Demon Dynasty

Excellent point Stuie. Sadly And Nasher....i would've preferred Megan Gale in there for Jen Hawkins. A bit to "up there somewhere looking down" for my liking Jen. Any chance you can add Megan please!?

Ok. So davey's squibb wasn't a result of "passion" or lack thereof then? Or maybe (in your mind) this was a clear example of a derivative of our extensive injury list and inexperience? Nice one Artie Yep. Sporting teams at the elite level don't play with passion for their jumper or their fans. The just play. Mate, it's relevant because without our passion and following the Club wouldn't exist....period. If you don't have passion from the fans and the players don't play with any on the field, you may as well stay home bud.

Wow, so passion doesn't have a part to play in footy or comments/observations thereof huh. That's news to me. Must have been barracking/watching/turning up at game after game/yelling support/buying memberships, merchandise & demon incentive plans/handing out "no merger" leaflets at the G/Dallas Brooks etc for some other reason other than passion for the last 40 years

Petterd was dissapointing yes, however, i think he has a little more upside potential than the others at the start of your list up there. Doesn't mean i'd leave him in next week on that performance though. I think maybe another rocket needed here. Even if it means blooding a first gamer like Howe in order to replace him and send the message/and allow him further development time in the Magoos. I really don't want to see part-time forward types in our team again (like Petterd/Newton) unless/until we can see a marked step up in ability/skill and finish under fairly intense pressure. It's time to turn up the heat....no matter WHO is under-performing and not putting in the required "non negotiable" efforts. Sylvia i wouldn't put in with the other 3 either. Albeit i think he doesn't finish as well as he could option wise on many occasions. Seems a little happy to dump the ball long whenever pressed, without taking the extra effort/time to ensure it's delivered to the advantage of team mate (more often than not. no one's perfect under pressure all of the time or anytime for that matter...even champions). At other times he looks stunning with his delivery. I'd just like to see him improving his effective ball use a little more when he breaks clear. Shouldn't he now be at a level, fitness/skill/experience wise, that he's occasionally pushing up into the forward line for a contest and to present too? Kicking a few goals on occasions? Yes he's done so in the past. But where's the consistency? Seems to be happy to play his central position and sit on it without this extra "pushing up" work in some games, like today. The greats do this extra work more often than not. I'm referring to the likes of Juddy, Goodes, Chapman, Ablett, Reiwoldt etc. They're willing to work that little extra when the heat is on and game is up for grabs to try and make a difference and do the one percenters to help out the TEAM! Aka the Jones Boy today. And no i'm not putting Jones in the champion league by any means, but i think he lead the way today, showing that he's not gonna lay down without a huge effort/fight. Pushing himself to provide the extra link, run and get to the contest all day. This is somewhere towards the minimum effort we should demand from all players at this club effort/skill wise. In some ways, having the list so depleted is going help us sort out the more senior players, with regard to who really wants to stick their hand up and lay it on the line for this club and who doesn't. And also those that are able to play at a minimum required level skill/execution wise under Bailey's/ the FD's game plan/s By the time some of our big guns/regulars are back in and settled we will have a much better idea of who was and wasn't up to it in this group. I think we discovered at least one today who wasn't in terms of willingness/attitude (Davey). And at least one other in the skill/ability/physicality dept under pressure/heat (Newton/Petterd?). Albeit, i don't see too many gun forwards waiting in the wings as replacements at Casey right now for both. Maybe it's time to roll the Howe dice (for Newton). Lets hope the Coach/FD has the sense (and balls) to make some pretty tough but clever decisions with the list in the latter part of this season in the cold light of day.

Yep Feels quite good until you look at who we played form wise. And one can only go on current form (and enough games now to have a fair idea of where that form truly lies). Below us on the ladder with only 1 win and a draw and that win against a lowly (bottom of the ladder) Brisbane. I think we're getting ahead of ourselves a little here. On the surface some of the performances/efforts today may have looked promising. Personally I'd be waiting till after round 12. Then let's see how we think the senior list is going development/improvement wise....as well as the man appointed to coach them. Yes, there's now an excuse with the senior list half shot to pieces. So some will say we should wait the whole year out before judging. I would say the best time to judge the metal and true grit of a team and its leaders, is when the chips are down and the going gets really tough...against some of the better teams (form wise) in the competition.

