Deemania since 56

Not another press conference! Please! hah=hah

Not allowed to watch another game? Severe effects...was that from 'she who must be obeyed', the cardiologist, the psychologist, the shrink, the local health welfare agency, your boss, your best mate, your drinking pals? I've taken up self-medication for those personal moments watching, reviewing, analysing MFC games - a decent bottle of Johnnie Red or Talisker, some ice, matured cheddar and a dose of multivitamins beforehand. Believe me, it is nearly working a treat! Takes away much of the twitter and blistered from the post-match analyses and the umpiring status quo.

Spot on! In earlier, real football days, the hum and atmospheric feel was an absolute pleasure with which to interact or just merely soak up.

It is logical and sensible, and necessary, and once again, overlooked.

Wrong, intensity is a creation and execution ideal for the training track.

Very true, going to the footy itself is not half as good as it was before all the 'hoodoo' that exists today. A pie, maybe a hot dog, a thermos, a few beers, the anticipating 'hum' of the expectant crowds - no matter which teams were playing - the civil nature of the community of spectators, emphasising tolerance, a piddle at half-time with polite strangers, a quick smoke or two, no razzle, dazzle or imposed focus on irrelevant 'crowd entertainment', and better umpiring. The only real benefit of 'being there' is receiving a live view of your team in order to assess, speculate, understand, interpret and respect their efforts. Hey, you could even get a return train fare, ground entrance and a seat, the mandatory football nutrition and liquid refreshments, a Footy Record and a bag of hot jam doughnuts after the game for the walk to Richmond Station amongst friends - all for less than $25! Take us back, Gil because secretly, we are still all living the dream.

He (Vanders) came into the team raw, as far as recruits go. Playing in a mishmash of secondary interstate teams, not the glory box of VFL 'reserves', affiliate junior teams such as Casey, for example. Virtually unheard of, as a footballer. Hitting the MFC, he began to shake the ground with multiple Stirling performances, intercepts, marks, what appeared to be both cheap and hard-fought goals, tough contests and tackles, some footspeed for one so big and still very mobile. His recuperation has been lengthy but according to Club reports and a myriad of observers so commenting, he never lost it, he was persistent, he was determined, he did not shirk the issues in one way. He has recovered now, a highly commendable achievement and testament to his endeavour. We should be bringing that endeavour back to the football field in the AFL team. He is an inspiring bloke with real football smarts and skills. He is more value than at least three or four players (unmentioned) who have been selected with some consistency. Let's get it done, now!

Clear evidence, Febes.

Good comments, but it must be realised that the AFL has virtually nothing to do with any planning that is '...equal and unbiased...' i'd therefore guess that with this maxim in place, and its consequences, next to nothing will evolve that is anything near where it should be regarding the fixture.

All good. Reminds one of the footy with which we kinda growed to, like. This remedy might well fix it all.

Just re-assessed some possibles since that post 24 hrs ago. 'Ruthless' is necessary in a competitive world. It is not necessarily heartless but revision is usually good and if not, it is informing; whereas 'stupid' does not quite fit the bill, but thanks for that, anyway. Sometimes I'd reckon that posters such as yourself are indicative of a need for singlemindedness to get out more in order to be a little less self-transfixed and personally critical, and to see how the others about us might think from time to time. However, enjoy the game.

Lewis, JKH, Harmes, most likely.

A squared + B squred = C squared, where C squared + fairness = a 60 point win for the Dees, provided that the umpires do not interfere for the Crows' benefit at their home ground - but the temptation for them, and the AFL, is to entice as many Croweaters to the 'G as possible for the finals, and gate receipts. Good luck, MFC.

Frost has got to take Walker from the start and play off the slow dunderhead for rebounding - but eyes up rebounding to assist his delivery to a teammate. I would not play OMac this week unless he is prepared to drop back continuously to protect the last line - I'd put Pedo in at FBack and have the Weed in one Bpocket and Jetta in the other. HBFlank would be the OMac spot with Jones rebounding on the other HBFlank. OMac can be benched if we need more run - Kent comes in off the bench.

Nope, the sole purpose of the further changes is the continuous rights of umpires to further interrupt the game for intended outcomes. $$$$$$$ at the turnstiles.

