Deemania since 56

Buzz word, nothing more and twice as meaningless. If I could imagine a 'brand' for the MFC, it would be: 'LOSING'.

Dump him, now! He was paid a wage and a provident fund benefit. We owe him nothing. He owes us heaps.

Exactly! Are we the only ones who see it? The umpires, each game, see more than we ever could. However, they '...decline to comment...' in order for each opposition team to win from unobservable advantage.

Agreed JD, but whilst Clarrie is tagged, he can and does overcome it with his sublime ball-getting skills, positioning, mobility and teamwork. He is just doing - or being asked to do - too much across a game to make up for the weaknesses in others. The one thing he cannot overcome is the illegal holding than he tolerates as a sportsman from all opposition midfielders; it is now endemic - every team does it to excess on him - yet the umpires have no sight for this - there seems to be an AFL directive that with Clarrie, illegal holding is acceptable to nullify the otherwise dominance of Clarrie. It ain't for any other key midfielder in the competition (Cripps comes to mind), just Clarrie. It is also allowable for an opposition team to do this to Brayshaw, as well, these days. That is one 'hellava weekly disadvantage for our team demonstrated by the green snot goblins. Max mus endure continuous fouls (of many descriptions) as well - as we all see at all points of the ground where Max is located across a game. Few opposition rucks challenge him for the ball tap; rather, they opt for body slams, arm entanglement and knees to the ribs. Watch a few replays on this to count the number of times this is done to nullify the best ruck in the League. Open slather on the Dees' best three. NO problems! To increase the level of disgust I hold for the umpires and their AFL directives, this kind of infringement has started to be used against Salem, if not a straight out belting before he gets the ball.

His 'dive' is more artful now than his footballing skills, the [censored].

The perfect, time-tested, guaranteed pathway to opposition goals. OMac is absolutely useless and with confidence but bitter disappointment, it is evident that he has cost us many games across the past two years - tonight's performance was yet another. The backline again scrambled to make up the vacancy he creates on the field (when on the field). A total spud.

Sorry SL, I had forgotten Newman, as well. So easily done. Once gone, easily forgotten. Note: ...absolutely no loss to the game and its commentary status. My only question now is: Why the hell did it take so long?

The Club decision-makers are obviously hell-bent on mediocrity. Something is very stupid about these selections and the circumstances with May on the ground late in the last game. The 'Ins' should be 'Outs' and the gaps in the team are widening. Is Goodwin (and Coy.) the right guy/s?

Agreed, and in addition, Clarrie is asked to do too much week in, week out. May he receive our blessings for the workload and application that he provides for the first three quarters, week in, week out.

What a farce. So what can the AFL do about it? If they do nothing, they are complicit in attempting to pre-determine the outcome of the game. If you watch the footage closely, you can see the the feet and knees of the Footscray player doing the rucking are pointed and moving directly towards Max's ribcage to inflict damage and his own 'blocking' on the tall big fella. What was Max supposed to do? His position of balance for a ruck tap demands that the stabilising arm is elevated above the centre of gravity in order for the vertebrae, shoulder girdle musculature, and scapula, and related muscle actions to fix the opposing shoulder girdle that is doing the movement via a brace against the force of the arm moving proximally towards the ball. Ever seen a ruckman tap a ball with one of his arms held tight against the rest of his body to keep his pants on?

My eyesight is waning at times. In the first quarter, I thought that I had seen OMac on the field and thought: 'Hell, Goodwin has made the same bad mistake again!' Later, at a distance, that same player took a great mark and kicked truly in fairly difficult circumstances; I was truly amazed, it seem to me that OMac had marked the ball and kicked a decent goal, and was competing really well, up-close to opponents and running them down for a tackle. He was also getting the ball and creating breakaway distances before disposals. About then, mouth agape, I saw the jumper number for the first time. It was Harry Petty. Boy, did I feel a fool thinking OMac could do any of that onfield!

Tick - correct

It was a good game in particular aspects for Petty. Just needs regular games to balance his contributions.

Sloppy in going forward, sloppy in close, sloppy 'myrical' handballing when not necessary, sloppy attempting to mark in packs - and sloppy umpiring when held, pushed out, blocking.

Probably correct. Needs match play time with Casey.

Excitement machine is our Frosty.

Against Carlscum, I liked the way Petty, when beaten for a possession by his opponent, generally man-handled that opponent with confidence and some authority to 'the extreme letter of the law'. He does not look strong but can obviously apply it.

Backline starting to look good, on paper, very good. Hope the colours dazzle. Preuss has a big one to deliver at full forward, but probably a good Gawn rotation point and a cuppla goals to both would be nice. The Weed had better produce ... lump in the throat for further comment. Interchange preferences for me: Petracca, the two Wagners, Dunkley (or Petty).

Now that is an interesting thought. Let's start a topic anew: Who to trade at season's end - and how much will we get for these players? Or, Who not to trade under any circumstances - otherwise, empty to lists? I'd start with the latter. Gawn, Clarrie, Gus, Salem, Petracca, Frosty, May, Jetta, Melksham, J. Smith.

I still think that the Wagners can further develop given further opportunity - moreso than some whose opportunity opportunities have yielded very little in a developmental sense. The Wagners are mobile, for starters, and at different times in different ways, get the pill and use it fairly well, fairly consistently. I'd expect that their stuff-ups will wane somewhat as their own processes onfield automate.

In one way or the other, we have all said this about Clarrie's kicking all season and last season. If he continues like this, he will find himself at another level (upwards) and add a whole new dimension to the effectiveness of the midfield - just by influence, alone. Wonderful to see.

Preuss is starting to ruck quite well; he beats most opponents and is amassing some impressive statistics, and the crumbers are responding well to his style. Gawn can be a forward as it appears that the Weed may be overwhelmed as a solitary tall forward, with Preuss rotating ruck-forward with Gawn across the game. Moments like these make me yearn for a fit JSmith, must admit, to shore up contests across the 50m arc and under.

Conundrums of the situation actually do abound.

Agree with the relativity of comparisons you make, Watts - but we must be aware of the sentiments as you suggest. Blind faith will drive some as a form of Club loyalty to be displayed; the balance is whether or not such displays are contraindicative of reality that, over time, is wearing thin on many. At the end of the day, we all have faith, expressed in varied outcomes. I'd slip the Weed to the Filth, myself, in a transfer arrangement that would provide us with a surplus to the transaction (such as Marty Hore). Grab a reliable forward elsewhere with the change.

Talent only gets you so far. Attitude and hard work are needed at AFL level. As well as rehearsed and refined skills. One might make the expectation of accuracy and assured, unhindered goal kicking part of a deep forward's repertoire. He is obviously not doing enough practice or alternatively, the wrong practice deficient of advice and expert mentoring. Goal-kicking is a form of assured reliability for one so nurtured.