Deemania since 56

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.

Drew Morphett was hard to beat. Always liked Beitzel, as well.

Nice post, pf. Here's to the hope at the start of another new year - at least there seems to be just that fraction of depth available which may make us happy through another season. Best wishes to all.

Graeme Osborne ( The Racehorse) - he was given games with Prahran in recovery from injury. Fastest bloke on the field, I'd reckon.

Absolute ripper backman, Yeats. Usually fronted in the pocket; virtually never beaten by his opponent(s) and a great linking clearance machine. One of the best, as good as Frank Davis.

Some of White's rucking performances were so completely dominant across a whole game - I've have seen many highlights reels on DL over the past couple of years where our greatest players reaped the benefits of White's mobility, tapping-thumping skills and sheer nouse as a linkman. Check out the game he played when The Wizard kicked his 9 goals ... perfect example...

Clean, talented footballer, no staging, no appeals to the rabbits. Some of his goals were remarkable - even by the standards of today.

It is - to say the least - phantastique to have so many younger players (and types of players) to develop at Casey - the scramble is not yet on for positions in the big league, that will come later; at this point, I am just very happy that the ranks up and down are thickening with talent and room for growth and development. Augers well for this year and a handful of subsequent years to come.

As a young footballer, his improvement was very noticeable. He became a team driver and team target from one season to the next. His passing was such a tragedy for all. Betcha' he is still cheering for the Dees...

Thanks for that. Greater chance of recovery?

Terrible news, terrible injury, how sad to lose an upcoming player like this young fella. I am not optimistic that he will play again - twice injured, same ACL, long road to recovery and a bumpy one, at that - so we must wish him a good recovery and hope that it is the best possible, and that the MFC support him all the way through. However, his playing days sadly seem to be over.

This is of great interest. It is a testament to drear itself that the MFC Web site is so slow with news/views, under-performing for supporters and deficient of imaginative content. Whereas the Three Votes has great memories inbuilt, a recanting of moments of supporter pride and familiarity with the past, and underpins hopes and aspirations of supporters coming into the next season. Well done.

Gil - no doubt as a host for the AFL for many hordes of patrons at possibly every game he attends - must have found the drinks prices in the bar were excessive and thus, has reduced the drinking time, not exercising care for the players and general public at all.