spalding

It’s called sportshost. We’re already doing it. I have been part of it via our central Victorian supporters group. It was advertised during the Saints game. Lots of new arrivals from overseas being hosted at demons games by rusted in supporters. I did it last year with a group of Indian guys. They loved it - and hopefully now Demob supporters.

Weak as

I think the biggest issue with stretch is his lack of confidence with the ball. Watching the swans replay every time he got a mark he looked like he wanted to keep going, but ended up going back on his mark and then kicking long down the line. It’s a real momentum killer for a team that is at its most dangerous when it moves the ball quickly (ie second quarter vs the bombers).

harsh on Frost - I thought he did well on buddy. Was happy to let him get possessions on the wing, but didn't let him get out the back (which is how he usually kills us), and only got beaten once that I can remember (the one-handed mark) relatively close to goal. He was also better with the ball this week than the last few. Like Tmac, Jones, Hibberd in the second half, there were signs of an improvement in form and more confidence in the second half. I worry that Spargo is a bit slow for a small forward and not yet strong enough to stick his tackles (not for a want of effort though), but every time he gets the ball something good happens. We need him and Melksham getting the ball forward of centre. Special mention to Hore. Now I wish he played against Essendon - his intercept marking brought a calmness to the backline that has been missing.

Hoping it’s this - for 2020+ anyway

So has our medical team all moved to West Coast? WEST Coast goalsneak Willie Rioli has been ruled out of Saturday night's clash with Greater Western Sydney and is facing an indefinite spell on the sidelines as the Eagles continue to investigate his foot issue. However, in better news, small forward Jamie Cripps is a chance to make a surprise early return from toe surgery alongside star spearhead Josh Kennedy in his 200th club game. Rioli, who booted 28 goals in his debut season, is battling a stress reaction in his foot and didn't train at Subiaco Oval on Tuesday. Or maybe foot and toe injuries, such as we have seen with Viney and McDonald, are common in the AFL?

I was hoping we would draft him. I thought he had a touch of class from the Casey games that I saw. Bit like that skinny bloke we picked up a year earlier who is now close to my favourite Demon (especially forward of centre when he has ball in hand and time to spot up one of our forwards!).

Its true - and possibly more reflective in the lack stars we have had in the last 40 years, than how good Oliver is. If Brayshaw stops kicking it on his left foot, he might become the second best. All the best players in my lifetime, with the exception of Flower, have been key position players like Lyon, Neitz, Stynes and the Ox.

Never been as proud of this club in my 50 odd years as I am now. Good people making consistently good decisions. Might only be small things, but adding Nev to the leadership Group and Goody going to SA for the indigenous summit etc are examples of this. Just need to win the bloody thing for validation of all the hard work done by many good people in the last few years!

All the obvious ones come to mind such as 1987, QF 2000, but three less obvious ones were the come from behind win versus the Doggies in 2005 to seal a finals birth (Jeff White), 1998 versus WCE in Perth (where we had half the team out) and the come from behind win over Freo when we were a basket case. For personal reasons - the win in Round 1 1976 vs North at Arden street after they unfurled their first flag. First time my brother and I were allowed to go to an away game on our own. He was 14 and I was 8 - boy have times changed! Now I have 4 teenagers who had put up with a life time of misery as Demons in a non-Demon area (Bendigo). The joy my youngest (a 14 year girl) had on her face when Mitch Hannan kicked the goal versus Geelong (we were right behind him) turned me into a blubbering mess for the rest of the game!

We are the Geelong of 2006 in 2019 - where a very young and talented list goes backwards after making finals the year before and after all pundits predict a premiership tilt. Results in serious club introspection about why things went wrong which then results Geelong of 2007-2012.

As a bigger picture strategy, by giving opportunities to players who show great Casey form to get on our AFL list we are going to encourage higher quality players to come to Casey and benefit from our MFC/Casey development and structures. It will be interesting to see what happens with Jay Lockhart in this year's draft.

