Red Sox

Yes I've bolded Rivers before anyone starts on me.....unless something valuable comes for him in a trade I would never move on him. As long as he is played with some freedom is an excellent defender. And Miller......He deserves every chance to have a final crack or two this year. I would LOVE to see him come good as he puts everything into his performance, he is well above VFL level but maybe just not good enough at AFL. See how he goes with Jack Watts in the side, you never know they could work well together

M. Warnock C. Bruce N. Jones J. Watts M. Bate B. Miller P. Johnson R. Petterd C. Garland D. Bell B. Moloney J. McDonald J. Rivers M. Jamar R. Bail S. Blease J. Strauss I've bolded those I believe are nothing surer than signing on.......I've underlined those that I expect we have to sign. Johnson and Bell - I would be very suprised if they are here in 2011....enough depth in the backline, Johnson - enough of him sadly.

I certainly wasn't one of the demonlanders that was made aware Ricky was close to signing. First time I have read this. Great news!! Great post Grand New Flag!

Doubt it.....unless they drop Bartram for Strauss. More likely to be just on the trip as Casey dont play this weekend.

Yes I will reply to myself here as it looks from the link below and reading between the lines that Bails is looking at bringing Wonna in: Note the great spelling of Wonna's name below: Sure that Nifty Nev would provide the same pressure bails is looking for, maybe it is a backhanded slap to Sylvia? Indigenous forward Austin Wanaeamirri was a possible inclusion for what would be his first AFL match since making his debut in 2008. The exciting 21-year-old has since had his career stalled by knee and hamstring problems, but Bailey said he had been in solid form since returning from injury through the VFL and could add a needed spark to the Demons attack. "We probably need some more pressure in our forward line and that's probably been evident the last couple of weeks," Bailey said.

Yep agree Strawbs.....that 88 suspension still hurts me too Cant wait to have fit wonna back in the side, for a guy that has been out for the best part of 2 years cant see how a trip up north and back can be good for recovery, he may be just on the plane to be amongst the group - that is what I feel as Casey dont play. He and Jetta have been fairly similar as far as form goes but Jetta has played more and will be more 'match ready'. I am fairly confident the changes will be: OUT - Bruce, Bate, PJ IN - Morton, Miller, Jetta. Unless Sylvia or Davey are carrying something to keep them out...Wonna wont play.

I wouldn't be hanging our hat on Syliva or Davey being 'goalkickers' as such. Davey 9 in 22 games last year, 3 in 8 this year and career total of 104 in 127...Sylvia 17 in 17 games last year, 8 in 5 this year (not forgetting 2 or 3 bags of 4 included in that lot....so 12 in 3, 13 in 20) and 72 in 92 career games. Davey is fair enough as his role has changed but Syliva's total just highlights his inconsistency. He cannot be called a midfielder, simply a half forward....dont get me wrong I love the bloke but he needs to deliver more, more often. Whether that is kicking goals or getting 20-25 good touches up and around half forward he needs to do better. Of course my argument is pointed towards wanting Gysberts in the side@!!

Agreed....happy with in's/outs.....(Bate, Bruce & PJ...thankfully! He's been given a go surely? - OUT)Morton a monty to return, Miller deserves a last chance or two this year & chops out Jamar, Jetta & Wonna would be great to see with Bennell and Davey.....(Reckon there may be something amiss with Davey? Chance to miss perhaps? Hopefully not but could be the reason that both Wonna & Jetta are on the plane, no doubt it would take something significant for Flash to miss this game I will say!)......even Sylvia seems to be carrying something (I have to believe that his consistency was getting better from the end of 09 into his start of 2010!)......My money would be on one of Wonna or Jetta playing or both if one of Flash or Sylvia miss............ geez Gysberts is working hard for a crack though! Get the Gys in!!

Wow JS22....just joined and a first post with this detail....nice work! Disappointing no Gysberts....hopefully your sources are wrong with that one.

