Deemania since 56

Fitzy, yep, I fully agree about his potential and some of his skills. Apparently, he had diabetes Type 1, requiring insulin injections. Hell, what a player with that disadvantage! The first time I saw him play he was inexperienced, nervous and at times, absolutely brilliant on the field (marking, kicking, finding targets, elusive to opponents, a surprising interceptor with real hands). All this whilst still an apprentice to the big league team. Sad outcome, traded to the Whoreform team, I believe and in his last match, kicked a goal from the centre ruck duel - just swept in, swept up the ball, swept an eye goalward, swept the record books. If ever there was an MFC player that you wanted to see succeed ........

Fantastic effort - there is no greater colloquial population than that of Perth, WA; an Eagles supporter at that!

I noted that this is next to impossible amongst players, although Gawn and Clarrie are stand-outs, with maybe Brayshaw moving up to that mantel across this year. I'd stick - myself - to the order I selected, if there was any need at all for such an order. It is just an opinion, y'see. As for your very good recommendation of Nev, DZ - who is absolutely proven to be absolutely essential to our team - I'd agree with you if it was not for what Melksham does for the team and what Viney is capable of (when and only when he if reliably fit). This does not place a limitation on my personal opinion of Nev because there are 22 selected each week whereby the first 11 (at least) of those rankings would be the absolute guns any way it was perceived (and of those 'guns', the limits of separation are absolutely minute). It is an interesting perspective - covering different players, different roles and positions, different interpretations from us, the masses. If it helps and if I needed to drag a substitute 5th, it would be Nev - with Viney taking his current appreciation at 6th. 'Carna Dees!

Cringe-worthy, just like sucking a lemon.

Agree about that summation of Westhoff - he has been a bogey-man for us for some years ... so I'd ask Vanders to have a rest on him across the game with some close pats on the back (of the head) and a few little run-throughs that will slow him down.

Some very big holes in the team for the opening round, and some of these holes represent players who will be selected and will play but are carrying something other than a headcold. Another injury or two and the Dees are in big trouble for some weeks, I'd say.

Further, if it was only a practice match, why was it so necessary to keep them onfield? There is a duality of purpose inherent in all of this - team availability, team selection, team coverage, team due diligence.

How many years now has 'The Anointed Donkey' been messing up the interpretations of onfield incidents with false allegations and the guilt of the guiltless? Oh, that's correct, I had forgotten as it feels so terribly standardised, already; it is two years. OK, so that means a third is underweigh. What a disrespectful move by the AFL to the general public. Hair of dog and eye of newt being boiled and stirred in the pot of mediocrity.

Any calls on value added(ness) amongst players is going to be arbitrary, controversial and perhaps inaccurate so I take your point. I also value TMac highly and for me, he's Number 6. Thank heavens these guys play as a team, heh?

Of course but the reality is THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THOSE WHO OFFICIALLY INTERPRET SUCH FOLLY AND AWARD A PENALTY FOR A FAKE OUTCOME.

Wouldn't dare change your mind - you're correct. The only forward who knows how to play as a forward, find space, beat an opponent to the ball with a variety of delivery/set shot/snap shot options. Runs well, too. Can take a mark rather than a 'specky' by finding the space to make it simpler and easier, and consistent. I'd rank 'em: 1. Gawn 2. Clarrie 3. Brayshaw 4. Melksham 5. Viney when fit.

Totally agree. He's a weapon and a valuable one at that - no need to risk him on the excuse of 'bench availability'.

Bernie would make a great prop forward, running around in circles - however; we know he can kick 'em. He'd make the crowd smile, too.

E = MC2 (ie: Execution = May Crucified)

What was May's alternative? Run away as fast as possible or stand his ground, protecting carefully against damaging contact? He well and truly achieved the latter and with the combined faking by the little bloke, was penalised very unfairly. May actually absorbed the impact - his was static until that millisecond after the contact; when he did move, he was protecting the little fella from injury by shifting his centre of gravity and secondly, protecting his own soft tissues as mass hits mass. Just because he was larger, with more mass, he gets penalised. He should be given a red poppy for exemplary fair play and the displayed concern that he exhibited to minimise the risk (to both moving masses in the collision). To make a point, if it had been Ray Biffen, the fella would not have got up.

Quite a functional, special analysis, 'Balls. Like your 3 points - these are missing from most of our games, now; these should not be missing at all - it ain't rocket science.

Agree with you about verbals, but: * these signal functionality to opponents per player triggering blocks and screens/tags/positioning to nullify * it is too late if the ball has already been kicked/is in-coming Make the play is the 'percentage' play, I reckon; that is, to lead to space prior to dispatch of the ball by the feeder and be there just as the ball arrives.

Garbage decision - May did it well without malice and the 'acting' and head flop was fake, fake, fake.

Extremely observant to notice this amongst the hullabaloo of a practice match in the dying pre-season environment. Thanks for the info ... it's just like playing the Filth and Essendrug.

We still have a bit of room until Lever returns, Viney is match by match fit, Hibberd returns to his real form, KK comes in as a sweeper and feeder - that all could provide an opportunity for Oskar Baker (the speedster) to have a few initial runs from the bench at the expense of the likes of Stretch and Spargo, and perhaps ANB. Baker may well provide some carry and drive whilst adapting to an AFL-level of expectation. I, for one, am dying to see him in action to gauge his potential.

Correct, yet I feel also that Hannan has become/ is becoming a key cog in that scoring machine, as well ... perhaps moreso as a case who can break the lines a move closer forward to space (rather than move from deep fwd to space outside his range. There were also hints that Hunt, as a deep forward, can lead to the space chase very capably to receive.

the key difference between (other than clearances of many types/shapes) very good midfielders and elite midfielders. Brayshaw has it ... Clarrie seems to have let it pass for a while ...

This is critical stuff. Spot on! Just imagine if these two actually did lead out - even just a little way - creating a 2-prong or better space. Their current concept of a lead is three steps - get to the take-off foot, leap and hope that the incoming sticks. Pathetic. Earn your dollar, forwards.

That is true, and it is not good enough for us. It continuously fails as an approach to footy. Our kicking to targets is pathetic, largely brought on by our targets being pathetic in their roles to maximise an incoming possession. No-one is looking for downfield options - the kick count is all important, not the deliberation of kicking; and, there is time to achieve a set-up in teamwork. Coaches, get to work on this as we have waited too long for this to occur. Entering the forward line and more deeply into the 50m zone is NOT met by 'panic station' attempts at clearances or maximal yards gained. That lets you teammates down, despite the statistic gained. If any of us DL supporters were playing, as soon as you saw - or predicted - that a teammate was in possession looking for a target, you would move rapidly to receive in the least compromising spot you could find/see on the field - and in this case, it is worth being where the ball 'aint and certainly, where the ball in the majority of cases will end up - right smack middle of a cluster of hopelessness. In football, you make your own game, for Heaven's sake. There are acres of ground available and two-way mental telepathy 'aint that hard to achieve - or even three-ways. Are we prepared to stay as a low-percentage team placing the onus and responsibility onto Solo Melk, accepting low scoring potentials relative to the number of our entries and the number of our 'professional' forwards?

Onyer, Vanders. Rock of Gibraltar wherever and whenever he plays.