Deemania since 56

All in the back of peoples' minds, this stuff. We think about it and the more often 'rather unexpected decisions' are made, the more that we feel vindicated about out suspicions. Beelzebub raises some good points in this regard that trigger alarm bells but why does this internally totalitarian regime wish to do it yet again to the MFC just because they can?

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.

We are all impatient; we all know what Hunt is capable of in our game. He will hit a purple patch by late July, just watch.

I just keep asking myself: how the hell did we get him!

Well, game day after what has seemed to be an interminable wait. Foxtel today in the lounge - a fresh six-pack of KilkennyAle to encourage deep thoughts during the game, some camembert and crackers, and a big expectation for a win of around 5 goals. Lookout 7th position on the ladder - here we come!

Certainly looks that way - must also be a tremendous motivator for the players. His Demon heritage is on show!

With this Casey team, Werridee, can you provide a post-match synopsis if you are going to the match on best players? In particular: J Smith, Wagner, Petty, Stretch, K-H, Hannan, Frost, Baker, Pedersen, T Smith, Bugg and Weideman. I am really keen on how these guys are playing.

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

nice to remember

Timely reminder, well done. Every goal counts after last season.

Seriously doubt this statement. Time will tell...

These questions are valid, Beelzebub, and these are also becoming monotonous for a handful of spritely younger players. I just wonder that in the transfer of the coaching mantras and game plans for 'style' of game, and in reference to what Goodwin continuously states post-match no matter what the result (eg: '...we still have a lot of work to do...'), I just wonder if the essential skills of football are being overlooked as a coaching and training inclusion - particularly for these players. The repetition comes from skills such as kicking, passing by foot and hand, finding space and moving to it as a fast break opportunity, inside and outside linkages, 'long-bombing', etc, etc, without being fully inclusive. Players are recruited from tender ages and varied ranges of experience these days. Their prior exposure to the footy basics may not and from observation, certainly is not advanced, equal and/or representative of the new demands of the game at AFL level. Core skills practices and team utilisation of such skills sets are critical to AFL footballing success. We team up players with noticeable mixed bags of these core skills whereas some centralisation of skill sets needs to be addressed, first. Idiosynchratic footballers will also struggle in this team game. This is not gospel, this is just an opinion....

Yes, noticed that link-up role; he is a newbie, after all at this moment but is developing, developing and I'd reckon is going to be valuable, valuable in HFwd roles and sneaky goals. Opportunities were denied him so far this season but he can respond with some magical moments, too.

Really looking fwd to Oskar Baker playing a game in the AFL team. At the same time, I'd reckon that Garlett has learnt of his form lapse and would have been working towards some form of redemption and awareness-raising - he 'aint a meathead, after all. Tough call, but I'd still prefer a more 'desparate' Garlett at this game and point of time. OB in when Viney resumes and ANB is dropped.

Looks like that is going to be the case and so, it is not all that negative.

Absolutely! Another hinge game - a big win, we're in. A loss, well ....

Interesting that he so does; he is becoming a player that opposition players tend to get around if possible, taking them off a straighter line or needing to pass/handball to another to avoid his impact on their game. Possibly a very good thing as a barrier player; possibly a very brave thing, as well. With some care, he might get around the consequences of the latter quality but it is indicative of his excellent intent and endeavour as he is not the 'toughest' of players in the first place.

Simon Beasley might be considered

Possibly, like your very own situational comedy, perhaps?

Precisely. An AFL game is like a marathon with free, multi-pronged batterings thrown in! Two marathons of that nature within less than a 7-day period? Phark, cried the crow...

Agree, praha. To play a better game at the MCG - as we have all seen over so many years - is about finding that space, occupying it at brief intervals prior to downfield play deliveries or having the ball kicked to that free zone to run at considerable pace to warrant marking or playing on. The 'G often has entire side corridors totally free for most of the game (eg: the Southern side) providing the legroom for intuitive players to exploit. Our current batch of players have a tendency to overplay to Northern flanks (it has been suggested that the attentions of the Members' stand and its associations and approvals with the inhabitants thereof is the driving force). Even Robbie the Great Petalled One loved that side of the Ground. Footy players tend to be magnetised these days, and in their mutual attractions create congested areas for no particular reason. This slows the game. Richmond has developed a more two-sided approach to the movement of the football at the MCG and naturally, reaps the benefits so often, of unhindered progress and in individual player support from teammates. This is most often seen from bringing the ball back into play from a behind at the kick-in; the ball is not transmitted to a teammate who has made space in no-man's land, it is transmitted to a ruckman on the Northern flank with an entourage in tow. Congestion.

You are correct again, Chook. Mrs Oliver's sensibilities by all means should be taken into account by us, the rough football fanatics who call spades 'spades' as a form of minimalism. Young Clayton is a magician, a marvel, a superb footballer and a thoroughly pleasant young man, at the least in terms of description. A coarse term, such as 'beast' is better used on Petracca - subject of course to the prior approval of Mrs Petracca, in turn.

Agree with the key points of what you raise and my only hesitation is one of risking a win-win positive on game day vs, risking Viney himself and team cohesion. Just high hopes, I guess...

There is considerable merit in all of this and certainly, the need for resting key players is a worthy consideration as football is now so challenging at the week to week level. The smart solution to resting (or in reality, to providing preparations for season longevity) our players, such as Gawn and Hogan who have enormous territorial workloads, for example, would be as you suggest. The structures are there, the abilities are there, the proven articulation within the team of such variations are there, so why not? If Gawn falls, Hogan falls, Oliver falls or if any combination of these disasters occurs, then our finals hopes disappear.

A waste of another week of Viney's footballing life - he does not need to spend it at VFL level when we are playing the Suns. He could easily come off the bench, several times, for a workout/run and benefit from this initial exposure as a serious training run for a full game next match, as intended. Just having him in the selected team would be an asset to those players who currently have lapsed a little in their form. Now that their 'form' is picking up - just imagine what Viney's presence will do for them onfield. He is that charismatic for the team. A risk this week, or a bigger risk next week?