Dees2014

I think this really misreads Goodwin. He has clearly decided to put down standards, and if they are not met to his satisfaction, then you don't play. What a change this is! We as supporters would all agree that Jack Watts has not lived up to his number one draft billing, but we have seen signs of his sublime skills. The only conclusion is these inconsistencies are a result of attitude. Goodwin is now in the wonderful position to be able to insist on performance, just the same as Luke Beaveridge did in his early days at the dogs with several of his previous all Australian players. And look how that turned out? Mark my words this will be our making: JW will be a brute when he comes back as he realises that he is now not indispensable. And we can only be the better for it. We are in good hands...

I don't think he needs to. His strengths are his hit outs, his intensity around the ball, his engine and occasional marking. All key areas of on the ball ruckman and features that many other teams would envy. Max is a once in a generation big man, good at all the above, but an outstanding mark and not a bad kick, as well as being very mobile for such a big bloke. As such, not only is he the best ruckman in the competition, but also has the potential to be one of the best big forwards. If you like, our modern day Paul Salmon. We would be silly not to use him as both. The argument on here about whether we should have both on the field at the same time misses the point: in my view when spencil is on the field he is in the ruck and Max plays forward. When max is in the ruck, spencil is on the bench. There will be very few sides with the weapons to mind max, jesse, Watts and occasionally the Weed up forward. It is an advantage we should exploit as I think Goodwin will.

Totally agree about Spencer and Gawn. We look a lot better and balanced side with Spencer there. It is interesting that with the commentators waking up about Demon potential they can now see what a menace Max will be as a resting forward. Bring it on I say - and Spencil is a very under-rated ruckman which a number of sides will come to learn in this current season.

DIO, I totally agree. The deterance is there with this penalty, but it doesn't decimate the women's game for the rest of the short season. Having said that, serious injury did happen, and the administrators of the women's game need to reinforce these act will not be tolerated in future, as they have done in the mens' game. Go Demon W's. I love your style and commitment to great footy!

I really think in a short season to apply the 22 round rules to an eight week one is not sensible. A two week suspension in percentage terms of the whole season is equivalent to 5-6 weeks. In men's footy, for this crime I think that is about right. Let's move on and see our very talented women's team slay them for the rest of the season. what a great beginning to the demon revival!

The thing I really liked about the win was the game plan. Clearly the club is trying to get the men's amd women's teams to play similar styles, and if the second half reflects what we will see later on, I for one would be delighted: relentless running in open spaces, accurate kicking and handball, and fierce tackling in close. If it stays dry for the rest of the girls' season, I think this team has a real chance. The acid test will be this week an against the Dogs: will be an uncompromising contest - one might say the traditional rivals in the women's game. It is great to see.

I notice that Ben McDevitt, Head of ASADA for the last three years, has announced he will not renew his contract when it comes up for renewal in May. I think we all owe McDevitt a huge debt in this saga. At the height of the pressure generated by Hird's and the AFL PR machines which tried to discredit WADA and ASADA in an effort to intimidate them into not prosecuting and appealing, McDevitt stood firm inspite of a quite spiteful personal campaign against him. I think very few people would have had the courage to stand up to this public (Hird's legal/PR team and his tame Press-pack), institutional (AFL) and beaucratic (Daniel Andrews, Tony Abbott) intimidation. In this there is no doubt McDevitt's experience as a senior investigator in the Federal police where he mostly worked on international crime stood him in very good stead. Let's hope he is replaced by someone with equal resolve, courage and integrity. We as supporters, and indeed the AFL and even Essendon (though no doubt they do not think so now) should thank him for his very distinguished service and wish him all the best in whatever he chooses to do next. We are very fortunate to have bureaucrats of such quality.

and Brayshaw

Max -he is a wonder!

Still the Bulldogs have shown us all how to overcome these things - all power to them, as long as they dont beat us of course!

Ben Kennedy injury happened right in front of me. A group were doing a drill which involved one player with the ball running straight at another player with a view to try and get past him. I was very impressed with the intensity with which this was carried out with the players getting really [censored] off with themselves when they missed the tackles and their opponent got through their defence. BK I think was trying to tackle Neville Jetta and his hand and part of his arm got tangled up in his jumper and he was pulled along by Jetta trying to get away. It looked as though he dislocated his shoulder and injured his hand. It was quite nasty, but fully accidental I might add. After that the players were yelling at each other to be careful about injuring their opponents. The intensity of it though was very impressive, as was all the training I saw particularly for this time of the year.

