Demon Dynasty

Yes Sam I prefer Hunt also. Wags in slightly better form right now however.

I don't think he is a lot better Werridee at this point.. http://www.afl.com.au/stats/stats-pro#/Compare?playerIds=CD_I298279,CD_I297899&comparisonTab=h2h In certain areas such as interceptions (clearly ahead), goal assists and center clearances he has a slight advantage, whereas on the pressure/tackling front Harmes appears to be ahead somewhat. Efficiency almost level on the kicking front, Brayshaw probably slightly ahead with handballing / decision making and being clean. Harmes maybe a tad slower around the footy, getting caught with the ball a bit more and unable to escape congestion as often as Brayshaw. Harmes probably a bit stronger in a one on one ground ball contest though and able to hold himself up to win the day on occasions vs Brayshaw in a similar situation. I am tending towards Brayshaw also just maybe not as bullish as you. As the season and the year goes he may end up being a clear winner. My issue with both of them is they both rarely worry the scoreboard. Ie., not great at finishing in front of goal and/or getting in to scoring positions very often (Harmes maybe a tad more than Gus at this point). Which is why i have them both on the interchange / emergency side at this point. For a mid fielder to have some sort of impact above or over his direct opponents (or to match them), i feel hitting the scoreboard (even if it's once in a while) adds something extra to their arsenal and demands a little more respect from the direct opponent to play you a little closer. Wagner is included Werridee. I have only left Hunt out at this point due to his recent form being off the pace defensively (intercepts / tackles / one percenters etc). Otherwise I love how he takes on the game and worries opponents with speed / attacking play and gets us into the 50 more often but he also isn't finishing too well at the end of all that running at the moment and often turns it straight over, leaving us exposed a bit too often when the opp are sling shotting off his turnovers. If he finds that form defensively and with his finish in next month or so i would be including him in preference to Wags. Wags having a good season and has the nod at this point for mine. http://www.afl.com.au/stats/stats-pro#/Compare?playerIds=CD_I294675,CD_I994385&comparisonTab=h2h

Best 22 is whoever is on the park for that week as injuries / form and match ups play a huge part. But to take a stab and for a bit of fun.... this season's best 22 performers/form players* for mine so far... B: Jetta O-Mac Wagner HB: Lewis Lever Hibberd Ctr: Hannan Jones Salem HF: Tracc Hogan Kent F: Fritsch T-Mac Spargo R: Gawn Oliver Viney* Int: Tyson Vince Melksham Brayshaw/Harmes# Emergencies: Harmes/Brayshaw# Pedersen Garlett ANB * The one exception - an obvious auto inclusion #Couldn't split Harmes/Brayshaw (toin coss).

The idea of a legume calling the admin a spud is doing my head in

Binman you must be one of those rare males that can multitask!

Wouldn't be surprised if our fan numbers match theirs this week Cards. Saints are at a very low ebb of their usually low ebb

Had one very good game against the Tiges. Not much to see otherwise. Should eventually find his mojo though. No kick ins pls Coach! Statistically have him ranked 23rd out of the 28 players that have played more than one game so far this season. Vs his fellow defenders he ranks marginally ahead of Frost (27th) and Hunt (26th) to this point. Optimistically might finish around 10th in the D'land votes if he can find some consistency in performance.

As long as no one walks under it i don't care how they use it!

His first three rounds I seem to recall he had very solid matches. The next two, well obviously the whole team was done like a dog's dinner. Maybe he bit off more than he could chew and is now licking his wounds. Every dog has its day though and I'm sure he will be back on Tracc, maybe as soon as this weekend, with another 'best in show' performance.

Thx DV. I prefer the Paris Live Bon Scott version but bit of an R rating on that one

Personally of the two songs i would go for Highway as it launches into the main chorus, which is basically a chant, very quickly. And footy folk tend to like chanting!

