hardtack

Thanks! Actually, Junior didn't play in last year's game when we decimated the Swans (people tend to overlook the fact we didn't have him on the park for a lot of season 2010) and I'm not sure that Bruce actually contributed all that much either... I think that MacDonald, if he is playing, is in a similar mold to Bruce, so his loss shouldn't be felt too acutely.

The problem the Swannies have is that they are going to be relying too heavily on Goodes to get them through, particularly since they are without the likes of Bradshaw, Malceski, Craig bolton, Roberts-Thomson and Kennelly. Additional to that, Jesse White is going to have to step up big time as a target up forward, and as much as I like him, I don't think he will be able to give them the goal scoring option they will be desperately in need of - and Pike is too hot and cold to be relied upon. Without Kirk there to direct the midfield and lead by his example, I feel they are going to be somewhat directionless and that, coupled with the fact that they now have to get used to a new coaching style and possibly game plan, I'm not sure it is all going to come together for them this early in the season. With players like Grimes, Rivers, Garland, Bartram and possibly Bennell to run the ball out of defence, I get the feeling their midfield will be caught off guard and the Dees defenders should be able to give the mids, and consequently forwards, good service. As Malceski is out for a few weeks (10?) with a knee injury, Jones won't be required to cover him, meaning that he could be used on Goodes at a pinch... but I tend to agree that someone like Martin would be better suited to that task. Alternatively (and I know I'll be howled down for this) Bartram is someone who could give Goodes the kind of niggle that will get his blood boiling, and while some players lift when given that kind of treatment, Goodes tends to implode. I would rather see Jones doing his usual job of diving in where no sane person should go. Overall, I believe that if our defenders can do their job with quick clearances, we should have too much speed through the middle and too much class up forward for the Swannies to counter over a prolonged period of time. So far this preseason we have beaten our AAMI hoodoo, we have managed to show we can get off to a fast start against the Hawks, and now we need to step up and show we can get off to a fast start in the finals race by winning the first game of the season. Footy's a confidence game, and what better way to build confidence than by winning the first game of the year without your best 22 on the park. Dees by 23.

Yes you are right in saying "not one" - there are five actually :-)

Ok, I understand where you are coming from in this and your previous post, and fair enough... however, the thought of where Morton was picked in the draft had never even occurred to me. I have just seen enough occasional sparks of brilliance to make me think that when it all finally clicks and he gets consistency into his game and a little more strength into his body, then he could have a break out season; as I said, I didn't put him in my list, so obviously I am not confident it will happen just yet, if at all.

Why? I haven't included him myself, but I can understand why people might. The guy just needs to have a breakout season and he could be an absolute star. What's to be gained by deriding other peoples' opinions?

1. Frawley 2. Green 3. Jamar 4. Jurrah 5. Scully 6. Davey 7. Sylvia 8. Jones (people seem to have forgotten how much grunt he gave us last year and how much he had improved on previous years. Those same people also tend to forget that he is now making what I consider a remarkable recovery from what was essentially a very debilitating injury that few players would come back from so quickly - we NEED his G&D and if he can take a similar step up to last season again, he will be very useful) 9. Grimes 10. Bennell (another player people have already written of... again! - his second half of last season showed that he is going to be a very very valuable player for us going ahead. His run and his innate ability to get the ball will prove essential as long as he becomes more consistent)

That brief period when we had all three of Sean Wight, "Strawbs" O'Dwyer and Jimma going around at the same time, is, apart from our grand final winning years, one of my most fondly remembered; and Sean Wight was my most admired player at that time... unbelievable ball handling skills and an uncanny knack for extracting himself from tight spots Houdini style. I have no doubt he will extract himself from his current "tight spot" just as brilliantly!

I would have Bennell and Martin in there ahead of Bate and Warnock... Bennell could do a lot more than Bate around the forwards and Martin can act as a tallish back as well as back-up ruckman (who else on his list is going to do those duties if Jamar goes down?).

