Deemania since 56

Port are in trouble this year...bad start will again be the cause. Loss of confidence in the coach will be another cause. Everyone I talk to about footy considers the Dees to be the team to beat this year - almost all are assured of a Demon GF play-off with a solid win going to the RednBlues.

I reckon that the big Braydon P will handle them all - and if May can play and does - Port are complete history - with Tracc and Clarry and Brayshaw running wild.

Joel has impressed me in the past, as you say, with full '...potential...' so it appears that this is starting to really come through with consistency for 2019 and beyond. A full season of adaptation, training and coaching, and this high intensity pre-season and increased understandings combined with heightened familiarity - both with his awarenesses within the Club and in his adaptation to these demands within the game planning amongst his teammates - may well have been the opportunity knocking on the door for him. We have a young star on our hands in this one which we all hope, no doubt, eventuates starting this coming season.

Best wishes in your life's pursuits, Tom.

I doubt if anyone would deny that fact. Getting closer as the nerves fray more noticeably.

Really good descriptions, Hemingway. These 'fuller' events trace backwards over 45 years of greying matter and as you say, Huddo was not your ordinary footballer. In the worst of circumstances, that day, he was stopped and as a rabid Dees supporter, thank Heaven for that in one or two regards within a bunch of disappointments for the Hawks.

High-level Harmes. Totally agree. A real Club driver getting more and more lethal. Has the blend to make great outcomes for the team. On a personal note, Bay Riffen, are you related to the spoonerisk Clint Bilton?

BT was a thug; however, his style rapidly changed when he met Rod Grinter at the 'G, one lovely afternoon. He sprinted 40 metres to where Grints was taking his kick (from memory, a mark that dislodged a Filth forward). BT grabbed Grints from behind in a headlock - twisting and turning to inflict damage. Grints, cool as a cucumber, merely bent over sending BT flying over the top and into the turf, and BT was too scared to stand up to face our best-ever field assassin who was ready for some retribution. Grints was all muscle, power and righteousness and did what he did for the benefit of the MFC and his teammates. He actually had some marvellous footballing skills, as well - still the best 60m hit 'em on the chest 'pass-er' I have ever seen.

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.

Memory is a constant worry, but I think you are correct. I remember, distinctly, that it was a Melbourne player but I remain at this point uncertain who it was - yet, I can still see (in the back of my mind) the old black and white footage of this occurring. What I do remember is that as soon as that action took place in a 'spoil', you just knew that Hudson's knee was going to be ... buggered ... before he even felt it occurring. That all sounds ominous, but it was purely accidental. There definitely was no malicious intent - other than to spoil the kick Hudson was attempting to clear.

I miss Kenty's playing style already. Hope he has a good year.

This guy has got to play on the wing. Just like his dad. It would be like 'insider trading' on the way to multiple goals. I'd suspect his dad would teach him a trick or two along the way - how to make 40metres to get within range ...

Yep, tough as nails. I can remember that although he was not a quick runner, most forwards just wasted the ball in attempting to get rid of it before he arrived. Preusse might be like that with defenders, if we get to play him forward as May will have taken care of the backline.

Agreed, but his long shots at goal were a marvel ... accuracy was amazing post-high.

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.

Kick outs from full back, drop kick specialist, the ball always went over the centre circle (no square, then) and into the forward line. Stunning.

He also kicked a few, just to keep in practice. Great Melbourne player.

I hope the Ninja makes it this year after such rotten luck with the hammy. He is very much an improving asset with real pace.

Having witnessed a few - there really is nothing to life without another. A flag, with a series of successful years to begin and to follow can do much to make life worth its persistent demands.

The value and independence of opinion is always welcome; it encourages a depth of thought that includes multi-faceted analysis and evaluation. It also provides information on trending and insights into those elements that are casually overlooked on occasion. Thanks for your opinion, Dee Z. Without discussion there is no change. Without change, there is nothing to discuss.

Broken ankle or not, Dixon will still kill OMac.

The Melk is a preferred destination forward, such is his attack on the ball and movement into position. His snaps can be inspiring, team-wide. Great bang for the buck.

Sparrow may well 'chirp' up at that statement.

The Dees had attitude, that game. Had not seen it like that for many years, only in last-ditch patches (eg: when Farmer kicked nine}.

There are many things about Jetta that area exemplary and he is a good choice as a Captain/Co-Captain if that deviation over one leader continues. He is unfortunately, in this regard, surrounded by other eligible exemplary players and hence, the success revival of our Club and thus, it appears that a multi-pronged leadership group is a working model for us. When a leader is down and perhaps out, there are already onfield compatriots to step up to carry on.