Older demon

The last comment prompted me to look up Smith's record. Born in 55 it is so long ago it is hard to remember. Runners up in 54 & 58 and flags in 55,56,57,59 and 60 so for 7 years Smith was the man. I would be grateful for the current crop to deliver 1 that I can see and remember

Early word is Ceglar and Nick Nat have torn their ACL's, that is terrible. Both injured in almost the same spot. Good ruck men are hard to find and both would effectively miss most of next year.

SEN have just announced Hurley has signed on with Essendon for the next 6 years. off the table

I hope you tell Nev you are pumping up his tyres! He has had an excellent year and apart from a small flat spot has proved to be the best small defender around.

On another thread, note that Weideman is in doubt due to a cork thigh. I reckon this happened when Rioli tackled him down low and applied the spear tackle in the third quarter. Weideman limped to the bench. No free kick either

Statement from Essendon today in the HS "Xavier Campbell says Essendon would help Michael Hurley move clubs but big trade needed." Xavier suggests if Hurley wants to go they will facilitate this as long as a suitable trade is offered. Interesting change and perhaps a reflection that they know he wants out. Given their intransigence in previous trades it will be interesting to see how this pans out. I get the impression they will trade rather than go to the grievances tribunal. Roos said early on it may be best to trade out a player coming in to the last year of his contract than have him walk for nothing a year later. Will they want draft picks or players?

Yes he got it when Rioli assaulted him in the 3rd quarter and laid the almost spear tackle. Another thing the umpires missed

From last years B&F the 4 voting members can vote on as many players as they like with a maximum of 10 votes per player. So, Yes the max a player can get is is 40 but remember in a game like last Saturday they may give 5 or 6 players votes whereas in a poor game say like Sydney in Sydney only 3 or 4 players get votes. So it is not the same number of players drawing votes each week which complicates things a little more.

I think you can look no further than the comments from Derek Humphrey-Smith in the Age "Hawthorn Hawks Cyril Rioli 'incredibly lucky' to avoid suspension, says ex umpire" here is an ex umpire at odds with the Rioli decision. I haven't seen the usual Hayden kennedy weekly rubbish justifying all the contentious decisions from last weekend. One can only hope the umpiring dept coaches the umpires on their errors, which of course they never admit too.

No free to Bernie though, wonder if Hayden (my umpires never make mistakes) Kennedy will comment?

Are you suggesting he may play Ammo's next year with Collegians?

Repeat ANB, Dunne and Garland are contracted and less likely to be moved on.

Obviously anyone out of contract will be worried. We don't have a lot of picks and there is no sense clearing blokes if you don't have someone better or have a trade in mind. From previous Demonland posts listing 2016 contract renewals the following are for consideration Key position players I believe will be a choice between Dawes or Pederson, I cannot see us keeping both. The 2 Mac's are still be sign contracts Mids out of contract are Michie (upgraded from rookie list), Grimes (RFA), Newton, Trengove, M Jones. I would expect us to keep at least 2 of the five. Michie could stay on the rookie list or move elsewhere and Grimes can move where ever he likes. I doubt Trengove will be cast off after this season and Matt Jones hasn't had a bad season. Remember we are still a very young list and we need some experience and older bodies. I can see no future at the club for Terlich. Of the rookies I suspect King will be moved on and I am unsure of where White stands. Rookie upgrades this year were to cover Melksham the forgotten man and Mitch King. Michie may remain on the rookie list and Wagner may be upgraded or remain a rookie especially if Hibberd is coming. I suspect that unless Heretier's concussion issues resolve very quickly that he will retire. Dunne and Neal-Bullen are contracted till 2017 and Garland beyond that. So to leave they would need a trade and the club has not in the last 3 years dumped a contracted player. They may not if Hibberd is coming. Minimum reduction is 3 so I don't see a big list movement, maybe 4 off max 5. So Terlich, Dawes, Grimes initially, after that depends on the Macs and signing contracts and anyone who wants out

Dawes rested as I note he isn't selected to play at Casey and also noted that Spencer isn't selected either. Stay did you notice Pencil not training?? Not a lot of ruck men around the club

I can confirm after speaking to Jesse at a junior clinic that he is a left hander who kicks with his right foot. He was shooting hoops and his ball handling is outstanding on his left side and rarely missed a hoop. Observe as he runs in to kick that he leads with his left shoulder while his brain thinks I have to drop the ball with my non dominant hand on to my right foo, I believe he will get better as he matures. As a left footer myself who is right handed I get his problem as it caused me some problems in my playing days. My ball drop left handed was inconsistent but I learnt to kick right footed because my right hand could control the ball drop. I would like to see how Jesse kicks on his left foot. Back onto Roos, I hope grateful members remember to email Paul and thank him for his contribution to Melbourne and all the processes he has put in place. He leaves the club in a much better position than when he started.

