Deemania since 56

Yep, noticed these infringements, the responses and the neglect.

JVR certainly knows by now how not to get into the play and how not to distribute distribute possessions well. He has gone through the 'learnings' for sure; now is the moment where his interpretations and resolutions as a result of these 'learnings' turn the tide for the MFC (and his own game contributions). Don'tcha reckon?

ANB - he was excellent in the midfield for his part-game opportunity; double-edged sword, is our Nibbler. Breaks free with the ball through the midfield, stops opposition run-ons with poise 'on the turf' to slow play (and get our backs enough time to defend spaces they have temporarily left vacant).

Umpiring is reduced to Club preferences. It is a simple matter of application to whom, where, when and its strength towards a step (even steps across a game) for particular benefit. It has nothing to do with impartiality or applying the rules of our great game honestly and accurately. Here endeth the diatribe.

I still was impressed with the recovery, considering how poor the early play actually was on the night. Our youth will assist the whole team to make amends, given near-continuous exposure to the level and its demands and that, of course, will set them up with a clearer role within the team. The 'come-back' was incredible!

Correct, remarkable but absolutely the case, TWICE just to swing the rapidly deteriorating advantage so hard fought by the umpires from the first bounce.

Nothing for the boys to be ashamed of as a result of that last quarter and their persistence in the third quarter beforehand. We know what happened, we know how it happened.

That will test the 'pudding'.....

There's bound to be a few 'learnings' in there, for YOU, Goodie.

Knockout! Talk about over-working the goal umpires!

Possibly a last-quarter win/loss match, but I reckon the Dees are fitter, more mobile and hopefully, 'clearance powerful' relative to the Blues. A couple of good tags could also slow them down. Fully agree about the P, J and T marking/zoning/leading/space finding.

That is a really good point - three killers on their day. Today, it's the day! Smalls will win this game ....

You forgot the packet of Marlboro Red, really good from the first bounce to the 20-minute mark of the last quarter when it is plainly obvious that the opposition quite simply cannot win. Carna Dees!

I reckon May will leave Curnow under done this week.

Yes, but we must include the review people, poised on the handicapping perch to name any MFC player who could/will be suspended, no matter what the alleged offence might be (including rude words and distant gestures directed at Carlscum players).

Yes. It was interesting to see them both competing against one another.

Possibly correct, but watching (as we all did) his team being dismantled across the ground by another team then championing an '...off day...' is an attempt to forgive his charges, and an attempt to deceive his charges at the same time. Minus the Demons' point-scoring forays, the MFC taught them all a lesson and were more potent across the game, and were fitter (in better condition) than the PussyCats.

Yep, Thompson was just emerging as one of the best in the Red 'n Blue - by hell, he could play...

One would hope that it is all being appropriately managed and one can remain confident that such is the case, given our performance experts and their bank of appropriate strategies. My main concern would be, perhaps, the longer-term effects of these short recovery measures, as the toll rises in terms of 'almost instant' recuperation from tough or toughest games. The season, unlike in my day, is really a long one and filled with far more competing teams, thus more games to be played; across the past few years, injuries and susceptibility to injury or fatigue have played a role in our finals campaigns. This has not been a positive outcome, moreso a disappointing result and we (MFC) have been booted in the bum to make way for more fortunate season campaigners. Of note, some of the finalists have fared better than the Mighty Demons in the fixture arrangements, even with the luxury of 'managing' swathes of their personnel for the benefit of what might still come, once rested. Any scrutineer making such observations of the AFL's scheduled 'demand' for a team to be ready in less than 6 days could at least probably (or actually) be able to nominate those 'fortunate ones' with a 'favourable' draw. May the gods of the calendar see fit to make each week of football more equitably spread, for all. I reflect on footy teams in the comp as what Fogarty analysed as 'Fortunate One'.

Y'know, LitD, I am rapt to see the footy as early as it is scheduled but I do wonder about the impact such incomplete non-recovery interludes might take as the season progresses, and the toll it may take with all of our players who are critically important links in the teamwork and gameplan chains.

Another short break between games is deliberate handicapping, neglect and above all, insulting for the thinking supporters of the MFC, the players themselves and above all, a blaring weakness in contrast to the high morality yardstick so self-considered and 'faked' by the AFL.

The number of consecutive behinds we kicked was disappointing but at the same time, the inaccuracy that mounted was also a clear indication of just how comprehensively we were 'killing' the Cats by having the opportunity to take set-shots so frequently, ideally within relatively close range. On rough estimate, around 6-7 goals might well have been the final outcome. That is a stark but very pleasant realisation. Their own forwards were freaked-out by our backline efficiencies, putting enormous pressure onto the alleged 'quality' of their goal-kicking reputations. Ours, in turn, are just starting to solidify.

Talent to burn; clever, a thinking-man's approach to the game; knits up the run between half-back and half-forward; gives me the shivers - doing the Stan Alves time and again - truly, a wonderful footballer.

Noticed that - blaringly obvious that he could not even say: 'The Demons played well.'

We keep coming back to these points: Max is a true champion, an excellent example to all of his players, a great captain of the footy Club. He should be knighted for his contributions to sport and civic dignity.