Tarax Club

With medium to tall forwards going down like nine pins this season. Who knows? Last man standing Josh Shache, may have his Steven Bradbury moment sooner than some folk think. In the meantime we suggest he billets with the aforementioned Steven May for ‘intensity’ training over next summer. Plus engage the ‘personal training services’ of Brent Moloney’s Gym (bring your on punching bag). All invitations though to socially fraternize with those two gentlemen should however be respectfully declined.

BT in prison strip running around after Danny Hughes at Her Majesty’s MCG gave the keystone cops a run for their money. We were most amused! Robbie Flower took a terrific pack mark and kicked a goal (of course) at the Jolimont end during that match.

Nice of the Bullies to meet Casey halfway at Box Hill City oval. At least the venue is neutral. Assume Whitten oval needs a deep clean and splash of paint after Mad Monday? Or is it booked for obedience training after failure to follow El Luke’s team rules, game plan etc?

Bub, always been in the Tom MacDonald camp from the beginning of his footy career. From back in the dark ages as a developing key defender. Through his remarkable transition to a key forward in 2018 and his terrific contributions to the '21 flag season. Given the physical attrition on his body (he has had lengthy injury spells in the last three seasons). My concerns are; 1. Does he still cover the ground defensively and still retain his once elite endurance running? 2. Is he able impact contests with sufficient mobility and agility especially when the ball hits the deck? 3. Can he get sufficient separation from his opponents to take the ball in the air cleanly? His performances at Casey post operation and recovery have definitely been encouraging. The signs particularly from last round suggest Tom is playing with more freedom and authority. If he is able to tick the boxes I'd be elated for him to turn back the clock for 3 seasons.

By the numbers; 6 Jack Viney 5 Bayley Fritsch 4 Christian Petracca 3 Alex Neal-Bullen 2 Clayton Olivier 1 Angus Brayshaw Honourable mentions; Jake Bowey Edward Langdon Steven May Judd McVee Kysaiah Pickett Joel Smith Special mention; Jake Melksham all the best for a speedy recovery. Follow that dream Jake. Adjudication; Free kick deferential was favourable, play in front boys. Razor Ray deserves his cheque. Opposition hyperbole watch; Buddy farewell! It's been a long and spectacular career. Broadcasters; No real complaints. Adequate and none intrusive overall. From the director's chair; Admirable resilience and ability to arrest opposition momentum swings. As Goody says it is a 'hallmark' of this year's team. Go deep into September Demons!

The question on many DL watchers lips WWSW, Is with Jake Melksham a likely out who will come into the QF team? Options appear limited with successive season ending injuries to forwards in recent weeks. Like for like is not going to happen, so other options will need to be explored. Tom MacDonald also has had an impact since return from injury, kudos to the recovery and re-conditioning staff. But is he capable of performing like Harrison Petty and Bayley Fritsch and positively impacting in a high stakes final? Surprisingly, Brody Grundy has done his chances no harm of a senior recall, based on his most recent Casey outing.

Agree Katrina, Indubitably his best performance yet in Demon colours. Though of course, in the VFL competition against a lower rated 'wildcard' opponent. Brody certainly had a more dynamic, energetic edge to his performance. With greater endurance, he had the mobile ruckman - midfielder hybrid happening with a cameo pinch hit forward role thrown in.

Yeah emerged from my mineshaft to find the world remains the same.

joeboy - pulled the rug!

Not a heist! Simply keeping up Demonland tradition as joeboy has much deserved hols. Bowey - choose correct options Brayshaw - prominent last half Chandler - quieter game today Fritsch - le freak chic Gawn - reserved some gas Hunter - in under over Langdon - mops up mess Laurie - links up creatively Lever - always the competitor May - doing the hulk! McVee - silk with ball Melksham - fingers crossed Jake Neal - Bullen contest to contest Oliver - warming to task Petracca - physicality with grace Pickett - magic last quarter Rivers - covers the territory Salem - much better later Smith - the classic utility Sparrow - back burner today Turner - sound in defense Van Rooyen - ruck pinch hitter Viney - true grit guy Moniz-Wakefield - doing Territory proud

Young Dan fractured his arm/wrist/hand late in the season? Kudos for not only mending and rehabilitating quickly but absolutely shining on return to the playing field. Thought his performance last week was mature and exhibited him as a super talent. Match committee were obviously impressed too. Three years now finishing top four with some terrific young players now getting their due opportunity. Ebullience meter is going..

Kev time to upgrade than! With the Demons firmly in the finals firmament and Father’s Day omnipresent.

