Deemania since 56

Ascension is a normal developmental phase. One Captain.

Of course it is possible - and team-wise.

That is an easy option, but impossible as far as luck might be concerned. I really agree with Dr. D on this one; we most certainly need a rucking-height forward with a deep understanding and ability to kick 'em from anywhere - hopefully from 60 metres out to the worst possible boundary location close-in to the goal mouth. Absolutely. Preuss would be my pick for this provided that there is an excellent and regular routine coaching process for forwards in general to convert with higher accuracy than what has been historically provided. Hell, we pay them to convert, professionally. At training, take the guys aside for some concentrated routines - someone like Schwartz or even Aaron Davey could do this - get them into habitual basics and finesses for all types of shots at goal, from all angles and from static attempts to those attempts on the run - blistering accuracy is needed to win that flag. This should be a repetitive training mantra and process - we need to be lethal in all regards to win the flag. It just ain't gonna happen if we merely assume that it will be 'right on the night', and a poor percentage return with 100 shots at goal per game is too indefinite.

Bluddoath.

More than just rehabilitation, for which a late start to pre-season training would be mandatory, anyway, we have endured many 'preventative maintenance' operations lined up for surgery and close attention to reinforce a natural hesitancy to the season's pre-cursor preparations. This does not necessarily mean that we are time-poor in our readiness for 23 March and beyond. It really means that we are a responsible club. If we have a problem in this changed cycle, perhaps it is one of an inadequate pre-season dance card presented by the AFL this - and last - year. In many regards, it can be seen that the pre-season comp/offering is aiming to be another AFL gate-receipt windfall, not a legitimate series of practice games in which injury and strain-related issues may well abide but the costs in terms of player expenses can be contained and would remain relatively meaningless, for most. We must bloat and stack up our assets in cotton wool at this stage of the upcoming H&A season. In any case, our supervised training commitment this year, whilst just slightly delayed, has been prolific, well-reported, progressive and gradated, and responsible. We will in all likelihood come out of that player race on gameday with gnashing teeth, growling confrontation and sustained impetus. It could be added that we have rare depth, as well, which is full of laminated thoughts and outcomes.

Personally, I value his reports - the photography is commendable and memorable - I do not need individual copies - and living in Adelaide makes any training attendance impossible yet there is no let-up about needing to know who, what and when players are progressing, preparing well and performance standards. Thanks, Sat, for these valuable inputs and your consideration to responsive DL members.

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!

What an interesting, levelled-headed, articulate young man. A credit to the concept of footballer interviews. Onyer, Gus.

Clarry gets his arms pulled out of their sockets by opposition players as a means of preventing his exceptional handballing and clearance skills. No wonder that shoulder surgery was necessary. They cannot catch him for a body tackle or interrupt his positioning - it is so variable and rapid - and he really does set the pace with play-on moves aplenty for the benefit of his teammates - so opponents will grab at anything - legs, feet, arms, head, neck - to counter him, whilst the umpires do nothing to control the amount and incidence of questionable tackling techniques that must, by sheer volume alone, impede and damage this fine athlete. Despite such attention, Clarry is so skilled in so many areas of his game that these physical assaults still have limited effect and yet another clearance is executed despite GBH attempts. The umpires just 'leave it to Beaver' for his own extrication from GBH incidental injuries. Just imagine his potentially staggering, positive statistics if free kicks were awarded to him for gross bodily harm violations from opponents!

King, leading with his chin, once again; however, just on the law of averages, I reckon that he has got this one statement out of ten, correct! Clarrie is a once-in-a-decade footballer without doubt. External influences to the MFC will not recognise this accolade and/or will play it down. Interesting to note that the amount of defensive and interruptive pressure every opposition team applies to Clarrie is largely all in vain. We also have Gus. A freak show at the Brownlow. And then, there's Max. And then there's .... ..... ..... ..... !!!!! This year we have a team, as well.

That really means, like Tracca, that he is about to do the heavy stuff, the continuous stuff and 'above the ordinary' stuff on that knee with limited let-up (ie: the prognosis must be total and pleasing; he's ready to go...). This, for me, is good news as we all wish him the very best in the continuing remediation - but it also hints at longer-term joint strengthening and muscle toughening to really stabilise that which is/was prone to injury. It should overcome his status as a great footballer with skinny legs; it should do wonders for our backline through an increased confidence in his own endeavours.

I have heard it said, and watched it many times, that a little bloke at Geelong was the toughest footballer ever to win the ball - if you beat him to a contest, or took the ball from him in any way, you were dead, within minutes. Bill Goggin was his name. He was the stand-out at Geelong in the head hunting duties.

These 'flashbacks' of the MFC past stretch for years - over 100 years - but in the last fifty years there have been some players, teams, incidents, outcomes and matches from which great depths of MFC understanding have been moulded. It is just as important for us to recognise our wonderful history as it is to genuflect on our possible future. The passage of time diminishes our losses and disappointments, but those who have seen, felt and cheered the MFC across the decades have a story to tell and share - and it is one of many facets and hallmarks. Each of these has been inspiring. Each is part of a mortar that binds. For those who have missed much of this history ( possibly only as an age difference ) listen and reflect on the related memories of those who sat through time on the edge of their seats watching the MFC. There is a groundswell of opinion and appreciation that leans towards our history repeating itself - and now is the time to take that step.

Now, that is inspiring. Interestingly, it is not an outcome plucked from Fantasy Land.

With so many 'outs' (at this point of time) from the Port Adel side, it may well prove to be a cake-walk for us in Round 1. That is also particularly exciting as we were knocked off last year - and once again, an outcome of the snot umpires across the game that we dominated. Still, I expect the boys to go 'hell for leather' in this match with a carefully selected power team - setting a benchmark of what is to come across the 2019 season. Boy, we look good on paper, despite a few niggling pre-season injuries to some of our experienced players; the new-found depth is going to be critical - as well as being a competition nightmare to confront. As for the JLT, it will be great to see our recruits in action, weaving into the game style that Goody perpetrates and personally, I hope that it continues the collective run and assault that sets us apart. Ahhh ... the footy is only moments away ... Carna Dees!

Maddening amount of time. The sense of release on the morning of 23 March is going to be fantastic. Great little counter (page).

Nichols was a beast - levelled by Laurie Fowler in his Richmond days prior to joining the Dees whilst being held in position for Laurie's follow through by big Neil Balme. Some say that it was justice for what Nichols could do quite regularly to the whole of the rest of the competition. As a ruck, Big Nick was more than handy for Carlscum and he took no prisoners in that effort.

It was a time, after the big win in '64, occupying the next two decades (at least) that the MFC made up the numbers in the competition, punctuated occasionally by some great, big and unexpected wins when seldom expected. I can remember the stand closure at that time and you a most probably correct about the empty stand but I cannot remember that being the case on the day of that big mark of Shaun's. To me, it does look like the crowd has been eliminated by 'photoshop' techniques, it is so clear.Who knows?

Thanks for this epic photo, IHW; a true moment to remember. SSmith was a very loyal Dee, with some superb assets (as if he did not come from the Kangas to join the MFC). He was more recently quite adamant that Joel was to be a Demon player. Because of Shaun, I have immense faith and hope that Joel is going to be a 'beauty' for the Dees.

A common, decade-long circumstance for Melbourne FC games, sadly. Limited interest except for those genetically linked at the hip to the red 'n blue. Things were pretty low ... crowds were always far less than expected ... token media coverage to boot.

Barry Davis, Essendrug champion par excellence.

You could bet on it - that would be a smart decision given our 'acquired' new depth and playing options.