Red Sox

The quality is low. Hopefully the club continue the focus they have maintained thus far and not look at any of these players unless confident they could see something in them. If they do, I'll back their decision as I have with Junior, Bruce and many other stances they have taken. I just can't see it coming from an Anthony or Neagle. I prefer to see the FD rely on having quality foot skills/ball use coming into a forward line that has enough options at his disposal already.

Will be interesting to see the team that runs out, round 1 against Sydney. I think it's exciting. We have a good fixture and getting a few wins early will get the young list up and running. Really looking forward to that rnd 1 team.

Great job DM. Looks great!

I'll take - Davey, Grimes, Scully, Jurrah & Frawley If it is 7 as now, I'll add in Trengove & Watts

That's quite a turnover in the leadership group from 2010 to 11. Grimes is a definite. Jamar is a good choice, great leadership he displays with his willingness to drag himself to the end of each game. Is it too early for Scully or Trengove? Most likely. A bit harder for me to tell from the outside, but one of James Frawley or Colin Garland. Not sure of Col Garland's standing amongst team mates but I like the way he goes about his footy and would be happy to see him included. A no nonsense approach to every contest and playing the one percenters which is a great quality in a leader. Chip Frawley can continue to become just the best defender in the game.

Grimes or Frawley. Probably both, with Morton out.

Who is the player to replace Bruce in the Demonland banner?

I agree Junior would still be here with hindsight regarding the Bruce decision. But it is done now and we move on. The club continues to look forward.

Gold.

There was no sentiment from me, rather a touch of concern at the loss of Junior & Bruce as leaders. I do understand what is happening and back the club 100%. I'm all for seeing a group that delivers a flag. Bruce was part of many decent sides that failed to get there and his departure allows for one of the kids to develop quicker, hopefully. It opens a spot in any case.

Gee, disappointing it's happened this way. Junior now Bruce, I'm not entirely sure what to make of all that from a club perspective. From an on field perspective we will be fine. Players like Bennell to step up, he is a player that I see could play off half back and Davey, Green, Sylvia to step up as leaders. It seems the young guys take a fair bit from Jones & Moloney. Even though I am still undecided on both it is a big opportunity for them both to really step up their on field effectiveness, consistently. Their preparation for each week seems to be second to none and a fine example. To Cam Bruce, mixed memories no doubt but plenty of fond one's amongst them. He is capable of 2 more years of football and I hope he kicks himself if we can salute as early as 2012. All the best Brucey. (There will be zero love if he ends up at Ess, Carl or Hawthorn) How quickly before he is removed from above here on D'land?

NFL pass much the better! Go Pats, Go Sox! Bet of the week - Texans to beat Chargers! Bet of 2011 - Dees to make the eight!

Agreed. Nothing wrong with genuine concern with asking. I am sure that Jim would be most happy for anyone to pass on the 'facts' if they had them. It is why he is so public with his fight. Never shy people away. My mother is fighting the same battle and Jim has been inspirational in being so public with his battle The support from others cannot be underestimated. Watts04 has shown support by taking time out to ask.

This kid is a jet. The cause for optimism will be proven when he finally gets out in the red & blue. On top of some great U18's football, the glimpses I saw at Casey this year, as opposed to others comments, had me excited at what a prospect we have. He extracts the ball from stoppages and is quickly out of traffic, he did this a few times at Casey which was great to see. It says to me he still has plenty of confidence in his abilities. I would much rather take that as a positive than a kid hanging around the half forward line picking up 20 soft touches. The leg will heal. The kid will shine.

Sort of contradicts? TH offers more of a response on the subject than Bails did this morning that's for sure. 21 yr old with talent, of course we have been watching him. Will we draft him? I think it is very likely if his head is in a better place. Is it a great decision if we do? Can't tell you that, but plenty of stupid kids wake up at 21, plenty continue to be d!ckheads too. Someone will pick him up.

On ya Trap. Shortcomings obvious. Talent obvious. Hopefully he is happy with the 200 odd games he played. Not a hell of a lot of players get past 200 yet it seems a sh!tload short of what Trav should have got to. He could have been a 300+ superstar of the game. Could have. I'll miss him but his wasted talent is never more obvious than they guy that replaced him in the # 16.

No excuses with this draw at least. I'd hope for 13+ to be optimistic but there are a few boys to put game time into yet.

Can't argue with any of that from MFC. Having Newton hold on as a rookie? Meh, far from guarantees him any football with MFC in any case. Depending on draft choices acquired, he is a rookie & nothing more and the FD would be thinking one of the options now afforded us in the draft will ideally play more football.

I really like this fixture. Favourable in many ways, 3 games to start at the 'G and at this stage the easiest of away games in Gold Coast. We get a bye into our next interstate trip against who, again at this stage would be the next most favourable of travel destinations. The remainder of games after this include 7 home & 3 away games at the 'G. 3 away games and 1 home at Etihad as well as the Darwin home game. We get our annual trip to Kardinia Park and finish with a sole trip to AAMI. A nice duo of Friday Night games (Carlton & Essendon) into the Queens Birthday fixture in the middle of the season. I don't think we could have asked for or expected any more than was delivered from the AFL. It is a very good fixture for us, hopefully one we live up to and exceed. If we are improving on this fixture in 2012 we will be doing nicely on field.

Damn fixtures. I suppose we had a nice start last year. but do we have to get lumped with interstate trips for the NAB Crap and Round 1? Nothing legible I can add here except biased frustration.

I think you sum up Neita's career very well. He was shunted around as the KP option to cover for other team deficiencies, to his own detriment in part. Because of that I believe he did live up to expectations. Not of a superstar, if we were marking on superstar status this thread would be fairly short, from what I've seen in 35 yrs anyway. You say 'but' when mentioning your expectations of him becoming a great of the club, do you think he is not?

David Neitz. For what he achieved out of the game, after some early acknowledgment of his talent he lived up to expectation.

James Frawley Jack Grimes Tom Scully Jack Watts Jack Trengove

A nice wrap of Trav. Did enjoy watching him kick the footy. Would be nice if there was a little bit more to add to the eulogy.

It was a fairly decent side that he was able to be a part of. But in all fairness he was as much a contributor to that 95 flag as anyone. I still believe though he played as many fine games in the red & blue as did for the other mob. A favourite of mine in any case.