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Doesn't matter anymore...let's all move on. This time next week there will be another story....and Viney will have had 22 touches on debut and a new Demon story will rise. Time for talking about footy, not all the other stuff - thank goodness we have a game this week.

Might well be a big risk....strike 1....strike 2.....oops Happy for Buddy to stay a Hawk as long as he can - really enjoying watching them come 2nd, 3rd etc after snatching one.

I might be going against the grain here on DL but I'm expecting Dunn to play all 22 games and cement himself as a genuine contributor in a team that becomes "hard to play against" for the first time in years and years. He is ready, has found his spot, can use pace and kicking skills to good effect and play a tough guy on the oppositions fourth or fifth best forward, even pinch hit as a tall. I expect we will see how much self belief, confidence and experience can do for a player. Alongside a confident Watts I expect them to help Frawley back to his best......lookout opponents.

I think we'll have 7 forwards each week - one always rotating off. IN games and quarters even the 7 will change, but hence I've gone for 7: HF:Howe Pederson Sylvia F:Byrnes Dawes Clark Extra: Davey

I noticed before the drill started Brian Royal talking to the AFL umpire (who I recognized but know idea his name) and demonstrating what they were trying to achieve in hitting the tackle between the knee and hip. The umpire pointed out clearly a few times that it mustn't be below the knee. Hence it's about technique now. It was very effective to watch, while not taking out arms it took the player off their line, off balance at which point they put arms out to stop hitting the turf....tough to give a nice handball when trying to avoid impact. The tackling in the match stuff was impressive I thought, given we used to look like witches hats in a game it's a massive improvement!

A few observations from this morning, first session I've seen since this time last year. Wow, haven't they stepped it up a cog or three? Fitter, stronger, better drilled, more on the park, quicker, tougher etc. Hard to believe it's the same group. No sign of Neeld today when I was there - left after an hour or so. Nice to have a bloke like Craig to run the show. Looked like everyone did most of the session apart from Trengove and Clark - did brief running and some kick to kick. Bail and Gawn did repeated sprints then some kicking drills - worked pretty hard. Otherwise looked like only Tynan and D-Rod sat out tackling drill but did everything else I saw. Tackling was tough work, tackle low round the thighs (just above the knee was the task) - bury them in the turf then get up quick and "go" - as stated above repeat calls on "your out of the game on the grouond". I thought almost all applied themselves to the drill - Barry and Frawley seemed the best two at avoiding the tackle - a couple simply couldn't get Chip to ground, and Barry just jumped up cat like to get round others. Gee Magner can tackle. Tommy Mac and Dawes just OK at this drill - but BIG it seemed. When they went into match simulation - end to end stuff. Stopped for the odd ball up, throw in - from AFL umpires. Craig worked through the middle barking instructions. It looked like A-team backs vs A-team forwards in this drills - plus A-team on ball. From that I'd say certain starters for Rd1: 7 Backs - Watts, Nicho, Seller, Dunn, Frawley, Garland, T-Mac Forwards - Dawes, Pederson, Sylvia, Howe, Byrnes - would have Hogan also....if only. Mids - Jamar, Spencer (expect both to play), Viney, Jones, Grimes, Blease, McKenzie Of those I couldn't pin as starting or not I thought Davey looked good - further up the ground; Toumpas looked great, just silky and a nice size already, hit some great kicks. I also recon they'll give Barry a run early before he wears out come mid-season. Those who get to Casey games will salivate at watching Hogan all year. Huge crowd today - great vibe, bring on the season!

Is there a set starting time yet? The usual 9.15-11.30am? Planning to take down to excited kids having "ironed" on a new #31 and #7 this morning.

Drove past on Punt Rd about 8.15am, looked like coaches out already setting up running drills, cones etc. A few players stretching - couldn't see who. Looking forward to reading some great reports....though tipping a bit of "missed a lot of targets going forward" as it's blowing a gale!

