Deemania since 56

Ditto thinking...

Pop JSmith in at FFwd; pop TMac into CHB. Swapsies...position-wise, across the game. Give both of these players another taste of which they are proficient,

As a maturing nation and society, you'd think that beliefs leaning towards right wing - as with left wing beliefs - would be tolerated, just because these are the opinions of the thinking man. Centralist considerations would be applicable here, too, if matters were to prove to be wrong and harmful to others. The rights to challenge points of view are gratefully more prevalent now, as well; this is another sign of a maturing society. Does this assist to create a more unitarian environment? What is not so pleasing is the growth in unreasonable alienation and intolerance for beliefs alone - whether these be political, social, cultural, sexual, racial, et al and infinitum. The passion with which those extolling intolerance, prejudice, overt criticism and/or distaste on such matters is merely a stage of their own innate ignorance of which many are exceedingly proud and retentive. It is not a blast from the past, it is perhaps a shallow depth of perception. I struggle, as well, with some issues where my overt rejection is highly questionable; for example: most things to do with The Filth Football Club and the state of footy umpiring to advantage, these days. Hence, I await illumination on positives for these latter two elements of my own prejudices and perhaps many more of which I am not aware. People will have different perspectives on all things in life What must be upheld is their right to so do. We live in a conundrum.

We could well do with a few minutes of vision with Harley at this stage - evidence of his playing and ground skills now that recovery seems nearly complete and he is allegedly 'ready to go' for us. It would settle some nerves and knockers, surely?

I'd still like to see TMac back at CHB - leaving Lever as the intercept (on the run); agree with the Weideman thing and its duration; ANB and Hibbo, out for a while; Smith must play; Rivers on the bench,

Kid gloves.

Must agree; Hibberd is a present worry and possibly needs to re-prove himself in the best '25-ish'. At the same time, OMac is not in the best 30 - even on good days one quarter at a time. The forward line has some potential, so I'd like to see TMac going back to CHB to allow for the mobility needs of the modern backline and, as in the past with such space, he does create drive to the midfield and into the forward line with some depth, and can keep up with and out-endure most nifty forwards and taller 'resting players. Just an opinion....

Top selections, from what is available ... this is an ideal time / the season has ideal shape ahead to blood a few, forcing a few previous 'regulars' to re-consider and prove their worth to the team. Y'know, for what it is worth, with this line-up, I would swap your possies for Jackson and JSmith; (ie: Jackson to CHB as an attacking, defensive clearance man and JSmith to CHF as he is a genetic forward with his father's chromosomes).

Would really appreciate some up-to-date video vision on Rivers - training, match-practising, playing defensive moves, as well. He is an enigma at present in which much hope resides ....

Harmes can play almost anywhere ... he was needed down back to add pace to the half-back line and either side forward or backward of that area. He excelled in an area where we had/have no attacking-defending pace or muscle or intent, let alone direct pressure on an opposition forward (previously known as well-maintained close checking or tagging). We see the 'same old/same old' leaving us, in reality, a KPD short and often defenceless in that part of the ground; consequently, that which was lacking was provided by Harmes, for a change. This left us an attacking mid-forward short, leaving big brother to pick up the 'loss of form' criticisms against more than one opponent (as someone was free to help spoil big brother). Time for a new CHB - with guts and ingrained effort to burn. Let's ask Hardeman to pick us one coz he was the best we ever had.

Scrap-booking the backline! OMac-gaps to be filled. Joel is a forward and has heaps of potential for this role. Just ask his Dad. TMac is a better CHB than a forward - even though he often telegraphs his foot passing and defensive line of delivery on too many occasions. This can be fixed by improving team play and respective anticipation between receivers. We have a tonne of capable young 'uns with height, mobility and good hands - who can also kick straight and have been improving in this regard - to fill the forward line - and to provide ground ball rebounds and screens for/to our potentially phantastique smaller fleet of forwards and recent goal-hungry recruits, and those who now are capable of providing improved team play after several years of 'experience' and 'opportunity'. SG may well be overdue to have his head read or we face another stuff-up year - limited as it is going to be. At the end of the day: another senior coach, please.

The thinking man's problem resolution, in this case.

And, RBG, it appeared as though he did so, rather easily. He is a man belonging in a good team.

Now that you have mentioned him, Radar, it is hard to forget the contributions over time made by Ross Brewer. One of my favourites on the 'G, played well there. Not a great standout but certainly from the spectators' stands, a big contributor and consistently capable. Colin Graham, on the other hand was an enormous talent, wasn't he?

That form, Chook, was reasonable ... but Tom would have done better from CHB. Yes, OMac gets back to the goals - but after the ball possession has been lotteried amongst opposition forwards. Under laws of averages, I'd estimate that the return on investment for OMac is around one good quarter every three or four games, sometimes one or two good quarters when opposition forwards have started to tire. Mobility-wise, much less. I'd hope that the return was improved - even slightly - but like the Weed, it just ain't happening.

Fully agreed. Endurance, injury-wise, is what we need of him in the first instance; in the second instance, it is a matter of conceding Harley's exceptional talent in the game of footy because - even at half strength, his improving state of readiness , and in whatever will be his role for the team - it is far better than most of the players that our coaching team can put onto the field.

You little beauty, Harley!

Put Preusse in one pocket to charge out at the defenders, bend a little reputation here and there along the way, and to protect 'our' small forward fleet. If receiving a kick, he could be very useful for goalkicking. Don't waste him with ruckwork. He'd help to create a footballing heaven for Bennell, Kozzie and Hannan.

Good comment. Thanks for that. It is a mire of indecision at present so I guess I am looking one spot at a time, again. Cheers.

Don't want to see Lever's game being that of filling in for OMac and thus, losing its rebound advantage from his intercepts and freeing up (unmanning) another two opposition forwards when the ball is in that vicinity. This is what happened to Hibberd, Jetta and Salem in the past, week in, week out - leaving OMac to be 15 metres behind the play running into empty space (slow as a tortoise). Lever needs to work with May, not on behalf of OMac.

That would be an example of a lack of possessions, a compounding lack of defensive pressures and a complete slow-down of our defensive run and distribution, wouldn't it? It may suit Goodwin, but it does not suit me - he's had his chances so why waste a jumper on the field? I must commend you, Chook, on your loyalty - but there are others more keen to succeed, IMO.

Essendon had a great run with the umpires - it was a good team to start off with and had some great plays - however, its 'bash and crash', right jab to the head mantra ensured win after win after win through the season and in the final against the Dees. Footy and its outcomes is a tough game; 98 was the stage on which the Dees held the strongest spotlight, alas.

Absolutely correct. It ain't rocket science and the coaches are responsible - they have provided instructions and training drills for who, where, against whom (each match), how far, ad infinitum. Players are left playing to expected and time-honoured, proven dodgy instructions (readable) so they can get a game next week, too; on the rare occasion when the player does not have the time to dispose of the ball more effectively, it often works to perfection - hitting a loose man making the most of his opportunities - not his life insurance policy.

Thoughts and memories from the past ... for those of us who can remember, don't forget to take your blood pressure medications. The years between now and '64 have been nightmares, hauntingly irrelevant. Still get a buzz out of the Doc's game and Ron's driven intents.

So maybe the market is saying: The MFC has the personnel and potential but lacks the coaching and strategies to have a really good season?