binman

Also lucky their boss doesn't mind them posting on Demonland in work hours.

Hope springs eternal that breaking that connection to Collingwood will cause an inexorable decline in support for the pies.

Having Mt Scopus as neighbours can only be a good thing, particularly if we are sincere about working with the community. One of the things the dees have lacked in my time is a sense of connection to a specific locality based community. In the 70s all Vic clubs bar us and Fitzroy (and perhaps the swans - Lakeside felt a bit disconnected from South Melbourne) - played and trained surrounded by community. Glenferrie, Linton St, Windy Hill, KP, Princess Park, Arden Street, Punt Road, Whitten Oval, Victoria Park, Lakeside all gave clubs a sense of place, and a natural fan base that to greater or lesser extent remains an important part of their identity. It's no suprise clubs that have moved from their traditional home ground (or in the saint's case returned home) have looked to replicate that community focused model - the hawks at Waverley Park, and soon dingley, the hangar at tulla. The pies are the exception, but am I right to think they still have their admin at Victoria Park? A training base at Caulfield gives us an incredible opportunity to parachute into an established, thriving community - unlike say the hawks to VFL Park and the bombers at tulla where there were new, still developing communities. Building really strong, meaningful connections with our organisational neighbours - MRC, Monash and Mount Scopus is an absolute no brainer, as is connecting with the terrific local footy clubs in the surrounding area. Make those connections and the connection to the broader Caulfield community will organically develop. And that community will become a source of future supporters and members for decades to come in the way Hawthorn still benefit from the glenferrie connection despite leaving that area 40 years ago.

The prizemoney for women's boxing in Australia is so bad I only watched Tayla's last bout because Kayo paid me to view.

I'd take that bet. I know bugger all about boxing, let alone women's boxing, but I suspect she's made very little money as a boxer. Im guessing the prizemoney for women's boxing in Australia is next to nothing.

Love it Red. Really great ideas. I'm in the south west but would go to such an event in a heartbeat. There's even a link to the greatest racehorse ever - Phar Lap, who was called "The Red Terror," and "Big Red". The Red and Blue Terror stakes? The Big Red and Blue Cup? With Caulfield racetrack right next to Caulfield station it is incredibly accessible - particularly for people on perhaps the two most populated rail lines, Dandenong/Pakenham and Frankston. But it's easy for me to get there too. I'm on the Laverton line which continues onto Frankston, so I wouldn't even need to change trains. The other opportunity is building a relationship with Monash's Caulfield campus. Perhaps let them use the ground, or offer internships for their sports or physio departments. Promote the dees to the students, many of whom are international students who likely don't have a team. It's a brilliant site for us. The sooner we sort it the better.

Precociously talented but prone to the occasional rush of blood and rash shot?

Maybe, maybe not. Yes she has struggled with shoulder issues, but there is a correlation between fitness and the risk injury and its possible her lack of fitness contributed to her reinjuring her shoulder. But I'll concede that's an unknown and I might be being unfair. As for her boxing career, I'd consider making it a hobby if her last fight is anything to go by.

Just let them go through to the keeper GW. Playing shots just keeps encouraging those frustrating balls just outside off. Play at 'em and they'll keep putting them right there and you'll eventually get out.

At the risk of upsetting her many, deserved, fans I have to admit I'm ambivalent about Tayla leaving. If we can get overs in a trade I have to say I'd be tempted to take it. She is an excellent player, though i think somewhat over rated, and super exciting when on, but I don't think she's ever got fit enough with us. Which really reduces options if she is being double teamed, as is often the case, as a key forward. And at the risk of being unfair I wondered if her sub optimal fitness was a factor in her injury in the first game of last season (she looked completely cooked early on in that game), particularly given her choice to go to the Olympics as a red bull ambassador rather than a full preseason.

Using the term 'full schedule' to describe two games, one of which being an 'in-formal (sic) match simulation' (ie scratch match) at a yet to be determined date and ground, hurts my head. By the by, do our players have to wear a tux against the roos?

In terms of Brown's speed, if he plays a role similar to nibblas role, the critical thing is not acceleration (ie burst speed, or speed off the mark) it's what they call striding speed - ie ability to cover ground, say 80 to 130 metres, at a really good clip. And then the other factor is their ability to do multiple such sprints all game- which is where the need to also have elite aerobic capacity and endurance comes in. I think at least a couple of players could play a similar role at any one time ie it's not inconceivable Brown AND Sharp could play in the same team playing much the same role.