Given the amount of elite sport played "above the shoulders" none of us should be surprised by what positive momentum (or the opposite) can do for a group. Belief goes a long long way....beat Port in Rd 1 and then Essendon and we're 4-3 going into Rd8 vs The Tiges....it becomes a huge game at that point. It's possible but we need to be 5-3 early season; unlike the Hawks who can be 3-5 and still finish top our group doesn't have the true self belief yet - they'll talk about it but doing it is unique....Dawes, Byrnes in particular will help with the belief. We're a much better chance of finishing 7-10th that many experts predict - someone will come from low ladder to finals; best it's us! Dream on I say.

Always enjoy doing this. FB: Nicholson Frawley Dunn HB: Watts McDonald Garland C: Grimes Jones Blease HF: Howe Pederson Davey FF: Dawes Clark Byrnes R: Jamar Trengove Sylvia I: Bail Viney Tapscott Sub: Rodan Emerg: Pick 4, Strauss, Gawn, McKenzie

The only thing that really grates on me is the thought that MAYBE Gysberts and Morton could still turn into decent players - someone like Josh Kennedy and his progress haunts me. Tha fact that both were very high draft picks gives me the [censored] and is hard to let go of - but so is Cook at #12. Reality is I was holding out hope on two blokes I've seen occasional brilliance from but nothing, absolutely nothing when the going gets tough and we need them. The blokes leading them were also aweful at this. I spoke with Neita today and he was rapt with Rodan - a hard tough give everything a crack type player who can show Viney and Wines whats possible with just a little talent. So on that front I'll trust our record holder. Drafts are also great in 20/20 - but if we had taken Cook at #52 and McDonald at #12 right now I reckon we'd all be very pleased with the recruiting, one was right big time, was simply was Jack Darling. But Hogan is - and more. I know picking a team for Rd1 will be tougher when Rodan, Byrnes, Pederson and Dawes all demand a game as mature bodies with big pre-season's behind them, encouraging a Dunn to do the same....so that's 5 spots taken, who gets the other 17? unlikely to be weak, skinny but skillful types. Overall I love the Neeld approach - he can lead and make tough calls no doubt, can he coach? McDonald says "yes"; Gysberts says "no"?????? GO Dees.

Going with the title of your post: FF: Pederson Dawes Byrnes HF: Howe Clark Blease With backup from Sylvia, Davey and on ballers

Agree....good words, good thread. Just not 100% sure he can coach match day, but he can certainly build a Club. Nice Cam's been quiet and not involved, Neeld and Viney front and centre well supported by Craig also. Might be a new record come Rd1 new Demons.....we'll add Clark straight back in and welcome Viney (on ball), Dawes (CHF), Pederson (Fwd Pkt/Ruck), Byrnes (Fwd Pkt) and hopefully Ray (wing/HBF). Best of all I'll be driving to Casey to watch our franchise player make his debut, the hulk! In many ways I'm honestly not fussed who goes from current list - the in's will be better in 2013 and I'm completely over waiting for "potential" to come through. Thanks to Beamer for his time, and maybe Riv....and bye bye to Cook and Gys it seems.

Pederson 100% a Demon next year. He is keen. Now we wait to see where he'll play. In a forward pocket next to Mitch with Dawes at CHF - Cam doing 2nd ruck duties also.....loving the hard nosed approach to getting mature bodies, good people, we must win 8+ games now.

Pretty sure I saw young Nev Jetta doing sprints at Goschs Paddock today, about 10.15am with another person (no idea who as Nev was in Dees gear other wasn't). Look super fit with the short only, top off look. Either way just happy to see a young Demon doing the hard yards now - might set a very good tone for young Viney and Hogan when they join, Barry might run with him next week! Go Neeldies boys I reckon.

Go the butch...thanks for the update, love the read. Speculation - more fun than Supercoach!

