Deemania since 56

That is the exact kind of thinking we need. Add Schwarta to that list and get it done!

That is extraordinarily expensive. Shame, wasted good idea. I'll keep on enjoying my home-brewed Kilkenny (I import the hops myself from England, the dry malt compounds and concentrates, the 3 yeast varieties, etc., just to be authentic to the recipe.) It still only costs me 28 cents per 700ml bottle, after 5 weeks secondary bottle maturation in my garage steel cupboard @ 24 degrees C. That's about $9 per slab - and after 5 years of making this particular brew x 4 times per year - it is just as good (if modestly said, 'better', than the Real McCoy) so maybe I will have the handbrake make me up some original Demon labels to complete the job. This typing is thirsty work - seeya!

That is what we have been emphasising all year, and last year (in itself, a fluke of a season), there is no usage of space on all grounds that we have played on from our forwards. It is almost as if a 'clearance' was a backline 'trick' for their exclusive use - Hibberd and Frosty do well in this regard, as had Salem and of course, Jetta, when fit. It can be reversed in operation for the forwards and it is easier, as well, because it would be movement to space without possession of the ball. Rather, it is movement to space to receive - and usually without a defending opponent over the top to spoil such a 'receive'. If this is not developed, it will continue to look as though our forwards will only attack the ball (when nearly always in congestion) when it is directly in front of goal and preferably, terribly close to those goals. Hence, we limit our scoring ability by rejecting 60 per cent of our forward entries. Time for some laterality, indeed. That is where the space is - and always will be - to get rid of an opponent, to take an unhindered receive, to provide the initial target for the midfielders and to kick goals, continuously. It will take practice (what is wrong with training?), it will take some non-90 degree set shots at goal (that our current forwards do not like nor do they execute these well) and it will take the bloody midfielders in all their glory and kick/'distance achieved' glory to think, look, deliver to space just as those on the top of the current AFL ladder seem to do by preference.

This is 2019 and one year beyond some good games, not his best games; these were 3-4 years ago whilst the side was in the doldrums. He is a team legend and so he must realise, as well, that the worm turns with age. Sentiment is good by all means, but it is costly. We can look back at some of our great players (eg: Neitz and Lyon) - the side was not particularly strong and one of the reasons was because those two were played too long - costly sentiment dominated. We missed an opportunity for some great recruits with dress circle tickets held in reserve, unused. Retirement is a bitter fact of life no matter who you are and what you have done in the past. Lewis, Jones, Garlett, Viney, TMac, Hibberd might be so characterised.

We stop recruiting mid-sized players, and get talls who can run and carry.

A start in the correct direction....

Annual membership fees, supporting fund raisers, going along to games and wearing the colours, supporting the Demon Shop with merchandise procurements, attending Club functions, trudging the railway stations amid jubilant opposition supporters on the way home, travelling from Adelaide over a 9-hour drive and 9-hour return drive to get to home games at the 'G, buying newspapers to keep abreast of (any) news about the team ... it all sounds like commitment to me, and some do far more than I can. Such commitment, this year more than ever, makes me feel like a Patsy. How do you feel?

The key to games on the 'G - the game styles change every few years, the personnel change sometimes quicker than that, the goal to goal line is static and the space at the 'G is the best there is and always has been ... wonder what Robbie would think, and Dixon, and Alves just to name a few ... wingmen with good feet and some pace will win you games, Mr Goodwin, and are critical to getting a forward set-up working the spaces.

It was a better blend this week against a tough side. Viney disappoints - limited options in his game now.

Yep

It is coaching - if it is not coaching - why is it played each week against all opposition and on weekly reflection does nothing to assist the Team of players to be positive in the transmission of the ball and the scoreboard - let alone be dealt with and eliminated by Coaching direction? Is it because the Coach says it must stay?

Clarko has done it - already. Why reflect?

The big bloke should not have to wear the responsibilities of the team - even when he can and does. An amazing champion, deserves the Captaincy - and some support.

Can we recruit/sign him up right now? Who cares if he is raw - we can see what he brings with which to develop.

Don't care what grade or league he's in at present, just watch him coz this kid has the goods. Kick, mark, speed, agility, teamwork, daring and talent in spades. Give him an AFL run, NOW! Does he have a twin brother?

Takes you back to the forward line of Schwarz and Lyon, in some ways, but not quite so clever or potent.

I'd suggest that is correct but it is an irony that Goodwin has yet to deploy a game plan that does exactly that with current personnel - that is, those who were or are not in injury recovery. It might have occurred at both forward and defensive zones - as demonstrated by Hore and surprisingly, the Trac, from time to time.

Given the potential yung-uns we have that includes several with AFL experience this year, we'd most probably be OK for KPD personnel but really, there are some at Casey who may warrant some thought in what is left of the 2-team season. Some have the skills, needing experience and some have pace. At the end of the day but at the start of next season, we had better have an improved game plan where not all 'great forwards to be' have the pre-requisites of massive height and survivable pack-marking aptitudes ; by this it is meant that, if our gameplan might mature, we need some quick mid-sized players with versatility and agility (not omni-directionals) to really wreak havoc in pondering opposition heavyweights played down back (for them).

Yep, forgotten for good reason - things across the board were very low, no expectations, few teams with which to align and associate with across that period, regretfully - and it was only a few years since 1964.

The Mornington Peninsula was a key and designated recruitment zone for the Dees, for years. The Healy boys came from that league near the end on that allocation. Footy at Chelsea was hard, skilled and tough - dreaded playing down there across a 2-year period as the 'visitors'.

What a killer attitude, 'atta boy. We the invincibles!

I just reflect on North Melbourne in recent times. Rock bottom for an eternity, as well. Nabbed a piece of absolute inspiration against the odds and against expectation (it was Ronald Dale) and from there, accessed some absolute talent in both experienced players and recruits, with Ron bringing these people together into a Team with a mission, each with a purpose and a demand of absolute support or the deal was off. It is recent history passed; it was relatively short-lived for a variety of uncontrollable reasons; it was also what happened. It was stuff that could only happen with Barassi on-board. It was more than absolutely successful; it was miraculous and a testament to football endeavour. The MFC is in a better position now, in today's game, than North were in that day in the game that existed then. Duplication is not a sin.

Recognition of sensitive-self areas is the stepping stone to what you want to be. It also informs others that you are on a pathway that you select, not one that they can influence.

Does bob-down tiggy qualify? Sounds like you both are highly experienced.

Fully agreed.