Macca

Houston, Eagles, Steelers

There's a lot of hope involved and I rarely make big projections but if we had a Demonland award for 'Most Promising' then the Duke, the Kolt, XL & Harv's would all be vying for the award Who would be favourite? Langford?

Just the one for last year, rjay? Some of us here have high hopes for the Kolt

I try not to let it eat away at me, EH Every year is a new season and what is of high interest to me is having a talented and healthy list that can win enough games to play finals and beyond What would really annoy me most of all is not having a team that can win. That's depressing and often distressing And we've seen enough of those types of years to last a lifetime Win games, play good footy and get into contention and the punters are happy Back on topic, I agree with @faultydet that it seems we're looking to toughen up the forward line. The drafting of the 2 big boys (Kentfield & Aidan) is the pointer Definitely worth the punt as we've got plenty of the in-between types We need a big bodied KF who can crash packs and throw his weight around with a bit of ruckwork thrown ... if it works it will allow us to use and develop JVR as a pure forward (I'd say at CHF) Half our issues up forward have been structural. Defenders don't like it when the ball is in dispute around the hot spot area ... but attacking via the boundary line makes the defenders breath easy So we need 2 productive KF's with a 3rd forward capable of taking a grab (Turner?) Do that and Kozzie, Trac, Melk, Chandler & Fritsch can chime in to kick a winning score

When a player leads with the shoulder and is off the ground running at an unprotected player running in the opposite direction, then the perpetrator has to know that he could knock a player unconscious So saying it went horribly wrong doesn't let Maynard off the hook. Don't do the act in the first place There's a number of people here who have played footy where these sort of shirt-fronts were often the norm. But you always knew they were despicable acts even when it was your own teammate as the perpetrator So the action itself can have dire consequences and as it turned out, Brayshaw ended up having to retire because of the lethal hit Anyway, Maynard will get his right whack one day. For instance, the Darcy hit on Maynard (though illegal) could have had grave repercussions. Could be that Darcy was following the code

Interesting pick up, bush demon

The use of the knee to inflict damage is probably one of the few acts that goes unpunished (mostly, or nearly all of the time) At suburban level back in the day, the use of the knee as a weapon was quite rampant Do people here remember when Hogan suffered vertebrae damage in a practice match against Geelong before he had played a senior AFL game? Can't remember which Geelong player inflicted the damage to Hogan but it might have even been 2 Geelong players (Hogan was playing in front) Missed the whole of the 2014 season (which was meant to be his debut season)

What an odd year for the Packers! A 9 & 3 record yet we are only the 3rd best team in our division! 🤣 😄 Didn't get to watch the games today but on paper at least, the matches were a bit ho-hum for a big public holiday But there is a game on tomorrow (Sat) at 7.00am ... Vegas @ Chiefs Chiefs keep winning but the margins have often been small. They should clean-up on Vegas though

The contact from Moore was almost front on which was the giveaway to my eyes. He certainly wasn't on Petracca's right shoulder when the knee connected Not quite front on but definitely from the side. I'm convinced that he meant to cause damage with that leading knee. As previously stated, it was very well concealed but he lined Petracca up, no doubt By contrast, a strong argument can be put forward that when a knee inflicts damage, it's just part of the game and the damage caused is just part of the sport But every time? And never with intent to hurt? I'm not buying that argument Not sure he meant to rupture Petracca's Spleen though but it was a dangerous use of his knee. Didn't Moore inflict damage on another player from another club using his knee? Broken vertebrae? The knee has been used as a weapon forever and a day. Mostly by backmen but occasionally by the nasty KF's such as Ablett, Wade, Lockett etc etc. Even Neitz whilst in the process of crashing packs So JVR & Big Johnson could do a bit of nasty business given half a chance Footnote: Grinter lined up Wallace and king hit him but many here would disagree. We all have our biases

So how would we go about it anyway? Bumping is fraught with danger because if the bump is mistimed, suspension is on the horizon Ditto for tackling these days. We now see those players being tackled accentuating the tackle and contact. Head hits the ground - weeks on the sidelines (suspension) Elbows & stray fists get picked up by the MRO Maynard got off on a technicality (which has now been closed) and as for Moore's stray knee, the contact was very well concealed. Difficult to copy The only way it could happen is if the club was prepared to risk a half a dozen suspensions Can't see it happening On the flip side of all that, apart from the odd nasty act, the game is quite clean these days

It's a tough gig these days for KPF's Crowded forward lines with very little space to lead into But playing in front with vigour and getting to the right spots is what the MC would be looking for. Marking power is what we see from the good KPF's So it's a wait and see on Johnno but he'll get his chances

