hemingway

Key points. Possession and disposal. WC nailed us because they killed us in the midfield and defence, as we allowed them to run and spread and hit their forward targets. We were not allowed to play our manic possession brand as WC just ran away from us and out marked us up forward.

The view was the Dixon was a poor coach. However, a past North player who played under him, had a lot of respect for him, and told me that the main legacy of Dixon's time was that he brought a professional approach to training and preparation and that this period laid a foundation stone for Barassi and Norths success. He said that prior to Dixon's time, the players were unfit and poorly prepared. The players did not love him but respected him because he was a past great and member of one of the most successful teams in the history of the VFL. The ex-player commented that the aura of Dixon's and MFC success had a profound impact on the players and administration. North subsequently acquired three ex-captains of their respective clubs (Davis, Rantall, Wade) under the 10 rule and together with Kekovitch and a group of talented young players they went on an upward trajectory. .

But it is still that old curmudgeon Ernie, trying to string a few words together.

Is this not the dilemma that all clubs face when the team is performing badly ? The age old question, is it the players or the coach ? In our case, it was a bit of both. There is enough evidence that Neeld's style was unsuited to the players. Unlike Goodwin, the players did not want to play for him. However, Goody has had some success so there will always be better good vibes than when you are badly beaten every week. There are posters with more facts at their fingertips than me but Neeld did start off with a group of players that were expected to perform, but didn't. Don't forget, we got a new Coach with Neeld, but we did not have a complete overhaul of the Club as we got with Roos and Goodwin.

Balanced comments. The interesting thing is that the Cats have delisted Menzel but kept on the list a group of players with less skills.

Not just Neeld, it was a top to bottom problem. The whole organisation was rotten.

What I liked about Robbo and Bernie was the dignified way they finished their careers. No recriminations, acceptance that the end had come, and such a positive attitude of their careers and their attitude toward the club.

Yes, well there you are. He's no longer on the list.

Demonland would not exist without these threads. Leave logic and rationality at the door when you enter. That's the fun.

You don't recruit a player for depth. You recruit a person that you think will improve the team. Defensive pressure is a non-negotiable. Goodwin and his coaching staff have this on top of their non-negotiables. It is one of the major reason for our success at the end of the season. Menzel has not got this capability. All the Geelong supporters that I know have apoplectic fits when talking about Menzel. A leopard does not change its spots. Its a bit like the negativity that Demon supporters had toward that fair headed chap who's name escapes me.

Biff, I don't think its a punt. Everybody knows what he brings and what he doesn't. So its a clear decision, with his selection or non-selection based on one of those two features of his game.

Agreed Adam, sensible comments as always. Agree with your nominations.. Lever, is impressive even captaincy material. However, I think 4 or 5 are enough in the group. I would allow May to get a season under his belt and probably Lever.

Ron, without rehashing the Lewis argument, I doubt your last sentence thoughts. He has great capability in regard to on-field generalship, but we saw just too many signs that his physical attributes have significantly waned. There were too many occasions over the season when his mistakes and slow legs cost the team. Running parallel with Jordyn's physical decine is the rise of a significant number of younger players that we need to invest in. I hope that Jordyn will make the decision ahead of the club and go out with his reputation intact. By all means, the Club can utilize his experience and skills off-field,

Our form at the end of the season was fantastic excluding our last match. So our success was celebrated and seen as a harbinger of further success in 2019. Lets hope we are not getting ahead of ourselves. To maintain all the good will bestowed on the Club at the end of the season, we need above all else, sustained success for a considerable period of time. And we have to avoid the peaks and troughs of the competition. Become Hawthorn like. We look to have set this up but coaches and players need to retain the hunger. We must never underestimate the competition or how circumstances or environment can impact on a club. So great signs, but sustained success with a flag is what we must achieve.

Beautiful metaphor Maz.

Great list of contemporary bands and music Red.

Are there any lessons in the Hogan affair, in regard to drafting and management? My guess is that the Club managed his issues as best they could. However, at the end of the day, the Club invested an enormous amount of time and money into keeping him at the club. More than most. It is hard to argue that his performance over that time was a good return on investment. Particularly now that he has left the club and will ply his trade elsewhere. Freo may capitalize on that MFC investment or become frustrated with their lack of return. The history of Scully and now Hogan suggest that Clubs will think very carefully about investing big bucks in young draftees. Paying top dollar for experienced players with an established track record is another matter and these guys will continue to attract top dollar.

How times change and how thinking changes, in the space of about 10 weeks. How we are now described. Unbelievable, incredible, surreal. A destination club, are you kidding me? Not according to this guy! “I wanted to see where I can see myself having the best football career. They’ve got an unreal list, a really good young list, so I want to be here for sustained success. I don’t want to be here for just a couple of years. I want to play in front of big crowds and to join a big club, it’s a dream come true....it was just too good an opportunity to not pursue. They’re a ruthless team, a high scoring and exciting team, and it’s something that I want to be part of.” Love the comment, I want to play in front of big crowds and join a big club.

Wow, how quickly we forget. Only 5 years ago. Very sobering looking at that 2013 line-up.

You are obviously older than I thought. Law Society tour group ? The last one I went to was on the Adriatic and Ionian Sea. A cruise, Ross Wilson and the rest. Must be a lot of grey hair onboard. Lifts to be avoided. Sounds fun, have a great time.

You just can't help yourself. Humility is underrated but you would naturally disagree. Curious that we all support the same footy side. But of course as they say, sometimes the worst supporters are your own.

Christ, Rakeleg, must be a bloody old horse.

Menzel? Under no circumstances.

Without wanting to sound pedantic Jaded, I reckon the way we see footy today, Clubs lists are never complete. Clubs are looking to improve their lists every year, and with increased trading American style, annually and mid season, lists are going to be even more elastic as Clubs look to bring in players and trade out players. Not excluding gaps created when players and their agent managers seek to initiate trades.

i get it Daisy, it’s not the orgy of open marriage, it’s incestous and restricted to consenting adults although Uncle may have something to say about that. Without new blood though, the gene pool is diminished and the existing lines will die out particularly given the suspected age of some of the participants. Yours truly excluded. Anyway, that’s all for now. I will withdraw for a while and see if I have enough imagination left to write another narrative centred on the eccentricities of a group of fanatical football supporters in Spain or Italy loosely based on my experiences down under.