Dappa Dan

Yeah. I hope we're willing to match it is all. I'm really only stirring up. If it's 100k here or there out of a 6 year deal, you'd think he'd go where he can win. It blows my mind that he could sign a 6 year deal with the demons, play in finals a whole lot (fingers crossed), even win a flag at some point potentially... and then he STARTS his best years as a KP forward. Look at Hooker.

I think it might have been round 1, after three quarters he realised he had to get on his bike. Since then Roosy's been starting him in the guts every game. I love that. This whole idea that he got his pants pulled down for 7 out of his first 8 quarters, and then adapted. That's pretty great. Speaking of adaptation, I think it might have been Thompson on 360, or Bux on classified, who was saying the other day that adaptation is of huge importance in footy these days cos the game changes so quickly. I think it had to do with the idea that Robbo was saying that Essendon are re-signing all their suspended players because they believe they have a great team right now and want to play finals. The panelist's point was that they might have what they think is a great list now, but what about in a year. Or two years. Will it fit current day footy? Because in 12 months time it might be a horrible list. Freo had a great list 12 months ago, now look at it. I've watched the Toiges game a few times now (it's just football porn really), and the more I watch the more I love Jesse's game. He was having a bad day, so he changed tactic, and ended up making it a better day than most. We all know he'll kick 6,7,8 a few times this year and be riding high, but it's when he's down, and his worst footy is still of that quality. That's when I know we have a baller.

Money.

How could we possibly be anything else.

Does anyone else look at the conversion rate and worry? how long can we keep up that 66%+ accuracy? Amazing stuff really. Jeffy, Kent... and Watts who pretty soon will be regarded as one of the top handful of shots on goal in the league. Something most of us have known a long time.

I reckon he's still smart, running to good spots, spotting up guys with that deft touch with kicks 20-40 metres. But when I see him contest I'm always stunned to see him break even given how small he is. I mean... he'd be among the least AFL looking on the list. So while I'm most of the time pleasantly surprised, I do tend to wonder what it would be like if he was built like Viney. And I wonder if he can possibly get there?

If we were a little bit better overall, we'd be 5-0 and alone on top. I realise it's easy to say that, as we got out of jail against giants, but still... I don't think we'll make finals, but does anyone else here get sulky and pissy when the "road to the finals" articles start getting written in the last 6 weeks and we're nowhere near the 8? I don't even care that much about making finals. I came in with very little in the way of expectations this year. But I'll love watching us being finals potential for absolutely as long as I can. Even if it's only mathematical. I will say that our so-called "tough" draw is looking more gentle now, given the form lines of teams. However, our last 4 weeks will be really, really tough.

One for the NFL fans from over in the "other sports" thread... Did anyone notice a sneaky little Jake Bugg "dab", Cam Newton style, just before he sang the song in the rooms?! Love this kids cockiness. We have one of the league's most hated now!

I'm composing my 2000 words now. lol

Boys boys boys... I wonder if anyone managed to catch the team song on the weekend... Just as they were getting in a circle to sing, Bugg at far screen right wanders over to someone on the outer... and what does he do? He dabs!!! We have our Cam Newton/NFL fan in the team. Awesome cockiness.

Weird. I used to be in the top 5 posters, then took a break for about 5 years, only recently started checking 'land again to see some excitement as I saw the demons finally returning to relevance this year. I didn't get on to make a post about leaving.

Yeah he does, but nowhere near the straight line pace and bullocking that Wentz does.

Ha. Bugg was massively noticed. Bigfooty right up in his Grill. Love your Dunn respect. Demonlanders should take note.

That's what worries me. I'm only 36, and in my time there was the 1987 excitement, the late nineties leading up to grand final in 2000. Then about 6 years of bubbling along never really doing anything that led to the shoving off of old heads like White, Bruce, Yze and others for draft picks that crippled us for nearly 10 years. That's about it. I was too young to remember the late 80s, so someone would have to correct me on whether or not that's similar to now. The late 90s though, I felt like was probably more legitimately exciting than this crop have gotten YET. Looking back we had Neitz, Farmer and pre-injury Schwartz, who most believe was going to be our best player of the last 30 years. Even this current crop of forwards can't boast those three names. Though Hogan would sit comfortably in that group, he's on his own. Where I am genuinely excited, and probably more excited than I've ever been is the midfield. I asked a similar aged mate who's the best midfielder we've had in our adult lives, and he said Viney. Todd Viney. He had to go back that far to remember one. There's been a handful of good players, but never really anyone that scared opposition fans and supporters. We've had 3 great ruckmen in a row, but no genuine star mids. If you look at the names in there now, I really think you could end up with 4 or so that will be in the top 5 of my adult life. Petracca apparently could be anything. Viney might be our Lenny Hayes. Braysh is a jet. I love Tyson despite everyone's belly-aching. Oliver is instand blue chip inside mid... I've watched on for years now as grand finalists come and go, and not one, ever, didn't boast a top 4 midfield. And now we have one. Or at least one that threatens to become that. I'm wondering what demonlanders think. I know the lids off, yeah yeah... but I was excited about this list before the season started. Looked at it overall and couldn't believe it had snuck up on me like it had.

