Maldonboy38

If I was envious on 8th September I am even more so now. I hate the overuse of the word culture, but this club has something that can't be bought, stolen or copied. You have to build it and I want the Dees to build a club/team spirit that is similar, but which defines us and wins flags. Across the 22 they were a bit weaker man-for-man than Hawks but played one of the best team games I have seen - ever.

I can't stand the idea that only players from the winning side can win best-on-ground perfrmances. It is an evolution of modern Brownlow voting that would have made players from the past seethe. Bobby Skilton Gary Dempsey Kevin Murray These blokes were guns and champions and would thrive in any era. They went in, got it, played inside and outside abd were rarely beaten. They are also the reason why the word "fairest" should remain the first word in the trophy, before "best". Modern Brownlow voting is too much about the bestplayer in the winning side, and not about the fairest and best footballer. Ablett should rock it in, but I am not sure if the umpires will give him enough votes considering how often GC lost. Sam Mitchell will probably win it

Yep, me too, serious man love for Matty Whelan. That Hird bump is a particuar favourite - I visit it at least twice a year on Youtube. And I agree that Nev Jetta has this streak in him. I just wish he could stay fit enough to use it more.

One of my all-time favourite Dees players who has done a great job at Casey. Sad to see him go.

1. Target a midfield coach like Ratten, Ling, maybe Junior, who can communicate what they know. This is priority No. 1 2. Huge preseason in the gym - give Dave Misson free reign to put big weight on frames like Gysberts, Watts, Strauss, Gawn, Bail, T McDonald. 3. Delist/Trade Morton, Bate, Petterd, Bennell as a minimum 4. Recruit 2 outside midfield class who can run and carry in the manner of Yarran from Carlton, Thomas from Collingwood, Jetta from Swans etc... 5. Recruit 2 players who can't get a regular game at their club who can make an immediate impact on our starting 22 - Wellingham, Gumbleton, Levi Greenwood etc...

Trying to balance brilliance, consistency and skill to find the best 22 from 40 -payers is difficult enough, but they didn't even start with the best 40. Three glaring errors though: No Sam MItchell in the best 22, but they include Rioli No Pavlich in the best 40 Including Natanui at all. Honestly, I am simply not interested in the All Australain awards any more, it has become too tainted. What I mean by this is that it feels as if they want the fans clicking on websites, downlaoding apps, tweeting and Facebook-ing, and create subject matter to fill the media pages, internet and radio call-back sessions, rather than actually selecting the best 22 players IN THEIR RELEVANT POSITIONS.

Watson will bolt ahead but will no be able to hold onto his lead. Cotchin seems to be the crowd favourite, but I am unsure if the umpires see him the same way. Dangerfield and Thompson might take votes from one another but we thought that about Swan and Pendelbury. Sam Mitchell HAW Gary Ablett GCS Thompson ADEL SMOKEY: Dane Beams COLL

Relying on mention of past glory to promote next year - fail in my opinion. Is the fear of further failure keeping marketing low-key? Edit: Of course I will re-sign next pay cycle. Nothing changes that.

At St Kilda and now Freo Ross Lyon has inherited the recruiting and player development of other coaches: Grant Thomas and Mark Harvey. He would not have had this luxury at the Dees. He would have to show recruiting nous which he has failed to do at any time in his career.

Watched the Crows/Swans game and I am so envious of the Swans supporters. They get their money's worth from an amazing TEAM of players, whose structures rarely fail, whose players would rather die than let the opposition get any free ball, they play for each other and so bloody hard at the ball. Super impressed. Players like LRT and Shaw are average players but in the Swans line-up they become major factors in the starting 22. PLEASE Dees, sneak into their training, hold them down, stick needles in their veins and steal some of their blood for our boys. And while I am it - how good is Goodes. Should we be speaking of him in the same tones as Ablett senior, Carey, Matthews? He is an absolute freak. Skilled, quick, huge heart, reads the play better than anyone in the modern game and runs all day. They reckon some women have penis envy - I have Swans envy.

