Deemania since 56

Harmes is terrific, sure. Harmes is a good tagger. Harmes surprises with his height - capable of good spoils and contested marks. Harmes ain't no backman. Harmes needs to go back to midfield and forward duties, creating opportunities and forward line 'gets'.

In my mind, that leaves Preuss and Jacko for a revolving ruck and deep forward exchange, and Brayshaw and Harmes to do the dirty work in the midfield. Drop in Rivers to the HBF, for Salem, and Salem to the HFF for some goals and passing to the mobile Hannan, Fritta and Melk. The Weed will have to move his feet a bit as a prong forward. Drop Jonesy, throw in Jordan and blood him as a tagger/backline utility. And for Heaven's sake, Goodwin, use the bench well and often. Tomlinson on a wing is critical to receive the kick-ins from a behind to North. I still regard him as a spaceman out there who can get to space, has the height to receive in a pack, can part-time ruck in the region, can feed the forwards with run and carry. Max won't be there to run into the back flanks to receive kick-ins, so the backmen must concentrate on spoiling, bringing the ball to ground and screening the gathering smalls to get the ball away.

Another indicative mistake by the alleged experts within the AFL. A self-justifying idiom, at best, applied to '...those who do not matter...' The irony is that the AFL are encouraging 'dangerous falls' for 'frees' within the mask of 'concussion'. The kid did his best to fall awkwardly after all, whilst ANB - who got him red-handed - clearly attempted to soften his bizarre theatrics. We hope the kid is OK but staging is getting more and more elaborate and its consequences are selectively applied.

Spot on - done it myself with the same result.

Razor Ray, he's a pretty good [censored].

Unbalanced on purpose at the moment of being tackled by ANB - he wore the consequences because the tackle completion was to reduce the impact on the ground, with ANB attempting to absorb and hold back the force of the turn. It is unfortunate that he hit the ground so heavily; however, ANB is not a big bloke - yet he still attempted to limit the impact of his opponent on the ground albeit unsuccessfully - the umpire should realise that he does not have the responsibility to 'carry the weight' of a player in the throes of staging (that worked out for the worst). ANB does have the contested responsibility to tackle an opponent in possession of the ball - there really is no sense in the interpretation that the impact with the ground and hence, injury, was ANB's purpose. ANB was correctly determined to tackle, then in a split second, determined to reduce the ground impact of the staging player in the throes of milking by not letting go (absorbing the fall impact and weight). It was a desperate attempt for a 'free', rather than be pinged for incorrect disposal / dropping the ball once caught, and both had limited control of what might be considered as an umpire misinterpretation. I hope that the young fella is OK - but it is unlikely that he will perform that balletic manoeuvre many more times in the future, once caught with the ball.

I'd think we were 'wasting' him on the backline. He can kick good distance and fine shorter kicks, he can run and run, he can apply effective tackles, he find space quickly. He is very light and has difficulty 'stopping' opponents who are big blokes. This means, to me at least, the following: he's fine for shots at goal up to 50 metres he is agile, moderately fast and balanced he can be selective but effective in tags and spoils, including similar sized opponent tackles he can be very evasive, moves to spaces rapidly, slips opponents when moving in anticipation of receiving a pass he is not a great backman due to his slight frame - limited physical threat with the big boys highly suited to the penetration of the forward line with depth or in the transition from midfield to deep forward I'd reckon he could be better placed against certain teams, not all. At least, shifted to attacking roles for shorter bursts when our players up forward are lumbering with their static tendencies. He'd be a great feeder for mobile forwards, such as the Melk, Hannan and Jackson. Just an opinion...

AVB is fair dinkum. He is already an icon. He'll be up for next week, coz he was out for so long. He makes our team accountable and straightens us up. Even Taylor Walker (who thinks he's tough with little guys) side-stepped and got out of the heat. All AVB was doing was walking past, silently. We love that contribution. For some of us, it is like having both Ray Biffen and Rod Grinter in the team.

Hell, no - no OMac. Out: a managed Gawn and Bennell In: Hannan, Rivers, Hunt, Preusse (the latter if ANB is suspended) Rucks: Jackson, Preusse, Tomlinson, Weideman (on rotation, zonal duties) Hunt to wing when Tomlinson rucks Hannan stays HFF for Bennell Rivers big-time half-back flank opportunity May CHB, Lever FB (both on rotation) Salem HBF on bench

Midfield bursts for Viney, into the forward line for a rove around and a few shots. You've got this right, AF. There is more to his game than what we have seen this year (and that has been commendable).

Ken Oath!

