Dees2014

Don't know how many traing sessions you have seen, but I saw a lot of our preseason last year. Gawn hardly trained at all, mostly ran laps, and did light ball work with the injured group. However, when he was put into the fit group about maybe 7 or 8 rounds in, he is a very impressive trainer, a good runner for such a big guy, and a great overhead mark. Max is a potential gem. If he really does a full preseason, he will have a breakout year and potentially have the sort of impact on a game that Jeff White used to have, although a very different type of big man. Sandilands is perhaps a better comparison, but clearly not in his league, at least not yet. I personally think he has that sort of potential (and size). I don't think spencer has anywhere near that potential, but is an honest footballer, so is a handy backup. I'm predicting now Jamar will be traded this coming week for a trade in the 40s, or an experienced mid. Brisbane I think is the logical destination so he can be reunited with Maloney - a powerful combination in their day.

I think he is very much the sort of "let my actions speak for themselves". It is also not even through the trade period and you wouldnt expect him to give a running commentary on every trade. He would leave that to his "comms" people which he is doing. No doubt he will comment in due course, maybe after the first official training session under him on 15th November. Now I suspect Goshes Paddock maybe quite crowed on that day don't you think?

Essendon will be bottom of the ladder once a dozen of their senior team are rubbed out for two years. Will happen before Xmas, believe me.

You aren't American by any chance are you? They don't get irony either!

Try as well Essendon, Carlton, Crows, Richmond, possibly the Pies.

I'd be very uncomfortable copying the Tigers. A bit like Australian soccer copying the English - perennial losers. No, Roos knows how to build a winning Organisation, I'd much rather put my trust in him.

Gawn didn't have the tank because he only got into full training just before the season started. I know - I used to ride my bike to training at least once a week and I used to see him spend most of his time jogging around the oval with Trengove and Bail. He will be very very different this year with a full pre season. So will Mitch, Bleese, Grimes, Viney and Dawes. It will make a real difference.

Aka Tom Skully. I agree, but I think it is not as simple as that.there is a real opportunity here to get an experienced highly skilled, motivated mid in the PSD. It is certainly worth a try...

Oh thanks for that. Very profound! Wonderful insight you have - I am most grateful!

That's not what jack Viney says, and the key people in the MFC. They believe his relationship with DT was very important in reassuring him ( DT) that the MFC was a great destination for him. I think we (the MFC) are in a different position than most other clubs in the AFL because of our perceived "Brand" problem. It requires personal re-assurances from trusted intermediaries to re- assure you you are not going to a basket case. From all we hear about JV, he is a natural and very strong leader, with a burning ambition for the MFC to succeed (like his old man). Along with Roos legendary influencing skills you'd imagine Roos and JV would be a very powerful influence on great young footballers thinking of coming home to Melbourne. Why could this not work on TA, now that GWS has spat the dummy on the Collingwood deal? It would be the icing on the cake (along with our ND PICK 9) to our trading to build our midfield. Wow, what a prospect??

Certainly worked for David Neitz, particularly in his early days, and as Wayne Carey famously said Neitz was the best CHB he played on. High praise indeed. Neitz also said he learnt just so much about playing FF and CHF playing down back on the likes of Carey - he has said a number of times it made him a lot better forward and player, so it may not do Hogan any harm at all. Remember also we used to see Neitz switch from CHF to CHB and vice versa several times a game depending on the state of play, as we did with Earl Spalding, sometimes they would swap spots. Interestingly, as I understand it, James Frawley played a lot of his junior footy at CHF. Maybe there is an opportunity there!

Is best mates with Dom Tyler and Jack Viney apparently. That could well change his attitude. Let's hope he can be persuaded to come via the PSD (hopefully by them). The is a very interesting video on the Giants website with DM (who is their equivalent of Maxy Gawn in that respect except a lot more articulate!) and TA. They are clearly good mates. Might count a lot in the end.

Get Adams via the PSD or not at all. There are just too many stars in the top dozen this year.