Enlightening perspective from the tables. SD is a good measure representing a team's recorded aptitudes (positives). It just amazes me that whilst Richmond is deservedly 'at the top' on the 'aptitude' scale, the MFC is a clear second in its performances this year without the 'wins on the board' that the latter is obviously due. However, an overlay of the reasons why we are struggling relative to other teams is needed for that vital information which explains and/or demonstrates our actual likelihood of not making deep progress into the finals. As I harp on about umpiring and officially organised results of games before players even step onto the ground, my conviction of this occurrence is strongly supported by evidence of this nature not published (or pursued) in this statistical offering or in any allegedly official, honest evaluation of the games that are played in this AFL competition. The evidence stems only from an observational perspective of the conduct of game after game, game after game. Team strengths, aptitudes and game dominance tendencies are measured in such statistical analyses; the power of intended outcomes is only observational and highlights the dreaded evidence of an uneven playing field where umpiring opportunities consistently overturn such aptitude evidence into outcomes of game loss - the ugly head of vested interest and distinct preference - for hidden reasons - is reared. Explain that, AFL!

That is a rather - and again, sadly - overt realisation. I am also interested in the AFL's (Gill's) intent to trial another round of rules variations in the next couple of rounds and into the finals, this year. As if these modifications, omissions, oversights and changes to rules coupled with deliberate umpiring interferences and selective attentions have not already been active this year in 'working over' certain teams in the competition to their distinct disadvantage, such as the MFC. Vive la revolution!

It is like a schematic process of intended early elimination to assist guaranteed ticketing sales across the finals season. If the AFL can eliminate a 'lesser' competitive team before the finals, gate receipts will be larger from the errant minds of supporters from 'greater' clubs. Sad, heh?

It is a minGF for us. Thank the umpires across 2018 as it was almost a strategic series of losses interrupted by screening through a few wins being 'permitted' as a smokescreen.

Zac would be a real asset - and a two-for-one deal would be feasible, particularly if those two were from Tyson, OMac, JKH, Bugg, Smith - not Joel. Oh, hell ... a 3-for-one deal!

Yes go for Hannebery after Gaff Yes go for Swallow after Gaff No Frost is too versatile to lose - good coaching will be all it takes to amend his ways as he really is a talent at 100mph Yes Lewis has reached an onfield sunset but would be a great 2IC coach

There may well be some blood-letting and incredible acts of footballing bravery, and heroics, going on in the match this week. We need a mobile bench that is well-selected with critical inputs available for engaging onfield at a moment's notice. It needs to be tough, angry and ready to perform. The first selected onfield will be that way and must perform exceptionally against a Crows team that can be shaken. For this match, I'd bench Jones at the start so that he can put in a second half of which his mum would be proud. Hogan needs to be rampant and stay local to the goalmouth. Hogan must lead to receive. Big test for Goodwin, making match day decisions and strategic intent.

Vanders - an inspirational return awaits. Pedo - an inspiration return awaits. Frosty - an inspirational return has occurred. Some things are good and I suspect Clarrie is really just fine - he'd train but he needs little of the skills drills, this week. Wagner may be useful this week with mobility and height.

Good news, singular, but good. A big body to challenge the brainless one (Tex).

This year, and certainly in the recent past, Jones has given some great performances of which leadership was one of those traits; his strength in this regard has been his undoubted ability to so often 'read the play', the intercept, run around and through opponents, so often demonstrating - to the myriad numbers of younger players across the MFC field in recent years - how to get the ball, how to progress the ball, how to demonstrate a desire for the ball. As his game has recently modified, his ball delivery can be tenuous yet is so often very good in 'eyes up' roles; as his recovery from elements of the game has declined somewhat, his desire to clear the ball is still there but he has the notion that long clearances and bombs are his own best resort. This has been frustrating. He has been a stalwart of effort for the MFC. In his sunset role I can imagine him being a very useful HBFlanker with run from defensive territory and similarly, as a FwdFlanker in roles where 'leap' is of less importance. There are those younger players who might blend all the required skills better than Jones can, these days. There are very few who can demonstrate his endeavour for the Club, producing such impressive short, sharp outcomes onfield - even when these are less frequent than in the past. Perhaps a role from the bench might be more appropriate at this stage of his career.