Sorry if this post may seem a waste and going over old ground in and amongst other topics but, I cannot contain having a dedicated post to a senile old man like Leigh Matthews and showing my disdain for his unwarranted comments re Jack Watts. As he did in his playing days he is now commentating using cheap shops: His critique of JW's potential on 3AW last Saturday was utter garbage and seemed to me to be almost a crusade of his after he made similar comments on JW during the Essendon game last year. (JW's second game I will add!) Even a glass half empty pessimist such as Pat Smith was able to comment on similarities between Jack and James Hird - the similarities being JW's ground level efforts and athleticism. Surely Leigh could see this. Maybe there is something behind Leigh's comments - he has made similar cheap shots towards the Dees and our glory days of the 50's/60's by saying that the team played so often at 'The G' that premierships were a logical conclusion. This is utter tripe at it's best....his own powerful Lions were propped up by the AFL to achieve their success (the only difference between Melb Storm and Bris Lions being that the AFL was aware and authorised the extra payments. Maybe he is embarrassed by his decision to get Trav to Brisbane in exchange for the pick that delivered Jack Grimes......maybe this post has gone on long enough to allow me to say: Thanks for Jack Grimes, Leigh and lets talk again in 12-18 mths and see if Jack Watts is a struggling rookie type at best!

And Brock is a blue....they can have each other and we will all enjoy the Gys!

Verdict: Put games into Watts, Jurrah, Petterd, Bate, Morton,, Aussie combo...add in a consistent Sylvia as well as Green for bit longer. Why on earth would we need to go searching anywhere else at this stage? There are many positives and negatives for all of the players mentioned above, the exception I believe would be Stanley from the Saints, yes been there since 2008 and in that time with Big Nick would find it hard to get a game, especially as has been proven the last few week the entire 'Saints Footy' (which equals SH!T Footy in my mind!) game plan revolves around Nick, I find it hard to believe that he hasn't got a game in Nick's absence. He looked super in pre-season, hasn't been given much of a chance as others mentioned above here, knows that he may struggle for the game time he wants while Nick is around... he seems a candidate that could possibly look to move or be traded if the saints want to trade for a final push at a cup? Stanley would be hungry and Rick P wants to go home (which is debatable) then maybe we could look at that trade and somehow get Stanley out of a three way deal. Again, having said all that I would be most pleased to leave the forwards we have and give them some time together.....the backline has proven what time together and stability can achieve (and getting rid of the peanut Carroll).

6. Junior Mac - how anyone could see different, then I wasn't there!! What a legend! 5. Jack Grimes - a little loose on disposal but hard to fault otherwise 4. James Frawley - keeps getting better and better Chip! 3. Jordie McKenzie - I reckon he was stiff not to get a Rising Star Nom.....I guess only winning sides get this? 2. Jared Rivers - Beaten a couple of times early, maybe fortunate that Kennedy was off a bit but showed his value being the loose man...reads the play so well and should only be used for this purpose 1. Jack Watts - hard to pick this week due to many poor performances but reckon Jack deserves a vote for his efforts in a forward line that saw horrible movement from up field, couple of great contested marks, couple of nice efforts at the ankles...the potential is there, time is on this 'boys' side.

Mate....firstly, how do you assert that my 'final assessment is an embarrassing stocktake" in regard to me actually being in the affirmative that "Traps output was far less than the majority that have walked through the door". I would suggest that I am agreeing with the level of output that Trap delivered in comparing the natural born talent he was blessed with. You can say I am wrong as much as you like...whether I confirm the point in CAPS or not.....the fact is there has been no one more talented come onto our list in the last 20 years. You and others can argue the point on that but IMO everyone that has walked through the MFC door in that time has not been blessed with anymore natural talent than Trap was.......this argument does not extend to 'output', just talent alone so argue the point on that. I think I finished my sentence on this topic regarding Trap that 'his talent has got him through' I hear you on my Hopgood rant....and yes, others such as Junior, Kirk etc are deservingly praised for extracting every ounce of ability that they could muster to forge what have been outstanding careers, but IMO I wouldn't even get near having Hopgood in the same bracket as those two. Yep good on Hopgood....the fact the he did extract 113 games from very limited ability says to me what an average list the Dees had that time for him to get to that many. Maybe that is unfair but it is my opinion. I still cannot understand that in the entire MFC history he is rated in the top 150.

