Deemania since 56

He's had the injury, he's gone through an extensive medical process, he is passing through an extensive rehabilitation and in that, is performing well towards the complete recovery in a progressive manner, he'd be right and valuable for the Dees. Even if we just brought him onto the ground for short stints of goal magic, at first.

Where can we access this AVB tackling exhibition to refresh the memories? I was just thinking about tacklers specifically - and I am really missing Frosty, in that (and all) regard(s). May, Frost, AVB, Preusse - what a tackle tag team we'd have ... throw in Trac, Harmes and Sparrow and you'd be constantly delighted.

I don't want Petracca to turn into a '...lean endurance athlete...' simply because he is a completely well-built fright machine for the opposition at all levels. His fitness and endurance can still be honed without losing his physique, solidity and presented 'toughness' at the ball. The guy is under and has been under enough pressure in the past 12 months to perform; this he has done with increasing capabilities. He augurs well for a very big 2020 season in which most observers already are impressed by his pre-season conditioning and apparent readiness - just from observation. He is a gun, he will be an even more effective gun; we all must get off his back - a little - as he is a good example of natural progression taking its pathway. In particular, I felt that his 2019 season performance indicated rather clearly that his footy decisions, related game interpretations and play intelligence were beginning to really hone well for the side - with a related increase in the freedom of his decision-making and its vastly improving execution. With expanding confidence, I'd reckon that we have a true champ on our hands from this point onwards.

Yes, amongst many, this is a conundrum about Brent Crosswell. Unless contributors have seen the named players, it would be a tough task to make a token allocation in such a listing. BC was a great gathered asset; a man with great skills and execution that would surprise. I'd have him in any side, whereas another superstar, Kelvin Templeton, arrived at the Dees knobbled with post-surgical reduction (in skills and capacity to apply these) which was a tremendous sadness. Prior to his knee injuries, KT was the ultimate (perhaps the best CHF you ever saw) player with Footscray. He was unbeatable in that era, and no-one could control his contribution up forward. Nearly every game he played, he was BOG, by a mile. BC was not at the same standard of consistent lethality, yet reasonably close; yet, BC gets my nod between the two as he was less 'damaged' in his contribution to the Dees than KT.

I think with another season under his belt, Petty may be the best option. We need to configure a running backline again - moreso than a more static muscle band - in which the ball movement is paramount. This realisation is what made Frosty to transform himself and may also work for Petty who is young enough, fit enough and can reach good tapping heights (and kick to position) to spoil opposition forward drives. May can excel - and ably supported by other movers this year - in the moving ball carriage and Lever can chip to the clearance spots by both hand and foot - and as a clearing punch in a pack - and again, ably supported by the mobiles and smalls working together. We have some forward line talent for 2020 who could blitzkrieg with practice and game time effort/patience. Petty could be better utiliised down back, I'd reckon, not playing a static prop forward role in the Weed ilk. We may see JSmith begin to cement his various ball-getting methods down forward as a consequence, as well, and we all know that he can 'kick em'.

Interested in some of the '...might have made the bigtime...' statements about Dillon. I must have been very lucky back then, as all of the Dees' games that I saw were back-boned winners thanks to Ross Dillon. He was a superb footballer, a CHF of immense merit and virtually unstoppable, compared very favourably with Royce the Heart at Richmond. I also thought that he was quick onfield, not lacking pace to get into the action but CHFs played differently then, to nowadays. The guys he out-marked consistently knew it, too; if Dillon was in the vicinity they'd be beaten on-ground, in the air, in a pack, etc. Heartbroken, was I, when he left for Sth Aust (where he continued to star as a real champion might).

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.