Mallee Bull

Cheers HT, I don't think I'm ready to read an even bigger thread on Watts if its anything like this one.

Also, I've only been active on Demonland for around 6-7 months, but is it possible to retain this thread is some way, so that in 2 years time when Watts is fully developed and killing it we can bring this back out and laugh at some of the ridiculous comments people have made on here?

Hurley was considered an early number 1 pick, but concerns about his knees from memory dropped him down the order. He's turning out to be a great player. I'd still take Watts over him. Watts is a much better kick, and more athletic and agile. He needs to toughen up and work on his contested marking. Still only 19, patience is a virtue.....:D

No Maric? No McKenzie? But Blease as emergency? really?

Less than 2000 in 20 days? Surely!

After watching Watts last weekend against Brisbane I can't work out why he'd be dropped. Petterd was the stand out marking target that day (a day when we were missing Trengove, Grimes, Davey, Green, Jurrah etc. so the delivery into the fwd line was awful), but Watts did his part. Slotted two nice long range goals from set shots, one from around 50 near the boundary if you don't mind. His boot is a laser, he just lacks good hands in a pack marking situation. But at 19 this isn't surprising. He's steadily getting better and better all the time. Even if he doesn't 'break out' until 2013...he'll still be just 21! The player I was agitated with that day was Bate. My brother has always defended him but even he agreed with me that day, he was awful. His decision making at times lets him down, and the goal he did manage to slot was an awful, mistimed helicopter from 30 odd out. Very concerned about his future ATM. Oh, and Maric for mine, cemented his spot in the 22 that day. He was fantastic when ever he got a chance with the ball.

I'd definitely buy one of those!

Just quietly, have a look at the stats comparing Sandilands, Jolly, Mumford and Jamar for 2010. You may wish to reassess your view on Jamar and if not...well no offence, but you obviously have no idea. http://finalsiren.com/PlayerCompare.asp?SeasonID=2010&Compare=Go&PlayerName1=Mark+Jamar&PlayerName2=Darren+Jolly&PlayerName3=Aaron+Sandilands&PlayerName4=Shane+Mumford&SelectedPlayers=

Seriously, what is it with the hate that people have with Watts? The kid is 19 ffs!? Think about that, really think about that? He's just a boy. Both Riewoldts took several years to get going. KPP's take time to develop - it's that simple. Throughout 2009 Jack Riewoldt was being dubbed as a sub par forward that really needed to lift. That was in his 3rd year. FF 2010, Coleman medalist. Watts has played 2 seasons and is almost a full year younger than Riewoldt was in his 3rd year. Give him time! Similarly, Kosi was considered as possibly the better fwd early on out of himself and Nick Riewoldt. Look how that turned out. If Jack can get another 15+ games into him this year to increase his confidence and to develop his game, then add another 3-4 Kilo's to his frame over next summer he will become a real weapon. We all just have to take a big breath and be patient. He will make you glad you did.

Fair call. Personally I think the new jumpers are great. The Navy is perfect, I get the feeling they might toy around with the red over the next 12 months but they'll get it right eventually. Looking back at the red we had in 2009 I can see why Schwabby wanted it changed. Far too bright.

Add Scully and McKenzie to thursday night's midfield, a fit Frawley into our backline and Petterd in the forward line and I'm extremely confident that we would have beaten the bombers. It's incredible how people are freaking out over one NAB match? Praying that Frawley is back no later then Rd 5. He is key to our side. Very glad with an early bye in round 4...

Time to play all the kids against their rabble.

J Mac has had a sub par NAB cup match, so what? He was one of many to play poorly at a stadium that we play poorly on. Of the four player's, Bruce was the only player that was superior, but he is at the end of his career and was much more expensive than J Mac. Losing Bruce has freed up a considerable amount of money in the cap at a time where we are trying to retain Scully. Wait until the season proper before you panic. Once Frawley returns to his best the backline will settle down.

The facts speak for themselves. They've finished higher than us for the past three years. They beat us by 33 Rd 5 2008, by 57 Rd 21 2009 and by 41 in round 11 last year. Two of those games were at the MCG. Do I think they're a better side than we are? Going on our recent encounters with them it seems they are. Do I think we have far more potential than they do in the long run? Absolutely. On our day we could definitely take them out, but Carlton of late have been one of those sides, like North, that have had the wood over us. Also, I don't really understand what your point is in labeling Henderson as "recycled"? He is 21, was drafted the year before Watts at No.8 and was exchanged for Fevola who at the time, was one of the dominate forwards in the AFL. He kicked 25 goals from 19 last year, which was more goals in less games then Chapman, Swan, Goddard and Ryan O'Keefe to mention a few. Betts 42, Garlett 39, Waite 36, Setanta 26, Henderson 25. Definitely not a one dimensional forward line? Throw in Kreuzer when he returns and thats a solid forward line to add to their solid Mid field of Judd, Murphy, Gibbs, McClean, Lucas etc. Oh and Warnock starting to show something in the ruck too. They're hardly a threat for the flag, but the fact is they match up well against us.

I remember reading somewhere when I was trying to find out what was going on with the pink yolk that we would be wearing the clash strip for the NAB cup. I guess they're trying to get us used to it as quickly as possible. I also vaguely recall the AFL last year requiring Essendon to produce a clash jumper for the 2011 season (that wasn't the widened sash). Haven't seen a clash jumper yet, nor heard a peep out of the AFL. If they get away with out having one for another season then the AFL is a farce.

Pick which game will be the 12th win and I'll pay out double.

