Maldonboy38

Simpson. He has the same calm, direct, strong persona as Roos and his knowledge of footy/coaching is now very strong. Bassett. His record with Norwood in South Australia is incredible. He is known for being calm, ruthless and a great communicator. Voss. His first 18 months at Brisbane - especially his list management decisions - were horrendous. But he learnt quickly, moved on and have a look at the game the Lion were playing in the 2nd half of this year! Inspirational, uncompromising, and his main strength is developing a midfield. One of these three would suit me fine. Tudor's name is a recent development as he was not considered for any of Port Adelaide, GWS, Adelaide over the past 2 years. Doesn't appeal at this stage although my knowledge of him is limited. Ling sounds great - I respect him greatly - but he has no coaching credentials and would not be ready in 2-3 years Kirk. Great player, great captain, but he comes across as a New Age [censored]. His playing was inspirational. His communicating is not.

It means something to get into a GF. It means a coach and players have clicked and we are one game away from success. Or are you suggesting that there is no difference to 2 wins under Neeld or a GF appearance? Appointing Bailey and Neeld seemed great at the time. How about we wait and see what this turns into before we elevate it to being better than a GF appearance.

Just listened to the full press conference and loved Roos' media presence and clarity. But amid all this great stuff I thought PJ was quite rude when he said this is the most important thing to happen to this club since Barassi walked to Carlton in 1965. No. Two grand final appearances in 1988 and 2000 were more important. The Roos appointment is a great coup and I am wrapped but I didn't appreciate that comment from PJ at all. Disrespectful to others who worked hard years before he got here.

First time to get on Demonland since the news broke. Well done PJ and team to convince Rood to this 2-3 year plan. At last I can smile in 2013. Now for the bad news. I wasn't convinced we would get him and recently posted that if Roos was appointed I would run naked down my street in the buff with just a Dees scarf round my neck yelling out "Rooooooos". Being a man of my word I have to find a way to do it. 2:30am this morning is looking good - I hope it stays warmish!

Trying to understand Watts' mental application in a game is confusing but I find it stems from his basketball excellence. The main reason he does not chuck himself at the ball (in the air or on the ground) is because he makes the choice of keeping his feet in every contest, even if that contest demands that he fling himself at it. The same principle exists in soccer, where you rarely fly in with a bold tackle. You sit 1 - 2 metres away and keep the opposition player from being able to attack where they want to. Jack often appears to be controlling a space, or hanging back to defend a space, but rarely chucking himself in to get the ball. This surely can be taught. Also, his brilliance in the 2008 under age championship where he caught the eye of all the recruiters were - this is fair dinkum - his pack marking and goal kicking. Because the defensive pressure is underage footy is poor, he was able to run and leap over packs without physical pressure being a hindrance. Neither Bailey nor Neeld have been able to help bridge the huge physical gap and he still plays like an U18 footballer. His tackling really is woeful - but I firmly believe this can be taught. Give him a KPI of at least 4 tackles (that stick) a game and see if this changes his understanding of physical contact and going hard for the ball. It is his pack marking / contested marking that is the main worry. Out on a lead no problems. But jostling and pushing off, blocking for others, steady core strength all seem to evade him constantly so he goes back to being 1 -2 metres off every contest waiting to respond to a play rather than making the play. Having said all that, I am still in the 50/50 mindset with him regarding trade or not. One thing I will say. When he gets the ball in his hands his decision making and skills are sublime. Best kick at MFC since Trav Johnston. Just wish he would go and get it more often and make the play.

Kade Simpson very unlucky not to get in the 22 let alone the 40. Liberatore not getting in the 40 shows the selection panel focus on media attention and TV show favourites, rather than actual output. Hodge should not have got anywhere near the list. Garland was great this year but a lot of other backmen were better than him.

Anyone who wouldn't consider him needs a frontal lobotomy. He is a high performing, goal kicking, strong marking, hard as hell, successful, big-game player who has spent the last 10 years tearing the Dees apart like no other individual footballer. His injuries over the past 2-3 years are a worry, but he is everything that we are not. He will play until he is 33, and he is the type of player we need - even more than a Sewell or Del Santo. If Geelong don't offer him a contract, just go and get him and don't let him say no.

