tiers

The 97 list had a lot of injured or rehabbing players so that, whilst on paper they looked good, on the ground they were a shadow of their potential. Remember however that in 98 we made the prelim final with the same group (+Trav and White) who had overcome long term injuries (Lyon, Schwarz, G Lovett, Tingay, Viney) and only failed to make the GF due to a novice coaching error by ND. It should have been our year having beaten crows in an earlier final. 2019 list is more balanced with fewer weaknesses and greater potential. 2020 Go dees.

Comparisons like these are odious. They disclose nothing about the innate skills and abilities of the players. The only measure I have used in the past has been whether or not the player is better than most in doing what others do on the field or can he do things that no other player could even dream of doing. The classic example of the second was our Robbie. Most of the recent Brownlow medallists, Cripps and Bont have been examples of the first. At times I have seen Clarrie do things that others could not do. His vision when under pressure, his ability to not only win the ball but to deny the ball to the opposition and win the ball back is beyond others. Think how, in the final against the dorks, he denied the dorks in the centre square scramble, won the ball and delivered it to a running Gus (I think) who kicked to the contest where Melksham swooped and goaled. No Clarrie, no goal. That some of his magic is not apparent does not detract from his ability. At times, he is playing his own game.

Polly Farmer too.

To dworship Thanks for the reminder. No disrespect intended but given the numbers this year, I am finding it harder and harder to remember all the names while writing on the run. Apologies to Gus, Harmes and also to Hannan. Adding these three brings the running total to 31 who have all shown that they can make solid contributions. As I have said in another post, the hardest task for the coaching staff will be to find the best combination. 2020 Go dees.

I see things differently. Modern footy is a real team based game where teams select a squad so as to be able to mix and match and use players in their best positions to suit the game being played - not somebody's idea of how a player should be played. Whether Fritter will play back, centre or forward will depend on the team structure for the particular situation. The teams that will prosper will be those that have a range of abilities and capabilities in each part of the ground. For any combination of our back six we will have a stopper in Nev, running defenders and play makers in Hibbs, Salem and Fritter, cunning on field captains in Lewis, gorilla busters in May, interceptors in Lever and talls in OMac and Frost - a total of nine to select from to suit the weekly game plan. Similarly for our mid six we will have rucks in Gawn and Preuss, inside grunt in Jones, Viney and Oliver, outside runners in ANB, AVB, Stretch and Hunt, occasional fillers in Tracca and Spargs - a total of 11 to select from. In our forward six we have Weids, TMac, Jeffy, Melks, Smith and Smith and any of the above who rotate through the forward line - a grand total of 28 at least. In my opinion, we will lose very little in any combination of 22 from the above lists (we even have Weids and TMac to ruck if necessary). Not many teams can match this evenness and versatility and it should give us a dominant edge. So long as we pick our 22 for each game based on our game plan, not as a response to their game plan as used to happen in the past, we should have great prospects. 2020 Go dees.

Just noticed. Fritter, Salem and KK are being mentioned as half back sweepers with real potential. Their value might also be that they are all left footers. Left footers, as a minority group, have a natural, but marginal, advantage because they turn clock wise to get onto their kicking foot. Right footers naturally turn anti clockwise and, when chasing, can lose a bit of contact with left footers. The dorks exploited this with Lewis, Gibson, Rioli, Franklin and others. Add Viney, Lewis, May and we have a core group of lefties that could deliver an advantage.

It's like the chicken and egg question. Which comes first? The height of zoning influence was in the 70 and 80s and started to fade by the mid 90s when draft and salary cap took over. Regular exclusive access to top quality footballers in large numbers (eg Matthews, Scott, Crimmins, Langford, Mew, Brereton, Ayres, Knights, Wallace, Kennedy Jr, Tuck, Dipper, Moore) who develop together will make any club good and will force good management to respond. And with their success they could go out and recruit Buckenara, Judge, Platten and Dunstall from interstate. We have had one 300 gamer whereas the dorks had multiple just in this group. Carlton also did well (Keogh, Ashman, Southby) but they could not match the dorks talent pool and so went on a buying spree interstate. Kernahan, Bradley, Dorotich, Motley, Bosustow, Fitzpatrick amongst others. The doggies squandered their good fortune (losing Quinlan, Round, Templeton and Wilson) and no other team in a 12 team competition got close. There were other well run teams but they had no chance. No matter how good the management, if the supply of players is poor then it will make little difference. Please excuse any errors as this list has been hastily complied from memory. If I have missed anyone, please add.