Jeez. Trengove isn't Sam Mitchell. No-one's Sam Mitchell. In fact you have to be SM to get away with being THAT slow. You can't just say Mitchell is good, therefore Trengove will be good. The league is littered with stories of players who were super smart and talented, good ball users, who because of pace weren't able to swing up and down the ground to get to enough contests to play both ways. He could play deep in defense or deep in attack, and be a presence. Noone here, not even the negative nancies, actively DON'T want Trengove in the side. But be realistic. He's up against it. Nothing would make me happier than seeing him transform into a handballing clearance machine playing between the arcs. And if there was a list of names that had the "smarts" to play that role, Trengove would be near the top of it on our list. But we're a slow side already, screaming out for pace. Trengove could get 20-25 good touches in the forward line... doesn't mean much against the WC and Saints of this world who cash you the other way. Engine or no engine. You can't hide a slow guy in the AFL. I hope I'm wrong. He wouldn't need to pick up much more pace to be of use. And no... 30 touches in a VFL game doesn't mean he's quick. Doesn't mean squat actually.

It's over. It's finally over. We may fall back, we may go back into the hell... we may not even make finals this year... but for now... we have proven we're not as bad as we were. We can finally be proud and turn up hoping for a win every week.

Pretty much exactly what I was trying to say. Some players hit the pitch and you just know they have the courage and willingness to compete. I think of Max and Viney. Their first few possessions, I knew they'd take time, but would get there. I see Harmes as a fairly flashy player. Little bit of Robbo in him. But the second and third efforts and consistency haven't materialised yet. As you say though, when they do, he could be a seriously important footballer. And not just at MFC, I mean AFL wide. We need a Chapman style player one day. A guy who doesn't get the press but on his day can be just as scary as the blue-chip guys like Brayshaw and Tracca. I think of VDB and Harmes, they're not Chapman level. But with Harmes, I just can't pin him down. I think we'll see him kick 6 goals in a game more than once. I think my point was that I don't think we have 13. I'm taking a very harsh view of it though. I remember watching guys like Wheatley, Whelan, Ward, Rigoni, Moloney... All respected and all best 22 for a number of years. Probably all were headhunted at various times by other clubs looking for their stronger attributes, like Wheatley's kick or Ward's pace. But they didn't really scare anyone (Whelan possible exception). They were quality AFL footballers, 150 gamers. But they weren't elite. I see a number of guys on the list as being that. And that's FINE. A team can't be 22 elite guys. Not even Hawks are that. The term elite... it's a bit ambiguous, cos we're talking potential (someone like Weideman, or Tracca) and we're talking about exhibited form, like someone like Brayshaw or Oliver who within a game or two, everyone knew would be elite. Just a matter of time. At the end of the day, I resist as much as possible the masturbatory aspect of being a demons supporter. If we say VDB is elite, and OMac is elite, then more power to you. This is our forum. Public opinion be damned. What I think is really impressive though, is a player who is feared by the other 17 clubs' supporters. That gets my attention. OMac and VDB need a few more seasons of JPod style, come out of nowhere and dominate, style footy to actually get me interested. I should also say I counted only the under 80 gamers above. I absolutely count Jones and Vince as elite. I reckon Garlett would have a serious case. But I struggle to slot their names in because in 3 years (when the bulk of these "potential" stars have cracked 80 games) they'll presumably be declining somewhat. Interesting. I'll be holding my position on OMac til I see some food on my plate. It should be said that I didn't quite get the TMac thing until late in the piece. I remember seeing him play on after intercept marks very early on, and I remember him racking up 10 possession quarters, having read that his engine is massive. But I thought his deficiencies would cut him down in the end. I was wrong on him. I also didn't see the Wagner hype until last weekend where it was in full display. So as always, happy to be proven wrong.

Ha. I was thinking Ryan more than Brady. But I'll give you that. Get excited about him! I dunno if Roethlisberger ever moved like Wentz, he's just tall and heavy. And there's no way he has Benny's poise. I think most people just see the size and make the comparison. As I said above, I think this is one they got right. I'd take Goff first just based on the vision. But it's a close thing. I would agree. They're gunshy given their last 20 recruited QBs. They want the next Luck or bust. Having said that, not even the Browns could screw up that raft of picks. Yup. As one article I read suggested, what you want as a QB is to go to a team that's working well enough to be mid table... Just to know you have protection and a squad that can teach you. Ideally you want a team winning 7 or 8 picking first, as opposed to a team that's terrible and will burn you out, a la RG3.

