hemingway

Limited opportunities but I have a big ? over JKH. He looked the goods in his early games but has not developed. Just does not get enough of the ball.

Despite the stats, and what could have been comments, we are not good enough to play finals in 2015. Anyone who thinks so is delusional. However, I seriously believe that for the first time for a long time we are building a competitive football club. For the first time for a long time, we have a stable club with good administration, good coaching staff, and some talented young players who believe in the clubs future. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. How long is the tunnel? No one can know, but the light is visible for the first time for many years. For most of us, its part of our being. It is important and most of us care. Lets maintain the faith and belief. There will continue to be ups and downs, that's life. Don't be envious or jealous of other clubs, just be happy that we are on the way. We should resist negativity and bagging our own players, who really are just a microcosm of us all. In family life, when things are not going well, we support one another. Friendships and mateships count for nothing if we are not around when the going gets tough. We can be disappointed and frustrated along the way as happens with family and friends, but lets support our beloved MFC through thick and thin.

fair point he is untested as a senior coach no different than a young player with potential.

Roosy must be hoping like hell that Goodwin is staying. I imagine that coaching the MFC in mid winter is a kind of hell compared to enjoying the warm rays of sunshine that Hawaii has to offer.

only burnt offerings.

OD, assume you mean stirring up strong emotion rather than intense sexual love! Although it would be interesting to spice up Demonland, and maintain the interest of those baby boomers who are over the hill.

Some really good comments Steve. Agree Newton should come in. There is an argument for inclusion of Jamar, but I would prefer not. Jamar is simply too slow, is a poor overhead mark, and has long ceased to be a forward target. He can hardly get off the ground. We need to select players who are our future. Also agree with rjays comment that we should not play an extra tall. I still think Dawes offers more than Jamar, although not much more on present form. Agree that Hogan needs more space and would be better off at centre half forward where he can move into space. I know JKH has had limited games, but I am beginning to wonder about him. He just does not do enough.

Must admit, I was surprised that when he went up forward against the Bombers, he seemed a natural. Knew exactly how to play up and for the first time in the match we had someone to kick to. M

See a medical professional/doctor first, physio second. See someone you know is good or who comes recommended by others whether it be a GP or specialist. A good GP will have a network of competent specialists. With all medicos and physios there are good ones, the not very good ones and the bad ones. Also with sports medicos or physios. Over many years, I have seen a lot of poor sports medicos and physios. There are GPs, Specialists and Physios who are just as good as sports medicos and physios in dealing with sports injuries As a general comment, the best graduates and doctors do not go into sports medicine. The most important thing is to see someone who has a high standard of patient care and management, and whose objective is to fix the problem. The medico should be a good diagnostician and have a good management plan that is not influenced by the need for a short-term fix or patient demands. The medico should not be afraid to say it as it is, and not just string the patient along. What is important is the capability, skills, experience of the practitioner, not that they have "sports" in front of their professional title.

Both MFC & EFC were embarrassingly awful on the weekend. Reflected by the mute attitude of both sets of supporters (where I was sitting) and a realization that we were watching two very poor sides. Have we improved? Moot point. Until we start winning matches we remain a bottom of the ladder team and a long way off having sustained success. We need to finish the season strongly to change that perception. We have reached a point where near enough is not good enough. We seem much better off on the non playing side (administration and coaching staff). Despite the losses, there seems to be a positive feeling that we are headed in the right direction as enunciated by Paul Roos in recent days. We can also see the nucleus of a good side emerging with the development of our youngsters. Our midfield has improved but is still not a dominant one. On paper we have an improved forward set up, with a potential star in Jesse Hogan, yet we are not kicking winning scores. Our defence is looking better although is still not settled. We have seen Max Gawn finally emerge as a genuine big man. However, as yet none of those improvements are being reflected on the scoreboard. We have identified a number of players that provide depth but who have major deficiencies and will be gone sooner rather than later. We still have a side that lacks confidence, that has not developed a winning culture. Our team has not developed the capacity to exploit the weaknesses of opponents. Despite the negatives, we play patches of good football and can see the teams potential with the emergence of some of our young players. Our potential sustains me yet I am impatient for success. We will not win the respect of the football world until we start winning matches and develop a winning culture.We have the nucleus of a good side yet our young guns need to become leaders and match winners and the effort needs to be better spread across the whole team. We have shown improvement but we need to finish the season strongly for the perception of improvement and a brighter future to become reality. Certainly, 2016 is shaping as a make or break season.