Apart from Garry Lyon, Melbourne received no champions from its country zone over a period of two decades that corresponded with the darkest period in our history. By the time that zoning was abolished, it had distorted the competition as it had highly favoured certain clubs with prolific country zones eg. dorks (Berwick, Mornington Peninsula before they became metropolitan areas) , lolly blues (Bendigo) who had exclusive rights to a long line of champions that allowed them to dominate over the same two decades, recruit the best from interstate (Kernahan, Bradley, Dorotich in one year) and win multiple premierships. Consider how many dork players have played over 300 games and how many were gifted to them by zoning. Even Michael Tuck had to wait his turn. The effect of zoning still lives on through the large memberships and profiles that clubs were able to establish and maintain even when the lists were not so good. It was a massive failure that has never been recognised.

Google search for the meaning of coqnescent leads back to this site. Congratulations, you have made your first entry to the ever growing language of footy. And you can ascribe any meaning you choose and no one can contradict you. But be quick as language moves on at warp speed.

I have previously explained how I came to determine that 2020 will be our year. If, as Deeoldfart suggests, it happens to come sooner, I can handle the excitement. But I believe that whilst we may have the talent this year, we may still need more development. As someone once said in a different context, the future is so bright that I need my sunglasses.

After a time, the critical, negative comments about players become a sore, a bore and a chore, especially when it is focused on alleged shortcomings in talent, fitness or effort without any real, objective evidence. Unsubstantiated opinions are fine so long as they don't end up as substitutes for facts. I believe that each player is working as hard as he can and I rely on the club's assessment in adding him or keeping him on the list. Crossy's reported insiders comments about Tracca validate my belief. 2020 Go dees.

One season, When Tony Lockett was still at St Kilda, it was decided that he should trim down and look more like a modern day footballer. The experiment didn't last long - without his bulk he was not as effective and it wasn't tried again. Similarly with Tracca. His game relies on his intuitive ability to get to where the ball is, holding his ground in marking contests and ball extraction from packs and delivering to advantage. He is not a fleet footed runner like Jones or Viney and doesn't try to be. On the other hand, they don't try to play his style either. Both styles add balance to the team and game plan. We should stop comparing Tracca to the image we have created and let him be the player that he is.

Tracca has been at the club for several years now. In his dedication to the recovery from the ACL he showed that he was determined to get the best out of his body. We have a highly qualified and professional conditioning team looking after his development. If any one has any serious and objective evidence that either Tracca or the team around him are slacking, then please provide it. And not just idle speculation or bemoaning the fact that Tracca is not trying hard enough or has not reached the standards that you, not the club, believe he should have. I would much rather place my trust in the conditioning team and accept that Tracca is Tracca, not some fanciful or fictitious version that others expect him to be, and is being conditioned to prepare him for the role that the coaches want him to fill.

The most effective third tall, mid sized, ball winning and goal scoring utility who was genuinely fierce in his attack at the ball and opponents in recent times was our own (former) Martin Pike. In Balmes only good year as our coach, before all the injuries, Pike filled a slot together with Lyon and Schwartz as a forward with no specific role other than to attack hard at the ball. We taught him so well that he went on to play the same role in four premierships with NM and Brisbane and was always in the best 22 so it was no fluke. I can see Vanders filling a similar role anywhere from midfield to full forward. His disposal should be less of an issue if he continually denies the opposition the ball or the ability to dispose effectively. Thrown into the mix with TMac, Weeds and Preuss, he offers our coaches another mismatch opportunity in the midfield or the forward line. When added to the potential of Tracca, Melks, Jeffy, Spargs, Mitch, ANB and any new guys, the potential options are so great that it might take some time for the best combinations to sort themselves out. That's why the coaches get the big bucks. 2020 Go dees.

