Demon Premonition

Lots of reading not a lot of posting. I can’t see how Hogan gets to Freo cheaper than what is being offered this year next year. As we understand at best he walks to the draft however I just can’t see Freo being any lower than around pick 4. The challenge for Freo is there well known home ground advantage will win them 5 or 6 games, a couple of surprise results and at 7 wins like this year they finish 14th or 15th. No way Hogan slips through to pick 5 in draft next year, so back to the trade table, however this time Josh Kennedy is a year older and West Coast will be working there numbers to be in the race. My guess this is Freos best chance to land their forward, and won’t be surprised if deal still gets done.

Menzel, makes Jack Watts defensive pressure look elite. If Garlett can’t get a game then I’ll take a pass on his 27 goals cause the rebound will cost us plenty more.

Best read of the last few weeks, and considering the press that’s saying something. First time I have felt we were as important to Roosy in his football journey as he was to Melbourne. Let’s hope there is a few more chapters to this story in 2018

Very rarely post but an avid reader of the forum. Nev’s Game today was reminiscent of the great Gavin Wanganeen, won the ball in the air, on the ground contest after contest. Quite simply watching him today was like watching a virtuoso performance of a master at the absolute top of his game. A must for All Australian.

Not sure Ed Richards will get to our first pick, as it seems he is more highly rated by recruiters than most of the phantom draft "experts". Can tell you that he has met at least 9 clubs already (pre draft camp) and Melbourne on more than one occasion.

Effectively Watts, pick 10 and a third rounder for Lever. Pass

Just an observation for those that espouse that Jack's body of games would indicate that he wouldn't stand up in finals. There would be a handful of games in the last 2-3 seasons where Jack has demonstrated his ability to run both ways and take key marks in defence to save games. He knows how to win, one of the few who wears red and blue who has shown this.

Definitely in the best today, showed why many clubs are currently chasing his services. (Surely the simple fact the multiple clubs are rumoured to be lining up to get his signature indicates that he must have ability - one of the few who pick themselves in a top 8 team!

6. Jamar 5. Howe 4. Jetta 3. Grimes 2. Frawley 1. Vince

Think you are being a little tough on a few. Frawley - Jones, one disposal M Jones - Played his role Nicho - Played within limitations Gawn - Presented when required Barry - Showed some glimpses

Was 15 years old, the only time my Pie supporting father ever took me to the footy. Remember standing on a bin in the outer watching my boy hood idol desperately trying to keep not only his season alive but also extending his career by a game and his first finals birth. Through all the gloom that 42 years of supporting the dees has bought, it was this moment, this day that has always kept the ledger firmly in the positive. Nice to remember!

My feeling is that this has been Roos intent all along. Roos does not hide his mantra that everyone plays there role and defence first mantra. If you therefore had a query on one of your key personnel playing long term in the back half it makes no sense to develop a back six including him. I would imagine if he signed a contract tomorrow that we would see Frawley immediately returned to his most comfortable position. If he does go Roos has already started the transition to life without him. Really win! Win!

My feeling is that Dunn has to go back. The only time we have looked dangerous coming out of the back half in the past three weeks has been through Dunn's ball use either switching or penetrating through the zone lines. Not even taking into account the significant difference he makes to our kick in's. It's scary that he possibly is our best forward & back ATM. So Howe forward for mine working as a high half forward not as an inside 50 marking target. Think they will play Dawes as it will provide a structure to make Howe more dangerous. Also think Terlich will make way - think Roos will want to send a message that you play to my ideals or make way. Outs: Terlich & JKH Ins: Dawes & Clisby

Don't post often but read daily. Would be lost without the contributions from the many here that satisfy my demon fix. Happy to help out!

Don't post a lot but read nearly every day - so please no troll vitriol. The intent of the post is discussion. Currently we have Watts supposedly being heavily courted by Malthouse & the blues. We have a team that is in desperate need of midfield talent. I am also of the opinion that you have to give something to get something. So would you be for a trade that might look like this? Melbourne: Watts, Fitzpatrick & pick 20 Blues: Gibbs, Yarran My feeling is that Gibbs has had another just year & probably will never be the midfield gun that the Blues wanted. He would however be another B+ mid in a good age bracket that would contribute immediately to Jones & Viney. Yarran for all his flaws still has a huge upside and could either be used as a running defender or small forward both positions we desperately need talent. Admittedly we lose two significant key forwards but with Dawes, Hogan, Clark we have depth. We may also then select Boyd if we get the PP.

