Mazer Rackham

I remember him giving it to Frosty big time when SF was still at the club. I thought, we've either got a natural leader here, or someone who's divisive and will fracture the playing group. (No, I'm not talking about Frosty!) Turned out to be the former. It's a wonderful thing to have a ferocious competitor and football brain down back. We've been kissed on the Sherrin to have two such.

Endeavour. That's good. That's a segment on AFL Tonight or AFL 360 or AFL Panel or what-have-you taken care of. Endeavour to lead to space. Endeavour to make him pull a hammie. Lots of potential. What you say is true. At this stage, the commentary around MFC is a bit like the "celebrity" pages in UK newspapers. Filling column space with fluff because there's nothing meaningful to say, except "these guys are good", over and over. Our journos, addicted to stimulation and excitement, find that a bit boring. (I may be biased, but to me it is in itself exciting.) Of course, as soon as we lose, the groupthink narrative will change 180 to "are Melbourne really that good????"

Crosswell and Barassi used to play chess. Crosswell wrote that Barassi couldn't handle losing, even at chess. Or at anything. He had a primal urge to win, at everything. There's a famous US baseball pitcher, Bob Gibson, renowned as a fierce competitor, who said in retirement: “I’ve played a couple of hundred games of tic-tac-toe with my little daughter and she hasn’t beaten me yet ... I’ve always had to win. I’ve got to win.” May is like that.

A bit bare bones. How about "utilise isolation: beat him 1 on 1" ? Or some other prelude that sounds like it means something.

Inspired by recent articles in the footy media, I now bring you my ... SECRETS TO BEATING STEVEN MAY Bring the heat Back yourself: try to get the ball before he does Embrace the challenge Employ the air: catch the ball before it hits the ground Control scoring: kick it through the tall sticks Play the full 120 minutes

Aus Financial Review, 10/4/2018: "... But also visiting the Emerald City is News Corp's New York-based, Melbourne-raised (and Essendon-barracking) chief executive Robert Thomson ..." Any further questions?

I think it's great that the oppo are throwing these tactics at us, giving us the chance to work out our counter tactics and tighten up our overall game. There might not be any surprises left available by the time finals come around.

Apparently Rutten doesn't rate Goodwin a as coach. Devastating for poor Goodie. By themselves? Or with "outside help"?

Hard to believe it's a real scoreline. It's the kind of thing you hope for when Carl, Coll or Ess play each other.

As our successful continues, we will pick up supporters of the West Coast/Adelaide ilk who barely know that the ball is oval, let alone any nuances of the game. It's part and parcel of being a successful club. Look on it as a barometer of where we are at. The top. I believe "just kick the bloody thing!!!" is the correct terminology?

GO NORTH BOYS GO

Last time we played the Hawks, we weren't sure how good we were, and if everything was going to go up in a puff of smoke at some stage. Also we were up against Clarkson, who, with not much at his disposal, still managed to craft a gameplan specifically for us. It nearly got us too. I recall late in the 4th, in front of the Hawks' goal, a crucial, and buII****, holding the ball decision went against us. Clarkson in the coaches box pounded the desk in glee as he knew how buII**** it was, but didn't care as long as his plan brought home the bacon. Mitchell might be just as crafty as Clarkson, but he doesn't have the experience, or the troops, to successfully carry out his plan. Also, this time we know how good we are.

Hmm. Did you unplug it first? That might explain it.

So far, really only the Dogs have tried to take us on by playing "their" game better than we play "ours". And were left limping back to their kennel. Everyone else has tried to negate us. Interesting when we run into some teams with the confidence to back their own system. Bris, Syd come to mind. I think the Hawks will try a full on assault too. Until they run out of puff.

The damage caused by this disease is immeasurable!

They were going to go back to back in the one season?! Truly legendary.

The logester was talking about long MFCSS

Of course this used to be standard practice until someone discovered lead in the patch-hamplers. So now it's back to work experience kids using hoses.

I don't think we'll be needing her. Our depth is pretty good.

Well, that was easy.

"My hair! My hair! It's .... I ....... aaaaaarghh!!"

Did sparks fly when your hands touched, Civil?

Quiet! Don't let them hear you.

With all the depth on our coaching panel, it's going to be hard for Goodwin to break back in to the senior post. It's exactly like Hunt/Bowey late last year.