Deemania since 56

Could consider replacing OMac with a younger tall runner/defender - Keilty? Wagner? Bugg for Spargo?

I am just hoping that Hibberd's hammy group was suffering from cramp - that was persistent yet not continuous. No news yet?

It is incredulous, so when it happens (often repeatedly and regularly), one is left challenging one's own credibility for the thought as if mimicking a cat chasing its own tail. It is a point of executed game and season interference without any revision; rigging or merely favouring occurs in a perceived balance across a whole game providing 'eveners' and 'kept in play' outcomes to appease crowd, club and predominantly interested party sentiments that benefit more than just the combatants - the gate receipts of the near and far future might well be at stake, otherwise - and the secular interests of the influential within the AFL structure dare not challenge what has been done for them, ultimately by them and their perceptions of the good of the game from their perspectives. Challenge to this irony is left virtually useless because such an episode would lead to severe 'black marks' on any immediate or longer-term success and the maintenance of an 100-year status quo that our game represents. It is now no longer a governance system, it is an entertainment industry with swinging moods and exemplars.

Would you let your son out on the AFL footy field with a Carlton or Collingwood bloodied nose? Still risky!

Waste of F time and money (WOFTAM).

Balanced.

Without Viney there definitely seems to be a greater 'sharing' of the ball, its carry and its disposal to a teammate.

Too even-handed a perspective and most probably correct, in that; however, it was a refreshing change to see umpiring, in general, improve for such an important game. The game was allowed to travel down river without hindrance from the green snot goblins and so the MFC canoe demonstrated how to play a game that is largely unstoppable by other footballers. That is the real refreshment and I would suspect that it could continue into something very big - like the MFC playing in the GF.

The support cast is lurking within, and it is called 'teamwork'. The onfield Harmes/Brayshaw interaction is aided by Clarrie and Gawn almost continuously and with the return of Viney will be awesome - but Viney must be prepared to 'share' the load with two who are becoming invincible. Tyson's recent improvements are an offshoot of this onfield relationship, as well. It can be likened to a snowball rolling downhill, getting bigger and bigger as it (is allowed to) progress. Toss in the talent forward and backward of the midline and you have a team of well-oiled machines in harmony. Now dream: suppose we can add the possessions and penetration of Gaff to this mix!

We did get a good run from the umpires because we are fighting through good words against what we have seen - the battleground is Demonland.

Clever....

The luxury of that thought! Hope he does, as he really deserves a crack after an interrupted season.

That perspective has the correct focus, beelzebub. Been a while since we applied that confidence and attitude to opponents, and I reckon, that was taken away by the umpires this year in particular.

Things are tight again, verging on the edge of eternal darkness.... As mentioned earlier last week by a poster, we should be sitting third on the ladder despite injuries and drops in form of our key prime movers across the season. We have lost games having won contests across most games, despite the green snot goblins doing most things in their powers for us to be disadvantaged under the auspice of the AFL itself. We have endured a continuous decimation of core/key players and tried anyone of salt from our Casey affiliates. We have 'freaked out' repeatedly in - and from - critical moments and decisions at such treatment and abuse, and yet, we should be third on the ladder right now. In front of goal, we have surrendered with some of the most inaccurate kicking ever seen, including an inability to kick the big, long ones over 40 metres from the mouth of goal. We have extremely limited appreciation and ability for the snap shot at goal, for a forward line spread that confuses oppositions, for a heads-up presentation of the ball to our forwards that might cap off some of the incredible, fast work of our midfielders and utilities. This must be reiterated: we have surrendered a bright opportunity this season in kicking in front of goal and in forward approach, and have allowed a mediocre defence to lapse from what looked like - for a very short time - an elite defence with structure and willpower. Against such odds, we should be third on the ladder entering the finals for the first time in an embarrassing age. The West Coast team are somewhat weakened this day - enough for us to yet again overcome our own disadvantages felt across this season - so we should cast caution to the wind and go hard, fast and uncompromisingly towards that historical victory that destroys adversity once and for all. 'Carna Dees!

This is achievable for the MFC - having bled against the Swans so badly down the southern flanks. Again, this is ground that we must use and exploit - not doing all our work down the northern flanks only to see turnovers after turnovers against our progress. JKH actually began, singularly, to flee quickly to the southern flanks in the fwd line and was successful, several times, intercepting against the Swannies and taking some possessions himself to a somewhat better effect than what was being achieved on the northern flanks. But we are not at the 'G this week; hence, we must become a 2-sided team in all regards. From the flanks, we should not send 90% of our possessions, runs and carries, kicks and handball back to the midline whilst making improved space(s) at both flanks.

Article in the worst newspaper in Australia, this morning; 'The Advertiser' states clearly that Gaff is off the recruitment queue for the MFC - being offered over $1 mil per year from the bank-raiding Kangaroos. Still, maybe his act of aggression and 'brain fade' was his first thought at sabotaging the Eagles' season as early as possible. Bad choice made in quick time onfield.