Great win. Team play was evident. As the match progressed, our team observed the road to success within it - all about looking for each other and taking the opportunity to exploit the positioning upfield. Forwards could still have been a little more mobile into space but it was a huge improvement from previously. Goodwin, I consider, had little to do with the ideas mindset employed; this was the result of player determination across the game, led by Clarrie and Viney, early and (when he got onto the field) Gus with his pick-ups and deliveries. AVB is our Rock of Gibraltar - taking hits from behind without umpire observations. Jackson was very impressive and is coming along very nicely - he will get a couple of bags scored at the deep forward line in the near future, and he looks highly capable of good team play. Must say, Melk put in a good one - leading to space and in recoveries. Fritta was a little lost out there, though; he did not move as frequently as he should - finding space for the quick grab He held a few nice ones despite the battery of blows he received from Crows backmen, again, not seen by the umpires. It seems as though the umpires give the Crows (as well) a licence to play dirty, cheap and illegally when the chips are down - for the first three quarters, the umps kept the Crows in the game, as well. Gawn was hammered behind his back and received several knee-delivered (at full pace) body kicks once again. One of these was directed from behind at this bandaged knee/leg with the intent, obviously, to maim. Umpires did not see or react to these attacks, either. It is as if Clarrie and Gawn - predominantly - are such good footballers that it is OK to trash them both at any opportunity without penalty. Oversight and disregard are now standard fare from the whistling snot goblins, where the MFC is concerned. Salem passed well with good heads-up resolve. May was brilliant and of course, dominant. Walker swung a few until May's temperance warning was issued in the second quarter and from that moment on, it was as if Walker was no longer on the ground. Trac had a quieter game but his influence was ever-present. Viney was superb across the game - a powerhouse driver and scrounger. His teamwork was highly creditable, looking and finding outlets across the field (under these influences, he is able to play an unmatchable style of footy for the benefit of the whole team). Played great golf this morning, in the calming knowledge that we can play footy if our whole team acts as a team. A great win. We invented our own way to win the footy, propel the footy forward and to find targets. Goodwin must be thankful that a few heads got together to put up such a stern exhibition of thinking footballing. The whole side responded.

Y'know Febes, I'd love to agree with you because this makes sense. Two things worry me, and I know that I am not on the slow side: firstly, stubborn Simon will be responsible for taking out of the team - or substituting players' onfield time - to disadvantage that cohesion of which you speak and secondly, it has occurred to me for a longer time than I can tolerate that Stubborn Simon does not communicate well with many of his charges - particularly amongst the playing group and I suspect amongst his FD team, as well. It is because of this relativity in his role as Head Coach that I remain, week in-week out, very concerned about that game plan (whatever it is) and how he is going to transmit the message to the players with clarity, intent and measurements to observe its successful progress across the game. He does not appear to be a 'feedback' type at all, certainly not a game modifier based upon visual and play observations and requirements. How in the name of hell can he relate these necessities to the players (or 'fire them up')? By the way, Febes, welcome back.

As a Club, we are not validating recent decisions and selections adequately. We allow these to become longer-term issues and tend to stoke the fires of further complacency rather than throw a bucket of water over the mounting deficiencies. Evaluate immediate performances continuously and enact upon the evidence so gained. Only absolute positivity is acceptable - all else will only fester.

Maybe Goodwin is starting to panic - calling in favours from afar.

Fairy Nuff.

Those producing positive results - Hogan, Watts, Frosty, Kent, King, Stephan Martin, perhaps?

Problem with the thinking if it is the players who are out of congruence - Goodwin and his FD let it happen. Assured selections, no form no matter team regulation, game plan impossible so players had to make up for it when in possession of the ball. etc, etc.

Yes, speed is a true advantage and Hunt tends to play good footy against the Crows

All the other chickens have gone home to roost because they do not forage the danger points quite like Frosty could. Headless spectators and critics are a more apt consideration; Frosty was doing things that he would soon master.

We all knew that Frosty's game was under some scrutiny but we could rely upon him; he was our backline excitement machine who worked hard, got better and better at his craft, made impacts across a game like no other in very positive terms. The trade to the Squawks heralded from the first moment a significant lag in our capabilities, in which most of our supporters prepared for a serious and heartfelt loss. Such a loss has been proven - even in this topsy-turvy season. He is now more reliable than ever under Clarkson's coaching - his skills and anticipation have greatly improved. Sad time for the MFC - retaining OMac to appease TMac, and sacrificing at the first external call our beloved Frosty. Wish him well but wish he was still available - his presence opened doors for Lever to 'float' the backline in interception and covered the double-handling of opposition forwards for Nev and May. Poor decision to trade the Iceman.

Totally.

Changes were essential. Forget height and former reputations - not getting a kick or two is the worst marque of a footballer; sadly, this factor applied.

Should have happened early last year - momentum gained, momentum lost - all due to the FD and its management of our long-suffering players. Now is not too late.

The Dees' turn to shark their ruckman. Could be beneficial - if they use Gus as an inside mid on the move to read the tap - and Clarrie to gobble to crumbs. Keep Viney out of the centre at rucking time - Viney runs through the centre well within an existing play, not a clearance from a ruck tap.