monoccular

Highlight reels usually impress, and this did. However the road is longer than a highlight reel - he can do it but can he do it?

Offence is talent, and defence is mentality. I like that one Hard work and teamwork can make up for deficiencies in defence. Build a defence that no other team finds easy to break. It was our mantra at the ­Demons — be the team everyone hates playing. (we are the opposite!) Wasn't that Mark Neeld's mantra, that he couldn't execute? Certainly 2019 we were the team that most looked forward to playing against - easy pickings. That must never happen again.

A little contradictory, or at least confusing. Does you actually mean that there cannot be Hibberd, Hore and Lever in the same side or that even if he displaces Hibberd he still couldn't. work with Lever?

Surely that is just a guess. There is more like a 88.2% probability that there will be between a -12% regression and a 23.7% progression, approximately. I just hope it all adds up. One concern is though, paralysis by analysis. dee-to. For those without grandkids what is the something you suggest they play with ?!

Has anyone with an ear close to the ground heard anything at all about Kade's progress / prognosis / plans?

I well remember the usual suspects after his far from flattering debut in a disastrous game, when he was in the company of many teammates who underperformed, writing him off as a spud, dud, list clogger etc. It would be great were he to make them all choke on their words. Showed some good signs as a forward.

I think #5 Neil, our 1964 hero, was well before the Madderns. Retired 1966. He was the back pocket successor to #30 John Beckwith I must say I don’t remember much about him until he succeeded JB but I see he kicked 11 goals from 11 games in 1959 so must have been a HFF I guess. Only 1 goal after 1960 but, hey, that one really counted.

His more famous historical namesake must have been a Demon supporter. As well as his better known “what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger” Freddie also noted “To live is to suffer, to survive is to find some meaning in the suffering.”

Quite apart from his attacking roles as a forward and his ability to kick goals, his run and ability and willingness to chase defenders is really important. The more he works on this the better he will become.

Question is, will Clarkson have more success with frostball than he did with tunnelball? OMG. Moderators, delete immediately! Earnest. Are you alluding obliquely to Preuss 2019 version?

Eloquently phrased, as expected of such a great writer. Far more enjoyable to read than much if the venom seen here particularly regarding this particular player I would also highly recommend that if he has ever even in passing looked at this site he desists from doing so. The often personal invective cannot do anything for his self confidence as a player or indeed as a person

I realise the reason they wear them - just wonder about safety of team mates when worn if full tackling drills.

An unusually good pick up from Colonwood, after the disappointment of Dawes and of H

I may be wrong but I feel that I have read somewhere that Dean Many years later admitted to staging. It was devastating for a teenage fan to see my hero suspended on finals eve in these circumstances. As I recall it was replayed on TV but the tribunal refused to (or wasn’t permitted to) view pictorial or video evidence and believed the umpire. These days it would be thrown out without a tribunal hearing. And yes, it did cost us another tilt at the flag.

At least I don't see anyone totally jinxing him with the old and overworn "he will be a gun" label. I have noticed this over the past few preseasons. Do they wear them during full drills, with tackling? There would be a real danger of serious finger injuries if that were the case. Maybe Peter Brukner will step in and stop this.

..... and if somehow there could be an even number (+1 or-1) of teams to end the iniquitous byes.

My reading was that he asked those who hadn't made prior arrangements ... not IMO pi55 poor travelling overseas in their down time, and it does sounds like most at least are on a fitness programme whilst away.

As much as one can ever tell from a newspaper article, he does seem to have "learned his lesson" and be full of remorse. As others have said, his hunger could (if genuine and ongoing) lift him to greater heights. Low cost maybe worth at least a psychoanalysis?

Problem is that they don't all get to the 70 - 100 mark. The skill and the luck is picking the right one.

The lack of running to create space even knowing that it will not reset in a possession to the runner has been a longstanding bugbear of mine. Creating options and creating space just opens up the forward line so much. Actually, over to you Mr Hunt. Burgess isn't going onto the field - it is the player's responsibility, with the help of the fitness staff. With the help of fitness staff, and creative coaching this may happen. See above - second efforts and running to space, to shepherd or to receive, or to draw an opponent; all need to become ingrained second nature.

DJ - nobody can ever be sure of anything so why state the obvious? ?? But from the little I have seen of him (FWIW) there doesn’t seem much reason to believe he won’t, injuries aside.

Absolutely agree that Bailey is a forward through and through. I believe the justification for sending him back in 2019 was said to be a dearth of other defensive options. However he didn’t play as a natural defender and his absence forward was sorely felt. Perhaps on very tiny, minute glimmer of silver lining could be that time spent in defence sometimes helps in forwards’ development. Certainly looking forward to watching him in a full season as a forward

And it actually did eventually, only for him to suffer presumably a quite different injury. ?

I have met the guy and he is very impressive and a good communicator I just wonder how the structure will turn out.

Can we revisit this mid season please.