Like many promising players that didn't end up reaching their full potential at the MFC (or moved on to achieve great heights elsewhere), i think we need to ask him if he's happy just being very good and exciting in spurts, or whether he would prefer to be remembered as one of the greats of the game....period. If it's the latter, then much more work is required input wise from the FD/Air Jurrah (AJ) in order for us (AJ) to see the best of him in the future... output wise. At this stage he's simply not willing/capable of putting in the consistent efforts to make a huge impact across four quarters and hence on the eventual outcome of most games. When he goes, sure, he looks super and exciting and sometimes he is. But it's still only in flashy spurts. And as for comparisons with Robbo. The game may have changed somewhat forward pressure wise from even 3 - 4 years ago when he was at his peek. So yes, he may not look so good in today's game and his defensive side wasn't something from a coach's text book. But then neither is AJ's at present, albeit with some chasing exceptions when the mood takes him. However, like it or not, Robbo on his day was able to turn/ice a game for us on many occasions. And on the big stage/big game such as those against the filth with a huge crowd when the heat was truly on etc. Some who say otherwise must have very short or selective memories. Some also forget the other effects Robbo's efforts would have on the game. Things like him crashing packs (oh he missed the mark....golly gosh...he's so selfish going for that, why doesn't he just chase more!) and causing spillages out back/front for the crumbed goal, knocking the stuffings out of defensive opponents in those same contests allowing for slightly easier contests/match ups in the next forward thrust etc. I presently haven't seen that consistently from AJ .....i live in hope though. If i had to choose, i'd take Robbo (at this point) in a heartbeat when he was on. He had passion, desire and he delivered most of the time when asked. Hopefully the FD and AJ can prove me wrong some time. I love the tricks, skill and execution when he does switch it on though. SPECIAL!!! Good luck to him from here. Lets hope he can take the next step.

I believe Davey may have been asked to tag Jones for a while in the 2nd half due to his lack of impact (ie., none) in the first half. However, even though i thought Jones relatively ineffective disposal wise, Jones was still willing to work his arse off for the team and gut run Davey (or whoever else was on him) off the park. In the end, Davey couldn't be bothered doing the same (or was incapable of doing so) for more than a few minutes, or had some kind of niggle. I believe some refer to it as sulking?

Totally agree. Often unmanned once the opposition loses possession. Such a poor disposal when under little pressure and a panic player when under medium pressure, the opposition are often happy to just let him run around racking up stats (when he's down back) as they know in most cases he'll just turn it over and they can play off him and spread for the receive and/or kick on goal. Best to try close to goal for 3 - 4 weeks, where he MUST look to moving the ball forward ie., hand balling/short passing to a forward in a better position/lead or shooting for goal. Instead of automatically, without even looking up the field in most passages of play, passing/hand balling the ball backwards to an easy option in last line of defence or sideways to try the switch (usually poorly and too late putting his team mate under pressure) or when under pressure, panic hand balling (eg., to Chip today in one passage that ended up in another costly turnover/goal). If he can't cope up forward as a crumber/goal kicker/applying forward pressure/turnovers etc , then best to trade while he still has some value out there IMO. There is one other alternative where i'd like to see him given a further opportunity, but only up forward or maybe pushing into the middle on occasions, and that's under a new (top rated) coach. He just might be under instruction (with this auto backwards first option mode of play) when in defence. If so, what does this say about Bailey's coaching style/ability? Sorry, did Bails say something about, "we gotta take the game on" a few days ago? And yes....he does try....real hard. Happy to give credit there. Davey could learn from that at least. Sadly i don't think he will.

