Deemania since 56

Tidy.

I had some experiences with youth in Adelaide from the Sudan. All of them had evacuated Sudan in murderous conditions to be placed in Ethiopia in 'refugee' camps - often for years, some up to a decade - living hand to mouth in treachery and horrible conditions to avoid a return to Sudan. In this Ethiopian phase of their homeland evacuation, they were allocated refugee immigration status in a Western nation, for example: Australia. There was little choice in this 'allocation' or when it might take place. One lad, having been forced to clap and laugh as he watched his parents being dismembered, hacked then shot in his Sudanese homeland - waited 12 years for an allocation to live - and if it had not eventually come through, he would have been 'eliminated' from the algorithm. We are possibly talking about many hundreds of thousands of young people here, for all of those years after the most horrific initiation to refugee desperation. Females, in general, suffered unquestionably worse. The silence of respect is due. Welcome to Australia, Goy Lok. Let us hope your sporting career brings you great joy.

I think we need a 'body' on Hawkins at all times. He can brush away 90% of his opponents to take clear marks, move to position, get shots at goal - and the latter are usually lethal. We currently have a full back that is still improving, yet is very light, moves out of position too readily and may not be completely fit due to recent injury during the JLT. Pedo or TMac may well be the answer for this man mountain. Jetta, Hibberd and Frosty can clear for us if we defensively bring the ball to ground, tap or punch the ball from him, cleverly.

As I wipe away the tears streaming down my face continuously since yesterday morning when I heard the news, I bleed for the prospects of poor, fate-stricken Geelong suffering a horrible, gaping wound in their team selection for Round 1, or is it 3 gaping wounds? Sadness like this is not something that occurs regularly and it is so pitiful that the poor and extremely humane, old MFC has to be given that short straw to earnestly seize the upper hand and destroy the pussycats in their darkest hour. Excuse me, I must dash for another box of tissues - I still cannot read the screen clearly. Sob, sob....

That is interesting and it must be time for us to play a spare ruck for Gawny to be capable across the whole game. He could kick us a few of his goals, too, thus occupying one of their key defenders or even two, and with our runners and allegedly new running game, that is another bonus. Hogan and Garlett, supported by Hannan, will have a field day! How is ANB progressing with Round 1 in mind?

How sad. Bernie gets a tick - too much of a confrontation - intimidating poor little 'umpires' mate, Patrick via the selectors' pen. Very sad. Oh well, it's allegedly his football, and he is taking it home, I guess.

Travis seemed to be a magician, so often. Yet, after a modest performance (rare) it looked like he was the forgotten man of the Club that was not being looked after as well as he could be. This affected his game, I thought at the time. Then, miraculously he would turn a game, running an entire field down the flanks doing things that 18 other players could not stop. Travis had it all.

Vagg was great. So were Hassa and Dicko. Gosh those were phantastique footy days.

Yep, it will provide Vince with another target on his body. Vince already controls his mind.

The dilemma continues and many of us will nearly always feel a loss. It is difficult to dismiss Jack now that he has left the Club and many of us wish him well in the greater football world. Now it is time for us sympathisers to heal; Jack has. We must move on with focus on the current bank balance and its possibilities. The problem with being a MFC supporter is that we are loyal as hell, forced to be reminiscent, living histories of neglect and poor decision-making, and consequently unsuccessful at the level of which we dream. Let's do it this time.

Go Kenty!

I feel that it is all a waste of time, AFLW. Never read the articles, just cannot watch a game - even televised. Quambatook Under 12s generally play a better game and exhibit better skills. Nar Nar Goon Under 13s are equally impressive as a training ground for future AFL stars. I know it is a little sexist to think this way but women cannot play footy. There are exceptions but a game is a game with nearly 40 players on the ground and I wouldn't attend to watch just one of them who might know what is required in this game. Send them on to the netball where they are more popular, or the hockey, or the basketball.

I thought it was radical.

Go Kenty!

Well done, Jack Watts. Good effort.

Regarding Bugg. Dynamic fella, full of courage and grit. Works hard, always. Not yet in the best 22 'cause he can't kick. Fit enough to last a full game in a roving-style, clearing role and prepared to take anyone on... My old coach once told me that '...it ain't good to be where the ball ain't...' but Bugg meets this criteria well. So I apply a modification of this adage, thus: '...it ain't good to have a "kickable" receive in fronta goal, and miss so often...' Enigmatic, ain't he?

Yep, it is a fine line but scalar measures often are misleading. I considered the amount of effective work each of these players contributed during their time/s at the Club and rated them both, very highly for that achievement. Of course, Wilson was an exceptional example of that mark. Powell was one of our best quite often, as well. Consequently, I rate them as champions in our team because of their reliability, much like but not at the same level of brilliance and effectiveness as Flower, Hardeman, and the Ox across a timeframe. Still, labelling them as such, in my mind, is better on reflection than 'very good players'. Please note that this is my opinion, too - some of the stuff that I used to go to the footy to see, exclusively at the time. Now, it is for Petracca, Clarrie, Viney and Gawn - all champions in their own right, to my eyes. Carna Dees.

My breakout summation is for Harmes. He is developing so well and blending with his teammates almost perfectly. I have been watching him closely, quietly and see enormous motor skills. He'd be my morphing agent to emulate Dusty in the future - and he is tough as nails. Great on the outside heading forward.

Not champions? Just good players? Those two did it all each week and then some.

No error in that kick - he meant it as you have observed. Agile, dynamic, great eyes, terrific advantageous decision. And, so quick to so do. Killer instincts....

The Weed needs lots of games but at what cost? He does have attributes so one must wonder by now if he is really training his heart out to make the improvements for the cut. He needs weeks of aggressive, driven performances in the VFL team and very close mentoring, otherwise we will have another prospective tall held in abeyance season by season. He has a great football heritage upon which he can draw, no doubt. It is time for the Weed to turn the corner. Consistently.

Both

It became a glad-rag for the 'trendy' teams ... never purchased a copy but saw hundreds of free copies on the grounds around the MCG after the match on the way to the carpark. Seems as though those who had paid for a copy were unimpressed, too.

The kick over the defenders head does not work. It is so obvious that it, too, is easily defended forthwith. It would work more often if we had a Rodney Grinter-style deliverer but as yet, we do not. Petracca comes close, yes and he showed it. The only two players who seem to have exploited it were Jakovich and Bennett and both of these did so with their mobility - one in a running trip around town and the other in an aggressive straight line.

Get the Ox to stand with him as advisor for 300 kicks at goal each training session for two months. That'll fix his inaccuracy.