I forgot all about Sean McKernan. I really rate him for one quality that is rare - he is a one grab mark. rarely fumbles a mark and launches at a contest. his ground level 2nd efforts might need some work, but if Adelaide keep Tippet, go hard for him.

Gumbleton is attractive and should be sounded out. Maybe his injuries are Essendon related??? As a lead-up forward through the 50m arc he could be a real asset. But I agree with rolly from above - Fitzpatrick has improved exponentially this year and he should be given more chances in 2013. He seems to be overcoming his natural unco-ordination and has been marking, pack marking, and kicking really well (considering his horrible kicking action). I saw a fait bit of him in the preaseason and he is super quick, one of the quickest on our list from memory. Runs all day, too. Williams - sorry, I can't see the upside on this bloke at all. It is true that he hits the pack hard but he rarely seems to end up with the ball.

Grimes is a good skipper and may become a great one. He demonstrates it onfield, behind the scenes, in public at functions and with the media. Perhaps move Trengove to vice-captain but I rekon that is a backward step. please note: the best footballer, the toughest nut, is NOT ALWAYS THE BEST CAPTAIN. Brereton, Buddha Hocking, Merv Neagle, the Scott brothers at the Lions; - the list goes on. Jones is a great player but if you listen to him speak, or listen to other players speak about him, you get the feeling he is respected as a player more than a leader.

Go get him if we can.

You have made my morning RR. Very funny. I knew it has to be tongue-in-cheek, but I just could not resist opening the thread.

I have also heard my fair share of post-season "can't wait for preseason" but this one from Grimes has a different slant on it. He is beinbg full-face hinest about people not buying in to training - something he simply can't do publicly mid season. He remonds me a bit of Newman from the Tiges. He is a bit unassuming but says it quietly but with strength. His leadership could be a huge part of future improvement.

I have liked his work at Casey this year, but a bit like Tom McDonald, when he makes a mistake it is usually a big howler that leads to opposition possession or a goal. Works hard, and is a good defensive mark but Sheahan and Tynan are probably ahead of him in the pecking order. For mine, keep him as back-up.

I am a bit surprised by Cook's delisting because his work rate and gut running during Casey Games were of a high standard and Neel likes effort. But on Sunday at Casey Fields I was lining up to get a coffee, and in front of me were Brian Royal and Aaron Greaves - the two midfield coaches. They were talking about Lucas Cook and how he continually ran himself into the right position, but didn't have the nouse to use his height or position to take the mark, and it was frustrating the coaching staff. I will be super mad if we get rid of Gysberts. We lack class in close and he has bags of it.

Remove Brian Royal 1 more outstanding recruit lilke Mitch Clark through aggressive recruiting Win more than we lose in 2013. This is improbable but is what I want more than anything else. To win at Etihad, especially over North, who I cannot believe made it into the finals before us!!!

