hemingway

I am beginning to like you!

Convincing

Did not say they were a terrific side only that their balance for this game looked much better than ours. They have more precise foot skills and our team looks very slow. As usual, you read something and put your own slant on it. But good to see that you are true to form.

The gap between our best and worst is a chasm. We just look so slow. Cats balance across the ground from grunt, talls and outside speed looks so much better as does their finishing skills. Coaching wise, Scott and his team have the advantage. They will have had a very close look at the Dees and have their plans in place. I wish I had the same confidence in Goodwin and his team. And the umps will be totally intimidated by the Geelong crowd. If we get close it will be a surprise, if we win it will be a miracle !

He has two sides. Good and bad.

And irrepressible spirit.

The week and the weekend suddenly has taken a turn for the worse. Massive loss. Hibberd brings so much to the team. Quad injuries are difficult to heal. A serious tear could be season ending. Please wrap Max up in cotton wool.

In your opinion.

We are talking at cross purposes but never mind, that is the norm on social media. However, I disagree that Jones is one of the reasons why we have been poor for so long. Blame Board, administration, culture, coaching, recruiting, poor skills, training methods, fitness, rehab, game plan etc. Jones is not one of the reasons.

Nothing to do with sentiment. Jones deserves recognition for his contribution over the years not criticism over perceived shortcomings in 2018. Father Time catches up with everyone. He appears to have lost a bit but his credits outweigh his debits. The success or failure in the weeks ahead will not be due to Jones. It will depend on the coaching staff and the whole team .

Call it leadership, guts, determination, leading by example, never say die. I get a bit bemused at reference to leadership groups, "leaders", and, opinions, even moral judgments, about a persons qualities as a leader. Leaders can comprise individuals with a range of different personality types. Team success does not determine whether an individual has been a capable leader. Military history is littered with the bodies of great leaders that fought on the losing side or who fought in a losing battle. Gallipoli comes to mind. Like many on the battlefield, Jones has been a shining beacon of virtue during the dark years. Sure, he is not as skilled as many and he has deficiencies in his game, but no-one could doubt his mental toughness, perseverance and never say die attitude. During these years, he was the only Demon that came anywhere close to being captaincy materail and when the honour was bestowed on him, it was richly deserved. When most of his teammates went missing in action each week, Jonesy was always fighting it out to the very end. He led by example, but most of teammates were incapable of stepping up to the plate. He has been an outstanding person and player over many years and deserves the respect of the club and its supporters.

That's great and gives all Dee fans a nice warm inner glow, however, the Club still needs to offer him a contract commensurate with his worth on the market.

It would be crazy to drop Frost with Hawkins back in form. Gawn already has enough on his plate. He would not be able to drop back often enough to stop Hawkins from having a picnic.

Sometimes, a long bomb can work. When you can kick a goal from the centre. Beats 6-8 handballs, a kick or two sideways and then a turnover..

Hmm, now that’s one very equivocal viewpoint. A bob each way.

Sport can be a very cruel . Not as cruel as life but still cruel. Billy plays a good game after being overlooked for a season and then injury strikes.

Nothing changes. Since the days of Barassi, clubs have sought the star player, and like the Melbourne Auction market they seem prepared to pay ludicrous sums to get their man. Its almost as if the adrenaline rush to be in the hunt gets to them. They believe their man is the answer to their prayers and they don't want to be beaten to it by another cashed up club. ? North. Its a high risk strategy given the likely return on investment and the high risk of injury. Who can forget the Demon player grabs.in the 1970s such has Templeton, Molloy, Tilbrook, Moore etc. Some were better than others but generally, they disappointed and certainly did not win us a flag. Lever is the most recent example and despite his promise, he has gone down with a knee injury that is likely to keep him out for 12 months and who knows beyond that. There are going to be a lot of nervous supporters and club officials, particularly, the bean counters who are going to be watching nervously from the stands. I am all for targeted recruitment but we also need to ensure that there is enough money left over in the kitty to pay the money that will be offered to Demon players in coming years. Already the price of some of these guys is going through the roof. I would rather keep Oliver, Petracca, Brayshaw, Fritsch, Hogan and the like than risk all on an elite player from another club.

Tasteful as ever Biffen

If you read all that's been written about Norm, the Committee and the Club, the wheels started to fall off from early to mid 60s. Our GF win in 64 masked the problems. We had an aging list with many of our great players retiring. Our recruiting was not up to scratch and the club became complacent. Lots of other clubs started to splash money on young recruits and we lost our allure. The Committee refused to follow suit and we lost out on the dash for cash. Recruits were no longer enticed by the great club or playing and training on the MCG. Also, I seem to remember that the VFL introduced zoning or certainly changed the zoning rules, and these changes had an impact on Melbourne's ability the recruit the best young players. Norm warned the Committee about what was happening and what would happen if we refused to spend money to entice recruits. The Committee refused. The relationship between Norm and the Committee had always been strained but success masked the bitterness and anger between coach and certain committee members. The committee was split and Norm insisted that things be done his way. So our player talent pool dried up and off field, the Club was divided and unworkable. It all culminated in Norms sacking, reinstatement and then subsequent retirement. By all accounts Norm's health had started to decline at this time. He was by accounts very difficult to deal with. He became very cranky with club officials and even with players. He had lost his magic wand. The happy days had ended and there was no return to the grand old days as clubs like Richmond, Geelong, Essendon, Carlton, Collingwood and later North started to emerge as cashed up and powerful clubs with powerful teams. Others may have different thoughts and understanding but that's my recollection.

Wonders will never cease Pro.

even the MCC Shiraz has gone off.

almost our home ground. at least we win there. the MCG is becoming a cold depressing lifeless concrete mausoleum.

you are excused Daisy. its getting harder and harder for some of us just trying to say the right thing. and when everyone keeps talking in acronyms it makes it even harder

This is a statement more apt coming from Uncle not you Daisy. I thought you were a sensitive, new age bloke

The pessimism and carry on about dropping players after such a good win astounds me.