Deemania since 56

Just a little bit early to be considering Bradtke, I'd reckon. Certainly has the correct profile at this point, with some noticeable assets for the mid-term future and longer. Lots of hard work - both on and off the field aligned to some really close mentoring - and he will be a tremendous asset for the team as a whole, readying for a big call-up to take his place. Great potential.

Looks good subject to a great pre-season and injury recoveries. I'd drop OMac for Frost - on game-style grounds and rebound value. Oscar may be better used as a forward in this team.

Moves like a steaming locomotive, faster than a speeding bullet, images of a Rioli superman, for mine. Mild-mannered, too with just a touch of mongrel. Perfect acquisition.

Thanks for that perspective.

It would not be good form to discount the Preuss we picked up - he is highly motivated, young and teachable, driven to succeed in a Max environment and very likely to come out of the blocks of the MFC with roaring form and appetite to invoke opposition fear, trepidation and uncertainty at the widespread level. He is no 'Gentleman Cox', at all. At Preuss' age with his experience so far, Maxy was well known as 'Gawky', and he developed somewhat from that crassness. Preuss is going to murder opponents and play on as a very big part of our team.

If you saw Chris Connolly play football - usually well beaten against height, weight and reputation - you would not say 'Yuck'. That guy was a terrific footballer who played 'above his weight' week in, week out to terrific effect in very weak MFC teams - for several arduous years in terms of win-loss outcomes. His onfield victories against big names were stacked up like a pack of cards at the one-on-one or two-on-one contests. Even his aerial duels were the source of unexpected poise and power. It may not have transferred to his coaching career in all regards but it was difficult, at that time, to discount his game interpretation.

Agreed, Chook. A little disappointed that when given the chance to pick up Bailey Williams, we hesitated and this allowed West Coast to nab him as he would suit their game (for what it is worth, it would have completely suited and enhanced our game more invaluably, and could have addressed and strengthened our forward entries scoring results enormously).

....and will continue to receive AFL blessings and approvals as sole recipients until the current AFL hierarchy is disbanded and replaced. Already several rule changes have come into play (as these were appropriate for the Essendrug game).

Spot on, 'Balls! Frost should be our CHB in the new structural order. He is a genetic mirror in the learning of May's game and thus, a great link man for May's game, Jetta's challenge and, run and carry, Lever's intercept, HIbberd's rebound. Better still, Frosty is getting better at almost everything needed and his run and carry is less easily intercepted, interrupted and interpreted. He is a boomer kick for clearances and a quick re-setting of the backline. If he was doing these things pretty well (love the understatement that you have used) then he is going to do these things bloody well in 2019.

This is excellent news, stimulating thoughts that the Dees are getting serious, again. Whilst it has been a very long time for this groundswell to emanate from what has been an agony of doubts year in, year out, it certainly feels that the No.1 pedestal is about to be re-occupied by the Red 'n Blue for a lustful charge at invincibility for some years to come. 58 years of pain, or so, seems to have been vanquished.

I'd agree with this, as we do have speed in some young'uns at Casey who are on the verge of senior selection - and in reality we possibly need only two more ... in addition, the further development of a few (of the likes of Hunt, Wagner, Spargo, Stretch) - with the return to form and desire of Garlett - may well be the key as these guys know the brand, code, plays, teammates, set-ups and expectations across the field, already. KK will be a considerable asset, too, in this 'confirming' year of play and training to come. Given that we also have run from the backline now - with Hibberd, Frost, May, Jetta, Salem, et al, we are not going to need an overcooking of pace specialists, just open space finders and receivers with take-off skills and onfield space hogs. The quality of training and development for these bright sparks is perhaps most important to a stirring year of ball possession, delivery and opposition confusion.

Just another example from the AFL of their sectarian interests rendering maximised profits, and underpinning poor decisions and judgement from the past. The whole fixture arrangement represents a chook raffle mentality in a crowded pub.

From the experience of past years, the AFL fixture for any year cannot be released until in private conversations, Eddy Maguire has approved that draw. His exacting criteria, not comprehensively included, seems to be: first game of the season for the Filth at the MCG at least 14 home games in a season no more than two interstate games in a season we only play the Dees when they are devastated with injuries gate receipts maximisation is configured based on which team we play at home and what crowd that team may draw we are advised - before spending our entertainment funds - on which umpires will be allocated to each match in the pursuit of cordial relations with those umpires prior to the upcoming game over a 'slap dang' lunch as our guests.

Welcome, FD, to ManDee's 'Killjoy Club', and I quote: ' I would like to suggest that those asking for a thread to be closed be banned for 1 month. If the thread is going after the month ban them for life. There are too many killjoys in life, don't come here if you don't like it. It is not compulsory.' Horse floggers, uplift your sources of glee for the sake of the civilised, joyful status quo.

Or, I wish I had Jesse's girl......

Can we now close this thread? Castigation and innuendo serve little purpose and Jesse, the FD/MFC and our success may still warrant our respect?

Plus Preuss and hopefully from the draft, Bailey Williams.

We - and the AFL - just have to develop absolute contempt for Maguire and his rantings that are akin to a spoilt little brat. Cop the draft as it falls, Eddie and whilst you are at it, play a fair amount of 'away' games interstate.

Interesting, John. Trac also seems to have lost a little 'courage' in close - a big pre-season is definitely a necessity to work back into lethality.

This amazes me at times; the number of DL posters who exercise free will to criticise Frost and his alleged '...lack of skills...' when all he might need is some split second to steady in delivery - and that is a coaching issue. That split second, by the way, will have an ever-reducing timeframe as he adjusts to its impact in games. Usually, Frost is up there, any opponent, ready to pounce and run, just like Sean. I can clearly remember Sean having delivery problems for a couple of seasons, as his kicking was erratic most of the time but, by hell, he won the ball and again, usually affected a clearance. Then some FD coach took him aside over a pre-season for some extra work on foot passing, longer passing, handball and eyes up option finding. Instant transformation it was, and Sean became another legend of the MFC for superb contributions across the field, for uncompromising reliability and toughness, and for heightened skills execution through an enormous confidence build in his game. Frosty needs 'some' of this coaching attention - I am convinced that this is all he needs. He could be a terrible weapon in our arsenal of elite players and is worth the effort. You know what? Rodney Grinter is the man to teach him how....

That is good to hear - new club, new teammates, new game plan; why wouldn't he blossom in 2019? Max will show him the way.

The luxury position is that both Johnstone and Lockhart are kept, developed, exposed. Immense value for Casey, potential value for the big league team in the near future. Several roles may well exist for both, in both teams - both tough at the football.

There is plenty of time to adjust his delivery, as needed. What we do know is that he has a fair hoof and he needs to just slow a fraction in the last stride to make it a good one if it is to be a pass up to 40 metres. His handball, too, needs to be a little further from his body - front and lateral delivery - rather than swinging with that great pace that he has (as a whole of body movement). The guy is a gun in the making and pre-season will assist, not doubt. Steadying is a split second in duration - he has the time.

Does Mahoney fish? Maybe we should send him to the Torres Straight Islands for a little football clinic - just to see if he can get one of those magical 'under 6 foot schnappers'? Take The Wizz with you, Josh.

We must be in the raffle to play more Friday nights this year - we just must be a Victorian pace-setter in that regard alongside the Toiges. We must also be relieved of interstate travel in which we are subject to continuous, incestuous abuse across the fence. Tiredness from travelling is also a concern.