Yeah, fair enough Bobby Mac. Freo will be an interesting one. As I said, injuries will be huge and are impossible to predict. I still think that our best 22 V their best 22 *at the G* equals a win for us. Just out of curiosity, why do you believe Port will beat us in Darwin? First game of the year is always a danger game. Time will tell.

Like your optimism but your kidding yourself if you think we weren't in a similar situation 3 years ago. If you've ever listened to Schwab speak about it you would realise that the club came perilously close to folding (assuming the AFL allowed it). Our major advantage/difference to North is a slightly larger supporter base that will turn up when we're winning.

Going on 2010 form, I've done a quick look at games we will likely win and likely lose (IMO). Obviously we'll win some games when we've been written off and lose one's that we shouldn't (West coast at the G, still don't know what happened that day). Those people thinking we'll push top 4 are expecting more than I think our side can yet deliver. Top 8 a solid chance. Round 1. V Sydney = W (MCG) 2. V Hawthorn = L (MCG) 3. V Brisbane = W (MCG) 4. V Gold Coast = W (GABBA) 5. BYE 6. V West Coast = L (SUBI) 7. V Adelaide = W (MCG) 8. V North Melbourne = L (ETIHAD) (only because it's Etihad) 9. V StKilda = L (ETIHAD) 10. V Carlton = L (MCG) 11. V Essendon = W (MCG) 12. V Collingfilth = L (MCG) *hoping i'm wrong, have a Pineapple on that game already!! 13. V Fremantle = W (MCG) 14. V Richmond = W (MCG) 15. V Western Bulldogs = L (ETIHAD) 16. BYE 17. V Port Adelaide = W (TIO -Darwin) 18. V Hawthorn = L (MCG) 19. V Geelong = L (SKILLED) 20. V Carlton = L (MCG) 21. V West Coast = W (ETIHAD) 22. V Essendon = W (MCG) 23. V Gold Coast = W (MCG) 24. V Port Adelaide = L (AAMI) Wins= 11 Losses= 11 Obviously we'll steal some and drop some, but I think that's a realistic score card based on last years form and likely improvement. Injuries will influence it a lot also, but if the boys get 10 wins this year they'll be doing OK. The two Carlton games and the North game will be big ones IMO as they have both had the wood on us in recent years. Would like to see us atleast challenge Carlton and convincingly beat North.

OK, hypothetical time. For arguments sake, lets return to the 2009 draft/2010 Preseason draft. If Luke Ball had decided not to nominate for the National Draft and had instead ended up in the Preseason draft where we had the first pick, J.Mac or L.Ball? Again, I know there are a lot of if's involved in this, and you would have to concede that Ball is obviously regarded as the better player, but seeing as what happened with Bruce, and given our midfield stocks now, I feel we are quite lucky that Ball ended up going into the Draft.

Hello fellow Demonlanders, I received this email from my brother. It contains some interesting points that I thought I'd share. Last night on invitation I attended and signed up to a Melbourne Future Fund group (which sponsors Jack Watts, Jack Grimes, Colin Garland & Aussie Wonaeamirri). The function was their season launch event – with Grimes, Garland and Wonaeamirri there as guest speakers, along with Chris Connolly, David Neitz, Peter Spargo and Don McLardy also floating through the function and speaking. Some interesting notes that came up during the function: • Don McLardy said that they had spoken to both Tom Scully directly and his manager, with both saying they had not even spoken to GWS. Their approach has been to accept them on their word and to support him all the way through the year. He said that everything going on about the issue was "absolute crap" and that Scully didn't deserve it; • Chris Connolly took responsibility for the way in which James McDonald was moved on last year. He said whilst they had spoken to him at the end of 2009 about the possibility that 2010 might be his last year, they had intended to meet with him in the middle of the year and plan it out, however with the hamstring injury that he sustained, they ended up holding off to let him focus on getting right/etc and it ended up being a surprise to McDonald and it played out really poorly. Chris was nearly emotional in his regret for the way it played out and spoke about their determination to eventually get him back to the club in some role (in management or coaching). They’re still in regular contact with him; • Chris and Aussie said Kelvin Lawrence was so unbelievably homesick when he arrived that they can’t believe he’s still there. They credit that to an indigenous camp that they held with all the indigenous guys at Melbourne which helped him realise that he had a 'family' over here – they are a really tight group (Davey/Jurrah/Aussie/Bennell/Jetta/Evans/Lawrence); • Peter Spargo said they had written down the budget by $500k after the draw – saying it was an excellent draw from the football department’s perspective, but a disaster from a commercial perspective (corporate marketing); • Expect both Sam Blease and Luke Tapscott to play senior footy towards the middle of the year (as both have had a horrendous run with injury) – Grimes also said that Tapscott is almost the best kick at the club and his body was made for senior footy. Cheers.

I agree. Brisbane were horrible the other night. Will be interesting to see how much of an impact brown, black and power can make. Did anyone watch the suns play? Any insight into what style of footy they play?

Crappy ground, but another chance of exposure to a ground we traditionally struggle playing on. We all know that we can kill it at the G, but i love that we're playing pre season games at grounds we usually drop games on. Can only be a good thing for the younger players.

It was a funny night indeed. So hard to judge his influence on the rest of the side considering the games where over in what seemed a blink of an eye. You can't argue with an 100% strike rate, and while this will not last long, I think that the boys will cope quite well without J Mac & Bruce. 8 wins + and I will be satisfied....for now.

Yeeeeahhh boy. The club has come so far in three years. It's all feel good in red and blue!