Deemania since 56

That is for sure.

Salem is silky at times but cannot stay on his feet, and is not capable of applying pressure when needed.

On my second bottle of home-brew after the match. What a stroke of luck -- even the umpires were wearing Brizzy jumpers. Lewis was expensive time and again. Jetta had another bad game but worked hard tonight. Lever needs a support key tall - like Frosty. Melksham was unlucky with three missed goals. A 26 pts win was good, however, in the last 12 minutes. Carna Dees.

Agree with you, Mr Black Jack-Marlboro-Ferrari! Kicking just has to be with purpose across its volume.

We have to feel 'nasty' tonight, against Brizzy. Give 'em hell for four quarters and make the plays. A tidal wave only grows.

Until we, as a collective, learn to ignore this sensationalism to sell for money and influence, the latter leading to more money. The notoriety that she has gained from this 'analysis' has secured her employment for another football season. Golly, rejecting the 'camp' and its problems was most probably a good move to allow time for whole-team game play, strategies of play and skills enhancement to meet these challenges. Coaching still needs to look at itself realistically; it is onfield performance that determines success, and the provision of time to practice and ensure that injuries are dealt with, then overcome, and subsequently prevented well in advance of the season to come. Jeopardy from preparation is reducible.

Interesting to see that Frost, Hannan, Kent, Weideman, Baker were Casey's best players against Frankston in the VFL according to Jade Rawlings, albeit that the Frankfurters are at present a lowly, re-building skill set. This augers well for the AFL team, with Keilty making his mark alongside Oskar Baker in defence/wing. Trademark runs and skills from Frosty were very good in setting up attacking ball movement across the whole game. His confidence is obviously high, despite missing 2 selections in a row with the firsts. Kent has worked himself up from a dislocated shoulder last season to kick 4 telling goals, to provide aggression at - and for - the ball, in the forward line and obviously has got his kicking foot working again. Weideman looks like he has turned a corner with contributions in front of goal and around the ground as a mobile ruckman. This is the news we have been waiting for and although it was a game at a different level, it was a good omen as far as skills, team balance and contested footy were concerned.

Kent is a very good player having to make his own pathways as our midfield bombs away as high and as long as it can. Kent has good aggression, speed and on-the-run skills, and has shown that given opportunity, he knows where the goals are located and can exploit that or pass, effectively. Bit more practice and he'll be in that team of 22 I'd expect.

Yes, it is.

I reckon he is off form given tenderness in the ribs; his game was ordinary and no defensive pressure of note was applied. He seemed uncomfortable with his breathing and avoided contact after 'a run' or two. He is a talent who possibly could be rested.

Brayshaw in Frost in Tyson in Wagner in Salem rested out/bench Garlett out Hannan out Maynard out

That is how I saw it, too and suspected that if it wasn't a physical bump he would draw out the defender who did follow like a puppy to protect the Dees from Hawkins' long kicking should he get possession. Lucky Hawkins had a bad day.

I just wonder if the coaching group at the Club read these posts, to internalise the sentiments of history since 1964 that have been endured by the MFC supporters. We even speak to one another in terms of imminent Domesday outcomes and cannot help being hesitant to dare a win or its likelihood, let alone a chance at finals footy. We see the talent that we had in the past and have in the present but we do not see coaching making that significant difference to achieving success. We just get monotonous excuses, monologues and distanced communications - so I also wonder if these are what the players, in turn, receive. We just pick a team based upon 'form in the pre-season' and retire our players to the gym for recovery from the Grim Reaper each week. Is coaching exploiting the patient members of the Club? Time to deliver, folks!

Channel 7 just needed a headline to start the week off - anything would do - I loved the fake look of despair and worry on Tim Watson's face, not terribly frigging serious at all - but importantly, although he knew he was being filmed and something of him was being covered/communicated, Jesse coolly walked to his car, got in and maintained his silent dignity. Good onyer, Mate.

He must be wise with the bickies he's paid. Good on him. Shows great common sense not to fall for the exclusive 'car' syndrome at his age.

'Anyway, he will be selected for the team based upon pre-season form', says Goodwin. Comforting....

At the end of the day (season), you are probably correct about this. It still is a formidable combination of players. But sometimes, I just wonder how, with this profile of footballing equipment, the team might be coached and selected by: Roos, Daniher and even the very successful Ian Ridley? ( Roos' defensive emphases is what is needed right now. )

You betcha, they were clean. Over surprising distances as well as close-in. Easy goals were the killer - had these been stopped, we would all been drinking a few too many beers this week in celebration. There just was next to nil running from our backline so the ball was pumped back in for another scoring mission by Geelong.

I get your meaning Praha. And Ding, these matters are not about 'right or wrong' but more the thoughts and observations internalised by an astute interpreter of the game. We do not need to criticise one another quite so much on DL - and yet we all continue to so do - as it is one base of support for the team and Club. Opinions matter, varied as these may be.

The game, entirely through, was very winnable for Melbourne. By the middle of the last quarter, had we stuck to a plan that covered Geelong's momentum and challenges, we should have been a good deal further ahead than we were, and the critical scoring that we are capable of should have prevented Geelong's surge. Yet, we let them stay with us on the scoreboard, to come back through miskicks, loose play, hopeful disposals and other coverage considerations for the 4 quarters. Now those elements must be reinforced as negative lessons for the whole year - that was the implication to which I referred. It is difficult to posit a more accurate analysis on this conundrum of our play due to the number of variables that the game of football can herald. It was there last year, the year before and the year before that and yet, it is lesser now than it had been previously. That does not say that it no longer exists, mind you. It does indicate that there really is quite a way to go in terms of playing defensive football when it might count towards the neck of the bottle - the final siren outcomes. This is not negative football in the slightest, it is 'shutdown' football that encourages offensive action and further scoring because we might be in a position to take advantage of the domination of the game itself. I speak in 'ideals' because that might represent the control of circumstances to enable success. I look forward to such levels of play and success in future matches to come, as I guess most MFC supporters would. It does not lessen the importance of mere, ordinary performance; this must be better controlled across a game. Tolerance of such is not the domain of a keen supporter and the belief that the coaches will bandage such characteristics of play invalidates supporter expectations and hopes. Positive performances do not necessarily need to be mentioned here as we all acknowledge those contributions in real time and on post-event reflection.

Some good things happening there. Some good discussion, too. Think that I would like Melksham to replace Hannan - but this could be the week that Hannan kicks a bag! Salem needs a bit of toughening and is often lost in gatherings around the ball - possibly needs some AFL time to hone his game but skills are excellent. The bench will be critical, again, for success. I must admit, it would be great to see something of Baker or Spargo. I'd think on form shown across the 2nd half against Geelong, that Wagner might be a good bench warmer to come on in a mid/fwd slot when players are tiring.

That was impressive, yes.

Spoke with Oskar on the way to the ground. Looks a fit, strong and keen member for the team, heh?

Thanks

But have the players learned anything? Around 6 players went missing quite frequently, losing their opponent for some other objective that left the team exposed and in some parts of the ground, undermanned. I'd like to think that one lesson could cover the gaps and lapses. Until Viney, TMac return, it is going to be very tough at best. Are we too good to have a place for Brayshaw, Tyson. Frost?