No played the Saints there several years ago - got thrashed I seem to remember!

I am amazed at the complacency of this post. Hogan has the potential to kick 100+ goals a year. He is held back by his very ordinary goal kicking. To say he does not need to practice and improve is frankly nonsense.

Great story WJ. I too have been a huge fan of Max from the very beginning, and all the hope for him we all had has been more than fulfilled. I do think though that going into 2017 season he is also one of our biggest risks. Not only the obvious one of going down with serious injury, but also when you analyse our diassappointing defeats in 2016 they often coincided with Max having a less than stellar game. He desperately needs backup on the field, and that is why I have constantly advocated playing a second very tall a la Spencer in the Game at Geelong in 2015. Too much was expected of him in 2016, and although he was a very willing workhorse, he DOES need quality backup. Perhaps Philipovic is that person. If he coached him as a junior, you would have to expected Max would have been consulted In his recruitment and therefore presumably has great confidence in his abilities. Maybe yet another inspired choice by our recruiting staff.

BB l wonder what psychological effect the Dogs premiership has had on the playing group. Perhaps they note genuinely believe it is possible to win a premiership from here now that the Dogs have shown the way. Personally, I believe we have at least as talented a list as them, should we all apply ourselves. Perhaps the players now believe that as well!

No, not at all. I would have Watts, Hogan, Weideman AND Smith in the same side aka HF: Watts. Hogan Petracca FF: Smith Weideman Garlett/GKH That's an incredibly strong forward line, and very very difficult to match up on. Imputting it out there now - Smith 35 goals in his first season... Having two really good kicks for goal (Smith/Watts) in the same side would be a huge bonus....

Sounds like another Robbo - we could do worse

Can't tell with Brayshaw either - superb kick with either foot.

Not sure that I agree. We have a mature aged back up ruckman in Spencer, in my view an underestimated and under used resource (aka his game against Geelong in 2015, one of the few times Gawn and Spencer have played together and look what happened?). I think Gawn is the outstanding example of what can come from being patient with developing young ruckman. Before him Darren Jolly. King was never in their class because he did not have the size. I would much prefer to see us recruit a young giant and develop him. If Gawn is injured we have an adequate replacement in Spencer, but I would far prefer to see Spencer and Gawn in the same side and have Max spend more time up forward. I really think he has the potential to be another Paul Salmon, and would give Jesse and Watts so much more power up forward. it will be interesting to see what Goodwin's views on this are.

We are in an entirely different space to the "declining"clubs Hawthorne, NM, Geelong, and possibly Sydney who have serious salary cap problems with the arrival of Tippett and Buddy. Like GWS, Suns, and the Bullies, we are chock full of young rising stars. We don't need to have anymore. What we do need is experienced leaders (Lewis), and to fill gaps eg running backs who are excellent kicks (melsham, hibberd). The one area where we have a huge gap is a ruck/forward which the club has indicated will be addressed in the draft. I personally think Spencil is under utilised and could be devestating in tandem with Max who could play more down forward. We are in a great position, thanks in large part to our skill recruiters and coaches over the last three years

The club has already said they are going to draft a ruckman - clearly they have someone in mind! Max mark ll?

Certainly nothing he has said so far indicates he is coming in with a demanding and arrogant attitude. Quite the opposite. He said he thinks Jones is a fantastic captain, and he will do all he can to support him. And is excited about mentoring the Demons "wonderful" young list particularly as we move towards finals. Another thing we should also be delighted about is that he was incredibly impressed by the Dees, and it was only club he wanted to go to. That is amazing considering where we have come from. Very significant in the evolution of the Club we love!

I think the key thing we should all be proud of is that Lewis specifically picked us out. He didn't want to talk to anyone else. How many times have I read posters on here bemoaning the fact that we are not a preferred destination of elite players? Welli have news for them - we are now! And it has everything to do with our late round thrashing of the Hawks. I don't know how many Hawks supporters I have spoken too recently who askerd me who I support when I say the Demons, they are in awe, and generally say we are developing a dynasty to rival theirs in the future. i have never seen this before. It is delightful

The fact that someone like Lewis would approach us is a huge step forward.we all wish to be a preferred destination for elite players out of contract. Lewis demonstrates that. We should all celebrate.

Guys,get real. BOTH are critical for our eventual flag. Why argue at the margins. We would all be mortified if either left, and both would be targeted by all clubs if they became available. Celebrate what we have....