crazy... What about Pies?

Seriously though... I've been off demonland for a little bit... Is this just usual wishful thinking or can Hogan really play this weekend?

Surprised to see oliver not in people's 22. Was widely regarded as a bench 22 midfielder mid year by impartials. And hasn't dropped off. Hibberd and Jetta will duke it out for one spot in the 22... both won't get in though.

I thought footy forums didn't do this anymore? Offering our NQRs for other teams' stars. Lever's worth a couple of first rounders. They'll negotiate assuming we're a top 4 side next year and the year after, which means we'll have almost second round picks to deal with in the near future. I can't believe people are even discussing trading Salem. Wow.

Tmac needs an honourable mention here. Burns opponents off often.

Good to see more demonlanders still view AVB as best 22. I certainly do. And that's saying something. It's going to be a tough 22 to get into. We know year to year because of form and injuries, as well as trades and list structure in off seasons, a best 22 never looks the same. I can see many of our mid-range players dropping off... and it only needs to be an ANB, Hannah type for AVB to find his place again. He brings a lot to the table.

And even if you put all that aside... And just focus on game day and what it means going forward... you still have to work hard to be glum... How many sides in the comp would love to have 22 that showed the effort we did today. There's only a few that wouldn't be envious of how hard we go at it based off this weekend. We're talking Swans, GWS, Cats... The rest see guys like Jetta, Jordie, Hibberd, Pedo... they're not supposed to be stars... and especially Braysh who was flat out inspirational... and they drool at the effort level they bring. I wish you could just have a special button next to the "like" button that is something along the lines of "you don't get to have everything your way all the time. This is football." Yes the team will have lapses. Some mistakes will be made. Drawing season-ending conclusions because Jordie flubbed a handball is just daft. The squad played better for more of the game than the opposition. The Saints are a decent team and have enough talent to threaten us and we smashed them. Sometimes it really can be that simple.

It is. It's unbelievable the sooking on the gameday thread. And in general.

What's all this about Hogan back. That's not for real is it?

Thats what I was thinking lol. Apparently since QB Watts is finished and Salem is on the table with Hogan. Demonland at its best.

No mate. You didn't just say give Brayshaw some time. That's what you're saying NOW. You see the difference? OK now we're talking... "Apart" from concussion issues... the issues that he's past enough now to be playing and getting 30+ touches at VFL level. If he comes back round 1 next year, or this week... I don't imagine he's going to do any better at the VFL. You can't really. And yes, his AFL form wasn't too good. Like I say though, neither was JKH, neither was Hannan. Both came in and had an impact (JKH less so). So... getting back to my original point... Brayshaw, this week... would be a left field selection. I'm not too sure about that. I heard different too, that he was coming off the back line a bit and he cleaned up. I'm not absolutely convinced we don't need help in the midfield. Against the Giants we were smashed by pace. Saints have that as a strength. Tracca is quick off the mark but his top speed aint too high. I wouldn't mind seeing him play a whole game forward again like he did earlier in the season. Hunt's been up the ground too. Send him back full time so he can find more of the ball again. I think we can squeeze him in. A lot depends on what they do with Maynard as well. I feel like he's earned a second week, but boy we've got a lot of in and unders playing as in and unders.

Oh for God's sake. Come on rjay, yo're better then this. Are you really going to come on here and tell someone what the thrust of their own post was about? Have we really gotten to that stage? I'll spell it out again. I DIDN'T say every selection has been a success. I DIDN'T say playing players too early has been either a positive or a negative. Said nothing about the early playing of players, in fact. There again you've misunderstood completely. The selection of Hannan has everything to do with Goody's habit of picking guys out of the blue, that noone on here saw coming. I never claimed Brayshaw being selected was the same or even comparable. You did that all by yourself. Jeez this place is depressing when the experienced posters misuse the quote button. It's not intended as a facility to ignore a poster's thoughts and transmit your own. You can do that without quoting. If you're gonna insist on involving me, then the first thing you have to do is read. THEN respond. Is that good and simple for you? I'm COMPARING Goodwin's strategy of selecting unexpected players... and when he's done THAT (NOT when he's selected unfit players, as you've suggested), I've shown above that it's worked well. Certainly better than conventional "demonland" selection would have you believe. Sure. You don't want Brayshaw in. Great. Sensational. I don't care. I do want Brayshaw in, as I think it's good for the club and most importantly gets the kid into some pressure footy before the season is out, and takes some pressure off him in terms of his future. I'm NOT too worried about the 22 and making a drastic improvement to the side. I don't think we have too many more shots to fire in terms of selection. I'm also bemused by the fact that people think he's somehow more at risk playing in the AFL than he is in the VFL. The risk is comparable. If he's in form, and he is, then he should be considered. And if Goody's recent interviews are to be believed, he is being considered. Also factor in that if there's one thing we need it's outside run and decision making. In his first season his footy IQ was great. We could use a bit of that.

