Razor

6. Jetta - so reliable 5. Gawn - gives other players confidence 4. Jones - never gives up 3. Harmes - loves the contest 2. Oliver - never fumbles 1. Pedersen - a good target

I went to the game tonight. A surprising number of demon supporters there at Metricon. GC applied a lot of pressure in the first quarter and we were a bit disorganised. However the endeavour was excellent and you could see the onfield leaders like Jones and Vince marshalling traffic. After half time we became precise at hitting targets and GC couldn't compete. It was an exciting game to watch and you could see all the players wanted to be part of it, and ran out the last quarter so strongly. As noted on earlier posts the senior players were very good including Gawn, Jones and Viney. The question for the selectors is who do they persist with now that more players are becoming available - eg Stretch, Wagner, Harmes and Hunt. They can be a bit out of position which would be expoited by top sides. However on tonight's performance I would persist with all of them. They could play many games together for the MFC and get better and better.

I have often read Demonland and enjoyed the views and comments especially after games, but not felt much incliniation to contribute myself. I went to the game last night and feel something really significant has changed with the way the team play together. Over previous years it was clear the last 5 blokes picked were struggling to have an impact, they were not really part of the team. They would come up from Casey, try their best but struggle to get involved in the play - either they didnt't know where to run to, or be ignored. It is not like that now. Guys like Pedo, Frost, Harmes and Hunt seem to know exactly how to slot in, and are trusted by their teamates. This is what the good teams do. Richmond supporters are no doubt thinking 'who were those guys?'. Exciting times to be a demon supporter.

Peter Jackson has brought high standards across the whole organisation. It is becoming a destination club not just for players but assistant coaches and adminstrators. Sponsorship will follow and everything will reinforce on field success. He will go down as one of the off field greats of the MFC.

I have read the Demonland site for a couple of years and think it is great, although I have never been prompted to make a post. However I went along to the game on Saturday and was not only disappointed but alarmed at the predicament the team is in. I have been a supporter of Bailey mainly because of the endorsement of respected MFC people including Jim Stynes and Cameron Schwab neither of whom were involved in his appointment. Saturdays game prompted 3 questions about the progress the team is making under Bailey: - why have players such as Bartam, Dunn and Bate not met the expectations from when they were exciting youngsters in 2006? - why after a pre season beginning in October has the team adopted a game plan that seems so flawed? - why does the game day seem to only have a plan A? I am genuinely sad that Scully, Trengrove and Strauss will look back on Saturday as their initiation to AFL. I hope the performance on the field erases the above doubts however the low key, 'more time required' style of Bailey has me concerned we may all be entering a state of denial.