With Gawn, Spencer, Fitzpatrick and at a pinch Clark, we do not need another ruck option. And that is with the understanding (and hope) of trading Jamar and pick 2 for Adams from GWS. But regardless, Frawley is the most important and valuable player on our list and is worth 2 of McEvoy.

You are 95% on the money Demonof1994. Your trading possibilities work for me but I am unsure about Aish starting round 1. Jamar and pick 2 for Adams is a winner as I rate Adams very highly. The only downside is you have neither Fitzpatrick or Spencer in to help out Gawn: are you suggesting we swing Clark in and through the ruck? I hope not. Also, could Barry be a starter in 2014? He may compete with Evans for a place but Evans showed a fair bit until he got injured (again). If Watts leaves, Taggert comes into the 22 on the interchange and Trengove goes to the wing. FB: Clisby Frawley Garland HB: Grimes McDonald Terlich C: Toumpas Viney Evans HF: Kent Dawes Watts FF: Howe Clark Hogan RR: Gawn N Jones McKenzie I/C: Trengove Fitzpatrick Adams Greenwood

Jones, and Garland a very close 2nd. A huge gap - and then Terlich, M Jones and Grimes. If it was Brownlow counting Sylvia will score a lot of 1 votes so can't see him winning but will poll in many games especially around the time Neeld departed.

I agree, Chook. Some of the recruiting looks very attractive at the moment but sitting next to them are Gillies, Pederson, Rodan etc... Kent, M Jones, Terlich, could actually teach players like Watts and Sylvia about application. Add Hogan and Barry and the recruiting looks passable.

The difficulty with Dunn is he is both excellent and horrible, with no middle ground where he is consistent and reliable. Some of his kicking yesterday against the Doggies was sublime, while others were so pathetic it is difficult to understand his place in the team. At the end of last year I was 50/50 on Dunn and still am. But I am of the strong opinion that the rubbish player development at MFC has stuffed up a really good young footballer. In his first 10 or so games I thought we were looking at a great 3rd forward option.

6. Frawley. Passion, dash and touch of arrogance. Umpires almost killed him tonight. 5. Grimes. A hard running four quarter game 4. Watts. 4 goals great effort. Ran his guts out and at least ten times was one versus 2 or three alone in our forward 50. But his attempts at contested marking are often laughable and his defensive running is usually non existent. 3. Kent. Not a great game but he took the game on. 2. Davey. Some of his plays tonight were the Flash of old. 1. Trengove. Not a great game but he was creative, and was a big part in stifling the Doggies stoppages in the 3rd quarter.

Trengove - patchy but creative Grimes - a steadying presence N.Jones - given some freedom Watts - good night's effort Toumpas - just ok game Viney - not enough flair Frawley - very strong game Sylvia - very lacklustre game McKenzie - in and under Dunn- brilliant and horrible Garland - rare poor game McDonald - great individual battle Sellar - ok and horrible Kent - cause for optimism Davey - flashy and consistent Gawn - is a ruckman Howe - worth every cent Jetta - grunt and mongrel Spencer - a passable game M.Jones - not his best Terlich - many dumb moves Tapscott - should've kicked goals

That 2nd quarter - a 30 minute cameo of our season. The rest of the game was really enjoyable. One thing I did note - many of our midfielders's first touch of the ball is a fumble of some sort. When / if they do take possession, they are tackled or hindered in some way. For the most part we got murdered in close. Some of the running through the middle by Kent, Davey etc.. was superb. Loved the noise of the Demon Army - especially after the half time melee - well done to all concerned. Watts ran his guts out tonight, ends up with 4 goals, and people criticizing?!?! His one-on-one marking and pack marking are close to the worst I have seen for a big man, but don't question his effort with the ball. Still not sure if we should keep him.

