DEE fence

Francis Underwood?

Yeah, i have a few axes in my cupboard too that I've been sharpening.

Not a huge fan of this particular Smith, but i agree this time and the Senator is right to back her decision to have a press conference. It is naivety in the extreme to think Aussie sport doesn't need scrutiny with all the sharp dealings and practises going on. As a side note I'm appalled by the allegations against Chris Cairns re match fixing, never thought such a great competitor could lose his way like that, I had more faith in our sheep chasing cousins.

The Sydney demolition of Geelong does us no favours, Frawley has an outstanding record playing on gun forwards and I reckon a few of the contenders will be looking for some kryptonite. While Geelong got their pants pulled down, and had a very unsettled back six (Tippet was always going to be too much for Rivers), the sight of these two playing together will be causing much discussion in other FB departments. BTW How good was Franklins kick to Tippet on the lead, Tippet really reminds me of Pav at his peak when he's up and about. I still hope he plays for us, we'll need him too...

Old Dee, you are correct... So the boy has made it through major heart surgery, and about a month. Had drinks with the parents to celebrate yesterday, was a bit grim, for baby photos they have pictures of thier son lying with his chest left open for follow up surgeries, drank a bottle of red on the spot listening to all the dramas they have had this last month, my tears constantly close). Anyway as lame and perhaps strange/inappropriate as it may seem to some, the only other conversation we had was about the Dees. And the father stated as black as the day was when they found out how bad his heart defect is, (basically half a heart, they build/replumb the rest gradually) he had felt the Dees beating Adelaide made him think his son could survive the day (he wasn't meant to). Now this is a serious guy, with a tough job and has allot more going on in his life than following the footy. But for him at the moment, the teams effort has really meant something to him at a terrible time, everything may still end in tears, but I'd love the team to know how much they can touch people lives in a inspirational way. Even Mum, (who is appalled by the name Demons) is totally on board with his membership, and I gave them my 2014 scarf to put over the ICU bed he is in at NYU Medical Centre. (My wife is happy because it's one less scarf cluttering up our tiny apartment).

An interesting point you raise, you know Vince Lombardi never played professional ball for the NFL and is generally considered one of the best coaches ever. While I think you would probably be right 3/5 times, the on balance difference means I'd like to keep my eyes open, likewise I believe a coach could be the best person for the job and female. That said if Kirk got the nod, I'd trust the decision and live with it despite the hippy mantra (I used to have long hair once upon a time), 200 games on the trot shows a mental discipline that few others can claim, as awesome as Ling is (and I'd be happy if he coached) I still rate Kirk as a better player (and somehow a bit like Jim Stynes if that is not sacrilege to say?).

I agree, his pre season game he was on his bike down to the back. That said one more fwd would be good. We need a good mid and a elite fwd, so i'm in favour of someone like Cameron, if all our eggs needs to be in one basket (and that has never ever worked for us) then i'd go Fyfe, but he will not leave, willing to bet a slab on that. Dangerfield is brilliant but for some reason i don't see him lasting durability wise, more risk with picking him up. For me a midfield is a team gig and we'll get another season out of cross and vince at least, then we have a huge need for another, but fwds we need now, our 'score for' is woeful, whereas our mids are finding synergies together. As to trading Watts, while he is not 'protected' everything i get from the club is that he is a 'team' guy and respected internally, it was terrible when Junior was let go and Watts departing would send the wrong message. But back to Cameron, we have some room, he is young and would fit with our other guys, he is worth the cash, and we'll have room for one more big contract in a year.

It was yesterday, don't tell me different

Send Carlton to GWS, or maybe whatever's left of Essendon after ASADA finishes with them, serve their bloody supporters right.

http://www.afl.com.au/ladder/ladder-predictor I thought I was the only nong who played with this widget, I start off trying to be reasonable, but sooner or later my dreams get the better of me and we're beating West Coast at Paterson Stadium to sneak into the eight with 11 wins... Today after doing some good time trials while wearing my guernsey, I had us doing a lazarus into the eight, after we play Port the reality bus will probably park on top of me, but who knows. I'm honestly cannot tell if it will take 11 or 13 wins to make finals this year, the ladder is so crowded with 'thereabouts' teams from positions 14 through to 6. I'm also desperately hoping the show cause notices get dropped on Essendon the week we play them. Allthough rounds 16-20 are looking fairly ominous I could still see a win occurring in that period. Edit: Additional useless and baseless speculation added.

