Yoda

Into yet another false dawn ... we shall not be sucked! Some good changes off field and the addition of Clark are huge positives. But they've got it all to prove and the new strategies will take time to settle. Definitely still question marks over our mid field against quality top 8 opposition. For me the challenge for Neeld and the playing group is to create a battle hardened, less emotional mindset. One that aggressively works to reduce the margin of losses and doesn't get too chuffed by the wins. I'm going in to 2012 not expecting us to make the 8. A bonus if we do.

Read Flemo56's quote again Bobby. He said 'not tough enough', not 'not fit enough'. Something happened to his mindset after that Guerra tackle, that's for sure.

Gotcha.

Just on Darling ... I thought the second half of his season was quite ordinary. Either he tired or opposition coaches had him worked out, or a bit of both. Jury still out I think.

In the end, Cam's final hospital hand pass was to himself.

Finey's just jealous because his beloved 'Aints are on the cusp of a steady 15 year decline.

Would our two compensation picks plus a quality young ruckman (use Gawn for argument's sake) be enough to net us an A-grade midfield talent at the end of '012?

Probably looking too far ahead but Gawn may have significant trade value if he's judged expendable at the end of 2012 and we need to add weight to another blockbuster deal. With Jack Viney to come in, one 23 - 25 yo A-grade mid could well be the last piece of our puzzle.

Stephan Martin and Mitchell Clark. One has two first names and the other two surnames. Weird.

Sylvia, Moloney and Trengove form a pretty solid front three and there are some gems to develop but we're still missing one quality, hard-nosed type with experience. The youngsters will fill that void in time but in the meanwhile I still can't see us competing in the guts over four quarters with top four sides. I note Davey is no longer considered an option C & B.

Morton and a 2nd round draft pick. Damn ...too late!

The effect that this man has had on the club over the past few months ... understated cannot be.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/125190/default.aspx Good, positive article for the Demons on the AFL website.

It's a great sign alone that Caddy wanted to come home. Expect he won't be the only one by the end of next year and we'll be in the box seat!

I don't think we have either. Posted this thought on the Mitch Clark thread but worth pasting here ... What many of the media numbskulls can't get through their heads is that the $600 grand plus a year (if that's accurate) we're paying for him is money spent not only on the player, but also on a much needed marketing and morale boost for the club. So we threw an extra hundred grand a year at him than most thought we should. So what! It was time for our club to be bold.

What many of the media numbskulls can't get through their heads is that the $600 grand plus a year (if that's accurate) we're paying for him is money spent not only on the player, but also on a much needed marketing and morale boost for the club. Just too difficult for most of them to understand.

James Hird was drafted at no.79 ... so there's always hope

Bater a.k.a the QueenMary shall remained docked at Casey Fields ...

We've had our annus horribilus and now things are on the up. There's no mistaking it. Who will be on the receiving end of the endless negative media glare next year? I'm thinking Essendon and GWS' pursuit of Hurley, Ratten under the pump at Carlton to make the 4 and even Hardwick on shaky ground at the Tiges (with favourite son Malthouse waiting in the wings). Any others you can think of? It will be nice to see clubs other than us feel this unwanted heat for a change.

Sydney got him.

According to Barrett, Hooker and Gumbleton were thrown up by Essendon plus draft pick for Caddy but were of no interest to GC. Gumbleton's stocks have massively nosedived. Big fail for Bombers on that No.2 draft pick.

After the public kicking we received over Scully, Schwab and Co must be loving getting back in the ring and throwing some weight around.

Even if it just forces Essendon to up their offer for him, it's win. Hate that club. Someone above mentioned a compo + Petterd. I'd do that deal as much as I like Rickybobby.