Pates

I've been getting a womans health pop up when I go to Demonland, is this something you guys have agreed to?

I definitely thought about that, but there were no doubts for me at times back when he was captain there were periods in the game where he had no way of influencing, in fact if he dropped back into defense I felt it was almost a white flag. That said I completely agree that he has been one of our best ever captains at the club. I have my preferences, but I wouldn't be angry if he was chosen to lead the boys.

I can see Howe and Watts rotating through the midfield and HFF much the way Green and Bruce did. The commentators kept screaming for Howe to play as a permanent forward but I felt he played his most productive football under Neeld doing midfield stints. Fact is that gone as the days of traditional forward line set ups as forwards have to play up the ground with flooding and the forward press. That said I see Hogan and Dawes as our main targets that stay closer to goal and Clark, Fitzy, and Howe/Watts as our link ups forwards. All are good marks, Watts is probably the only one that perhaps falls down in that capacity but his kicking is exceptional and deliver on a platter for goal kickers. Fitzy will need to improve his rucking to hold a best 22 spot, but he's shown he's got some real talent as a forward. I hope it's not similar to what we saw from Miller for a year. [EDIT] And I do think we need to nail down a crummer. I'd really like it to be Blease, but crummers can no longer just sit at the feet of the big forwards, they need to play up the ground and sometimes break the lines, we all know he has the speed but does he have the tank?

If Roos was able to get Jurrah back and had him playing committed football, that would be the cherry on top for me. It would be a good story to get him and help him get his life on track again, but for me he is not a required element to our success.

Not suggesting he'd be the bloke but what's Wheels up to these days? Has he headed back to NT or is he Melbourne based? Only reason why I ask is because Flash always spoke very highly of how much of a role model he was and he could be an interesting person to have as a bit of a mentor.

I like Dawes, and his leadership abilities are obvious. But I would rather we have a midfielder as a sole captain as forwards come have really quite days whereas someone like Jones you can get a guaranteed contribution even if all you see of him is his bald head diving into packs. I also think Dawes needs to have an injury free year before we have him as our captain, same goes for Clark. Both of them ooze leadership but I just want them out on the park to start off with.

The football side of things makes me want him, but this guy sounds like he has serious behaviour issues and we don't need someone trying to fracture the culture we're trying to build.

Perhaps Roos will start by not lumping the weight of the world onto 18 year old rookies and actually allow them to develop organically, rather than expecting them to be Chris Judd in their first year and giving up on them when they aren't. Let the kid have some pre-seasons into his body before you declare him a failure.

Westhoff's goal needs to be added on to the GOTY list. Not only was it freakish but it almost sparked the Power (no pun intended) to come back at the cats.

Doesn't sound good for the Rev. I hope he has a speedy and full recovery, he is a Demon in my eyes no matter where he's come from or where he's gone.

Normally when a player is out of contract I'm either concerned he will go or will be happy to see the back of him. With Jack I genuinely don't care either way, I just don't think Jack and Connors have handled this in a way that sees him in a positive light. Every comment on "how much he loves the club" or how "loyal he is", seems to be followed with a but and thus what is said is irrelevant. All indications seem to be he'll stay, when he does I don't want hollow comments I want him to state that he wants to be one of the guys to make the MFC great again. That's the sort of person I want.

Shultz for me, although I think it was over the line! NikNats was put in the A) because of the context and B) the AFL is in love with him. But should definitely go to the best mark full stop. Abletts go is nothing short of incredible, it gets my vote.

I think that's the core issue, we have been so woefully bad the last few years that really if our performances don't qualify us then just scrap it because no one ever will. For the record I actually couldn't give a stuff about it. We are getting pick 2 in this years draft, many agree that we have the makings of a very good spine it's just the midfield is completely useless....at the moment. Paul Roos is proven to be very good at getting the most out of under-performing players, we have many first round draft picks in our team, and I fully expect us to be aggressive at trade time. If Port Adelaide has taught the competition anything this year it's that things can be turned around quite quickly and Roos himself said earlier this year that it's not as hard a job as some might think. The AFL's worst nightmare is that they give us the PP and next year we finish 10th and above, and look like we're on the rise. I really wish they'd just abolished it altogether.

