Deemania since 56

Simple, isn't it? Good ball users win games. We need more of these types of players who resist bombs and look up to where the ball and receiver should be on the ground. Clarrie and Salem - it's a great start to what is required.

The Tiges wore us down and ran very well with their game plan. We brought onto the field some refreshments to have a 'bang' at them, to gain a sense of belonging to the MFC and to evaluate the recruits' skills and onfield bearing at that point - and this was all that we could have asked of a small group of apprentice footballers in the red 'n blue. It was a very strategic act and I was pleased that the coaching team / selectors approached the game this way. Interesting that our efforts were maximised with good scoring accuracy and was relentless; they never gave up against a power team on the day. Brisbane seem to be a rising commodity with improved player profiles and preparations that will test us; however, we do have a stronger team selected than that utilised against the Tiges just one week ago. We will win this one just the same, but we must bring 4 quarters of desire and thought to achieve that win. This is the start of the Demon 'roll' towards a great September.

Food for thought, good comments. The season must start - seriously, energetically and powerfully - we are good enough to take all three games to set up the following games.

In that team, JKH is a justified choice and I was thinking, how good it is to see him starting to do a phoenix resurgence from the closely proximal ashes, similar to that of Nev Jetta some years ago. Was impressed with his run and carry in this pre-season ground time. Kicking was improved, as well. Wish him all the best for the season to come.

Very good reason to pick our strongest side - no sheltering of our 'remediating', pre-season injured/recovering players. Go the Dees.

I guess I meant that: we need more forward players to seek out space to run into (even directional changes) to receive the incoming ball as a clear mark it is so often 'guesswork' if we are going to take clear mark, and percentage-play for such a mark is low in our pack habits near goal our short passing is poor, unreliable and risky, at best we need 'eyes-up' entries via accurate passing and good leading into space from our midline and forwards - so that we have clean marking habits in the forward zone area 40 metres or less from goal - so that we increase the percentage of goals that are kicked this way from 'close' range Other than just one or two particular forwards, most of our forwards have developed a 'crowding' habit near goal. More of our forwards need to be running, circling, mobile and anticipating opponent-free areas on the arrival of the ball coming into our scoring zone 'bombs' high with excessive ground clearance to a crowded pack, blindly delivered, hope-and-a-prayer executed are low percentage in terms of ball retention and should be struck from our skillset.

Absobloodylutely!!!

There is that continuum-to-constant alarm with the Dees' passing and shorter footwork, resulting in so many uncertain retentions inside the 50m arc, and scoring at a higher percentage of entries 40m-or-so out from goal. Address this alongside the 'bombing' and so many static forwards not prepared to find space by plan, and in realistic terms, the flag is ours.

Wise idea with Gawn, but who is going to tell him that he doesn't need to play a JLT? Surely he'd feel that the wheels were coming off?

Some commentary these days is very good and I still enjoy that of Brereton - his analyses are thought-provoking and usually, very analytical. Some commentary these days is very bad - bordering on the sensationalist and false matey-matey associations with players and clubs. Some commentary these days is attempting to appease Eddie Maguire - in fact, quite an amount of it - as if his approvals lead to longevity within the commentary jobs. Most commentary these days is far superior to those of the 3 monkeys: Jack Dyer, Bob Davis and Lou Richards, a breakfast in football terms upon which most of us were regularly ill. There is a funny moment, though, within commentary, when (as admitted as his greatest embarrassment as a commentator) Tim Lane was calling a Tasmanian game for the ABC radio and meant to describe '...an up-country punt kick...' that unfortunately '...turned out all wrong ....'!

Salem's transition from backman to a spot on the wing is a good thought; it could be very productive and perhaps, just perhaps, producing more value from his kicking accuracy and 'read of the play'. We suffer in games from reduced accuracy and deliberate hits into the forward line - Salem may well be one series of teeth in the cog for improved forward penetration and delivery. Whilst not often a wingman, this need reminds me of Rodney Grinter, feeding with accuracy (albeit a far longer and more forceful kick with an ability to self-pr0tect) into those spots and players on the forward line who could convert. The re-signing of Salem adds stuff to our future success.