Set up is very similar to accessing replays of AFL matches. Scroll down AFL homepage you will see a line of links to SANFL WAFL VFL etc blink and you will miss it!

Given the coincidental timing of both games this afternoon. Casey watchers will be ‘twixt and ‘tween. Kev you can go split screen in the home theatre! If my recollection serves me well? You can access VFL replays on the AFL website.

A win takes the team to 64 premiership points that is a good omen.

By the numbers; 6 Jake Lever 5 Jack Viney 4 Jake Melksham 3 Trent Rivers 2 Max Gawn 1 Tom Sparrow Honourable mentions; Angus Brayshaw Steven May Alex Neal-Bullen Christian Petracca Christian Salem Joel Smith Special mention; Judd McVee - Luke Breust started like a house on fire but young fella extinguished the spark. Adjudicators; Boundary umpire who lost his whistle and glasses receives this week's Specsavers voucher. Chelsea Roffey deserves a bunch of pink carnations. Broadcasters; Late in the game after the Demons had wrested control of the game, Luke Darcy was still rabbiting on about Hawthorn as a team on the rise. In the heat of the kitchen flat as unleavened bread. From the director's chair;

After two recent sightings on the extended emergency bench the search is on.

Layzie aside from McDuff there’s some troubled characterisations you’ve drawn on; Tybalt may be ‘king of the cats, sleek yet violent’. (Danger got that role?) Orthello consumed by jealously kills his lover and himself. (All’s well Clarry is back...). King Lear spirals into destitution and insanity.(Peter Jackson stepped in). Alternatively when associating Olivier with Shakespeare, we prefer these guys; Henry V rallies the troops, Puck has wit and magical abilities and Prospero’s a wizard who gets sweet poetic revenge at the end of the season finale.

A fair summation of where Josh sits DeeMee . To paraphase Paul Simon 'A man sees what he wants to see and disregards the rest'. Try not to pull the blinds down myself. Of course we have favourites who seemingly do no wrong and those we have less esteem for who appear to do no right. Not the best game from Josh last round at Princess Park. But he is a clever player who can read the flight of the ball, position himself well and is normally a long, accurate kick. Like a number of his peers, the goal kicking gyroscope was awry last Sunday and he failed to kick a major. Might surprise a few if he got another go. Ditto Luke Dunstan.

Media fawning over Carlton is nauseating!

Cheers for the update. Is your avatar post '64? Only time I saw RDB play was at Princess Park just prior to his retirement as captain coach. On tonight's appearance at the 'G to quote PJK ‘Can a soufflé rise twice?’

Just announced this morning, Kysaiah Pickett, Jake Bowey, Jacob van Rooyen and Trent Rivers were all named in the extended list of 44 for the AFLPA U/22 Squad. All these young men worthy nominations for the 2023 AFLPA U/22 Team. May their terrific contributions to the Mighty Demons continue deep into the season.

That was impressive coaching by Goody and one of Steven May's best performances for the season. Curnow barely got a touch. Adam Tomlinsom was on McKay who was experiencing a patch of the goal scoring yips. At the start of the game I thought this is 'A' about but as the match unfolded it was a masterstroke. Curnow, the more dangerous player was totally negated by May. McKay got on the end of a few and kicked accurately but returned to his inaccurate ways as the evening wore on. Joel Smith played as a defensive forward, not prolific but there were some impressive cameos in the general play. Some posters have downplayed the game as an unimpressive spectacle. As my only attendance for the season so far (I'm very much hoping the Demons go to the season decider). I was impressed, the 'anaconda mode' was switched full on (team contest and defense #1). Carlton were starved for oxygen and never really were a threat.

Guy's gotta eat! but chasing leather is the main go. DEE fence I was going to add a moderation clause. Hopefully Tracc will abide by the club's dietary guidelines.

By the numbers; 6 Angus Brayshaw 5 Christian Petracca 4 Jack Viney 3 Max Gawn 2 Alex Neal-Bullen 1 Lachie Hunter Honourable mentions; Jake Bowey Kade Chandler Kysaiah Pickett Joel Smith Tom Sparrow Jacob Van Rooyen Special mention; Jake Melksham May the late season renaissance continue. Must have crashed the umpire's mad monday party last season. Not to have been given a free in the last quarter. No goals but five tackles! Adjudication; see above Broadcasters; Enjoyed the balanced commentary basking in the lovely sunny afternoon. From the director's chair; Given the number of slips and spills by players at Blundstone Arena, on what seemed a perfect surface. The club should consider getting the boot-studder out of retirement, modern screw-ons of course are preferred.