Demon Dynasty

Gutsy, never say die, gut running game on the weekend. And by gut running i mean to get to so many contests all over the ground. He wasn't alone there, Sylvia, the Scull & Jordie weren't far behind. But he's like an angry bulldog that's always looking for that elusive meat bone. Maybe bowser is a more appropriate name lol. Agree as stated earlier, he willed his way to many contests and laid some awesome tackles (as did Sylvia). IMO his game, Watts, Trenners, Jordie, Greeny, Chiper + the super 2nd, 3rd efforts from some players up forward (including Bobby, Howeee and finally Air J!!) plus some amazing run and defence from the back line....were the difference. Only improvement would be yes, lower the eyes just a little more when breaking from the middle or around flanks. No obvious options, then yeah....bomb away to the hot spot..or just kick it through for a sausage lol.

His work rate is presently not up to an AFL type standard IMO. And i'm talking lead up to provide options for our mids and half backs as well as his defensive pressure work rate. Gives his direct opponent a free and easy role to run the ball out of our forward line with little i50 pressure. He's probably not alone in the forward pressure aspect but it's the degree to which he doesn't work that's a worry. You could argue that we probably have others in our forward line who also struggle with their forward pressure side, but i don't see it at the lowish level that Jurrah is at, or not at as the case may be. I really hope he turns it around somehow, but so far i haven't seen much improvement to this side of his game. He does do these things in very small doses when the mood takes him. But IMO he's one of our weakest links in the forward line given the above at present. No real alternative to pressure him to up the ante a little from the Magoos at this stage. I would love to see the FD try him through the middle a little more often to provide an outside 'class' option to the mid field mix in short bursts and just to see how he operates through here. That way he's forced to think about his work rate a little and is 'in the game' a little more often. His delivery/pace/kicking skills coming out of the mid field (in short bursts) might add a bit of an X factor for us there and get his mind switched onto the game early. I see him as Michael Longish potentially (work rate/output/and damage wise), IF he's willing to get his fitness/work rate up going forward and this might see him turn into a handy mid fielder who's able to push forward at times for the odd goal. I would hate to see him continue along his present path as IMO he's stagnating somewhat under the FDs apparent 'status quo' strategy. Although i have seen them switch him into the middle on a few odd occasions. I'd love to see more of this (off the bench in short 5 - 10 minute spurts) for the second half of this season and see how he goes. I'm not saying he wont kick the odd 4 - 5 goal haul in the odd game if they just keep playing him as is. But it's the work rate/consistency/value added/and gradual improvement that is missing atm for me. Yeah, i know i'll get ragged for saying this lol....so please, feel free to commence with your rants fellow deminions! B)

Gold Striker. He writes well eh. Scary thing is, some of those scenes remind me of my old drinking days with the boys during the dark days of the 70's & 80's. We had our own 'grog squad' before they were termed such i think. And yes, this involved smuggling in cans of amber ale, UDLs, flasks of scotch and anything else we could get into our jackets No bag checks in those days Our chant after any games at the G was "To the Hilton, To the Hilton, To the Hilton Hilton Hilton!". Which was our way of heading to the MCG bar at the Hilton where we mostly had to drown our sorrows and put up with the odd opposition supporter or a small group of them cheering every time they kicked a goal on the tube as the replay was telecast. Occasionaly we were treated with a rare replay of a Demon victory. Always made a huge difference to the whole night lol. On a few very rare occasions, the odd player would come in for a beer after match. I can only recall this on about 2 occasions. Although i was mostly smashed so my memory isn't the most reliable source. Definitely recall Jacko Jackson one time though. How would you be if that happened today. Beamer would've been booted! We certainly didn't have a Queen Shazza tho. Thank lucifer for that!

Fair enough Fork. I've made a mental note mate. I guess it's a random outcome sometimes, depending on where you sit/stand on the day and who's about/who you're with. I had a pretty tough/feral upbringing myself in my early days so maybe i just don't notice the knuckleheads behaving so badly as some others might. Anyways, i'll try and take more notice this time around. That's if i leave the ground alive!

