Timothy Reddan-A'Blew

According to the May 1858 first written rules, the 'behind' posts, or 'kick-off' posts as they were then called, were 30 yards from the goal posts, and so would not be seen in the view depicted in the painting. These posts were relevant to the play in the case that the ball was kicked "behind" the goal posts; hence the eventual reference to 'behind' posts, I guess. In those first rules, the two captains decided the distance between the goal posts, so, in fact, the distance to the behind posts was codified before the distance between the goal posts! How both distances morphed to their current (and equal) measurement is a whole other question

...who went one better than CS by actually being on this earth for ALL our premierships! And her predictions were more personnel- than team-focused, foreshadowing the arrival of our Famous 5 and our (now not so) Secret 7. Neither of them particularly snotty-nosed, though. Who is, on our list? p.s., Bitters; I went to Wikipedia to reminisce about the author of my childhood, and stumbled - with some consequent shock - on the following (if it gets past the censors, and I think it should, being in the public domain anyway). I thought it might appeal to you?... 'Her love of tennis included playing naked, with nude tennis "a common practice in those days among the more louche members of the middle classes".'

But back to CS Lewis, who fell just 10 months short of being on this earth for all 12 of our premierships and seems to have been, from afar, a Fuchsias/Demons fan: his writings foreshadowed what it would, but now might soon, be like for Demons fans for the 60-odd years after his death...'A Grief Observed', 'The Problem of Pain', 'Surprised by Joy', 'Miracles' and, finally, 'The Business of Heaven'.

I've come back to this thread after a break of a few days and note that the above reported correspondence with the club was about the fact of a white strip, whereas the OP seemed more about the design of the (now given) white strip. At near midnight I haven't got it in me to review ten pages, so: Did anyone write querying how the adopted (and three-quarters-unacceptable) white strip design was arrived at? Or propose some of the evidently 'better' ones. And what was/were the answer/s?

'Hoppy' and 'Balls' were our opposing coaches for 'Play On The G' last year. Apart from their friendly rivalry being one of the event's many memorable aspects, their involvement is also another small insight for the OP's theme that they happily put in the time - at the mid-week training session at Gosch's, on gameday, and in the post-match festivities - for what was, unashamedly, a Club fund-raiser.

Article in this morning's SHun had the additional comment from Angus that he was trying to keep his head out of drills. An understandable stance but problematic for him? Any evidence in training so far? Article also elaborated on his training with neighbour Jonesy; that training, and keeping up, with super-trainer Jonesy would drag him to higher levels of endurance. So, ditto, any evidence in training so far? Impressive recovery by Mitch K, seven months from his injury. I add my thanks to Demonland's eyes, ears and keyboards at Gosch's.

I say the following given posters' responses to the worthy OP, which indicate a healthy - and fairly evident, it seems - following of our Club by its past players: My sense is that a couple of specific things make it seem that the Bullies were 'better' at this than us: 1. The presence and feelings of their past players became public as they surged to the granny and responses were being sought by the media; and, 2. The Bullies' sizeable and recent run of near misses gave those feelings and responses extra 'substance'. Might we not look forward to similar from our past players, at least when factor 1 occurs? (we haven't had the 'pleasure' of factor 2)

I don't know how to start a new thread and this probably doesn't warrant it, anyway. And it sort of fits here?... I notice No.31 remains vacant in the Club's new number re/allocations. Unlikely it would go to a number 47+ draft pick? So can/would Jack be rookied? (for e.g. the leadership ingredient). Sorry if I've missed anything elsewhere on here about his current status or the Club's view about him.

ManDee, John Dee and Earl, you but scratch the surface. Have a walk down B grade acting's memory lane... And, a thought: Perchance, does the OP's answer lie somewhere therein?.......

I think perhaps the 'opt-out' Dedicated Demons automatic sign-up, taking effect in the last week or so and seemingly very efficient this year, might have had a snowballing (unfortunate stereotypicalling reference) effect for the early figures - the providers of the previous year's member-growth being re-signed automatically without fully realising it. I hope I'm wrong, and the early 3000-above-trend in fact continues to 45000+ by mid 2017!

Why on earth is there an article on the club's website - our first pick being way down at now 28 - about a prospective number one draft pick?? (and it's tagged "Exclusive to melbournefc.com.au) Some guesses, one of: by AFL direction (sadistic!); club choice (masochistic!); club intention (subliminal support for our targeting a half back)

He is obviously a serious player in his native sport: Kerry starlet Mark O'Connor to try out for AFL clubs Interesting he sacrificed a final to come here. And no wonder he impressed with his clean overhead marking at the combine, given how he "lit up Croke Park with his high-fielding".

I suspect Oscar is on people's radars at the moment because he did enough in the qualifying and preliminary finals, from seemingly nowhere, to excite a 'who-is-this-guy/where-did-he-come-from' reaction, particularly in the qualifying where everyone looked good. Are any 'landers aware of a bigger picture that warrants interest?

By the way, Ongarello is reputed to be the last VFL player to have used the place kick. The yellow ribbon has certainly been tied around the old oak tree for Jesse H; now, could channelling Ongarello help with his goal-kicking shakiness?

Any relation to Lionel? Handy if any in management or the leadership group have difficulty with making speeches (It's late)

He didn't, 55. My only point was that now two articles on the club's website discuss our current top pick in terms wider than its use for Hibberd, leading me only to ask what this might mean, and then leading me to speculate that this year's trade period may unfold something like last year, i.e. with a better cluster of 'early' picks than we now have (albeit further down the ladder this year!) The opening sentence in the Taylor article says "...Jason Taylor says the club is keeping an open mind with its opening selection in this year’s NAB AFL Draft, ahead of the trade and draft period." You're correct to call me on "will" in my post; I should have said "may", though in my defence I hope "implies" diluted the (unintentional) certainty. S'orright?

And now a key insider, Jason Taylor, on the club's website going down the same path as Sheehan, implying our first pick will be live in the draft. Presuming Hibberd is intended and a 20s pick is adequate for him, seems to reinforce that we expect to come out of the trade period with a pick or two more in the 20s (at least).

'Finey' on SEN the other night noted that Johannisen's win of the medal named after our greatest coach had added another aspect to our curse also named after him: we are - ironically - now the only team of the 'original' 12 not to have a Norm Smith Medallist since its1977 inception. So, another 'record' to put on the (thankfully otherwise shortened in 2016) list? And, by the way, when we do break it, I'm expecting it not to be of the Rioli/GazSnr/Buckley/Judd type!

Yep, I can't help thinking our LM guys will again proceed as they did, so well, last year and somehow magic a larger number of picks around (both sides of) our starting top pick.

Curious, the in-club (Matt Burgan) interview with 'Shifter' Sheehan, on the club's site, about the good/several draft prospects that might be available to us at 26 (sic. Now 27). No mention of Hibberd/trading. Stuff-up? Tactic? Insight?

Interesting interview about her between Red Symons and Caroline Wilson on '3LO' this morning, with incidental insight into both Wilson (unrelated) women and Rebecca's brother, Ch7's Jim. About 10 past 7.

Speaking of blunders; today's Age: "Hardy Hanneberry Scoops Simpson Medal"...

No; for referring in any way to the 'looks' of the women players, deano. And, like I said, I'm now in a more confident position.

Anything happening on this? Though I do notice that posting over there brings the thread into the main threads list on the front page here anyway, so I wonder what purpose a separate forum serves? As to Ms Cordner's family resemblance, I wanted to post a 'peas from the same pod' reference over there, based on memory of photos seen, but I caught myself up in a miasma of pc doubt. Thanks for your post, Bobby; I'll feel a little more free now!