Deemania since 56

The tallest bloke in the movies!

Yes, Prime Minister. ? It means, don't be too critical of the stance of others lest inadequacy in so doing be overtly exposed.

There are similarities, but only Rooney is in that class. Ricky was twice as good - great little rover with pace to burn and very nice around the goals. Still, Spargo has the elements to get to that level in the not too distant future. Spargo has not roved too often to Gawn whereas Jackson had Dwyer in the main and those two worked well.

Be assured that it (life) is not narrow. Identifying error assists in the interpretation but moreso the amelioration of the game so that we may all face an even playing environment wherein anomolies and repetitive inconsistencies are reduced for the benefit of the general public and the game itself. From that groundswell - already identified on this wonderful DL site - opinion and its description may also flourish under those benchmarks that we are pleased to apply as filters to our tools of interpretation, and ultimately our satisfaction with the spectacle. Each contributor is free to comment and contribute - within the bounds of good intent - their own ideas and to meet at the philosophical level on common grounds expressed in a myriad of ways for the mutual pursuits inherent in being a football supporter. As you dictate, you may find yourself accepting mediocrity within some 'big picture' focus which itself is a narrowed pathway and in turn, reap reduced involvement, compulsion in perspective and an increase in those observable deficiencies that stain the very environment in which the game is often marred or its elements and goodwill are reducible. Henceforth, enjoy your football but please do not take too many liberties with the enjoyment, perplexity and scrutiny of others in this great game.

A few answers to your questions have already been provided further on in this post. I agree with each of these answers - and some more! There is a situation that comes most recently to my mind having carefully watched the game last week against the Doggies within an assemblage of very keen footballing addicts who were astounded at umpiring decisions and interference with game flow across the first half of the match. If it were not for the umpires and the deliberately challenging and incorrect decisions made in the first and second quarters of the match last week at the MCG against the Fleabags, the Dees would have been around 9-10 goals ahead at the half-time break. It did not result in a loss, thankfully, as the switch was turned on by the magnificent three: Gawn, Oliver and Brayshaw. At any rate, such play fully negated the umpires' intents - particularly those of Razor Ray - where any umpiring disagreements with what the Dees were doing from the 6 minute mark of the third quarter to the last gasp of the final quarter would have been far too obvious to intercede - and to get a cop at the loot next week - anyway, they had already 'evened up' the game as much as they could! NB: Razor is the new Nurayev of the 'G - his graphically elaborate crouch, delayed two-arm swing and gracious footwork that points his bum to heaven (when calling a 'incorrect disposal') is a sight to behold. His decision-making is just as absurdly constructed.

Yep, MSF, but he does feature for some time in the ruck - as a relief, I guess - and that is when he, in cruise mode between contests - slinks to off-midline flanking areas, becomes a target for longer kicks and usually, takes these and plays on/handballs to good effect. He only needs to do this a couple of times a match and his morning toast once again has marmalade in abundance as the Catty Puts charge forward to goal, at which they are rather clever.

That expectation of Tyson's role is causing a headache. We should take the opposite view with Selwood. He goes to no-one; the Dees go to him and take him out of the game. He can be starved of the football and when desparate, his 'little free kick' tricks come into play; this is when we expose his antics and just thump him.

I am wondering who will cover Blicavs. Can murder sleepy backmen. Can pop up in the midfield for the occasional possibility. Rank him like Menzel; difficult to contain.

Pedo ... but everyone knows I would say that. He hurts people and puts them off their game. He takes on anyone and with ground support, turns adversity into winners. Just for one week in the backline; he didn't make it again, so it's goodnight from me and goodnight from him.

The fact that he didn't use Uber or a train obviously supports the theory that a fool and his money are soon parted.

C'mon, he went down to Geelong to pick up the brown paper bag, didn't he? Save a postage stamp, or a taxi fare, or a courier delivery. There goes our season - just watch.

The improvements and form of Gus can be used to release Clarrie to the forward line, running into the 50m line or sometimes deeper, if games allow our inside mids to be varied, occasionally. This would overcome the need to roam Hogan so far upfield so that he and Jeffy/Spargo can work as a team with ANB/Hannan and TMac to back-up. At present, our attack is too readable and too often, interrupted.

K'noath!

