Deetective Sgt. Taggert

Great work guys, inspiring stuff!

Would it be in the clubs interest to admit this or not?

I thought we'd already cut him loose years ago due to financial constraints? Or was he reinstated to appease Dawes?

My grandfather was a powerful figure in my family and he started supporting the Demons on the encouragement of a fellow servicemen in WWII. Which at the time was probably an easy decision! So I have been a supporter for as long as I can remember but my earliest memories are from 1989, so just missed the excitement of '87. Something I wonder how things would have been different if my grandfather hadn't have reeled me in before my father, a cat supporter, could indoctrinate me. But then he still had to suffer through multiple grand final losses in the late 80s early 90s before the joy finally came a decade later...and again...and again... Never once thought of switching sides and never will.

Oh and I used to always play back pocket, but I'm not fat goddammit! Quite the opposite in fact, but I was often pitched against the fat kid, which meant I was always able to peel off and play a sweeper role. Even though I din't have the best skills or endurance (hence why they put me there) I could read the play, and young kid are so predictable, always kicked long towards the goals...amazing how many easy touches I got in the goal square!

You'd like to think Rodan can bring us some inside info, although with a new coach it may not be of much use.

I thought it was 30 degrees up there?! Or is that just the players sweat accumulating on the ground?

No. Can't wait to see what a new look team has to offer in the season proper. Especially a forward line of Clark and Dawes.

I was thinking the same thing when I saw this. Should 31 become the captain's guernsey? Therefore it will only be earned through commitment and proven ability, etc.

It seems like such a simple approach really - to perform in AFL against the big boys you need to train against the big boys. We have now recruited the big boys to be pit against the rest of the squad in readiness for the opposition...oh and no doubt the experience and knowledge transfer helps! That's not to say they haven't also been recruited for a specific role in the 22 either....

Encouraging to hear that the delistings this year appear to have been well handled, at least that's how Petterd seemed to feel: http://www.afl.com.au/tabid/208/default.aspx?newsid=150465

"Never believe anything until it has been officially denied"... Wellingham: "I know nothing!!!"

That sounds a big stretch to get all those teams to agree to those terms. We could easily trump that deal if we really wanted Boak.

I also don't believe we are tanking for a minute. My point was more around perceptions. We were perceived to be tanking in 2009 but this time around we are not despite a similar situation regarding high draft picks. Just shows how fickle perceptions can be.

What I find curious is that: Bailey plays defenders in the forward line (i.e. warnock vs Tigers 2009) = tanking Neeld play multiple defenders in the forward line = building versatility

At this point in time I would also be happy with just the one. But a dynasty would be something else indeed!

Can we do a Hawthorn a la 2008? Or would we rather wait and build a dynasty like Geelong...

Try refreshing the tab or using a different browser. That has worked for me in the past...

This one is probably our best chances of pinching a win before the bye. Bombers are due for a loss and I'd like to think the players would have some confidence knowing we beat them the last two time we met. Coming off a game against GWS doesn't help them either and we will rightly be given no chance. But haven't said that. Pretty much agree with your prediction.

Didn't Neeld effectively do this in his first post-match press conference!? “I am not going to go down a similar road and continue to put blind faith in players - no way, absolutely no way. And that’s fair enough. That’s not a threat. It’s not anything other than being honest, and that’s what the players were told."

I would certainly hope we give it our best crack, especially if we lose/move on Moloney or Slyvia...

Lyon also may not have been interested in coming to a team in Melbourne which would have required more time and effort compared to Freo which essentially had most of the cattle already in place to make a push for a premiership in the next few years...

Wrong thread?! This looks like it belongs here

Its almost like these guys have become football shock jocks...spout the most extreme views in order to provoke an emotional response in order to gain/maintain media and public attention

It also shows how bad our defensive structure were under Bailey. How many times did a commentator say, "that was an inch from disaster..."