Deemania since 56

He would be the furthest thing from my mind at recruitment time. His traitorous greed exceeds his loyalties. He is also like that on the few occasions where he took possession of the football. Some prospect. Even before he left the MFC, he was overvalued, overpaid, underperforming and unwanted. Glad he made it elsewhere for his own sanity.

All pertinently true, Skuit. You'd think that point 1, point 2, point 3, point 4 could be easily and quickly and widely recognised by a skilled FD with amendments and immediate development or strategies applied. Are we locked into a FD and coaching staff that live in a world of denial? If we see these issues for the finals, why can the FD not see these and respond? I see point 5 as being more complex, multidimensional and 'risk-vulnerable' but for other virtues, almost tolerable (eg: Vanders might be a little slow but his play slows all competitors in contact with him; Jones is slowing noticeably but runs to space well to 2nd-play the moment, usually effectively; Tyson just needs to be dropped; Lewis is slow, too, but strategically justified in current weeks of his performances).

Still plays as if he is continuously rushed - needs a cooler head to exploit his assets.

It is all tongue-in-cheek; what the media have to say about the Dees is already known by the supporters and even-minded football followers supporting other clubs. The story of the finals in reality is still the Toiges. However, the passing bandwagon suggests that newspapers, viewers and listeners can be sucked in by extending the alleged interest into a team that is still not fully confirmed in its place. How do we feel about media profits being assisted by such attention on the Dees? IMO that it stinks a little and sensationalises much of the preparation and readiness assessments of the Club, its support bases and core media reporting. Believing is seeing, not hype-ing the season culmination. Still, that said, it is somewhat new territory for us all - and is therefore exciting but it takes a cool head to remain realistic and more accurately focused.

Professional evaluation of self and direction, as one of many thoughts no doubt passing through his mind and his ongoing preparation across the seasons. At least he was honest about it in discussion, on reflection and no doubt, at the time, possibly all the time. Jones is a driven man; he weighed up his loyalties, his commitments and endeavours which display a truly great strength of character. For him, most probably, it was a case of '...this is not all about me (so often the trend in the past couple of decades), this is about what I can achieve for the MFC in partnership with my changing guard of compatriots...' He deserves and earns great praise for this stance against the odds and the convenience of an alternative course of action for which he has always been most qualified. Gets my vote for a very worthwhile human and leader/motivator. Onyer, Jonesy!

Sounds like another 'decoy' in operational pre-game mode. If there was a problem, even a niggle, he would not be asked to achieve that workload; it's like owning a GTHO - go fast on the track, not the backstreets of Collingwood.

IMO Whoreform did play their best brand in the first half against the Tiges, and that was based upon their physical capacity to play against a 'running' team using teamwork patterns relatively well. This means to me that the Whorkes have few fresh legs at this stage of the season - and sides seem to temper the impact of their runners across a game. Whilst there are exceptions, singular contributions don't win finals - team momentum breaks down. These are things/observations that the Dees are continuously displaying with noted improvements in the last few games, even in shut-downs where occasional lapses have stretched across a game. I'd reckon we will smash them after half time, too.

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!

Joel the mole Smith in, then? Saw Hibbs grab at a knee cap area in the Geelong match but seemed to be OK after seconds of recovery. Hope he is OK for the game this week - Mr very handy Take no Sheete.

I just want to see Vanders go seriously through a couple of highlighted Hawk players on the day - take possession and play on....

Had a big startle this morning, almost fatal, actually. The Adelaide 'Advertiser' had four large-column articles in the sports page about the Dees, and a whole back page photo of Harmes looking temptingly ready for the Hawks. This newspaper normally does not bother itself with any news - let alone headlines - on the Dees, hence the surprise.

Good comments, thanks

Agreed, McQ. Need some pretty serious teamwork, mobility, muscle and intent to beat the buggers, though. Trac needs to really perform in this match using muscle, brain and both hands to see ball, get ball, use ball and kick 4 goals when we might need them. Fritsch must play forward, as a utility, as well.

Actually, near goals, Hannan is our X, Y and Z factor!

