Deemania since 56

Nice post and quite revealing. As for the Filth, it is very sad (for them) that age is creeping up on their experience base and with that, a few years (the more the better) in the doldrums could possibly be a consideration and outcome for/of this list. The cynic in me thinks this is going to be a test for their injury management and for their list refreshment in order to be competitive.

Good points of thought and discussion, hemingway. Goody is bringing the packet of biscuits as you say. I still wish that Paul Roos had the energy to be there, too; both working away at the task of a Premiership run/series. Roos' passion for the Club stood out.

That Jaguar diff is still the best ever fabricated... the cornering 'catch-up' is phenomenal.

How bloody typical ... of the AFL.

Practical point of view and it makes good sense, Clint. Overall, I'd like the Club jumper to traditionalise - similar to the earlier days of the 70s and 80s - with advertising if one must to meet the costs associated with footy these days as sponsors do much for our current circumstances. I'd really like to buy a MFC jumper for each of my grandsons to wear (for about 2 years as they will grow out of them so quickly) but as you say, sponsor on, sponser off, new sponsors, old or passed sponsors make this similarly confusing and redundant for such a purpose - and for brand recognition associated with the MFC. Them's the breaks!

Just one of those past memories, on the day. Maybe it was half time but I lean towards pre-game in that haze of the passage of time. I was also transferred to Adelaide for a few years and then on to Queensland for a similar timeframe, so that affected my enthusiasm for Membership renewals.

Yarra Bend Park - Home of the Melbourne FC. Like it... but parking, facilities, direct transport services, locals' approvals, Council buy-ins and even political buy-ins or politicians' profiteering. There is a great deal against this idea - but it might be worth it if the MFC cannot gain sole occupancy of the traditional home of football, the MCG. The co-tenants had been given an opportunity to co-develop their existing facilities as (a considerable amount of) years traversed for co-tenancy of the 'G to exist and set-in like a plague. They became comfortable in this 'squatting' and in relative terms, did nothing to update, acquire or refresh their own (modest) stadium. A 5-year warning plan should be put into operation by the MCC - even if these clubs have to share a facility outside of the MCG - to pack their bags, move out, move on and get independent of the liability that they have created. More games at home for the Dees, I say. Less input from the vested interests of the AFL, I say. I sat, once, at the MCG Members Bar, enjoying a solitary beer before a game glad that eventually, after 24 years of waiting, my MCC membership came through. The irony of that situation was too much to bear - I was the only Demon supporter there! It was flooded with supporters from Richmond, the Filth, Carlscum. Quite at home, they felt. I let my Membership slip as a consequence.

I have wondered if Jesse was approached by Ross Lyon to save his (Lyon's) job at Fremantle on a promise of a contract extension.

I'd think we would all agree on that because of the plethora of skills that Salem has displayed in a mixed team that rarely involves him in all aspects of the game; what he has shown is a superlative consistency in his application (when the team time aspect of his game was involved). Skills? Most definitely 'YES'. More game involvement? I just wonder about his previous injuries, medical conditions, body build for the rough stuff; so far, he has been more than useful and at times, brilliant. Team maturation will bring out his best, I'm sure.

Are we creaming up to the umpiring fraternity so that the terror of the 'white maggot syndrome' does not interrupt our very successful coming season - particularly against the Filth?

E-nuff of this 'nuff talk' as it leads to nuffin. Fairy nuff?

I'm convinced, dazzle.

This aspect of his game has always been a strength - just the bloke to regularly take that ball out of the backline in 2019 - if it can ever penetrate near the last line of defence - with our threatening forward line running berserk into spaces or midfielders doing their flat-out run and possession routines nearing the goalmouth. This team offers so much ... like tanks on the battlefield ... clearing riff-raff, penetrating deeply, controlling direction and approach, sheltering the forward eschelons like assault pioneers ... can't wait ...

Give you a tip on moscato, similar to the consumption of rough Italian red wine and Chianti: take a very small pinch of white pepper, sprinkle this onto the surface of the wine in the glass, wait 20 seconds, taste. It takes a hard line with the acidic nature of the wine, improving its quaffability immediately. The principle is this: bad wine is often overly acidic - notably the reds but also there are cases with whites, such as moscato. However, under that acid, there are often some great varietals and flavours that many people enjoy. White pepper is highly alkaline. By sprinkling a contained amount (a very little amount) on you acidic wine, the alkalinity counteracts the acidity of the '[censored]' wine, directly. Many a glass has been made very, very drinkable as a result. Don't do this in the bottle as you'll add too much pepper and get a 'warm-hot' effect throughout the wine. Do it to wine already poured into a glass with a very small pinch. White pepper is an amazing substance. As I was waiting for the pharmacist one day, a bloke seeking some advice told the pharmacist that every time he sneezes, he has an orgasm. The pharmacist was intrigued; he asked: 'Are you currently taking anything for it?' The man replied: 'Yes, white pepper inhalations.'

Some great upsides to look forward to with these two, LT. Thinking of Hunt, in particular, he may well be an answer to a role for a 2nd wingman/outside mid. His pace contributions are best when in possession of the ball - and the related gaining of ground before disposal by hand or foot. However, his pace and such an opportunity for ground with such pace is not fully utilised when it might well be - certainly more frequently than running 'with the ball'. He should be given opportunities to run to space the receive, himself - and he is a mighty kick when lined up - leading an opponent metres behind as he dredges space on the ground with that pace to receive within that space. He is an all-out attack machine in this role.

Some great upsides to look forward to with these two, LT.

Nobles oblige on his behalf for the betterment of the blind masses who throng for inspired meanings. An article each week should be put to the Filth throng in their dark space ethers from this font of excellence (MR), explaining toothlessness, an evaluation of cant and covetness, and a range of inspirational offerings for the betterment of all mankind through a healing of themselves.

Fully agree with all of the above.

It is just the notion of social evaluative contribution based on formative reasoning that differs and then it might progressively change to interpersonal evaluative judgements - depending on one's own haste for that change, itself.

Nice little summation, that. Reasonable likelihood, too.

...and we walked - back in them days, like ... barefooted over rough terrain for at least 20 miles, each Saturdee morning to play for the local footy team reserves and then a turn-around, same way and method, to get back home before Dad sent out the dogs to look for us after sunset...but at least, Mum had a bowl of hot, cabbage soup for our supper and after a quick bath in the laundry tub, it was into bed for the simpler walk, once a month, to church in the morning when the travelling preacher came to our neck of the woods. Gawd it was tough but we had no idea what was on the other side of the horizon, except for this big dam they called 'Cape Otway'.

Yes, I think that I will miss him badly at the MFC and I suppose, so will many others. But a break to a new club was perhaps in his own best interests, providing an environment, perhaps, where he could concentrate on his football as he liked. I hope he does well over in the West, and achieves the type of satisfaction that he pursues. A great footballer with much to offer.

Problem is OMac in lock-down means being five paces behind his direct opponent, still moving evasively around a pack of opposition forwards to avoid the crush and the defensive role that would be expected, and is so lead-footed that he does not break away from opponents when he has the ball, 4 times out of 5.

Mach5, smiling about points 1,2,3,6 and 8. Worried about point 4. Cannot lose him, replaces the forever-erroring OMac in all regards. Whilst many do not agree, many more do agree. As for point 7, without drive, ambition and effort, possibly correct. Still, have a great Christmas and New Year. ?

Some good points of foci in what you say, Flag Favourites, where hunger for the game and team exist as performance and effort motivators in a younger breed, steered and stirred up with an array of senior heads who know the hard yards required. We have recruited well; we have the potential talents to be anything that we (and they) want to be in the near and further future.