Deemania since 56

I lived and grew up in Malvern and once built, I frequented that shopping centre just off Glenferrie Road, on Wattletree Road. Earl was regularly seen standing in his sports store, which was empty. In fact, I do not recall ever seeing a customer there - and I visited the place twice weekly, at least. However, I did recognise Earl immediately - quite a figure of the football genre -- and always had a private interest in '...how business was doing...' I recall, I thought that he would definitely go broke very soon - if he was the owner/franchisee and actually made an effort to get some sneakers there, once or twice. Big fella. Reminded me of the old MSD sports stores days in so many ways but in particular, a footballing icon at call.

Thanks for the confirmation, Rusty; some may have thought that I was otherwise sprouting on the past.

He was an inaccurate kick for goal. Had a loop in his kicking leading to a hook and slice across a distance.

Posited beautifully, beelzebub. A great deal of rational thought.

^ Sob! ^ If only TMac would lead from full forward. A propping forward is lucky, not determined.

A saving grace for OMac possibly, but it would have to be trialled for half the season at Casey first. It may work - provided he doesn't aim to ignite the forward line with his blistering leads and rugged forward defensive pressure.

Walker actually doesn't have these to give! If he wasn't a media-star in his own teacup, he'd have been passed over a few years ago.

Too right. Being lean and mean, himself, a lightweight-easily-knocked-out-of-position type forward- mid-fielder -backman, these positionings of which you refer, and his jumps timings, and his nouse of 'when to kick the ball earned in general play' were magnificent so his teachings to guys like Fritsch and Tracca, and Salem and Oliver/Gus would be invaluable. Of course, mental acuity would form part of that learning - something that our 'game plan' seems to lack.

I would be very confident in saying that firstly, he would be great in the coaching department and secondly, Yze was always going to come back to the MFC after his playing career when such newer skills, to him, were developed so that he could make a positive input to the Club we all love. By hell, he was a good player and for just that alone, could remedy our team across the summer.

In reality, the 'fix' may not be as great nor widespread as we might imagine. Independence in a thorough review must not have been situated - so that analyses that may occur have no biases from either internal or external sources. A review conducted under dispositions is not a review - and it will fail in its purpose if so undertaken. Looking into the cupboard for spring cleaning is, however, essential for the MFC to ensure that there are limited 'rainy-day' dependencies.

No from me, too. Outside run, small forwards, and Langton. Nice mix - after a smashing pre-season of skills, fitness and variation in the game 'plans' - and I do mean these to be plural.

That is an interesting and very possible circumstance with such strengths in the recruitment qualities.

Ingerson was something very special - his defensive reliability was tremendously valuable, with possessions taken by hook or by crook establishing a 'wall' of intent on the backline.

Absolutely, and it will be an enormous lift for the whole team: reliable defence, committed attack at the ball, solid interceptions, launching-pad for rebounds and setting examples for the rest of the football field.

Just has the be the chase-down of the century, or very close to such. His pace for this type of football is unique and really effective. Such a clean despatch of the fast Eagle - almost sad if Frost's workrate was not so exceptionally good - and a very clear example of why Frosty is a very useful, and wanted, player for the Dees. Furlongs ahead, as mentioned by a poster, earlier.

Get Frosty on the 'permanently required' list immediately!

The Club, overwhelmingly made up of Members, does learn a heap, year after year, game after game, of just how badly the team, the FD, the administration and its hangers-on perform as if these structures actually do not care. The players - under a constant pressure to 'rally' and move across the changing aspirations (or lack thereof) of a series of short-term procrastinators placed to supervise their 'development' and 'competitiveness' - do remarkably well in their demonstrated tolerance and hope of short-term 'turn-arounds' yet before they know it, their careers as footballers are over. Only Roos provided relief - albeit too short but the improvements and readiness factors were noticeable. The Club across the board requires hard-headed determination alongside exacting performance criteria; and, if those accepting responsibility do not meet the Members' expectations across the medium-term, then they are to be rapidly terminated. There is a missing link between footballing success and footballing preparation. Just because such a link is not easily defined, it is also not to be ignored or under-achieved. Sack 'em, move on until what 'it' takes occurs.

Thanks Fork'em!

Widen your horizons, 'coz two disagreed summations ain't enough the substantiate the post. Olisik puts in multiple points of sound, alternative thought quite regularly, proving to be most interesting and often creatively abstract, for a change.

Sounds like an automatic cull, to me. What do people think about him and his retention?

How do we get to read this article? I keep getting 'generator' tabs but the document does not load.

Yes, numbers at the contest; free-up the outside spaces for the opposition to clear. The number of times this season that we have seen this occur - with up to four Demon players on top of the player - who had the ball and tapped the ball out to space - all leaving their direct opponents. Worse still, Key Position Demons running into this melee to assist a static moment. Then Viney and Jones: grab the ball, stick it into your stomach, fall over onto the ball, wiggle your legs until there is a ball-up from the umpire. Two players out of the game for critical seconds. Sheet!

I was surprised, not by the effort but by the scoreline until the dying minutes. Some played well; others, very well; most, dog ordinary once again. Max, Fritta and Frosty were my best three - clearly. Other 'reliables' came, went and faded. However, I was pleased with the space-finding of some of our forwards - particularly early in the game. Viney tagged well, putting in his best game for the season, I'd reckon. Happy for Jordan to play a better game and utilise his disposal as the Ranga-Tangas are not a fast side. (We still need Jordan and his knowledge, his mentoring and his ability to transfer the message to others. He'd be a great Coach.) Thankfully, this season is over but its effects will be with us for some time. Patched-up players, and all.

Frosty did well and threatens the opportunities of many opponents.

Ain't it the truth? We comment of interpretation and advantage being mutually and simultaneously handed out to certain teams by the umpires, and being fully denied for other teams - as if the particular rules never existed. This was one of many related efforts to mar the game against North, today. It is all a sham - even though we received at least two such interpreted decisions in our favour - and both of these that I saw were not in front of our goals.