The Reverend

You're backsliding OD. Yeah, I know you're being realistic but I guess even the fact you think it will be only 8 goals is encouraging. When you think about last year's 105 point debacle, 48 points seems okay. Dees by 23!!! Go DEES!

Elaboration please...

Get your hard-earned on the Dees! We're gonna win this by 23 points. Welcome back Jack!!!! GO DEES!

Some parents just don't have a clue. i also remember asking for a Meccano set and ending up with some stupid wooden blocks. Maybe we were poor!

I reckon we have some improvement in us and we might just surprise a couple of teams in the second half of the year. Having said that, I understand your disappointment. It's a bit like when you think you're going to get a Scalextric set for Christmas and you end up with a Matchbox car. Am I showing my age? keep the faith BB. Go DEES!

Realistically, it would not be a bad outcome. It would mean we had won 11 or 12 games for the year which is a massive improvement over last year. Sustainable improvement takes time. In fact, I think I'd rather finish in 9th than get demolished in an elimination final because we were not quite ready for the intensity of finals football.It would leave our boys hungry to take the next step and add some incentive to pre-season training. It's nice to dream about what might be possible, but we also need to be realistic about what is achievable by a young, inexperienced group.

I wonder just how many of these threads we can have running at the same time. Ah, desperation and despair - there's no substitute really. The hardest part of being a Demon supporter is listening to the terminal pessimism that spews forth after every loss. We are improving. We are better than last year. we are 5 and 5 after 10 rounds. Our average losing margin has just about halved. We have scored 100+ points in five games. How is that not an improvement?

Ahhh... it's great to have the old Demonland back and in full voice.

After 10 rounds last year our average losing margin from 8 losses was 48.5 points. This year after 5 losses the average is 27 points. I know we haven't played too many of the top teams as yet but I still find this an encouraging comparison. I don't think defense in the back half is the biggest issue. it's the defensive effort inside our 50 that is the biggest concern. Seeing our guys jogging back to defense on Saturday was frustrating. There didn't seem to be the urgency the situation required. Every easy goal increases the confidence of the opposition and momentum just takes over. We are better than last year but still a little off the pace. The game against Hawthorn will provide a realistic measure of our progress. Last year we lost by 105 points. Anything inside 50 has to be seen as a marked improvement. I'm still optimistic about our chances. I'm not convinced Hawthorn are as unbeatable as last year. Who knows? With a little accuracy and some cool heads, I think we will go a lot closer than many think. Go Dees!

TRY THIS: http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/expert-opinion/warren-tredrea/the-day-of-the-demons-is-coming-warns-warren-tredrea/news-story/c9835a29be3a976c2bb08c261d8d8697

How do you know that hell isn't the real heaven? The big bloke has been known to play the odd practical joke...

I have it on good authority that we will enjoy many more years of intensely joyous pleasure before we shuffle off my friend. It is written...

There are few things that work quite so effectively as single malt. One of the great mood modifiers. I have it on good authority that the bars in heaven are laden with bottomless vats of very fine single malts. Good things await... but only for the faithful. The heart has to beat true.

I'm off to Hong Kong for the weekend tomorrow. Catching up with my son to watch the game - if we can find a bar that screens AFL. Maybe I'll buy a couple of nice glasses and a fresh bottle of something good at the duty free on the way back. Go Dees!

That's the way it's been for a while now. You think I should stop necking the bottle then? Tell you what...if we beat Hwthorn next week I will use two glasses. One for each hand.

Who uses a glass?

Attaboy OD. I'm with you! My faith is becoming far less blind. In fact... I can see clearly now, the rain is gone, I can see all obstacles in my wayGone are the dark clouds that had me blindIt's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)Sun-Shiny day.I think I can make it now, the pain is goneAll of the bad feelings have disappearedHere is the rainbow I've been praying' forIt's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)Sun-Shiny day.Look all around, there's nothing' but blue skiesLook straight ahead, nothing' but blue skies Go Dees!

Can't believe this thread still exists. The simple answer has always been NO! Move on...nothing to see here. Go DEES!

I agree with your comments about real-time decisions, but once you're aware of it, it becomes quite easy to pick. Trouble is there's no rule against it so he can't be penalised and if high contact is made I guess it's got to be paid. Frustrating but you're right.

Wow, it's so obvious the way he hooks his arm under the tackler's arm and deliberately lifts it up. C'mon umps, you've gotta be smarter than this.

Optimism tempered with a little pragmatism. You've come a long way OD. I suspect you're right but gee it's exciting to see things getting better. Who would have thought, this time last year that anybody would be talking about anything we do in a positive light. The times, they are a changinig. Go Dees.

Try this one if the others are not working.

Whilst I disagree with your idea I defend your right to put it forward. There are lots of vultures on here just waiting to swoop on the unsuspecting with their vicious, mean spirited invective. Don't let it bother you. There are all sorts of tools - some useful, some just made for hacking things apart.

Add me to the list. Plying my trade in Beijing for a bit of a change and a fun way to ease myself into retirement. I am missing being at the G though. Back in July, so will get to see a few.

No way. I don't want to miss our 47 point grand final victory over Geelong at Kardina Park after the AFL give them special dispensation cos they don't want to travel. Call me a dreamer... or it could be the after effects of too much baijiu.