Deemania since 56

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.

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.

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.

It is sad, in many ways, Febes; it almost looks like we have talked ourselves into to the loss of Hogan - one of our greatest assets in recent years who really only needs a run of successive games bar injuries to reach his pedestal of greatness.

That is a big call, swyl. Totally different styles I admit; however, Hogan knows where to be to get the ball and what to do with it in those critical moments of fwdline panic.

I still reckon Lewis is more than worthy of joining the FD as a coach, specialist coach, motivator and game day planner.

It is amazing what people will do, Boomer, for a pay cheque. I thought you were values-driven; evidently, these have been sacrificed alongside your credibility.

Agree with this, halfway, Febes. I'd keep Frosty who is starting to blossom. OMac can go or be kept as a 'reserve' at Casey.

For the midfielders, it also represents a decreased running distance and duration as I could never expect us - in the current game plan of occasional possessions from an almost continuous supply of long bombs - to master the 'eyes-up' transfers that we so urgently need. It will improve the target zone for this style of play no end, and provide a range of alternative slots/roles/contributions of the talls we have and who are used at present in a largely static manner for the 'hope and the prayer' to produce a result. If we are currently the highest scoring team in the comp, we are going to be a full light year ahead of this statistic with better usage of the talls in diverse role plays. The Weed, for example, might become the new 'Breust' or 'Smith'-style of player rather than a locked in, static, occasional deep forward. It may well be very exciting... another example is the current change of the game play of Hogan - forced to become a mobile big around the fwd half of the ground; if there were two in this function, watch out, the Filth. Then, with the advent of the return of Lever, and the strengths of our current backmen, things may well happen.

Physically intimidating and still highly mobile, and once again solving a co-ordination gap within the game plan.

Je ne parlez pas la Francais, tres bien. Nevermind, any contribution is worthwhile.

Nicely posited, McQ.

ok

It would not be merely playing two rucks. Gawn and Preuss could be a formidable and very difficult-to-overcome tandem utility set. Both have ruck skills (derrr), both have forward skills, both have defensive skills and both have intercept value at the top of the notch. Both have definitive skills as utilities and mobile man-mountains. Preuss also offers protection skills for smaller teammates to dig in for the ball as part of the chaos game plan. Add May to the backline to work with Hibberd, Frosty, Nev and Lever with two onfield, available, giant intercepts and no-one is going to come close!

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.