Guess there are some pretty ugly demonlanders out there. I am not going to name names but now I think of it........ also not too happy with my ageing and saggy features. hair growing in the wrong places, young women no longer look in my direction despite my interest. its all downhill. Hey I know lets start a threat for ugly demonlanders.

That explains it. Good for him.

Ask that Devil guy who used to attend training and post reports. He seems to have disappeared for better or worse!

Hmmm, not one of the more enlightening threads.

Had to chuckle at Tanya's comment in The Age that dear old James was quote.... "dopey......very dopey." Exactly, finally Tanya gets it. Exquisite.

Ridiculous thread but as for Joe he slaughtered us on the weekend. Lead into space, beautiful mark and kicked superbly. We talk about Hogan but Joe has just as much upside. He will be a star.

Dawes is not giving us much. His inability to take a contested and even uncontested overhead mark is astounding. How can an AFL player not know how to take an overhead mark. Both hands up, flat palms like he is playing volleyball.

Sure the kicking for goal was inept but it was the lack of intent or an inability or unwillingness to take the game on at any stage of the match which really got me down. It is so frustrating watching the lack of hard and sustained running from the team. Most of the day players kicked long to a pack. The defender kicking out very rarely had anyone to kick to as no-one lead or ran into space. No-one tried to create space.There was no risk taking, players regularly booted the ball along either wing. The forwards also seemed glued to their opponent. We either had no-one up forward as players ran down the ground to cover opponents or forwards seemed happy to lurk around in a congested forward line and 70% of the time were easily covered by their opponents. Not sure how the coaches ever thought we were going to kick a winning score. Essendon were not much better although they had a forward that was prepared to lead and provide a target with the added bonus that he had his kicking boots on. Despite the poor kicking for goal, the Bombers deserved the win. We did not.

Tom provided run and a target that no-one else had been able to provide. His field kicking was pretty good. His kicking for goal was no worse than many others. Jesse Hogan's and Dawes inability to run into space and provide a target was disappointing . Most of the time, our forwards were immobilized except for Tom's efforts. I don't particularly want to see him up forward but he gave a hell of a lot more than his team mates.

No run, no enterprise, no structure, no idea of what to do. Looked so slow. The reality is that both sides were bloody awful for most of the match but in the second half Essendon wanted it more. It seemed more important to them. Just wish we had a Heppell who sets the example for his teammates. Our forward set up was just terrible. Congested and no sense of where to go. Most of the time they just stood on one anothers toes. Played like a totally dysfunctional team. However there was bright lights particularly Gawn and McDonald and some of youngguys who did not give up. However the lack of a game plan and an inability to change the run of play was worrying to say the least. They played like they had the flu. They played dumb football. Sure we kicked like dogs but the way they played was so depressing

both groups seeking their own high or elevated mood state by different methods. Either pass the prayer book or pass the sugar. I have tried both and nirvana is temporary. I prefer women and whisky.

Happy for you to banish these thoughts to the bottom of the sea. We will see what unfolds. I hope you are right.

My guess is that they will not risk him if there is any doubt. The medicos will hopefully make the right decision. What we appear to be seeing with Jesse is a chronic problem that will have to be carefully managed over his career. You have to worry a bit about how much uninterrupted football he is going to be able to play. He is very young to have a chronic back injury and his physical/pack breaking game style would not help. On the one hand I would like to see Jesse locked away as a Demon for many years. However, this is offset against the risk of doing so with a player who might have a long term injury problem thereby limiting his playing life. Can he afford to play such a physical game as he does? We all remember how David Schwartz had to completely change the way he played after his knee recos. One way or another, we cannot have a forward line that is Jesse dependent.

Dangerfield is a distraction. Forget him.

Irrespective of who is right or wrong I like your fight Lance. You might have taken on the whole schoolyard but you fight well.