Doubly difficult given being 'linked to quality small forwards in the draft each year' is a strange evidence to use to suggest the club thinks Chandler is a 'jobber'. For one thing he is more a flanker than a crumbing forward in the Watson mold. And in Koz we already have arguably the best small forward in the AFL. But 'being linked' to players in the draft is not the same as actually selecting a particular player or player type. I mean, we had two high and one late draft pick this year so could have used one to actually select a small forward if we really wanted one. But didn't. Perhaps that is evidence the club thinks Chandler is the best small forward in the AFL.

And ironically some of those who aren't are often the very same people who banged on about the club being in crisis because 'where's there's smoke there's fire' - you know, the general vibe.

Agree. We want Bowser having the last kick inside 50.

Thanks. You're right - that is an interesting article. I really like Peter Ryan, one of the best sport journos I reckon. And it's a good article. But you have to think part of the deal with the Eagles to get the interviews was not being critical of Reid I say that in the context of giving him a complete pass on not coming back in tip top shape, in fact coming back in what sounds like pretty average shape. We've just had the draft, where a huge premium is placed on young men being uber professional and driven. Sure, go home, recharge your batteries and have a good break. But surely minimum expectation foe all players is they do the required work to start the preseason in good shape. I doubt a single demonland poster would give Windsor a pass if he came back in poor shape. And I thought this part of the article was strange: 'The Eagles plan to treat him like any other player – as Reid wants to be treated – but that is not always simple, as some of the issues he might be forced to deal with are different to the average player’s.' By strange I mean, it seems as if the Eagles are not treating him like any other player as returning in good shape is a mimimum expectation of all players and Ryan doesn't suggest he has received any consequences (which is not to say he hasn't).

I agree the jury is still out on Jefferson. But disagree that that his body and form was not adequate to get a game late last season. It appears that perspective is based on him not being selected when there was 'effectively nothing was on the line'. I think that is an incorrect assumption. The exact same argument could have been made about JVR in 2022. But wasn't because few questioned his talent or competitiveness. We were screaming out for a key forward at the end of the 2022 season yet didn't select JVR, despite his good form and seemingly being physically AFL ready, because they obviously prioritised his development - which JVR acknowledged in 2023 was the right call. Yes, jvr only had one season at VFL level, and Jefferson has had two, but he was also miles ahead of jeffo physically when he was drafted. Jefferson's second half of the 2024 VFL season was terrific. He would have acquired himself fine if he had been called up, and on form alone he would have deserved selection. But just as was the case with JVR, the club's focus was his development. So no call up. And no need for any miraculous transformation. It's instructive that Goody had already said Jeffo is very likely to selected early in the 2025 season.

I very much doubt it. Looked completely at sea tge frw times he racked last season.

I can't see Reid staying at the Eagles. Leaving aside the go home factor, they are years away from being a genuine flag contender. Arguably the tigers are closer given their incredible bounty of top end draft picks. Maybe he says, come with me boys, I'll take you on my back to the promised land. But I think it's more likely he'll leave when his contract is up for a Victorian club that is the premiership window. If so, it could be a win win for the Eagles like the Judd - Kennedy scenario as, assuming no injury issues, clubs will pay through the nose for him - and for good reason, kid is a genuine star (though given how AFL ready he was physically, he's pretty close to his ceiling already I reckon- a bit like Ollie Wines when he was drafted). On Kennedy, I just checked the Eagles all time goal kicking list. Incredibly he is leading it by 199 from Darling and 200 from club legend Peter Sumich.

The best kick in the draft someone said I think. XL's leadership was obviously a huge plus fir rhem, unsurprising given we've lost gus and nibbla. But what I found really interesting was Taylor's comment that XL connected with everyone, 'including staff' etc. That sounds very much like gus. Every organisation needs such people.

Well, they wouldn't want to have rely on the Demon shop. They'd have to find it for starters.

He has played 16 AFL games and was an emergency for the Lions' GF side.

Their footy career might go 12 years if they are lucky. If they are even luckier, their post playing stud career might go 50 years. We might have langfords and Lindsay's running around in red and blue for the next 100 years!

Sharp to the wing? Can't see that personally. The more likely role I would have thought is a direct replacement for nibbla. The wing role is very similar in terms of arc to arc running, but is much more offensive, particularly the opposite wing to Langdon, who has been more defensive than most wingers. If Sharp went to the wing he'd be replacing Windsor, who was much more offensive than langers and was an important element in our attacking transition and how we entered our 50 Does Sharp have the right set of skills to replace Windsor? And if there's any thought of XL going to the wing when he eventually comes into the side it doesn't make much sense for Sharp to warm his spot. Better for him to play HHF from the get go and make the role his own. I suspect, given Bowser told me at training that he might get some wing time, he's a more likely candidate to play on the wing in the first third of the season.