Dee-licious

Won best on. Some really good performances across the board. Loved the work of 3, 5, 17, 18 and 31!

McDonald: Different feel at the Dees 11.18AM 26-6-2013 Melbourne defender Tom McDonald has told SEN that there is a different feel around the club in the wake of Mark Neeld’s departure as senior coach. “It was a bit of a shock, but then because there has been so much media around what was going to happen, some people were just waiting for it to happen,” he said. “Now that it’s happened, it’s done and people can move on past it.” “Neil Craig is a different voice and he’s been fantastic.” “There is definitely a different feel around the club, but it was a shock to happen on that Monday morning when we came in.” With speculation and media scrutiny engulfing the club over the past few months, McDonald said that it has been refreshing to not have every step monitored by journalists and reporters. “It was nice to come in after the game on Sunday and not have media there first thing for recovery,” he said. “To be honest it doesn’t really impact on how we play if there is media there or there is stuff written in the paper. I tend to just worry about what we are doing on the field.” “It is nice to have the fanfare off, but until we start winning it’s still going to hang around.” McDonald is one of the Demons up and coming young stars and was handed the tough task of standing St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt in his 250th game at the weekend. Despite the daunting task, McDonald said that it was a challenge that he enjoyed. “He’s a massive worker, everyone knows that – we have all seen it, read about it,” he said. “I try to pride myself on endurance running as wells so I knew that we were going be in for a good battle running up and down the field.” McDonald said that he focused heavily on his concentration levels in the week leading up to the game. “The big thing I focused on with the coaches was concentration, because a little half a second slip up, he’s smart enough to know when to lead and where to lead when you have a mistake like that,” he said. “That’s probably harder than the physical stuff – the concentration for 120 minutes not to make a little slip up so that he gets you on a little lead 20m out and gets an easy goal on you.” “I was exhausted by the end of the game, and I think he was too.”

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH The sky is falling! The sky is falling! I like your thinking focusing on our mid issue, but maybe you should be offering one fo the other key forwards (Clark or Dawes) not Hogan.

Thank you.

Sorry for the ignorance but what is OB? Thanks

Quick - what lottery numbers should I get for this week!

Thanks Bush Demon (and KC of course)

From Twitter: @melbournefc: Casey lead Coburg 3.5.23 to 1.2.8. Stats: Gent 9, Pollard, 7, Nicholls, Sellar 6. Goal kickers: Hogan, Hughes, Best singles.

The Demonland Rookies are showing up their more experienced cousins with an average of 1825 and a league ranking of 6317 Team Name Av Points Points % P 1 Cellar Dwellers 2,036.25 24,435 112.4 32 2 Az_tek Warriors 1,978.58 23,743 112.11 32 3 Vineys Vindicators 1,965.00 23,580 108.86 32 4 Goobers 1,959.25 23,511 111.83 28 5 Making Headlines 1,999.17 23,990 110.96 28 6 Jiagars 1,991.00 23,892 109.4 28 7 Roy's Boys 1,941.75 23,301 107.39 28 8 Crazy 1,789.67 21,476 104.06 24 11 Mega_Watts 1,945.50 23,346 101.34 16

I'm loving the work of the two train on's we had in the pre season in Jack Billings and Lewis Taylor. Sheed has been a stand out and I'm also agreeing on Dunstan. Boyd is great but not needed. Dawes and Clark are still young and have long careers in front of them and we have Hogan. I don't think we will take Aish - the same sort that Neeld got rid of. Very early call - we take Sheed in the first round and Taylor as our second (if he doesnt go to Geelong)

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-06-02/mark-neeld-postmatch Postmatch conference. He's better today than usual.

Neeld was asked if there was anyone coming back this week - all he mentioned was Watts. So is take that as an in. Assuming this: In: Watts Out: Toump (inj) I know there are a few deserving to be dropped but Subi is open and they will want to play our runners.

You just jinxed him He's run out the game really well. Same with Blease. Much better than I thought they'd be endurance wise at this stage. However it is affecting their disposal. If Gawn needs a week off - Id be happy with Fitz manning the goal square. He's not there yet but showing enough for the future. Also Best, he'll be on a rookie list at least next year And Anderson, Savage and Grimley are great players!

Agree on the comments re Gillies and Rodan.

Hogan doing enough around the ground. Good work rate but only 1 good delivery in to him (which he goaled from)

Ped has looked ok in the second half down back. Bleese isn't sticking tackles but looks great when he has the ball. But I agree no one is banging the door down.

I dont understand why Garland was on JJK and Darling at times. Surely that is Frawley and McDonald's men. I thought he was done by constant delivery to the forward line and good delivery too (especially when he was on Le Cras). Remember that Garland didnt play down back last year and hes a hell of a lot better than Gillies.

The old Alistair Clarkson. Drop you and bring you in as a late change.

I agree with your sentiments on Gawn and Jamar but I want to give Gawn one more then bring him in against GWS (A Phil Hughes - Rob Quiney situation). Bail I assume they want to have another game to make sure he's right. In: Tappy, Dunn (I assume they will bring him back), McKenzie Out: Gillies, Rodan, Nicho. I'd love to see Byrnes and Sylvia put on notice and let blease have a week in the Casey mids but I think they won't make that many changes.

If the mids can get more clearances we won't need them. One of Gillies or Sellar won't be dropped and that gives us 4 talks down back (Fraw, McD, Garl). Be an interesting game.

No unfortunately. We can upgrade a rookie mid season but for the first time ever we are cursing our full bill of health

Sounds bulletproof in the interview. Such a good media performer - wish he was half the CEO as he is a spokesman

Both interviews - not much on the players - a lot on the coaches and the internals. Hmmmmmm Everyone seems safe. Maybe we need to read further into this. Maybe there is a lot of internal blame on the players not on the team.

Very true. Surprised that Neeld isn't doing any. My big take aways: We are lost - seriously he's not answered anything straight - he's not prepped. He says the players want to change the culture Mentioned the football club, not our football club Lots of support for Royal Board is clear in what they want (performance wise) get the playing side in order Didn't seem too happy about Watts comments during the week - said that Jones and Grimes have shown leadership on the field and others need to get aboard. He says we have the players to move forward even though it is hard to justify. Jones and Grimes keep getting talked up Supports Neeld Recruiting - we don't want to be a revolving door in selection and other guys put their hands up in the nab cup This is the lowest ebb of a football club Craig has ever been in But he wants to be part of it for the long hall (doesn't want to coach though) Next week we need to have non negotiable - energy, intensity, if its not at the level next week we keep going

Nothing we couldn't answer as supporters. He is walking around every question and SEN aren't pressing for their answers. At the moment he is talking about pressure when he was asked what the team stood for.