I’m usually bullish but think a cats 2006 year is possible. Young list, lots of surgeries post season end 2018, Etc Etc.. willl get a better draw in 2020 and reckon that’s when we strike. Hope I’m wrong though but hard to see past tigers and pies in 2019.

I’d do it just to avoid this circus continuing for another year and the risk of getting less next year (ie missing on May). We need all players as committed to success together as much as they are to their own needs. I don’t feel that Jesse is committted to team goals as our other young guns are. it might mean more chance of getting a free agent next year and also more cash for keeping the rest of the youngsters happy as well

I’d love Jesse to stay but I have never felt he has the total buy-in that a team needs for sustained and ultimate success - such as the hawks and cats whose players made contractural sacrifices to keep their dynasties together. The only way I think he can prove that he wants this as much as I think the other young demons do is to sign a contract extension now. If he won’t, lets move on and maximise what we can get to address our needs. Personally I don’t think May is part of this but I would defer to our football team who I think have traded and drafted amazingly well for the last 4-5 years.

Mmm - I sort of fit the stereotype. Except I’ve only been skiing twice. in my defence I had no choice (and neither did my kids). im 5th generation. My great great grandfather came to Melbourne in 1855, and his decedents (including me) have been mcc members and mfc supporters since the 1870’s. At least I’ve been a paid up mfc member for 40 of my 51 years!

Is it just me, or do we seem to be getting a better run (razor ray as an example) now we are relevant, have bigger and noisier crowds, and are no longer looked down upon by the media? the port game was the last time I thought we were truly butchered by the little green men - even the Adelaide and West Coast games seemed reasonably fair.

And vanders just needs to catch smith once early on.

I think he is now our second most important midfielder. Particularly as he has the ability to influence the game while shutting down one of the oppositions best. Will be crucial in finals.

Tears for our mate Kev - a central Victorian Demon who passed away last week. Lots of tears in our group of 15 who met up at the pub to watch in Kev’s honour. Good on you Kev - got the final curse off our back, now get to work on the Norm Smith curse!

I guess I shouldn’t be surprised by the content with the topic of this thread. As goody said, we are so close. once upon a time there was a team who kept finishing 9th. Then they would make the elimination finals, but find ways to lose. They were ridiculed by the football community after 30 add years of non-performance, the board was being challenged and the coach was going to be sacked. a sulking full forward, a full back with questionable disposal, a captain who would kick backwards and sideways were their best players. Suddenly a tubby early draft pick became the best player in the league, the rest matured and became greats, some good trades and complete buy-in from the list around a game plan that suited them and they look world beaters surrounded by a sea of mediocrity. our young players are going to grow up playing finals. Once they are 25+ year olds we have our chance. Hang in there

Or win the next 5 and play the Tigers in the GF

It seems to me that Tyson is making quicker and better decisions in close - and whilst he still missed a kick or two today he is not taking as many quick scrub kicks from packs. not sold on jfk but he is working like Anb without the ball and much stronger defensively. Was better vs crows than this week - but still serviceable. Kudos to our development. Guys going back to Casey are clearly briefed on what they need to improve and seem to be better players when they get their next chance in seniors. pity about Smith. Thought he was really showing his potential offensively today before he got injured. i still have high hopes for Weideman based on the improvements that we are seeing in other players after stints with Casey

I hope you guys are right and I’m wrong. It will be fascinating to see how it plays out on the next 48 hours

I bet he will get 3-4 weeks. Probably 3 so he is available for finals. The justification will be that Brayshaw lowered himself slightly as gaff swung his arm and I think he hit him with the base of his thumb - not the knuckle part of the fist. Therefore he will argue that he was seeking to shove him forcefully in the chest. Not saying I agree with this, but this will be the justification as to why it’s different from Bugg (as opposed to the real reason which is that Gaff plays for a marquee club, has no history of being a pest, and the AFL wants the best players in its finals).