I think most of us will agree that Trengove will be released from the burden of captaincy, I think it was a risky move to install two young captains and while it has failed it really does sound like at the time they were the best fit for it. I think that has changed, I reckon Roos will continue with the co-captains model and I think there are more candidates now then where we were two years ago. Jones, Garland, and Grimes are my top candidates. Grimes has copped a fair bit during his time as captain but I feel he has kept his head held high and early in the year was playing some good footy. He lost it when he came back from injury but I reckon he has the respect of many of the players for the way he has conducted himself during such a rotten time. Garland has been amazing this year, and over his career for that matter. He understands the benefit of hard work because that's exactly what he's had to do to get where he is, through really serious injuries that have threatened to end his career he has managed to become our leading defender for the year. Don't need to say much about Jones. Everyone knows he gives everything when he's out on the park and just when you think he's cooked he finds a little more to carry the boys out there. I would actually be quite happy if all three were made co-captains, but reckon the most likely options will be Grimes and Jones, for consistency with keeping one of the previous captains and because I think Jones has earned the respect of every player at the club and probably every player in the competition. Garland to be VC. Frawley, Dawes, and Clark are all very capable leaders but the latter two need to focus on staying out on the park. Chip I feel needs to refocus on being one of the competitions elite FB, and I feel he'd be better suited to taking a back seat. All three make the leadership group and I reckon you throw one of Trenners or Jordie to top the group off.

I get the feeling that he's not one to leave a job unfinished, he will get this club on the right tracks and ill be surprised if that only takes two years. I'd expect he'll be around for 3 years and if there's a premiership within his grasp he'll go around again.

Thanks Craigy, if you don't hang around (which I would be more than happy if you did) I hope you get another opportunity to be a senior coach at the Lions or WC. Tough job to take on but you did it with honour.

First opportunity to get on D-Land today, I am in a state of euphoria. First off the achievement of coaxing someone to our club in such a dark time, secondly the fact that others were chasing him and we beat them, and thirdly (and most positively) the calibre of the man we've got. We have to be careful about our messiah complex coming on show,but there is no reason why we shouldn't get excited because this guy did game changing things at the swans and he will generate positivity around the club. Jack Watts will stay, and if he doesn't lift under Roos then he will never be the player he's capable of being. The big question now comes who will be built as his successor? Great work PJ!

I thought we agreed that anyone that posted those words were to be immediately banned. About a month ago I called it that Woosha to Brisbane could happen, could well be on the cards. Re: Roos this could be one of the longest waits for Dees fans.

Definitely support Tecomas bid to be Maccas free and I love this latest protest.

My sentiments exactly, if the AFL has managed to get us Paul Roos and more stable then a PP would just be a massive bonus that IMO I don't think we desperately need.

I meant to mention that today showed what the Demon Army could be in the right situation. Got a few jumping around like the pommy inspiration and more importantly had people having fun and getting into it.

3/4 of it was good to watch, just that one quarter was pure and utter poo. I was glad to see Davey play well in his final match in red and blue, shame he couldn't get a goal but he was one of our better players. It looked like some players wanted to be out there and others didn't, those who did should be proud of the fight they showed. I thought Jetta showed a bit as well and might've earned himself another crack at it, under a different coach he might just turn it around. Sellar did a sterling job coming in for Dawes at the last minute. Highlight was Jack Vineys goal, followed by Howes last minute MOTY nomination. 2013 done, I really hope we've finished our time down the bottom, bring on 2014!

Not wanting to to hijack this thread into another debate about the priority pick but I couldn't give a stuff about it. I want to win, if that means we don't get a priority pick then so be it. Some of the changes that are going on are genuinely exciting. The entire fabric of the club is being turned upside down and I couldn't be happier.

I have to wonder how many wod get on board as members next year if we pulled this off. Surely many of those who have been on the fence would get on board, if we get an extra 2000-3000 members that would essentially cover his extra $$$$.

A terrible way to bow out. But congrats to him on a very successful career, there was a time where he was Ports livewire and barometer, as for his time at Melbourne I truly believe he was an excellent role model for the likes of Jack Viney, and from all reports he brought a bit of light into a locker room in a dark time. All the best for the future D-Rod.