PaulRB

Or this...

I prefer this... sob!

How much are we getting? $$$?

As a surfer, Hogan is addicted to the big wave and the ride. He now knows the MFC is a big wave with the team and talent coming through and will have no hesitation signing on to ride it all the way...

I think we were after Dion last year, and if he'd come then we may not have gone so hard to the Oliver, not had the pick to. So now we have Oliver and he's come on well, we are no longer so in need of Prestia...

If Fyfe is looking for a flag ready team and Freo looking for picks and players, I'd suggest that GWS would be the obvious candidate, and I'm sure the AFL would throw something in to seal the deal...

Agree, plus big games around the ball from Viney, Oliver and Petracca.

We're not that far off the pace, as evidenced by our results against current top 8 teams thus far this year... GWS now in 4th place - in round 1 Melb - 80 def GWS 78 (win by 2 pts) North now in 5th place - in round 3 North - 136 def Melb 131 (loss by 5 pts) Doggies now in 7th place - in round 8 Doggies - 114 def Melb 82 (loss by 32 pts) Hawkes now in 1st place - in round 11 Hawks - 82 def Melb 64 (loss by 18 pts) Swans now in 2nd place - in round 13 Swans - 86 def Melb 31 (loss by 55 pts) Average margin is a 21.6 pts loss. 4 of our 7 losses are to top 8 teams 1 of our 6 wins are over top 8 teams

Whimp! Time for some of our potential to take it up a notch or two.

Strangely, I have a good feeling about this game. At home, kids refreshed after the break, settled side, top 8 team to knock off... What more could we want?

That's where the Don's players intimate relationship with our next coach will be telling. Hopefully Goodwin has their trust and respect, rare commodities at Windy Hill these days...

Howe will provide the Pies fans with a nice sideshow of speccies as they trudge through the next five years of mediocrity. We've moved on from needing a sideshow.

Demonland take: "What glass! and why's there wine all over my [censored] pants?"

With our depth, and newfound awareness of the need to nurse and rest some of the younger players at various times through the year we shouldn't have the drop off to the extent of the last couple of years, despite fielding a younger team, week in week out... Brayshaw, M Jones, Garlett, Harmes and H should all be looking to spend time in the AFL team over the next 10 rounds which will only help.

If the Giants do get to play in a GF I hope the AFL puts up some money for a tuba gypsy marching band with lycra clad male choir version of their song... It's actually a rollicking tune! We'd better get used to it...

If a team wins a flag and no one cares, did they really win a flag?

It would be further illumination of our progress if you add that the age and experience of our team has decreased over the past couple of years while maintaining the upward trajectory. This means that over 80% of our players are yet to have hit their prime as footballers physically nor played even 50 games. Maxy is on 52 games!

This year our team has added (or looked to) games to our young quality coming through. Players under 21 - Oliver, Stretch, Brayshaw, Harmes, OMac, Neal-Bullen, Petracca, Salem. Players 21 to 25 - Hogan, Hunt, Frost, Bugg, Viney, Kennedy, Kent, Tyson, TMac, Gawn, Melksham, Michie, Newton, Trengove, Vandenberg. There's gold in them there hills!!!

Amazing what losing to Melbourne does for a fan's confidence in their team...

So when exactly can Jake rejoin training? Looking forward to what he will bring.

With Salem, Lamumba, Melksham, Dunn, Garland out for various reasons, it's easy to see why we're looking thin across half back line.

Articles like this will help too - http://www.espn.com.au/afl/story/_/id/16328432/demons-closest-afl-flag-clubs-top-eight-says-gary-buckenara

http://www.espn.com.au/afl/story/_/id/16328432/demons-closest-afl-flag-clubs-top-eight-says-gary-buckenara

Next year we have Melksham, (Prestia and Hibbert) joining the team, along with a fit Lamumba. Plus another year on the kids, we'll continue to rise. The pieces are coming together, which will allow us to further attract what we need to complete the team.