Ken Oath! Big difference these days and it has been so important. Another playmaker stowed away.

We are a static team on the forward line. I'd reckon Preuss would be better utilised as a straight-line forward with both mass and momentum into spaces - who'd get in his way if their heads were screwed on? He'd draw a defender, he'd then lower the eyes of our feeders and would be most likely to enable our other talls to avoid 'blocking', screening and overt contact from opponents. Melk stands out as our main Mr Mobile down there and does it really well, in all directions. A big fella like Preuss just needs a straight line and just enough distance to build 'his level of speed' in that direction. He has an intention, too, other than marking the ball - and by hell, he can kick! I reckon he can body slam, too.

Agree that this 'bombing' is still a tendency and it must stop. The thing that makes Clarrie a champion is that by hand and foot he looks for options - usually more than one or two - and delivers. His real skill is getting the ball and doing the 'option bit' very quickly both prior to taking the ball and in using it. Our forwards tend to congregate, still, massing a pack of teammates all competing (usually in the air) for the ball - whereas percentage play will dictate a better spread of receivers on-ground and thus, unsettling the opposition's gather and rebound capabilities. Preusse came in several times a little later but in a direct line on-ground, taking good chest marks in his momentum. He could be a real force, as a straight-line and leading forward. Ruck duties for him are really secondary - you seldom saw big boy forwards like Lockett, Dunstall and others relegate and waste enormous, moving mass for wasted, futile pack elevations. It was more common to see defenders and utilities stay out of their line of intent to avoid seriously unfortunate impacts. As for the bombing, it is a low return strategy, wasting the efforts of those who worked so hard to bring the ball forward.

Key absolute necessity, with too many doing the aerials and too few doing the groundwork.

A lack of experience abounded today but still, it was a hit-out in which we could see many of the newbies. Our absent players may well have instilled more control and containment over the Toiges' runners and spreaders - but these players were not there on the day. We fought it out with apprentices and that is a good sign. Keilty was good - he's the ruck back-up and Preuss ought to be at FFwd - with the Weed in dee pocket. TMac can handle CHFwd but was off today, just a little. Good game to watch and augers well for the coming season - with our replacements returning across the next few weeks.

Noticed the tastelessness of that headline, Dieter. Even here in Adelaide, we had half-hourly radio bulletins of the worsening Nar Nar Goon bushfire circumstances ... and Bunyip ... and I thought back to my hiking days when younger around that area and how delightfully vegetative and rugged that area really was - with fresh drinking water trickling in the creeks. We must all hope that safety of the locals is achieved, Preussy included.

yeah, snooker ain't the game it used to be....

With all of the justified concern over player fitness and team depth this coming season, ain't it just going to be amazing and inspiring when they all hit the ground together for the first time, and line up on match day as a totally unbeatable team of great footballers with immense team pride and interactivity.

Addressing these issues (with surgery at various levels of depth) and more gentle and time-consuming training/readiness agendas in place, it is better for the whole team to have dealt with these requirements prior to the start of the season or, for example, midway through the season, or by largely overlooking or even ignoring latent problems in/with players where these could well fester, leaving a severely handicapped depth listing nearing the end of season - when we should be knocking off other finals aspirants without mercy or concern. Notice - ameliorate - fix - prepare - test - win responsibly. A good footy mantra.

Powell was a very good asset and very reliable - we certainly did miss his presence.

Also comes across as humble, a resident of that great footballing learning curve, anticipatory for improvement and learning about the game more deeply, and ready to give it his best after an inglorious baptism with North. Indicators so far are very much within the trend of considerable improvements to his game on the eve of the start of this season, his potential contributions and his support for the MFC and its team. I like the boy!

He articulates the questions well, remains topical and discreet. He has long been our best spokesperson. There is no clowning around or cluttered chatter. Great Captain material from the spoken language point of view.

The bubble must burst according to physical laws ... there just ain't no surface tension between the ears.

Dyson was interesting as a footballer and yes, he could kick. Bennett was exceptionally good, as well and a better kick than Dyson. However, overall for each kick and/or delivery over distance, consistently, there has not been one better than Rod Grinter.