Deemania since 56

I've heard that Jones has amazing skills for managing cysts and infected cuts. Thank Heavens for that, heh?

Fully agreed, and I still believe that he could be a great coach for the Dees, in tandem ( a double-sided sword) with Yze. What a footballing combination of talent, experience, mentoring and know-how.

Preuss, AVB are opposition thumpers. The only thing that May has to do is provide reciprocal attention to his opponents. Needs to take a leaf out of Biff's fullback anthology.

Not quite, Petty has a bit of magic about him that may serve us well in the coming year.

Now conceptually, that is a brilliant thought. Fully supported, old dee, but it is difficult to turn back the hands of time - Frosty was the evolutionary excitement machine and just like the ripe peach, was plucked from the tree by an idle, craven onlooker.

Gosh from Gosch's! I hope you are correct; what an asset Bennell will be if he is up to a full, recuperated season. If the new JACKO is just 30 per cent as effective as Gawn in a match, we're set for the best season in two decades.

I'll support that ... I like his kicking style and the power he generates in the ball flight ... occasionally.

Nicely posited, and true.

Rivers attracts my attention, as well. Jackson also could be a forward asset and part-time ruck in the area.

Interesting angle, TGR; that is what we saw and it was a freak-out, a once in a lifetime observation.

Good analysis. I'd reckon Bennell may be a 2020 smokey if things pan out favourably for him in terms of preparation and readiness. I still see OMac as a risk anywhere outside of the Casey team.

Tend to agree, but I still think that: given the correct further development and utilisation, Oliver still takes some beating as the best midfielder in the League Carlscum still stink (Mind you, these are just my own impressions - I would not want to influence any other poster in this regard.)

Gawd! Neighbours! Know both, very well.

Ewing Memorial cricket - knew it well. Same park, ran laps in training 5 nights per week. Used to live there as it was my 'local' open space.

Also taught me to stab pass on the oval at Central Park, Malvern, in-between curling them backwards from the outside of the foot as if to goal.

They used to rave about Bartlett sinking goals from the hfwd flank on the outer side of the MCG - with his torps. Alves, one of our greatest at a time of demons stuck in the mire, used to sink these shots consistently from the wing, further out, both sides of the 'G.

Some elder relative told me about this one. He was a knockout in his day - more than just a legend and his exploits really stack up across the years, and years, and years. Not seeing him play is one of the great negatives in life...

I think we all recall the last season in the same, sickening way. The injury toll and questionable season readiness of the majority of the team was indeed depressing, unexpected and horribly retarding. Be it luck, poor management or a less than serious attempt at a pre-season, it was most certainly cruelling for supporters.

Greg Parke would out-mark anyone, consistently from anywhere in the pack or so often, approaching the pack from left, right, front and back. He was also a notoriously schizenhausen poor kick on most occasions, particularly when it mattered.

Got my vote for longest kick - longer than Bennett, unbelievably - from his effort at Waverley Park in blustery, unfavourable conditions.

Absolutely, great 'getta, too.

Not Ray Biffen (in his earlier years)? 'Biff could launch them, then. As his back became more troublesome, his distance waned.

Rodney the Grinter was the best, overall; all weather, all opponents, all distances, all spots on the ground. Cannot remember Rod fluffing a kick - ever - even when in the Reserves team. Footballer and sacrificial lamb with intent. Great man for the Club in those long, mean and lean years.

Got to admit there were some expert kicking skills from many Melbourne players but the one kick that has cemented itself in my memory was that of John Tilbrook at Waverly Park. Scurrying around the back pocket on the outer side, he collected the ball and ran with it towards the half-back flank - but still short of that zone by many yards (as real measures were once called). He hoofed it well short of the half-back flank as mentioned, kicking it diagonally across the centre of the ground and it landed just one yard short of the inside point post. I'd heard several weeks later the very close measurement of that kick (recorded by other impressed observers very methodologically) that it carried 104 metres 'on-the-full' - which, if correct and there is no reason to doubt the authenticity of the 'measurers,' makes it one hell of a bloody big torpedo punt kick and certainly, of the many big-uns achieved by Demon players, the biggest and best I have ever seen.

Bennett was absolutely remarkable for accuracy over extraordinary distances.