Deemania since 56

At that, I just wonder how Frosty will play - he's been impressive so far this season.

The season being the season that almost never was, showing signs of form slumps across the combatants and questionable form lapses, I'd see this not as a Premiers year for the beloved Dees let alone a finals year at all but moreso, a fantastic opportunity to blood all we can blood into a multi-strategic skills machine of thinking footballers. This is the time to maximise our participation and standards thereof for the game.

Totally correct.

Yes, a better game from OMac. Hope to see more of these if selected.

Those concerned just do not like to be so obviously outshone by an articulate young athlete.

No, no ... no, no, no.

Agree strongly with this, as a forward, he has some great attributes that will possibly come to the fore with game time - already he is making noticeable improvements as a defender - but most likely will never be a 'killer defender'. However, I suspect that his game-time apprenticeship will serve him well, and will assist him to realise that in a thinking man's game, he could well be a 'killer forward'. The opportunity for him should continue. He can mark, he can kick set shots a distance, he can be highly mobile when not locking down an opposition forward as his first priority. He is developing the goods, without doubt.HIs Geelong contribution was quite evidentiary, as was his form development earlier last year.

Sadly, the excellent and isolated space that Tomlinson created out there on the flanks at critical moments was ignored by May at kick-ins, opting instead to '...kick to Gawn no matter what...', and we were very lucky that against the Suns that Maxxy was able to mark almost unhindered. From these marks, Maxxy then had to create the play by foot or handpass, an additional load in congestion that was unnecessary, whereas Tomlinson had a blank canvas to goal that a smart Demon could escape into down the field for an open i50 avenue. Gawn is highly reliable, of course and thank Heaven he is the bloke he is - and put in a great Captain's game to prove it to us all - going for his marks under some duress on many occasions. May, on occasion as an alternative, could draw and then dummy the opposition towards Gawn but kick it to the Flank/Wing/Tomlinson/opposite side for a freedom run or pass upfield. A little two-eyed evaluation from May in this regard would add heaps to our ball progression as we have the smarts up forward to enact the transfer.

It was - for him, typically - very effective when needed and made a real difference to the outcome as a contributor. We must also remember other than being a good opportunist and runner at the HF to deep forward areas, he is also capable of getting up there to take the 'timed' leap into the blue - marking sometimes spectacularly, from nowhere. I'd like to also note about his value (and accuracy) with the check side/banana kick from the pockets - in two games, two miraculous goals and one each from either side of the sticks. Value this lad ...

I thought that too - expecting the free from incorrect disposal / dropping the ball, at least. Apparently, so too did the players of both sides who stayed off the ball - and in that time he ran on for the kick coz he - like everyone else - didn't hear the whistle. Umpires certainly do 'gift' some players at the expense of others...

Gawn and Tracc should share BOG, I think. The two have some secret understanding from the midline and into the forward zone.

As usual when in the team, the Weed is pushed forward quite regularly by opposition backs. This makes it look like he is positioning under the ball and forward of the actual flight of the ball on descent. The umpires consider that to be OK, sadly. He needs 'rear' protection to clunk a few as marks. He had about six or seven clear free kicks dead in front of goals last night - none of these we paid by the umps. It would make our scores highly respectable if such infringements were paid against the offending backs - it just would not happen to the big name forwards in more 'glamorous' teams - they receive the free kick. The green snot goblins need to look at this - it also happens regularly to TMac.

Agreed, there have been quite a few messages about the game style and performances across the field this week, prevaricate by a couple of weeks of the same, but less intense. Messages must be getting through to the MFC hierarchy, to Goodwin and his Company, and to the players themselves - each and all open to some severe and deserved criticism and/or praise as the cases might be. All will be under the pump to perform in a 'thinking man's' game this week. The expectation of atonement for past errors is high from one and all. However, we live in hope - one game of improved performance is not enough.

Reflect, for days and days, on the demise of the team, the loss of key players, the inability of the Coach to reverse a declining competitiveness and our players' development results, the increasing distance between current performances and a premiership, and the rash decisions made by the Club in a continuity of mediocrity. Then I will concentrate on golf for a few months.

We do have these talls on the list, plus some. We also have some great 'less than talls' on the list. It would be fun to watch them all in a single round - see how they run.

It might be expected that these are not the starting team slots. There are big and small gaps in the skills for position - and form. However, it is also hoped that these personnel can be more effective - and this team listing is just a decoy for what will be utilised. The bench holds some potency and some of those on the field selections might well start the game or expend significant time during the game comfortably bum-warming as the match progresses.

Here is an example: Pert is all corporate speak, but almost nothing else as a CEO. Howzat?

Spot on!

The concept of Tomlinson, Gawn and Jackson rotating at full forward/ruck/CHF across a whole game in sub-quarter rallies appeals to me, provides an anchor for Weideman to steady as a forward constant - and enables TMac to be re-located to CHB - or even Fullback - or even on rotation with May to/between CHB-FB, as well. Opposition players will be scurrying to find their Demon opponent and as far as these Demon players are concerned, breaks in roles will freshen their general skills and relieve Maxxy enormously, for his own longevity in the game. All it will take is a visual hand signal between the parties concerned as soon as we start forward progress and possession from the backline / limited distance passing between HB - midfield - HF - and keeping Goodwin out of it, so to speak - and the bench spaces. (Alongside such rotations, a specialist crumbing utility/tag man could assist each of these players. The static players would, of course, have to take care of themselves forward, back and two-way - just to keep them sharp and in a state of readiness. This could be harmonised with one or two midfielders - I seriously doubt that we need four, as currently on offer - but that would be another extension of a moderately complex player feed. ) Of course, there would be no need for leaving the back door open in such ball and player transfers.

Good comments and I agree at the back of my mind. There is some potential there - a given 'swing' role offers much to players like Browne.

Yep, still in absolute awe of his (Schwarta) Club sentiments and loyalties, and efforts. His ability as a footballer was absolutely immense, too. However, injuries were horrid but admiration must stem from his determination to get back onto the field to do his bit for the Club - and this was duplicated many times to demonstrate his own commitment to the MFC. His game, particularly, would so often demonstrate his anticipation and understanding of the game and the circumstances of the team. In his earlier days, prior to his totally debilitating run of injuries and physical recoveries, I used to rate him a few steps higher than Lyon and Neitz. His tactics and strategic efforts complemented his footy skills - he saw, he did, he surprised, repeatedly. Just like Flower - in a different function. For these thinking-man's contributions, I also rated his footy nouse above most across the past two decades. I still do and personally, I welcome his comments and feelings about our current team and its performances. The bloke is mature, diverse and legendary now - I'd even consider him to make a great coach of the team someday.

It may be worth a try but he is a forward and can score, subject to the compliance of the rest of the team. I'd suspect that Brownie is a little too light for a backline role, but faster and keeps closer than OMac. The skillset seems quite reasonable.

Good sense and a great opportunity for all three to start really shining. Rivers still impresses me with some classy potential; Harmes does need to be freed to the midfield and penetrate into and amongst the forwards at a shallower level - mobility, body strength, some closing speed, head-up delivery, spoils well and can mark if it is known from whence the ball arriveth on most occasions. Useful.

That would not surprise me. Frosty went from a learning footballer to a reliable excitement machine on the backline, improving in skills and contribution on the median curve very nicely. He'd also chase down errant opposition forwards - gave them panic attacks that fluffed their kicks and handballs - enabling a Demon to take possession (if Frosty didn't at that spot on the ground). Whoreform knew it, inflating his opportunities to get him. The MFC hierarchy fell for it all.

Based upon what is on our list, this seems to be the best possible selection.