Norm Smith's Curse

Two big key forwards doesnt always work - look at Brisbane with Brown and Fev.

Gysberts has had a bad run with injuries but I must admit I was shocked to see that he is just as skinny now as he was two years ago. Some have said that they have heard from the club that Neeld isnt big on either Gysberts or Cook. I guess at the end of the year we will know if that is true. Ultimately we havent really had a chance to see what Neeld can do because across the board every player on our list other than Nathan Jones and Mitch Clark have had shockers - either because they never had enough talent or drive in the first place, because they have been pushed too hard in the preseason, dont get the game plan or are just woefully out of form - various reasons that have been given. I think Neeld's biggest mistake this season is probably putting faith in a few players that have continually dissappointed. I wont name them and there is no need to. Also perhaps putting faith in players that are past their best to turn it around and perform. I think most people that follow the Demons closely would suggest that anything less than a 10-12 player cull at seasons end (via dropping or trades for contracted players) would be a surprise. One thing I dont get though is that for a side constructed to be a running, speedy, attacking 'bailey' style team - why are we so darn slow!!

Ok, my bad. Sorry - maybe he should play for the dees.

Tynan did well?

They say that Davey's foot is mangled.

We will lose 10-12 easily and im glad to see most (but not all) of the culprits are out of contract at seasons end.

Bail is good at two things for mine - behinds and turnovers.

LOL - Our next great hope - a 17 year old who has never played a game of AFL.

As for 10 to 12 - its almost a competition to get it down to just 12. Dunn, Bate, Bennell, Morton (trade), Davey, Cook, Moloney, Bail, Bartram, Sellar, Stef Martin, Pettard, Spencer - could all be in danger and that wasnt even trying properly. Im sure if I pulled up the list Id find many more candidates. Sylvia might have a bit of interest on the trade market as well. Didnt include Joel MacDonald there either.

Giood call on the frothie!

Bartram is anyone best 18 we are in deep...

Im all over all of you blokes - its all Cale Morton's fault afterall.

heard the exact same about Davey. He is gawn.

Group 1 - Morton - been given chances and back at the scorps - up for trade as has another year - Gawn Pettard - is rated and considered out of form. Will be around next season. Bate - was kept to play midfield - hasnt set the world on fire. Gawn Dunn - sometimes plays a role and kicks a goal but gawn Group 2 - Moloney - great dee but he doesnt have a role in a Neeld future - gawn Green - will play on I think MacDonald - really tries but can be frustrating - not sure on him. Davey - i hear he is as gawn as they come. Foot is gawn and 'doesnt enjoy it anymore' Couch/Magner - wait and see but were really picked up to fill holes in a woeful midfield. Group 3 - Bennell - they had high hopes. They might keep him around - but based on to date he hasnt earned it. gawn Jetta - will stay as a goalsneak lawrence - untried Group 4 Cook - gawn - just a feeling. My group - Bail, Nicholson, Bartram - triers but generally just not up to scratch. Nicholson has earned another year, the other two trade bait. Keepers - Clark (obviously), Jones, Grimes, Garland, Howe (watch that disposal), Blease, Jamar, Frawley, Watts, Trengove, Sylvia. The rest there are no guarantees.

I heard that Neeld didnt rate Gysbert's effort more than anything else. Thought he wasnt trying hard enough. But that was just a rumour. I rate Gysberts.

This story on SEN comes from Schwartz who mentioned in about 4-5 months ago.

Gysberts excited me early nearly as much as Scotty Thompson when he started so its been disappointing that he has struggled with injury and fitness. Ive watched him in three VFL games and in one he was great - very good at the contest. But he is still surprisingly skinny.

Im not watching or going for the rest of the year for my own sanity. Im a member buts it just too frustrating and painful. I will say that I like Garland up forward more than Rivers. I thought id just drop by and see what's happening and it sounds like the usual.

That's me done for the season. Ill be back in October.

Agreed. Anything less would be disappointing for me.

i wasnt convinced it was Neeld instructing the players to do this, rather like the Tigers yesterday players were tired or getting too lazy to move back into position. Or perhaps reactive footy once again.

Junior MacDonald?

How do you know that? I have this sinking feeling sometimes that next pre season Ill be watching the same dead wood wondering why players that couldnt make it on other lists get fourth chances at the dees...

Interesting observations. Troy Davis has a good frame for a young bloke but once again his kicking has been questionable which annoys me only because im surprised we would go for more players with questionable accuracy. I cant work out why yesterday Jordan Gysberts looked as skinny as he did at the start of the 2010 season at Casey. Jurrah will unfortunately be in jail soon. I think Green can play on for specific roles and did well yesterday to provide a contest and to kick a few. Stef martin is quite an accurate kick - he kicks more set shots than many of our forwards (Bail struggles, etc), but consistency has been a probem for Stef but it was great to see him stamp his place in the side yesterday with some of the form and composure we saw in the previous season. In all honesty when you look at the side this year you see a lot of question marks - do we show more faith in players that have traded on potential for a long time and never lifted their game to the next level or more tellingly improved the parts of their game that are lacking? In terms of required players Id say it could be as few as Rivers, Frawley, Tom McDonald, Watts, Jamar, Jones, Sylvia, Clark, Grimes, Trenners and Howe off the trade / delist table ignoring contract position (davey has another year, etc).

haha