hemingway

Despite some negativity, the club has to continue to get the best available talent on and off the field. Identify the needs and get the best available talent for the role. If the club was not making changes, I would be concerned.

I have no animosity to Oscar, I just can’t work out his persona. Unlike your standard AFL persona. It just does not seem to fit. Is it a lack of confidence? Perhaps but seems more than that. A lack of intensity perhaps is the simple explanation. That is born that cannot be created. Any AFL player that reads this site needs to be psyche tested with a view to intensive psychotherapy.

Great analysis. Watched that game from behind the goals at Brunton Road end. The umps were terrible weren’t they, as you say apart from Crouch. Schwab one of the worst.

Definitely a stage by Dean. Both players were on the ground. The incident took place near the centre at Punt Road. Despite the Demons having a great season, the Tigers were throwing everything at Melbourne players by fair means and foul. Roger the Dodger was in everything on a slow muddy surface. He did not play by The Marquess of Queensberry rules. From memory, it was the 3rd quarter. Dean was holding the ball onto his chest and Barass had him wrapped up and was trying to punch the ball away. The game was tight and the great man was vigorous in his attack on Dean and the ball. There is no doubt that he was trying to punch the ball away out of Deans grasp rather than punch Dean although that would have been justified. Dean made the most of it and fell back holding his head. And the ump immediately took Rons number. The thing that outraged Demon supporters was that everyone knew how tough Ron was but everyone also knew that he was not a dirty player. His physicality was like no other but he did not swing punches. Tough but fair. The reaction of Demon supporters was one of dismay. It looked bad and with the finals ahead everyone realised the significance and threat posed by the report. It took over the news headlines all week as the Demons were red hot flag favourites. The TV replay supported the assertion that RDB was trying to punch the ball away but in doing so his fist made contact with Dean. Ron’s suspension was a massive blow to Norm and the team. The team lost its Warrior Leader and lost its morale. The Demons were not the same without Barassi. From memory Deans evidence to the tribunal did not help Ron. Possible it cost us the flag. It definitely slipped away.

Love the self deprecating title, when "all is said and done"" So Neale.

As usual Lucifer, spot on

One thing's for sure. You can't have enough capable people in an organisation. People with knowledge, skills and experience. Brukner has those attributes. And I would probably throw in a dose of wisdom. He certainly brings years of experience dealing with players, administrators, coaches and fitness gurus. In short, people skills. He would also have a wealth of contacts from his years in the field and his academic role suggests that he will be up to date with latest research and injury management techniques around the world. With his own years of experience at the coal face of sporting clubs that is impressive. My only doubt would be the question as to his level of involvement and how much time he will have for the MFC.

Unfortunately, as with all groups of individuals, clubs are made up of people with biases, opinions and irrational thinking. We would like to think that decisions are well reasoned and sensible but this is not always the case. There are probably more wrong decisions made than right ones. I hope the pro Frost supporters like yours truly are wrong. That we cover his loss without a blink and that he does not fire up at Hawthorn. If we had an embarrassment of riches I would understand the decision. However, we have only a few A graders and not much depth particularly viewed against our long list of chronically injured players. One thing is for sure, if Frost plays poorly with the Hawks and gets dropped, pro Frost supporters will be reminded by the Frostball critics of their stupidity and nuff nuff views. A la Watts.

It’s not a bad CV.

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Not offensive and possibly a lot of truth in what you say.

Set up Olympic Sports Medicine Centre at Olympic Park approx 30 years ago, the first dedicated multi-disciplined sports clinic for elite athletes and the weekend jogger. It was at the time, we first started to hear about Sports Medicine and doctors specializing in the field. A researcher and practitioner, he is a Professor at Lat Trobe Uni. At the same time, he was MFC doctor in the Northey years. Lots of photos of him with the team in those days, sitting on the bench etc. At the time, he was a professed Demon supporter. Was involved with other AFL team, Collingwood being one and also Sports doctor for Olympic teams such as hockey, Aussie Test team and other sports. Also spent time in UK. Would be in his mid to late 60s, so has lots of experience. Not a bad thing. Also written text books on Sports Medicine and regarded as one of the doyens in the field. There are mixed views in the field about him but this is not unusual in medicine with its petty jealousies and rivalries. He has built a successful business so my guess is that he would not come cheap. With all his other interests, he would not be full-time but act more as consultant as needed. My guess.

Have always thought that his development has been restricted by his bulk and lack of endurance. In short running out of puff. Get some kilos off over summer and he will go the next level.

