Deemania since 56

Acidic yet adolescent comment.

Good one ... wish I had thought of that response.

He did, Hemingway! A great spinner in the summer, too. I think that is why he trained, in the early days, at Central Park, as I think but cannot exactly remember, that he played cricket - early in his career - with the Malvern Central Park team - whoever they were. Malvern actually played behind the Malv. Town Hall, at the cnr of High St and Glenferrie Road. Good turf wicket, too. When he got to the Sheffield Shield team - we kinda thought that because we knew him, and as he was such a good bloke with us young larrikins, that we were special, too. His football was the thing that we can remember best because he was fit, fast and tricky on the field - and then came that typical Richmond variation to the game: the banana kick. Shocked the establishment.

Used to watch Blair Campbell practising the banana kick a few years before introducing it at the footy proper...this all occurred at Central Park, in Malvern where we would watch several major athletes train. It really looked freaky in those days and we'd never expect to see it on the ground. Campbell had it down pat - cannot remember him missing.

It is a stronger team but there are form gaps and pace gaps, plus a few who could be very strong against the Saints team that have been overlooked/omitted. I feel that Garlett could have learned his endeavour lesson, Pedo's strength is needed in the fwd line and although largely meaningless, the 'on paper' setup of the fwd line with Hoges at CHF is not a good start. TMac needs to be at CHF with Hoges at FFWd. Another tall / ruck respite needs to be on the bench - unless Goodwin plays the FPocket changes for rucks. Lever just aint a CHB playing better as a floater off the flank for intercepts. The centreline looks slow where the Saints are speedy, and there is concern about the team playing both the slowing Vince and Lewis in the same team, and the ill-directing Tyson across the midline - once again asking a little too much of Jones and Oliver to account for the midfield drive - so lotsa long bombs are going to be the flavour of the MFC gameplan. If TMac was played at the CHB position, and the speed was centred from HFwd into the deep Fwd line, it might work through the release of Hogan, Pedo, Weideman and the smalls like Hannan, Fritz, Spargo and Garlett. at the incomings and bringing the ball to ground. Hibberd needs to be used as the backline utility from the HBFlank to maximise our chances of crossing the centre to the Fwd line setups as reliance on Tyson's kicking and Lewis' speed is rather shaky. Frosty may have been considered to re-stock this HB drive from the bench., as well, instead of Harmes. Just an opinion.... Petracca needs to be 'centred' for midline drive to the fwds and to receive that from the backs - a two-way target for the whole team.

Melbourne B: Michael Hibberd, Oscar McDonald, Neville Jetta HB: Angus Brayshaw, Jake Lever, Jayden Hunt ? Jordan Lewis, Nathan Jones, Dom Tyson HF: Mitch Hannan, Jesse Hogan, Jake Melksham F: Sam Weideman, Tom McDonald, Christian Petracca Foll: Max Gawn, Bernie Vince, Clayton Oliver I/C: James Harmes, Charlie Spargo, Alex Neal-Bullen, Bayley Fritsch In: Petracca Out: Christian Salem (thumb) According to the MFC site, this is the team for the match against StKilda. It is a worry.

Very interesting reasons and I support the concept of Garlett and Charlie doing it with their instinctive games. For heaven's sake, the noted and big time forwards have been quiet all year - might instil a little initiative across the board.

These were the practices that my coaches put me through to improve some loose kicking habits. Almost exactly. I had to learn to kick with the right foot this way, too, as a natural leftie. The 'drop' was critical, angled, smooth, guided by same-side hand, nose over the ball, almost. I was lucky, it all worked and worked very quickly; increasing accuracy, distance, control and improving the outcomes of kicking itself. Nicely posited, DrDrake.

That is a very good point to observe; who becomes their masters? Fair play and decision-making or the AFL hierarchy and it financial/political imperatives?

