Deemania since 56

Just hang onto Joel Smith for some more development - he has some class potential that only game time can expose.

Not 'ridiculous', absolutely 'frightening' if used in a tandem swap/role rotation up fwd, down back and in the ruck.

It is as plain as the nose on your face - Gawny needs support and is otherwise unfairly overworked to haul us out of one in-game catastrophe after another - and this is a testament to his endeavour and high character as a team man and champion.

He can play forward, and kicks both feet rather elusively.

We have to also remember that Joel Smith will have another season behind him and he has gained considerably from somewhat limited experience. At his current age, he is expected to only get better and better, and plays backline well as a rather mobile tall with marking skills. Pump some iron, Joel; get your fitness levels up and over the top; train harder than ever; do the ball and team skills routines until these are automated both in the head and in play. Next year may well be yours...

Moved just a little off Gaff for the Dees, as well. Our internal FD development may better provide a younger, injury-free bullet for the outside, with a revved up Hunt held currently in a developmental abeyance requiring absolute attention and encouragement - perhaps a role for the professor - Jordan Lewis - over the summer break/pre-season 2019. What tingles in the mind is our chances of securing May and Preuss - both would have multiple roles and impact on our team, to say the least, thinking backline and ruck-forward respectively.

Another pre-season, a bit of re-shaping, some required skills development focussed on a new role and contribution, some earnest MFC FD and supporter patience, their 'one-to-one' determination and continued encouragement, and Hunt might well be the outside runner we need with almost the best pace - and a development of two-sided disposal to complete the picture. I'd honestly reckon that this is all possible having watched him closely for several years now. For me, 2019 is his big, break-out year now that he already knows the game style, the brand (whatever that actually might be) and the need for his revitalising skills in quality delivery the football to his mates. 'Carna Dees!

Seen too many great fullbacks and CHbacks at Melbourne over the years and won't pointlessly list them, however, I have never been impressed with OMac. For example, Brown leads well and early for nearly every possession; any idiot can watch him but OMac seemed to forget that at critical moments, trailing by metres as if he was trying. He marks well sometimes, he kicks reasonably well but not well enough for a fullback. He does not have real rebound that is consistent across a game. He is out-manoeuvred regularly with one simple bump and he does not learn from these; prepare for these, avoid these, with any real effect, even after his somewhat improved physical development that is still too little for a fullback. He is seriously slow and could better utilise the strengths of his teammates in the deep back region - but seldom does. Frosty is already far better but more suited to a HBFlank, himself, or even as a backpocket rebounding tall. May from GCS, perhaps. Another role for recruiting Preuss from North? Sure could be as he has these credentials, and more.

Bluddoath! Back to his best from training well over summer. It adds that speed dynamic and we all know that his skills can be modified for greater effect (in a very short period of time) as we are now witnessing what a good club we are at '...developing our talents to achieve success...'

This may be a very good thing. He seems to have more capacity to 2nd ruck for Gawny than do Filopic and King; additionally, he is very big, strong and threatening, and as such, very mobile, changes direction well (agile) and can read the plays for positioning. Got a good set of hands, too, marking comfortably about 10 feet in the air, perhaps more, from limited leaps - so suffers from long-arm syndrome, which is really handy when developed as a defender and rebounder. On that point, he could be a key defender and/or forward quite easily, has the years in him to be trained to such an effect and is nowhere as 'gawky' as Gawn was at the same level of development. Kicks a mile or two, as well, and snaps the goals if free. Yeah, like him in so many ways. This is a Club/destination thing, not another '...don't want to play second fiddle...' type of option. Get used to it - we are a destination club. Get him!

It is a measure of his worth to the MFC, but just one of a myriad of values that he 'adds' to the team. Hence, a trade is out of the question. What is required is an improved demonstration by the FD of how to better utilise the skills that he has, brings to the team, with which he strengthens the team and produces with the team. Too often, far too often, the ball lands on his head or beyond it, and he receives no support from teammates against his 3 or 4 opponents from delivery using the long bombs. That assumes that there are at least three Dees' players untethered with an opponent at that moment - how come? He is a runner, let him go to the ball.

