hemingway

Love your work La Dee.

Umm very true, and a tautology. Cant get away with anything on this site. Should have read self starters who have been given the confidence they needed.

Happened just in front of me in the forward pocket in front of the old Dr Sandy Ferguson stand. It was early 1970s, around 1971 or 72. Hudson went out to meet the ball but Barry Bourke feel across his leg damaging his knee. Hudson had kicked 8 goals up to half-time. There was a deathly hush across the ground as he was carried off on a stretcher. Hawks supporters were in a state of dismay and shock whereas Demon supporters (and players) were relieved that the pain Hudson was inflicting on Melbourne was over. This is against the backdrop of him kicking 16 goals against a hapless Melbourne in 1969. I was also there that day and it was probably the most sensational but nightmarish performance I have ever seen on a footy field All from a player who couldn't run, take a mark above his head and apart from his deadly accuracy with his flat punts from 40 metres out, was not much of a kick. It did not matter what opposition teams did to negate Hudson, he could outplay any number of opponents at the one time and find a way to kick a bag of goals. There were multiple occasions when he kicked more than 10 goals. This would probably not happen today with the way the game has fundamentally changed from positional football to a running rugby scrum.

The development of Harms and ANB are two of the best success stories out of 2018. Seen as fringe players by many, they have developed into automatic selections and are playing important roles in a team. They have gained confidence from the coach who has nurtured their development and given them the opportunity to develop without the fear of failing. . Individuals develop over different lengths of time, but you need to be able to identify the potential and and allow the growth of self-confidence. These two guys are clearly self-motivated and switched on. Self starters who have been given the start they needed.

True for Bernie but not Tassie. Tassie was a natural footballer who had great ball sense, and knew where to position himself, usually side by side or at the back of his opponents neck. Bernie did not have that gift and could be found out of position against better opponents, but he was a beautiful kick.

Simple difference is that it is Yarra Park which for many years has been seen as sacred ground. The pollies have no trouble backing "safe ground" but Yarra Park and environs is a hot potato. You may have forgotten that when plans were announced back in the mid to late 80s for the erection of light towers, there was a huge backlash from the local residents, community groups and greenies. That was over 20 years ago and pollies have become even more sensitive and cautious in making any decision that will get people off-side.

At least posters on this site give their real opinion with all their truths, half truths and mistruths, and with all their eccentricities and quirks. You have to say, it has its interests. offensive but a good description

exactly

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.