McDonald: Tried hard and and did a few good things first half. Went missing after that and decision making/awareness at this level poor. As much as i liked his effort first half, if that's the best he can do.... Trade time. Bater: Enough said. Probably trade time. Davey: Casey. Then bring him out towards last 3 - 4 rounds to put a show on as trade bait. Need a solid forward....desssssparately!! Newton: Too slight to hold down a key forward position and if the balls being bombed he's not even capable of creating a contest. Same in the ruck....he's a liability there. As to why Bailey moves him there (especially straight after kicking a much needed goal at one point, i'll never know). Is only good on the lead but then so is Jurrah. Trade or delist time (permanently!). Jurrah: Leading is about all he's doing at the moment, on occasions (and yes doing it well ...when he wants to...along with tackling/chasing...when he feels like it). Time for some extra fitness work i think if he's not up to playing out the 4 quarters with some gusto. Not sure whether Casey would help. Needs a Mentor maybe (Not Davey!) Petterd: Pretty average at best. For that output he would need to have an accuracy rate of 90% - 100% in front of goal. Aint gonna happen obviously. Martin: Again, tries hard in ruck and probably holds his own for the first half of football. Downhill after that. Easily jostled out of the contests one on one and has no idea in aerial contests or once the ball hits the ground. Panicks in general play if he gets possession too when the heat is on (not alone here though). Not sure whether any alternatives are ready for a shot from Casey....but not much to lose here. Maybe use as a sub for 2nd half of games until the big russian returns. Or alternatively leave him up forward to see if he's capable as a big marking forward option given that our options up there atm are Zilch. Bartram: Gets plenty of it but i understand why opposition doesn't bother with him in terms of manning up on him when they dont have the ball. His decision making and finish is some of the worst i've seen at AFL level. Passable at VFL level. Always looking for the cheap kick backwards to an easy unmarked opponent as first option (in most cases). Direct cause of so much pain the other way (turnover wise and placing needless pressure on our other backman through poor choices/delivery/panick hand balls etc). Looks ok when all is well and under NO pressure at all. Either play him as a mosquito forward to crumb and kick goals.....or trade time. Apart from a few select efforts, and a poor showing from a shadow of a team in the Saints (reiwoldt excluded), we would have been smashed by any team 8 and above after half time today IMO. Although ravaged with injury, i really haven't seen anything (on a consistent basis over 3 years and 8 matches now) that shows me that Bailey has the ability/processes/systems in place to motivate the boys and find the spirit/tenacity we would need (among so many other things....eg., holding the ball in our forward line by creating forward pressure inside our 50 for more than just an odd game here or there) if we are to move these players, and they're to move themselves (and a whole bunch of regulars once they return), to the next level. And to the next level i mean a step up to finals standard football. And that's just lower part of the 8 finals standard, let alone finishing in the top 4. Jones was outstanding and i'd hate to think where we may have finished were he injured (Lucifer forbid!). Moloney wasn't at his best but gave his all for 4 quarters as did Chip. Sylvia and Warnock were up and about for most of the game but imo opinion slightly below par performance wise given their experience/what's expected. Maric was super in the first half. Chip was solid given the amount of pressure placed on him time & time again. Green tried hard but for some reason Bailey is unwilling to have faith and leave him in the goal square for more than 5 - 10 minutes at a time. Has lost his range (just) outside 50 now. Great efforts but not as damaging or effective up the ground when moved there. First half admirable efforts from Watts, Jetta, Gysberts, Rivers, Macdonald and Evans (good effort son for first game!). Next 3 weeks looking even uglier than the first 8 (Adelaide the one exception....still!). P.S. Was that Jones (subconsciously maybe) sticking his hand up today saying "If the Captaincy's up for grabs...i'll take it!!"... ??

Very poor to say the least. Schoolboy stuff from a senior. When we needed him to stand up for the club as as a senior leader, he decided it was a little too much and took 3 backward steps + a squibb that effectively cost us 12 points! Even a first gamer would have shown more spirit and effort than Davey did today. And he did....Evans. Casey from next week and trade bait at end of year please for a forward who knows how to take a big grab and kick goals under a little or a lot of pressure. Our forward line stinks and we could have won (emphasis on could) had we had a decent mark/goal kicker down there who can read the play/ball and lead when required as well. Not one amongst the lot today. Don't wont or need this type of player at the Club. Enough of the soft touch "outside" players running around on our list already. This crap on indigenous day too. Where's the pride?? Thanks Aaron but no thanks

Goes without saying that Flash needs a HUGE game here. Needs to break lines (take em on!), kick some goals (if he's thereabouts) and put pressure on his opponent & others when he doesn't have ball and create the turnover. Ie., chase them down and tackle as he once did! Four quarters please!

Lol O.D. Alka Saltzer might be needed after this game. But after my forecast last week and the result, i'm putting my forecast hat (for this Club atm) in the too hard bin lol. Happy to just watch and hangin out for Howe's arrival!

