Deemania since 56

The bloody niggling media - anything for a story that increases circulation and advertising revenue. Perth may well be a wonderful place for Jesse to holiday, chill out, muck about. Fantastic for him. Melbourne is a great place for him to work, train, develop, get rich and plan for the non-football days that will come in just over a decade. We, the people of the east, love him for what he has done and what he is doing, and will do in the future, in Melbourne, with Melbourne and one day, as the captain of Melbourne. Hang cool, Jesse, you are doing fine. I like the way you do not even respond to these journalistic suppositions.

The Ox

I had a dream: we refuse to co-habitate the MCG with 'foreign', well treated teams. Our member numbers soar to unprecedented heights as a result of this new dynasty that lasts and lasts. At the five year point, we begin building our own home ground away from the 'G, merging with a floundering Richmond to build a compact yet beautiful stadium (that just fits our extensive membership on one side in luxurious comfort where every seat is a $200 view of the ground and electronic scoreboards). The stadium has no location in my dream but it does serve a plated hot meal with good cold beer to all member patrons. There are no 'corporate' luxuries, it is a people's palace with a free pie and sauce to non-members, a can of Coke or a cuppa tea/coffee. We dictate to the AFL (and they have no capacity to refuse) that all of the MFC-R games will be played there on Friday nights, only. Away games dovetail perfectly for the same privelege to be extended to the Casey team on the odd away match and they use the ground as their membership has also gone 'through the roof'. The whole place becomes football central and the Pies, the Blues, the Bombers and the Cats fold in their increasing misery. Someone telephoned ... and that was the end of the dream ....

Yes, I'd reckon that is the case and was thinking that with a few of his anti-Crows breakaways during the game. Seems like the layoff that he has endured brought on some other forms of training that assisted running speeds and faster take-offs in a straight line for the ball - watch out, Doggies, the Filth and others, he's on a mission to take this train to the end of the line - a premiership.

Tend to agree. Consensus is a good thing.

Vanders in an uninjured state was a terrific footballer. Reports are that the medical team are very happy with his progress and the injury effect is closing rapidly; his workout routine across this period has been commendable, as well, maintaining strength and development, etc. Should he get back into full training and readiness for playing AFL matches, this year, do DL posters consider that he will get to play a game or two for us this season?

Ten minutes later, I have been musing on this possibility of downloading the Weed as part of gathering Lynch, potentially. Gaff would be my priority acquisition, just the same. I reckon that Lynch would not be needed by the MFC in his current onfield deployment (at the Crows); however, I do think that he is a player above a mere depth acquisition. To this end, I feel that he could be fairly easily adapted to be our Centre Half Back with some command of the footy field and, of course, better exploiting his footy-gathering skills, given his physical attributes. With OMac proving more skilled, adept and reliable at Full Back, and with the rest of our impressive backline in support, Lynch could well be the opportunity to release Lever from the CHB position, enabling him (Lever) to return to the utility/intercept role to the HBFlank where he plays his very best football. Imagine: Jetta OMac Hibberd Lever Lynch Hunt/Lewis ... as our back six to produce a fortress and ball-winning set to support and initiate our impressive midfield and forward drive. In many ways, it is a bluddy scary opportunity to put the wobblies up the Filth, Carlscum, Essendrug, Whoreform, the Weegals and the dreaded interstate menagerie. Yep, go for him, after Gaff.

It would seem to be the case, if we had him. We also need a backline tyrant of the physically unstoppable variety, with good kicking skills and a brain. ( ie: a Rod Grinter type) I'd reckon we could get by with the youngies that we have now, once they mature and further develop in the game, should Gaff not be available for our midfield acquisitions. For example, Oliver and Brayshaw may well develop to a point where both of them are better than Gaff ever was - if not pressing for that status right now. Once Lewis and Vince - both mindful of the Club and its needs onfield - cannot keep playing, sure - Gaff would be more than handy.

Sloane has been a Ranger, sure but he is getting just a little past his best these days ... injuries, solid bumps and tackles, decreases in speed and directional changes ... whereas Gaff has those things we need and should keep giving for a few years yet.

Fantastic set-up I'd reckon...

Thanks for that perspective.

It is so sad, for all parties, and so unnecessary to engage in rumours and suppositions. The law is the law and it can run its course to make decisions warranted on evidence and fact. Let's not bespoil Demonland forums with inuendo and let this one pass at this point. To know something is not smart, it is a form of self-aggrandisement if you pass it on publicly at an early point. Many are affected by a drug or substance culture as a feature of our society. Not all are guilty of such personal choices. and circumstances between and across people differ markedly.

How do you really feel, Barney? He's just one of the sensationalists, without expertise.

nice to remember

All sentiments based upon fickle performances at the team level.

Dead right as Beezle suggested: Happy to have both, don't want to lose one of the two. Different skills, different games to play.

NIce summary and viewpoint on the topic, beelzle.

Great, old footy action - despite its recency.

No, but one that is difficult to penetrate or against which, it is difficult to score, might be regarded as useful, surely?

Sure is tangled and the extra versatile tall down there would release a more mobile and impenetrable backline. We need to take advantage of the improving cohesion before it becomes 'counter measured' by opponents and other coaches. Lever needs to be able to float more freely to do his stuff - at which he is terrifically skilled. Frosty, Keilty, Smith ... development to create a Stick Icke.

OMac can be enigmatic; I was a very concerned critic of him at the start of this year, having watched most of the 2017 replays in succession and to be honest, I was highly sceptical that his form would be at least, adequate, in the FB position. Since then, I have changed my stance in this evaluation and regard for him has heightened as he has been a steadier player accepting more responsibilities in the zone against an array of good forwards (even if they are a little out of form). Given time, if I may be allowed by some of the self-righteous amongst DL posters, it could be possible now to see OMac further improve. I would certainly hope such improvement would continue - and if not, TMac is the only solution on our current lists.

Precisely, but we do keep coming back to check out a former player; must be a slice of patriotism in some way.

If we appreciate Watts, all we can do is to wish him well, and so be it. The statistics seem to indicate that Bailey F is doing OK at his age and stage of development, whereas Jack W seems to have plateaued, once again.

He not only went in for the ball and came out with it on commendable occasions, he also ran to space as a target for those who had not looked for a 'target' in the open for quite a few years. Blending with Melksham's fine passing, the future looks rosier for the MFC - and his cues assisted Fritch to do similar things, as well.

Brayshaw, with good skills at his disposal, was earlier considered to be very cool under pressure and found a way out of tight corners with good effect. Since returning to the field and this level of competition, this coolness has not reappeared. He has been away for a long time, so hopefully it will return as he settles back into the mix. His pace is not great but it is an avenue for him to do those things in traffic that he used to do. Head injuries are still a prime concern and just maybe, he was tentative for this reason. I'd still reckon that he is one of our best players in terms of determination so let's get behind him as a confidence booster.