btdemon

"Before The Game" was so much better.

The problem is that one of them was Tyson. Turnover merchant. Two goals! He is meant to be one of our top ten players. Needs to learn how to kick with penetration and accuracy.

Yep. I'm putting the lid back on and screwing it down for another year. Too many basic skill errors and some really dumb Demons footy. The ball movement of the Eagles was way better. We had no counter. and We lost too many centre clearances, despite the fact that our rucks dominated. .

We need to find some more. Vince, Jones and Lewis won't be there or at their best when we are a serious flag prospect. I still haven't written off Trenners. I think he can be more than depth playing at Casey most of the time. People forget. He is tough and footy smart. VDB and Harmes have skill and decision making problems but certainly add toughness. We can thank Roos' philosophy for recruiting this midfield group. Some added speed would be nice though. Joel Smith certainly has some and tackles ferociously. I hope he can build the necessary skills and awareness to play in the middle eventually. We do have significant depth but the quality of the depth tails off after the top seven - Jones, Viney, Lewis, Tyson, Oliver, Brayshaw, Salem. (I don't yet count Petracca as a true mid). Then we have Harmes, Trenners, Bugg, Kennedy, VDB, ANB. I don't know much about Maynard but he looks tough and strong. There are no soft mids in this list. Traditionally we have had a number of skilful but softish mids own our list. Think, Yze, Bruce, Travis etc. There are none now and we can at least be confident that 'bruise free' footy is a thing of the past. I'm very thankful for that.

Let's make it happen!

This to me, sounds likely. Not such a bad thing. If he could fix his approach to one on one contests he would be sensational. We have known this all along. He seems to lack the thing that Viney has heaps of. It may also coincide with Viney's elevation to captaincy. He would set such ferocious standards that he may illuminate others who don't go as hard. Viney is a rare beast though. Not many have that crazy-brave instinct. Jack Watts will always have to push himself to the physical contest. Its not in his nature but I have watched him try to override his first instinct over the past few years. He is getting better but they may want to ram this home. He is 25 and should be coming into his absolute peak as an effective footballer. I guess they just want to maximise his potential. Its probably a good thing but we will just have to see how he responds. Like many on here, I would be delighted to see him play to his full potential.

To suggest the he is not in the best 22 is ludicrous. While there may be some issue with attitude/training/KPI's or whatever, If I was picking from a fit list he would always be in the top ten picks. My first ten picks would be: Gawn Jones Viney Tyson Jetta Vince T Mac Lewis Hogan Watts I would build the team selection around that

Thanks, I'll investigate the VPN idea.

Do you need to do anything special to get it. I notice that the annual subscription is $189. I'm ok with that if it works. It says that you have to be oversea. Is that true?

Daisy writes and commentates so well. Have a read of this Age article http://www.canberratimes.com.au/afl Also, can we please combine the AFLW forum with this one rather than having a separate blog. Many of us are just as interested in reading and posting about the AFLW and would like to access all of the info in the one blog. I imagine that many of us go straight to this forum when we open Demonland. It took me a while to work out that there was a separate forum. We are all one team.

I like this line up. I think that Weideman will play more often than not. The only concern is the second ruck role. Watts has done a great job and it does get him into the game but I am concerned at the toll on his body. Peterson may have to come in for Weideman but your team looks the most dangerous to me. There will be some good players waiting in the wings.

Gregory Peck

I agree. The Dee's had that same manic momentum in the '87 and '88 finals series. They rolled through the finals having just scraped in. Unfortunately, we ran in to strongest team of the period (Hawthorn) and were shown up for our lack of class and experience. I think the Doggies have a very good list and should be up there again next year. Especially considering the setbacks they had this year. It is especially gratifying to see that the Hawks, Swans, Cats, and the other powerful clubs were pipped by the Dogs. Hopefully it is the end of the Hawthorn era.

I was probably a bit over sensitive but I do occasionally see some very snobbish attitudes on DL and it gets me going. It points to the class and wealth divides in this country and I come over all sanctimonious.

Being a product of the state school system I find this sort of comment on here to be very elitist. There is a good reason that the private schools are providing more of our AFL footballing stocks. Firstly, under the Howard Government, the funding formula was adjusted to further favour the private school and did more to create a two-tiered system whereby there has been a huge drift from the state to the private sector. This further weakens the state system as it leaves it with the job of catering for the most marginal students and driving the aspirational ones away. This trend will continue until the balance is redressed or there is a major economic downturn which drives some students back to the state system. No matter what your political allegiance is, these are the facts. Secondly, many of the private schools offer sporting scholarships to those who show talent. This has the effect of further stripping the talent from the state run schools. Thirdly, the private schools have the money, the resources and incentive (for their public image) to run 1st, 2nd and 3rd XVIII teams in healthy weekend comps. This very much aids in the development of young players. They often employ high level coaches to run these teams (e.g., Robert Shaw). State schools have to run occasional weekday comps which are usually irregular in their nature. Hence the difference in the standards and why so many players now come out of the private system. Please don't talk about Collingwood supporters and your private school background in the same paragraph. Now wonder people label Demon supporters as silver-tailed wankers. You don't do us any favours.

Why is Daisy not on the DL banner?

Tyson got 30 disposals. Hi many went to a target, or worse stil, resulted in Carlton goals. He waits, turns back into traffic and floats the kick to a contest or kicks directly to the opposition. He strikes me as having an overinflated opinion of his own ability to influence the game. I would like to see him take the first option sometimes and ffs, learn to kick! A most selfish footballer sometimes

I was trying to be objective about umpiring decisions on Saturday but found myself believing that Hawthorn are a protected species and that the umpires are mesmerized by Hawthorn's aura of invincibility. That bump on Oliver hit in the chest and the head. It was at the very least, a free kick. To miss that and then see the infringement that gifted him a free in front of goal made my blood boil. Then they also missed the head high clothesline on Bernie that flipped him onto his back and bloodied his nose. Everyone at the ground saw it but the four umpires. At least Cicely gets a week. Not to mention Mitchell's "push" to Watts' face. Everyone saw that too. Perhaps the teflon will wear off Hawthorn when they don't win this year's flag.

Wow! When you look at his line up there are so many NQRs. No wonder we were so bad.

I almost stopped being interested after Sunday's effort. Every year seems to bring a game that breaks my heart and Sunday was it for this year. I have little faith that we can win another game but like a desperate addict I may go back for more punishment.

As frustrated as I am with Paul Roos gameplay, It was the new risky , play-on, attack through the corridor game of Simon Goodwin that left us vulnerable after 1/4 time today. I would have been relieved to see some real ugly Roos-style stoppage footy once the Saints started to flow on. We were too pooped to play the game style that we are training for.

We still have a large number who have crap skills. SICK OF IT!!!!!!

What pizzes me off is that we are now playing the rest of the year for a couple of stray wins - Suns, Blues etc. and we are no guarantee to get any. It sometimes feels like a step backwards. The Saints danced on our sorry arses yet again. I'm so sick of it - AAAARRRGGGHHHHH!!! There's not enough alcohol in the world to make me feel better. "Fark 'em all, I say!"

What about bombing out from the last line to a pack? Turnover, goal. We are so dumb.

Why do people want Petracca out? 18 disposals (9 kicks, 9 handballs) 2 marks 4 tackles 0 goals , 0 behinds Not blistering stats by any means, but not terrible under the circumstances. He attempted many things which didn't come off due to conditions. I would definitely give him another game next week and hope for some magic on the dry Etihad.