CBDees

Yes a "food report" would make a nice change from the usual 'training reports'! I am looking forward to trying some new recipes during the holiday season.

CBF maybe you should also post this on the Watts thread?

I completely agree with you which is why l didn't use a 2 win season in my post.

But when Watts got 10th in the MFC B&F, NicNat got 9th in the West Coast B&F in that same year. It is easy to adopt selective use of statistics to bolster any argument (pro or anti) so l am wary of many comparisons made on this site.

DD82 don't forget to add Trengrove to your list of midfielders and don't overlook the depth we are creating both forward (ANB, Harmes, Kent, Kennedy, JKH, Newton, Mitchie, Garlett) and back (Bugg, Melksham, White, HL), many of which are quite capable of rotating through the midfield!

Just a few years ago we had Matt Jones and Terlich dominating the B&F and coming in third and fourth. Surely you are not suggesting that puts them ahead of Dunn and Tommy Mac in value and rating?

They will both debut Round 1 (Petracca and Oliver)!

Do you want somebody to post a 13,800 minute warts and all video so that we can be more objective and give equal time to the glass half empty supporters (or do you secretly yearn for 9 minutes of negativity)?

Sounds like you are "Pragmatic but Pessimistic"!

Well summarised WJ. We all look forward to your incisive postings again this year and commentaries on the resurgent Dees!

Bing is just attempting to wind everybody up, to what end I am not sure.

Interesting then that Goodwin was not mentioned as a party to this process!

Why don't you post some highlights from your career Clint? In that way Watts and the other untalented players on our list can aspire to greater heights!

I get the feeling that Oliver won't be featuring too heavily in the Casey reports this year and that he will replicate Brayshaw in his Round 1 debut. Looking at the seconds reports shall be confined to salivating over Weideman.

Did they find them innocent or "fail to find them guilty"? Subtle difference.

I like your optimism in the rankings C&B, particularly for Vince and Jones, however I reckon that, on the other hand, both Petracca and Oliver will have a bigger impact than you predict and we also have Bugg, Kennedy, etc for those worrying about depth. I am an optimist and can see us in the top half and the midfield being the key improvers who catapult us into the final eight.

Have a great holiday 666!

Maybe a few of the naysayers should view this footage! I suspect that they will accuse binman of doctoring up the footage however as it contains a) contested possessions, b) tackles and c) elite disposal, all of which should prove a revelation to many on this site!

Also Gary Hardeman

The article below (pasted from the AFL Website) offers arguments for and against a Night Grand Final commencing 2017. Considering the fact that this may well be the year of Melbourne's first tilt at the flag for 53 years, what do other Demonlanders think of the idea? Personally I am an advocate for the NO vote and cannot fault Matt Thompson's reasoning (though I am hardly likely to stay away whatever time we play)! Is 2017 the right time for a twilight/night Grand Final? Matt Thompson and Adam Curley December 26, 2015 3:00 PM Is a night Grand Final all about the fireworks? No THIS argument doesn't have to be about tradition, it doesn't have to be about TV ratings and it certainly doesn't have to be about fireworks. The new broadcast agreement which begins in 2017 offers the chance to introduce a twilight or a night Grand Final, but this is an argument about common sense. What is the point of sitting around all day waiting for the game? What would everyone do? Can you imagine being a player, sitting around until 7.50pm to play the biggest game of your life? Not to mention the wait for fans. If a champagne breakfast turns into a beer-fuelled Saturday session at the pub, you're going to end up with a whole lot of heavily boozed people on the streets of Melbourne, and that's before the game. Anyway, for the sake of the argument, let's go through those other points and dispense with them as well. Everyone who wants a night Grand Final talks about fireworks and the accompanying entertainment. But all of this is surely a sideshow to the main game, which is the game. The biggest argument for a switch is primetime TV ratings. Who really cares? Why does it matter? Everyone who's even mildly interested watches the game anyway. The ratings system is relatively flawed and doesn't take into account the millions of people watching collectively at pubs and barbeques across the country. I don't want the Grand Final to remain during the day because of tradition, I want it to stay in the afternoon where it's where it makes sense. As it stands, it's perfect – Grand Final breakfast, game in the arvo, celebrations at night. There's simply nothing to be gained from bouncing the ball at night. - Matt Thompson Sam Mitchell shares the premiership joy with his children. Picture: AFL Media Yes THIS isn't just the right time to introduce a twilight/night Grand Final to footy fans around Australia … it's overdue. Traditionalists will argue there's no need to change the biggest day on the footy calendar, but it's wrong to stop our great game from taking yet another step forward. Our code has undergone some significant transformations over the past 20 years, leading the way with its stance on racism and becoming the most multicultural code in Australia by welcoming anyone who wants to play. Such things have transformed the AFL into a 21st century phenomenon. Forget the talk about it being better with fireworks and the like. AFL Grand Final day is about the game, and a twilight/night event changes nothing apart from some of the playing conditions. Some will say that we shouldn't make the players wait around all day for the biggest game of their lives, but they're professional athletes who are used to playing twilight/night fixtures, and most play them more often than a traditional 2.30pm first bounce. Players are more professional than ever so to suggest they'll be affected by a later game is absurd. Lets also not forget that this is a national code, so a later start time allows those in Western Australia – remember that both Perth-based teams finished inside the top four last season and made preliminary finals – to start their day at a reasonable hour. Our game has changed and the finale needs to move with the times as well. – Adam Curley

Not many punches connecting!

Thanks for displaying the player's names 666! It certainly makes the picture tell a more complete story as I couldn't otherwise pick King or Hulett.

2016 GF tickets to watch the mighty Dee's win their first Premiership for 62 years.

You and another 25,000 Melbourne members!

Considering the fact that there are only twelve players remaining on their list (plus five on other club lists) out of the original 34 players it will be interesting what emerges as an appropriate penalty! Methinks Essendon has played this well strategically and in effect the outcome from the ruling will have little penalty likely to adversely impact on them apart from monetary. Be nice to see Hird have to pay back the $Million from his year in France and also this year's combined coaching / termination income!