JACKATTACK

It took some time, but he just looked so slick breaking through tackles and delivering well. Amazing what a bit of size and confidence does. This is a real benefit of rebuilding I think, you give young players a chance to hold down important roles at the highest level, filter out the bad ones and you're left with a player like Spud. Fantastic work, our backline coach (wellman?) deserves some credit for this.

I watched that and felt for him, you just know he wanted to say "Talk about me, I kicked 5!". The only chance Newton has is to perfect the "gorilla" role, bulk up and hope that Jack and Butcher kick it to you. Otherwise I can't see a role for him.

My problem with Morton (again a brilliant player for his age) is that he isn't damaging with his kicking, and he will never be while he continues to look for the cheap kick sideways. Whether it is a confidence thing or a hard tag thing whatever I just havn't seen him take positive steps so far this season. His output is still commendable I just dont have him in the highlights for the season. I would almost have Meeson in the highlights ahead of him, though that it is a highlight of relative expectations.

I agree with all that you're saying, except that I think you under sell him a bit by saying he was "...OK once!!" he was favourite for the brownlow and he was our best player last year, which means nothing of course when you talk about his current position in the side, which I am not. All I am saying is that he is far too good to drop now, and while I agree that his position on the list should be scrutinized considering his age I still think he has some way to fall before removing him completely.

Agree on all, though I would probably have Stef in for Morton. For a second year player you have to pretty happy with Morton, but so far he is down on last year's performace. Stef Martin on the other hand, he just never gets beaten, his disposal isn't damaging but he rarely stuffs it up. As it happens he was our only player yesterday to register 100% effective, albeit on only 10 possessions. Good thread though.

Being discussed yes, bashed by you. Much rather his than Bartram's or half our other midfielders. I used my eyes as well, I think he is one of our best players, incidentaly the club seemed to think that last year as well. Yes his disposal has been dissapointing so far this year, but then who on our list has the engine and the skill to replace him. Ultimately he is one of our best and as such deserves a spot for this year and next. I understand the argument to say that he takes the spot of someone younger and his current value to the team at the moment does not validate such a high cost, but at this point I don't think we're there nor will we be until 2011.

Bruce has never had a good kick, but he remains one of our best players. Definately will be around next year and should be. The year after that is 50/50 and will depend on his ability to stay fit and his performace next year.

Definately meant it. You can see, he looks to the top of the square for an option (team player), sees that there is no-one free and decides to have a crack himself. Brilliant.

With Stef and Spud I think we can do anything.

It's definately Ma-Rick. He went to school with a relative of mine.

Yes , then I agree with you, at the very least we should debut him on our home game. If that means he is a week early or a week late then so be it. Of course I would expect the club not to say as much.

Absolutely, the over hyper value of early picks this year and the relative number of early picks we already have makes this a tactic worth considering, particularly if there is a decent player around who is looking to move clubs.

I think there would be more money to be made by increasing the size of the dons game ( assuming it is a home game). Neutral supporters are more likely to want to see a game vs dons than west coast. Anyway after jack kicks 10 in round 13 & 14 every man and his dog will want to come and see him play in round 14. Are they deliberately holding him back so he can debut in an easier game? I know I isn't that simple but for him to come out and say that is a bit strange. Probably a good idea in some ways but I think I would rather him just say that he is hoping to be pushing for selection in X weeks.

More arse than class?... I don't think so, what Jack Watts does he means to do, particularly when it is kicking a freakish goal. Good game to watch, also loved the look of Danny Hughes (though I only watched the second half).

A tough run for a while, if we can pull a win out of one of these, Collingwood would be my preference. Not all that impossible especially with Kif 'dogging' contests.

I do not understand the mentality behind the timeslot, please can someone make me understand it? Is it designed for TV audiences? Radio? Is there some benefit to the 'game' that I am missing? The AFL should at least provide an explanation, and not one that blames Melbourne fans (although yes it was a poor effort by many demon fans yesterday), they are at least partly responsible for such a farce.

I reckon we'd be well over 30,000 at this point. The number says 29,706 but they won't tick it over to 30,000 until after the weekend. Fingers crossed they jump it up to 31,000 when they actually do announce it.

I don't know if he just slouches a bit, but I thought Miller looked quite small. Fairly lean, could he use a bit more muscle?

Admitting a bit much here YM?

Don't worry about the doggies, they will be a powerhouse in 20 years after the development in the west goes ahead. I was out there yesterday having a look at the estates. The mind boggles at the number of people that will live out there in the not too distant future. Second generation migrant families are a massive future market for footy, Demons and the Dogs are in the box seat for a good slice of those.

Pavlich is a fantastic player no doubt, but I can't remember another forward performing alonside him. This concerns me and while it is a tough call to say that it is his fault I wouldn't be making a trade for him citing a "mentor" role as the main reason. By comparison someon like Brown or Neitz or even Buddy/Roughead (not sure which way this goes) actually make the team around them play better. And you are kidding yourself about Juice, he might some day in the future be a player who deserves a spot on the list, but he is not "Chock-full" of talent or heart. If Pavlich did somehow find his way into a demon jumper it would probably be Newton's. If we had picks 1 & 3 I would probably do a straight swap for pick 3, but only just and I doubt Freo would buy it anyway. Probably end up on $1M a year at VISY.

Yes a curious problem indeed, how many players do we need to make room for? Assuming we get a priority pick, and that we want to have a PS pick, at least 5 I would say. Also consider we might want to promote a rookie maybe? 1,2,18,34, PS1... are definates (5) 50 + rookie listed player are maybes. (+2)

There is only one Aaron Davey. He created a position on the ground "defensive small forward", then outgrew it and is working on creating another one.

Bailey is building from the right places, first get the backline right, the midfield has the big inside bodies, and now we've drafted the skill. I like it.

"Give it to Flash here, he'll sort the rest out." I like this feature, a regular one perhaps?