Deemania since 56

Thanks for that post, DWA, uplifting after the weekend. We just have to get back on the bike and work smarter.

Gus did some great solo efforts in the moments - and I mean plural moments - when off the tagger role for instants when elements of the game created an opportunity for him to exploit. Gus, for all of the expectation, hope and criticism that can be hurled his way in a season of football, is not a tagger but instead, a play maker. He is a bloody good one, at that. Some critical anti-Filth planning and decision-making by the MFC went bottom up, were particularly sour and ineffective, right from the start. The umpires recognised this and then proceded very early in the game to dismantle the Dees' hard effort and method by deliberately 'creating rules' for the desired outcomes of the game, with an AFL licence to so do. After all, it was the Filth who were playing for their 'bums-on-seats' second half of the season. We also played the MCG very poorly with drive being concentrated on the Members' flank, for some reason despite huge green pastures available for most of the game through the central corridor from deep in defence to deep in attack. This greenery extended for each quarter (almost) along the parallel corridors of southern flank including its midline, again for almost the entire length of the ground. Our mids, when in possession, turned right to play the ball into congestion. There were no space rangers anticipating a more open game style inside the free corridors.

Wondering about Spargo, and if he really does need a rest. For just over two quarters against the Filth, he was in everything nearby and made some good clearances due to his pace, his ball handling, his endeavour and his inside handball. Gutsy little fellow playing in the big league with some poise, that can only continue. I'd reckon he is quite OK in the side at present; he made quite a good showing given limited opportunities across the game but those which came his way were well applied - even though he was let-down by teammates further up the ground. Petracca and his role needs to be stabilised; he is down on form and largely covers for other players not holding their own. Although well tagged, the same could be said for Oliver and ANB in this most recent game. Vince and Jordan need a rest, definitely, and there are those capable of filling those roles competitively. Viney ain't quite Viney at the present moment, rather unsurprisingly, and it appears that he could do with some more conditioning through a stint or two to come in a direct roving role that might provide him with some refamiliarity to the 'see ball, get ball, deliver ball' mantra that he has previously displayed. Chunk needs some gametime relief as his recovery is starting to test him and his intent. Gawn may well begin to incorporate more than just tap-downs in his immediate vicinity - whilst winning the tap on most occasions, there ain't no room for teammates to get in there to get something more positive started in terms of disposal and teamwork. I'd now stick with the improved OMac - he had a bad day - and it appeared that Hibbo fell a little too heavily in an early contested spoil to reduce his effectiveness across the game. He would not normally leave Jetta to outmark/spoil an in-form giant like Cox singlehanded. Lots of lessons to be reviewed, lost of alternatives to be suggested and digested to suit a more competitive team effort than the QB clash. Hated the game but there is quite an amount of appraisal that can extracted on this journey forward.

Very good synopsis and counter advisory in so many areas of our game that was displayed miserably against the Filth - but these have been lingering doubts across the supporter base for a long time, so it seems as if less has been learned than we had supposed. The net effect is not far away but reinforcement is needed now to consolidate a finals position. Good work, dpositive.

We laugh at the 'brown paper bag filled with money' syndrome but it was repeatedly obvious that the major reason we lost the the game was the result of umpiring decisions when we were clearly in ascendancy or in attack. As Robt Walls said, 'Melbourne are playing the better football but it is being interrupted...', and this was allowed to take place by the umpires' decision-making. There is something corrupt in the AFL umpiring system - something of which we are not privvy.

The Filth were slick with this tactic but the umpires turned a blind eye to the unlawful acts across the whole game. Spectators were appalled by these deliberate oversights from the whistle men. Pathetic.

Another 19 hours on the road driving to Melbourne for the match and return. For nothing, other than to watch the wheels fall off and the experience within the team fail once again to steer the game. Umpires did their bit to set up the confidence of the Filth but this time they kept it going all match. It was over, as a game, by the 20 min mark of the first quarter - the best that the MFC could do was to stay in dangerously protected touch for a short while, afterward, lacking players prepared to win the ball, move to the ball, look up for opportunity. Less than a handful played well with determination; their work ethic was wasted by potential receivers. The Filth were too tall and mobile ALL OVER THE GROUND and showed a far greater intent all game. My top 5 MFC players: TMAc HIbberd Hannan Spargo Pedersen ANB and Clarrie severely negated or tagged; Jones ran around in circles; Viney needs a few more weeks of game preparation and readiness; Jordan was very ineffective; Vince could have done much more; JSmith showed glimpses but match conditioning has not yet kicked in; Jetta was good; Frosty was needed (height, mobility, leap, carry, toughness); Oscar had a form drop; overall, too many passengers and onlookers, not enough protection and space.

Yeah BF, I am keen on him as a player because, from the fence, I look into the players' minds before each stage of their activity and linkage to the rest of the team by whatever method options they might consider, or have as part of their arsenal, or have done, and in this regard, Pedo does it most comfortably well. To me, Pedo does it all well for a bigger bloke at just on 194cm and represents one of our best targets when the going gets tough. Have always analysed footy players that way and in particular, just knew what Robbie, for example, was going to do and how he would do it. Almost the same for the Ox, Lyon, Stinger, Icke, Hughes, Alves, and so on but sometimes, pleasantly surprised by their actions and effectiveness. It is into this category that Clarrie resides, for example, in my scrutineer fantasies on footy. With Pedo, while we have him before retirement or trade, my Demon buddies and I could not fathom why he was not used more regularly despite the nandy-pandy comments of those who bleat repeatedly with a frighteningly superior blend of wisdom and cant.The emphasis is always on cant and so, it all is of little stimulation in the football appreciation process.