Like i needed reminding!

ummm....not yet

Spot on Daisy. I recall Jimmy doing this on a number of occasions. Scored a number of goals doing so too. Almost a ruck rover type in terms of his following role. He played alongside Strawbs O'dwyer for a time and would sometimes scout the pack for the crumb when he wasn't in the main rucking dual and off he'd go. I'm probably spouting stuff that most peeps know already i realise. I always believed he had the mind of a classic ruck rover/utility type from that era in the body of a ruckman lol. I recall heading into the rooms after a match at Waverley park where we'd smashed the Hawks (one of the rare occasions out there ...i think we smashed em. We won anyway lol) on a pretty wet day (what day wasn't pretty wet and windy out there!?). I spotted him amongst the boys having their drinks etc and yelled out at the top of my lungs "Hey Jimmy! Great roving mate!". Suffice to say he looked around a little non-plussed wondering what the hec i was on about lol. Believe me when i say i was on plenty ....again ...HIC! For me Simon Madden and maybe Paul Salmon for their ability to turn a match on it's head. Lenny Thompson was also pretty steadfast and had to be up there winning a brownlow. And John Nichols for his man mountain marking, opponents inability to move him in a ruck contest and (what i thought at the time as i was a little tacker) were amazingly long torpedoes lol! And maybe they were! So many others from past years (Polly Farmer etc). How could you possibly say how he ranks versus all of them. I just recall Madden turned so many games for the Bombers (from memory), especially out at Windy Hill. Seem to recall us almost putting them to the sword on a few occasions out there, only to have him star in the final quarters (among others who starred for the Bombers) and they'd turn the game. Me and bro walking home with long faces on most occasions. I only recall one win out there (and even that's vague now...actually it was probably all a little vague after half time lol) in all my years trudging out there. Stynes was a stalwart rock of a player though and IMO different to the more traditional style of ruckman produced up till then. As someone said in a post, can't grab ball out of ruck today which would hinder his style somewhat. I'm sure he'd adapt though. Not sure where i'd rate Cox and Sandilands in comparison. Personally i think people forget how relatively good (or maybe not so depending on where you sit) these historic players are unless one sees some extensive old video to jog the memory before trying to compare to latter day players. I'm sure there's many many great/quality ruckman i've missed and didn't have the fortune of seeing that others will remember. As you said, his stats sure hold up against these two though (in most areas).

I'd just like to see his defensive side back or close to where it once was. Offensively i think he's almost there, with the exception that he short passes way too often IMO. Like him to look up the ground a little more and spot out the longer option for passing too (if the option is on that is). Otherwise i'm happy with short side if he has to (attempted 10 metre pass to Moloney in heavy traffic last week an exception....grrr lol). But defensively, as an example, I recall going back a year or so he was one of only a few players at the club with the speed,desire,effort required to chase down opponents from behind and cause valuable turnovers. Maybe i've missed it, but he doesn't seem to do this much of late.

Better tell that to Dougy too WYL lol. Anyone hear him on S.E.N. this morning? Fev has much to prove, mostly to himself. A nice fairytale if he can come out and prove that he's not as washed up/carrying unplayable baggage & scars as is being suggested by all his doomsayers. Be a shame if he wastes all that talent from here. It's not like he's bashed someone silly etc. Just got a problem with the jolly juice. Aint the first and wont be the last in the AFL to have had that. 25 - 30 years ago his misdemeanors off field wouldn't have rated much. I for one hopes he can overcome his addiction to the pale ale and whatever other vice/s he might be having problems with, if any, and comes out playing some great AFL footy once again, regardless of the club. Good luck to him. He might even kick arse out there IF he makes it back. (As long as it's not ours and he doesn't put a filth/hawks/bombers/crows jumper on lol) B)

Nicely put Sylvin. Oh btw, you aren't a Silvagni fan are you? Lol at WYL. Yep. Lookin forward to that. I'd suggest you duck O.D! Rhino i'm dissapointed mate. You didn't take that stiff drink before answering

SOLD! Dunn, Bater, Juice and 1st round pick for Patton lol!

