Deemania since 56

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.

Was that Tommy limping with two crutches around the players' car park? And was that Clarrie in the wheelchair? Ad infinatum.....

Yep, only a fool would participate in the AFLX - unless there was no choice from the Club. There is a nice 'ring' to this idea - the Dees could well be the only team in the comp that does not participate for reasons of professional ethics.

Truly underrated - he was a brilliant player who was always into the hot zone, clearing and teaming, terrific kicking skills, agile, tough and fast. In later times, in purple patches of a few games, young Dean Kent made me blink twice - he had Hassa's attributes at times, and Kenty looked very similar to Hassa on the ground when moving towards the ball - he even kicked a little like Hassa but not as prolific or effective. Kenty kicked a big one last season, a very important goal at the end of the game. Hassa did this many times across particular games in the days of 'individual efforts'.

Very true; practice games like this one, four weeks out from Round 1 are fraught with some peril and risk of injury. I'd rather belt the Filth during the season, and QB is ideal. The finals would be even better if we were to [censored] them clean(ly). I hope a Casey-based team is selected for this practice match for so many reasons ...

When signing on to to Dees, Joel was accompanied by his dad, Shaun Smith, who said to the media: 'Joel has a bigger leap than I ever had, better hands, too." With another year of experience now achieved, this could be his moment!

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.