Leaderboard

Matty Lloyd and Ross Lyon went through players who could possible benefit from the Coronavirus lock down and delay of the season, Daniher was the first one they mentioned but they talked at length about Bennell. Lyon mentioned that they’d been in touch and that the word from him was he was getting good distance into his legs. Always want to take these sorts of things with a grain of salt but that’s really great to hear. Lyon also said he was in regular contact with him which I think is great, can only be a good thing having another friendly face (or voice at the moment) in Melbourne.

That’s the spirit.

I agree Gonzo - Farmer, Schwarz and Jakovich were special. Looking back though I feel like I took Neitz in particular for granted. He was an out and out star of the competition. I'm from Perth so don't get to that many games in Melbourne but remember going to Docklands and watching him Kick 8 against carlton...he was completely dominant. Also Round 1 (cant remember what year) when he hip and shouldered Luke McCabe from the hawks (destroying McCabe's shoulder) and following up with the goal. Not many players can claim All Australian honours in two different key positions. Champion player, champion bloke!

I was just watching a couple of videos of a young guy named Jon on the “The Melbourne Football Club, The Mighty Demons” Facebook page, who had received among other things, a gift and best wishes from Demonland. That was one of the most touching things I’ve seen in a long while and is something we all need during these dark times. Good on you Andy, you’re a good man!!

Jeez, quite the little ray of sunshine aren't you? Not coping well with isolation?

As long as that time is after a dees premiership and his norm smith medal then so be it!

Dees lock in return to training date.

Must confess I'm finding this whole isolation thing a bit of a challenge, so much so that I've started to talk to inanimate objects around the house. I tried to discuss the situation with the microwave but it just keeps going around in circles. The toaster thinks we’re toast. I didn’t mention anything to the washing machine as it puts a different spin on everything. Certainly not to the fridge as it is acting cold and distant. The iron straightened me out and said no situation is too pressing, but it still left me feeling a little flat. The vacuum was very unsympathetic… told me to just suck it up but the fan was more optimistic and hoped everything would blow over soon. The toilet looked a bit flushed when I asked its opinion and the doorknob told me to get a grip. I lost it when wheelie bin gloated it’d been out more than me, the front door said I was becoming unhinged and the curtains told me to pull myself together.

Those three for longevity, Farmer, Schwarz and Jakovich for brilliance

Absolute gun. Heart of a lion. Remember his 1988 and 1989 seasons and finals. After playing on the wing, he moved to back pocket in his 30s. Stood up as a reliable but attacking defender.

Alan Johnson was my favourite player.

I noticed a few times the forwards playing a kind of 'ring a ring a rosy', before leading during simulations. The area was central and 10 metres from the goal square. It included two or three attackers and the defence. Running in arcs in a congested area, they'd pick off the defensive player, get in the way of a defender so as to get a step ahead, get a clear lead or get a mismatch. The half's were out on the 50 helping with the final connection. Plenty of fast ball movement around the outside of the fifty. Sometimes they set up the halves to be at the front and centre of the aerial contest often when Weids was leading to the boundary. Bombs into the forward area with this set up merely put the ball into the pack of defenders. With a defence that zones and sweeps then the lead is easy to spoil, especially if not precise on the delivery. In previous years they practiced in a line down the middle spaced 10 metres apart and led laterally and at different times, then rotated back to the central area and go again if they weren't the receiver. I didn't see much of this style. Another set up was with all players away from the forward line and the players leading back into that space. Seemed to work well when we moved it quickly or when in possession on the boundary line. The resulting mark was close to the goal for an easy conversion. (A sweeper on the last line would easily defeat this strategy.) Another set up was everyone in conventional spacing and giving short lateral leads to the space behind defenders, Fritch was an expert. Hope this helps, but of course it is only a bit of a guesstimate as to what was happening. There was plenty of set ups that appeared routine and I couldn't see the structure. Tag D4life

No 1 is Dean Martin or maybe Shane McGowan

I get what you're saying and I'm very much on board with the attitude of "let's focus on making us the best we can be". But I would hope that if/when we get there we remember where we came from and how we were when we were struggling. The Hawks fans and power brokers have forgotten that they were not all that long ago in history in a difficult place, well done to them for coming out the other side and they have created a dynasty on the back of probably the best modern day coach and some excellent teams. But they have also created an arrogance that rivals some of the worst Essendon and Carlton periods, they have an almost insatiable entitlement for being up the top out of that dynasty, and Kennett himself is just as bad (maybe even worse) as Eddie in him constantly changing the narrative to suit his and Hawthorn's position. So yeah, if I had a choice of us being up the top and having to be up there with the Hawks, fine and dandy. But I think Kennett and the Hawks are due for a little humble pie.

well done Demonland. Lovely gesture in these difficult times that made my day .

nice one andy. we already knew you were a good man, this thoughtful act just reinforced it.

Possibly not private, but if they are for sale, maybe the Tasmanian govenment could buy them out and relocate them, instead of funding Hawthorn and North.

Brian Wilson pretty stiff too

Best Bet: Caulfield Race 8 No 1 Hellover Street (Plc) 2.90 Have a look at the Queen Elizabeth Stakes would ya.....how many absolute stars are in that race...

