Pennant St Dee

Gee Wyl you gave me a laugh and brought back fond memories of the old transistors I used to listen to. I've taken a day off work to do some painting at home and jeysus if that wasn't bad enough I took a lunch break and opened this thread and was feeling like necking myself. I read your post and a big smile of childhood memories came back. With the memories whilst we have been shite most my life there have still been some good times and many good players, our biggest problem was timing mismanagement with the introduction of the new franchises. The compromised drafts have killed us because with all the talent Suns and GWS have picked up don't worry as bad as our recruiting has been we would have fluked one or two. There have been many occasions since 2011 I have thought that has to be rock bottom, but the club continues to prove me wrong. In my 33 years of following this club this one has hurt the most. I just hope I look back on 2013 as the year we hit rock bottom and started to move back up the ladder and earn back some respect.

I think Pedersen's best hope at this level is to trim right down and play as a third tall in defence, he is not big/strong enough to outmark opponents or play on gorillas even as 2nd tall option. I think he is not a bad user of the football but see problems with him getting to a contest and impacting it due mainly to lacking a yard. A few kilos off could see him being more effective and also possibly get away from an opponent when we were clearing the ball from our defensive 50.

So could Ross Lyon and he is not a Premiership Coach, sits in the same boat as Eade, whilst it is a great feather in the cap don't let it cloud your judgement. Alan Joyce was also a Premiership Coach maybe even 2 time Premiership Coach

Short memory JR but understandable and forgiven given our performances from 2011, I remember most of us were very happy with the performances of Scully & Trengove in 2010, just goes to show how far back we have gone and how much the much talked about on field leadership and support provided to our younger players and the quick removal of it has caused us our current problems

Thank you Dr Al for your assesment I think I would prefer to hear from the others who posted re Clark's injury FMD Demonland should be renamed "for pessimists only"

Chris Mayne Matt Priddis Matt De Boer Chris Masten All improved and also panic less and with improved tank are less fatigued when kicking and their decision making improves

Lee has been excellent every time I have seen him (6 times live at least this season), he is a big time leader of the Royals on the field and certainly knows how to find the pill, lacks some speed but good honest player. Would be depth player and maybe just a step up from a Tom Couch type. Nelson I really like showing a bit of West Perth bias with him but his workrate is exceptional, very good outside player who can float off half back or play outside through the midfield. The kid is a running machine with an appetite for hard work. He does have a light frame and was looked over because of major health issues in 2011, which set him back. He started 2012 slowly and built up through the season coming back from illness and finished strongly. Can he get big enough not sure, but has the speed, attitude and tank to play at AFL level

Pick 1 to Adelaide for Brad Crouch & Dave Mckay, they would love a crack at Boyd. Off Course this is Hypothetical if we get a PP and the Crows may not take this but aim high. If Matt Crouch is as good at clearances as those in Victoria say who have seen him live could be a nice young midfield of the future with two x Crouches & Mckay added to what we already have

In 2011 Dean Cox, Daniel Kerr, Darren Glass, Matt Priddis, Beau Watters, Kennedy and Embley were all fit again. Luke Shuey, Scott Selwood and Masten stepped up in their 3rd years(or thereabouts). Mark Nicoski got back to 2005 form and recent recruit for that season Darling made big impact by being the 4th tall in a very good forward line. If we get the right coach and improve it will be something similar to Brisbane or 2012

Similar in build to Shanahan, probably a better tank, but IMO Shanahan uses the ball better. Cripps is very much a similar type and mould to Marco Paparone

Shanahan stepped up from the colts yesterday for a full game in the 2's and held is own against some bigger opponents. His side was well beaten but he continued to find plenty of ball. Another good performance in the 2's again next week will see him going close to seniors call up. See this kid as a late bolter who has slipped under the radar due to injuries in the 16's and as an underage colt last season. Is heading to state combine and now has North & Lions both interested.