I didn't take the call but looked it up on a reverse number site to see who it is from. Lots of complaints made and it appears they know which club you barrack for as the complaints came from supporters of every club. Most suspected it was a scam and more likely the source of info came from the AFL. The caller apparently offers the same deal just inserts your club.

Peterson had a great game Saturday and should earn a recall. O Mac had his best game and took marks and now he has shown a bit you could not possibly drop him. Michie was good and is a 1 paced player like Mitchell and would be my wild card to tag Mitchell. The Hawks 2 ruck men leant on Max last time and I would want more support for Max. Note Dawes did do more rucking than normal yesterday. I can see Pedo, Bugg & Michie come in. I can se Hogan out injured (6 day break) Harmes rested and 1 other who is fatigued.

Jones has earned the right to lead and his seniority and experience means he stays in that position a little while longer. It is difficult unless you are in the club to know who is right person to lead. Personally I have reservations about Viney as captain because of his poor disposal and occasional lack of discipline. Certainty in the leadership group for his work ethic and passion. Max has been a revelation this year not only as a ruckman but as a member of the leadership group. Bernie is a no because to me he hasn't led this year but is a senior player who doesn't need a title to show leadership. Goodwin's influence will dictate next year who is in the group. I am not convinced the T. mac will stay and would not be surprised to see the likes of Tyson, Vandenberg and Bugg being nominated. We are still light on for experience and standout leaders and I think Watts has earned his right to be a leader and has committed to the club long term........

Lay off Weideman. He played very little under 18 last year and this year the club wants to build him up with at least 7 kgs. Has not played a lot of footy the last 2 years missing most of last year. He is rated highly and possibly will be the best of the under 21's, source, Brendan McCartney. He is tall mobile and athletic, a 1 grab mark who kicks straight. Unlike other era's where we need instant champions now we are not looking for the Messiah but someone we build and develop into a key forward for the next decade. Note Talia didn't play his first game until midway into his second season for 9 games and took a while to develop. Riewoldt debuted in 2001 and didn't have his break out season until his 3rd season, 2004. Jono Brown was an unspectacular but consistent contributor during his first few seasons, at 195 cm and 105 kg, (Weed is 196 cm and 91 kg so he has a way to go) he debuted in Rd 5 2000. Plagued by injury and regular meetings with the AFL Tribunal during the next three seasons, Brown's development was hampered until 2004, when he had his best season to date, averaging an impressive 8 marks, 16 disposals and 2.3 goals per game. he just happened to play in 4 consecutive grand finals from 2001 to 2004 (source Wikipedia).

Rather than start a new thread I am posting the AFL opinion today. "Head umpires coach Hayden Kennedy was satisfied free kicks paid against midfielder Dom Tyson and ruckman Max Gawn were warranted, and he said the duo didn't do enough to keep the ball in play." What a load of rubbish. Every week this muppet comes out and rationalises why his umpires never make a mistake. Not for the first time this year the umpires influenced the final outcome yet Hayden is there every Monday defending his umpires. maybe if he actually corrected and instructed them and acknowledged errors they may improve. Last week it was the Ferrito free and this week 2 against us as deliberate ""Certainly there were instances over the weekend where there was some poor (skill) execution by players and they weren't paid as deliberate out of bounds," he said. What particularly angers me is that he reckons Tyson and Gawn didn't do enough to keep the ball in play. What rubbish Tyson was in a contested situation and if there were other instances why weren't they paid? Turn must be poorly skilled as the ball always went out of bounds when he was nearby. Kennedy you should resign if that is what you are teaching umpires.

Marchbank out for the year with shoulder reco. From AFL site. 193 cm who has played 7 games "Marchbank is still not contracted to the Giants beyond 2016 and may have played his last game for the club. GWS selected the athletic defender with pick six in the 2014 NAB AFL Draft and he is seen as a key member of coach Leon Cameron's defence, but his name has been heavily linked with a move to Carlton next year."

Tom's turnovers today cruelled us and Oscar just doesn't have the body to compete 1 on 1 with the big boys but I don't see any alternatives atm. Tom undoes any good work with basic skill errors.

Loved Frosty's game and pace out of the backline.

No he withdrew from Casey with back spasm on the day. So he gets back in on not playing, maybe he trained really well.

I see that kennedy-Harris and salem have been named in the Casey development squad. I imagine on limited time but great to see them back playing.