Deemania since 56

Regretfully, the leadership is missing and the waning confidence is really the only thing we are likely to see, this year. Its consequences are already on the ladder and are there, to stay. We need to send out - right around the country - emissaries who work in tandem (for confirmatory purposes on a recruit) to identify and nab talent wherever it may lie. The profiles of a great recruiting drive are widespread but we can all imagine just what such personnel will possess - and what limitations they will exhibit. This needs to be matched with a more sustained and in-depth player development process including onfield exposure in our re-building processes and timeframe.

It is difficult to be at a footy match at the moment, with OMac selected. Not sure if we can take another dependency ride on his incomparable idleness at a snail's pace.

Right with you, SK. Was there wiff me Dad. Had a kick inside the fence. Spoke to Norm the Smith, and he smiled. Ate a Four'nTwenty and had a cup of orange cordial. Screamed at the MFC players "Carna Demons!!!" so hard that it took me a week to get my voice back and the kids at Skool called me 'Froggy'. Totally dizzy with the win riding back home in our car - all the way to Glen Iris. It was better than being at the 'G in '56 to watch the Olympic track and field. I concentrated on the drop kick at every opportunity since that day. Thanks for the memories.

At the same time, it must be speculated that the selected team/positions will not be the starting line-up, or will be the same at the end of the first quarter when the MFC is 10 goals behind. Absolute madness but perhaps a blind (certainly not threatening) for the Whoreform hierarchy.

Ken Oath! Honest Man.

Should I have a word to my mate Bruce the Basher and see what he can find out?

The policy of 'playing the kids' actually seems to have been in denial for some time and hence, few are ready. Placing their footballing education and development in abeyance 'for a while'' has actually worsened our current, injury-riddled circumstances and leaves a gaping hole in our readiness for week-to-week competition. Instead of earning occasional kicks and intercepts, these players should be earning their share in a contributory team performance.

You are correct but this process is surely a key part of younger player readiness and hence, a key part of the rebuild. Match-ready players by the bucket load.

Agree. Depth is a myth.

We need experience in our young players; time for them to come into the side in larger numbers - this is a rebuild.

Sobering, sadly. Suspected, too right. Actual wins, anywhere, pathetic.

Do not care about the Filth's condition in losing Pert. Not one little bit. Someone suggested that Pert will be the white knight in saving the Club by procuring a home ground and facilities. Well and good, but already, as a member, I would like to hear/see and witness some current leadership (that he appears to be holding in abeyance at present and since his appointment). The Club really needs this leadership at present and so far, Pert ain't the provider. His predecessor would have totally outscored him at this point of our history and journey into the doldrums - and is already sorely missed. Frozen inactivity is all that I can glean from Pert's appointment.

We also have a tendency to repair the whole team by selecting only one or two 'recruits' from sources still available to us that meet ongoing criteria for Club betterment. It is proving, each year, to not be a panacea for our immediate-to-midterm future. Those players are overworked, a representation of our dependency on that which was taken with the equivalent of playing 'fillers' attempting to blend into that scenario of hope, and always, requiring massive personal improvements across the rest of the board to make any difference whatsoever. We pick the wrong management types, FD heads and specialists in every cycle; only Roos, of late, was worth it. We also seem to ignore our very talented lists of past players who move onward to other clubs to ply their footballing credentials and expertise to outstanding effects.

The game plan, the prime movers in general - not all - and the structured linkage/anticipation are all superseded this year with a continuum of random effort and uncertain confidence. Our contested possession count has been out-coached with better run, carry and disposal. We are, at present, well behind in the competition so real change must be implemented based on assembled skills, not some static conception in the minds of the FD and coach.

Think I spotted a limp, twice, but only briefly. Both were from static take-offs, slightly away from the play.

Nothing worse than a THEARD.

There was something special about Roos' coaching and understanding of the game. Earlier, there was something even more special about John Northey and his understanding of a player's and a team's capacity, and he gave them his all as their coach and facilitator.

Excellent compilation, pictures bring more than words. Terribly confronting at the same time for all Dees' fans. That turn-around is still a long way off, and is felt.

It is a real worry - can he ever get football fit at this stage? He has a massive challenge ahead and so does the MFC in countering its poor decision-making without complete player assessment.

Set routines - and several of these - are not hard to practice and achieve.

A footy pal was talking about Frosty: If he looks to our seasoned eyes - as experienced spectators at MFC games - that he is running like a chook with its head cut off, as we interpret or take a guess on his progress and directional changes along the way before disposal of the ball, just imagine what guesswork must be applied by opposition players; they wouldn't have a clue!

No query on that suggestion, Earl. 'Ingo' was phantastique every game - a real talent.

Finding them out would have been prejudicial in those days; performance enhancement took many forms and Ben Cousins wore the blame and guilt - but he was a great, great footballer capable of almost anything - all assumed that he was fearless until it was too late.

Did he ever get physically checked-out by our medical team, prior to recruitment? If not, absolutely irresponsible on our part. We need a reliable forward so that Tom McD can play back - or find another Danny Hughes. There must be one somewhere in the bush or provincial leagues?

Those were the days when the Eagles thought it 'trendy'.