Demon Dynasty

We really wont know until about round 6 how the mid field is shaping up. Although i agree, on paper it does look like a significant improvement on last years offering. Even after 6 weeks i wont be judging them too harshly though. It takes a season or 2 at least for a substantially new group to really gell together.

Thanks Steve. I only hope i am severley wrong. As mentioned, i really hope that we see him much earlier in this half of the season. I have faith that we have the right team and that the FD/club is ensuring every avenue is addressed professionally for the best possible outcome. However, similar to OD, i have less faith in some of the injury reports and "return" predictions that we are hearing and i'll "believe" when i see the related player (be it Hogan, Dawes, Garland etc) physically running around "unimpeded" on the park week after week.

You may well be correct Sassy. I still think Jones is a shoe in for a repeat though. I'm betting on Tyson as best recruit. This guy is going to be an absolute superstar in 2 to 3 seasons, assuming our mid field doesn't end up collapsing in a heap with injuries, like our key forwards.

Forward his details pls Hood

I was shot down on the Clark thread after the footy show interview when i stated... "And i hate to be a pessimist but after watching Hulk on the footy show with Gazza the other night, i wouldn't be holding my breath on his return this year either. He looked shattered IMO. Hopefully it was just over the thought of missing a few games and the start of the season and nothing more serious. Body language not good though." I still stand by that view. Yes like everyone, i'm hoping for a very early return, but i'm now prepared for the fact that we might not see him until some time in the 2nd half of the season (assuming the injury isn't career threatening). I await further arrows and barbs lol

As long as we don't have passages of play where we are kicking/running/passing as if we're kicking toward's the opponents goals like we did against the Cats on at least 3 to 4 occasions (didn't see the Dawks match thank goodness) then yes we might sneak over the line. However, i have no optimisim at all about Sunday's game. I'm sitting completely on the fence on a "wait and see" policy. I've seen Reiwoldt tear us a new one pretty much every time we've played them with him in the team. And he has about 200 plus games more experience than any of our "part time" rooky forwards... probably combined lol. Given our usual injury fiasco and our amazing record at Shityhad... i am hoping for the best but preparing for the worst.

No just a wise head calling it as he's seen it over many decades. I don't think anything we say on here has any impact on MFC disasters

So you're saying you know something that we don't. And yes, if it is a serious illness, of course that's how you would deal with it. We might be passionate on here but most of us aren't heartless or stupid.

there there Stuie... is that better?

If it is a "personal issue" ie., relationship matters, then sure, give Mitch a few weeks off to sort it but after that he is contracted and getting paid handsomely to boot (pardon the pun). After that IMO he has to start performing or ship out. However, if it's a rehab issue that's obviously what the experts at the club are paid to manage and make calls on. I would rather they give him every chance to recoup than allow him to hang up his boots without giving it the best shot possible.

It is but you still need class and grunt throughout most lines in any team at this level. Losing our only potent forward (outside of Howe's part time worthy efforts) in the last few years (when he was on and fit) is a massive loss to a lowly team. In a middle rung or top team this position is more easily covered over by a senior group of core players, some of them proven A graders who can lead and lift the team and contribute to the scoreboard when needed. I haven't seen a Melbourne "team" anywhere near that mental and physical capability since 2006. Another example is Carlton and Judd. You take Judd out of an average team like the Blues and they struggle big time to cover his class/engine/finish both around the ground and particularly through the middle. I'm not saying Mitch is a Judd, but he was a potent option when we managed to get him on the park and his absence is a massive blow in the short to medium term for "this" team. We better pray that Dawes gets fully match fit soon and he has a stellar year up forward. Howe and Hulk (assuming he recovers nicely soon) will both benefit from Dawes's prescence and "effort" examples when he's on the park.

What dream was that?

Potent? All i'm hoping for is to see those two running around "together" for most games later in the year. If that happens we might at least be competitive with teams from around 9th to 18th at some stage. Anything more than that would be a bonus. Had we been able to field a fit Clark, Dawes and Hogan from the get go we might have been a potent opponent.

