Little Richard

I have had a strange feeling of optimism this week in regards to the future. I reckon we will hold onto Sylvia and Watts. Our forward line is pretty set with the exception of a crumber, though Kent might fill this role, and the backline is looking fairly solid. If we go soley mids this draft and trade period there is a fair chance we can pick up another couple of Matt Jones' or Dean Terlich's as well as an established mid (most likely not a star). By logic we have to get at least a couple of good players this year (especially with Jason Taylor on board) and maybe we can gel a bit over the off season and win a few more games next year, convincing Frawley and who else to stay. But who knows what will happen.

Yeah I must say I read it as (or better) than Frawls. You are right though, they have all been capable this year and Frawley has been down but his loss would be a huge blow. There is still an exceptional player in him, just needs confidence and probably some faith to restore his form.

Incorrect, we'll play finals in five years.

One of the more ambitious trade scenarios I've seen on Demonland

I don't think it is that he would dominate in a good team but rather with good, strong leaders around him. Sydney for example, I think would turn him into a gun. He just isn't a leader Col and I think if he had a couple more Junior McDonalds around to keep him in line and motivate him he would have come good. Too late for that now.

Demonland myth? It's not a myth, he has constantly under performed and shown laziness, a lack of leadership and selfishness for as long as he has been here. So far this year and last year he has been better and I'd have been all for getting rid of him a couple of years ago but I fear that if we lost him this year he would leave a large hole in the list. Not in terms of any kind of leadership or as a role model but he is a big body and to Neeld, 145 games experience...

Rhino, we didn't 'jettison' Rivers - he chose to go through FA to chase some success and fair enough. I'm sure Neeld would have loved to hold on to him as he played some of his best footy last year. The reason we have mediocre experienced players is because we can't attract any good experienced players, it's pretty simple.

Two games, two wins... I hope. I think we definitely have the tools to beat them both times.

So.... who won?

That is a fair argument for Gillies, but to say Byrnes and Rodan haven't been valuable at all is just stupid. Byrnes has had two pretty good games and was instrumental in our only win. Other than this he provides winning experience, coming from one of the most successful sides of all time. If you see interviews with him he is clearly there to offer leadership and experience to the younger guys, same goes for Rodan. Sure they haven't set the world on fire on the field but they are valuable to the club in other ways. Gillies... meh

Wouldn't mind at all if Tapscott went to Ballantyne and laid him out in the first quarter.

There are many contenders for that award but I don't think Sellar is in the running. He is solid, just not up forward. I still remember that first quarter against the Roos two years ago when Newton had like 10 disposals, 5 marks and kicked 2.2... I thought it had finally clicked for him but then he did nothing for the rest of the year and was delisted at the end of the season. He was rubbish.

When was our last win there?

Haha, go home mate you're drunk

Just with Gawn's defensive efforts, I'd say that is more of a fitness thing than effort.

Agree with this. Even if it is just token pressure, like a yell or the opposition seeing you running hard towards them, it all counts.

I don't think he has been exceptional, but solid. He is pretty reliable in the contest and I agree re the forward line, he is rubbish when put there. Keep him down back and I think he has a future as a depth player, providing back up for Frawley, Garland and TMac.

How about next year?

I wasn't aware he had a thumb injury. I had a bad one myself (ligaments) and couldn't mark properly for a good season and a half so I can understand that. Hopefully time will be good for him.

The passage of play in the second quarter (I think) where Frawley switched long to Sellar, who went down the wing to Davey, who speared a pass into Dawes, who goaled, was the best piece of play I've seen from us all year. Precise disposal, hard running and a strong finish.

He has been really impressive, only question mark I find is his disposal (but it isn't terrible). Hard to split him and Terlich, though I love Terls!

Dawes was reasonable but I feel he could have presented a bit better. A couple of times he just stood there and waited to mark the ball - that frustrated the hell out of me. As well as that, it seems like he doesn't have the confidence to mark out in front and always goes the chest mark, though hopefully the confidence will come.

Haha, didn't realise we had statisticians back in those days!

Jeez I wouldn't back the guy in for a long career at the MFC if he read some of the shite people post on here, his confidence would be shot.

Nathan Jones put them both together last season, a little less so this year but it is still there.