He just has to get 'em, hold 'em, and kick 'em. He needs some protection in all three.

Simple questions that when addressed, could make us a Premiership team with Hogan at the Front Door up fwd. We owe it to him and the long-suffering fans - no trade for Hogan would be satisfactory - he is one tremendous asset who should be allowed to play in a more-controlled team than what we so often currently exhibited. NO TRADE FOR HOGAN, banish the thought.

I'd play Preusse as a CHBack, with some ruck relieving roles across a game. Be an ideal opponent for some of the well-favoured, smart-arse, Hawkins-like forwards around the competition at present, and could be lethal when required for the Selwoods, Dangerfields, the whole Filth team, and in tempering some of the Essendrug thugs. That is just a small handful of potential roles if we wanted to get nasty with all teams ... hitman heaven!

His potential reigns, even after the past two years in which (the rest of) our Club has struggled almost continuously to reliably deliver the ball with the adage of 'eyes up' that may have otherwise encouraged Hoges to lead into space, to bring the ball to ground goalward and to score a phenomenal amount of goals - or provide goal assists - in that timeframe and yet, he still has an impressive record of goals scored, remains a tremendous threat to opposing teams' backmen and has made his way all over the forward line to become more involved and more mobile as an attacking forward with exceptional forward line defensive pressure. Now that the Dees in general are moving the ball with intent rather than ' bombing ' it to earn a statistic (aka the Jones' mantra), the team is more suited to enabling Hoges to be the forward he actually is - dynamic and prolific. Let's hope that these team qualities continue and further develop, and from that, Hoges' potential is assured and with it, the MFC success rate will escalate markedly.

Good observation!

That would be an excellent outcome. Confidence-boosting, as well. Now for the kicking technique and kicking for distance beyond 35 metres...

Article in the worst newspaper in Australia, this morning; 'The Advertiser' states clearly that Gaff is off the recruitment queue for the MFC - being offered over $1 mil per year from the bank-raiding Kangaroos. Still, maybe his act of aggression and 'brain fade' was his first thought at sabotaging the Eagles' season as early as possible. Bad choice made in quick time onfield.

Mobility and aggression at the ball is his need for the team. We do not really want to continue with the long bombs on top or over his head representing pathetic 50m arc entries from the midfield. We need a mobile forward with power to go, to get the ball, to take that ball and use it effectively - all in the same stride. Crumbers should accompany him to improve effectiveness and team intent. Jack R'woldt at the Tiges changed his game to go get ball - no just rely on big speccies (although he in known for these) but on sheer intent and purpose, representing (almost) the only tall on the Tiges' fwd line. The Weed ain't too young, nor underdeveloped if he wants to be effective - he just needs g & d to do it after at least two years of tolerant practice in a forward role. He can kick them if in possession. So far, he has not justified his footballing salary and the wishes of the Club.

And have a little chat to the MFC officials, the players, the FD in private, the recruiters, real estate agencies and other essential contacts related to the relocation for the 2019 season - a fresh start!

Nicely posited argument full of fascinating aspirations for Dees' fans. It does look like panning out, well. Enjoyed you commentary, dimmy.

Agreed, and mandatory 'ducking' for a free, slipping into the hot contact domain that is so common, reducing the severity of the real offence when it is wilfully applied by an aggressor.

Fairy 'Nuff.

Still chase him for 2019 - less cost is fine. Players sometimes learn from mistakes, particularly big mistakes like Gaff's.

Gaff out, West Coast team emptying of important players to injury each week. Umpire scrutiny keenly challenged in the last few weeks. These are things that a Demon supporter at this stage of this season likes to hear ... it would be good not to play the Toiges in our first week of the finals...