Deemania since 56

Watched him at the game, tonight. Nibbler ran and ran, to provide enormous coverage on the Crows slipperies out to the flanks when noted players let them go to the abundant spaces. He slowed most of the Crows attack from Half Back through to their Fwd Line. His second half was really much better. I reckon that he did a good job of it, too - and may be a backup next year as a tagger alongside Harmes. I was really surprised how far Cheney has improved, dodging, twisting, changing direction and using his beefsteak to perfection hitting Demons hard, often and clearing the ball. His kicking is above average, now, too. He took over the fullback role well, from Talia - looking like a fit Ray Biffen in most things that he achieved. The real change in him is experience and confidence to do the hard stuff - as he promised as a Demon but didn't produce across a game - and to take unexpected marks for his limited height. Great game, great 3rd quarter but it looked a little like a re-hash of the Geelong game until we slowed the Crows down - they really were exhausted in the last quarter.

Amazingly accurate, just calculated the same result : WC 108pts, MELB 70pts. My crystal ball then enabled me to analyse the number of queries raised on the umpiring errors. No. of Queries: Nil.

..and that explains why the White Brethren have done so much to influence game outcomes this year ...

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.

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.

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

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).

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.

Yeah, ignore the tendency but I still dream each night of Robbie turning into traffic with the options of left or right foot, for effect. Will there ever be another of his ilk?

Cynically beautiful in concept and reasoning. Who actually would want the traitor, anyway? He is past his value to us, these days and would never provide a substitute for Viney, Jones (over the years) or Clarrie. I'd reckon that Spargo has a bigger heart and loyalty than this Donald Duck.

Great analysis, thank you.

It will be tight, it will be high risk if we seek just one or two key players, despite some immediate successes from this type of recruiting. We should be focussing on our troops of youth that we already have and those that we more naturally acquire as youngsters in future recruitment processes - developing their games, skills, confidence and roles within the 'machine' that the Dees may well become in the shorter-term seasons that follow. Casey represents a strong footballing springboard. Once, our recruits were selected, worked and discarded and our processing of football talent lagged, producing only a few mainstays each season - not enough! A good carpet needs a quality underlay - so be it with our onfield teams of the future.

Agreed, all absolute cow tish. Hogan has a head on his shoulders and it tells him to do as he is doing. It keeps him sane and to a large extent, low-profile in comparison to some egomaniacs only just nearing his aptitudes on the football field. We see a little frustration from him at times and for realistic reasons concerning 'team' but more frequently, tremendous smiles and motivation for the Demons and himself to continue along winning pathways. He is the epitome of all things good in football, with loyalty to the Club not discounted. He will retire in years to come as a Demon with a fantastic career in evidence. As we improve as a linking, team-oriented group of players with commensurate success ever-increasing Hogan, too, will contiuously improve and receive immense reward for his efforts in this regard. He is the new breed of footballing pros: skilled, improving, team-centred, successful and importantly, winning.

At that personal level, I have four MFC supporters in my family, with my wife and two of my sons avid supporters making up three members and one who would be if he was to live in Viccy more permanently. One drives to games from Sydney, my wife and I drive from Adelaide. The two of us will be at the Interstate Members function at the Sporting Globe hotel in Richmond, this coming Saturday and will be moving along to the Doggies game at the 'G soon after to bask in the glory of another win. Just love the footy. This might be my sixth trip for the year! Other than that, it's Foxtel. So it's: 1. Daddy 2. Mummy 3.Son No. 2 4. Son No. 4. As the grandchildren proliferate and grow, there's gotta be another 6 avid members on the trot to support and join the MFC. My daughter is impartial to the rough game, but her little son, at 6 months, already has the Dees' beanie and scarf, and not much choice in the matter. Another two children of mine got the Geelong bug years ago but Son No. 3 - and his sons - seem to think their dad knows everything, including all of the Cats. Never mind.

Wish him all the best with this, it can be nothing else than fabulous for the MFC. Shame that it is taking so long to occur, as there have been a few losses lately where his input across a game might have otherwise been improved, made more reliable and certainly, assist the team to snatch a win. He is the driver from whom aggressive, successful football might otherwise be achieved. Mixed tense but it has been across a few weeks whilst waiting ... a stable position, role and readiness has not been given to him from the FD - and might well represent the reason for his lapse in form and impact.

And other teams in or near the 8 need to beat Port to drop them down several rungs, if not out of the 8. Fanciful?