Deemania since 56

It is, IMO, a balance and diversity of strategy and tactics. The elements that you mention strike me as a game plan (a recipe or strategy to kick a winning score and restrict the scores of other teams). This is a strategic intent. The tactics used to achieve this strategic intent should be variable, not predictive by an opposition team/coach. Tactical acuity needs to be developed across a team with as many players as possible exhibiting footballing skills to a level greater and more varied than those skills exhibited by an opposing team. It is great to have a pathway that is primarily successful in defence and attack at all points of the playing field. It is not wise to consistently use the same tactical, 'readable' and predictive methodology; thus, several applications of varying footballing tactics need to be established across the playing group - both individually and collectively. (ie: success can be demonstrated in many ways by many players when confronted with many challenges in a game of footy.) Tactics are thus the complex area of footy; the more you have and develop, the more success you will have as a team. Player diversity is a key; recognising and exploiting varied opportunities is another. Selecting that tactic for that opportunity is crucial to team management and deployment. If these qualities are not there, you lose.

Confidence is refreshing and is a good bandwagon to ride into the new season. We also seem to have some great potency in the forward line for the coming year, injuries and recoveries turning out well.

Caution is the last thing to think about, regarding '...is he any good? ...' If he has half of the ability of his old man, bearing in mind that he has several years up his sleeve to transition his game attributes, he is worth it. He is generating much discussion and interest to some observers to lay a foundation to his potential. Genetics is also on his side, profoundly. We need a young bloke with 'history' to want to play for our Club; his dad did and his dad could teach him more most ably, I would say. Age right, body right, a year or two under close development. Go for it! His dad knows that he will be 'good enough' one day relatively soon. A proud young Demon on the way through the door - worth every try we can offer.

Interesting. Here in Adelaide, at the golf course that I frequent, I get the same seasonal compliments as a result of wearing a Demons' baseball-style cap. Some in-bred Adelaidians are not so bad, after all. :-}

Nah, just a dream ... I regard his footy nouse and communication very highly.

You may surprised. What we saw is now concrete in the mind. Even Tilbrook was pushing the ball these distances from time to time in a much later era than Tassie Johnson. Due to the game style of the day, Tassie's kicks often hit the ground and bounce-rolled to a position left/right to the centre and beyond - it was a surprising distance, sure, but it was seen. The centreline often watched the ball sail overhead as they move into the zones of which you speak. As mentioned, Hassa's back-tracking across the centre was indicative of the effectiveness of the TJ kicking distances; the penetration was something to behold.

True! The Price-McKenna combo was awesome, legendary, unstoppable and very rewarding.

As a young fella struck with the dreaded 'left foot' dominance, I was fortunate to have my Dad speak to one of his students - Bill Barrot - who turned up at our home on several occasions in the late afternoon to teach me how to drop kick in Central Park, Malvern. That drop kick technique was awesome. It evolved rather rapidly into a pleasing left foot stab pass that, over the succeeding few years, became a 40-50 metre bullet, so I had many opportunities to feed leading full forwards with a variety of teams in the 'local' leagues from then on. The rules were simple: keep your nose over the ball and follow through (1) with the thigh and (2) then with the straightening of the knee, foot rigidly plantar flexed. All I had to do then was to make the whole kick as smooth as possible. Tassy Johnson was the best exponent of the drop kick imaginable and as Demons3031 has iterated, his full back kick out at the 'G always made the centre circle zone or frequently, almost to the CHF zone. Hassa exploited this regularly, moving laterally and then doubling-back to a pre-determined target area. The drop punt, in my mind, ruined it all, including the torp, the place kick and the flick pass. Progress is sometimes a negative but there were compensations from the changes, no doubt.

It is doubtful that Goodwin will get the team to a GF. However, I have far more confidence that a combination of Williams, Yze and Jordan Lewis could do it in a stride - a unique coaching structure if we are innovatively hungry for a flag, not just a paycheque and a series of apologetic excuses (oops, and a new Jaguar for the elitist mental brick wall).

Should the fitness and skills return, this is sound logic - a proven player with an ability to change the course of games in diverse roles - also possessing height, marking capacities and accurate delivery/set shooting - and, he does have a well-grounded knowledge of the rest of the team, team plays in recent years, plus an 'ability to seize the initiative(s) as presented.

The assistance would be very useful but there is some hesitancy on the Weed's learning and onfield execution of advisories. In a good season's performance, the Weed clunks a few marks and goals. He should be clunking a much larger amount of positive performances by this stage. One can be wrong and I certainly hope that my scepticism of his proven value is way off the mark.

Must agree - but hip stability is going to be an important part of 'total' development so for the anatomists amongst us, this muscle group was included.

You are probably correct about this; it is difficult to see him with adequate pace on the wing - he'd have to make space in multiple attempts to receive and deliver, as well.

The wing seems to be the next application for TMac as our forward structure is very tight and talented. It would exploit his endurance and aerobic capacity; if he is training well now, let's hope that he has an opening as a utility wingman and chop-out specialist.

It is good to see Patsy again as she complements our Website. We should invite her to become an honorary MFC / Demonland member - I'd bet she would have a short sentence or two that would contribute something succinct and highly amusing to our malaise, patience and tolerance of that which is confounding us all. Her script writer was a genius; her delivery sublime.

That is a worry.

Best way to go pre-season. Illuminating - eliminates myths and reputations on an even playing field.

With the neck on the chopping block anticipating critiques unfair, I'd venture to say that he'd be one year off 'father and son' nomination and hopefully, with the Dees; furthermore, I'd also venture that he is going to be a gun - even if he is half as good as his father was at the game. For him, with physical and game development in mind, he may well be a brilliant asset for the Dees should we work hard for his future contributions.

This young recruit looks perfect (for a change) with inside passing to forwards - from multiple (including long-distance) passing inside the hot zone. It is great to see. A very good, evasive and eyes-up feeder for BB, Fritta and the Weed. I can magnify that with the timely additional acquisition of 'Jake, the Bowey Knife' feeding machine. In addition to these attributes and impressive signs, both of the blokes can 'go the goal' themselves with accuracy, distance as required and somewhat surreptitiously for opposition defenders. Must get my membership shorted ASAP! Both of them have hellishly good foot skills I've noticed.

Bit of muscle to come, bit of orientation to the level, bit of inspiration from the Team - all will be good. I'd like to think that he could become an important interceptor and 'physical' rebounder with courage and intent. Over to you, Chock-Ooze!

Do you think that if we're very lucky, they will take on Goodwin as their coach, too? He's a good man for 'learnings' I am informed - without aptitude for getting the message across, albeit.

Something rather 'Trump-esque about this ... two matching IQs considering they are still required! Delusional grandeur at best. Terribly sad, too. After feathering their public opinion nests for years, the most significant thing they can do is withdraw.

Like some of this - TMac on a wing might suit his running stamina, but he does telegraph his disposals too obviously. Pop Harmes to the FPkt to provide a double-sided prong on leads, with Fritta; then with Jackson, to HFFlk in a utility, mobile role. Petty may be good if fit at CHB; if not, Tomlinson is adaptable.

Quality - structure - logic - high potential.

It will be difficult to keep Williams away from Rosman - such is his (R's) potential upside and existing skills set. His development mentors must be hovering, already. Considering the Ooze is going to be able to stick his beak in as well, signs are such that we are going to have a really excellent utility and interceptor capable at both halves of the footy field. A great pick-up.