Cmon dee-luded....NEWTON???? Please leave his name well out of these discussions.....no good, just no good. Miller deserves chances before he is let go this year well before Newton.....Newton belongs to VFL level....Miller is above VFL level. Miller can come in to play the back up ruck.....I will put my house on Morton coming in for Bruce. Miller for Johnson (who is another that has had enough chances and shown NOTHING). Bate will go out.....hope to see Gysberts come in. Jetta and Wonna are very close and maybe Jetta will get the go ahead of Wonna with the trip being not ideal for Wonna to recover at this stage. I really hope that Gys is played...he deserves his shot. Darwin weather is obviously hot but alot of dew etc, which is ideal for smalls, but difficult to go in with only one ruck option. OUT - Bruce, Bate, Johnson IN - Morton, Gysberts, and one of Miller (for a back up ruck) or preferably one of Jetta or Wonna

I think that is pretty much what I referred to in my post.....If he had the work rate of Stinger he could have been anything as his natural talent is equal to anything that has walked into our club in the last 20 years (THIS CANNOT BE ARGUED!!) Output was sadly far far less than the majority who have walked through the door during Traps time. His talent has got him through......but the guy has played 200 games of AFL football....he deserves some credit for his time with us. I would take his lazy, undisciplined, immaturity over the graft of a Paul Hopgood any day. Sorry if that is not the politically correct thing to say but I can remember many games Trap played that will stay with me than ONE that Hopgood played. I think I'm still miffed that Hopgood ever got on that list of best players in our history.....how very sad!

Danny has similar potential to any of the names listed above (from Casey games AND ONLY 2 AFL GAMES).....not Jack Watts (sorry maybe not that well written but it's a blog not english literature).....can take a great grab....is good at ground level....is a good kick for goal. If all of this transfers to AFL level consistently his potential will be proven to be as good as any of the above....Beau Dowler? Fair dinkum! Mitch Thorp? Danny has more going for him than them. Taylor Walker?!!! 25-30 games up now? What is it with him? Nothing much that I can see...yes can take a great mark, very limited with agility IMO and kicking not that great........Watts and Danny will show more in their first 30 games IMO.

Good and honest summary all round.....agree with Miller, deserves another shot during the year (a last shot)...puts his heart and soul into it but may not be up to it? Too good for VFL level and would be interesting on a nice sunny day to see him and Jack Watts alternating between the hit up forward and full forward. Think you undersold Jordie just slightly....yes he will build his reputation as a Junior Mac type (yes, Junior writes his own ticket for retirement - THE MOST UNDER RATED PLAYER/SKIPPER/MIDFIELDER in the game) but IMO I think Jordie's straight ahead approach and long kicking (this has been evident many times) will see his skills be possibly rated higher than Junior's.

Hello Steamin....someone with a bit of sense......these 5 players seem to me to have as much potential and 3 out 5 have proven that they will be good at this level (Jurrah, Rick and Jurrah), Watts will be better than anyone mentioned above and Danny has similar potential. Taylor Walker....give me a break. None of the players mentioned are any better than the 5 steamin mentions here!! Should Rick P decide to go home to GC then maybe look at an option....wasted enough time on this thread!

Brock left for HIS own reasons....supposed success, Judd etc etc etc....I feel for any player and team that has injury to deal with. We all go through it and it be great in an ideal world if every team was at 100% all the time, all players want to test themselves against the best! But as far as Brock is concerned.......Gysberts surely deserves his spot this week and he will show that this pick as has been proven with the Grimes/Trav swap will be gold for the Dees and we will come out winners. That is all the satisfaction we need. I appreciated Brock for his hard at it approach but it was obvious that he had serious limitations (SPEED!) and it got worse as time went on. Pride in the jumper saw me still wanting Brock at the club but as soon as he decides to jump like that...it's farewell and hope it works in our favor.....which it will! Also, NEVER put Trav Johnstone in the same basket as Brock McLean - Trav was a super player to watch (yes inconsistent which he still is) but you would have to be a pretty sad demon to have not enjoyed watching him. Refer to 2002 when he was on fire and awesome in that classic final we blew against the Crows....if only he had the same work rate as a Stehpen Tingay.....ah Stinger you were a star!!

Chris Dawes.....PLEASE!!!! Surely there is enough possible talent with us already...Watts, Jurrah, Pettered, Hughes add in Fitzpatrick as a project, why would we need to add MORE project players - Walker, Westhoff...CMON!

The best way to sort this out......not allow so many set shots at goal, ie - too many marks inside 50. Allowing marks inside 50 and set shots see's the opposition allowed plenty of time to set up the zone, if not then Grimey can take the extra ball straight away and get it out of there!

Who are the 4 that voted for Scully and Moloney (2 each)....seriously.....WAKE UP!

Try 2006.....2007 was Geelong's drought breaker in that 100 point classic!!! When is our drought breaker!!!! I'm very thirsty!

Will also add that MacDoonald could be an inclusion.....Sylvia and Rivers need to do more. Rivers probably played out of position....plays the free many so well as opposed to one on one......