Deemania since 56

Tim Smith for a training/orientation in the AFL side. Good move after a few weeks of contesting experience. The Weed out until form ignites in his brain. Garlett is ready to return, surprise, goal. Spargo is working away at learning and should be in the heat spots for Casey right now. Stretch has runnability - goes two ways as second nature. Into the AFL side immediately as he is hungry and just that little bit uncertain with his disposal - but he'll give you value when timing and opportunity arise. Keilty, Keilty, Keilty. How long can our selectors ignore this bloke? Baker, another flanking speedster in need of experience. Surely the selectors can see that the talent at Casey will be fully inexperienced even when they have their 26th birthdays! Jordan out, alongside Jones. Hibberd needs a form 'rest' at Casey. Jordan should be moved immediately to the coaching staff with a view for head coach if Goodwin continues to fail the Members/fans. Viney needs to be given strict instructions to play with the team, at all costs, similar to Clarrie's game. Lockhardt - time for sustained presence in the AFL team. Role/function mentoring must lift for him. Goodwin needs a rattle and a warning on tenure ... he appears ambivalent and uncertain.

OMac back in the side would be a disaster - he hasn't even had a chance, yet, to improve. He has by default dragged our backline into the 'help me out!' doldrums and successfully acted as a role model for mediocrity. There are young blokes who would relish a chance and because of that eagerness, would put in plenty.

'Not many options. No point rushing May or Lever this season.' Fully agree, they might get injured. Then, where would we be? Same for Hannan, JSmith, VDB, etc, etc.

Agree somewhat with this idea. Born and bred Demon with a big heart for the Club and that is undeniable. However ... what is now years ago, I watched his across a playing career his dad, Todd, do similar good things for the MFC team. I held back quite a bit when Todd kicked the ball - certainly a long way and with power - but not well-directed and in tackles, bustling by all means but hesitant to dispose of the ball to better-placed teammates. Jack has these tendencies as well. It is often interruptive in the clearance and progression of the ball to the Team's advantage. In fact, apart from his first year, I really think that the overall skills of Jack have waned somewhat and recent injuries do nothing to improve this situation.

Viney does a decent battle in the game, yet he still has the occasional tendency to 'relay', when in possession of the ball: '...I've got it, you're trying to take it from me ... '; he then retains it (tucks it under his arm), takes on the opponent with the silent mantra '...OK, so come an get it...' and relishes still retaining the ball the other side. However, he often loses the ball in this self-possessed habit; he quite often drops the ball and falls on it deliberately which leads to a 'holding ball' decision against him or a loss of team momentum in a cessation of play for a bounce. Other teams are now well familiar with this aspect of his game and use it to their own good advantage. Whichever way you look at this pattern, it is not progressive. When this happens in the early part of the game in which he is fresh, it creates a stop-start sequence that interferes with team momentum and effective clearance. We see all other MFC players re-set, re-position, expecting to have to repeat the process that was initially successful just a second or two ago. Gawn most often has to re-ruck and re-clear the ball from that duel, time and again. Good football can often be characterised by not over-possessing. Get into position, get ball, use ball by hand or foot as quickly as possible, depending on how 'tight' the circumstances may be at that critical moment. It is not hold ball into a contest and come out with ball at the end of that contest. Such actions and brainwaves seldom work.

That was no fluke. McQueen applied canny logic pre-game to the situation across a number of noticeable variables that comprise a game of football. On judgement, he wins the prize.

None of it is satisfactory for MFC Members and fans. We spend millions and continue to support the Club after every one of our very long list of disappointments. The players look to be anything but ready for the season and onfield, have next to no idea what is required. Coaching is obviously questionable and game planning abysmal. Our star players are drained of energy and mental toughness. Why?

Injured to the hilt, risking longer-term injuries with every step, I must admit that I miss him in the team. If ever there was a bloke to take that kick to win a game in the last quarter, Dean Kent was the fella.

The disease has spread to the VFL level, it appears, from the valued commentary on DL. Some kids are really talented, no doubt, as it seems that they came from behind to crush Casey (not a normal team at that) as the game wore on. Coaches need some time to have a good dissection and discussion on such a performance, none the less.

How was Oskar Baker?

They move the ball quickly as they do have runners at each line. They also lead and kick to set routines and once deciphered, exposed intent is very predictable.

In the big-time, Spargo is learning rapidly when to go, when to get, when and how to give, what weaponry to employ for best effect. These are big lessons that he is handling well, so far. There is every expectation that these aptitudes will continue to be enriched and deployed with far less hindrance than that effected currently.

