Demon Head

We Demonlanders are a strange lot. Half of us get our knickers in a knot when the coach publicly gives a player a bit of a rev up at the start of the season and the other half get upset because they perceive not enough is being done to increase his intensity towards his game. The reports I've received is that Jack is coming along nicely and I'm looking forward to continued improvement in the coming year. He's a different size and different type of player to Travis Johnstone and I believe his attitude to his work is also different altogether.

Mission? Impossible!

It's in Victoria. Post code Vic 3126. Nice people like Garry Lyon live here.

I think you've had too much Xmas cheer Redleg. I'm in Canterbury and there's not a sniff of sea air in my nostrils. Moreover, I don't believe they allow boguns like Dermie into this part of town.

Some good news for Demon fans. I went to a barbecue on Christmas Day and Tom Banana Fritter and his family were there. I spoke to Tom and he said that he is yet to make up his mind whether to stay at Melbourne or go to GWS. However, he did add that he and the folks are flying up to Sydney on New Year's Day just to have another good look around but the way he spoke of his love of the club and how he wants to be a one club player suggested that he will definitely stay. BTW, the BBQ had to be cancelled after Phil B F started hoeing into the food early eating all the steaks, chops, sausages, salads, felafels and the ... er, um ... banana fritters. It was like someone worked over the food table with a vacuum cleaner.

Thanks Kev. It looks like Essendon have undergone more change than we have. Surprised me really.

That's a very interesting perspective Oracle. My highlight prediction for 2012 is that during the year Andy Demetriou will suddenly resign as AFL CEO to take up a similar role with the Indian Cricket Board. One of his first responsibilities will be to investigate the problems on the sub continent of corruption and gambling on cricket matches and after an exhaustive two day inquiry into the subject he will absolve all parties suspected of wrongdoing and give the all clear declaring that the sport is well run and that there's no gambling problem in Indian cricket.

I don't think you can really fault the way Carlton has gone about its recruiting of more mature age players to augment their list of high draft picks over the past three or four years. It's not just the high cost, big money players like Judd, Warnock and McLean (ok - one fail but he's still depth) but the likes of Curnow, Duigan and Laidler all contributed to their improvement in 2011. Discount them at your own peril.

The next Melbourne Football Club open training session is Monday 21st November, 2011 @ 9.45am - Gosch's Paddock. This will be followed by a closed swimming session at Casey on Wednesday 23rd November, 2011. The boys will be back at Gosch's Paddock on Friday 25th November, 2011 @ 9.45am. I hope those who can make it will keep us in the loop with your reports. Cheers, D H

How many days to go?

Scott is no dummy as coach. He no doubt has something in mind for Maric and my guess is that he will rejuvenate his career.

Mark Neeld would be truly delighted to take over a team with quality key defenders of the likes of Garland, Frawley and Rivers with Martin and McDonald as back ups. It gives him a great starting point for the building of his team.

Do we really need another young developing KPP?

Five year deal is necessary as, within that timeframe, Demetrius is planning to introduce new teams from NZ and PNG which would be empowered to offer him a $5m a year deal we couldn't match.

In 24 hours this thread will be irrelevant and a non issue.

I heard Finey on SEN talking about the game arguing that the media were like sheep talking about Fev but the real story of the day was Kyle Matthews. He must be reading Demonland. On the other hand, this Casey Weekly article focuses on Fev's game - Casey rides on Fev frenzy

We need to go for the jugular tonight. We were this far in front of them last year and nearly lost it!

The statistics above show that we really have nothing to lose?

However, the fact that there are so many Bulldogs available to play in the VFL suggests that they don't have a significant injury list which suggests that their problems are fairly deep.

Coach Dean Bailey urged his players last week to be "bolder and braver" against St Kilda at Etihad Stadium. He said the Demons had worked on more flair and intensity with their ball movement at training to try to eradicate the damning inconsistency so far this season. Well, I don't know if the players were listening to what he had to say or, if so, whether they understood because the team's performance in terms of better ball movement left a hell of a lot to be desired from my point of view. This week I call on Bailey as a supporter to bolder and braver himself. Bolder with team selection so as to give the message to those players who failed to contribute over the past two weeks that their peformances were not good enough and that if young players show something at Casey then the opportunity is there as it was to Michael Evans last week. The Demons are on the big stage this week. Friday night when the club gets exposure and hopefully, good crowds to help with the club's coffers. We need to dig deep and get things done this week.

If he's injured again that leaves Stef Martin and Max Gawn as the only ruck types left standing in the organisation. Quite extraordinary really. WJ, do you see Max Gawn as a realistic chance to make his debut this week?

Geez, do I have to cancel my TAB Sportsbet account?

Great report on the game over at Giantology.

A bit harsh to say we're going backwards after one preseason game but we're not going as fowrwards as many here might have thought.

Great player - it's been a bad week for the Saints.