Who had the job on him last year? I had a feeling Bartram had the tagging role and did very well, which led me to believe he would be the obvious choice as well... but that said, I really can't guarantee my memory anymore.

There are two nominated rookie elevations this year - next week and mid-season. That is why I said Evans next week and Campbell mid-season (if Spencer doesn't suddenly find form - I don't think Martin will be a reliable back-up for a full season).

I think the "pre-season" elevation (must be nominated by Tuesday next week) will be Evans and then I suppose if Campbell is up and running and deemed fit enough, I would expect him to be the nominated "mid-season" rookie - a backup ruckman is something we really need and particularly in the second half of the season if Jamar is, as I expect, taking most of the load; then if there is an LTI, I suppose they will look at the best fit at the time according to the position impacted by the LTI.

I have my membership renew automagically, but I can't really recall now when that actually happens... but I am pretty sure my kit arrived within a month - certainly wasn't anything like 3 to 4 months.

1. Western Bulldogs 2. The Filth 3. St Kilda 4. Carlton 5. Geelong 6. Dees 7. Hawthorn 8. Kangaroos 9. Fremantle 10. Swans 11. Adelaide 12. Essendon 13. Richmond 14. West Coast 15. Port Adelaide 16. Gold Coast 17. Brisbane

Maybe the Demonlander going under the moniker of Pink Freud? (a great play on words by the way)

You may want to change that bit :-)

Yes... he said he wants to end his career as a one club player.

Apparently Scully has said there is nothing on the table and that he is fully committed to the Dees for 2011 and beyond. Has said he wants to end his career as a one club player.

That facepalm deserves a facepalm... that's an orang-utan, not a chimpanzie :-)

What's the cut-off point for Young Australian? Has anyone ever won both Young Australian AND Australian of the Year? Is there any way we could have LJ do that? ;-)

Great letter D'land. If I have a criticism it would have to be the line "Apart from issues about living costs in Sydney being greater than in Melbourne which i feel detracts from an otherwise sound set of arguments - I really don't think that is an argument at all when you are earning almost $1mil per year... I live in Sydney's inner west and am surviving feeding a family of four and a servicing a sizable mortgage on what I can assure you, is nothing like the sort of money young Tom is purportedly being offered... nowhere near it :-)

Can we also pencil him in for Young Australian of the Year?

Maybe we could also stop him from training? After all, he could do himself an injury there as well... and maybe we shouldn't have him play the first few games of season proper as we don't want him out of action for the business end of the season. Sorry, but I really don't like these suggestions that certain players shouldn't go around because they might get injured... football is what guys like Jurrah do... let them play, let them enjoy it and let them get match fit.

Premiers for '11: Doggies Most Goals for Demons: Liam Jurrah - 72 Leading Goalkicker in AFL: Buddy F - 86 Final Ladder position: 6th Wins: 14 Most tackles: McKenzie Most marks: Jared Rivers Most handballs: Bartram Most kicks: Aaron Davey Most 1%'s: Jared Rivers Best first year player: Tapscott if he stays clear of injury (does he count as first year?) Bluey: Tom Scully Biggest crowd: 87,000 - Melb v Coll Queens B'day Wooden Spooners: Lions Worst Journo: don't usually read them so no idea Best Journo: Martin Flanagan (based purely on the quality I have seen in the past) Biggest news story for '11: Pendlebury to go to GWS. Quote of the season: "I love it here at the Pies and will never go to GWS" - Scott Pendlebury

Point taken, but I would still think that as he has only just been given a leadership role, he is probably considered by the club to be in the top 21, as I am sure that they will expect him to lead on-field as well as off. It is now up to Jones to use that promotion as an incentive to continue to make improvements to his game in 2011 as he did in 2010 and not rest on his laurels - Miller I think blew that big time and Jones strikes me as being a very different beast.

So Jones was promoted to the leadership group purely on a whim?