The Panglossian

Former Demon champion, Steve Smith has finished his term as MCC President. Michael Happell has taken over. I have a feeling he's a Carlton supporter. This is regrettable. I know it's not absolutely necessary, but surely it's desirable, that the MCC Pres has an affinity to the Demons. This, in my opinion, shows the importance of MCC-member Demon supporters(of whom there are many), exercising their vote, where possible, in favour of Demon -connected candidates in committee elections. I hope some Demonlander with more familiarity with Happell will correct me.

Have we had a worse run than other teams with injuries to recruits? I think of Petracca doing his knee, Scully, Hogan, Lever,Watts,Hunt,Blease, Molan.....help me... there would be at least half a dozen more, ( ?Gawn)....... whom we recruited with high hopes , then their early careers were severely handicapped by injury.Now Neitchke, though he’s a low draft pick, so we don’t know what we’re missing there, but it will hold him back. When it happens to your own side you notice it, but perhaps not when it happens to the opposition, Have we been worse off than the others? I bet Hawthorn gets a good run with Scully, like they have had with O’Meara, who has always had injury concerns till he came to them. I think Collingwood has had a bad run, too, but they deserve it! Also GWS but there reserves are unlimited.

It’s a pity we opted for Paine as skipper. Wade is no worse as a keeper( though both are ordinary), but he’s a much better bat. Our batting would look much stronger with Wade at 7 instead of Paine, and someone else captaining(? Hazlewood), till Smith is available as capt. again.

7 left -handers, I note.

Watching Australia play India is like watching a district team playing a Test team. Dont be too confident about Sri Lanka..... let alone the Poms.

I know Handscomb sincerely thinks he caught it, and Kohli annoys me.......but the ball hit the ground. Kohli got a shocking decision. I can’t believe the commentators saying it was out. The whole series could hinge on that decision, and I’m convinced it was wrong. I admired Kohli for hiding his emotions as he left the field. He knew he wasn’t out.

Two out of three aint bad! red and Blue in 2019!

Surely we Demon fans must be attracted to Prince of Arran......those colours!!! Meets Yucatan on better weight terms than the last time they met. Apparently Prince was boxed in a bit early in that run, though Yucatan looked very impressive in the run home. Cross Counter has good colours too, and is Richo's tip(or was it Dr Turf?)

Duh. Ignorant comment.

I’d like to see May up forward( where he played as a youngster) I can picture him pole-axing a few backmen(eg Rance) It seems to me we have more backline depth than forward, and he could be most useful in attack.

Has May ever played forward for GC? I seem to remember him taking a strong mark and kicking confidently for goal on one occasion. Can anyone confirm or refute this? With two-metre Peter and Lynch up forward, plus a backline always under pressure, May would rarely be tried forward for GC, even if he showed promise there. I like our backs and their "back-ups". Could May's strength and aggression be useful forward if we lose JH there.?

In the fifties before the game, the entertainment consisted of a military band. ,who would split up ,with a small group (“ the ball”)marching through small goal posts, for a “goal”. I used to like the goal umps in their butchers’ coats and big white sun hats. After a goal, they would collect the right hand post flag first, then collect the other flag from the other post. Sometimes that was how you could confirm what score it was before they waved the flags, if you missed the quick finger signals. Also , the boundary umps, in their brilliant white shirts and shorts, and long black socks, sprinting back to the centre, knees high, then doing perfect “drop punt spinning” throws back to the similarly dressed ump, before prancing backwards to the wings. Also, all the police coming out to line the boundary line,once there were a couple of minutes to go( how my heart sank in ‘58!)

There was a fair bit of time left after Froggie's goal. The ball went deep into their forward line. Magpie Ian Graham nearly marked, and could have been paid a free, but wasn't (times have changed....good on you, Ron Brophy!) Barry Bourke cleared it and the siren went. I'll never forget the joy! Like Dante, I expected us to keep winning premierships year after year. It's been pretty rough since then, and the many thousands of Demon faithful should be proud that they've stayed with the Demons so long, for so little reward. That's what's made the last month so good!

I can’t hack those two thugs pontificating on the Gaff affair. Gaff’s gaffe was a one-off shocker from a previously fair player, and he was lucky to only get 8 weeks. Matthews repeatedly perpetrated cowardly ,behind the play atrocities ( Giles, Smith and McMullin for us, and every team can quote similar incidents against their players) Even worse is Judd, who on two occasions was found guilty of attacking the eyes of opponents.....the EYES! Obviously delicate, sensitive, and important structures, crucial to a normal life. Not satisfied with that, he “chicken-winged” an opponent with a known shoulder injury. He was also guilty of deliberately standing on his taggers abdomen, and twisting his stops into his guts. The guy is a vicious, heartless hypocrite, and should never comment on unfair play.

Did you have a good day.? I sure did,and it only took me 10 min to get there,! You deserved it, coming down from PNG,! ut

Geelong seemed pretty "pumped" during their premiership years under "Bomber"

Oscar has beaten Hawkins, Roughead, , Riewoldt, and Daniher in succession. I've forgotten who he beat at Brisbane; they tried several on him. I thought he was good last season, and he has improved. A.A. in the near future.

But it’s all clear with the block chain.

I think Harry's son, Brad, is a Dee supporter.

Does anyone know if Kristen Beams, the Aust women's team legspinner is Ben Beams' sister.? Ben was a talented cricketer who once made a triple century in a 50 over Club game in Hobart. Ben was a last minute replacement for Cam Bruce in the 2000 GF. I know Kristen is a Tasmanian, too. She's 33, and he's about 38.

I was so surprised that anyone could say OMac was "abominable" in the first half, I watched the replay again( for the third time). He played pretty well in Q1, then very well for the rest oft the he game. Yes, he had two hurried kicks in Q1 that did not end up to our advantage, but overall, he defended well. For he rest of the match,he disposed of the ball excellently apart from those two kicks, which were under great pressure, and far from "abominable". Twice his creative play from the backline ended up in crucial goals. My good mate that I sit next to each week reckons he's hopeless. Anything that goes wrong he ends up blaming Omac. You might be like him,jnrmac. ( by th way, Omac is another "jnrmac".)

The Bont

Leading wicket taker, at a good average ,in last year's Sheffield Shield. Deserved selection. Should get another chance.

I reckon he was the only one to think of this excuse. Or perhaps he was the only one not too ashamed to pretend he was scared of injections. Everyone seems to forget that Essendon players are probably still benefitting from the effects of the supplements three years ago.I compare it to the gradual build up of strength in recruits after several pre-seasons. The Bombers had an accelerated bulk-up,and it's still helping. Weve got two of them. I hope it helps us.

Despite this great start, I'm not 100% confident. I might have a nibble at the $12. for SA. As you suggest, Titan, the Aust batting is thin apart from Warner and Smith.