Absolutely, Vanders was a very versatile, big-bodied player with a real sense of attack on the football. It is not impossible for him to return to the side where he would be an enormous asset. His injury was and has been a major one; his efforts to recover have been frustrating but indicative of his resolve to return - we must wish him well with that return once it can fully take place.

'Broke down' ... not the case. Squashed at top speed winning the ball is more accurate.

Kent's dislocated shoulder was not 'his body breaking down, again'. His hamstring injury, earlier, may have been. The amount of sheer effort he was putting into retrieving a ball heading to the boundary line against an advantage in the game that we were about to lose at that moment, added to the push and fall of his opponent on top of him, would dislocate any player's shoulder in a frontal fall. That opponent was just about to get 'done' by Kent's speed, ball handling skills and intelligence in positioning - and the rebound was definitelly 'on' because of those efforts which were first class. He didn't even get a free from the umpire, transferred to another player.

Other than raw skills and adaptability, experience is going to be critical nearing the finals. Kent and Vanders have some of these attributes that may be far superior to the array of youthful inexperience.

Yep, they are both good footballers with some interesting attributes and can both do the job well on opposition players.

Great to have Pedo onboard, ain't it? A big pack-splitter, a great mark these days, good for 2-3 goals a game, hungry for the game and wins to the MFC. A balanced inclusion making our fwd line terrifying for the Filth. Suspect a very big score this match, now. We have to have something to overcome the umpires' frees for the Filth inside the 50m - that will go on and on all game.

Think this may be correct, SBF, you nailed it: ANB for run, aggro and linkages; Pedo into this awesome forward line, ruck reliever for Max's hand which will be sore after smacking Grundy in the mouth; JSmith into CHB, or bckpkt match-up, with HIbberd going into CHB, as an aggro bs/tard; Garlett to tickle Lynden's funny bone. Gosh, Golly, it is good to see Pedo in the side: I have counted three goals, already.

Must commend him.

Not quite, we cannot play Weeds until he shines. Garlett might be good against a slow Filth backline. I'd just like to see Pedo in from the bench to rattle a few precious bones and kick a few goals. He could make a rucking dent in Spargo if the opportunity arose. Not sure about Hannan's injury - it has been a well-kept secret.

Agree with this, Kent can be very impressive. Let us hope that now were a delivering a lower ball with eyes up, Kenty gets fit enough to resume his fine game with these patterns. He would blend in well with Melksham in such delivery and goal sense.

Not that I would be able to devote the time and other resources to such a proposal as 'an umpire rating system' it is an extremely good idea to clarify much that fascinates us all. It may even have secondary data implications more widely reviewed than by DL followers alone. On face value, a great suggestion, timbo.

Just work it hard, Cam. Some of us reckon you are going to be the Man.

There are signs that we are not the only ones who anticipate a win for the Dees. All that I have talked to in the past 48 hours - from those that are not Filth supporters - believe, and convincingly, too - that the MFC will win comfortably provided that on the day, the umpires stay outside of the game in terms of it being a 'big event' and wishing that the Filth 'stay in the game' from the first bounce at their (the umpires') discretion. The common thought is: In the minds of those far too influential in the AFL, blockbusters like these should be hard won and tight. The consequences of a Filth loss will herald the demise of their season and hence, a potentially massive losses of crowds later on in the season leading to the finals. Of course, this is rubbish but it does beg the question: would they dare? Carna Dees! Give 'em a bath!

We're just going to go for it against the Filth. The umpires will have ensured that they are ahead at half-time, guaranteed but after that, the Dees will come home where this 'favouritism/dollar sensitivity from the masses' can no longer determine the outcome of any game. The Filth will slow, noticeably and then throw tantrums and lose their alleged cool. Eddie will signal to the crowd with his own public tantrums in the stand about how outraged he is by the events on the field of play where the Dees kick on, and on, and on to win by over 70 points. So sayeth the seer, seth he. TMAc to kick 6, Hogan 6, Melk 5.Gawn to cut usunder the Grundy reputation and Clarrie to razzle-dazzle, once again.

This fact will be a big feature of the game because it is a blockbuster. The throng that is better known as 'The Filth' will be given many opportunities to stay in the game, to score inside their 50m and to be compensated for the rough treatment dished out by the vicious, fortress-like Demon defenders. On a positive note, the Dees will win easily when this umpire charity becomes ridiculously obvious (usually after the first goal to our opposition in the third quarter). Seen it all before, haven't we?

As an aside to this, the umpires are realising - ever so slowly - that where they have penalised him for 'incorrect disposal' (ie: throwing the ball, not handballing) in the past was entirely wrong and ridiculously, it only took two years for them to use slow-mo clips to actually see how fast he was handballing, not throwing. I knickname him ' The Wall ' because ball hit wall - ball bounces off wall. In that split second between his possession of the ball and its legal despatch, a full handball has been executed with accuracy and limited loss of momentum. How unfair for poor old Filth, Carlscum, Essendrug, Whoreform and the rest of less gifted.

I would love to see Cam play in a winning Grand Final. He is that type of a bloke.