Demon 16

Good as a link man, but not a lot of hurt factor. He'll be best 22 again this year I reckon.

Tyson. Was exceptional, but I didn't mention him because it's what we saw all last year really.

Going on other reports I seem to be in the minority with Brayshaw being advanced on Petracca - so I could well have missed a few pieces of work from Petracca this morning. All in all I left feeling very positive, which is the main thing. Would have said a hello if I knew who to look for TDI, by the way.

I see Toumpas as becoming a Bail/M Jones type of hard running link man. He will be criticised for it, because you want more than a 'foot soldier' with pick 4, but I think he'll still carve out a good AFL career and will particularly raise his game in a couple more seasons (around 23 or 24 years old). As several have implied already, if he can learn to pierce his kick rather than float it, it will be the difference between link man and damaging runner.

Just to add to the concept of everyone seeing things differently, I also thought Matt Jones was excellent today. He got plenty of footy and also used his run to create space for others all game. On the other hand, I thought Brayshaw was the standout of the kids. Got plenty of it and made some big tackles. Is very neat by foot and I suspect he's going to be one of those players who you thought was quiet but ends up with 25+ touches. Petracca did some good things but looked to lack the required fitness and his field kicking was average. Dean Kent and Max Gawn were the 2 that impressed me most in the match sim, and Lumumba was very good as well.

Just beat me to it there mate.

1 - when people use the term 'learning', I'm fairly sure you can substitute the word 'practicing' most of the time. Or do you expect them just to run laps until the season starts? 2 - I totally agree. We know what we'll get from Lumumba, and if Garlett has a good season it will assist - but even Newton is an unknown so unless we get some unexpected growth from Toumpas/Salem/JKH or one of the draftees, then we haven't added more than a little bit of depth to our middle. We are still a couple of good quality midfielders away from the standard I reckon.

End thread.

Ah ok - just general banter because he's fun to play with type thing. Nice one - he'll be popular in the group you'd hope, just like Gawn.

By comparison, Rich is listed as 183 cm and 84 kg, Dangerfield is 185 and 91, Wines at 187 and 94 and Colin Sylvia is 186 and 85 - but I find that one hard to believe. If Petracca is 188 cm, I would have thought 92-93 kg would be a good weight for his playing style. You would want him to maintain that burst and power he uses so well. Anyway, TDI could you please explain what you meant by him being a target amongst the players because of his personality?

I would have thought that 88kgs might be too slim, given his natural physique. That said, it wouldn't surprise me if he's already down 4 or 5 kgs from 98. He's big but you can already see he's ripped up a bit since arriving.

I would far prefer he just returns to his 2013 form. I wouldn't be against it for a short term thing, if it helps him freshen up and gives his enthusiasm a boost.

Ha - yeh sorry, I'm not going into that territory. I only used that comparison because Wines is the biggest bodied midfielder drafted in recent years that I can think of. Also has those tree trunk thighs that Petracca has. Anyway point being that Petracca really does look like a beast already.

I cant believe Petracca is a draftee. He's bigger than Ollie Wines, surely?

Honestly, how are Essendon getting away with this. They've been holding the AFL to ransom for 2 years on this - and all after they administered their players with [censored] drugs!!!

Of course he would start if fully fit. Would probably play on the ball along with Jones and Tyson as our best midfielders. Sadly, I would be very surprised if we see JT back to his potential best.

If we lose, the same thing again?

Elephants is a silly idea. Don't mind the monkeys or the pole dancers though.

It probably costs small fortune in gas and safety management to do it, but I think it would be worth it. Being the 'Demons', maybe we could have some sort of hellish fire-breathing spectacle for the players to run out through. If it all goes well, it would enhance our claim for more night matches as well - which is good for viewing and revenue.

Um, if it's a day game then just use streamers or tickertape.

Fireworks. We need more fireworks at the footy. Some fireworks on the banner poles when the players run out - and some on the goal posts and/or around the boundary when goals are scored.

I reckon Jones and Roos is enough. If you need a second player, Dunn would be my preference after earning the vice captaincy. If you are keen on a number of players, then Lumumba would be worthy from the new recruits. I don't think it's necessary to have Jimmy and Tulip up there myself. We are ready for the now this year..

Presumably there was no pasta in it - veg lasagnas are often layered with eggplant or zucchini rather than pasta.

I think the point was that there should have been an example - Essendon. Alas, it looks as though there may be minimal repercussions in that case.

Toumpas needs to put himself up towards the top.