dees_rule_4eva

I've just used the Bailey ladder predictor on the AFL website, and had our results as: Rich - win Bulldogs - win BYE Port - win Hawks - Lose Geelong - Lose Carlton - Lose West Coast - Win Richmond - Win Gold Coast - Win Port - Win On that, and based on other results, I have us finishing 6th in a home final against West Coast. If we lose to Port at AAMI as we always do in Round 24, then we finish 8th and face Sydney up there. Either way, I think we can make the 8 if we win the games that we are supposed to. As is the nature of footy however, I expect that we'll probably lose games we're meant to win, and possibly snatch a game that we're meant to lose.

I agree Bate's gone. He is clearly not in our best 22, and would gain greater opportunities elsewhere. For me, he is too slow and his skills just aren't up to AFL level. With young Lucas Cook being groomed for another KP up forward, and Howe already in the team, there is just no room for him. Ricky P signed a new contract last year, he isnt going anywhere. Paying the price for a disgraceful effort against Carlton, but he'll learn his lesson and be back in the team soon enough. Best 22. Warnock, I wouldnt mind keeping for insurance, but he must only play when we are cruelled by injury. His decision making at AFL level just isn't up to scratch. Morton I cant make up my mind. I despise the sort of outside footy he plays, but the signs are there in the last few weeks that he is starting to make progress in that area. A wait and see for me.

Out: newton, Morton, bennell, petterd In: scully, trengove, Dunn, gawn Newton is a joke. Enough said. Morton is embarrassing. I have a brain tumor and I would be harder at it. Bennell just doesn't do enough, and his defensive effort on garlett in the last quarter was awful. Ricky petterd needs to be made an example of. His lack of pressure was pathetic . On very thin ice: Bate, jetta, warnock, macdonald, even jurrah

Thanks Robbie. That was the most garbage backline performance in sometime. On jones, he sneaked a vote from me because of his willingness to just keep going. He never drops his head and it is a lesson that our lazy forwards should learn from.

That's [censored]. Green was one of the few who kept running tonight. He never dropped his head and kept competing. I thought he led from the front tonight. He was far far better than 20 other blokes in red and blue. 6 - Sylvia, by a mile. If we had 5 more of him, we'd be premiers . 5 - Green, for reason above. 4 - Watts. Tried to create some plays and used it well. 3 - Rivers. Spoiled and used it well. 2 - Martin. Held his own in the ruck and created space. Liked his second efforts too. Gave been impressed with him in the absence of jamar. 1 - Jones. Just because he runs himself into the ground. The following players should be embarrassed: Newton, petterd, jurrah, Morton, macdonald and warnock. The latter two, I have never seen such horrible decision making and disposal. As for the other 4, their lack of effort and pressure was nothing short of a disgrace.

I second that.

While wholesale changes won't change the [censored] gameplan, there are some players who do not deserve a spot. Unfortunately, I think Tappy might go for his bump. I don't think he should, but knowing how the AFL absolutely loath anything behind the ball happening, he might get a week. If not, keep him in and Jetta can stay in the two's. OUT: Morton, Dunn, Wona, Tapscott (susp.) IN: Petterd, Jetta, Maric, Bate

I hope that's a bad attempt at a joke. He is the softest player I have ever seen on a football field. He literally runs like a scared rabbit at the prospect of body contact. This is a guy who has been on the list for how long? I don't know exactly, but I'm thinking its been 5 years or so. There are first year players who go harder than him. Delist him immediately. Offers nothing to the team but cheap sideways kicks around half back. For those people saying that Watts doesn't deserve any votes, he was the ONLY player in the first quarter who actually looked like he wanted the ball. The ONLY player. The rest were abysmal. Sure he faded a little as the game went on, but he continued to work hard, tackle and present. More than can be said for 18 other blokes out there. In retrospect, Bartram probably should have gotten a vote from me. If only he could kick, he'd be a really damaging half back.

If it was based solely on tonight's game, you would drop 18 players. So realistically: IN: Petterd, Maric OUT: Morton, Woneamirri Morton is a soft player. I have never been so frustrated by a player. Wona is a touch stiff, but he played in the midfield for alot of tonights game and got smashed. I can't think of anyone else I would drop though, even accounting for how bad they were.

God some people just won't give Jack a go. In a team of inept individuals, Watts was one of four I would say actually had a crack. If one player should come under scrutiny, it's Cale Morton. Pathetic. 6 - Col Garland 5 - Jack Watts 4 - Mark Jamar 3 - Rohan Bail 2 - Nathan Jones 1 - Jack Trengove -100 to Morton. He gives me a headache.

Haha that had to make you laugh though! In Stef's defence, he's been one of three players to actually be respectable. Watts, Bail & Martin the only three.

Inept, usless, pathetic effort. If Bailey can't get this team to start games, he may as well go. Disgraceful effort in that quarter, we are now no chance of winning. I am sick of this club going interstate and getting walloped every time. Disgusts me. I will say one positive thing though .... Watts is the only player who can hold his head high. Good on ya Jack.

Ah right. My living in London for the past year has greatly affected my knowledge! Can't wait to get back home in 2 weeks and see some footy.

Ah thats a shame. I still think we'll beat the Eagles.