I must remember to attach a smiling emoji when I'm being flippant (mainly for those who can't see an obviously flippant post) There won't be any retribution against Collingwood as we've already had 2 chances to do anything like that. So, that sort of thing is not going to happen (in my view) He'll play round 1 if the MC see him as being part of a forward line structure straight away. We do need some vigour up forward and we need our key forwards playing in front and occupying or leading to the hot spot (for structure) And with Petty training with the backs, a spot up forward could open up (unless we just go with JVR & an inexperienced Turner only as the KF's) So Johnson just has to prove himself at training and get in front of Jefferson & Fullarton in the pecking order (to get his chance) The best way to pay Collingwood back is to beat them on the scoreboard

@DeeSpencer @Clintosaurus @titan_uranus @ElDiablo14 @Gorgoroth @Go the Biff @Dee Zephyr @DemonDave @Dr. Gonzo @JV7 @BDA @Dappa Dan @layzie Power Rankings Week 13 Double Points this week and we've got a tough week (for once) A chance to make a decisive move, late in the 3rd quarter! (weeks 17 & 18 are also bonus points weeks so plenty of time to catch up for the backmarkers So 8 points up for grabs if you can go it alone! Leaderboard Tipping Comp 26 - Go the Biff (3), Dr. Gonzo (3) 24 - Clintosaurus (3) 23 - DemonDave (3), layzie (1) 22 - titan_uranus (3), Gorgoroth (3) 21 - JV7 (1) 20 - BDA (3), DeeSpencer (3) 17 - ElDiablo14 (3), Macca (3) 9 - DeeZephyr (Gone Fishing)

Ha! (The Spursy thing) So, Liverpool have skipped away to an 8 point lead but it's not quite theirs to lose just yet One can see Man City rallying if and when they get back on track Liverpool are at home to Man City next Monday morning (3.00am) Arsenal & Chelsea are lurking as well but either team would need to go on a reasonably long winning streak to challenge

Most Runs Sheffield Shield 2024/2025

Lost your sense of humour? In the same post I joked about bringing back Zantuck & Grinter (which you edited out))

Spurs beat Man CIty 4-nil at Man City!! Opens the door for Liverpool to now skip ahead in the race for the title But the result was a shock both ways - A huge away win for Spurs and a shocking loss for City

Looks like India are the new/old West Indies. A production line of quality batsmen, World class spin bowlers & dynamic fast bowlers Missing from this Test are Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gil, Jadeja, Ashwin & Mohammed Shami with probably another 40 or 50 high standard cricketers that could play test cricket at a high level Identifying and harnessing talent was always a problem for India, but not any more Oddly enough, the IPL has opened up the pathways for young Indian cricketers. Their batsmen are playing in front of huge crowds against premier bowling - in every match So they'll win this test and unless we can miraculously bounce back and win in Adelaide, the Border/Gavaskar trophy will remain with India i.e. If there is a result in every Test, (win or loss) the Aussies would need to win 3 of the remaining 4 tests to wrest back the trophy Right now, that's a huge ask even though I can still see the Aussies winning a Test or 2 We've been thoroughly outplayed in this Test

Gotta love a snow game! The game could have gone either way and all things considered, the standard was quite good Highlights Pittsburgh @ Cleveland

And now the bowlers are copping a mauling

The most surprised might be Aidan himself. Probably sitting at home and may have even tuned out to the draft Nek minnit Bring him in for the 2 Pies games! The goon squad consisting of Aidan, Teddy Fidge, Mick Reynolds, Zantuck, Hughes & Grinter. And Henry Coles!

Very neat player with excellent kicking skills (a bit like Craig McRae) Gets to contest after contest which makes him a bit of a ball-magnet. Looks an ideal link player from HB to HF I'd expect Lindsay to get some games early and then it's a wait and see. He'll be a player, sooner or later. Like his fellow draftee, Langford, he looks like he's got a head for football Interesting that both he and Clayton Oliver both won the Morrish Medal

Plug-in-and-play is this bloke. Looks ready to go Got a bit of toughness about him with a Steely resolve (Luke Hodge like) Excellent left foot kick and can take a mark (in front and up forward) And he's elusive with the ability to side step opponents. 2 or 3 quick steps then steadies before delivering up field Langford will be a real asset

Mission accomplished in terms of getting hold of 2 x Top 10 picks and then using both picks on Mid/Fwd/Utility/HB/Link players It's impossible to form a definitive view after perusing the highlight packages but both players look hungry for the contest and get to a lot of contests with both being left-footers with very efficient disposal skills Traits that JT looks for It should be remembered that Jason Taylor's track record is excellent when it comes to these types of players so in terms of trust, I'm all in Landing pick #9 was a master-stroke in negotiating and all up, we have drafted 4 × first rounders over the last 2 off-seasons not long after winning a premiership All 4 can play around the midfield with HB, HF & Wing being covered by the 4 as well. All 4 look like versatile players It's a very nice package ... well played the Demons Recruiting Team

We gazumped them for Oliver all those years ago and then prized pick 9 out of them even though they never needed to trade pick 9 Good luck with pick 18 next year, Bombers!