Richmond vs Melbourne Round 14, 2011 - Experience Stats Total games played by Team Tigers - 1,287 Demons – 1,356 Average games played per player Tigers - 59 Demons - 62 Average games played by category 0-49 Tigers - 26 / 12 (average games/number of players) Demons - 23 / 13 50-99 Tigers - 74 / 6 Demons - 64 / 2 100+ Tigers – 142 / 4 Demons - 127 / 7 Stats courtesy of footywire.com

I think Richmond supporters, not all but in general, are one of the fairest bunch i've witnessed and experienced at the footy. Like all teams, including us, they have fair ones, feral ones, crazy passionate types and band wagon jumpers (and yes, plenty of females, including wives who are in some cases more passionate than the blokes, and whole family followers...and many who love to go skiing!!). I've got a good mate who follows em week in, week out. And i'm talking regular match attendance/membership every year not just a follower, like many of those Blues' supporters (at least up until last year anyway....yeh that's my stereotype for Blues' supporters...pretend they support em like they're members but when you dig deeper, they aren't lol). He loves em and hates em with a passion. I've been with him to many Demon/Tiger matches, including away games sitting/standing in amongst/behind the enemy, and let me tell ya, i've seen worse supporter groups generally than Richmond's. Yes, they've got their odd ugly knucklehead supporters, so have we, but nothing like what i've experienced with Bumbers, Dawks and Pies. Much more arrogance amongst these 3 given their recent history of success. And one of the worst groups i've had behind me ever during a match (and this was a final) was Saints supporters. Generally found em ok, but the group i witnessed this particular day was the worst ever lol. I remember going to the final Fitzroy game here at the G (final game in Vic) with me Tiger mate for the send off in 1996. And what a send off the Tiger supporters gave em (as well as other club's supporters of course). My 2nd team and i followed them as a toddler before i turned to the Demons. So i had a bit of a soft spot. When the Fitzroy song came on pre match the majority of the crowd (from what i can recall) stood up and sang their fab song as one. One of the most emotional moments i can recall at the footy. One thing i do remember that day was how loose/slack i thought Martin Pike was that day and maybe it wasn't such a bad thing to have traded him in the end. How wrong he was going to prove me in years to come lol. I sat with my Tiger mate in the members and I swear many of the Tiger supporters were happy to sit on the fence, half wishing the Roys would get up or at least put up a decent show. Albeit this was very early on in the game and once it ended up looking like the Roy boys were on the road to a belting, without much fight, they soon found voice for their own. Many Tiger supporters have done it tough too gang. I've found they aren't so arrogant as you might think. Angry, frustrated and [censored] at their efforts over past years sure (ring a bell lol?), but most aren't like the ones we read in the sneak posts on here, from what i've experienced anyway. Unless there's been a change in the last 6 - 8 months maybe that i have yet to witness. I'm going on Saturday night so i'll let you know if there's been a change lol. Also, this BS 'Silvertail' myth about our supporters may have been relevant pre 1980 when we were owned by the MCC. But not any more. It's a dumbass label portrayed and stereotyped week after week by 'the coulda beens' many decades ago, which was then carried over and grew legs through other ignorant mis-informed smart ass commentators. Success breeds success. And with a lack of success over many decades now, the MFC boasts more than its fair share of battlers and blue collar workers (me being one of them). I sat next to two of the toughest of em in Karen & her mate (i forget her mate's name...sorry!) at the G against the Bumbers 3 weeks ago. They were from Pakenham and Werribee. Hardly well to do burbs! 25+ years support/membership, and tough as nails! Some of the wealthiest/well to do clubs, and hence supporters, are those that have had success over many decades. These are the new silvertails of the AFL. We do have our share, don't get me wrong, especially at board/committee level no doubt (where the big money and bean counters thrive and are much needed in order to attract appropriate sponsors and have their roots in/with the MCC etc). But nothing like the well to do clubs, such as Essendon, Collingwood and Hawthorn at the grass roots level. Check out the stickers/car rego's on the Beamers and Audi's etc next time you're out and about. You'll find most of them are Bumbers/Hawks/Pies supporters and they're certainly not suffering under the weight of a heap of struggling 'blue collar' only supporters! More likely accountants, lawyers and big business knobs!

+1 for me Dermie commented on him recently. Said to become a great forward he'd need to be able to do much more than be just lead up in straight lines. Believes that's why the Cats have sent him back to the Magoos after much perseverance. If i was granted a wish i wouldn't say no to having an 'instant' quality power CHF in the team right now though. Anyone seen a genie lamp around lately?

Rhino for mine....definitely Rhino!

Ummm....could've been Freo supporters ....or maybe...BT!