We're not playing at Subiaco, I think the game is at Patersons Stadium isn't it? I have no clue how that differs in size from Subi. Dunn is definitely on thin ice at the moment. Doesn't do enough, so yeah I'd drop him and bring in Petterd or Maric. Completely agree re Watts. At least he showed a good attitude during the last quarter though. Couple of cracking marks. I'm confident it won't be long until we see him really influence a game. To sum up: IN: Petterd / Maric OUT: Dunn

Good post. Agree with all of that. It was a solid enough win with a disappointing lapse in the third quarter. Had we not hit the post so many times, the margin would have been far greater. I was pleased enough. Thought Moloney was super all day - will be leading the Brownlow at the moment. Sylvia's second half was brilliant and I liked Nathan Jones' game. His kicking has improved out of sight. I was disappointed to see Watts as the sub. Give the kid a break. Credit to him for coming in the last quarter and doing some nice things (that horrific left kick aside). I hope he plays at Casey during the bye and gets some real momentum for the WCE game. We now have a really good chance to cement a spot in the top 8. West Coast, while playing well at the moment, are a very beatable side as are Adelaide at the G. Win those two and we will set ourselves up nicely.

Finally we can begin the proper stuff. We've spent months analysing pre-season form, which players are going to break out of the shackles and produce the type of season we have hoped for. Well, on Sunday we can forget about all that and concentrate on the performances that matter - those in the regulation season. Sydney are a much tougher proposition than alot of posters are giving them credit for. Sure we belted them last year to the tune of 12 goals, however lets be honest. That was a golden day. Luck was with us, both in terms of umpiring and in terms of the bounce of the ball. I'm not denying the fact that we played a sensational game, but everything went right. We can't expect that to happen again, because it won't. We have some key personnel that will be sitting in the stands this week. James Frawley is the biggest loss. His presence in the team not only strengthens our defence, but lifts the confidence of every defensive player. Can the likes of Garland, Rivers, Macdonald or even Stef Martin curb the influence of the Sydney forwards? My heart says yes, but Sydney have got a talented forward group. Goodes is the standout, but Jesse White, Ryan O'Keefe, Lewis Jetta and co. are a good group of players. Another loss that hurts us is Jordie McKenzie. I know that Scully is out, which is a loss, but I think Jordie's pressure and tackling around the stoppages is going to be sorely missed. To win the stoppages and give our forwards the best possible chance, we need Moloney, Sylvia, Jones and Trengove to pick up the slack. Can they do it? The one area in which I think we have it over the Swans is our forward line. Long suggested as being our weakness, it is now looking potent once more. Liam Jurrah looks on the verge of something special (more than usual!), and Jack Watts is starting to mature. If those two can continue to spend time playing together, they will form a formidable partnership. Throw in Ricky Petterd as a medium forward, Lynden Dunn to create a contest and the likes of Maric, Jetta and Bennell snapping at their heels. That's not even mentioning our skipper Brad Green, who proved last year what a dangerous forward he is. This combination I think will be too much for the Swans defence, and should get us a winning score. The key matchup of the game for me is Adam Goodes. His preseason has been excellent, and he could hold the key to this game. The naming of Dunn as ruck rover suggests that he may be the matchup. He has had limited success as a tagger, however he could have the tank and the muscle to annoy Goodes. He certainly doesn't have the speed to match him, but hopefully Goodes doesn't get too much of an opportunity to use that speed. My prediction? I think if the Dees can win the stoppages and give our forwards good delivery, we'll win. Our forward line should have too much firepower for the Swans defence, so much rests of the shoulders of Jamar, Moloney, Jones, Trengove and Sylvia to get that ball inside 50. If we lose the stoppages and allow Goodes to dictate the game, we could be in trouble. Am also looking forward to the debut of Luke Tapscott, who has an excellent opportunity to cement a spot in the side. Melbourne by 14 points.

Consdering the injuries we have, its not a bad team. Not sure I would have Joel Mac in the side, but with Frawley out I suppose we need him. Final bench for me: Int: Petterd, Trengove, Jetta Sub: Martin Emerg: Strauss, Warnock, Spencer No Bate is a strong message to him. Pull your finger out Matty, on your last chance.

Apologies guys, I missed my first 14 picks - I live in London so completely had the times out of whack. Am on it now! My team so far: B: R. Shaw S. Fisher B. Johnson HB: B. Guerra H. O'Brien ....... C: T. Boak L. Montagna J. Lewis HF: P. Chapman J. Watts A. Didak F: S. Milne L. Hansen A. Monfries RR: M. Kreuzer D. Cassisi M. Barlow INT: D. Hale S. Edwards H. Ballantyne .......

Haha!!

Ok, so we've gone from 14 points up at half time ... to now 38 points down half way through last quarter. So in a half of football we're being beaten by 52 points by a side missing their three best players. I don't care what time of year it is, that's inexcusable.

Jurrah goal - finally something to smile about.

Great topic. While I agree that Bate is under the pump, I am fairly sure he is contracted to the end of 2012 and therefore will not be delisted. Of the players who are coming out of contract, I think Stef Martin is the one who needs to lift most. After a promising start to his career as a KPD, he has certainly gone backwards ever since he was taken out of defence. Has had an excellent pre-season by all accounts, and I like him as a back up ruckman to Jamar. With the new substitute rule, I think he'll get a fair few games this year and he needs to take every opportunity he gets and make an impact on some games. If he doesn't, I think this will be his last year. Of the others, no doubt this year is make or break for Maric. Has been on the list for what, 4 years now? He needs to cement a spot in the 21 and contribute week in week out. Promising start to the year for him - can he keep it up? I don't think Wona will be cut this year. The circumstances around his personal life have made his pre-season nigh impossible to get right, and as such, I think he'll have a quiet year. I think the Club will give him another year to prove himself yet.

Have just joined Demonland Mk 2. Sounds like a great idea ... when is the draft for this league?? I'll need to make sure I'm there, as am currently living in the UK ! Edit: never mind, just saw it in the leagues page.

Having recently re-located to London, I've just bought the International Membership with a GF Guarantee. Cost me $200 AUD, but well worth it to keep my consecutive years of membership at the Club !! Come on Dees in 2011!!