So would I. Read the last line of my post on this team selection. Possibly - on paper - this team selection was a decoy tactic before Sunday arrives. Spargo may well be benched due to unforseen circumstances enabling Fritsch to come into the game, earlier. Certainly hope that this is the case. We will need, in defence, Wagner's run and carry, and his deceptive height, in the backline, as well.

'Tis a wonder, isn't it?

One is left, at the approaching end of the season, to suspect - no, be assured - that the AFL has this very outcome in mind to contribute more to the dollars at the gate receipt end of the finals series than to the 'even playing field' and non-interrupted match conditions in which the MFC will find themselves. The green snot goblins will have their role to play on behalf of the intent of the AFL, no doubt, in so many ways that it will be difficult to put an exacting finger on an exact reason why we will see West Coast and GWS receive at least ten goals from frees awarded in front of those goals, and why the games will be delayed as the MFC opposition scramble to get 'back in position' for ball ups, boundary throw-ins, free kicks, clearance opportunities and other aspects of the games that might lead to MFC dominance, affirmative footballing skills and ultimately, the winning of these last two games. In reality, there will be no need for the AFL to display a new faith in fairness as it would undoubtedly contradict with their 'game and finals' aspirations, setting a new and unseen trend that is in complete contradiction to the recent evidence of their manipulation for both the 2017 and 2018 seasons as far as tje MFC is concerned. We are the team 'set up for failure'.

... and a jock strap.

Against the Eagles, I'd place on the bench: Kent, Melksham, Pedersen, and Wagner. I'd take from the bench: JKH, Hannan, Fritsch, and Garlett. But then again, Hannan would be good in the team to replace Lewis at Bkpkt and Fritsh should be in for Spargo.

Mobility and aggression at the ball is his need for the team. We do not really want to continue with the long bombs on top or over his head representing pathetic 50m arc entries from the midfield. We need a mobile forward with power to go, to get the ball, to take that ball and use it effectively - all in the same stride. Crumbers should accompany him to improve effectiveness and team intent. Jack R'woldt at the Tiges changed his game to go get ball - no just rely on big speccies (although he in known for these) but on sheer intent and purpose, representing (almost) the only tall on the Tiges' fwd line. The Weed ain't too young, nor underdeveloped if he wants to be effective - he just needs g & d to do it after at least two years of tolerant practice in a forward role. He can kick them if in possession. So far, he has not justified his footballing salary and the wishes of the Club.

Against the Swans, I was keen to watch AVB closely across the game. Endurance is his current problem but he puts in very hard when he can for team reasons, not personal statistics/efforts. In that game, he was very serviceable, showing some form and some of the attributes that many of us celebrated prior to his agonisingly long injury. He is a big mark. He is not lost - even now - in a pack-mark situation. His use of the body bulk is effective and he seldom falls over - win or lose the contest, he presses on with intent. He looks for teammates - although what he sees is now slightly different to what was there before - and certainly, what Casey has fielded in his comeback. His kicking can be sublime. Prop him at FFwd in lieu of Hogan for the Eagles match, with TMac at CHF. Some assistance for the crumbers at ground level will be his forte both in bringing the ball to ground and in physical protection/screening. He might partner well with the Weed, as well; however, I'd prefer to see the Weed in the side as a deep backman to assist with the 'Lever role', as deep as possible. Jones needs to be on the HBFlank and Salem needs to be midfield. Lewis needs to be rested in the coach's box, assisting Goodwin. Bring in Kent for the HFFlank with Hannan on the other. I stated last week that at the 'G, the southern flank was our open space for the length of the ground against the Swans; someone read this, obviously, as the Swans used it continuously to feed the ball to their teammates, largely unopposed; they amassed too many uncontested marks, short passes and run-ons almost to perfection to beat us at a game of which the Dees should be masters. As the game progressed, the Dees were continuously shafted by this enormous corridor. Our runners need to be encouraged to exploit this open area - for kickouts, ball passage and links to the midline. The members' side is chocka-block with crowding teammates and opponents who know that routine all too well and it is to these areas of the ground that Harmes and AVB and Hannan and Kent need to be ready to occupy. Even the Weed might venture into this zone alongside OMac (heaven forbid) now that Frosty is dominating deep in defence, to provide some clearance/marking power to support the runners. All too often this season against 'quality' opposition, we have been playing rebound kick-to-kick along the midline/northern flank to achieve an uncertain 50m entry. Time for this to stop, before a wash-up occurs, before the finals. Thank the heavens for the return of HIbberd and Melksham to initiate ball movement, once again, and to provide more certain options to the rest of the team.

These two have growth written all over them. Keep, for heaven's sake.

This is positive thinking; I'd see Frosty, Lever and last-leg Omac as the three and the release of Hibberd to the role that Vince plays currently (and/or Lewis) is a good move. The youngbloods from Casey can fit into a set framework as they develop and continue to compete for backline roles.