Demon Dynasty

You sure that was only last summer's ('Watts') prediction Mr Leg? ?

Saber this is arguably the most important post (in an overall AFL sense) all year. At approx the half way mark the top 8 is, baring a major miracle, already settled and as you say not much has changed bar the Tiger's miraculous run into last year's finals which was the first time ever a team entered the 8 from such a long way back. GWS one of the AFL's favoured expansion clubs the only difference. The Demons played a solid outfit y'day and were well beaten but boy does it help to have one of the top forwards in the AFL to have come across under a skewed 'Free Agency' system (that allows top teams to pinch lessor clubs or in this case other top clubs, best), kicking a lovely 4 crucial goals (one of them at a critical balance point in the 3rd quarter) throughout the match. It appears the AFL's level playing field is working beautifully...provided you were a top club already! We are coming from a long way back I realise but how can you take the next step when your most experienced players are able to be poached by the top clubs when we all know they are already strong enough and don't need any further help. AFL and all of us (all Clubs/Presidents etc) just plod along as if everything is rosey (bank balance wise I'm sure this is correct for the AFL overall!).

Trenners was speedy at one point!?? o_O

Didnt see the match but that makes sense. Might have suited Dawes also as I seem to recall he prefers to mark on his chest. Something to do with hands becoming 'brick like' when he attempts to mark overhead?

So you're saying If I watch this game I'm likely to go potty?

I would prefer a hearty soup to a Kilkenny....oh wait

Much needed In today's conditions where yardage/possession are even more crItical. Something we dont have enough of. H may have been handy although he can also be choppy with the ball In hand.

Someone predicted our handball happy style would work against us In the match day thread this morning

Demons by 3 points! Swans midfield is spent!

So he's well suited to these conditions then! o_O

Yes he Is handball happy which Is all good In the dry

Hope u lit some Incence for the Demons SW

I'm wondering why I returned from London! Gloomier here

How about now Bombay?

Where's the SCG?

I heard Grimes was pretty good over 100 meters. Sounds a bit Frosty up there..cough! o_O

If what they say about the weather Is true I would be scoffing down that pie & chips ASAP Azill !

They hand out free Flags & Player faces....reckon you've scored

No free to air coverage?

Looked impressive in the 2nd half but they were only playing Werribee who really lacked grunt once the wick was turned up. A few good cameos but their overall team defence and contested work was pretty ordinary in that second half. Is he that good or was it just the quality of the oppositions?

Same re Alir. On balance I think our defence has a slight edge. We have a big edge in the ruck but if it rains heavy this will probably not mean much on the night and might be neutralised. They have a small edge in the mid and up forward. That's 2 edges for us and 2 for them (provided it doesn't bucket down for the entire match) so we're all even. However, home ground advantage usually gives opponent approx 3/4 goal leg up and at this stage we aren't a '5 goal plus' better team than them. Swannies by 3 to 4 goals...maybe another 3 as we are still a very green team and on the road

I would see it more as having a bit of depth IF we happen to make finals if someone goes down (Lucifer forbid) like Gawn (Spencer) or Stretch (Matty) etc. Alternatively handy for particular match ups or to replace someone on the fringe who may have had 2 to 3 average/ugly weeks and needs to be managed or to find some form at KC. A bit of luxury in a crisis if you like. Don't see a need to rush any of these guys back at this point. The only player you could say is somewhat on the fringe but needs a few more weeks to settle (given he's only just returned) is Vanders IMO. Real goer in the clinches but hasn't really had a sustained period on the park so far to see where he's at (due to his interrupted/injury issues). I still think he has more upside vs say Matty at this point in the medium term. He is also a 'Roos' favorite so should get plenty of opportunity to show his wares if he can stay fit. We also have Brayshaw vying for a similar role to Vanders so the competition is heating up. Harmes/Newton will hopefully get another shot at it later in the season if the window arises to see where they are at after what will probably be a solid stint at KC. Have shown promising glimpses so far at AFL level and my comparative ratings have them ranked 17th/18th ahead of Vanders at 26th this year. Matty also deserves another gig at some point ranking 9th from his 4 AFL appearances, although i've witnessed most of those (both live & televised including a few VFL appearances) and still not convinced he is having the impact with many of his possessions that some have with say half as many. The jury is out on some of boys and the coming matches will be a great test for the entire club and will really show where we are at and who is up to the pressure cooker of playing some of the top clubs in this 2nd half of the season.

Didnt see us training Gosch's this morning Dlad. The Storm were on their section

Extraordinary! Let's rush a pair of those shorts down to AAMI pronto! Oh, might have to tell Hulk to get to work on those thigh muscles a little more though!

Noted!