On a lighter side note.... The D'land banner is looking decidedly dodgy as each day passes. Is it cursed lol? From left to right... > Frawley - Speculation that he may well move on at year's end (pic fading a little?). > Clark - Unlikely to pull on a Demon jumper again (pic fading big time) > Viney - Injury prone debut last year although seems to be progressing through pre season ok so far. But surely too early to be a banner boy at this point (see Trengove)? > Grimes - Major injury setback half way through 2013. Good comeback so far in 2014. Has earned his place on banner. > Roos - Fingers crossed for an additional year's contract (at least) This might also secure Frawley on a short term deal as well. Obviously needs to be front and square on the banner. > Jones - The one shining constant on the field and a seriously worthy banner boy. > Trengove - Finally some common sense allowing him to just learn develop and play. Has he earned a banner guernsey at this point? IMO definitely not. > Garland - Significant ankle issue over summer but appears to be progressing well. Should make an appearance in the near term. Looks like a safe and reasonably worthy banner boy at this point...touch wood. > McKenzie - The epitome of "battler" and "tryer". Not sure he's worthy of a banner posting at this point though. Howe is about the only worthy "additional" inclusion from other possibles.

Yes that's also a possibility that i was hoping was the case Demon, however given our run of luck over many decades i'll believe it isn't something ugly when i see him in full flight on game day

As far as KPFs are concerned i reckon you're spot on Red. Other than Neitz, who played about half his career at HB (roughly), i can't recall us being capable of fielding a regular KPF throughout the years i've watched. Not for more than 3 to 4 years before breaking down anyway. Always a career ending injury here...another there. And i hate to be a pessimist but after watching Hulk on the footy show with Gazza the other night, i wouldn't be holding my breath on his return this year either. He looked shattered IMO. Hopefully it was just over the thought of missing a few games and the start of the season and nothing more serious. Body language not good though. Then there's Dawesy. To think we might be taking a "no key forward" forward line into this season, no Garland and a FB who potentially doesn't even want to be here at season's end ... Roosy will have to be a serious magician to make something from that.

Give this man a drink! Laces didn't you read. Listen to what the good Dr says would ya

Mine too DeeZee... loved this bloke and is one of my early childhood heroes in my early games along with Wells, Alves, Bourke, Park (et al). I still recall Park butting out his smoke under boot in the forward line just as the siren blew for the start of a match haha.

Coming up on the Finey show right now

Paintsman im not often in sync with you mate but this says it all for me. A true gentleman and a decent human being which is pretty rare nowadays. Had a great smile Deano as well. Will truly be missed. Hopefully you've gone to a better place mate...cruel way to go at such a young stage of life

My round 1 predictions... Make absolutely NO predictions under any circumstances whatsoever!

WYL you're making no sense at all. Would you bother interviewing the key suspect in a murder if you were the detectives in charge of the case? Of course not! 2014 Season (with Bombers in full flight under new Hird short term/interim substitute coach) roll on. Nothing to see here folks, business as usual....move along!

We probably did have that many in 2013 OD! Unfortunately any optimisim was snuffed out within about 10 minutes into the opening game against Port

Maldon i don't think Roosy would be planning the team's future around Tappy but he'd no doubt be crossing his fingers and toes for a fit Mitch ASAP. I have no idea but my gut feel is that the hamstring problem is a pretty minor issue albeit they'd be treating with kid gloves. The metatarsus issue must be rearing its ugly head whenever they try to up the ante on the training track doing the basics. I'm not expecting to see him in full flight this side of mid season but it would be a nice bonus. Hate to see his career over this early over a cronic foot prob. Fingers crossed for a quick recovery though.

FWIW, spoke to Wattsy briefly just before Christmas at Chaddy. He was there for a photo shoot and said that the message under Roosy is much clearer than anything they had been getting under previous coach and coaching staff. Said it was all starting to make much more sense. I reponded that i would hope so, especially given we now have one of the land's top 3 or 4 coaches (ie., the boys can no longer blame the coach/coaching staff for any woes from here) and wished him and the boys all the best for this season There was no mention or indication of being hard done by or any malice towards the past coaches/set up etc that i could gather in our short exchange.