Nathan Jones: 8.5 Strong, consistent, good skills and few brain fades Mitch Clark: 7 - for the time he played probably 8 - 9, but injury reduces his score to 7 Stefan Martin: 4 - injuries monstered him and he lacked that 2011 2nd effort for most of the games he played in 2012 Jeremy Howe: 7 - showed class at times, is very fit, but his kicking for goal from set shots is inefficient Col Sylvia: 5 - suspension, injury messed him up but he finished with his most consistent form ever. Jack Trengove: 6.5 - the growth in the defensive side of his game goes unnoticed, but he looked slow and physically weak when in space. Jack Grimes: 8 - this might seem too high but I reckon his on-field leadership was outstanding. We might finally have a decent skipper. However, his turnovers must reduce, especially when he is the clear. Dan Nicholson: 4.5 - looked great at times, but poor kicking haunts him. Good pace and grunt though Jack Watts: 5 - decision making and awareness are unique, and his skills on both side are excellent (usually) but rarely if ever shows urgency, leadership or grunt. He was drafted sue to pack marking and has shown little in this area. Jordie McKenzie: 6.5 - His game seemed to mature later in the year but was physically tired by last two games. Clint Bartram: 2 - injuries Cale Morton: 3 - had a four game patch where I thought he was turning it around but is not mentally an elite athlete. Poor. Mark Jamar: 4 - I don't understand what happened apart from injuries but lacked presence. Jake Spencer: 5 - at times liked what I saw, at other times horrified he is on our list. He continues to improve. James Frawley: 6 - needs another big bodied backman to help out. Is too often the only big body imposing himself on the opposition forwards. Joel MacDonald: 6 - HIs form late in the season was really good but I am never confident when he has the ball. Tom McDonald: 7.5 - An absolute keeper who has size, smarts and tocker. Needs to learn to kick. Matthew Bate: 4 - gone James Magner: 5 - just doesn't do it for me. AFL size and standard seems too slick for him most of the time Lynden Dunn:6 - reckon he might have found a good spot down back, but is super-dumb at times. Just OK Col Garland: 6 - agree: generally a disappointing year, and some major stuff ups that were costly Rohan Bail: 5.5 - I am a huge fan and I reckon he has a big upside but was disappointing for most of the year. ANOTHER horrible kick. Brent Moloney: 3 - tried hard but couldn't accommodate the Neeld style Brad Green: 6 - Apart from Clark our only genuine forward and should have been used better Jared Rivers: 8 - great footy nouse, knows when to defend and when to peel off, great smothers and 1%ers. Sam Blease: 6 - we finally have a player with pace and class. Should be outstanding in 2013 Luke Tapscott: 5 - much better, but injuries again ruined his potential. Aaron Davey: 3 - Can he come back from his knee? Probably not. Jordie Gysberts: 2 - cannot believe he was not given a better go. May have seemed unfit but game play aids fitness. James Sellar: 5.5 - after 5 rounds didn't want to see him again, but proved me wrong. Good spare back/ 2nd ruck option Nevile Jetta: 3.5 - injuries, but will big a big improver with another preseason. Will be in starting 22 in 2013, barring injuries. Ricky Petterd: 1 - severe attitude problems on full display in games at Casey. Tom Couch: 3 - got games off rookie list, but not AFL standard Liam Jurrah: 1 - a disaster James Strauss: 5 - preseason will be the making of him, huge upside, should be starting 22 in 2013. Saw great signs at times. Josh Tynan: 3 - again injuries, but really liked what I saw in terms of attitude, attack and courage. Jamie Bennell: 2 - rarely makes the play, seems to wait until it comes to him. Jack Fitzpatrick: 4 - Surprised me heaps this year. Is developing quickly now after a slow start and might be a suprise in 2013. Not fully convinced yet. I cannot believe how many times I just typed words relating to our player being poor kicks. Do we have a decent skills coach?

Father in law died late last week and have had little Demonland time. This is my first time re-visiting this thread. How about we reserve our vitriol for Scully, the Pies and the Bombers? Anyway - internet forums are all about anonymous vindictive spewing without accountability. (tongue firmly planted in cheek)

8 4 already gone (Green, Jurrah, Beamer, Lawrence) + Petterd, Bate, Bennell, Morton hold it... probably 9 because they will try and trade Martin. No, hang on, wait..... 10 or 11 becasue Bail and Dunn are not safe. OK I'll give up now and take another guess at 10

Sad to see him go. Loved his passion, loved his anger, and 2011 was a standout year, proving he can play well at AFL level. Jamar to Beamer was poetry at times. It is clear that the type of football expected by Neeld does not co-operate with Beamer's natural footy style and so the separation is necessary. All the best, Beamer and I hope you find a new club.

Good get Old Dee. I forgot about Davey's contract. But it is only the contract that will save him surely.

Hardeman Flower Lyon Schwarz Farmer two Browlow medals: Wilson and Woewodin were amazing for about 3 years but were never "stars".