hemingway

Wish there was a media blackout on interviews with all sportsmen. Irrespective of the sport, I have yet to hear anything interesting from a sportsman. Usually just a few hackneyed comments that fills media space or airtime.

Bernie Massey wasn't bad either.

I do not know any top sportsmen or women that have not made sacrifices. Often the thing that delineates the best is that they have been single-minded in their pursuit to be the best they can be. And the critical component of that success is that they have made sacrifices whether it be in lifestyle choices, friends or even family. Eliminating risk taking behaviours is an important part of that equation. However, the evaluation of risk taking is a value judgement based on the individuals skills, competence and experience. If you have been doing something all your life, it may not be seen as as risk taking (eg snow skiing or water skiing). Michael Schumaker went skiing because he loved it and had being doing it all his life. He was an accomplished skier. For me, skiing down a black run is much riskier than for an experienced skier.Driving a car is another example. Its the biggest risk of all, yet most people do it every day without thinking. Its second nature. Yet people die or incur injury. Ollie Wines is an accomplished water skier but I would suggest that skiing on a log infested river is riskier than on open water. It requires thought, evaluation and assessment. It means different things for different people. It is in the grey zone not the black and white. It also involves an evaluation by the individual as to the importance of the end goal, in this case Ollies footy.

And Deemania you would remember that like many of his team mates from the great years, Tassie was as tough as nails. Those great Demon teams were tough but fair and were led by the toughest of all, RD Barassi. No-one picked a fight with Tassie. He would stand toe to toe with his opponent never giving an inch, with his big fist knocking the ball out of the forwards grasping hands. It was said that he had the respect of one of the best and toughest full forwards in John Peck. With his brushed back black brylcreemed hair and rugged looks, he looked like a film star in his sleeveless number 8 guernsey.

Should Wines have been waterskiing ? Footballers are full-time professionals and top players like Wines are contracted to play on big money. What are the limits on what a player can and can't do? If you incur an injury in training or a match fair enough. But a high risk recreational activity like water skiing seems well....risky. At the same time, the player should use some discretion. I seem to remember Jones stopped surfing during last season. That seems sensible.

I only think deeply when i am depressed but thanks for the compliment. An interesting statistic anyway. I only note that along with the birds and the bees the above-mentioned children were conceived in Spring and during the footy finals in September. The anticipation of footy finals, the smell of new grass and liniment massages can be very intoxicating to the senses. Alternatively, perhaps senses, libidos and fertility were heightened with the turn of the century and the new millennium (depending on your view if that was 2000 or 2001). Remember there were fears of the world imploding (Y2K) as well as the excitement of the new century, the symbolism and significance of the year 2000, the new millennium etc. There were many bacchanalian parties around that time. Personally I avoided ribald activities due to my depressed condition and traveled to the Eternal City to be close to the Pope and seek spiritual ecstasy unachievable through consumption of alcohol. Roma was either going to be a good place to die or a good place to thank the Great Creator for continued life. I did get to see the Pope but my request for a personal audience was denied. He was very busy with the Jubileo 2000 celebrations! And at the end of the day as a past fan of Marx and Lenin, I am not a religious man. I just enjoy the significance of some things and some people and enjoy just being. Lastly, perhaps 2000 was regarded as an auspicious birth-date. LAETUM DIEM NATALEM

No he was a very short ruckman. But he positioned his body very well just as he did at full back playing against some of the great full forwards.

And prior to that Alan Rowarth, Athol Webb and Norm Smith himself. Norm also used Big Bob Johnson as a tall decoy in the forward pocket. And regarding ruckman, Norm usually only used one key ruckman. Graham Wise, Terry Gleeson to name two. Wise would ruck all day. Despite hardly ever taking a mark or getting a kick, Wise was a great tap ruckman. In later years, he used Tassie Johnson as a ruckman at centre bounce despite his lack of height. Like other great coaches and leaders, Norm was ahead of his time and set new standards at the senior level.

An interesting and unusual suggestion DV8. Can't see it happening but stranger things have happened. A throwback to Barry Bourke in 1963/64. A very fast lead to win the ball but often used as a decoy.

Encouraging summary from Egan. All the boys seem to have a great work ethic. Time at Casey will sort out their development and we will see how they adapt to playing against men rather than boys. Like other sports some can adapt and others not. In athletics, I have seen a lot of talented kids that just can't manage that transition. Young blokes that you would have said were dead set future Olympians but fade into the ether at senior level.

Hunt has so much dash. Hopefully he is bringing a high level of professionalism and discipline to his mental and physical preparation and will bring that forward on match day. Like others, he is probably going to have play some exceptional footy with Casey early in the season.

When you look at the list, all the players with a few exceptions can run. No mores lamp posts that watch the ball go by or decide not to chase because the ball is more than 10 meters away.

That must be you furious, clearly an old Seymour boy. For me, merely a coincidence.

No DV8, but I have a lot of time for people that do, be they male or female.

Sorry Barrie but you were not a superstar. In fact you were in and out of the team but did have some good games. Now Geoff Tunbridge, a similar but much better player than you Barrie was a genuine star and match winner.. The word superstar was not invented and that descriptive word has now become trite.

There have been a lot of footy players that have donned the jumper in the ones or twos. Chris Connolly, Clarrie Oliver, Russell Richards, Peter O'Keefe, Peter Tossol, Ken Whitfort, Michael O'Sullivan, just to name a few that come to mind. Barrie Vagg is an interesting one. He was recruited by Footscray and played a season without getting a game before being cleared to Melbourne.

A lot to be said for the simple life. In this crazy world of press button knowledge and lower and lower standards across society, ignorance can be seen as a viable option for a happier less troubled life. Most of the lovely country people I have met may not be educationally smart, be able to spell or indeed be able to read, but they are knowledgeable, wise and have a great outlook on life. And if I wanted help, I would choose a country person over a city person every day.

Man I apologize. This happens from generalisations a little like the Demon supporter stereotype. There are exceptions and you are clearly one. However, we are allowed some generalisations and a little light hearted banter. Generally, i have found country people wonderful people with or without teeth.

Maybe Uncle but Weide brings more than goals. He brings height, disposal skills, defensive pressure, run, forward line balance and flexibility. His ability to pinch hit is also useful with or without Preuss in the team. He will be as good as the players around him. He is a team player first and foremost. We will have an agile and mobile forward line with the ball coming in quickly from the midfield. We should continue to see multiple goal kickers week to week. No more long wayward bombs to stationary soldiers or directed at one or two key forwards. .

The challenge for Jeffy and others is consistency. Successful teams have players that play with high intensity and consistency over the entire season.

Spelling and use of language is not a high priority in the country. That only identifies you as a city [censored]. Folk go to bed at 9.00am, get up at 6.00am and like a square meal. Fancy holidays forget it. Camping by the river is the go. Activities centre around boatin, fishin, campin and shootin. Spelling is not a priority. .

The lower castes are rising Uncle, beware. Lock the gates and stay inside.

Like Cross's comments about the long preseason and not being cooked at the beginning of the season (or half way through). In the past, we have seen many sides cooked halfway through the season. You can only maintain high intensity for limited periods. So important to be able to tune and peak at season end. We are an entirely different beast with the talent on and off the field, and footy know how.

Goulburn Valley is an underrated region of the State at risk of being spoilt by migration from the big smoke. Generally, I think that men are still men and women still like men, although I have noticed the odd wig, sitting on top of tough faces, strong forearms and smeared lipstick. A lot of ex-Demon players and Demon supporters from the GV, a very passionate lot.

Snobbery is only a recognition of your own failings Uncle.