In short summary, biggest problems yesterday, Lack of speed - caused by going in to tall lack of confidence - all afraid to leave their man and hit a contest they are a chance to win no will to take he game on - a lot due to lack of confidence lack of intensity - can't understand this without getting inside the players heads At the moment we look woeful but the right changes can turn us fairly quickly, I am by no means talking of a rise like Port but back to being competitive and not getting regularly kicked from pillar to post. Prior to Lyon heading to the Dockers C.Pearce, & Walters were to fat to play a the highest level Crowley was to muscle bound to play as a run with player on the games best mids Deboer had terrible disposal but always played with high intensity Mayne ran around like a headless chook in the forward line and was a terrible shot for goal Michael Johnson & Paul Duffield had seen their best football & their forward line could not function without Pavlich Lyon turned that all around with discipline, a strict code of expectations relating to weight/skinfolds and a game plan which relies upon structures and not the individual. This is not easy to do and relies upon the right personality in the coach and getting the players to buy in. Dees fans talk about Nicholson, Tom Mac and Davis having shocking disposal by foot and there is no argument (although I see improvement in Tom Mac) but make not mistake there is no player in the AFL who kicks the ball worse than Zac Dawson. This did not matter at St Kilda and it makes no difference at the Dockers. Lyon has him that well drilled he knows what he has to do, knows his limitations and plays to his strengths and does what is best for the team and its structure. Basically we need to get the coaching decision right easier said than done but the correct choice will see us turn things around next year and start heading back in the right direction. We can not afford to get this wrong

Did you read my post correctly or just see what you wanted to see. Prendergast is no longer part of our recruiting so I am talking about all those drafted in 2012. But feel free to tell me based on all those who have yet to play a full season your saying we got it wrong with Toumpas, Kent, Clisby, Terlich, Hogan, Viney, Jones. Way to early to call on all of these players, none of these boys are our problem!

Prendergast is gone and despite peoples argument over Toumpas vs Wines, don't really see a lot wrong with the players we took in the draft last year. And I am not talking about the older senior players. Also impressed with Matt Jones & Clisby

If he is out of contract I would hope we got stuck into him as soon as word filtered out he wished to head home. If we do and sell it right we will get him a lot cheaper than another player with his talent. They run the risk of losing him to us in the PSD if they try and play hard ball on a trade and he nominates us as his club of choice. Everything relies upon us getting into his ear and making the right offer

He played well today rjay, but he is out of condition and since we have him for 2 years more we need to get him to drop around 5 to 7kgs to get the best out of him

6.Nate Jones - warrior and desperately needs a chop out next year 5.Clisby - bright light in a dim day 4.Pederson - Had a good game IMO but the haters will be calling for him to be dropped next week 3.Matt Jones - same as Clisby and has been a positive in a dismal year 2.Viney - love this kids attack on the ball, we need another 1 1. Kent - looks good when prepared to take the game on, needs to do it more

Your kidding right WYL, I hate the Bombers but Robinson couldn't lie straight in bed and crocodile tears if I ever saw them

Tom Mitchell - plays alongside O'Keefe, Jack, Hanneberry, Kennedy, McVeigh, Bolton & Mcglynn O'Meara - Ablett,Bennell & Prestia Crouch - Thompson, Dangerfield, Mckay, Sloane, Vince & Van Berlo Wines - Ebert, Boak, Hartlett, Wingard & Cornes I don't think I need to say anything else

Dont be silly, Garlett only put in the hard yards after being shunned, had we drafted him as a rookie and left him in the WAFL it would have achieved no purpose. I have watched Garlett closely in 2012 & 2013, it's like watching two different players. There is a reason and a very good reason (trust me) why every club left him alone

I'm not sure either WYL, could be wrong but it may have been Redleg or another regular who said he was. Redleg if it wasn't you I apologise in advance

Could be wrong WYL but was he a foundation hero?

Need to start looking at Tom Shanahan from East Perth with one of our late picks or Rookie at least. Spoke about him last week and in heavy conditions on Saturday was BOG in the Colts with 31 disposals. Starting to generate interest and Lions scout was there on Saturday and can't confirm it but may have spoken to him.

and the fact you didn't give Dunn votes yesterday says a lot about your footy knowledge

I seen him once in the seniors earlier in the year and he didn't really stand out, although he held his own against men. One thing of note was he was very good in tight for such a young player but he was playing in a really bad midfield. He just looked okay but he did not turn the ball over and with some better quality outside could be useful,. I was impressed with him in the carnival and was itching to see him again, but the collarbone has set that back and TBH Subiaco are not in finals contention and Sheed will go first round and I guess they will put him in cotton wool for the remainder of the season. If I'm honest he didn't do anything in the game I saw him to make me say yes he is going to be a gun, having said that Stephen Hill, Dustin Martin, Ollie Wines are examples of kids who just get better as the year goes on. What I was saying about the change of rotations is pretty much something we need to consider if we think about targeting players with pace, for me I would always target hard nut players and I am not talking about people who lay heavy hits I am talking about Selwood, Hodge & Hannebury types who go in where it hurts and always put there bodies on the line. We made the mistake previously targeting the likes of Morton, Gysberts, Strauss and Blease, lets not go down that path again