P-man

Not the greatest highlight vid ever made, but it works for me. It's a fresh start. We have to be positive.

This thought keeps popping into my head also. With regard to the Lions pre-season, players and coaches kept talking about "winning form is good form". You could argue that case even more strongly for us. It's all very well to just cast it off as a practice match, but surely given the state that the club and its players are in, a couple of wins would have been not just nice to haves, but a genuine aim. I'm glad the real stuff can start. The pre-season has very much had a "more of the same" feel to it.

I'm assuming we don't have a membership tv ad? I certainly haven't seen it if we do. Even the Dogs have one, a decent one in fact which I've seen numerous times.

I can totally empathise with the frustration at hearing excuses being trotted out, but in those sort of conditions, 3 vs 5 rotations is going to have a potentially significant impact on the outcome of the game and it needed to be acknowledged, Neeld sounded like he was paying next to no attention to the scoreboard against the Suns which is fine, though I would think the extent to which our midfield was reportedly bossed by another young team (missing their second best player in Bennell) is cause for slightly greater alarm. I am still confident we'll be able to account for them in the season proper.

He relishes in taking a contrary stance, that's for sure, and has milked every last dying drop out of "Watts is a soft spud, you just can't see it because we view footy very differently". Half of Ben's posts make for interesting reading, the other half you have to wonder if he'd prefer signing up to BenHurLand with only 1 forum member. The guy is either a troll or a monumental [censored], but it provides for some light entertainment either way.

Don't get cute and play the innocent card mate, this was in direct reference to me: Nevermind the fact that you changed the argument from being about the team's kicking overall to Grimes being a subject of attack. He was an example, pure and simple. You talk about keyboard heroes but jump on me for a perfectly legitimate observation and hope for the season. Wisen up.

Satyr, are you always this precious? I merely used Grimes as an example. He is in good company. This is such a stupid argument. How does me wanting to see our skills improve this year earn me the title of keyboard hero?

Dude..seriously? I'm kind of amazeed you are sticking to your guns on such a ridiculous point. My kicking skills are completely irrelevant to a comment about the standard of kicking in our side. I'd challenge anyone to say that it has been at an AFL standard for the past couple of seasons. In relation to the vast majority of other teams, it is and has been sub-par. Surely this is just commonly accepted as fact. Yes the pressure on the kicker at AFL level is 100 times more than at amateur level. That is why they are paid professionals and I, you, and the general public are not.

Your question is an inane one.

Wow...sounds like it carries some weight then.

Last time I checked, I was not playing in the AFL.

I actually feel sorry for someone who can't or refuses to enjoy the sense of community you can get from a place like Deeland. i mean I'm a pretty jaded person myself, but that's just sad.

If Benjamin only went to bars where everyone was his equal, his search would last forever. I'd venture a guess that he isn't the most adept poster when it comes to socialising. Give the poor sod a break..

Kent has shown he offers too much to just be the sub. He's a starter for mine. Pedo is easily the biggest disappointment. Should not be in the team for Round 1. North may have pulled a real swifty on us there.

Rightly or wrongly, some fans look back on Bailey's time at the club with some fondness because whilst it might have been an unaccountable style, when we attacked we looked damn good. It was exciting watching the team take the game on, using the corridor at will and transitioning quickly from defence to attack. In short, even if we were losing, there were things to cheer about. The contrast between this and the style Neeld introduced was stark to say the least. Stripping everything back to the bare essentials and re-educating players in defensive structures definitely took its toll on the offensive side of things, with damage control appearing to be the main focus. So when we were losing, which was often, there was very little to cheer about outside of a Howe hanger or a Blease goal on the run from an acute angle. Hopefully the evidence in this pre-season of the gameplan evolving further will carry itself into the season. I agree with Macca that a far more enterprising style is called for this year. Different situations will call for different tactics, but fans want something to cheer about and get excited over. They need it to avoid feeling utterly demoralised, as was the feeling practically every weekend in 2012. More of the same is not sustainable in any sense.

A improvement in skills is what I want to see most. We were deplorable in most departments last year. Not being able to hit up a player from 20 metres is not acceptable and it is turnovers from BASIC skill errors that really hurt and kill off momentum. I'd like to see an entire match where our captain doesn't kick it out on the full. That would be a good start.

I don't think we should be getting too worked up over an unsubstantiated rumour that, on the face of it, seems ludicrous. If we get demolished by Port at the G in Round 1, the blowtorch will be warming up, there's no doubt about that. The pressure will be instant. By that I mean not just the fans but the media will immediately be questioning whether Neeld can coach at AFL level if he is getting outdone by a first year coach in Ken Hinkley. Incidentally, GWS beat a fairly strong Saints lineup yesterday as well. If both the Suns and the Giants are already overtaking us this year, it's going to be an even rockier period ahead for this club.

Cheers mate 33 years young but the last few years have tacked on at least another 10. Though If I ever become as cynical as OD, someone slap me. (love your work OD)

You're not alone, I'll say that. This season is likely to test our patience to its absolute limits. Again.

Ouch.Honestly, the thought of another 2012 makes me feel physically ill.

Might I suggest as a title, "2013 premiership: Relax, we've got this".

Also curious on these two points. I assume Nate Jones played, just had an off day?

Nice save.

Had a chuckle at Brock and Brent having an in-depth chat after the match. Oh to be a fly on the wall for that meeting of the minds..

Other than diving and ducking his way to glory. Seriously sad watching one of the toughest men in the modern era take advantage of these netball-esque rules.