Demon Dynasty

My only reservations was with the FD playing him too early in his development given his physical size/maturity. Thought his mind might get smashed along with his bod lol. But he's grown and grown and proved my worries were unfounded. I had a preference for Nick Nat before i saw anything of the two, but that was only on the back of hearing Buckenara's comments years ago that he felt Nick Nat was the stand out in the draft and that's who he'd go for as he hadn't seen anything like him. He probably hadn't seen much of Watts so on reflection it was a somewhat cloaked view of things. Mind you i think Nick Nat will also be a massive star and has shown glimpses of his potential this year But for me.....stellar year this year for Watts. I posted earlier on the Green post from Belze.... Captain for mine for 2012 with Mckenzie or Trengove VC (or joint VC's). Time for the seniors to move aside for the new crew in the leadership dept. The senior leaders all had their chance this year. I've seen enough. With Moloney maybe the only short term exception if we feel another year is needed in the youngsters prior to captaincy in 2013. Otherwise, no thanks. Watts for mine all the way. Wack another 3-5kg on pre season and look out! Well done mate.

Geelong vs Gold Coast Round 20, 2011 - Experience Stats Total games played by Team Geelong - 1,970 Gold Coast – 1,227 Average games played per player Geelong - 90 Gold Coast – 56 Average Height of Teams Geelong - 188cm Gold Coast – 189cm Average Weight of Teams Geelong - 90kg Gold Coast – 85kg Average games played by category 0-49 Geelong - 22 / 5 (average games/number of players) Gold Coast - 11 / 14 50-99 Geelong - 81 / 4 Gold Coast - 69 / 2 100+ Geelong – 198 / 13 Gold Coast - 156 / 6 Stats courtesy of footywire.com

Geelong vs Melbourne Round 19, 2011 - Experience Stats (didn't get a chance to post pre-match. Just thought i'd take a look....as ugly as the result was. I've also posted the Gold Coast match against the Cats for this week below as a comparison. The inbalance in rookies/seniors is pretty alarming) Total games played by Team Geelong - 1,981 Demons – 1,394 Average games played per player Geelong - 90 Demons – 63 Average Height of Teams Geelong - 188cm Demons – 188cm Average Weight of Teams Geelong - 90kg Demons – 86kg Average games played by category 0-49 Geelong - 16 / 3 (average games/number of players) Demons - 24 / 12 50-99 Geelong - 80 / 4 Demons - 73 / 4 100+ Geelong – 201 / 15 Demons - 136 / 6 Stats courtesy of footywire.com

Although it's a little too late and unusual to change Captains at this point, Viney's appointment would have been a possibility to do so. However, he's already said he's a temp coach so this means he would've been quite reluctant to make any 'major' changes such as captaincy. Would be another ripple through the playing group as well. One i think was needed when it was obvious to all earlier in the season. We missed the boat, yet again. That being said i agree with you BB. Lack of leadership on field and off this year (along with who knows what else has gone on behind the scenes in the admin/FD), has seen an ugly ending to our season. Having seen what's gone on this year, and the year pretty much done and dusted now.....my nomination for our long term captain from next year, is a young man who's shown great progress, heart, spirit and some wonderful passages of creative play. He also finishes where many others, including most in our senior group, fail to. In addition he shows me something i've seen sadly lacking in many of the senior leadership group so often in so many of the big games, especially at crucial times when the game's still in the balance. And that's 2nd and 3rd efforts and a will to get to many contests! He leads by example consistently week in & week out, with a few odd exceptions (to be expected given his age/inexperience), even when we're being pumped. By a country mile.......JACK WATTS!

Carlton vs Melbourne Round 20, 2011 - Experience Stats (didn't get a chance to do this prior to match so thought i'd include it here FYI) Total games played by Team Blues - 1,884 Demons – 1,499 Average games played per player Blues - 86 Demons – 68 Average Height of Teams Blues - 186cm Demons – 188cm Average Weight of Teams Blues - 86kg Demons – 86kg Average games played by category 0-49 Blues - 29 / 10 (average games/number of players) Demons - 24 / 11 50-99 Blues - 58 / 2 Demons - 77 / 5 100+ Blues – 155 / 10 Demons - 141 / 6 Stats courtesy of footywire.com

Carlton vs Melbourne Round 20, 2011 - Experience Stats Total games played by Team Blues - 1,884 Demons – 1,499 Average games played per player Blues - 86 Demons – 68 Average Height of Teams Blues - 186cm Demons – 188cm Average Weight of Teams Blues - 86kg Demons – 86kg Average games played by category 0-49 Blues - 29 / 10 (average games/number of players) Demons - 24 / 11 50-99 Blues - 58 / 2 Demons - 77 / 5 100+ Blues – 155 / 10 Demons - 141 / 6 Stats courtesy of footywire.com P.S. Apologies for lateness and missing last weeks (work commitments).