Howe about that!!!! Nice. I'm taking everything a week at a time though. Sorry for the cliche' but it was a pretty deleted Freo, and at the G lol

Spot on. Although, i would still see Col pushing forward to create another option on occasions when it fits into the team plan/structure/match ups etc. Can play tall, and throws another dimension into our forward options, creating another headache for the opposition to try and cover with a tallish/quality defender rather than just a 'run with' option if he didn't push forward at all. Not to mention the scoreboard pressure Rather see Gawn, Martin, Rush & Watts through here most of the time

Melbourne vs Freemantle Round 13, 2011 - Experience Stats Total games played by Team Demons - 1,324 Dockers – 1,451 Average games played per player Demons - 60 Dockers - 66 Average games played by category 0-49 Demons - 25 / 13 (average games/number of players) Dockers - 24 / 13 50-99 Demons - 72 / 3 Dockers - 75 / 4 100+ Demons – 131 / 6 Dockers - 168 / 5 Stats courtesy of footywire.com

Melbourne vs Freemantle Round 13, 2011 - Experience Stats Total games played by Team Demons - 1,324 Dockers – 1,451 Average games played per player Demons - 60 Dockers - 66 Average games played by category 0-49 Demons - 25 / 13 (average games/number of players) Dockers - 24 / 13 50-99 Demons - 72 / 3 Dockers - 75 / 4 100+ Demons – 131 / 6 Dockers - 168 / 5 Stats courtesy of footywire.com

All good mate. Heyy does that mean u managed to have your cocoa? Got a laugh outta that lol. Lucifer knows we need more laughs after Saturday

I was being a little flippant...or trying to

Yeh, i heard from an inside source that he's moved away from 'chalk and talk' to 'differentiated instruction' ...so he must be a 'good teacher'!

First para....ya. Nice. 2nd para... ummm....not sure i'd rank Bailey an equal to or better coach than Sheedy at the time the decision was made. Whether he was the correct person for the job or not is another matter depending on the MFC's criteria/decision making processes/budget etc.

How about as Director of Coaching??

I find it offensive that you're connecting a player not quite right with my name. In future i would ask you to consider this before using it so loosely! B)

Nice lol. I have a strong feeling this may have happened to us and other lessor clubs a few times before BZ. Seems we haven't learnt much. Next planet China maybe?? Hang on we went there already didn't we Maybe that's what we were planning/doing while the AFL was shafting everyone over the GCS/GWS arrangement

Which double standards lol? What guilt lol? You're use of the word guilt implies that anyone that doesn't quite respond in the manner which you (and RPFC) approve of must be guilty of a Demonland offence! (teehee) Wasn't saying you're denying them a right as such, just comments from you and RPFC that allude to the fact that most comments on this re: Scully not being played if he hasn't signed are crap and those writing them are full of crap lol. I was one of them although what i was saying was press for a more definite outcome by pushing for an 'in principle' agreement in the next 4 weeks. If it falls over, and he refuses to sign, IMO he's shown his hand. If so, we then look to get 8 -10 games into alternatives. Nathan Thompson said exactly the same this evening on SEN just out of interest. Not that his backing makes it a sound argument. As for my use of comic sans.....heyy....it got a response out of you Rhino. That's a pretty good reason i reckon! Oh, if you dislike it so much.....you could always get it removed as a font option! Ummm....the IMO bit means you're kind of joking yeh?

Sorry Rhino/RPFC but you're missing the point boys. It's about us getting our hands on a pretty nice prospect No.1 draft pick and potentially losing him a few years later, without any compensation. Thanks to the machinations and greediness of the AFL to expand the competition at all costs. I think Davey and Sylvia were priority pick and rookie draft pick no. 3s at the time yes? And i would like to think we should expect reasonable compensation for both of them as well if they were to move on. In the end the massive conjecture re: Scully staying or going would be lessened somewhat as an issue generally, were we not likely to be shafted in the process and instead were likely to be duly compensated for him signing to a newly created club. Or alternatively, we had received a fair return on him on the field in terms of many years of service/output/performance (eg., Ablett's contribution to the Cats) as well as compensation. Also, last time i looked, people are free to express their views on this site aren't they? What makes the two of you so sanctimonious on this issue? People might be wrong, the might be right, they might be somewhere in between with their views. They should have a right to at least be heard. Who knows, along the way we might all learn a thing or two. I know i am. Some very good contributors on this site who add value and excellent views/feedback. Yeah i make mistakes too and i speak dribble sometimes no doubt. But along the way i'm learning from some of you. Including you and RPFC at times. Cheers B)

Fair point. Probably not. But, how about an 'in principle' agreement subject to a review of the terms of pay after the CBA is done? Where there's a will there's usually a way isn't there? I'm sure they could come to some arrangement in principal subject to the finer details of the CBA. There's also maybe the Pratt option for some sort of work arrangement after football...ahem If there's a severe falling out at that point and they can't deal, sure, maybe GWS wins out and after much sweat and tears we lose him. But at least until then the never ending and constantly growing conjecture/speculation is deadened somewhat so that Scully and rest of the players can focus on the 2nd half of this season.

