Tarax Club

As the curtain closes on the Marrara Stadium stage we're both feeling fortunate and a trifle torn. Living up here remote from the goings on at the centre of the Demon universe. The annual visit by the mighty Dees to the outer antipodes of the AFL world has been a local social and sporting event. Always anticipated with great enthusiasm but given recent history more measured optimism. Will treasure some great memories of past and present players stepping into the limelight. Sometimes sparkling for the briefest of cameos, Liam Jurrah with the ball bouncing it in a graceful arc or the more theatrical heroics of Jack Trengrove athletically jumping at the forward pocket boundary throw-in, late in the last quarter to punch the winning behind against the power. Or the almost galvanising goal from Jayden Hunt's monster torpedo punt. The post-demonic alternatives don't quite have the same appeal, Melbourne in the depth of winter? only if the demons have the will to win. The 3000 km return journey road trip to Alice, scenic, but endlessly overtaking road trains and avoiding wandering grey nomads, steers and other ferals with Gerry constantly taking the p!ss. You would have to question your sanity and dedication to the cause. Well as George Harrison most effusively crooned " All Things Must Pass"?

Any emerging football talent like a Gilbert Macadam or Liam Jurrah would be a recruiting coup from our Central Australian Academy program.

Add Western Bulldogs, Port Adelaide and West Coast Eagles? to that list BBP.

Breaking news which may please many posters. Demons apparently have played their last game at Marrara and the Gold Coast Suns will instead come to Darwin from 2020. Goes with the territory re: AFL concessions to Suns for exclusive access to local recruitment?

# 30 goes alright

Les Parish...

More Fletcher Christian Queue than a man bob...

If it is a full moon ... Tuning in now with a cold Guinness ... Well, it's a Marvelous Melbourne night for Demondance With all the stars out in recovery up at Goscher's (with Crossy) A fantabulous night to make bromance (Angus and Clarrie!) 'Neath the cover of wintry August skies (at the ‘G under lights) And all the fans on the fan sites are railing (Match Night thread) To the sound of the sirens that blow. And I'm trying to please by calling in bets (Dees at a $1.70 for the win) Of every heart- beats true for the Red and the Blue And all the night's magic seems to shout and hush And all the footy boots light seem to shine in your (tackling) crush ... Howling Go you mighty Demons! (with more than a nod to Van the man)

Well we're buoyed by the naming of another demon debutant. Congratulations Kade Chandler. He seemed genuinely excited and grateful for the opportunity going by his interview today. Will be tuned in tomorrow evening fingers crossed for an improved team performance and a worthy debut performance from the young man.

Yes venom and vitriol seem to have given way to resignation and apathy... post- finals back to the trade period and draft for a lift in spirits coming soon watch this space ...

Maxxx!!!!!!

Highlight of the round!!!!! Oscar’s very first gooooooooooooooooal !!!

A 19 year old showing some ticker at long last ..., the rest?

MFC= marginal fumbles collective

Gave it to Pendlebury on a silver platter

Great entry to F50 U/13d’s goal kicking

Kicking back with a cold frothy Guinness and a meat pie (with salad of course!). Come what may. We’re calmly enjoying the best dry season up this way for yonks. Go Dees!

Gee that must be a genuine Mick’s Whips original hope he can make it crack.

Hope that Oskar can gives us something as the performance at Marrara was about as convincing as Paul Rowland v Peter Hudson back in the dark dark ages...

joe boy - back from alice? Jones - lost split second Viney - missed after concussion Fritsch - new pinup boy Salem - solid performer overall Oliver - slotted great goal Harmes - got mojo working Gawn - evolving ruck synergy J. Wagner - rinse repeat re-select Lever - finding way back C.Wagner - workman like performance Brayshaw - bounced back emphatically Hibberd - glimpses of old Lewis - forward line generalissimo Neal-Bullen - incremental improvement noted May - scary scary man Petracca - tantalising cameo christian Jetta - better for run Hunt - more pill needed Petty - hype proceeds performance Frost - darling out muscled Preuss - purple patch only Lockhart - lock down role? MFC - silver lining... somewhere Umpires - back to WA

Groundhog’s season continues, snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. Thought Fritsch was mostly outstanding emerging star in the making. There’s a silver lining inside that cloud ... somewhere.

May was clearly shoved out of the marking contest by Darling allowed Kennedy to take mark virtually unopposed that quarter. Do WCE bring their own umpires also when travelling?

Weetbix Hi-Bran Breakfast of Champions? Contraire SWYL just sugar free black label this AM

In the demon dreamtime legend says the young men of the melbourne mob had been cast out of (the afl) land of plenty (read finals contention). Some believe they were cursed by 666 the devilman’s number, others believed ‘big Gil’ a mysterious malevolent witch doctor had pointed the bone at the whole tribe. Spirits seemingly lost, the boys wandered the sparse desert lands, (the bottom four) where even the local bush mechanics could not get the sputtering reality bus going anywhere. The game plan was roadkill, traditional skills like kicking, marking and handball were disappearing fast and the injury toll continued to rise. Meanwhile on the horizon a flock of tip dwelling opportunistic seagulls (euphemistically known as eagles) hovered expecting some easy prey. Opportunity for payback now arises at the heart of nation contest. Be like the ariperenye beetles demons and leave these pretentious creatures headless in the red dust.

Of course McWilliams Cream Sherry or Port was the budget conscious alternative have no memory of price but dwelt distinctly bottom shelf at all good purveyors of fine fortified wines and spirits.