Deemania since 56

What terrible, soul-destroying luck for poor old Collingwood in the last seconds of the GF. It truly makes your heart bleed, it is a gross injustice to the spirit of the game, to the team and to its administration. However, it was a great kick, and a terrific goal to WC and sealed the game completely. Geez, it was a knockout result.

did not see that article, do you have a link?

Nice thought, very nice. We want Maxy to reach the 300 game level. We want a target. Preuss is the man.

Without hesitation, that is on the money. Great midfield in 2018, great forward entries, Nervous Nelly supporters whenever the OMac was required to come into play, that's if he was able to keep up with it.

Simpson did coach well across the season, shoring up his KPD/KPF as an arsenal and used the season to create play familiarity and responsibility; he also maximised his team strengths - as we found out in the Prelim. The GF was nearly always going to be a proving ground for them, and the widespread mantra was '...how to beat Collingwood or Richmond...' on the day with talls, contested marking and a sustained finishing intent after the first flush - which obviously was Collingwood's attempted 'best play'. The relentless 'hard ball get' was another asset that supported their mid to final game rally. Well done, Simpson and his determined team of players.

Clearly put and well put. Straightens out many thoughts in my head, at least. Hogan is a loss - but it is a well-managed loss - so you are correct. I do think that with the MFC FD training intention, Preuss may well turn out to be that rucking deep forward upon whom more wins and a top four finish might rest. Pedo just needed a few more yards; Preuss well-trained should provide these.

Thinking the same thing, during the second and third quarters of the game. Wondered if Gil the Dill and the umps would dare?

Wise man, your father.

TMac actually made improvements in a quantum manner - OMac has not across two full years, at least not enough of the plural improvements that he needed. These brothers are two individuals, not clones. TMac learned and TMac worked, and TMac made the grade. TMac now is dependable in so many areas. Great. I cannot say that about his little brother.

Agree with your first sentence, SWYL. Frosty was put there to back and assist OMac who was very slow, unreliable to chase, errant with his sense of DEFENCE, territory and last line of defence. He is too light for words as a backman, as well. The second sentence reads much better IMO if you said: A defence that includes May and Frost is much better equipped to take that next level.I think this way because Frost has made rapid and game-winning back-up to OMac and his 'assistance' has been largely self-propelling and very dynamic to what a fullback is supposed to bring to the game. He will blend with May, Lever, Hibberd, Nev, Salem and Kolliejazzknee very naturally and add further drive and penetration to that mix - but needs some individual work to turn his hands into vices to mark more assuredly and continue to read the plays defensively and in rebound. Most of this has been achieved and it is characterised by his new-found strength, speed and delivery.

Frosty is aware of his style and weaknesses, and has improved 3 of these in just a couple of months. With a good pre-season, I'd reckon that the FD can sort him out, just fine. Frosty is a playmaker, and a very big asset down back that will turn the final two corners with focussed coaching. It would appear that he will achieve this heightened mastery in quick time, too.

We have to put these sentiments aside; Ray Biffen wasn't pretty, either. But hell, he could rough 'em up well for a few years there.

Can he juggle a nice French brie with his wineglass of Grange 68? Does he have his Range Rover Sports V8 parked in the Members? If not, too bad. He fits the bill perfectly.

Quite depressing, the shift and change in the concepts of club and team loyalties. The mobile phone accoutrements generation certainly possess a different short, medium and longer-term outlook on method, means and entitlement. At the same time, the importance of sustainable values and objectives is brushed aside for the quick fix of the very few, and in reality, a measurable none. However, good luck to them. Football has improved but it does now flash continuous and impending warning signs that does not lead to a great deal of positive change - it leads to a dissolution of some appreciative stability. The fans agglutinate not for the game but for the tribal rites. For the players, a key focus is definitely on the rights of passage.

That is all it would take - accuracy and deliberation. It is time that kicking skills were fully overhauled.

He has a pace that can be maintained over distances required for an outside mid. He does not have great bursts of speed but his hand-off is quick and good. He also is relatively sure of foot. He can turn and weave a little, that is unlikely for slightly taller bloke in that OM role. What I really like is his ball-gathering and clean hands, combined with his good pace (not lightning fast) running with his head (and thus, eyes) up - looking for the best receiver. And, he hits that receiver from up to 50 metres. A value player if ever you saw one.

From the ashes rise the Phoenix - you could be correct.

He sure did!

Possibly correct, but he is not in that frame of greats that you mention. Those three had talent in buckets and let such talent overcome their lesser moments; whereas Gaff, unfortunately, does not strike me as a player so capable.

The advantages of the entertainment 'slot' at the game is twofold: 1. It is a great chance to get to spend considerable time to buy a beer and a pie with dead horse at the crowded vendors, and 2. It is a great time to quaff a few frothies at the bar, and still carry one safely and spill-free back to your seat.

Like Bugg and many others across the years, Gaff is going to be a fringe cringe for several years after his king-hit incident; his onfield presence will be tainted and an exercise in shame; his form will start to severely fluctuate; he will be a target for aggressors and an assortment of 'heroic' acts; in short, he will be only 50 per cent of his former self as a footballer. Do we need to carry that?

Agree with this, it seems logical and May has room to develop and blend his skills to the needs of our team, providing that he trains hard, works hard, and recognises our impressive player chains downfield. To me, May might become a similar Demon backman to Peter Rhode, moderately mobile, very tough, always going for the ball, a good deliverer and feeder for teammates, and a protectionist that stays on his feet for incoming gorillas and Filth-esque blowflies out to get on some under-the-counter brown paper bag provident fund on a regular basis in the car that occupies Eddie's parking space. Frosty, Lever, Hibberd, Nev, possibly Salem and May has a ring to it - just send OMac forward if he can develop some speed running. Then allow Max and Preuss to drop back, as well, on those occasions when they feel it might be necessary.

Lots of speculation, so let's look at the man. He has character, poise and has overcome some very great hurdles in his MFC history. He is a very valuable player and to date, his loyalty to the MFC has been wonderful. Other teams scramble to over-man up on him, week in, week out. This is a primary measure of his talent, skills, capability onfield and his potential impact. In return, he is quiet, reserved, almost enigmatic. His qualities extend beyond his years in his carriage and in his onfield demeanour and promise. For the MFC, he is a SUPER asset. The Freo bids and interests are not new; obviously, he holds these in abeyance with a deft hand - it is not the dollars, it is his commitment and loyalty to the MFC that drives him. It is his regard for his team and his teammates. If we value him, why do we allow this surreptitious reflection on his MFC career and its duration every time that he demonstrates adversity, success and above all, quietude in his loyalty? Jesse will not be going anywhere - Jesse is what the MFC continue to need and it is hoped that injury, form, speculation and disquiet will not prevent that from occurring.

Something really nice for the MFC to have another animal in the side. Vanders, in the very short term, has done a lovely job in that regard and now with a 'buddy', things may well be a little less pressing. Of course, Viney might well think it an asset to his game and it may stimulate Petracca to throw around some muscle at the minions...

Love it, Febes! Great attitude. We all know we'd miss Hogan enormously and I still doubt that he would leave. However, with just a little nous applied, in tandem with some focussed back-up, second tier talent reviews. preparation and selections, we have a potent forward line and a very potent backline in the ether for next year and because of their age(s), many years to come. We certainly will not be so 'single player focussed' to beat other teams in the competition right across the field; rather, we will be a team of immense power and game control right across the field - forward, defence and of course, midfield, and ruck with mighty utility options either end. Lever, Preuss and Stretch with a full and tough pre-season across the whole team will assure us of that outcome. Betcha.