DV8

IMO... we are roughly equivalent to the Saints team under Ross Lyon. Hard working, tough defensively. lacking class. We have to progress beyond the position of that Saints unit. They lacked the class and speed. We have built a great foundation for this club... that works hard and are hungry competitors. But now, we need to add the toppings to the cake... not just icing, but the complete sweet layer. We need competitors with speed and balance, and great disposal to the list... then they can learn to win themselves games in the Red'n'Blue jumper. Once they hone that competitive edge, they will force they're way into the team, doing the tough things, automatically. .

It's too soon just Yet, for Viney as soul captain. And there is no reason why someone else may pop up for leadership stakes, during the next 12 months.

Well, lets all settle for what we get dished up then... when a lot more is the potential. This is the old demons way, of making excuses for our beloved boys... instead of Dee-Man''ding they grow and play like Men. I see watts is back early for preseason... as he tries to impress yet again. Back to the wall again, jackie boy? Let us NOT make this mistake again with Tracca... that we did for so long with watts, with Gawn for so many years. .. and what we did with Yze and Robbo, Green etc, letting them off the potential hook, and accepting they're hot and cold, and the lack of effort on some occasions. Neither these days are mentioned as champions... and they should have become champions. They had the ability to, but not the drive and application. Nore the culture within the club.

Its not the stats.. its his effectiveness. He butches the ball, trying the miraculous. Putting teammates under the pump, with handballs at their ankles, etc... or too hard etc.etc... he needs to be more composed with ball in hand, and he also needs to cover more territory. get to more contests and also to get more ball on the outside. IMV. He's Not well rounded yet as a player. and still too rounded, physically.

For how many years did we excuse Watts, for his lackluster efforts.? For far too long... this is what the kindly Mfc tradition_ally does... looks for the nice in everything, at our own peril... We need a harder-edged balance, to our perceptions of our players outputs.

IMV... he's still playing like an amateur... with amateur style thinking. Because, I think, of his huge natural gifts, which he was born with. I want to see what it is he has built onto his body, and his game, by his own mental efforts... onto his base, of his natural conception gifts. He still carries too much puppy fat...condition, on his frame. He is nowhere near, 'cut' enough. .

Elite fitness absolutely helps these areas.

Swimming, Gym work, upper body work, boxing and rowing. All he apparently had, was a clean-out of his knee... which knee I'm not so sure. There is plenty he can do early, before he hits the running track. Alter g treadmill. etc.

Petracca butchers the ball far too often for a talented young player. Also putting teammates under the pump with poorly executed disposals. Wasted opportunities, that can be improved on, from a much better fitness base, and better focus and application. He still plays and thinks like a boy, instead of a young man going places... boys just like to have fun,,, don't they ? .

I'll go for top 5. At this stage, all teams are looking to improve in 2019, and things do happen... some luck plays a part here or there, and screaming from the top of a hill will not help, but might hinder, especially at this early stage. I want our players hungry, but with a little fear of failure... instead of expectations, and entitlements. .

Petracca might be one of these player types that has never had to exert himself, to get to the point he is happy with. The Lazy talents.

Lets hold onto this Dr. We'll revisit this, after the New year... And make the push for us all to standup, right on the 12 minute mark of the 1st Qtr_ in Rnd 1, 2019 H&A season... and proceed to start singing the Club song, in tribute to Col. .

I like my players to learn to win footy in adversity... Anyone can win with silver service. But when the going gets tough, I want those who can withstand things not going your way. the reliable types. ... no soft front runners_please.

We need to keep our list fairly balanced. Those we draft may well point towards the next set of de-listings.

I think 18 clubs mantra is to take the next best available following the previous picked. However this is a perception in the eye of the pick-beholder. so when you can throw an A4 sheet of paper over the next 10 players you go for what you want/need. No-one enters into drafting, saying I want "Plugger Lockett", and won't settle for anything else. That is a just fool hardy attitude. This constant bickering of best over needs, is mostly irrelevant... because anyone with any sence of proportion, would see the difference in quality.

The recruit is only half the equation FJ... probably closer to 40% of the equation to making players. The other is club culture and development coaches/footy dept' spend.. Our past issues weren't about the recruiting methods, or the type recruits... but mostly about the club itself at the time. Our weak soft culture, and being way to matey and cliquey, & leaders who were somewhere between Amateur & Pro's, on the mental side of the game. We were a sort of part time club, where most thought they were better, than they really were. Talented yes, but woefully unprofessional, compared to the big clubs of the day. Well, cal me a fool then rj, if thats the way you think... because we have now entered the time for needs. Hence we spent on May, and Jazza, 'nee' Kade. And Preust. So I guess these selection decisions were based on best alone, then ? and not on needs.

Garlett is too-much, IMO. I think we are after the same sort of player, apart from you seemingly wanting a specialist outside quick... and I want a Richmond style small, or winger, with our own polish on the player. Meaning one who will willingly 'go', when called for. One with attitude. Like Spargo has. Agree re the half back. We need to start to think about finding someone, to replace Hibberd in a few years time. So we need to draft now or 2019, for that. Allowing 3 Yrs of development +/-...

No... you've been there before. We have needs, but you do not take a player on needs alone. if they are inferior to what is about them in the draft. You don't ignore real talent, at anytime.

Duursma - yes related, not sure if son or nephew ? Velenti - no.

We already have that type, Garlett... that's enough.

I agree with "knightmare". - Our needs are a classy inside mid with speed... to replace Tyson, with the aspects he lacked. Another Salem or better? - next would be similar, another running mid with balance and speed. no one-dimension mids please... they should all be able to play thru the inside and the wing. - a tall forward/ruck, project player.

I like the idea of a tall who can rise above the opponents bodies to mark, only as a tall forward. not a ruckman. These type talls are too easily stopped in ruck duels, by stopping their run at the contest. Young rucks with this sizable advantage in leap, usually struggle in the bigger leagues... and AFL finals. Somewhere in the draft, will be a tall forward who goes well by using his body size/strength/aggression... rather than natural spring for advantage.

No disrespect as well from me, but... You don't have to shut your eyes, when standing. Its OK to keep them open, and watching... Why be so stayed and boring, doing a pol'-correct revision in respect ? If one means it, they will want to show it, in a "display", as Col did_ this is one way of doing it for him, his way. Not the conservative styled Mcc way, of hiding your emotions in close. This way has not served this footy club well. Compare our conservative ways, to how the bummers, tigers, pies display they're emotions. They are power clubs, and are listened to for a reason, and we are not... seen in our recent fixturing.

During the match, stands out more, for being noticed. Demons do need to stand out more... and we need to stand up for more. Being, the ol' conservative "we'll fall into line" type, has gotten is nothing, and nowhere. Lets be BOLD. Vale`Col... .