DV8

We at our club have a repeating history of getting comfortable, to easily, and too often. Del is right in what he says... and the rest of the competition perennially do not respect us, for this very reason. Sometimes we are just not hungry enough. this is the attitude the past AFL opposition players know about us. We are at a time now, thanks to AFL support... that we have been guided back to health and strength, and the additions off field know the caper... and we have made many correct decisions since the support. Let us Not shoot ourselves in the feet again, Via a desire to be arrogant and entitled. It will be bloody hard work, just to make the top 8... let alone top 4, or higher. With hard work and some luck. This is the way to success. Anticipating the slog... and relishing that.

Clint Bartram.

LoL. who was the odd ball then ? 4 in a boat... six matching balls.

I'd say that Vanders only takes half the footsteps in a match, that his near opponents are taking. Step lightly Vanders... and take no prisoners.

This is key... IMO Let him deeVelope in some shadows, until he shows consistent form.

He should have his own fishing show... he would be a cool guy to spend a weekend with ! ?

oh chopper, looking arid on top.

It would've been done by now, I would think.

Mitchell has never been quick... so has no pace to lose, to speak of. But his endurance will suffer a bit... IF he's off legs for a long time. But surely he would have a rod put in the Tibia... So why miss a full 6 months ?

Has to make you wonder about the rebuilding they've done, so far. Do they have any undercover gems over there ?

Did we underestimate the Hawks last September, 'od' ? I'm talking H&A games in 2019... Take em lightly and they will can us. Then that hurts our ladder position at end of season.

This is what I'm hinting/alluding to. Both those stars are hindered. As are Burgoyne by age, and Roughy by age, as well.

We can NEVER underestimate the Hawks as a club. They will fire up for us.

This brings O'Meara & $ullky to the fore in their 2019 season.

I'm a bit unclear as to why she was, as well... Strange times indeed.

Its not uncommon to see the power clubs mid ladder up to 6 weeks into the new season... before they start to hit their form. When playing into late September, we ought to structure our training time-frames to suit being as fresh as we can be, for the finals series.

I see the glass half full approach. At a time when the club has been losing its past hero's to retirement, he is the one lasting leader who can hold that values and culture together, as the younger players start to flex their muscles. This is a time when clubs can go off-rail, and young players Ego's can drift them off track. Wrecking the hand-me-down culture. Smith is the one player who can further continue in his role, & holding the theme and maintaining the standards that have been set within the great club. Maintaining the strong culture isn't something that just exists as it ever was..

And I suspect the availability of Frost and Lever, as well as Preuss & May virtually guaranteed, there was no toss of coin required in my mind. Even if I loved the player Pedo had become for us, when we needed him to. In the 2nd half of this season Lever will be ready to be selected to play footy. This will give us an abundance of key tall's... some spare. IF May and Lever play together in the run home in defence... we'll have options for that other tall player. And some could slot forward, if our regulars were to be injured... or out of form. I have an inkling we will try to get more speed into our front half for the 2019 season, and going forward. ... but these quick players have to tackle, jeffy ! .

Vandenberg's ending to the 2018 season was astonishing to me. I didn't think he had it in him, to that level. His impact was fantastic. And his speed, I hadn't realised. We were finally playing like men.... and opposition did not know what to make of us. Some sure got out of our way in a hurry. Watch out for the Cat-attack re-Match... Selwood and coach Johnson have a plan for us... pencil it in. .

https://www.canberratimes.com.au/sport/nrl/smith-soldiers-on-to-2020-and-possibly-beyond-20190110-p50qmu.html Smith soldiers on, to 2020 and possibly beyond By Roy Ward 10 January 2019 — 3:47pm Cameron Smith plans to still be playing in the NRL in 2020. But as he said it out loud to media on Thursday, even he had to laugh. Smith is 35 and just 16 games from playing his 400th NRL game. No one has ever reached that milestone, and possibly no one will match it, either. <<<<<<<snip>>>>>>> "If that means you play for less than you could possibly get elsewhere then that's what you do – it's not about being selfish and some people can be at times but at this organisation it is all about being selfless and having players around you that let you compete." Smith is last man standing at Storm from that generation and while he is still hurting after last season's grand final loss to the Roosters, he is more mindful of his younger teammates who lost their first decider. Smith has won four grand finals and lost three but still wants more. He sees plenty of improvement in his side. ................................................................................................ The right stuff... for Our young Demons outfit to adopt as we start to make some headway into topline footy, since many long years at the bottom of the heap. I hope our young leaders are taking close note of the Melbourne Storm, and their winning culture.

Toe ball... could be good for his kicking penetration ? Did you notice him toeing anything, 'dc' ?

capitol idea 'dc'... capitol.! ?

It always was, mr beel'. But Mfc doesn't seem to get that, along the journey of the decades. I think we are getting it at the moment... thank godAFL

The Wizz entered AFL life, into a team dominated by the Hollywood boulevard. Not a great culture to enter into, as a lad.

?...... agh, but a distant nightmare.