I agree. The MFC can only pay him what they can afford going forward. They must have some idea at this point what this is approximately or am i jumping the gun showing my contract/football club/trading ignorance?? It's time to stop f%&ing around and bring in the commitment sledgehammer. If Scully's so committed/loyal to this club it's time to sign. Give him your best deal/contract MFC/FD/Schwab and lets hammer a deal in the next 4 weeks. If it can't be done and he doesn't want to sign i say he gets no more senior game time thereafter. Loyalty amounts to actions not words or delay of negotiations/contract signing. If he wont sign or isn't happy with the deal then IMO he's shown his hand. Demitriou is half right. If we didn't like the options given to GCS/GWS we (and possibly other weaker/lessor Vic clubs who thought it was a crappy outcome for Vic clubs going forward) should have made a stand before allowing the AFL to push this through like the big bully or dictator they are. Nicely said btw Kennett...for first time i can recall you've said what many (but not all i'm sure) followers believe. The club is bigger than one man. Ablett Jnr., in my opinion, unsettled the Cats with this staying/going nonsense right through 2010. He should have been a man and stood up and just said half way through last season (at the latest) "boys, i've made a very hard decision.... i'm heading off. Time for the Geelong FD to blood a rooky or a senior rooky" The Scully Saga is now having the same unsettling/draining/deflating effect on this club IMO. And by the way, surely Ox could have given his old club 2 bloody days before releasing his big Scully revelation! What a dunderhead. No way someone like Dermie or Daics would undermine their club the day before such a big game like that. Instead, they'd be down there firing them up and giving their support (or at least offering it), such as Dermie's 'line in the sand' rev up at half time in 2004, when the Hawks were said to have had a soft underbelly....ring a bell anyone!!?? Yeh, we should be bigger than that, it shouldn't worry us, we should be more professional blah blah blah, but some of our boys may well have had Ox as their idol growing up and some of them may watch the show/read papers etc. Some of them may have 'believed' or still do, that he's staying....or maybe they were totally focused on the big game they hadn't thought about it much of late. Only takes 1 or 2 to be slightly affected and the rot starts to spread. You don't think this crap unsettles some of the younger pups or could have had some effect before the game Monday? I told him so too on SEN yesterday. Bloody selfish act with absolutely no gain for anyone other than to big note himself...."look at me...look at me....i told you first right here on the 7 Footy show"! Woopy fricken doo Ox!! It's been doing the rounds for months mate! How bout sticking fat and giving something back to the club and the supporters who gave you so much over so many years and waiting 2 fricken days for your huge announcement!! You can still make it and big note yourself, whilst also taking into account your former background and loyalties and the importance of the game that was about to take place. As you can see, i'm [censored] enough on this to give him a second spray! If we lose picks/compensation by taking the above option IMO we just have to suck it. We had our chance to stand up to the AFL earlier and we didn't. If you don't stand up to the school bully at some point, then you gotta expect to get your face rubbed in the dirt from time to time eg., Sylvia's broken jaw with no one even sighted/Trengove 3 weeks for a tackle with no prior record/Scully to GWS without any compensation etc. If he doesn't or isn't signing, at least we can get 8 - 10 more games into someone that is going to be here.....or alternatively we finally get an answer and move on with the rest of the year....fully focused on the game itself and the development of ALL players.

Good point on Brown/Maxwell. If we're aware of it then the FD and players should be all over it. Hard to counter obviously. Will be interesting how it pans out tomorrow. I just feel if we try and stretch them up forward with the Gawn factor early. Might mean they have to change up their regular game plan a little. Yes, with lots of wishful thinking, this could mean Maxwell not playing quite as loose and worrying him into playing a little deeper defensively in order to be the 3rd man up against Gawn etc, or maybe forcing Brown to man up on him for a period. Hard enough covering their 2 monsters down forward, let alone the 3rd random like Brown coming in. If so, this should (one can only hope) mean less opportunity for Brown to make those forward runs/thrusts as often. Or alternatively maybe less opportunity for Maxwell to get as many free possessions, and when he is getting them he's trying to set up play from deeper in his defense (provided Gawn's playing out of the goal square), hopefully nullifying his freelance style of play in his usual 'half back loose man' role. Even if it only works for 30 - 40 minutes of the game. Every little bit helps. There's so many factors that will need to go right for us tomorrow though. In particular, forward pressure inside our 50. Really looking forward to it. Carn the Demons!