Deemania since 56

We do not need any of these changes. There have been enough changes in the recent past - these were allegedly more vital to our game and hence, implemented (already) to improve our game (but have largely failed). Those who have played or watched football, or both, still dream of the formative days now rendered inappropriate - yet the game was absolutely fantastic just a few years ago without such changes. The demise of the game to necessitate rule changes is now - and possibly often has been - in the hands of the umpires, their inconsistencies and their deliberate effect on the game/any particular game, including game levelling. Players adopt change and in the process, obviate a litany of rule changes that represent poor rule formation and limited application. IMO, 'Dirty' play rules may be excluded from this criticism for some player protection and team fairness; most of the rest seems to pan out in application as game-affecting umpire error and/or preference.

Two completely different players, both with critical skills for team success, developed, worked upon and displayed. Stynes gets my vote due to heart for the Club alone, if the hairs have to be split. Leoncelli was a big onfield improver, a critical ball carrier and distributor, a beautiful kick and fast as a road runner when it mattered. A nod for Stynes in an unmeasurable comparison.

Davey had game-winning form, and was capable of some of the greatest playing streaks in many, many games. His skills were sublime, whatever the aspect of football that was required (except the big grab, of course). From this skills base, and with his pace and determination, he created the attacking forward defence role as a marque of his own. His passing by foot was elite - underpinned by his 'eyes-up' tendencies and readiness. He contributed enormously to the team keeping the ball in the forward line by this means, opening up options amongst teammates for another possession to score. His defensive work was widely copied at both ends of the ground. An uncanny attribute of Davey was his reading of the game, with great talents to anticipate what an opponent would be doing next with the ball; Davey performed some brilliant intercepts as a consequence. Steve Febes was pure talent, as well. After a variable start in the early days, he was just behind the skills of his brother but progressively and over a couple of seasons, worked on his game to become a key interceptor and driver of the ball, gathering commendable possessions no matter who his opponent(s) was/were. Steve used the ball very well; his foot skills and handball were often sublime, and his pace and maneuvreability were just about as good as these qualities can get. Steve was a play-maker, his disposals were often accurately lengthy and unexpected. To measure the positive changes in team attributes of both of these players is very difficult; IMO, based on raw skills and impact on games, Davey gets my vote.

Johnno had much greater, all-game influence and contribution - usually, highly consistently and this was backed up with his penetration, gathering, the yards he made with the ball in hand, excellent disposal and gut-wrenching wins against opponents. Viney's skills were not as reliable, consistent nor abundant as those of Johnno's attributes, IMO. Both were great Clubmen.

Almost impossible against Gawn; this is despite his value to the Team across several years - some games and efforts were terrific and thus worthy of praise and recognition.

How sad that we cannot enjoy these smokes at the footy, now. Miss my Chesterfields and the occasional half corona.

Williams was very good when he came on from the bench. He went on to play some very high possession games.

His game was very good; intimidating, mobile, intercepting, fair-dinkum.

Made a few errors onfield, conceded. However, 'Racehorse' (Graeme Osborne) was just about the fastest running footballer I have ever seen - Stawell Gift material but I don't think he took it on ... lacked interest. Played a few exceptional games but these were far apart.

Great footballer, Bailey.

TJ was blindingly brilliant, at times, in close - out on his own - around packs - setting up plays or receiving good footballing. He did have super=effective taggers, every game, overcoming most with sheer skills and timing. Yze was a skills machine, pumping out high calibre models - often when most required. His long-term statistics indicate this over TJ's career highlights and longevity. However, Yze was an escape artist - he got the Dees out of trouble so often. In comparison, TJ did the harder yards with more impact per yard; he left whole midfields and defence lines staggered with his skills to play on, to create a play and to feed teammates. These also got the Dees out of trouble quite frequently; these also set benchmarks for winning football matches with skills, determination and the acceptance of some very large challenges. TJ had a life outside of football matches and training that did not enable a truly lengthy career; TJ thus became one of those brilliantly skilled Demons at 100 mph that bust piston rings just as the warranty ran out. I think we can all remember those performances. TJ for me in terms of skill and effect and decline. Yze for me in terms of reliability over time.

You highlight many of the real problems, and these are agreed at first interpretation. However, I firmly believe that Australians collectively (including governments hamstrung by being only somewhat authoritarian and similarly, dictatorial - thank Heaven) should be afforded an absolute commendation for their realisation and management to date with this viral pandemic. It is a group response and we are strongly linked to the containment of the ill-advised, the moral negativity we express to the wanton selfish and risk-taking, and those whose subsequent behaviours, from ignorance and self-importance, flout most advisories and proven intercessions to both our individual and communal/population safety controls. The panaceia has not yet arrived in this horrible episode yet we are learning and controlling, at large, the longitudinal and bumpy road to viral absolution. Hence, the future will probably be brighter than what we may depressingly expect.

Yep, Robbie was the best player in my lifetime - with L Mattews and M Blight following up in sequence. For the MFC since Robbie, it would be more than difficult to rank those mentioned above in any agreed sequence. Heart and soul says to me, the following first three: Lyon, Stynes, The Ox.

Some very useful points, and at home on the 'G, we have the flanking advantage in this. We chase; we should be chased.

Great team - it must be remembered that in his role, Clarkson was close to elite. A very good footballer - we needed him at the time and he delivered.

So good, it makes you shake. What a line-up. A few missing out are just unlucky that the talent ladel was full...

Dead right. It is becoming a commitment thing - am I committed to making an effective play (by good disposal to a target on the move)?

Carl?

How phascinating was an old collection of sequential 'Footy Records' discovered in a mate's garage ... no glamour, just print and a few snaps.

It is next to impossible to attempt to make a fool out of an actual, ego-maniacal idiot. However and although I hate to say it out loud, I agree with some of what Eddie McGuire might have said. Membership fees are paid to the football club to support its operations and essential requirements, the trend is to receive something back from the club. In these difficult times, football operations had to cease leaving clubs facing enormous, regular costs of many varied necessities despite no football revenues or dispensations from the flocks of crowds they may attract. The membership fee assists to support the club. In hard times, the support needs to be greater from supporters and the viewing public. For this reason I would have no hesitation resisting the calls for return of membership fees and cannot request or accept a return in kind during such hard times. If things were rosey this year, the MFC would deliver, as far as I am concerned. I want to seriously support the MFC in any way that I can - so that the Club and its entourage emerges with as little damage as possible on the other side of this calamitous pandemic; if that support turns out to be financial based upon my (our) earlier and annual commitments to the Club in a fee-paying advance, so be it.

:He was dropped...his game had a bad stink about it?

I really used to enjoy watching our forward recruits and wanna-bees. One of them kicked 11 goals in one game! At the 'G, in front of adoring crowds so hopeful that we had obtained a real winner. His name was Ray Carr, I think.

A classic, un-passable CHB - great games, penetrating footballer.

Reminds me about how many cigarettes Crackers Keenan puffed at half-time breaks ...

This fella was so unlucky with injuries - and when match fit, so talented.