Dees forward's career in the balance as two-year ban for cocaine use looms

Fyfe, Darcy, Chapman all back now

will be interesting to see how Fremantle go after last year

Top 2? So that's Freo, Port...

I am very happy with our recruits.Ratugolea is a bit similar to how Aliir was being used when at Sydney,in the ruck up forward moving them around all the time.Sydney would like Aliir back I think,Ratugolea is only 25 so plenty of upside to him,play him down back and leave him there,thats how you learn.Don’t know of to many big guys in the AFL who play all key positions very well.BZT was used as the #1 backman at Essendon,at Port he will take the 3rd tall.Between Aliir Esava and BZT they can swich around depending on matchups or if someone is having a bad game. A quality ruckman would be nice to have but don’t need one to win the premiership,between Soldo Sweet and young Dante Visentini Port should be alot better in the Ruck department with basically Lycett doing very little in the last 2 years anyway.JHF was just warming up last year,he didn’t even have a preseason last year,he has been overseas with Travis Boak in the off season where Boak goes every year to train with Red Bull,has not missed a training session yet.I have changed my mind Top 2 finish Don

You Port boys took your time with that response. :happy: I just think your defence is quite weak. It used to be too short but your two new boys are not going to help. Ratugolea is big and mobile but is new to defence and was often caught out of position by clever key forwards. He gets lost. BZT is just short of class/ability. A bit soft and a bit "deer in the headlights". Port could have done way better with those 2. You're going to hope Aliir has a big, uninterrupted year. Sweet and Soldo are good SANFL ruckmen. It was a strange lot of recruits. I agree, your midfield is one of the best...just short of Freo's. This year might see the end of Dixon and Finlayson. The other 3 will go past them and you can't play all 5. You mention balance - I think that's going to be Kenny's biggest challenge. Who will get a game? Who will have to play out of position to get a game? Maybe Finlayson should go back instead of wasting 10 games before you realise BZT is not an answer.

Don,hope you had a great xmas and new year but ........ ''Port to miss finals'' come on now.While Port have had there struggles in finals their home and away record the last 4 years have been very strong,just the dip in 2022 but many factors at play in that year,especially injuries to alot of key talls. BZT Ratogolea Sweet and Soldo may come to Port with not much fanfare but what they bring structually to our team is something we have lacked for many years,they don't have to be stars.Ports defence and Ruck department has been its achilles heal and these additions will only help Port. Add Ports record away from home lately,they had a 12 game winning streak going on at Marvel stadium only stopped late last year by Carlton,so travel is not a problem.12 home games.6 of the 1st 8 games at Adelaide oval[I expect Port to get off to a flying start next year].Better backline.young midfield better Ruck options and a good solid forward line with plenty of tall options in Dixon Marshall Lord Finlayson Georgiades.All that adds up to Port being better than last year.What happens come finals time next year I haven't got a clue but Port are a lock for finals,I think they will finish top 4 again

Agree with the first paragraph & the weather thingy could be correct on the dogs opportunity in 24’. l have high hopes on a resurgence based on a few factors. A brand new stadium & fresh ideas from some new assistance coaches.

Barb to be fair every club has some rotten eggs, all the best in 24’ :thumbup:

Damn straight. I was embarrassed one final many years ago when we beat the Crows and then they went on to win it. There was men with genuine leather patches on their tweed jackets. Tally ho, chaps.

I'd suggest Melbourne, Port, St Kilda are certainties to drop out and Sydney is quite likely. Freo and GC are certainties to be in. Your mob? It depends on moods, weather, tides, betting odds...anything that's subjective, from potential Premiers to potential wooden spoon (maybe not that bad).

I’ve seen some feral Dee supporters they make the dog supporters look like aristocrats :stoked:

That's also what I hear from WA friends. Have only been to one game in the west - 10 years ago when Pavlich was playing. They were willing (!!!) but not feral. Fremantle gets a lot of support in Melbourne as they came from firm football foundations, whereas the Weagles started as a WA state side. Although by and large, this seems to have died off for most supporters.

Absolutely plus 2 or 3 will likely join the Dees.

Over here it’s the West Coast fans that are feral. Dockers are just open arms, open hearts, open bottles… There are 2 types of WC fans; the stereotypical Chardonnay Set, for whom, no one measures up, then there is the blue singlet V8 ute “come ‘ere and say that” mob. Very uncomfortable for opposition sitting in a WC crowd…although their crowds have been a bit smaller and quiet of late.

Someone has to drop out for the PurplePeople.

You've definitely got me there! I hadn't seen any ugly Melbourne supporters in my life until I sat in a certain part of the members one final. Ugly, ugly, ugly.

Lots of talk that the Dees won’t make the 8 in 24’. R1 will show the mindset of the MFC.

You're letting the side down.

Harsh Don! I'm a Demons follower and the most I've ever paid for car is $20,000 and I've been to the snow once with those tennis racquet shoes thingys.

Hard to do when cruising in a Range Rover or whingeing from a ski lodge.