Nasher

Maybe the broken toe is affecting TJ's ability to run, or kick, but it shouldn't affect his attitude or desire to be there. The main issue with him at the moment, is that he looks disinterested. Don't think that's a symptom of having a broken toe (and I should know, having broken my toes about 3 times )

Brad Green played with a foot injury the whole of last year, and while his kicking was affected by it, his hunger for the ball wasn't. That's why he's in the leadership group.

I don't quite understand how you can "look" disinterested. Can you please explain what you mean by that?

I dont believe this is edward

Neither do I.

It's a good point John and thanks for sharing.

Interesting case in point is Luke Ball, coming back on after suffering a severe head injury during the game against us. Head injuries are one injury that you just shouldn't screw with. A friend of mine who was a trainer at grassroots level said this happened all the time; the coach would bring blokes back on half an hour after they were knocked out cold. They might seem okay (and a player is ALWAYS going to say they're okay), but jeez.

If there's that much pressure at the low levels I hate to think what it'd be like at the top.

Personally, I agree that if a player is on the field then he's fair game and I expect him to perform. Clubs need to get better at recognising when a player is NOT right to play though, and not place so much pressure on players to play if they're seriously injured. It isn't fair on the player, or the team if they're really struggling to get near the footy.

Win, lose or draw on Sunday, the so-called coach is not coaching for the future. No flair, no imagination, no faith in his kids. And no future at this club. And they want more people as members. People (other than we morons who sign on year after year) join in anticipation of the excitement and flair. Why is it that we forever sit near the bottom of the membership ladder? The last time we introduced a whole lot of kids at once was 2000, the only really great year the rev's had. And he didn't learn from it.

The future? Weren't we all saying at the start of the year that this year was our year? By playing "the kids", you're conceding that your year is stuffed so you then start using it to improve your future players. If it was round 15 and we were languishing near the bottom I'd agree with you, but after round 2? Get a grip. We've played like crap so far but our season isn't over yet.

Neale's still thinking short term and so he should. He's under a lot of fire so far this season and so he should be with the way the team has played, however I don't think "he's not thinking of the future!!" is a fair criticism to be leveled at him. Yet.

If he's sore then he should be rested. We're stuffed with or without him this week anyway. The last thing we need is another midfielder out for a whole season because their injuries aren't managed.

just another affable display by the likeable coach

Ask one of the players if they think he's likable.

No Sylvia? I'm completely dumbfounded. I'm lost for words, I can't understand why he wouldn't be selected after last week's showing at Sandy and the massive number of holes in the side. Hmph. I hope Petterd plays.

Yze, yep, I'm sure he's learned from his one game for Sandy.

So let's get this straight, the ins are:

Bizzell, Yze, P.Johnson, Ferguson, Petterd

I feel sick.

Thinking about footy at the moment makes me feel sick. I haven't dreaded watching the Dees play like this since 2003.

Good one. Pick on a stuff-up by a 12 year old kid who's just upset and emotional about his team playing like crud (like all of us are).

Pissweak journalism if you ask me.

The real reason? Ever thought we were just too good on the day?

He's Yze Magic, you need to learn this. There's no such thing as "the other side is too good" for him.

There is no possible way an outsider can tell if the midfield (or any other specialist) coach is doing a good job or not.

He'll have to come out of the current leadership group. If the club (including players and coaches) thought anyone outside the leadership group were captain material they'd be IN the leadership group.

Anyway, I choose Green out the limited choices we have.

Alright, fair enough, YM has a habit of looking at the glass overflowing when it's half full and bone dry when it's half empty

I think that sums YM up perfectly! This thread certainly made my day though.

Agree brfe. You can't attribute people dislocating, breaking and otherwise damaging bones to the new fitness coach. If it was soft tissue injuries then yes, he would probably have a case to answer.

And of the three whose damage is muscle related, one only has soreness because he is overweight and unfit.

Best? Really? Wow. What about Wrecker? Do you consider Bell a mid-height and Whelan a small?

I'd call Bell a mid and Whelan a small. Whelan is 180cm and I'd call him our only true "small" defender.

Totally agree DD. He's our best medium defender by leagues. He needs to stay put.

So, you aren't allowed to knock Neitz, who runs Demonland? Neitzs mum, no bloody wonder Melbourne are crap at the moment its because of blinkered people looking through rose coloured glasses at many of our players.

Criticize who you like, it's a free country. Just do it in a tasteful and respectful manner, within the rules of the site and there won't be an issue. It's not that hard.

If people disagree with your opinion, though, they'll tell you about it. That's what happens when you put "out there" opinions out there.

Interesting ins. Paul Johnson was pathetic on Saturday. He dropped uncontested marks and did not get one hit out. Pickett was so unfit he played less than half a game and in the words of Mark Williams, who left him off the entire 2nd half " he was stuffed".

Then again they should be obvious ins the way we are going.

Not one single hit out, except for the 28 hit outs he got (according to Hoju on Demonology, who counts the stats himself I believe). Some people just see what they want to see I think. Those sitters in the last quarters were howlers, yes, but prior to that PJ was easily the dominant ruckman for the game, both in hitouts and around the ground. Don't let a couple of (admittedly very bad) mistakes lend bias to your view.

As to the ins and outs:

Ins: Sylvia

Outs: Who cares

We already did the bottoming out thing, it's why we've got McLean and Sylvia. I don't want to go through that again. I just want to see the team we've got not play like crap. I don't think that's a huge ask.

Godfrey had a very good game today. I'd even go as far to say AFL standard. He was the only one in the midfield, bar none. Reminds me of 2003.

Why does everyone feel the need to keep saying "you used to be soft but..." ? Sheesh. Talk about slipping cyanide in with his free beer.

Congrats Brad on your 150th.

Good point Nasher. However, while you're right in saying that we have our fair share of adults here and that they add a well reasoned touch to the discussion, we've always encouraged young people to contribute and some of them are more articulate and clever about the game and their team some of the oldies. By the way, Scoop Junior was, in fact, a teenager when he started writing articles for Demonland!

Just as my final word on this topic, I didn't mean to paint all teenagers with one brush. I was a teenager (18 or 19) when I started posting on 'land and 'ology myself.

Good point Nasher. However, while you're right in saying that we have our fair share of adults here and that they add a well reasoned touch to the discussion, we've always encouraged young people to contribute and some of them are more articulate and clever about the game and their team some of the oldies. By the way, Scoop Junior was, in fact, a teenager when he started writing articles for Demonland!

Of course. I started posting on Demonland myself in 2003. That would've made me 19 at the time; a teenager as well.

What do you think Lynden would look like without a jaw?

I too get very upset by the "they're all over-excitable teenagers" generalisation as our best contributors (Whispering_Jack, Scoop Junior, Jaded, Rhino Richards, Dappa Dan and many others) are all adults who put their opinions forward in a sensible, rational, well-written manner. And I get very irked when certain posters sink the boots in at every opportunity they get.

Anyway, I think DD that you've just inadvertently contributed to the "us and them" mentality (edit: so have I) that you said yourself you don't like, so let's leave the Demonology discussion at that.