Timothy Reddan-A'Blew

Thanks LDC (yours has always struck me as one of the more erudite tags - Commedia dell'arte-like). I thought about Peter Bell and 'For whom...[one]...tolls' but thought that might have been Shakespeare (so much is!) and moved on. I'm sure the 1971 HSC assessors would have jumped at the chance to shave my full marks for the shortfall! Now, reminding myself this is actually a football forum, Melbourne by 36. Go Dees!

Whale, maybe...

And while we're at it: DOLPPHINS (3,4,2,1,3)

?! ? That's how I originally set it out but the 'Rules of' Cryptics' crept unwelcomely in, so I couldn't then help but put the 'Firsts' actually first. I'd hoped the '30s and '40s feel of the namings might have helped misdirect, as they say in cryptics.

'Tis only fair, good sir, that you should take home the Flag! I'm actually pleased it got such quick attention, and I don't mind 'early'; as you would know, the fun is in the setting! Did you need the '...team's Firsts spell...' wordplay?? And I see you weren't the only early bird!

You got my juices going, too, Demonstone (and you other 'setters). We have Frank 'Checker' Hughes to thank* for this team's Firsts spell... F FANNING F. USHER R. CORDNER T. HF HEYWOOD D. SMITH N. IRWIN R. C ANDERSON S. SPENCER S. BARASSI R. Snr HB EMSELLE R. CORDNER D. ARNOLD L. B McMAHEN N. EDGE B. DOWSING R. Foll ELLIS N. McGRATH S. O'KEEFE J. 19th/20th NIVEN C. SPITTLE M. (*Thanks to Demonwiki, too)

Loving this! But 'Ladies'? What's the story there, GFF?

'Twas on my HSC English exam (1971!), Mazer, along the lines of 'Compare and contrast: 'No man is an island...' (John Donne) and 'I am a rock, I am an island...' (Paul Simon)

Pretty pumped to have her 'back' (jeez I enjoyed those expo games when the 'other' red and blue team wasn't so hot, which also encouraged me to chip in for Foundation membership), and also that it might have contributed to Daisy's decision, but how would this sort of me, me, me publicity sit with the rest of the squad? I see it goes out formally over the MFC logo - I presume they know what they're doin'!?

Metaphysical poet and Dean of St Paul's, John Donne. 'No man is an island...'

And who says bottom teams have nothing to play for now the final 8 is 'settled' (looking at you Derwayne on SEN today!)

Anyone beats anyone on their day. So, 1. Adelaide result not so bad? 2. Beware Dees. Every week.

There's a few top-8 clashes while we're playing Collingwood and Essendon: Port v Geelong, Geelong v Bulldogs, Brisbane v Geelong, Port v Sydney, Bulldogs v West Coast in Perth. Provided we get the 8 points, there's going to be at least some further falling behind.

It actually got to 49-88 in the 3rd term! A Melbourne home game, sold to the 2001-premier opposition - that worked well for once!? That Johnstone goal - the very difficult made to look very easy. Chris Fagan in our coaches box. "A player of the future, Chris Lamb". Always be wary of that label... "The new David Schwartz, Paul Wheatley". Ditto-ish... Neale Daniher... And, yes, a very nice COVID-permitted activity!?

Some nice little insights there (for me, anyway): the reasons and dynamics of boundary-line coaching (including the happy shares about Choco and his influence 'throughout the whole building'), the collegiate coaching response at half time, being able to take the players individually to their good places, trust in the box, the degrees of insight into the opposition (and willingness to reveal them), the 'good teammate' elaboration (relating, communicating, acting, body language, etc), the Jordon and Sparrow development process towards 'good habits' and 'mastery'. A somewhat muted response to the Melksham question; I don't think Jake does have any photos...?

FLAG FAVOURITES Fatal (forgive us...)

1987 as per previous respondents, Boots. That year, with the night premiership as huge underdogs, Robbie's last year, the hectic late landing into 5th, the two huge finals wins and the dramas of the 3rd, is more memorable to me than '88, which may have had moments of favouritism? From a bit of googloogling, I see that, coming off a close '87 prelim, and a feeling we might have done better against Carlton than the Hawks did, we opened at 10-1 flag odds and evens finals odds. We then topped the ladder in Round 7, beating Hawthorn in that round, and Round 8, when we sat 7-1. The Hawks then had a run but we closed to within a game in 2nd in Round 16. They then steamed away to finish 3 games clear while we late-season-slumped to 5th (again!) starting with a loss to Hawthorn.

Time I got out of my observer's chair! 6. Number 11 5. Number 5 4. Number 13 3. Number 25 2. Number 9 1. Number 36 Apologies Number Back Half and Number Midfield Rotators

Nearly got to Perfect Uneditorialisation! (looking at you, Spirit of Norm?) Perhaps that nirvana will be achieved in late September?...

Smacked(!) of Yates on Brereton 1989, particularly against the backdrop of their targetting of Max last year (he rose WAY above it though, this time!)

Sparrow on Rich??? How about some interest in Hipwood on Gawn 10 seconds in, then!!

Yeah, I was surprised how calm I was in the first half. Something has pivoted and it's not a bad feeling!

Six (count them, SIX) games inside the 8! Yeah, I know top 2 is 'the thing' but that's nice to contemplate...

Shout out to the 5000 predominantly Dees crowd given credit by Max in his post-game. Worth a coupla goals, it seems!?

Record number of 'Gameday' posts at 3/4 time? Some game!