Deemania since 56

Yes, they are both nice guys in that regard. They never put a player down in malice yet when the game calls for 'mongrel' both adhere to the respectabilities of the game whilst getting the job done - just because they sometimes hurt the player, we have to acknowledge that '... that's footy, folks!' in its most subtle form.

Elegantly posited beezlebub. Agree about Clarry for Spargo as the other smalls seem capable of making a greater contribution (I hope one of them can mark Close). Kitties will be licking their wounds; against Port, they ran out of legs and alternatives to their modus seen in the first quarter. The title of your recommended Operation is quite apt; it most certainly is time for it to commence - haven't seen it for at least a year. Umpires will be factor - right across the game but I hope that they do not change the rules in the last quarter like they did in our match against The Filth.

Yep, time for a Spargo rest ... Clarry in, hopefully, and JJ onto the bench as Emerg. Smith should stay in - he appears to be on a roll, and has lots to offer in attack, forward defence, creative plays. Somehow we need to consider Bowey into the equation, probably from the bench as well. We can beat the Cats at their home - run them off their feet and attack, attack, attack.

I know where you are coming from ... it's pretty obvious that oppo fans actually motivate him to do well. Our team, as a whole, seems to really support him when the crowd chips are down. That's just flying in the face of adversity, in my opinion. Carna Dees!

Hunter's first half kicking down the flank left quite a bit to be desired ... he was supposed to be lethal at that talent ... but he gave The Filth many central corridor starts as a consequence of 'rushing' to clear rather than exploiting the attack potentials.

Sorry. However, his injuries and illnesses did alter his game enthusiasm for some assignments over the last two years; certainly, today he demonstrated 'mongrel' quite well, giving a few lessons-by-example to those receptive enough to interpret what he was all about and that includes The Filth players in his vicinity; you can see young MacV has picked his way through a few of Salem's enablers.

The umps changed the rules for The Filth in many last quarters so far this year...but the media are too scared to deal with this in their normally exaggerated criticisms.

Today was his warm-up; some of us at DL have known for some time that this ability would surface as a consequence of him playing way-back-when as a backman. He learnt some tricks; reversed these, used these today. Soon, he won't miss his shots...today he was a 4-goal man with a lack of gametime practice. Got excellent reach, hasn't he? Mobile as a forward and finds space.

I thought ANB stopped many run-ons for The Filth, thus giving (when needed) his teammates those necessary moments to catch and beat their Filth opponents; and, he did this, once again, crushed with the ball under at least six Filth players.

The umpires under instructions from the AFL regard themselves as 'entertainers par excellence', far more important than the players, and teams. If we killed The Filth by significant amounts, the 'entertainment' level and resultant anxiety from a spectator's point of view would be massively eroded. Plus, of course, this game was against The Filth and its hotline to the media in general, the AFL Headquarters, the gate receipts, the broadcast rights, the Tribunal and the thousands of toothless simple minds (so represented) in the Piggery. Sad to say, but evident. I knew we would win, and JSmith would start making a supporting difference to the game up forward when I noticed several Demon supporters breaking out the French brie at 3/4-time. Of course, they didn't have any wine; who would drink the swill provided by the caterers at the ground - and you cannot bring a dusty but mature red into the ground as an accompaniment. Viney and Salem were great today - and May was a rock, well supported.

Rod Grinter was something else imho - he was a sacrificial lamb who would do anything for the benefit of the Demons. He was very effective in clearing the slate through acts of what the media regarded as 'thuggery' but they could go to the other 'uggery' if you ask me. His career was heavily curtailed by 'acts of immense generosity' towards the team against the assumptive actions and brutality of opponents. Some of those were delivered with enthusiasm, some were last resorts. We were not a powerful team in that era - Rod stood up making many opponents think twice either before or after it was medicine time. The cowards avoided him onfield; the brave generally wore the consequences. At least it can be said that Rod Grinter kept the Tribunal in employment through acts of restitution and levelling.

Gulp! Sniffle. Sniffle. What other footballer could invoke such emotions?

Blair used to teach me how to do 'the banana' kick at Central Park (Malvern) when I was a little fella. He'd train/run there a couple of times per week. It added a whole new string to my bow - I used to drop kick for distance, stab pass for accuracy and only had a weak mongrel punt prior to that contact.

I'd reckon that JJ's positioning would considerably reduce an over-reliance on 'zip and energy around the ball' provided our midfielders can spot him - or do intend to spot him. He is a very good island in midstream flows and has great disposal when mobile.

Nicely posited but Golly, I could see these approaches being very useful with many Dees players since '64; in fact, these tenets possibly could have made Gysberts a run-away champion! Sadly, he didn't get very far past 'run-away'.

Entirely reasonable but what is a Bronwlow?

It's too intellectual. There's more than one character and it had a written script.

Absolutely brilliant. Best Filth joke I have ever heard.

It (the concept of '...culture...') does seem to be most awkwardly utilised in this context.

I heard that the good folk at Collingwood used Brylcreem (for two decades since 1950) as toothpaste, particularly when told '...a little dab will do ya...'. It was cheaper than Colgate in those days but in the tube, looked exactly the same. Taste, as with everything Collywobbled, had nothing to do with it.

I have always believed that a little 'mongrel' early makes a difference - and if there is a recovery, a little more can be applied to keep the bastards honest across a game. Unfortunate accidents are morale deflating in the longer-term of the game itself, so there is limited need for second attempts as disciplinary action. We have a few deft exponents in the side - Hibbo is the the one whose opposition is often given a warm welcome and he has been known to be of assistance downfield, on occasion. Let's hope we can provide a revelation of cause and effect to The Filth on the King's Birthday?

We always got blisters (in the Army) - both feet, really all-day nasty ones in the old GP boots. The medics came around every evening and lavished methylated spirits very generously on our feet. Wake up in the morning - - - gone! Ration pack, coffee, march on for another day, every day.

It's going to happen, amid the realisation that he is different in some way and thus, a protected species when bumped within the rules. Watch him fold, just like his awkward early days at The Filth.

The best and most efficient way to stop the 'out-marking' in the forward line is not to place static talls in the goal square. It's also poor percentage/effectiveness to do the pillars of salt routine and only look for a kick if it can be seen against the skyline. We could, otherwise, have a ripper and generously-served forward feast from any angle!

Living in the 1970's was a great time. I still have two dozen or so MFC players on my mind, daily, embedded in a permanent consciousness of footy wizardry. Each stands alone - everyone else in the team(s) tried hard but didn't meet the criteria very often. Still, happy memories over time.