Interesting your thoughts on Wentz vs Goff, Gorgoroth... From what I see Wentz has the bigger arm, but not the prettier arm. Goff's release is quicker and I think he's probably more accurate and poised. Wentz is a bigger lad.... seems to have the size and crash and bash to rush for tough TDs... he's no Superman Newton... but is respectable. Having watched the tape, it's hard to decide. I'm not sure, TBH, that either will be picked at the valuable spot. I wanted Eagles to get Elliot, even though he's just a RB. Or even better move up and select Tunsil, as they need OL help. Would have been more comfortable picking a QB at 8... but of course... they'd have been gone by then. I'm happy with either. It's a chance for the coaching departments of both clubs to earn their stripes. Interestingly, Howie Roseman (Eagles GM) has said that the Eagles looked at their history and saw that in ten years they picked inside the ten once, and there weren't QBs that year. They also looked at the next 2 years, and saw no developing QBs they liked. They mentioned Pederson is a QBs coach and while they have a good QB coaching staff, they wanted to stick with their strengths.

lol at mentions on OMac being elite after 80 games. Just cos he's related to TMac doesn't mean he'll be there. DOn't get me wrong, I'm fond of the kid, but there's nothing in his footy so far to suggest he'll be elite after 80. For mine it's the obvious ones, Hogan, Salem, Petracca, Brayshaw, Gawn, Oliver, Weideman... I see 7/8 so far. Viney is the 8th, is probably already there now, will be captain, and I think will confuse people, because nothing about him is elite. Not size, pace or disposal. The elite thing is his production. I don't see him getting worse as a player than what we've seen this year, until he declines in his old age. We'll see 8 years now of footy basically like this, or close to it more often than not. Sam Mitchell style. That's Elite to me. Jetta - Probably just off elite. Opposition clubs will respect him, but he doesn't scare anyone. Harmes - All I can say about him is ???. Sometimes he looks VFL. Sometimes he looks like Stevie J in red and blue. The times he vanishes are starting to evaporate, and he's now looking dangerous more and more often. Could potentially get to elite, but I feel like only in late twenties, and only for a few years. Kennedy - I don't agree with everyone on him. Don't get me wrong, love his work, will be awesome. But we're seeing his ceiling now. He's tiny and zippy, but rather more outside than the Oliver/Viney/Jones types... I think of him as a poor man's Prestia. He will excel more than anyone (outside of Watts) in the hard-ball winning demons. Zippy outside players will want to come to demons over the next 3-5 years, you watch. We will make them All Australians. VDB - Not elite. Very good. Not elite. I reckon he'll settle more as a leading forward who pressures, like Mayne. So his kicking will end up restricting him from the elite conversation. Love him, and will represent well for 150 games at least. Trengove - Who the hell knows. If he gets any sort of pace back, there's no reason he can't be. Has basically no faults in his game aside from the pace problem. I'm hoping he can become our Simon Black, in which case, Elite certainly... But I prefer to have no expectation with him. In all honesty I think as Vince and Jones age, they'll be hoping he can step in. Tyson - Disposal the only thing holding him back from Elite. Right on the cusp, but not there yet. He's on 54 games and is only 22. Will he improve? I'm thinking we're seeing near to his best already, and it's pretty damn good. But a top 40 player in the league? I'm thinking no. Still hugely important though. TMac - I couldn't decide on him. He's only 23 and is key position. Has already played his 80+ games. I think in the end of his career he'll be so wily, as he is already, and his disposal won't improve, but his decision making will. I would say that no, he won't be elite... but KP defenders rarely get the press. He'll be in the top handful of his position his whole career, but will never take the Rance/Gibson/Hurley? mantle. Gee it's fun being able to read about the list with high hopes again. I said it at the end of the year, this will be one of the most fondly remembered seasons of my life. When we all had zero expectations, but still won our fair share.

Holy crap Gorgoroth!!!! My boys and your boys have been walking hand in hand for a few seasons haven't we. Foles/Bradford trade, that I hated.... and now Rams move up to pick 1 to take Goff, and many are saying the Eagles got that info from them in order to make the trade with Browns to go get Wentz at pick 2! It's all happening in NFC East!

He's gonna be our Lenny Hayes/Sam Mitchell... people will say he won't get noticed when somehow he'll bob up and get votes a lot. Only thing really hurting him is the fact that Gawn will steal them. In coaches votes for the weekend, he got the 5 from both, and is now in 4th spot with Jack Ziebell. Says a lot.

Yes. Was a star. I remember a year or two after we drafted him saying that there were two guys on the list I trusted. One was him and one was Frawley. The reason we kept him around so long, and the reason the Tiges wanted him at a low price, was because he has basically every attribute you need. Brayshaw's brain, Robbo's hands, Viney's execution in the packs, Salem's kick... He was ready made and could play anywhere. Mid, forward, back.... Then one day all of a sudden, he's five metres ahead of some lumbering ruckman chasing the pill, and within a short distance, said ruckman is five metres AHEAD of him with both going at full tilt. He was slow. He was so painfully slow that all the footy nous and class couldn't make up for that deficiency. Yes he's been injured... but the main hope... the ONLY hope really, is that he can regain his pace, or at least some of it. He really was a jet. Even at 70 or 80% we'd have a solid player. If he rediscovered his pace, then we'd have a serious player on our hands, that would comfortably sit alongside Viney, Oliver and friends...

What a win. Philly are fired up!

Devastated...