Deemania since 56

I'd like to see Jetta and Hibberd play the orchestral conductor role in the backline instead of Jordan Lewis. Hell, those guys are inspirational most games and know what and how it is done.

Some really good common sense in these ideas that make logical sense, almost across the board. What you are suggesting already looks like increases in drivers towards faster, productive and efficient play and it could be more widespread, thus reducing our slumps and recovery issues. Nice work!

Vince is not as lethal as he was and is noticeably slowing to be at the contest. Lewis is just slow but has great kicking skills and heads up to find 'local' opportunities in other players. Lewis skirts the contact or hangs outside, too. Yet his game was good against Port, not great, but good. A firmer opposition will completely negate him, now. Both need to be at Casey and one week at a time, create space for younger animals to move up to the ones. Petty, Frost, Baker and Stretch come to mind in those positions occupied by Vince and Lewis but there are others. With Lever gone, Frost might be a great support in the back pocket to assist OMac and simultaneously release Hibberd and Jetta for some downfield backline magic; Petty is possibly a good stand-in at CHB in that scenario; Baker has pace and could use it on the wing or just outside the midfield if moving into position; Stretch needs confidence and ball winning determination and he, too, could run out the ball from the HBFlank to wing - he certainly could set up some action for the talented Fritsch or even Petracca if he wanted the ball. For me, Vince and Lewis have been handy but it was always going to be a short-term arrangement.

This really is a valid point; original tennant stuff so easily overlooked with the incursive co-tenancy offered to other clubs and interests, far from the interests of the MCC and the MFC combined. However, the lure of a new purpose-built facility for MFC only is attractive and would overcome the problems associated with maintaining or modernising the current facilities within the MCG itself.

Second efforts are pretty essential in football. Why not in recruiting?

Perhaps. But a great summation of the 'news' from you, UF.

Ripe pickings all around, I'd say.

What is the frigging difference between an 'accumulator' and a 'ball winner'? Ball winners get the ball, thus accumulating possessions. Accumulators read the play well and regularly get themselves into ball winning positions, and thus increase their number of possessions. Is there something that we need to learn?

Youngsters with talent grow up and then hell breaks loose on the field. We have a great list. Culture and hunger are missing but these are bubbling now more than the recent (20 years) past.

That is a fair offer - if he can provide a positive response that would be great. He is, however, NOT a midfielder. He is a flanker - the space suits his run and carry, and his passing skills with an occasional drift into the goals for scoring.

Always regarded him as a very handy player with G and D qualities, to complement his speed, drive and kicking abilities. Body is a worry though, recovery, play, recovery, play, recovery, looking elsewhere?? Terrible shame.

Fair call. This bloke does have some pedigree football nouse, must admit.

Came out of nowhere in terms of our expectations! What a very good choice it happens to be, as this bloke is quality. Let's all get behind him to make the Dees the best performing club in the competition!

And then another nuffie oracle tears strips out of concerned posters ...

Then again, despite his enormous talents and occasional application thereof, Colin had more that the 'normal' training footballer and lifestyle - and decision-making - to contend with against the more highly committed that we see in most others, and these combined factors did little to bring him to the potential and longevity that might otherwise have taken place.

An expression of interest over a longer time is healthy recruiting when availability is not current. Heard about this fella; it seems like he is a pretty tasty recruit and one whom we should watch for, as long as it takes. We are always going to need good disposers of the football from those with reputations of 'outside running'.

Let's not over-speculate; it pushes up the price of recruiting astronomically. If Gaff wants to be a Dee, it is up to him to show it with subtle resolve; if we want him, we could come together with Gaff to support this arrangement/outcome. With an environment of varied form and injury risks remaining ever-present, any good price is enough if the player wants to occupy a position in an emerging superteam. It does not need to be the highest price - if that is all Gaff wants, then we really don't need him. If he is a fair dinkum bloke, and everything points towards that being the case, he will be a Demon on these terms in 2019 and from that, will be much appreciated in a continuous appearance in coming grand finals for the Dees.

I had a dream: we refuse to co-habitate the MCG with 'foreign', well treated teams. Our member numbers soar to unprecedented heights as a result of this new dynasty that lasts and lasts. At the five year point, we begin building our own home ground away from the 'G, merging with a floundering Richmond to build a compact yet beautiful stadium (that just fits our extensive membership on one side in luxurious comfort where every seat is a $200 view of the ground and electronic scoreboards). The stadium has no location in my dream but it does serve a plated hot meal with good cold beer to all member patrons. There are no 'corporate' luxuries, it is a people's palace with a free pie and sauce to non-members, a can of Coke or a cuppa tea/coffee. We dictate to the AFL (and they have no capacity to refuse) that all of the MFC-R games will be played there on Friday nights, only. Away games dovetail perfectly for the same privelege to be extended to the Casey team on the odd away match and they use the ground as their membership has also gone 'through the roof'. The whole place becomes football central and the Pies, the Blues, the Bombers and the Cats fold in their increasing misery. Someone telephoned ... and that was the end of the dream ....

Yes, I'd reckon that is the case and was thinking that with a few of his anti-Crows breakaways during the game. Seems like the layoff that he has endured brought on some other forms of training that assisted running speeds and faster take-offs in a straight line for the ball - watch out, Doggies, the Filth and others, he's on a mission to take this train to the end of the line - a premiership.

Ten minutes later, I have been musing on this possibility of downloading the Weed as part of gathering Lynch, potentially. Gaff would be my priority acquisition, just the same. I reckon that Lynch would not be needed by the MFC in his current onfield deployment (at the Crows); however, I do think that he is a player above a mere depth acquisition. To this end, I feel that he could be fairly easily adapted to be our Centre Half Back with some command of the footy field and, of course, better exploiting his footy-gathering skills, given his physical attributes. With OMac proving more skilled, adept and reliable at Full Back, and with the rest of our impressive backline in support, Lynch could well be the opportunity to release Lever from the CHB position, enabling him (Lever) to return to the utility/intercept role to the HBFlank where he plays his very best football. Imagine: Jetta OMac Hibberd Lever Lynch Hunt/Lewis ... as our back six to produce a fortress and ball-winning set to support and initiate our impressive midfield and forward drive. In many ways, it is a bluddy scary opportunity to put the wobblies up the Filth, Carlscum, Essendrug, Whoreform, the Weegals and the dreaded interstate menagerie. Yep, go for him, after Gaff.

It would seem to be the case, if we had him. We also need a backline tyrant of the physically unstoppable variety, with good kicking skills and a brain. ( ie: a Rod Grinter type) I'd reckon we could get by with the youngies that we have now, once they mature and further develop in the game, should Gaff not be available for our midfield acquisitions. For example, Oliver and Brayshaw may well develop to a point where both of them are better than Gaff ever was - if not pressing for that status right now. Once Lewis and Vince - both mindful of the Club and its needs onfield - cannot keep playing, sure - Gaff would be more than handy.

Sloane has been a Ranger, sure but he is getting just a little past his best these days ... injuries, solid bumps and tackles, decreases in speed and directional changes ... whereas Gaff has those things we need and should keep giving for a few years yet.

Fantastic set-up I'd reckon...

Thanks for that perspective.

It is so sad, for all parties, and so unnecessary to engage in rumours and suppositions. The law is the law and it can run its course to make decisions warranted on evidence and fact. Let's not bespoil Demonland forums with inuendo and let this one pass at this point. To know something is not smart, it is a form of self-aggrandisement if you pass it on publicly at an early point. Many are affected by a drug or substance culture as a feature of our society. Not all are guilty of such personal choices. and circumstances between and across people differ markedly.