He can only improve, whether his improvement will be enough is the question. Its frustrating watching him play. He seems enveloped in an unreality. He’s there on the ground but like the spectators he appears as an observer. His lack of intensity and lack of response in pressure situations is strange to watch. His lack of physical energy and total lack of animated behaviour, in particular, his unresponsive Easter Island like face is striking. Its like he is in a haze or fog. Lets hope it lifts in 2020 otherwise 2021 will be a time that he reflects on what could have been.

The analysis by Demonland scribes is frightening. Nothing can sugar coat the cold reality of where we are. The comparison with the way other clubs are building their lists is another reality. Even with the addition of two new players our lack of depth is apparent.

Just one of those players that we never seem to have but other clubs do. His mantra being get ball, kick ball and kill the opponent!

Anyone who has pace, can take a mark and kick straight whether it be for goal or a teammate. A tough nut who plays with intensity for 4q.

A favourite of Nigel and the inner city latte sipping, pinot grigio loving vegans with an interest in the creative arts who threaten the free world and would upturn all the old traditions and discipline. A real threat to the huntin, shootin, and fishin lovers who support Pauline, the National Party and the death sentence for welfare fraud. Think of the threat to Parma nights, Joker Poker nights and Steak nights at the local if mung beans took off. Even good old p........bashing would be threatened! Mung beans.......please explain!

Agreed. At the same time, its not as if a key forward suddenly became a realistic trade option. Sure there were some forwards but arguably no available forwards that would have been a great get. No point bringing in players who may get a game but are not going to be an asset.

Agreed Nasher, irrespective of opinions about a players abilities and worth, every departing player deserves respect, other than those who betray the trust of others or behave in a despicable manner. From all accounts, Stretch was a model team mate and trained in an impeccable manner. In fairness, unlike others who have been regularly picked in the senior team, Billy was not given any continuity in matches played and was always playing for his place. Very difficult to build confidence in his situation. Personally, I don't think he was up to it as he was definitely on the short side and did not have much lateral movement, but he was not hopeless. On a line ball with many others.

What do all clubs need? Depth. What didn't we have in 2019? Depth. What is a preordained given? Injuries. In 2019, our 3 key defenders in May, Lever and Jetta spent most of their season injured. And they have injury history. So yes, you should manage your list with the expectation that you will need to cover for injured players. He was not sacked true enough. However, my understanding is that he was not offered a contract. He did not choose to leave. He left because he was not offered a contract with MFC. When the Hawks offered a contract, he had no alternative. He did make the right decision for his career. It was the only decision that he could make. He was not given the opportunity to weigh up offers from both clubs. Did the MFC make the right decision in terms of list management. In my view, no. Did they make the right decision in regard to player payments? Perhaps, but we will never know, because no offer was made. Given the huge contracts given to May and Lever, there is little wriggle room for others. In my view, the most likely reason for Frost's departure is that he did not fit the MFC gameplan. His unpredictability in regard to ball movement being a major concern. The so called Frostball. However, he was our best defender all season, played 22 games and was our most improved player in the second half of the season. And, unlike other defenders, he had genuine pace, could break lines and could play on talls and smalls. Was he going to be a star? No, definitely not. However, he was worth retaining, not at any cost, but certainly worth an offer.

And I wonder about the role of Lever and May.

Let’s wait and see what happens at Hawthorn but at the moment it just seems like a dumb decision. And if Frost does well at Hawthorn it will be a poor reflection on our coaches and footy dept. Very disappointing.

Thanks for your comments and insights. I admit knowing little about him and cannot even remember watching him on TV. I have watched Tomlinson and cannot get excited with his game. Hopefully, he will surprise me. Lets see whether your comments about Langdon being the steal of the trades turns out to be accurate. I hope they are. It will take me another month or two to emerge from my melancholy over the recent season and then hopefully I will see "a crack that's allows the light in." Apologies to Leonard.

Fair enough. My comment was made for two reasons. First, that having an injury free list is not a reality and never has been. The way the game is played these days ensure that players will suffer injuries and need to be replaced. The Tigers have the depth and talent to cover for injuries, we don’t. We have no emerging stars or trades that can add to our forward line setup. Second, three of the players mentioned have had a poor track record, namely TM, Hannan, Milkshake. And to expect Trac to remain on the paddock is a big ask. And let’s face it these guys are not stars. Trac could be but he has a long way to go before he can be labelled a star. Can you realistically see any one of them tearing a game apart. They may add value but only in the context of an improved team performance. However, I like your optimism and sincerely hope you are right. At the moment I have to look deep inside myself to see that flicker of light.