It is true; I was getting very tired of all forms of media exclaiming time and again just how 'talented', 'threatening', 'dominant', 'professional', 'skilled', 'league-leading' and 'masterful' the Geelong midfielders were relative to other teams in the competition whereas the Dees were merely a team with '...good clearance options...' in comparison. Well, the past tense of were is now fully operational as far as the Geelong midfield holy trinity is concerned - the Dees have the best midfield of all and have again proven it in buckets.

Yes, having been at the game Friday night, I watched carefully to the contributions and team contributions of the selected list. Other than to say that it was a great and co-operative performance, the frequency of the contributions (whilst all very good to excellent with only a few lesser examples), were apparent. This was useful, as it became obvious we had this game by the end of the first quarter, as expected. It enabled me to review for the game next week against the Whoreform team, simultaneously enjoying the negation of the Catty Puts. I'd reckon: Tyson out - not able to contribute consistently and slow in the congestion moments to deliver, so often randomly Fritsch - half-used across the game. Kicking and positioning were good but often ignored as a backman by his teammates. Does not appear to be a backman and consequently, his skillset is half wasted with opportunities reduced as a last-resort avenue. Would do - and can do - far better with his terrific attributes on a forward assignment - possibly flanking or in-close groundwork close to goal. Optional target for marking and we need his kicking skills for improved scoring chances. Could surprise the hell out of the Squawks' defenders, I'd reckon, too Spargo out - great in an open assist passage or two by hand and foot, but easily kept aside across much of the game by ordinary-bodied opponents, and the learning curve/physical development became detractors to his game. He's got it all, though, for next year. Weideman - played better than ever seen before with talent, confidence, intent. Big change in my own opinion of him and it seems September is his month to show it and shine. Jetta - great efforts again, great effectiveness, great linkages. Hope his shoulder (?) is fine by next game. One of our consistent best Lewis - terrific game, leadership, examples ... highly useful in the 2nd/3rd quarters stemming the Catty Puts' best efforts to stay in the game Best Players: Gawn, Harmes, Clarrie, Brayshaw, Viney with apologies to Hibberd and Jetta. Sat in the Ponsford Stand behind the midline of the goals. Sat just behind a Geelong crew so I could hear all of the wise comments across the game. After the first ten minutes, they were all shattered without any signs of an improving outlook. Big Bill Brownless was there; he spent most of the night with his head between his knees in abject misery. Smith, Hunt, JKH and/or Kent might be good acquisitions for the Whoreform game, but where? We need two more 'burners' and another mobile backman.

This team for the Elimination Final is as good - if not better - than any we have previously selected. That is what is mesmerising the fans and supporters - and even the hacks of the past. Geelong are history for 2018.

Experience means nothing when the red hots and blue start creaming the Catty Puts. Hit 'em hard, fast and relentlessly. Go Dees!

I thunk zat oi are a widdle bit anshouse as wull. Can nort thunk strayght and fockuss. Well it parse?

It's a great place, Mate. Good tucker, good beer, good outdoor drinking area upstairs.

He is a good player and he knows it - if we cannot guarantee him more minutes, let's offer him a winning team association and comradeship/culture backed up by a Premiership Flag in 2019.

Geelong are susceptible. Ego-driven predictions and expectations from their players do create lapses in effort and concentration, and their power players exude far too much confidence and assume 'all will be right' on the night. Prepare thyself, Geelong, for a crash. Your ability to transform a game with one or two bursts of scoring are reflections on days past. The rallying that you performed in the past is not possible weekly, and in the very recent past it was shaky. Your players are ageing and slowing; you meet a very fit, keen and capable opponent in the Elimination Final - one who has beaten you all over the ground with its youthful exuberance twice this year to achieve in comparative terms 'an upset' looming and large. If it was not for umpiring standards lapsing in your favour, twice, as a saviour of the finals gate receipts, it would by now be all over; accept it, Geelong, your sun is setting. 'Go Dees!

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.

Some big opportunities there, with Preuss possibly the best of them for our game. Just imagine Gawn with that level of support - what a level he could still reach is almost unprecedented in the history of the game. It would also free up both TMac and Weidemann to continue with their respective development/s as king-hit forwards whilst still providing a diverse, third tier of rucking support if needed.