Probably the first and last time the Norwegians said anything good about a Dane (i joke, i know most of the Royal family is Danish), my wife is a Finn... Anyway this was about drugs or something wasn't it?

I'm not really one for posting links but in terms of happy about this news, cue to 1:53 secs of 'smash them like guitars' i'd even try and make a gif out of it if i wasn't on a ipad.

@mandee I admit i had to google Bill Moyers, he'd have been a fly on the wall at a few luncheons of merde sandwiches.

With respect i propose a diffeent metaphor/allegory - King Canute (Essendon, either Hird or Little) trying to hold the tide coming in...

Thanks Robbie ^^, any comment on PR contract? Frawley contract etc.

The player report by BA was unusual to read, and I think it was part of a plan to publicly roast some players who are not getting the 'Roos' defensive mindset. I personally am happy for anyone not buying into or unable to adapt to the game plan to leave. Especially as player effort has been rewarded with respect and trust even when the skills have failed. Personally I dislike players like Blease who have petrol to burn in attack but don't do the defensive things, no matter who the coach is, it smacks of laziness/selfishness and I'm not giving him a pass. In the match report it seems they really fell in a hole in the second half and am curious as to why.

Snap was just about to post, Good on Peter Gordon and the Bulldogs for their press release, no nonsense deals with it quickly and hopefully provide some closure. Am sorry for Jetta and his family though. I'd have a hard time not jumping the fence if someone had a a go at my family. edit grammar

There is so much to feel good about the club ATM, but what really amazes me is how Jones continually improves, and the way he rode the bumps on Saturday was superhuman. But what I really want to say is that it was an incredible mistake not to have made him captain after Junior, and that he wasn't is an indictment on the management at the club at the time. I must confess that I thought they didn't give it to him because of some undisclosed flaw (Sadly I've not met him) and now realise I was hugely mistaken. No slight on Trengove or Grimes, but just justice wasn't done to the incredible soldier Jones is. I feel like I'm watching a real life Captain America when he plays at the moment.

I am calmer about whether Frawley stays or goes, many things to be excited about, and the way our backs are playing (with or without him) is one of them. Once upon a time, (not very long ago) the thought of him going felt like another portent of doom for the club, not anymore thankfully.

Is there a spot on the Demonland Banner for him? Could set a record for quickest transition from 'deelist' to 'bannerworthy'.

Why have we always done better with trades than drafts? Powell, Beemer, Bizzell, Tyson, Dawes, Clark (before injury) and many others over the journey have always seemed pretty good. The one's I was sad to see go - Spalding, Thompson, Farmer (although we got plenty of service), Rivers etc has still been below par for what some other clubs lose. The Brownlow trades (Templeton/Moore) were 50/50 imo. But overall so happy with Tyson.

The possible resurgence of the Russian, has been worth another high draft pick. All the inside mail (what a couple of club people said), and including a few posts on DL, said that he was finished. For Roos to resurrect his career continues to make him (Roos) IMHO extraordinary value for money. I was totally (and sadly) convinced that Jamar was done, will be very happy to be wrong. I think our game style suits a traditional tap ruckman, especially with Vince/Tyson/Viney/Jones at his feet. There will be days it doesn't work for us but I think this will cause other teams headaches matching us if we were to get two good years out of Jamar.

Totally agree, I would go so far as to say Chip was the first and best at putting JR back in his box, if I was JR I'd be begging for a chance to play FF since Chip isn't there, this is where I always saw the best value in Chip was on how he played guns like Franklin and Reiwoldt. Not as worried about Dusty, I feel our new look midfield would like to give him a touch up after he has eaten us up in past years. We put a big game into Dangerfield (who was still brilliant) I don't think Dusty will go as well with the same pressure. (or so I fervently hope.

Must be said I never found any benefit from these things being played out in the press first, only detracts from a fair hearing. Anyway am so glad I don't have to deal with idiots who cannot hold their drink anymore (I really hate Crown)..., actually come to think of it am still dealing with idiots... just swap religion and ethnicity for alcohol... might have made a wrong turn somewhere... d'oh!

Methuselah