John Northey to Jimmy Stynes. 1987 ( we know after which match )

can remember when Neitz and Schwarz debuted. The club knew they had two very special players. What a shame they never achieved that elusive flag.

was just talking on the phone to a friend in eildon. holiday makers are everywhere up there today. boat ramps are all closed but there are heaps of boats out on the weir. he's been involved with holiday makers in the past and today he's had heaps of them just knocking on his door asking for this and that. He's put up a sign that all enquiries must first be by phone but they all just ignore that. A friend of his has multiple sclerosis and is aged and at high risk, so her sister just drove up from melbourne and dumped her teenage kids with her to have a "holiday" and left. her sister is a nurse too. idiots everywhere

Goose

What a great gift, well done Andy?

Never thought i would miss footy so much. I am even happy to get a completely biased, "rose coloured glasses" training report at the moment. Still doubt we will play more than a few games this year, if any. [censored] the Virus.

The jury is still out on whether the seasonal changes have anything to do with increases/decreases in cases of COVID-19... https://www.newscientist.com/article/2239380-will-the-spread-of-covid-19-be-affected-by-changing-seasons/

but it's not just china, many (most) asian countries are big on eating/handling/butchering exotic wildlife in uncontrolled, unhygienic circumstances let's hope they too do something about it or globalisation will be death of all of us

They're not though - every relevant health expert is saying "At this early stage, we don't really know. But based on x and y, our best guess is z." Huge difference. Of course ethics/ economics etc come into it, but we can't hit the big red button and send everyone back to work until we've got a bit of an idea as to what the likely health ramifications will be. Jumping back into a pandemic won't magically fix the economy, either. I don't think anyone's trying to hide it from the public. It's an encouraging sign, sure, but nothing has changed, really. The moment the public stop taking it seriously, we'll be back in exponential growth territory - with no guarantees we can get it under control again. It shouldn't be cause for celebration. I think most of us are in a state of shock as to how well all sides of Aus politics have handled this so far (aside from the cruise ship fiasco). Amazing, really, what can be achieved when politicians actually act in the interests of the people they're supposed to represent rather than the usual petty infighting and point-scoring. It'd be nice if we remember that when we come out the other side of this.

Ok, seems it's including '87. Then there's no argument. It's Flower by a country mile. Better put him in the poll 'Demonland'...

Most others would, including Scott Pendlebury. I'll back his view against Jay Clark's any day!

If injuries didn’t get them jakovich and Schwarz would be 1-2 easily, most talented players I have seen at the club

Whoa, there's a left field choice from Pendles

100% about Lovett. Couldn't disagree with you more about White.

100% agree. The Flash changed football forever in 2004

Not usually a fan but at 7pm tonight on Foxtel & 10Play we're getting 'live' V8 Supercars (ESports) with the real drivers at the controls 3 races lined up tonight at Phillip Island & Monza Worth a look at least

That anyone would leave Alan Johnson out of the top 20 List is beyond my comprehension. Ditto anyone who doesn't rate Brett Lovett. Now there were two very great players.

How much did you see Brett play. Easily in the best 20.

Brett Lovett is easily in the top 10 in my opinion & whilst I liked watching G Lovett, Brett was a much more reliable & durable player. He also played in a much more demanding position (HB) on high mobile half forwards. Stynes easily number 1.

It has to be Lyon as he is the only player on the list that to lift himself above others and impose himself on a game through talent and sheer will and win it. Lots of talent on the list but that is what separates Lyon from the others and the type of player we have missed, as the others often only have cameo's.

And here are the replay's of the 3 other G1's from Randwick last Saturday ...

Well the racing continues and I'm on board. Oddly enough, the lack of crowds doesn't really make any difference. So there's some big racing coming up over the next 2 Saturday's at Randwick. My highlight from last Saturday was the commanding performance by 'Nature Strip' ... and for the first time Gator marked the horse away from his top pick (he rated the horse 4th) haha. I wasn't on Nature Strip either but nevertheless, the horse beat a crack field and did it easily. Just stay away when the horse runs first up ... 2nd up and onwards, get on.

Over the journey we do seem to have found value in the rookie, preseason drafts. more often than the regular one

Best match I’ve ever attended was the ‘Merger Match’ against Hawthorn Round 22 1996. Hawthorn by a point, Dunstall kicks 10 (including 100th), Neitz kick 6, Farmer 4. Hawthorn needed a win to play finals, a Melbourne win could mean it was the last time either team played in the AFL. Incredibly vocal, passionate and emotional crowd.

Sadly for us the 87 prelim is definitely a top 50. It was an outstanding game of finals footy and it is rare that a team can lead an entire game and still not be the winner. A genuine last man standing affair and I'll make sure I'm not watching when it gets replayed. Once was enough and I still remember it like it was yesterday.

Private ownership is the one big thing I hate about US sports. I just don't get it. We would no longer be members but season ticket holders. If you get saddled with a bad owner (like Woody Johnson and his sons for my NY Jets) or one who thinks he can dictate to the coach and GM like Jerry Jones at the Cowboys you're absolutely screwed and there's nothing the supporters can do about it. Not only that but they'll be looking at more and more ways to gouge money from supporters, say goodbye to GA tickets.

There's as much chance of a privately owned AFL club as there is of Geoffrey Edelsten inventing a cure for Corona Virus and bringing Christopher Skase back to life.

Whoever ensured our survival.