I had posted a few months back on a list thread that Evans had been offered a guaranteed contract to the senior list while under Bailey. Considering his injury issues and how precious space on the list is this may end up another significant gaff from Bailey. Here's hoping that he can get on the park as the kid can play.

I can assure you that we were not the only interested party, we were however the team that was prepared to pay Pederson significantly more than any other club.

I don't post much however some interesting information regarding Cameron Pederson. I have from a good source that we are heavily into both Chris Knights & Cameron Pederson. The information received for both players is that we have more available salary cap & preparedness to spend which is making the Dees attractive to this level of player. Not saying a deal will be done but I can assure you Melbourne has made enquiries and is trying to get these deals over the line. Note: For those that ask for "the source" there is a link between these players.

Take this as you may but it is credible source, Neeld believes that he made the wrong call when he took over and now wishes he had cleaned the list last season. We will delist / trade up to 10 players this season. Neeld does not rate either of Gysberts or Cook so would not be surprised if something happens there. Feedback received was Davey's foot is cooked, may end up being an indigenous officer in 2013. Under Bailey we offered both Evans & Nicholson spots on the senior list at season end - if this is the case here's hoping Evans cuts the mustard. We will actively try and recruit 2-3 free agents to protect the kids next season. Obviously need to attract them first. What we know it will be a fascinating off season - when is it not for the demon faithful.

Was talking with a CEO of a rival club in the past couple of weeks who had a couple of observations which I thought was pertinent to share. The first in th AFL you are never as good as you think you are and importantly you are never as bad as you think you are. The second was that the changes that the Demons were implementing we're more significant than any other of the teams that changed coaches this year. The last based on the above was do not judge Neeld on the first 6 games of the year rather the last 6 games. Take it or leave it but I have a feeling we may have similar finish to the season as Hardwick's Tigers I'd in his first year.

The reality is successful clubs need both. Our issue is we do not have enough talent across both segments of the ground. I will take some solace that the structures that Bailey and Neeld are vastly different, one under bailey was a glorified flood while Neeld is a press. The flood meant we had no players forward of the ball so having our good users back defeated the purpose. Under Neeld you get the feeling that at least Clark will be permanently stationed in the forward 50 giving us at least a get out of jail long kick forward. What I cannot stand for us is watching Bartram. MacDonald and Rivers (lesser degree) offer either no run or Kicking ability. In the team proposed the only true midfielder taken away is Trengove. If the proposed is so wrong why has Enright, Kelly, Corey & Bartel all spent large chunks of playing time operating out of the back 6 for the cats! The most successful side of the era.

I would load up with our best users / decision makers in the back half, they will still be accountable but we must be able to control the ball coming out of defense. Basically think Delidio and Goddard of recent seasons. Garland Frawley Davey Grimes Watts Trengove Howe Magner Morton Tapscott McDonald Dunn Petterd Clark Green Jamar Moloney Jones Martin Bate Bail Couch Ins: Moloney, Davey, Tapscott, Morton, Couch, Martin Outs: Rivers, Bartram, Bennell, Jordie Mac, Joel Mac, Sellar Team shows our absolute lack of a quality crumbing forward and outside mids. We also can't wait for return of Sylvia, Jurrah which adds greater scoring options and better midfield rotation. This team won't happen as Rivers and Bartram will continue to be part of our defensive set-up but our current back 6 just does not have the ability to create our tempo when required.

6. Jones 5. Clark 4. Magner 3. Trengove Definitely no players worthy of last two votes.

If we draft anything but two outside midfielders (To complement J Viney) with modern football endurance and skills with what now will be very low picks then I will give up this sorry excuse for a team. Our midfield is not even VFL standard and that is demonstrated by the fantastic start of a VFL journeyman in Magner. There is not a midfield in the competition that is worse than ours at the moment - this will translate into regular and substantial thrashings. Having also lived through the 70's and 80's I thought it would not be possible to match some of the inept sides of the era - but this team would lose by 10 goals to any of those sides. A long long long year ahead.

Very rarely post, but feel the absolute need to do so. Today was the most insipid displays of football that I have watched in some 40 years of supporting this side. We have heard all pre season that the focus was on stoppages and clearance work. We have heard that this side would be hard at the contest and competitive. Today we lost shamefully not because our game plan broke down but simply because we could not get our hands on the footy. At best Brisbane is a middle of the road midfield, so heaven forbid the thumpings we will get from the better sides. For mine 16th on the proviso GC suffers the second year blues. Shattering..,