Deemania since 56

Dirty Dave was an essential. Gerard was the second worst 'let go' we have ever done. Frosty was the greatest 'let go' loss ever since.

The card only pathway worked for me - an interstate/armchair member - as it has those two extra games (that are available with the digital on-phone pathway. So, interstate/card still gets 5 game entries, and 'she who must be obeyed', the 'hand-brake', gets the same membership deal. It costs a fraction more than the digital, even fo interstate members, but it is worth it for the types of trips that I make to mighty Melbourne to touch base with my heritage. Opted out of the parcel deal, as well, as over the years, the merchandise mounts - and last year I won the door prize at the interstate luncheon in the Sporting Globe pub, which was a $400 gift voucher at the Demons shop at the MCG - so I am well equipped with other Club paraphernalia. The old 'flash and sit' card is the way to go and cannot be superceded adequately - provided that little Club window in the Southern Stand stays in operation to collect tickets for guests. 'Carna Dees!

Such a pleasing rap for Stanley the Alves. He may not have actually been one of our echelon 'greatest' but by hell, he was a fantastic footballer, a fantastic wingman, a great Captain, a beautiful kick and 'on-the-run' disposer of the ball, a speedster, too. He had the best baulk and blind turn routines one could ever see (and has ever seen - absolutely impeccable) and knew better than most what it took to kick a goal from a long way out. Even Bartlett got a few from the Southern Stand wing - and these were commendable: Stan got all of them, everytime. I always hoped that he would coach the Dees ... his stint at the Saints as coach was marred by a very sick club and limited talent within the footy department/majority of players. Stan, to me, remains a playmaking icon of our Club and certainly, one of the great characters of our Club.

Fully agreed - Ray and Ron did the spotting I recall as well as the gameplan and skills development. Widely successful across a whole team. Swooper did hold them together, pushing on with the doctrinal emphases of their recent past.

Makes you cringe a little in disbelief - how could Northey assemble such a talented team - and talented, it was - legendary players and capabilities almost across the board. Northey was capable of bringing out the best in his charges, ice-cool and demanding of a certain standard of contribution. I think he coached Redan, in Ballarat, as well where considerable success was achieved repeatedly. Over a couple of years, Northey was the ideal coach for that crew and a tactician of the first order. We wuz robbed that season...

Hard not to pick Robbie Flower. We have had some greats, when in form. 1. Flower 2. The Ox 3. Hardeman

This has a very nice ring to it - toss in Brayshaw as a receiver and we may well be away into a big and successful season.

One would seriously be happy if this was correct (May and Lever with a full season). There are the usual and some newbie supports for the backline, as well. Many of us here on DL will still miss the 'excitement machine' with the red hair, freckles and ears worthy of some appreciation. It is ponderous just how far Frosty might have continued to improve - and it is sad that Whoreform have the right to display such progression.

I rejected the digital avenue. The lanyard with the card is the footy season security blanket. It worked, too. As I go out of the ground a fair bit during the breaks to breathe that enchanting Benson & Hedges aroma, the card is quick, no queues, and is identifiable for the seat attendants in the Members' areas. Flash and sit, I call it.

Inbuilt mongrel - that is what we need in bucketloads - with skills to match.

Aint is nice?

DWilliams did play for Sale. Great place for footballers in the 50s, as well. Only problem was the Filth colours they wore.

Petty is still better down back than 'chicken wings' - at all costs. This season will be one of deep reflection as to whom is responsible for allowing Frosty to get the deserved cash at Hawthorn.

Logical and enticing.

Despite the overall demise of good football on a consistent basis from the MFC, when - even in recent and very recent times - we have played allegedly 'above ourselves' and have been extremely competitive, leading games by margins that others would regard as comfortable on the day, we have fallen to the good grace of the green snot goblins affecting the final outcomes of those near victories and so, there is something grossly dismissive in the parcity of football talent across the field that both the public and AFL opinion cannot wear - and do not acknowledge. We are left as the chopping block for the butchering of games that we play. Watching the replays, this is a sad, time-recurrent outcome. A little sensationalism, nay, grandstanding, may well address the lowering expectations that we 'make up the numbers' for the rest of the competition wherein our scorecard never matters.

We have the right to look forward to a more successful football season and I agree that 'hype' is not necessarily a part of this as it leads to false expectation, and in the case of the MFC, is a very shallow representation of our capitulation in games during 2019. We did little, we got nowhere, we are not yet poised to play the phoenix amid the ashes and residue that we were responsible for and through which reasonable criticism was levelled. However, one must remain bright and continue to hope for a turnaround in fortunes, to adopt as much positivism as we might; the Club appears to be adopting such an approach; there is largely - and in many forms - a new broom with which to rebuild through a more pragmatic approach to games alongside more versatile preparation and performance. 'Carna Dees! It can be done.

A hazy recollection, at best, but I think I can remember this summation on Tomlinson coming from The Kid/Dermie Brereton.

Congratulations Nathan - despite great odds over many long seasons of football, you largely held out Club together with your tireless efforts and intents. A footballing sunset is a difficult time at the individual level but we all remember holding our heads high on so many occasions due to your endeavour. A just and rare reward for a MFC player.

Bennell, despite the injuries and related layoffs, has shown the MFC something special in his training and debutant presence as a Demon. He will make many commentaries appear as past exercises in sucking lemons. Good onyer, Harley - resume your rightful career in the RednBlue and take us to that Premiership! Wishing you every success ...

A matter worthy of scrutiny and observation. This will test the 'colours' of the AFL, itself.

Apt name under such circumstances, full of Magpie droppings and random head-pecks. The dunnies in the Southern Stand will become Filth Headquarters, as well.

It would be very nice if he rewarded the team and supporters with this decision to make him a legitimate MFC identity. Good luck, young man.

We really want a tandem effect of JSmith and Fritta into the forward line - and Hibbo ain't not going to be in the backline, his readiness timeline has been (and will be again) fully reliable for season kick-off - this all pleases me for the 2020 season ahead. As for Rivers, I'd put it to him to be absolutely ready to take the run in the backline at CHB ( a far better choice than '...someone's little brother with chicken wings...') who does not and has not made an impact as a backman across the past three years. That is Frosty's gap, sadly, so we had better fill it with someone keen, hungry-eager, skilled and developmentally at a state of readiness.

As a clearing backman, his leap was very useful - equally with his mobility and 'eyes-up' ball transmission. I still reckon that he is a forward and one with enormous potential - who might well interact in a forward-combo with Fritta to create all sorts of havoc with opposition defensive efforts. We need multiple ball receivers with sticky hands; that way, we can score more times. The loss of Frost in the backline will really hurt us (someone's little brother will get a game again now) if Smith is to be relocated to the backline.

Smith was coming along very, very nicely before the injury ... in good form, good time, good effect. In combinations - and there appear to be more of these coming into the 2020 season - he will be a real asset to the team, given his style of play and decision-making.