Deemania since 56

Unusual for me, but I do not remember Osborne's Brownlow votes. I do remember that each of Alves, Flower and Wells, including Hardeman, were robbed of Brownlows, each and every one of them on separate occasions and more than once, for each. They were such good players that they dragged umpires' votes from each other in any specific season. Greg Wells, what a great footballer! Flower, perhaps the best footballer ever. Alves, one hell of a Captain in a long-suffering period of individual effort due to team weaknesses, requiring his exceptional ball and running skills (not a bad kick, either).

I cannot dispute that one, dieter!

No I do not remember that ... and yes, he was clumsy as they could possibly come; he'd run so fast, think so fast that he couldn't keep up with himself. Still, he was a big bloke, a good spoiler of opponents and at least, he tried really hard for a couple of seasons. Wonder if there is some footage of him, somewhere ... he truly was an exceptional sprinter across considerable onfield distances?

That was trialled during last season to some effect but appeared to be incomplete and unsustainable, sadly. The long bombs from some of the seasoned hands did not help. Another pre-season, some more concentrated planning a familiarisation, and we are off with another alternative to add potency to our ball movement and forward attack. Love the concept.

This is most probably very correct - the covid-19 complications. It may well be that the Dees and the renewed coaching team and footy department in general have a few surprises up their sleeves now that our recruiting for the upcoming season has strengthened and our newbies in general are starting to rock'n'roll, according to reports. There are certainly many things that other clubs and their FDs would want to know, so keep the spies out of the ground, to some extent. I have a feeling that we are going to start off the new season very successfully, surprisingly (for some) and potently. Here's hoping ....

Ahhh, the memories! Noted earlier note about The Racehorse, Graeme Osborne. He was so fast, I still reckon he was the fastest man I had ever seen on the footy field.

Hunt is a racey guy. When on the move, I cannot recall him being caught by an opponent. Field kicking is at times erratic but we have Yze back again, so he will make a difference there, I'm sure. Hunt's abilities earmark him as a flanker and a space-finder up forward. Like the re-signing - heaps.

It's good thinking - looking to the needs but do we have the resources?

The apparent competition for mobile smalls is a very healthy circumstance for the MFC and if these players are hungry little mongrels raring for a trot on the park with blood, they are most welcome in my mind to live that dream. Each will have to step up a rung or two, toughen up and double their commitment along the way. It does please me that internally, such competition exists in the struggle to find the best two or three of the throng.

We just have to beat Fremantle Dockers for his services ... Dad is staying out of the decisions ahead regarding 'which' club - Dees or Freo. There is a challenge ahead to secure him using 'father and son' exclusivity so we must hope that as well as increasingly shining in his training and onfield roles, he must be 'won over' to the Red'nBlue ahead of the more localised (for him) enticements from the Dockers. Farmer1 and Jesse, now Farmer2 as well? We cannot wear that...

Spot on, RB. With two very similar greats also in the new coaching triad; forget What'shisname .... Wingood?

Comparing the two is not quite valid. If there is a comparison in my mind between Kozzie and Cyril, it would be that the Hawk had a rather high level of self-confidence and attitude about himself and his team. Kozzie, to me, is a little more humble than Cyril, based upon his game exhibitions and displayed confidence in own abilities. I agree that he can impress with effort that is surprising albeit part of rare opportunities at this stage of our 'team' play. Hence, I additionally have been hoping for some time see the whole MFC team develop a bit of 'mongrel' - no, a 'helluva lot of mongrel' - as our future successes mount. Cyril had the mongrel; only Vanders has mongrel in our recent history, with May proving useful in the background. Even Mr Silk (Aaron Davey) developed mongrel and became one of the fiercest tackling competitors in the League. Maybe with this desirable footballing attribute, Kozzie might display bigtime mongrel, confidence, attitude and have his game skyrocket as a consequence. 'Kozzie the Mozzie' would be a very useful lethal weapon with that pace and desperation.

Possibly missed the match simulation under coaching instructions - we have a relatively small injury list so far this pre-season that would typically grow much larger if Vanders was permitted to play in any competitive way!

That, alone, is a very strong recommendation to keep him learning and improving on our training list for as long as it may reasonably take. This may not be a widespread view amongst Dees' supporters but in my mind, an oracle has spoken and Yze, Chocko and Lewis have the skills and intellects to bring out from such potentials another Farmer champion. If we can punt on players with limited extended success like the Weed, OMac and several others across season after season of hope and expectation, a more singular development of one is common sense.

Patience ... working into a higher level of the game takes time for most youthful exponents. He is likely to turn a corner or two at a moment's notice once the 'settlers' have calmed him in training routines. He must have something other than lineage that makes him worth the effort. I'd reckon at this stage it is 'footy smarts', for starters.

There is a God. Lewis back with the Red'nBlue. What an asset ... Yze, Chocko and Lewis. Drop the unmentioned one and we have a Premiership.

This is good. We have consistently lacked 'space finders' up forward. A forward line mobility issue could be under scrutiny ... and about time! Alternative feeders and receivers will be the next stage with back coverage in transitions. I smell Yze in this. A classic lone entity in forward craft receiving from the midfield.

Goodwin is the Coach.

The Paddock and conservative surrounds may be too small, sadly. Not much to build upon in terms of a stadium and environs/needs. However, the plans would possibly include a footbridge across from the Richmond station and a walkway from Jolimont. It is not a great distance from reliable transport, some parking and road access. On footy days, it would need heavily-manned police, traffic and co-ordination. Shame we cannot have the 'G ... yet Casey Fields has been a good return. Shame that Casey is so far from the city and inner suburbs, too. Are we destined to take second or third best options since the 'G has been drawn and quartered between more influential clubs 'sharing' with the MFC? I truly wonder what the Board might have in mind. If we leave the 'G, there goes a link to heritage, identity and the historical base of Aussie Rules, itself.

It might be terrific to have a Dipper-type but I think Rosman might also have too many smarts to be the second coming?

The fella Rosman is generating a good deal of interest and encouragement. We may have a winner in the starting blocks with him and if he has some areas for improvement, I am sure that Yze and Choco will help increase his potentials.

Agree, but let us hope that in the coming weeks before the silly trial-out matches and the season proper, we get a whole lot more out of the media department to keep us aware, alert and addicted to the possibilities (we all see) in the year ahead.

Tracca, once again and Clarrie with more thought and resolve with the ball.

Good news x 2. Petty is a hope, and Rosman seem the same with just a bit more grunt.

Sound logic, Roost it, good onyer. I'm backing him in, too. Just because he's not built like a gorilla under growth hormones, he'd be nippy, agile and will have the Dad's impression of footy smarts in abundance. Hell, he could do a late-adolescent spurt of 20 cms, train very hard, very often to put on 15 kilos of muscle, and hone his skillset under close advice from the source and the MFC talent that is there in the coming season. A little time, a little compliance and he'd more likely than not be ready to erupt! He's keen - just look at his eyes and concentration in several of the photos, so far.