Deemania since 56

Most definitely - hope he is fine, but we are much better without him. The whole idea of OMac not being in the team is very appealing.

Fritsch was class - a great series of disposals to advantage, a great demonstration of how a space zone or a series of spaces could be used - and this bloke is a forward! Jones was inspiring and determined - he had a cause to pursue whilst blending well amongst the forwards from the midline. An old, old MFC trait - Brian Dixon-ish, Stanley Alves-ish, Aaron Davey-ish. Very impressed with Hore. Frosty was focussed and negating, so Buddy had every right to look muddled and tish-faced. Heeney starred but was given every umpired opportunity - apparently the holding rules and frontal contact rules do not apply to him. So often, Heeney still gets away with pushed in the back, head-dipping into legal tackles for the 'free' and forward dives into the turf for the free. Early on in the game, the Swans were not penalised for anything - just given frees - whilst the Dees tackled legally and were penalised. Umpiring errors (deliberate as expected) were wearing thin and eventually ceased, thank heavens. Preuss, not a bad start - showed some tricks so may that great Protector upstairs help future opponents when he gets to lead straight out in any line from FFwd - and he rucks like a pro with some really effective taps. His movement onfield needs attention and a speed addition, of course, but these will come with more efficient space usage. When he grabbed that throw-in in the pocket and converted a goal from a difficult snap, he showed the class that we were all hoping for; a few successive games and he will be 'on song'. One advantage of his game is that he does not over-possess the ball - he clears it very quickly and that includes long-shots with that kicking prowess. The run provided by Hibberd improved and was similarly supported by Stretch. The midline boys were lost early, but came back into the game strongly and assuredly as a chain of momentum gathered. I thought the Wagners were very good, attacking, intercepting. Good foot skills, as well. The pros in the team did their bit, all night and kept plugging away and blending as a team. Be good to have a fit Jetta back there again and the return of AVB, May and Lever will shore up the backline. Hunt and Harmes were good - a welcome return to form. Max was BOG for mine, easily. OMac has to go - 8 uses of the ball - always so slow and out of the play. Defensive errors and 3 main leakages resulting in goals to the Swans. He still does not have a clue. Spargo was lively and is starting to look like a linkage specialist with his teammates downfield. Some nice yet unpractised passing by foot was achieved over the shorter distances to very good effect - particularly when ball retention was required to start a play to the goalmouth. Good, yet unexpected win, Dees!

It is hard to fathom at the best of times. At the worst of times, it was not considered when OMac hit the team.

There is a cost-saver at hand, thankfully, and it works as a guaranteed reverse investment: sack OMac, stop paying him for wasting our time and good fortunes, and do it before the kick-off for the match against the Swans tonight. Our fortunes will swell from just one action.

It is an opinion, that is all. So, the next time I cannot reach a stance on a matter, can I give you a call for alms?

Strong statements like these are so very worth reading, SWYL. It takes some convincing for some readers, no doubt, but there are some deeper thoughts against which we are fighting but fail to recognise.

I wish the selectors had not picked OMac, using Petty or Keilty instead.

I'd go for double rotations of these two each quarter - changing at centre bounces with Preuss up front FFwd leading straight out in the last.

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.