Our selections have often been bewildering to me in many cases over many decades. We simply aren't harsh enough and to me this tells the whole team, that it's ok to lose.....to a point. So what do they do week after week, until they're dead sick of it.....they lose. Take the Hawks game. Lost by 54 points in Round 18. This was 9 points worse than our capitulation in the 2nd half of our round 2 game against the same team. And they had Roughhead in the team in Round 2. So basically our result, 16 weeks later, was without doubt worse IMO. Yet..... what changes did we make to the team for the following week? Zero, Zilch...Null! And i say Zero as to me, the 1 omission was made only in order to return a previously crook Jurrah (a last minute ommission from the Dawks game) into the same, unchanged line up for the match against the Cats. Lose by nearly 10 goals and in effect no changes!! To me that message speak volumes to the whole group. Again, it's ok to lose....even by almost 10 goals. What a disgrace. And disgrace ourselves we did, the very next week. Our black Saturday wasn't all to do with off field politics and shenanigans.

Who knows. Not a bad article other than that last jab. Unnecessary and unfortunate finish IMO. Highlights much of what's been lacking in the last 15 years or so, with a few exceptions like Neitz, at this club. Pitty Todd doesn't want to continue on. I think he under sells himself here. With the right support staff and a senior quality mentor over his shoulder, i think Todd would make a good fit for us and turn us into a toughened/hardened professional outfit.

Looking for a bit of value for your spend OD huh? Nice

I think Hang is correct here re the professional side of things (in AZ) making it probably so much above and beyond the amateur on offer at Falls/NZ. But then there's the advantage argument vs $ spent side. Maybe this is for us in the short term. Need $ to set a program and run it professionally regardless. Then you have the Cats etc not doing argument. There's so much else we need to get right at this point though. This to me would be a nice icing on the cake, but one which needs addressing once the other pieces of the puzzle are put in place....assuming they are at some stage ...not holding my breath

Absolute Gold. As an aside, makes you wonder what the hell we were doing sending our club for an AFL demo in China (like they're going to form a potential supporter base/league or an international team...WTF?) and then supposedly leaving them to fluff around for 10 days or so afterwards. I realise it may have been an end of season junket on the back of the demo in order to save the club a few $$ maybe (yeh i have no idea....just pontificating). But we seem to do alot of amateur things at this club a little too often it seems. Maybe we should've asked the AFL to hold the demo in Arizona instead....

Gold

No need to sell another game North for 500k. Do a deal with Hancook for 500k. All players to run out one week (or even 2!) with a Hancook "tyre" as a big red hoop instead of the red V. Problem solved

Fab post Red (and Jack). In the short term we've got Garry who's a good defender/voice it would seem, however, he wont be around long enough and everyone knows it. Lets hope Jimma recovers pretty quickly but i still think we're lacking in this area even if he does. I wonder if Garry will have a change of heart once in there. But at this point we have to take Garry on his word re the length of his stay. A head kicking leader/strong voice for this Club is likely to be missing post Garry IMO. I realise CEO's/Presidents/Directors don't win games. But it helps to have a strong voice/leader at the top. Any suggestions?

Oops .... yeh it is ...oh well. The Phillips part is at least fact lol Oh, you don't need to clarify.... i think i was spot on if you weren't saying anything. I never said he owed it to make a decision. Just let them know of his likely intentions. I'm sure many players have been dropped towards the end of their careers and been told by the club their services aren't required any further with some notice so they're able to look for an alternative. Not saying it's common practice as each situation would no doubt be different, but i'm sure it's happened on occasions. Cheers

Kennett just slammed Garry's involvement on SEN. Reckons he needs to commit for longer, that he should take up a real position or no position and that it will take him much more than a 3 month commitment to have any impact. Otherwise he should stay out as it'll be more damaging. Anything that upsets/worries Jeffrey has to be a good thing surely!

This ^^^ Does this mean the board as a whole has never seen the Andrews' report either formally (as part of a board meeting/presentation) or informally (ie., individually outside of a formal board meeting)? Has any board member seen it i wonder? Many questions remain yet unanswered. It's going to be a very interesting off season period for this club.....again.

I realise Jim has yet another huge fight on his hands. And we have to respect what him and family decide on from here re commitments and his health situation of course. But, i'd also hate for Jim to be going into this battle, however long this one takes, thinking that he had to step out (for now), on such a low ebb in the club's long history. It was in no way his fault and i think we'd all love to thank him for his efforts so far and show him our support and hopefully give him a bit of a boost. Just wondering if someone close to the club (one of the Mods or someone on here) might be able to speak to someone and consider arranging a big "thank you/honor" day for Jimma and family to help them through this tough period?? Would have to be the Richmond or Gold Coast game obviously. I'd prefer Richmond as the crowd would be huge and a much more appreciative/appropriate atmosphere for such an occasion. Just putting it out there. Anyone? P.S. As an aside, this could also become a decent fund raiser if Jim wanted. He can choose the recipient...Reach or Cancer Foundation etc.