Agreed but that would be changing an old ingrained VFL / AFL tradition

I have mentioned this before but i see one game looks, especially in Smith's case where he is likely on his last chance, as a horrible option. Players coming from the lessor standards and scrappy ovals with the 'generally' less manic / pressured style of VFL, should be given at least 3 weeks to find their feet if they haven't spent much time in the AFL in recent times prior to the call up IMO. The frenetic pace and increased pressure (less time/space) is supposedly a big step up for most who aren't used to it if you listen to some of the seasoned players talk about the differences. Obviously if they have two shockers in a row it's going to be a hard ask for the FD to extend their stay beyond 2 weeks but i think you get my drift.

I guess you had to be there rjay. I clearly remember turning to bro at the game (rnd 3 2007 MCG) when both teams ran out before the bounce and making a major point about how much beef/muscle they had added as a team compared to 2006. He was in full agreement. Obviously this was way before the Essendrug scandal or any notion of 'the weapon' connection.

Excellent assessment Macca

Im fine with 4 on the bench. Peg the rotations to about 40 as you say. 44 is the ideal in my view as each player can then be rotated off and on at least twice if needed. Coaches will adapt as they see the mostly mid type players starting to tire later into the game. They will look to recruit/draft a few more leaner endurance type players a la the Isaac Smith / Hunt types who can run the ball consistently and look to evade the tiring bulkier mid type players later into the game. An overweighting of the weighty if you like across to a more leaner balanced mix of the two! On top of this IF the AFL were to enforce literal interpretation of the prior opportunity rule and/or alter it. Alter it so the 2nd or subsequent hand ball receiver, from the same team, MUST dispose of the ball legally, immediately prior or as soon as the tackle commences or they will be penalised. In some ways no different to what happens now anyway to a ruckman if he takes the ball directly from a throw in or bounce! Personally think that's all that is needed to begin with. Just let it evolve afterwards for a number of years and review. No harm in trialing / testing these two changes. Can be done pre-season.

It was noticeable across one pre-season as most players went from being ordinary / stringy in size to very muscular and beefy. As for The first three mentioned I can't see a massive difference that would make me look twice from last season sorry. Gawn lost a fair bit of weight and put back a little in muscle which was noticeable but hardly a Bruce Banner change up. The comparisons you make are not even close to the noticeable difference in size overall of the Cats (Late) 06 vs early 07.

That is a very good point Ernest and a point that I should have also made as a balance to the Geelong focus. Probably many hidden skeletons scattered through football history that will remain buried.

Correct Tracc. The size difference between 06 / 07 was significant across the team and something I noticed when I first saw them run out in 2007.

Obviously very good news to hear he isn't far off. But i caution anyone who thinks he will return as the Viney we all know launching us even further ahead on ladder etc, at least in his first 3 to 5 matches. Most players usually have an average return to the game (vs their usual standards) when coming off a very interrupted pre-season (or none at all) and tend to have some up and down results during the remainder of their season. After such a long lay off i can't see this being any different for Jack (albeit his main game is a rung above most, so lessor results should still be pretty damn good). Will be a great day when he finally runs out! Then there's the effect on team moral. Now that might have a substantial impact even if Jack is having some ups and downs so you might get the outcome you are hoping for Petracc!

Some only see what they want to see no matter what the reality is Jnr. Looks like this is his break out year though and settling in to his role down back. Very much a keeper now (who else do we have for this one on one role!) but also has the odd moment here and there that leaves me scratching my head. Only 43 games also which means there's so much learning and football ahead. Can only get better. The least of our worries down back right now.

What does a 'çlean run' have to do with a 'broken thumb' What more could the club do Than let Petracca see it through! Is it true what the scribes and Misson say That Viney's still 3 weeks away? ....Ok i'll stop there before i embarrass myself further!

Lol Shorty.... a shade more than unpleasant!

Yet the club has been talking up the likelihood of Tracc's inclusion WW?

You might not be too far away on that Mono. The Blues haven't been in the wilderness as long and no doubt still have some friends and pull in powerful places, whereas much of our old influential business people and power brokers from our last successful era have long since moved on to greener pastures.