rjay

I reckon it's more about our midfield connection with Gawn and how we are going to use him as a get out kick from defence and who is going to be the 2nd banana...the connection wasn't that great this year and we have to also account for 666. Injury risk, I guess it is the same but I've got to admit I always worry more in preseason... Another thing not mentioned with the media naming their best 22's. I would think maybe there would be 8 on the bench giving us a best 26. Makes sense to me...

That's why it's not the same thing. After season 2019 we need to coordinate our game a lot better. Playing a couple of games with teammates would seem a much better preparation for us than one or two of our key players playing a 'Micky Mouse' game.

Hibberd has been known to enjoy his time off and generally takes his time to ramp up. Not the best, not the worst... ...but it looks like he's come back in better shape than ever and has a point to prove after an average 2019.

Well I Guess we have a bit of off season time and a dose of hindsight now to re look at this... ...and what the club has done to address things. Yes, we did drop off and of course missed the finals. The lack of a decent preseason certainly didn't help but a number of the points I made after the first game have also proven out. The law of averages said that we were likely to see a drop off, you can't just keep steady lining in an upwards trajectory...but I don't think any of us expected the drop off we had. The list was overrated, the hype about us having the best list was just that...hype. We've looked to further address list problems in this off season and I'm happy with the work done. More on this later. Frost was moved on, not delisted as I called back then. He actually had a better season than I expected but I don't think he adds anything other than pace and entertainment value when May is up and about. Unfortunately we badly missed May for most of the season. Tommy Mac has to prove himself this coming season if we are to be a threat...injury is an excuse but he also has limitations and should really be seen as our 2nd tall forward. Can someone else take the mantle? can Tom be a good 2nd banana? or is he going to fade away as he did when a KPD? Weid, injury again...not a lot to show in 2019....hope???? Jackson??? too early...but will be handy. Petty??? I really think he is a defender and we should use him there. Small forwards...let's hope Pickett steps up early as I don't have faith in the others. Trac...put in a solid season, maybe will give us a bit more of the x-factor this coming season. Will have more mid time. Fritsch...will be better if settles as the 3rd forward option. Can play. The mids...Oliver, Brayshaw, Viney and co...will be better for a good preseason and an attitude adjustment. I expect big gains here. KK looks to be gone, the recruitment of Langdon is a real bonus. Hibbo struggled, can he get back to 2018? or is he on the chopping block. He's training hard which is not a regular habit so at least he's giving it his best shot. We really had missed on some class kids with the recruitment of Lever and May...I think we might have made up for it this draft. Looks like we could have 3 beauties. Put a rejuvenated midfield on the park, May and Lever in defence with maybe Harmes joining them... Forward line still a raffle...but looks better with Fritsch there, Trac and other mids rotating, Tommy doing his bit and we look a chance. Richo and Burgess are good additions. Some goods kids pressing for selection and hopefully this story is a thing of the past. A blip on the radar on the way to ultimate success.

On the club site now... AFL training sessions Date: Friday 7 January Start time: 9.45am Location: Gosch's Paddock Let's change the date to the 10th of Jan... Someone is still in holiday mode.

...back to training, the club don't have any details up at the moment but are the players due back on the Friday? or are they back the following Monday?

These were pretty memorable knickers... Sorry, you meant kickers...

Corey does a lot right but just doesn't have the reaction time to make good decisions when the pressure is on. You can just see his mind ticking over, good players get it right often, great players are freaks. Will be handy depth...

I agree with both of these posts... ...he is small, average pace (too slow for his size) but has high footy IQ & is smart with & without the ball... The tackles are the big negative for me. Opposition teams used it to advantage, he was their exit strategy. He's useless to us if he can't fix this.

No inside knowledge but going by the training reports & his history it wouldn't surprise to see KK retire either pre or early season.

Tomlinson is not really proven as a winger either 'brfe'...he was the bits & pieces man at GWS. Hopefully being able to make a position his to settle into will give us what we need and help him realise his potential.

I would rate pre injury (concussion) KK as the much better player 'BBO'...

We have this kind of discussion every year coming into January. The reality is seen when we play games. I think the beauty of the list now is we have a bit more young talent coming through but like all lists there are some obvious candidates that could probably be moved on at the end of season... KK may not make it to the start of the season, Baker, the Wagners, AVB if he cops any more injury, Hannan the same..Brown probably has one season in him, particularly in Bradtke starts to show something. ...of course apart from the injuries the ball is in their court to show why they should be kept on. I'm not writing them off before the season starts but just giving examples of where delistings might be a little more obvious.

The classic 'GNF' move...

"Grassroots footy is where the game’s version of climate change is occurring. The game is shrinking at its base. Best thing I saw in footy this year? More African kids coming through. For the same reason, we need women’s footy to prosper." I only hope Gill & the Commission are not asleep at the wheel with this...unfortunately I think they may be. Or perhaps it's just self interest being put ahead of the game.

Seriously...you don't have to be nostradamus or an AFL legend to work out that we will recover.

My new favourite bass player...Kiyoshi

I think Dunkley will be purely back up (depth) but Rivers I can see pushing for a spot early. We need good distribution and run off HB and he gives us that. He's built for AFL footy.

It's a pretty sad list really, I guess an indication of where we've been as a club. Not wishing to denigrate any on the list for fine contributions in difficult times but in reality only Oliver and Gawn stack up as A graders.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to all. It's the generally good natured banter on Demonland that helps get us through seasons like this. Nothing like a good argument or difference of opinion. Also nothing like some of the really informative stuff we get to share such as the training reports and well founded rumours (scoops). Thanks to the crew for making it all happen & thanks to the majority of posters for making it an enjoyable experience.

Worsfold steps down, first coach to go in 2020...

Good thinking...reply to what you perceive as an absurd comment with one even more absurd comment.

May & Oliver would walk into any of those teams. Max would 3 & fight it out with Grundy at Pies. An in form Tommy Mac at Geelong & Pies. Lever probably GWS & Pies, maybe Cats depending on how they set up...Tiges the only one he would miss. Trac with GWS & Cats...probably Tiges, Pies have others like but he would be an option there. After season 2020 will be a walk up anywhere. Harmes would get a look in somewhere in those teams...extra mid, tagger or hb I reckon Fritsch would get a game forward with the Cats. I expect Salem to consolidate & be on par with like players at teams you've mentioned. Langdon to step up as one of the best running wingmen in season 2020. A resurgent Bennell to walk in anywhere. Jackson as rising star, Rivers not far behind...all clubs envious. There you go, we're not so bad after all. Who knows...remember we were top 4 in 2018 so I wouldn't be marking the 2020 list on who made top 4 in 2019. Too much can & will change.

It's a great insight and I think the Rivers selection is just what we needed to round out this draft/trade period. He will come back to bite a few recruiting managers on the a.... in the near future. As Taylor said at the end he is an MCG player.

'@Webber'?