Lets hope not. He's quite a man old Jim. But i wouldn't write him off just yet. As we all know, Jim's one hell of a fighter, and although he's been through the mill umpteen times already, there's still some fightin' left in him yet i reckon. But yeh....i'd prefer to see him focus on what's important right now and conserve all his energy until he's totally overcome this bloody cursed thing. I think a very long holiday in the tropics afterwards with family would also do him good. Thanks for everything you've done for us so far mate! Amazing, inspirational stuff! Go get em Jimma!!

Interesting post Sylvia. Time for the heat and spotlight to be turned on these two individuals and the part they've played and are playing within the club. The problems that came to a head on Saturday can't just lie with the coach and playing group alone. Not saying all our problems, or any of them, lie with these two alone (or at all)...but everyone's position and performance so far, should be fully scrutinised and reviewed. I love Jimmy and admire all he's done so far (and wish him all the best in what must be an extremely draining fight), but with his illness now impacting him so cruely, this club clearly lacks leadership/direction at the top, at least from a public perspective (and mine). It also needs transparency in its relationship with members with regard to what happened in the last 6 months or so, and in particular the last week or 2, that resulted in 'Self Destruction' Saturday. This is a must have if many members are to believe whatever the club is going to try and sell us re: the clubs' goals/strategies for next year and beyond. Lets hope Garry can put his friendship/mates hat aside and get the job done.

Quote... "It's against AFL rules for me to publicly confirm that we have put an offer to Zac and Chad. But I can confirm that we have not, not, put offers to them" said Allen whilst winking and resisting the urge to physically stroke his own ego......Source - July 14, The White Maggot This, and the recent Phil Davis saga, would suggest that GWS are more than likely putting offers to players prior to season's end, at least verbally. If so, and they have put an offer (verbally) to tom's management, then Tom is potentially putting himself, his management and GWS at risk of some sort of sanction by the AFL (or potentially even legal action from the MFC), even if he just publicly says (even just to the club in private) that he's agreed to move on, prior to season's end. He may be under instruction from his management not to say either way IF this is the case. Not saying he's gone or going or that the above has any creedence. Just making a point as to why he might be laying low and not saying either way until season's end. If however, you're trying to say he hasn't decided yet, then that's a different argument. If so, my one point would be, why is it taking him so long to decide? Season's almost at an end now. He must have some idea surely? I think he owes it to the club and his fellow players to give at least some indication of his intentions (without saying he's agreed to anything with GWS...yet!!), so the club can start planning for his inclusion or exclusion (start compensation negotiations with AFL etc) for next year and whether we put 'finals' experience into him (potentially) at season's end or give that experience to another rookie/player. B)

Lol. They'd probably tear each others' throats out by about week 8. I don't mind either in preference to say Eade if we couldn't get Mick or Roos. To me, Choco has that 'Don't f%^k with me/Stick it right up em' look and presence about him don't you think? He's a little bit volatile, somewhat aggressive and blunt. Might shake a few monkies out of their cozy trees down there and wake the place up a little if he sees any deficiencies/shortcomings in the club, such as interference in the FD from the executive etc. He's also been to the well before on the field. He'll make sure the jobs done all round, including assistants. Authoritarian style will see the boys sitting up and taking notice, as well as the fact he's a proven premiership coach. I think he'll add the hardness and edge we've been lacking for so long. Exactly what this group needs at the moment i feel (if we can't get Mick).

He's technically not allowed to be signed by GWS until after the season's completed, so this makes complete sense.

Exactly. A new Coach (assuming he's from the outside) will need time to assess and gauge, who (in his mind), is the man for the Captaincy etc. I would hate to see the Captaincy being announced prior to at least round 6 (or whatever period the new coach feels is appropriate to assess) given our lack of an obvious 'stand out' leader at this point and the apparent effect this has had on our on field results so far this year. If it's announced prior to seasons start next year, i'll be having a good chuckle, given what's taken place this year. A new coach could also put it to the players as a whole, that he'll be looking for leaders who truly wish to lead this group and who stick their hand up for the job, during game day matches and also their performance and they way they handle themselves off the field. Including the roles of captaincy and vice captain. Like every position in this club from here, from the President, the CEO, The Football Manager down to the boot strapper, each role should be truly earned and deserved, before we just give it away for PR/Marketing purposes and name's sake. If we're going to be the best, then we need to select the very best, in all areas of this club.

This >>> ....."The concept of empowering player leadership groups to help run their own teams is justified if they are capable of the responsibility and it does not adversely affect their core role as on-field performers. If they cannot the results can be disastrous. Basically one size does not fit all and a good dose of authoritarian coaching style might be just what the Demons need at this stage of their development, because their player leadership group is just not getting it done." (Quote from Lethal's article today)