CBDees

Regarding the heroic predictions above, whilst I generally agree with the ladder, l don't think it impossible for us to finish higher or even sneak into the eight for the following reasons: 1) I think that we will finish ahead of GWS as we have a better forward and backline than they have (which should ensure a better %); 2) I think that we are capable of beating Richmond; and 3) I suspect we will also beat at least one of the other teams that you have nominated ahead of us on your ladder (Adelaide?). Bring on the 2015 season!

I would like this (Casey) team play the Essendon ragtag team in the NAB Challenge! We would crush them! (Let theDees have the week off!)

I think that you have nailed it Wrecker however l have learned to always be cautious of North. On the other hand, we beat Adelaide last year and could well do it again. I see that you wisely left Gold Coast and GWS off your list and avoided a prediction on West Coast.p.s. I suspect that we may also beat the filth this year!

Also no reason why we cannot beat the Crows again!

OK, I'll bite! If we lose to Hawthorn by one point in round 7 and win the other 22 rounds then I will regard that as a massive improvement!

We didn't actually get "compensation"! We were just fortunate that our FD retained him on our list until 31 October, ensuring that the only way that he was going to end up at a Club of his choice was through a trade. An astute move by the MFC!

And next year there will also be Petracca in the forward mix! Bring it on!

That is the trouble when you are the number one draft pick you have to step up more than others. Many bemoan us taking Watts over Nic Nat however both performed similarly in last year's B&F for their respective Clubs. Natanui was ninth on WC's B&F whilst Jack was tenth on ours. I am confident however that he gets less bagging from WC supporters than Jack cops from Demonlanders

M. Jones is contracted until the end of 2016, and if you have been following the training reports, Pedersen and Garland seem set for a good year. When we haven't even played a NAB Challenge game yet, it is far too early to be predicting the list management scenario at year's end. The only certainty is that we will have to turn over at least three players before the draft.

If l can't watch the Dees live, then there is no better option than the big screen at the local pub with a counter, a bottle or two of red and a group of Demon mates. I cannot seethe attraction of subscribing to Foxtel when the local pub is happy to pay.

I think that you are neglecting to take into account the differences between the 2014 Casey and the 2015 Casey, including:1) coaches Plapp and Byrnes are full time and being paid by MFC, 2) Byrnes is a playing coach, 3) Casey has recruited some good players in the off-season, 4) because our injury list is less than previous seasons, there will be more MFC players appearing each week for Casey, 5) as the Casey coaches are on our payroll, expect the game plans to align, and 6) the MFC players will all be playing to their potential because of the competition for promotion to the starting 22 the following week. All in all, expect the Casey team for 2015 to be markedly more competitive because suddenly the MFC sees their success integral to the success of the Demons. There is nothing at all wrong in Casey being the premier team in the VFL and the MFC players playing for them absorbing the 'winning culture '!

Now there is the indise story:

Last year it was Hogan and Clark. We are better placed to cover injuries this year. Don't despair, we will enter the competition competive in all areas of the ground, even the midfield.

With Vince out, I don't think the options above are mutually exclusive. I hope that all will get a run, depending on who we play.

How is six months already served when they have been allowed to participate in pre-season training during that time? I sure hope that Hird appeals!

When does Hird have to lodge his appeal by? It cannot be too far off!

I am with Barra17 on this one. We have added Frost, Salem and HL into our backline, Hogan and Garlett into our forward structure and we can look forward to an improved midfield with more depth, not only due to improvements through Viney, Mitchie etc, but some mature bodies through Newton and Vandenberg. This and the second year under Roos is not optimistic; it is realistic. Next year, with Petracca and Brayshaw in the mix, I am hoping for top four!

Bomber Harvey (as an inspiration to Nathan Jones for longevity) and Nick Riewoldt (as an inspiration for Jack Watts on how to impose yourself as a forward)!

They are probably more likely to miss Tim Mohr (recruited from Casey right under our nose)!

How can you backdate when they are still training and continuing along with their normal,off-season activities? Saade got two years holiday from St. Kilda which also included training. I don' t see why Essendon players should be treated more leniently!

On the contrary, I predict that both will feature top ten in our B&F this year (as will Salem)!

Wow a thread about players on notice and we get to post #27 before DA brings up Watts, tenth in our B&F in 2014. I would hardly say that a player in our top 25% is "on notice", particularly when his nemesis in Natanui was ninth on West Coast's B&F the same year (and, after all, that is who he is usually compared against)!

Quite frankly, we would all be better off if they expelled Essendon from the AFL, established a new franchise in Canberra and let their 'innocent' players form the basis for the new team (to be coached by Bomber Thompson)!

Speaking personally, I suspect that the answer is yes. I get to every Melbourne game at the "G" but when we are scheduled at Etihad or interstate, I prefer watching it at the pub with my mates.