Yep, another timely mess-with-your-minds (and a lot else?) puzzle.

This squad of 23 Dees, and their coach, share a general something. Messiest correct entries will be awarded medals (of a particular type that might be revealed at the inevitable 'give-me-a-freaking-clue' stage). And, within that general something, they also share a specific something. Get that and you'll also win the services of 'Furious Fred Fanning's Fabulous Frames' to mount your medal.

What do they share, generally and specifically?

1. Frank Adams

2. Harold Ball

3. Barry Bourke

4. Gabrielle Colvin

5. Chris Connolly

6. Ted Cordner

7. Warren Dean

8. Simon Eishold

9. Megan Fitzsimon

10. Damien Gaspar

11. Jasmine Grierson

12. Mark Jackson

13. Trevor Johnson

14. Harvey Langford

15. George Moodie

16. Jason Norrish

17. Graham Osborne

18. Daisy Pearce

19. Olivia Purcell

20. Ian Ridley

21. Alby Rodda

22. Marcus Seecamp

23. Ivor Warne-Smith

    Coach: John Northey

Edited January 12Jan 12 by Timothy Reddan-A'Blew
There've been soooo many puzzles now, I hope this one hasn't been done already...

Error

Edited January 12Jan 12 by Tolstoys Nudge
Error

I own 2026.

I have it all figured out except the coach and some of the players.

1 hour ago, Little Goffy said:

I own 2026.

I have it all figured out except the coach and some of the players.

😄

...I think...

CLUE?

🙏

Got the general connection bit. It’s the specificity that’s the issue 😅

13 hours ago, Little Goffy said:

I own 2026.

I have it all figured out except the coach and some of the players.

Samesies, except in my case it’s the coach and ALL of the players.

1 minute ago, Ghostwriter said:

CLUE?

🙏

Got the general connection bit. It’s the specificity that’s the issue 😅

The general connection being they all played for Melbourne!?

1 minute ago, Harvey Wallbanger said:

The general connection being they all played for Melbourne!?

Except Northey of course....

1 minute ago, Harvey Wallbanger said:

The general connection being they all played for Melbourne!?

Answers in a PM, ‘Banger! This ain’t your first rodeo!!!

It wasn't an attempt at an answer - just a bit of banter. Get off my horse......

Bloody Chris Connolly - otherwise the A or E connection would work again. I actually got to know him a little bit just after he retired. He was quite nice. That said I have no inside info. Maybe I should have kept in touch so I could now solve this brainteaser. 😂

19 minutes ago, Harvey Wallbanger said:

It wasn't an attempt at an answer - just a bit of banter. Get off my horse......

Would that be the horse you rode in on? Coz you know what you both can go and do, right?

Thanks for joining, @Ghostwriter, @Little Goffy, @Harvey Wallbanger, @Go Ds, and (I think?) @Tolstoys Nudge!

I continue to worry this has been done, perhaps early-ish in @Demonstone's career?

Anyways; I find it hard to assess whether clues are 'You call that a clue?!', 'Yeah, I can work with that', or 'C'mon, you're giving it away'.

Headline, though: this puzzle is not football related.

I guess that's a clarifier, not a clue. So, how's this work for you: Consider the title...

@hardtack has joined the fray with a sadly incorrect punt.

However, it does prompt another 'clarification' (gosh I'm being generous-slash-annoying): it's nothing about the players themselves.

4 hours ago, Timothy Reddan-A'Blew said:

What title?Thanks for joining, @Ghostwriter, @Little Goffy, @Harvey Wallbanger, @Go Ds, and (I think?) @Tolstoys Nudge!

I continue to worry this has been done, perhaps early-ish in @Demonstone's career?

Anyways; I find it hard to assess whether clues are 'You call that a clue?!', 'Yeah, I can work with that', or 'C'mon, you're giving it away'.

Headline, though: this puzzle is not football related.

I guess that's a clarifier, not a clue. So, how's this work for you: Consider the title...

What title?

37 minutes ago, The Panglossian said:

What title?

'Tis in season, this off-season. Hold on to your hats!

@Harvey Wallbanger has come up with a possible answer well wide of my mark, and I'm awaiting his proof it can be applied to all 24 members of this group. If it's proved, he gets a gold star sticker (how fondly I remember these from my primary school days). Same will go to anyone who proves a clever complete connection that's not my intended one (@Little Goffy, you seem destined?)

Tomorrow is hump day. Some clues await to help you over. Maybe.

@Harvey Wallbanger hasn't gone the whole nine yards but his effort does warrant a star: ⭐

And I'd say you've earnt an effort star, too, @Little Goffy. Here 'tis ⭐

Meanwhile, the actual answers are still blowing around.

Hump day has just humped, so I think I'll try to help you all (ha!?) by listing the squad in a relevant order, instead of the original arbitrary alphabetical one. Give me a moment...

Edited January 14Jan 14 by Timothy Reddan-A'Blew
(typo)

Here you go, then:

1. Daisy Pearce

2. Ted Cordner

3. Alby Rodda

4. Simon Eishold

5. Jason Norrish

6. Ivor Warne-Smith

7. Mark Jackson

8. Ian Ridley

9. Warren Dean

10. Frank Adams

11. Barry Bourke

12. Olivia Purcell

    Coach: John Northey

13. Chris Connolly

14. Graham Osborne

15. Harvey Langford

16. George Moodie

17. Jasmine Grierson

18. Marcus Seecamp

19. Trevor Johnson

20. Damien Gaspar

21. Harold Ball

22. Gabrielle Colvin

23. Megan Fitzsimon

24 hours of 🦗 🦗 🦗 so let's see if this prompts any brainstorms:

• Why might the squad be mixed?

• The re-ordered squad: apart from alphabetical, what other bases for ordering are there?

3 hours ago, Timothy Reddan-A'Blew said:

24 hours of 🦗 🦗 🦗 so let's see if this prompts any brainstorms:

• Why might the squad be mixed?

• The re-ordered squad: apart from alphabetical, what other bases for ordering are there?

Dewey-Decimal?

Those annoying QR code things at cafes?

A legitimised chain of command in time of declared war?

27 minutes ago, Go Ds said:

40 minutes ago, Little Goffy said:

Dewey-Decimal?

Those annoying QR code things at cafes?

A legitimised chain of command in time of declared war?

My opinion of you has gone up yet another notch, LG 👏 Not, of course, correct, however.

If they were head-scratchers, rather than face-palmers, Go Ds, how about this?...

''Tis in season': what season would that be now in Australia's part of the world?

C'mon, I'm practically giving it to you all!

Edited January 15Jan 15 by Timothy Reddan-A'Blew
Typo (as usual!)

1 hour ago, Timothy Reddan-A'Blew said:

My opinion of you has gone up yet another notch, LG 👏 Not, of course, correct, however.

If they were head-scratchers, rather than face-palmers, Go Ds, how about this?...

''Tis in season': what season would that be now in Australia's part of the world?

C'mon, I'm practically giving it to you all!

They're all watermelons? 😂

1 hour ago, Go Ds said:

They're all watermelons? 😂

You're thinking big, GD, but you've got to think waaaaaay bigger.