What worries me is the increasing amount of expectation building up simply because of Roos. Getting him is a great coup, but he is the not the fix-all. He is one component in a matrix that needs to be built tile by tile by the Board / CEO. New CEO - check. New president - check Complete Board re-shuffle - ongoing. Appoint coach - ongoing Appoint assistant coaches - open Appoint captain - open. Re-structure business model / finance sources Engage new, long term, dedicated main sponsor. Re-engage membership - open

Sorry to be a pebble in the Demonland shoe, but I have seen too many false dawns and rays of hope. I can't let myself believe this until I see Roos in a MFC tee shirt at a press conference with PJ. If this comes to pass, I will be the first to run down my street in the buff with a Dees scarf around my neck yelling "Rooooos". At the moment it is the classic carrot on a stick and after the last 5 years I just can't do the "this might be great" celebrations.

I don't see any failings in condition or fitness. Our players are mentally stuffed; low on confidence within a game plan that was boring, complicated and devoid of freedom and initiative. Even medicos will tell you that 90% of a person's recovery from illness, injury or surgery lies within their attitude. It is the same in life, sport, everything. Get them confident and watch how fit and fast they look.

Who notices how many interchanges there are in a game? I don't go to the MCG and then spend half my time watching who is coming on or off and how much game time they play. I watch ball movement by hand and foot, high marks, huge tackles, bone-bruising crashes, goals from 50. I see Rioli, Howe, J Selwood, Ablett. Let them have 200 interchanges if they like just let them play footy and let me watch!!!

Because internally, within the confines of their own club, they are not only good players but they are known as leaders, thinkers and communicators. Not every great player can coach - Bartlett and Skilton for example - but some make the jump very easily.

Ling, Voss, Hayes, Simpson, Bolton - these are the sort of recently retired players who we need around the club in some kind of role. Voss is the standout player among that list, but it is the dedicated, hard-working, gut-busting, bone crunching professionalism that these players exuded that we have so little of. Probably only N Jones, Clark and Viney on our current list display this attutude. Maybe Frawley also at his best. Which of them could influence others - probably Ling or Voss would be my choice, but I wouldn't knock back what Bolton had to offer.

Bartlett is playing a certain line and it has quietly but powerfully emerged in all his statements so far. He wants the running of the club and the administration to fade into the background and to pour all the attention and energy into the football department/players. In light of this, I reckon he is going to play his cards close to his chest on everything he does in preparation for 2014. Apart from the coaching announcement when it comes, the other board decisions and management reshuffles will be made public in small media releases, and short radio interviews. We have been so poor in so many ways he is gathering a new group of people around himself and PJ, and they will do a lot of foundational, culture changing work away from media, away from the players, and even away from us supporters. The only exception is the AGM which could be a bit fiery. I like this approach. Let the media focus on Essendon, the finals, Buddy going to GWS or Daisy Thomas etc... I am not buying in just yet - we haven't even seen who the coach will be for 2014 - but I like this strong but quiet approach to institutional change.

Wow, it looks like some unbelievably poor decisions. Pederson and Rodan again. I just don't get this. What is the point? No Taggert. It looks like he isn't going to get a chance to show his wares. Davis gets dropped. I have no emotional investment left, and now we get this. Bored and p****ed off.

Admire Col Garland greatly. I hope the Dees improve quickly and play finals soon to reward players like him who have endured so much strife. Congrats on 100 games and a wonderful 2013. On another point and a bit of a tangent, is he a smoky for captain in 2014? His media work is better than anyone else at the club, he is articulate and thought provoking, he has genuine passion for the club and the jumper, leads on the field even when we are losing by 100 points and has had to work hard to get to where he is. Thoughts?

Viney is the best footballer of the new crop. But don't discount Toumpas after a full preseason either. But the battle for best first year player is between Terlich and Matt Jones. I give it to Jones because - he has better awareness than Terlich who continually turns back into trouble - although I don't have stats to hand, Terlich's disposal efficiency feels like it would be hovering around 50% at best M Jones for best 1st year player.