Deemania since 56

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 want another Aaron Davey, a Jeff Farmer and their sons.

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.

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.

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.

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.