We all know that it is now considered an outside mid but that depends on so much else, these days, amongst the quagmire of that moving phalanx to which you refer. That can be exploited where ' wingers' do what Alves and Stretch Snr used to do: run like the wind in both directions all game, moving midline-forward into the spatial void so created for some more run, footpassing and opportune shots at goal if moderately deep.

Hunt and Fritsch on both wings excites me no end.

We just need to get another Robbie. One man, covers the whole ground, kicks 40 goals a season whilst just running ribbons around any opponent, reads the play and then re-creates the play, baffles opponents. Holds the whole team up in those dire moments when things cannot get any worse ... just one more Robbie. Heard that Jeff Farmer's (The Wizz) son is shaping up particularly nicely and will be a Demon according to his dad. The son likes his local Freo at the moment but dad said '...no way...' - so folks, just another 6 years until he is old enough to spread the Marmite. Same for Jeff White's son up north. Source: Robbo last Saturday.

Now you're talking: Hypol. Followed by a warm glass of Activite and milk, with some Saunders' Malt Extract on a dessert spoon and some virgin olive oil on a teaspoon, with an Aspro (just in case it all gave you a headache).

Pop the 'bruiser' into CHback for a week, (Pedo) and let the little blokes run wild.

It is not going to be a matter of 'coping', I would hope. It will be a matter of controlling the Cats across the board with fast, innovative play. We need to be dominant through disregard of our opponents' reputations by forcing the issues with confidence. We must man the field with assurance and positivism.

Not terribly sure, and frequency seems to be accelerating. Why not ask a few of the players? There are at least a dozen who could answer this year alone. My thoughts are often focussed upon relieving the experience and expertise of Lewis as a player - to be more influential at the coaching level in the first place right across the board. If someone as great as Paul Roos took on a 2IC in training, surely Goodwin and Company could do the same, accepting the fact that Lewis knows the answers more fully than they do.

This is an area of great interest and focus. Strange that we have to prop-up our full back, so often. Does things once in a while, cannot do these things a week later. Gets drawn too far out of deep defence. Yet skills are developing after a 3-year apprenticeship. Onfield behaviours have not. It is easier, cheaper, more potently obvious to work on Frosty and Keilty and Petty for as long as it takes in deep defensive roles, ironing out limitations and weaknesses and error behaviours onfield. I'd estimate that this would be less than a 2-year apprenticeship for all three - and Frosty is further down the track than all of them. Plus, each will benefit from gaining experience from which true aptitude develops. Other sides would kill for this resource down back - and in reality, there is not too far to go with any of these three given their ages and stages. Concurrently, we can sit back and watch the capabilities and footballing credibility of Lever on return, of Hibberd on return, of Jetta once fit again, of Jones on a flank down back, of Hunt on return, of Salem by hand and foot, of OMac two years on once the discipline is automated, etc., etc. We have it all but we just do not complete the work. at the coaching level.

Shame, gate receipts could be quite stunningly magnified if it was about streaking.

We are going to need to exploit the Catty Put's weaknesses. Pace is the key. Garlett, Spargo, Baker, Harmes, Fritsch must run for space and lead for space all game. Toss in Hannan and Wagner for pace, as well. Give these guys some credibility and responsibility - run, run, run and anticipate.

Harmes firstly has the power to take on Danger. Harmes can compete with Danger in the air. Harmes has just a bit of pace over Danger but not as much agility (turns, baulks, returns to feet after knockdowns). Harmes does not have the game instincts that Danger has displayed for years, now ... unlikely, therefore, to dominate a space on the ground or move into space to receive, or feed a running teammate with h/ball, short kicks and/or read the play in advance of opportunities. Harmes is not loved by the umpires and his fraternal onfield relationship with umpires is not as good as that of Danger's, either. Harmes is no sook, unlike Danger. Harmes must get really badly infringed to earn a free kick and seldom stages for frees, unlike Danger. Danger wins cheap possessions from any opponent if that opponent is within a 5 metre radius of Danger and yells 'Boo!', unlike Harmes. So, on balance, if a tag on Danger is required and if he is not taken out of the game by a terribly unfortunate collision with Pedo or Petracca, my selection for the tag on Danger would be: Fritsch rotating with Harmes from the wing.

Poor kicking at times, last week, definite injury / weakness combined with limited run even with opportunities. Now a strained quadriceps group, there was a message about playing Darwin that the MFC cannot accept any longer.