You've missed the thrust of my post. You can't claim Hogan and Gawn were surprise selections. One's our best KP forward, and one's the reigning AA ruckman. (BTW, Hogan was building nicely before he got hurt again, and Max was almost best on against GWS... got 2 votes on MMM) My post suggested that Goody has picked guys who you don't see coming... Gawn and Hogan's medical situations were all over the press before they were brought back, and noone (except you) are suggesting they were mistakes. Viney came back in and had 10+ touches in his first quarter back and looked sensational as well. All 3 are best 22 every day of the week and if they can give you 4 quarters, you play them. Hannan in round 1 was one noone saw coming. Huge success. Hibberd played one game in the VFL and was put straight into 22 after that and has been amazing. JKH noone expected the first time. The second time he was brought in was unexpected too, but played well. Other ins were more forced than anything... Wagner, Smith, Trengove... These guys only got shots because our injury list was huge and we were in trouble and needing guys who knew our setup from defence. You can't say they were mistakes when the cupboard was bare. You play what you have. Add to the above, Melksham could have spent more time out of the side earlier in the year. Goody stuck with him and it's paid off. Maynard as well... unusual selection. Liked his game. I'll give you one unexpected selection that didn't work. Wiedeman. Anyway. It's all academic. You reckon Brayshaw has to be kept out. I hope Goody doesn't feel the same way. I'm just as much about getting games and confidence into kids as I am about making finals. Playing Pedo this weekend I was 50/50 on... I'm ok playing Weed even if he doesn't do too much. He's going to be hugely important. Same thing with Braysh. It's not like we're playing a rookie just to see what they've got. Both are massive assets for the club going forward. Goody's got his eye on the prize. And he's cleverer than us. Even just picking Braysh is a great thing for the club.

Hey welcome to the club JV. Now that you're a fan, do you see things the NFL does well that the AFL can institute? The gap between them and us is really what guys like Hutchy are at the forefront of.

Yeah. This will be my last season on it. It's pretty absurd. My whole fantasy league is over it. Speaking of fantasy league... Anyone?

You can't drop the whole team. Stop wriggling. Jack is front of the queue when it comes to names that need to be dropped.

That's an assumption, that people calling for him to be dropped have forgotten his best footy. I daresay his good football won't be forgotten by anyone who say QB. I know I won't forget it. He's a good player. I still want him dropped. Poor form, as regularly as it is for him, for 3 weeks straight... it's more important for the whole team that he finds form elsewhere.

If we're for real he goes out for Weed.

It sure does. Rational thinking suggests that Braysh should be held out as long as possible as he's only been back a short time... But Goody has brought in some really out-of-nowhere guys... Hannan early in the year, JKH the second time... And usually they work. If he gets picked, I'll be super pumped.

I saw plenty. Gawn is back. Jones needed a few quarters to get back into form. Has never had to come back into a side after injury before. Back at the G for last 3 weeks. Everyone relax. lol

Joel Smith say it aint so.

I take nothing positive or negative out of two games on park pitches. We'll be playing round 23 for finals. Been true all year. Come back then to see who we are.

If we got this inside 5 goals difference it'd be massive. Percentage as good as a win in 3 weeks.

Trac's workrate has been ok... but man he's not been in touch.

We need Blues to beat dons. Badly.