Deetective Sgt. Taggert

Didn't the hawks bring that ex-Port Adelaide player Stuart Dew out of retirement for this exact reason?

It's all spelt out here: http://demonland.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=22031&pid=362248&st=0entry362248

Yeah, our inability to stick tackles yesterday was frustrating. But this is exactly the sort of thing we can improve upon and is what I was referring to before in how we still have much scope for improvement whereas they seem to already be a well-drilled side yet only just managed to beat us...

Their midfield was certainly impressive yesterday and they definately boast some young talent, but think at this stage their current performance relies on older heads, especially Harvey who I doubt will be around long enough for them to have serious crack at a premiership. I really haven't seen enough of them this year to make a balanced opinion (and I'm probably still bitter from losing to them yesterday) but I think it fairly obvious we have more 'potential' superstars and a stronger nucleus of young key position playings emerging (Jurrah, Watts, Petterd, Garland, Frawley etc..) Moreover I think we have the capacity to improve ourt game significantly on how we played today, which I would expect would blow them apart in the future. Even the Roos fans in my vicinty seemed frustrated with the way North was playing depsite it winning them the game... They were more consistant this year compared to us but got toweled up every time by the top four teams, while we almost beat the top team twice and lost narrowly to the dogs, suggesting out game plan is superior for mind.

Agree. So good has McKenzie been this year I think there's little doubt that he was a major factor in why Junior was forced into a slightly premature retirement.

It speaks volumes of Scully when he can still run out games till the end of the season in his first year. Absolute professional athlete who I can see leading the charges into a grand final in 5 years time

Scott - Youth excitement envy? Does this guy have to whinge at every media interview that his young players don't get talked up in the media? They really are in desperate need of some excitement thats for sure if they are to survive as a club. Great to know for once we at least have the off field component well and truly sorted and just need to ensure we keep kicking goals on the field, literally and figuratively... Is the fact they play a relatively boring chocking zone that the players get lost in the confusion or that they are overlooked because they still rely on the same old heads to get them through?

Scully's ability to run out games to the very end of the season in his first year spells trouble for our future opposition once he irons out the flaws in the his game and builds up a bit more bulk. The midfield was where this game was decided and its where we still need a lot of work, especially at the stoppages. (injuries to key players hurt us here - Davey, Moloney. McDonald at different times this year). I agree with Bailey that apart from a few additional players (e.g. marking forward target) we have the core of a potent attach and strong defence and have the elements to build an awesome midfield, but this will perhaps take a little bit longer for these guys to learn the ins and outs of the midfield and to work as a unit.

Agree, was gutted to lose today especially after not be able to convert our chances in the third quarter not too mention that [censored] decision to not allow Jurrahs goal at the end of the last quarter. That really sapped some of our momentum going into the last quarter but again our inability to convert at the start of the final quarter was costly and extremely frustrating too. Hate North so much after losing to them twice this year but they've had a better year than us in terms of consistency and deserved to win to day on the back of a four quarter effort. Only thing I take from the game is that they still seem heavily reliant on older heads to get them through, many who surely won't be part of a future premiership tilt, while much of our 'nucleus' will be around for several years yet. Most annoying that Corey Jones became the hero for them, should have been a victory for J-Mac.

I've even convince a mate to come to his first AFL game ever

Here here! We've got to conquer some of our hoodoo teams/venues and after failing last week we need to beat North to make up for it

Went to school with Waite, didn't even know at the time he was a chance of being recruited to an AFL club, caught up with him in South Africa at the exhibition match in 2008. A useless post, sorry just bored at work... Oh and would see no chance of us securing his services at this stage

All they need now is a less horrible uniform and people might to start taking them seriously. Honestly they look like a bunch of surfers out there, especially that player with the blond curly locks...albeit playing some good footy

Hard to see them parting with Henderson after only picking him up last year, but I'd be pretty happy with a deal like that

Hard to see much sense in this trade, Kozi is too old, inconsistant, and has never realised his potential (like too many others on our list already) so you wouldn't think he'd be on the FD's radar but as an interim measure it may have some basis in reality

Yeah good point. I thought Morabito looked impressive too and was able to impose himself physically on a couple of occasions

I was also thinking the same thing watching the game tonight, when Freo are on song they look an impressive outfit, but I guess so do most teams...

Yeah I agree, I think Essendon would be in a better bargaining position and would be more desperate to secure his services. I honestly don't think its worth our while chasing him too hard given our current crop of mid-fielders but hey if he's keen to join Melbourne because he sees the better potential in our list then why not and some of ours may not develop as expected anyway.

I sure hope Millers team ethics have rubbed off on the playing group despite his limited appearances this season. What an amazing gesture of support for his teammates at Casey and fair enough too, as hard as it must have been I can see how he would feel that a token farewell game with the Dees would be less satisfying than playing in the finals with the guys he has played alongside with for most of the season. Respect.

Here here! Not only that he was probably on the cusp of selection a couple of weeks back anyway so well and truly deserves a spot I would think

While we couldn't even conjure up a victory over the wooden spooners at our home turf... I made a point of their performance against the top four compared to our in another thread and I think its reflection of the strength of our gameplan when executed well but North has still pulled off a few good victories of late hence why I rate them slightly higher now.

Is this the same bunch of sooks who put in a good performance for Harvey's 300th to beat West Coast at Subiaco and is currently a game and a half ahead of us on the ladder? While they have most times been flogged by the teams in the top 6 and done a good job opf beating up on teams in the bottom eight I'm starting to think more highly of the Roos given what they have achieved this year despite a relatively young list.

I meant perhaps its may have been slightly disruptive in terms of mental preparation for what was a significant milestone game, but yeah unlikely I agree

maybe the players are playing poorly due to some disquiet over Juniors forced retirement?! Pure speculation and we always play poorly here but who know?

Haha, almost choked on my lunch laughing at this, least we can still have a sense of humour while watching the perpetuation of a ridiculous hoodoo at AAMI