Deemania since 56

Splendidly nice gesture - a sign of a commitment to great teamwork on DL. I hope that someone can take up the offer you have made.

Onfield, we have some lines that are very near being the best in the whole League. Have we lost this match against the Swans before we even step onto the ground?

As an aside, it is most interesting that the media (such as Fox and Channel 7) are now talking-up the Swans and their key player strengths against the 'now famous' and endemically weak MFC backline. 'Leaky' and 'disinterested' are words heard in these descriptions, or read in other media articles. This is groundswell. The MFC have been media-anointed and the general public just expect the Swans to roll onto the field for an automated victory tonight. So, the AFL will be turnstile happy; the umpires will be primed; the MFC will be restricted from doing almost anything correctly via errant rule interpretations, interruptions to the game plans and the old syndrome, 'you cannot do that against Sydney...' It would be terribly satisfying if none of these concerns appeared or occurred at those critical game moments of which we are all familiar. What are the chances that a level playing field in such regards was enforced? We all know the answer: None! 'Carna Dees....................

He is worth dollars plus through the turnstiles; would the 'system' care to interrupt that?

Despite this the dreadful scorelines for the Dees this season, do not hope too much that the umpires will not intervene against us several times. The Swans crowd is worth far more to the AFL than that of the MFC. In addition, we are currently where many AFL 'executives' want us to be - right on the bottom of the barrel. The rules changes this year have also given the umpires more latitude to intervene, as well, and the flow of the game is more than ever 'under their control' in terms of which team can (not will) get a 'run-on'. Further, the showmanship of the umpires is now a feature of the game - random, unfair and inconsistent as their will is going to be displayed.

Fully disagree on Frost. He is actually quick-thinking , to my eye. So much so, that the rest of the team cannot realise what he is about to do in clearances, rather than defensive moves. Hence, rather than executing, he is seeking realisations across the board and readiness preparation for what might be possible. It is still in the selection of the best move that he is left unsupported. And, he bears the disgrace of the rest of his teammates, so often. Freak thinking is required across the board. Frosty is an imaginative footballer and like his speed, is difficult to dismiss but remains an island, so the team does little in response. Hell, the Whoreform team would love him! So would the Catty Puts.

Spot on.

We certainly have dropped the baton in the changing-lane zone this year - three times! We naturally expect that the runners are trained and skilled in the transitional exchange of aptitudes from one game to the next, one year to the next as the list changes have not been that variable. He we sit, broken hearted, sad due to the way this season has started.

I am not suggesting that the errant recruiting is a universal problem; and, I agree with the talent that we have accumulated in general across the past few years. To my eye, it also appears that an inability to blossom as a recruit rather than to ferment as an also-ran struggler is prominent these days; I am wondering if there actually is a learning problem within our systems. Admittedly, it is impossible to strike it lucky or nail it with every recruit. Overall, I think we are operating in some deficit on this balance.

Clear as daybreak - who is not learning?

Our football changes week to week to fill gaps in the nebulous FD dreams. A plan of football is not a 'brand' of football. See ball, get ball, use ball, deliver ball. All done with assistance, not panic attacks.

Fritsch does break away but too often for a backman - and who the hell thinks he is built or adept at backline work? He is a natural, free-roaming forward in his space and field awareness, and a very good mark/goal shooter who has been extracted to fill gaps and thus, has lost some of his mojo for that area of football - and it is an area role he should be playing. We have seen what he could do with limited exposure to the big game and arena. Nah, put him down back, heh? He is one of the few to assist the Melk and Hannan in the free space excursion, nearer to goal perhaps and still very possibly lethal in that role. He is not a pack mark; he is a lone ranger type on his direct opponent and in the continuous function of moving to space, retaining space and looking upfield for opportunities for others to elicit ball penetration. Give the guy a break, Goodwin.

I still believe that Frosty is not so guilty. He is caught between gap-filling, supporting to save desperate situations down back and assisting in the progress of clearances. Some he does well; for some of these roles, he is overwhelmed.

Begs the question, though: 'How did we not maintain development (fitness, form, freedom from sustained injuries and surgeries) for so many players with attributes for football?' And then, 'Why is it that many of our recruits - though not all - fail to develop as conceived at the time of their recruitment?' I guess that if we knew the reasons for these issues and were capable of doing something tangible about such concerns, we'd be sitting pretty, right now. Do we have to admit that we do not have such skills in our FD and managerial set?

This invokes instant thoughts of AVB and Joel Smith contributions in the very near future, hopefully. We are currently a lop-sided mixture of some sort that is really testing our recruiting and alleged depth. A return to form for Jeffy would also be amazing....

When Lewis arrived, I just saw 'Coach' in my mind. He'd be terrific at that for the MFC.

The wisdom is missing at the moment. Love the fundamental approach, coz it ain't no good being where the ball ain't. There are certain triggers in our game that our players struggle to identify so a fella like that (despite the pink) is a good investment.

My oldest female relative (103 years) offers/volunteers for our fullback position, and at 5 foot 2 inches, can help out in the ruck if Gawny is feeling a little off colour. She will also bake him and that lovely young man with the red, curly hair some fortifying scones served with raspberry jam and cream - just to bring the colour back into their cheeks. If it's raining, she insists on the boot-studder going to work on her very smart, pink gumboots, however. (Possibly do better than our deep defensive line, at that!)

Good players fight back in the pursuit of making something of themselves, contributing 'big-time' to their team as often as required. This is more than doing your best/putting in the effort. It is a transformation and at 21 years, in a fourth season, it is not too great an expectation - particularly if you were considered to carry a footballing heritage and the associated lineage potentials. A club can remain tolerant for only so long.

Such negotiations then, would collapse - on performances, how far downwards can a Club go in the remuneration realm?

He needs to be recuperated, therefore.

Not so sure about 'take a grab' as it sounds and will most probably involve more 'bombing' to so do. Deep forward and flanking leads are the things we need and so far, only the Melk seems able to do this - on occasion. We do miss Hannan's ability to just 'bob up' into the action and rove around for something on which to score. This may well involve another 'just standing their ground', such a Preuss - or the big fella just leading straight out - no-one will get in his way if life itself is important to them. Vanders is a big loss, as well, around whom protection and pathways are made available for the forwards. Chaos footy has led to random efforts and this does not auger well for this year.

We will be killed by their linkages and speed, with runners everywhere. The Swans back-up everyone with support and options - their brains think about where and what to play ... forward thinking in most instances. It's been refreshing itself over the past few games, so this match is most likely going to be the premiere, not another dress rehearsal. However, OMac may fire and save the day!

There is that chance, as he can take on most of his size and a few of greater speed. He does have his polarity organised when it comes to that of the ball. There must be another couple of Seniors trials for him for experience, confidence and in the temporary elimination of those not actually performing, wouldn't you think?

A few selector - recruiter regionals might assist; those who are capable of all-round player assessments matched against the needs of the current game.