Deemania since 56

Patently obvious that has occurred. It began to look elite twelve months after Roos' departure - experience building. Now, absolute tripe, poor selections, poor development, no genuine aggression or skills.

Brayshaw is a killer on the southern stand flanks as a feeder up the ground.

Let us hope that we do not forget the whole Southern Stand side of the game as we did against the Filth. It is a patch of blue in which to run freely (aka Travis Johnston) for fwd attacks and our historical usage thereof has led to great success over the years. When our players cramp the Members flank opposite, it is time to go home as we will surely lose the game. Carna Dees!

I'd like Fritsch to be developed into a winger/outside mid; he'd need a little more muscle and would have to work on maintaining or increasing speed to the possession but he does have all the attributes of a great wingman and reads the game very well. Then, who needs Gaff/Sloane/other takers? That way we can invest big-time on two backmen of note and another forward.

Wonder, just wonder, what are the umpires going to do to keep the Saints in the game - for an eventual victory, again at the MFC's expense. Just wouldn't put it past the umpires/AFL.

Tyson should play for the above reasons, and to put in a serviceable one, at that, at this stage of the season. The team has to be prepared to run into space Sunday, where Tyson and Petracca can kick to leads, and Fritsch, too. Great for Petty, just the right spot for him in the pocket to help OMac settle rather than roam one step behind his opponent. Like the proposal of Hannan at FFwd with TMac at his side. Joel Smith at CHB is a big challenge but I would expect a shuffle from the bench to assist him, possibly Pedo for a change. The interchange is interesting and my thoughts are a reduction to: Pedo, Stretch, Tyson, Petracca with Fritsch coming in on a wing. Trac can start on the bench - then we can unleash what hopefully will be a raging bull in the second quarter when his game tends to fall away. I doubt if Lewis is suitable on the HB flank without mobility and physical challenge at this stage. Hence, rolling out the Weed as a flanking backman might be an interesting point to roll him in as a second ruck, relieving Gawn. Certain swapsies could take place in the forward line, where Melksham could swing with Salem/Weideman onto the HFF, rather than force the former to 'rove' as a utility. The Melk will be a key finals player for us. That would enable Salem to more fully occupy Lewis' HBF position. If Pedo is not in the starting or interchange listing, then Spargo could come in to rumble the Saints, with Joel or Weideman taking CHB. Lots of alternatives....

Gaff, please ... still think he is the goods for our team.

Yep, he places family before other time-consuming interests. Met him once in an airport awaiting the same flight; he was sitting on the floor at an occaisonal table with his children, helping them to colour-in their drawings and reading to them. Had them totally occupied. Then we get a further 'flight delayed' notification. Dermott set about spending another hour with them in a very engaging way and it indicated how important his family was to him, doing the hard yards until boarding time. Very impressive (from the observations of a father of five children, myself).

They do in my football team - one to speak to the hard of hearing and the other to posit good habits under the threat of eternal wickedness . Ask a silly question, get a stupid and meaningless answer.

Yep, we are in a desperate position.

Geez, I hope Kent is ready to play.

Dermie is a great teacher, and this comes through in his comments on players of all clubs, his understanding of the game and how to effect performance improvements. Dermie has an easy-going manner about him, is patient and speaks particulalry well. He is also quite often misquoted for effect, and what he has said is often misinterpreted. He'd be a great - if not the greatest - mentor for Hoges over some time, at training, in skills practices, in reading game plays.

I firstly would like to think this is true but secondly, I think it will be a possibility next year rather than this year. I still hope this year is the one in which we make the finals, despite some pessimism of our current state of play and its refinement across the board. Another loss - any loss - is probably an omen for our 2018 wash-up. The onfield treatment that we are currently experiencing from the umpires in particular to me is indicative of what the AFL want - and the way the rules and umpire adjudication expectations from other clubs factor in questionable outcomes for the MFC provide strong evidence that this pessimism is not an imaginative figment. We need to work harder on merging our talents across a whole game - certainly we have more talent than we had last year - rather than exhaust ourselves in 20 minutes of blisteringly good football in matchplay each time we take the field. The 'good' teams extend their application onfield across a whole match; the MFC seldom does this because there are gaps in our application and game style.

I'd like to see Jetta and Hibberd play the orchestral conductor role in the backline instead of Jordan Lewis. Hell, those guys are inspirational most games and know what and how it is done.

Yep, HIbberd is a perfect HBFlanker - not to be played at CHB. Lever is out, sadly, so another tall spoiler/marker/runner/interceptor is required and possibly Frost or Pedo will fill that role, with a few young guns given runs to test their mettle. Lewis is handy but struggles to get the ball or to confront running opposition forwards; thus, I would put the overworked Jones from midfield to Lewis' HBFlank. But OMac needs assistance deep so the tall that may be left over should be in a Backpocket opposite to Jetta the King. That is the training ground for a newbie to become a more rounded and effective CHB. Salem is not strong enough to occupy a back position and his kicking has not been let loose because of this. Salem needs a flanker role on the fwdline or should be used off the bench as a ball driver in close. To achieve this, we must instil more aptitude for our fwds to lead into space - for the 943rd time! As for our season being done, DrD, you can go before the Medical Board and explain your professional negligence!

Correct

Some really good common sense in these ideas that make logical sense, almost across the board. What you are suggesting already looks like increases in drivers towards faster, productive and efficient play and it could be more widespread, thus reducing our slumps and recovery issues. Nice work!

It all depends on who butters your bread in this AFL game!

The work and effects of the umpires will be interesting in the Weegals and Essendrug game.

Stats are great and in many cases these show what was expected and what was dreaded. It also has an inbuilt variable that defies what we may expect in terms of contributions that we have unwittingly been satisfied with - or appalled by - but also shows some areas of improvement that could be implemented. Great for analysis, Rusty, thank you. It is also interesting to note that on the whole, DL posters are rather good analysers of our game and personnel - particularly of those dominant players that we like or particularly remain ambivalent towards. Great stuff.

Ok, thanks, and to your question, I just dunno at all. If TMAC did negate and interview wiht characteristic style, all I could say would be: Bluddy Weldun, Sport!

Not sure that I understand this question: link? Doorstop ambush? What do you mean, Timbo?

Like that interpretation and dismissive brevity. There should be more of these types of responses. We must remain 'mysterious' and largely 'unknown' on the inside by the 'outside', as a Club. For too long have we allowed the media and all of its idiot factions to sensationalise, tell half-truths and drum-up negativities into 'stories' that impact the masses and in turn, the umpires, the players themselves, the coaches and football departments, and common sense, particularly that of the AFL itself. Interference in our game from these means is absolutely unacceptable. ONYER, TOM!

Good defence is layered defence. Without height, regardless of most other footballing categories other than taking big marks and/or effecting big spoils, and kicking accuracy over shorter distances, we ain't got nuffing. Midfielders are not the last line. One decent opposition kick or set play bypasses midfielder involvement and remediation of the attacking pressure. We need backmen who are tall, and some very good runners capable of sound close checking and capable of ball-carrying to good team effect. Good, mobile defence is the first line of attack. We are playing footballers who are not capable of this and who are reliant on using a kicking mantra only to progress the ball forward (Vince, Lewis). We can do better.

That would be my strategy. However, we still need speed out of defence, real speed that has consistent contributors. Another KPD would be very useful on the height/strength issue.