Viney's return takes on biblical dimensions - his second coming to sort out the injustices of the whole AFL system. The hope is that he starts with the umpires and then, any opponents who get a little ahead of themselves, onfield. The boys are back in town and Lord, help those who think it isn't so...

Does it all really matter, folks?

K'Oath!

Memories on important matters like this - the place kick - unfortunately fade across the years into hazy recollections and uncertain beliefs. A good exponent never missed a goal with the place kick, that I can remember - very similar to some of the great drop punters or floppy end-on punters (Hawthorn's Peter Hudson) whereas not-so-good exponents missed quite a few. What surprises me is that way back in 1955 Tony Ongarello was the last officially recorded place kick exponent in a VFL game - I was sure these kicks went into the 1960s, as well. Just like the good old White Diamond footy boots with the hardened heel that we all thought was for Collingwood players' jaws when they were on the ground rolling around for a free kick or for digging into the ground to form a 'set' for the place kick itself.

Parish has not yet turned the corner for the Dons. He has great attributes but remains very light, finely built and tiny by today's standards of footballers. This does not mean that he is a worthless footballer, at all. I just hope that in comparison, a player like Spargo and/or Fritz does not have to endure such a period of ups and downs to make his/their way successfully into the competition. As for Clarrie, he's just fine as he is - and as he has been over a somewhat similar timeframe. Clarrie will also get better and will probably strip Selwood of his famous crown.

Y'know, I'd reckon Stan Alves should be contacted to assist both Harmes and Hunt in their quest for sidestepping on the run, in using both feet to kick rapier-like passes to teammates down the field, to engage in that supersonic dash and carry on the outside and to crash through the packs where everyone is waiting for something to happen. He was the Demons' master at all of those things. And then there was the Alves' blind turns...

Like this one heaps! It would be nice to include Frosty on the bench, and Harmes as well but there just is not the room. Spargo, Fritz, Brayshaw, Salem provide some great interchanges but another tall would have been handy, perhaps. Wagner has some form and was settling at last - he would seem to be unlucky. Great to see Pedo in there, onfield, and maybe he could be an early rotation across a game and brought on for the match-winning last quarter.

The sacrifices we are expected to make with something as simple as home ground attendees and Friday night matches! This is now not good enough.

Seems to be the best available team for the StKILDA game. Would rather that TMac lined up at CHF and Hogan at FFwd. Bernie won't last long in this game as a follower, either. Maybe a swap of positions with Hunt at HBF. One the bench, to be reduced on Sat, take out Harmes, ANB and Garlett and we might have a strong I/C.

Saints can spread quite well and have good runners against us. Just for the hell of it, why not play Baker as a running utility - he has genuine pace.

Maybe the new bloodlines and their pace will see us through and bring the older hands into the game for a change.

Tend to agree with this post. Not too sure he should be used at CHB or as a 2nd tall, as his skills set seems to be set in concrete from the HBflank and coming into an intercept role from the side or to pass it off to a teammate. Whatever, he is young for a player of his stature and I guess is versatile but his settling into the game plan, and his new teammates, should be starting to bear fruit from now. In a big way, too! We must get a refreshed CHB to tie down that position more securely. Yep, he was 'good' against the Dons without any real brilliance as it is expected that he will continue to improve. The kicking mantra is also true for Lever - this needs to improve considerably to hit targets reliably - and is a trait that applies to many MFC players of the current era. Specialist coaching in this regard would be extremely valuable - and it should be sustained coaching at that - there is a tendency for clubs to simply assume that players can kick the ball well, accurately and hit targets. In Lever's case, this is not the situation, yet. His ball drop, for starters, is shonky and very high. I thought that his 'reading of the ball' in the Ess game was the best he has shown with us, so far.

'Ruthless' is a good word for MFC needs. Young up=and-coming guns needed to place a full stop on 'the cruise' to a win.

It would make reasonable sense to allow TSmith into the team for a week, to see what he brings and how it can be applied if needed. Most observers indicate that he is a rather willing footballer, and is courageous. Two fine qualities.

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?