Deemania since 56

NOrth act in form slump desperation. Why on earth would North ever drop Pedersen?

It is very likely that the acquisition of Polec, a very good player on his day, will suit him immensely - and suit the style of game that our coaching wizards are trying to instil in our team. He gets the ball, has run and carry, and kicks effectively with a pre-disposed, upfield eye.

Should he depart, there is another bonus. OMac won't get game and will have to leave, too.

Heart in mouth, maybe with more experience and some excellent development and encouragement, we may have another Hardeman coming along. For me, Gary was the best CHB I have ever seen, and since then, we have had quite a few greats in that position. He is not a Neitz, but smaller like Hardeman and has that poise coming along, nicely.

That is a very fair price, with the added bonus of getting a good forward.

I used to love watching Grinter, Biffin, Ditterich, Pickett and Vanders dedicate their football efforts to the mighty MFC against all comers. We were penalised heavily then, and penalised now for any excuse that the AFL weak-links can come up with. However, I'd still like to see a little more 'mongrel' in our team these days, rather than being generally swept aside or bashed to death at critical points of a game. We need to make a science of the mongrel plays - of particular note in this regard was Neitz. Now that man was subtle but ever so effective.

The reality of the 'hit you from behind Mumford' in that part of the play is that AVB scared the shXX out of Mumford with presence alone - Mumford was experiencing the AVB stare on the move and knew what would happen if he did anything untoward.

Noted and agreed. Them was the days .... Dicko style. We could do a little more of that and my pick for so doing would be Tomlinson on the other wing. He's already finding space but is ignored on the kick-ins from Full Back. The 'kick to Gawn' syndrome will be our undoing, sadly. Already opponent sides are working Gawn over when he is in the backline.

Benevolently 'big brotherish' of Hoges to do that for us. Whilst there is more on the MFC plate and match outcomes complicating the run to the final eight, I feel attached to Hoges in this regard, just like when he wore the Red 'n Blue. He'd be a dream acquisition for us if it was possible for it to happen, now that so much water under the bridge of a complicated life has seemingly sailed away. I still wish him every success - he was a great and with in-depth encouragement, could return to that group of elite acquisitions. Onyer, Hoges!

6, May 5. Langdon 4. Petracca 3. Rivers 2. Oliver 1. Gawn

The modern basketball backgrounds add something to a natural forward, particularly for those at a high level of BB competition. We have a few that really can sense the goals, instantly confirmed with a quick turn of the head for the eyes and brain. Trac, Jackson, Smith, et al, for example. Hope Jackson can play against Essendrug, even at the expense of the Weed.

All good, PF!

Let's hope that Jackson is right for the team - he can show a little of HIS new-found maturity, too. He is going to be a killer.

I quite like Viney out of the centre as he can be a clog to ball movement. When there is space for him, he'll run and carry before disposal, gaining metres and possible targets ahead. His penetration can be improved this way, I reckon.

Nearly ... in Lockhardt, Harmes and Smith rotating forward; Picket could be managed for a rest.

Imagine the benefits of having Smith rotating into the forward line when we need goals. Yes, he did a good job on Himmelberg last night.

Across his game sets so far, I am really quite pleased with Brown's lead-up nouse; he goes to space quite a distance and presents a good target for the positive carriage of the ball from the backs, the flanks and into the hot zones. Well done last night, Brownie!

That is to protect Goodwin - there is no other reason. The media will wish to expose insights into our thoughts (the spectators and supporters) on his coaching record and its transference to onfield success and skilsets.

Hence, our widespread wish as supporters to rid our team of Goodwin, the current Board, certain players gifted games without acceptable performances, and does the list continue?

This is the tragedy. It hangs over the whole team from recruit to old hand. As I have said before, often: Goodwin has minimised the skill set and the footy careers of so many of our young men in just four years. Those coming into the Club cannot progress to their better abilities and skills because of this handbrake operated by Goodwin for the team to remain mediocre. His game plan, unspecified, unknown, unseen is all that matters to him. Who would have thought that a coach could do this to a team?

This decision-making thing is a coaching responsibility and supervised practice routine. Even our senior players, skilled and experienced, display signs that decisions are often beyond them, hence, the tendency to 'long bomb' or handball to a disaster spot, for example. Imagine a player going into the rooms at half-time in a match after committing several poor decisions and play executions, looking a REAL coach in the eye. It would be ugly. It would also be a step in the direction of insight and learning, as well.

Yes, he did well on Papley and that cannot really be sneezed at - matched him step for step, spoiled, tackled - what more could one ask of a forward mis-placed on the backline by the coach - out of position, out of familiarity, out of kilter. Across the field, it is time for change and common sense - factors not necessarily applied by He Who Knows Best.

I disagree (some matches) that Smith '...is rubbish in the backline...' in consideration of some other backmen we have tried this year. He does muck a few attempts with the ball down there but generally, gets to the ball and does one or two 1%'s if not. I'd rate him a 'serviceable' on occasion, but 'played out of position'. He has only just started having a run with the team this season - so I'd really like to see him down near goals for considerable parts of whatever games he acquires in the near future.

'Will Goodwin back his usual gameplan or go defensive?' Gee, D-J, what a question. To many of us DL enthusiasts, Goodwin has no gameplan - ever - other than to sit in the coaches box in silence with a bland expression on his face; furthermore, I am not sure if he is sure about 'defensive' because we lose so many games to opportunistic opposition forwards. An ugly game it is likely to be - that's for sure!

Tend to agree - Smith seemed to play reasonably well in a losing team - but there is a need for him to gain a bit more utility at the ball, even though he is not a backman. As for OMac, well, my stance on him is well known. Absolutely useless. The obsession to play him at all is biting back after all these years of tolerating (remotely held) opinion.