I understand where you are coming from Young Dee, but one of the things I like about how the new team has gone about this recent process of building the club, is that it has looked at the current team strategically,identified its strengths and weaknesses and then gone from there. It would have been very easy for Roos (as Neeld did before him) to just say everything was hopeless and go for a complete rebuild. Roos didn't do that. He looked at what we needed ( as opposed to "best available") and targeted what was best for us. This usually did not co- incide with what the perceived wisdom was about the market, which is why the likes of the Damian Barrett's of this world were not smart enough to understand it. But what we have got out of this is a forward line which I bet will be in the best two or three in the Afl, a backline which is in the best half dozen ( particularly when they are not being bombed away at all day as they have been in the recent past), AND at least a competitive mid field - potentially a champion one. AND the best coach in the business. We have gone from being a hopeless case to having a lot going for us. People are beginning to notice. Those knowledgable football people from other clubs are beginning to see what is going on at the Dees and are impressed at least in my circle of friends. Getting back to being taken seriously is a big step - the challenge now is to translate that into wins, but if we start to win games as I am sure we will, there will be a huge wake up call for other clubs. That is why I am very optimistic, but obviously we need wins on the board, but I would much rather be where we are now than where we have been at this time of year in any of the last 8 years. We are entitled to dream!

He is also a hard nut and quite intimidating to the opposition, which is something I really like about him, and we very much lack. Doesn't take a backward step. Almost David Neitz like - and that is the highest praise.It will be interesting to see what Hogan is like in that respect. From a what I hear from inside the club he was described to me as a " a monster" who will "monster" the opposition with his sublime football skills and his intimidating physical presence. The other thing about Hogan is apparently he has an amazing engine, and is a superb kick, so for that reason, he will probably play half forward and we will have Clark and Howe in the square. It is a mouthwatering prospect, particular with skilled mostly left footed midfielders feeding these guys all the time. Very very difficult for oppositions to match up on.

TA? Taylor Adams? Might happen, now that the GWS are playing hard ball. Nice to see expansion clubs standing up to Eddie and his media circus. Hopefully was can pick up the crumbs.

Will shaw be left in the "cold" ie without a club. I know he is contracted, but we couldn't see him returning to the Pies from here could we? Maybe they will be forced to deal with their sworn enemies Carlton, after all. I'm sure that will go down like a lead balloon.

Thanks, good constructive suggestion, albeit a bit "tongue in cheek". I'm always up for a bit of arbitrage!

I am a 50 year veteran demon supporter (yes I do remember Neil Compton's goal - I was there as a 12 year old with the old man, my name dees2014 is conceived to remember the 50th anniversary) so yes I will be around for the next one. A fiftieth anniversary present would be nice i.e. a premiership. I must say I have not been so optimistic about the Dees since the height of the Daniher era when he got us in the Grand, and before that when Schwartz, Neitz and Lyon were at their height in the mid 1990s - still I believe our best team since 1964. I think what Roos is building is the organization, business model, coaching staff and list to be better than any of them. We are being set up for long term success. We should rejoice in the ride ....and yes have a modest side bet here and there to demonstrate our support. The guy at the betting agency said he had had a number of calls about the Demons in the last 24 hours.

As well as the ones mentioned above, I think it is quite realistic for us to be better than Essendon, Richmond, Gold Coast and Carlton, and maybe even the Pies. It is possible, and we may see Port have a let down after their stellar year this year.

Agree And a fit Gawn, Clark, Dawes, Trengove all doing full pre seasons under coaches who know what they are doing. A motivated Jack Watts. Even that sceptic about all things MFC, Caroline Wilson, says we will get at least a 40% improvement from our current list just by having a coach who knows what he is doing and knows how to motivate people. That is before we get a competitive mid field from the injection of new blood, which will allow us to take advantage of our elite forward and back lines. There is a lot to look forward to...

Why would you want a 50% better oddsby just thinking about it? Explain the logic?

Interesting isn't it. The common man bets - at least a lot do. I don't usually. But the reaction on here to the Demons getting into this sort of discussion, and therefore mainstream is a mixture of outrage and contempt. Sort of explains a lot about some of our supporter mind sets.

I never bet, but I thought I would check out the Dees odds for next year . Eight : 11/1 Flag: 250/1 I couldn't resist, so put $100 on each. I reckon I might get my money back and then some!

The point I was making was that PJ and PR have postponed naming the successor for 12 months. That leaves plenty of time for Roos to change his mind. The way he is building a quality list, we may well be in the top half next year which could lead to him reviewing his position. That is all I am saying...