Paul does have something here. Not saying he's right or wrong. However..... Fev is such an emotional viewpoint for most followers of the AFL. He's an enigma for sure and what's happened to him (to himself) has been somewhat tragic....so far. I also believe he wouldn't be playing again if there wasn't something there in terms of him turning this around for himself. Then again, he's had many chances. I realise where he's at, and that most have given up on him and the reasons why etc. However, hypothetically speaking .... (Rhino...go take a hard shot of somethin off the top shelf before you read this...and go off!! ) .... Surely a winning culture within ANY club has to be better for a group of younger developing players than a perpetual losing one. And by that i mean losing more than you win ratio wise (eg., only wining 30% to 40% of games on average over a development cycle). Lets just say Fev comes in. Everything clicks (Fairytale i know). Lets say we were to improve our win/loss ratio to something like 50% in the next 12 - 18 months as a result of his inclusion and our younger brigade coming on nicely, with a further improvement thereafter. And cutting our losses from abysmal (as many are at the moment) to something more along the lines of being what you would expect from an improving AFL team vying for a position in the top 8 and climbing the ladder (like the cream is coming to the top whether we win or lose is what i'm trying to say). Surely that has to be a better feeling/culture for the newbies as they develop? To offer them an improved environment/culture moving forward to 2013/2014 when we aim for the big one. BTW I hate dialing up years like that. If someone can predict the year in which we'll win the big one can they please let me know lol? And no, I don't think Fev IS the answer medium to long term either (gettin a bit long in the tooth anyway lol). However, wouldn't it be somewhat foolish of the FD/MFC to dismiss it outright, without giving him at least some consideration? Now, again hypothetically speaking. Lets say he has an amazing remainder of the year at Casey kicking bags and starring (this includes putting massive forward pressure on opponents inside 50 like he was able to at times when he was in great form). And you take a look at him and think...hmmm...maybe he's turned this around. He's on track again. IF you were gonna take a punt with Fev. Is there any possibility we could sign him as a rookie/veteran (for next year) and have him on a rolling VERY short term STRICT performance contract? Maybe 3 or 6 months. That way he could be axed without much notice if he does end up going back to his old habits or we have a problem with him re: other SEVERE team discipline issues etc etc. He will also then know he has to perform and that we want results on the field....otherwise Big risk for sure. But....i guess what i'm saying is....there just maybe...some potential significant upside going into the 2nd half of this year were he to star at Casey. And just maybe, if we protect our butts with a short term rolling performance contract. Afterall, it's not every day a proven power forward is floating around who can (potentially, if all goes right... and yeh alot would have to go right lol!) kick a bag of goals for us over the next 2 -3 years and help us win more games and maybe, just maybe, help push us into the finals. Finals experience is what our boys would need and crave at some stage in the next few years if they're going to take the next step up i would have thought. And with that experience and development, with or without Fev, bring home our 13th Flag shortly thereafter. Not saying you don't have good points either Rhino re: 5 goals is not much in the Magoos and should be performing better regardless etc. But like anyone coming off a downer, he may need a little more time to assist with fitness, confidence and just game time on the park to get things right. And if he does? .....just putting this out there.

Impressive on youtube. Must go down to Casey and take a peak. Reminds me more of Jack Reiwoldt with a bigger leap. Out Dunn....In Howe. Like it was meant to be! G. Lyon was about his build (skinny wise) when he first started seniors. Go GO GO! Don't waste him in the Magoos. Nothing to lose. Time to get some senior games into him. Rotate off the bench with Juice/Jurrah/Petterd as required. Ease him into it. Oh, not including Watts in there. Half back for me for a while. Learn how to crash packs etc..BANG...WATTS! Something to look forward to. He gonna be a lil ripper!!! YAHOOOO!!

From the Scrap Book Banner Reads - It's A Grand Old Flag Apologies fellow Deminions. Couldn't scan the entire page and the 2nd image wld have needed inverting in photoshop making it too large to attach. The missing part of the image shows John "Swooper" Northey handing the cup to RF who was injured (one of many) and missed the match. Full image may be on the web somewhere if you wish to look. Ok it's not the real cup but still a great example of what a severely undermanned team can achieve when the chips are down! Attitude, aggression, effort and a willingness to put it all on the line for the club and each other! Hope you can read the commentary. Note Stuey Spencer's comments post match lol!

Loved Bobby. Best part of the 2007 GF watching him handover the cup! Some great years on League teams (3 wise monkeys) and The Sunday footy show on 7 as well. From memory (ie.,my dad) he was one of, if not the last VFL player to use the place kick! R.I.P.

Yeh. Noice. Gawn/Martin (rotating) and Juice forward. Structure for 2 - 3 weeks. Nothing to lose. Not like we got a bunch of "outstanding alternatives" in these positions hangin around eh Not sure about the censure bit tho. Who the hec introduced that term into this post anyway! ~cough