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If he had time to look at what was being written on some wall then he wasn't doing his job. He should have been looking at what was going on out on the ground.

There's no value dwelling on last night. It's time to look at the Footy stars of the future. We need a lot but this fellow impresses as a likely addition to our midfield to join Brock McLean, Nathan Jones and Brent Moloney very soon. Trent Cotchin (Vic Metro) Born: April 7, 1990 Height: 184cm Weight: 81kg From: Northern Knights/Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School Sheehan says Trent Cotchin is a strongly-built midfielder with all the attributes required for a medium-sized midfielder/forward. “He is strong in the contest and strong overhead and is super smart around the goals,” he said. “He reminds me a bit of [Essendon midfielder] Brent Stanton as a player with that speed/endurance combination. “Trent has been dominant at TAC Cup level and representing Vic Metro at under-16 level and was a standout in Vic Metro's trials. “His work on both sides of his body was a feature. He uses the ball so beautifully and one of the goals he kicked from the boundary was all class, while he is also freakish up forward. “Trent's quick, strong at the ball and clean with his hands and is a really exciting prospect.”

More injury woes with Clint Bartram likely to miss the rest of the season - http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/com...5E19769,00.html. Moloney and Rivers not looking all that flash either!

Confirmed in today's Age. Replacements? No real mention of what's on the club's mind although it says Byron Pickett is available now that the club's suspension is over. Replacement for Neitz? If they're looking for someone to play full forward, why not try the best performed key forward at Sandringham over the past month or two?

On the 7 News tonight it was said Trapper's definitely out this week.

I'm lost. How does Byron Pickett's club suspension work? It seems like forever since he SMS'd the Reverend and told him he was too shickered to come to the Dome and fulfil his duties as an emergency v. The Bulldogs. Since then the VFL has had a bye and now the AFL is having a bye. He's been playing with Sandy for a while. Does his suspension end this week, next week, the week after or sometime later in the decade? Let's have some certainty on the subject.

Footygoss has a feature called BEST OF THE '06 DRAFT SO FAR and Ricky Petterd is considered fourth best. 4. Pick No. 30 Ricky Petterd (Melbourne) – Starred in his debut against Sydney in Round 5 and continued his good form against Port Adelaide in the following match. Looks like a poised player already. Averaging 17 disposals per game. Best game: Rd 5 v Sydney: 20 possessions, one goal The articles says that only four of the top ten selections have made their debuts at the half way point of the year, while some of the lower selections like the number one selection, Alwyn Davey (No 36 pick), have had an immediate impact.

FOOTBALLER WITH EXTRA REACH WINS We still love Big Jimmy! Well done to a Demon great!

JONES CASHES IN ON REALITY CHECK Personally I love the kid! [PS: Bad luck to Aussie Greg Jones (surprisingly no relation) who lost the final of the French Open junior boys to Uladzimir Ignatik of Belarus. Nathan will make up for it today! ]

No doubt they'll all be back for the round 19 game when we play them again at ... Telstra Dome? What's that about. Our home game at their home ground?

Trusty Demon back after AFL moves goalposts

Aaron Davey (knee) - test Brad Miller (wrist) - test Isaac Weetra (wrist) - test Matthew Whelan (foot) - test Adem Yze (groin) - test Clint Bartram (knee) - 1-2 weeks Daniel Hughes (groin) - 1-2 weeks Mark Jamar (foot) - 1-2 weeks Brent Moloney (groin) - 1-2 weeks Ryan Ferguson (thumb) - 2-3 weeks Jared Rivers (back) - 2-3 weeks Moloney and Rivers are a bit of a worry!

Did last week's VFL bye count?

Love your optimism Sam. Thanks for the stats as well. They really bring home how much injuries have contributed to our poor season thus far. And to think that at one stage just before the Nab Cup started we had virtually the whole list on the track with the exception of Colin Sylvia who was always set to return in the early rounds.

Glad you gave due recognition to Simon Godfrey who has lifted a cog in the past two games.

Great read as always and it's good to see that Newton followed up one good performance with another. 11 goals in 2 weeks must have him close to AFL selection.

Agreed although I think that the personnel who were doing it last year are either not around at the moment or, as in the case of Pickett, not fit enough to carry out the task.

Oops. I stand corrected. Miller leads with 6 goals but he only kicks them every second week and besides he'll be down back on Barry Hall so he doesn't count.

Oops. I stand corrected. Miller leads with 6 goals but he only kicks them every second week and besides he'll be down back on Barry Hall so he doesn't count.

The forecast for Sydney tonight is rain. That should overcome one of our deficiencies of this year, anely the ability to score goals. I was stunned whe I came across the following list of our top goalkickers after four rounds of competition:- 5 Brad Green (out injured tonight) 4 David Neitz (ditto) 4 Russell Robertson (ditto) 4 Brent Moloney (back but suffers from a groin problem) Perhaps we can win on points tonight?

Unlikely that either one of them will play if Neale Daniher sticks to his usual policy. Last year he delayed Matthew Bate's debut by a couple of weeks till after the Sydney game because he didn't want him to play his first game interstate.

Brock is right on the button when he says the Dees must make a stand!

NEALE DANIHER'S MATCH REPORT "We have a long turn around until round two against Hawthorn and have a lot of work to do to get our game back on track. Hopefully Friday’s loss has stung our players sufficiently to produce a more honest effort next Monday." I think that there seems to be a disconnect between the responsibility of the players, the way they play and the way the coach instructs them. It's got me worried a little bit!

Only six players on the injury list plus Daniel Hayes AWOL and no word on Daniel Hughes who hasn't been seen playing at Sandringham in recent weeks. Lynden Dunn (cheek) - 2 weeks James Frawley (stress fracture) - 4 weeks Brock McLean (foot) - 6 weeks Byron Pickett (hamstring) - test Jared Rivers (hamstring) - test Isaac Weetra (hamstring) - 2 weeks I've cleared up the mystery concerning Nick Smith. Our old 4 to 6 is now playing at Box Hill and I'm sure we'll get a chance to see him one day (if he doesn't get injured that is!)

I object!