It also exposes our selection rationale as shaky. The lad (Smith) was not 'allowed' to play on - he was forced to play on as there was no-one else to fill the gap had he been more sensibly managed and withdrawn from the game. Meanwhile, OMac stayed on the ground doing nothing once again as an automatic selection, and I am sure that there were firing young guns on the listings of the Selection Table capable of filling the gaps on the bench; for example, that crucial mismanagement left by the badly injured Smith, and the less than effective OMac at all costs mentality. Who is holding whom to ransom?

We simply do not matter. The recent successes of the Tiges can absorb any unfavourable draw outcomes, particularly if it enables some distinct advantage for the turnstile-pride of the Filth and Essendrug fans. Coffers straight to the bank for the AFL, with some directed part-expenditure keeping the Anointed ones happiest. Anyway, it will all be forgotten half-way through next week as the money-laundering rolls on.

It is appearing to be the AFL intention, no doubt. It follows the '...all is forgotten...' syndrome, doesn't it?

I am supportive of this possible eventuality as there are quite a few 'neck breathers' near and further for the Dees' backline; it could well mean that OMac sees the year out at Casey, not returning to the AFL side this year. What is suggested for him from several quarters is that all will be ameliorated/repaired/reinvented/recuperated by such a stint at Casey, to get his mojo back and thus, becoming competitive again and in weekly consideration for the AFL team. I'd posit that he still should not make the cut based upon skills and aptitudes, alone. Except for taking two defensive marks and one clearing punch in one game, I have never seen in OMac what others proclaim.

Essendrug have lost their time-honoured mojo. The AFL is attempting to bring it back after recent years of public disgrace. No stone will be left unturned. Hark, the herald angels (fans) sing (complain). Returning silence is appeased and compensated by payments from the AFL. This will assist the Bummers to meet their pharmacology costs, nudge, nudge ... wink, wink. In the meantime, nothing is happening and it is their time to sip freely from the pig's trough.

Now we all love to play golf. I do, at least, and so do every morning at dawn (except Saturdays). A quick 1.5 hours of invigorating Aussie bush and berry, hill and dale, over 9 holes of intrepid change and frustrating form slumps. I even wrestle the corellas and the magpies if they do not leave my ball alone on the fairway as I trundle that dark abyss of hope with buggy and bourbon down the path of no return. It is so addictive. Nonetheless, my game is static; it is the same, always; it is at its peak and peril. However, OMac is apparently a superb golfer. With his handicap, it is evident that golf is a game he has mastered. Few can do this ... you get better at golf until you reach one of point sheer surprise and joy, and never return. But the challenge remains. See? I can compliment OMac on a very great achievement - it just does not happen to be football. It is golf, a far more difficult game with thousands of multiplying characteristics and never-to-be resolved innuendos. Well done, OMac.

I was not necessarily relating 'gamestyle' to 'great' in any way, shape or form as far a OMac was concerned. I was attempting to place my opinion on his form and that contribution thereof where it seemed at odds with the play patterns of the rest of the backline, and did so with little merit. Concurrently, I was also attempting to describe this form lapse (which you have now elicited from me) in a polite yet not too deleterious manner most probably in respect of his brother, Tom, but the cat is out of the bag now. I have little regard for OMac as a Melbourne footballer.

As stated earlier, I would agree with your last sentence.

I am concerned, more than worried. He has openly stated that the two of them are an onfield team - in the past.

With the current list of injuries and soon-to-returns, our side does look stronger, nevertheless, with OMac out. His gamestyle does not support the running defence and pressuring that we are attempting to apply. That is all.

Hore has good experience and was crowned at the Filth for what are possibly valid reasons. I thought that he displayed these for us and should only improve given the responsibility. It would appear that the Filth have even more player pressure for a game at AFL level than we do and if so, this might explain why Hore was repeatedly so good in their seconds team, just busting for a game in the big league. Now that he is more assured of this with the MFC, such performance standards are ripe for our picking - at least he is a real 'go-er' and I feel that he will team up with Frosty very well, support Hibberd and the Jet very well, and provide drive into and beyond the midfield as he settles into another environment, personnel mix and game style. Wish him well.

We must know from which teams this repeat offending occurs or is characteristic amongst its fans. If it is on the field, umpires would know.

It has been amazing that the 'professional' umpires so far this season do not 'see' Clarrie doing the best work a footballer could possibly do whilst simultaneously being interfered with and man-handled against the rules for an entire game - or two or three. The number of frees deserved and not awarded is quite staggering, watching the replays and concentrating on just one player - Clarrie. Another season of selective attention and selective inattention by the green snot goblins this year, to meet an AFL dictate?