In fairness to Darren Bennett. He was a classical full forward in the days when there were many classical full forwards such as Lockett, Ablett and Dunstall. Their game was to lead and to expect and receive good service from their teammates up the ground and kick goals from set shots. At that time, the service to Bennett was garbage - passes over his head, passes that dropped short, passes to where he wasn't and many other insults to his role as a leading full forward (seems that nothing has changed in 30 years). Nevertheless in one season he kicked over 80 goals and was more than competitive. His kicking style was simple and effective - good balance, controlled ball drop and high follow through (Weideman reminds me of his style). Served him well when he won a kicking competition and received a pass to try out in the NFL where he made a successful career as a punter. Sadly his game was one dimensional. That Jakovich could kick bags of goals from any position as a leading full forward or as a cunning goalsneek made life difficult for Bennett. In all my time following the dees he was by far the best classical full forward I have seen (Neitz was not so classical, more flexible and versatile and capable of playing in many positions although no less effective).

No blame game. The buck always stops at the top. That's why he earns the big bucks. Nothing personal but if the response doesn't come from the top then, in a membership based club, it doesn't look right. Loyalty and devotion should be reciprocated.

Update to previous post. When I opened the package addressed to me I found that my wife's package was also included. Solves one mystery. Still don't have second kid's package. Can't give one without the other.

From the revival in 1987 until today, I agree that this group of 6 is the best combination of pure skill, talent and footy smarts. The tragedy is that only one (Neitz) played a full career at the dees without injury or other mishap. I weep when I recall the lost opportunity that, excluding only Jurrah, the rest could have been playing together in the nineties if not for injury to Jakovich, Lyon and Schwarz. Balme's time as coach was blighted by their injuries (as well as G Lovett, Tingay, Prymke). Placing them in the best combination in their best positions would be a nightmare. But Jakovich must play at full forward. The rest can play anywhere.

+1 to Poita. The lack of communication is not acceptable from a members' based club. I received my package today and received a kid's package before xmas. Still waiting for my wife's package and another kid's package. All memberships were renewed in plenty of time (we are MCC/MFC so renewed before finals). And this after receiving a text on 19 December that they were on the way. What is further troubling is that the email in the Demonland post above was not received by all members who are on the email distribution list nor was there a follow up text to update us. Even if the office was closed, someone would have been monitoring this site and picked up the complaints and made an executive decision to inform the members. We always knew that PJ loved us. GP has to earn his stripes. Disappointing but we still love our dees.

Received text message on 19/12 that packs were with AusPost. Still not received today 2/1, two weeks later. I know about delays over the holiday period but on the same day that I received the text I ordered items from a Sydney store and received them via AusPost on 24/12. If they can do it, for them why can't AusPost deliver for MFC?

When two bodies collide at high intensity it is not always certain who will come off best. Stick to watching the ball.

What if Bruiser turns out to be a player, not a thug. We should not expect him to be the "pack crasher" just because he is bigger than most. My memory of the 50s and 60s is of a skillful, talented team and we won games for that reason and no other. I would prefer him to take marks or create crumbing opportunities and forget about all these other issues.

Certainly beautiful for the sponsors of the ball. Not too high start point and control with the right hand onto the foot. Left hand extended for good balance. His goal kicking action reminds me of Billy Bennett - straight, smooth ball drop and high follow through. Like the tongue - maintains focus.

Re Bruiser. From the one bit of vision, he can tap, mark, kick goals and make second efforts. And that is when he is standing still. Gets to lots of contests on the run and seems to have footy smarts. You don't kick goals from forward ruck contests or from 60+m out without some ability. Speed is not the only valuable attribute. The ability to read the play so as to get to contests and to favourable positions are just as valuable, especially for a 206 ruckman. Admittedly it is only one set of highlights but I say give him a go.

I like "Bruiser" as a nickname for Preuss so I will use it. Game plans for forward lines are often based on trying to create "imbalances" between direct opponents to obtain clear positional or team advantage for one team, even if only for short periods until the opposition responds. 206 cm tall Bruiser playing on anyone is going to be an imbalance. Will he demand the attention of the biggest/strongest defender thus relieving pressure on TMac and Weid or will he be manned by the second/third defender in the hope that he does not create havoc by his size and strength? Will he act as a decoy for TMac and Weid or will he play as a backstop in the goal square where his height and strength could be decisive in marking contests? How does the coach prevent all three contesting and spoiling each other? Given that he would ordinarily be one of three talls all requiring attention, it would be hard for defences to multi team him, or his teammates, in contests as used to happen to Jesse when he was one out. And from all accounts, he is a genuine ruckman/follower who might allow Maxie the time and space to be even more influential. Nice problem to have for us.