Happy to have Shannon as a Demon - experience, leadership, effort and would be desperate to prove a point, all things we can use. Funny time of year also - we all have "crystal ball" views of various players, but worth noting sometimes we get it wrong. None of us had any interest what so ever in chasing a "Mitch Morton" last year....but look out now, he's played a good game in a final, has a week off and getting ready for a Sydney prelim.....the player might not be great, but put a wide variety of players in the right culture and miracles can happen, even to a Morton! So if Byrnes brings us culture improvement, even +1 on the 10 point scale I'll take him....anytime. Go Neeldy.

6- Jones 5 - Howe 4- Green 3- Grimes 2- Tapscott 1- T McDonald

Also got to training - jaccee report spot on. The biggest impression for me was the overall group - alot of BIG, fit, players performing at a very high intensity during drills. Col Sylvia was a master at the "pressure defence" role - was tough to get past, worried many players into a fumble and when he got hold no one got arms free to dish off - if he can deliver like that up forward, round the middle look out! Pencil joined in all drills in the first hour and moved smoothly, looked good - must be close. Tappy is a machine to look at - just ran lap after lap; cannot wait to get him into the middle. I thought Davey training well also - was excellent in the contested handball drills....so quick and decisive. Based on today with confidence up, greta talk and intensity we should see another decent crack on Saturday.

Round 1 team - as at March 4 I think we've got some definate's, which leaves a few empty spots to be fought for - nice issue to have. Certain starters: FB: Bartram Frawley XXX HB: Grimes Sellar Garland C: Jones Bate XXX HF: Sylvia Howe Petterd FF: Martin Clark XXX R: Jamar Moloney Magner Int: Trengove XXX XXX XXX (sub) The rest fight for spots. Davey, Green, Watts front of the cue.

A lot to like tonight. We've been crying out for a BIG power forward - Mitch Clark showed early last week he can be the main man; with very strong support from Big Stef, who has many upsides to his occasional brain fade. Tough to match up on them both - all game. But most of all we've been desperate for any sign of "ticker" that follows into a team defence, that when the going is tough - we're right in amongst it. Surely many of those fears have now been allayed - while not perfect and a long way of St Kilda quality we've moved forward 150%. Magner and Couch great pick ups. Bate and Dunn likewise will be very handy in the Neeld game plan - big strong mature bodies with reasonable skills. Sellar a great addition down back - enables Garland to run free, or a young Tommy Mac etc. Even young Fitzy had a crack. Now all we need is 1 or 2 true superstar mid-fielders.....they may be on our list - they may both be Club captains right now.....or they may be called Viney - we're getting there. So nice to see progress.....a few [censored] off Pies fans in the Pub, that made me smile! Go Dees.

A team to play finals in week 1 of 2012 finals - against say West Coast at the G: B Bail Frawley Rivers HB Garland Sellar Nicholson C Jones Bate Grimes HF Blease Clark Sylvia FF Jamar Howe Watts R Gawn Moloney Trengove Int Gysberts Batram (tagger - not BP) Jurrah Green (sub) Emerg Martin (v unlucky) Morton McKenzie McDonald MacDonald Davey Petterd Bennell Jetta Tapscott Blease HFF for tackling, closing speed, push up and back the ground - link man through the middle. If any of the above show some weakness (above the shoulders) then swap them out for someone who wants in - badly. IF Morton, Davey and Jurrah demand spots in our best 22 I reckon we'll be flying.

1. Lance Franklin 2. Scott Pendlebury 3. Marc Murphy

I watched Tom Curran play for Wesley vs Carey the day I went to see young Jack Viney have a hit out....Wesley won by 100+pts and Curran kicked at least 8 goals....was simply massive compared to the defence....looked ok to me

Interesting report on 3AW from Gerard about "McClardy seen in Perth with Burns and Schwab seen with Craig" being a dynamic duo. Burns coach, Craig Snr Assistant. Fine by me....we get great sport science, elite sport credentials and a bloke that earnt every game, worked under malthouse and worsfold.