Deemania since 56

It is good that player opinions and reasons are heard. The concept of 'boot camp' is a little alien to Aussies. Football training has evolved for over a century, now. Surely, it is now well-refined and suitable for readiness to play and prepare, and develop for our game - in all regards. The para-military focus does not necessarily add to these tenets of our sport. Given the excellent photo and written coverage of MFC pre-season training that has been displayed on this site by supporters, it seems as if our conventional approaches to training for the up-coming season are well underway and remain highly refined with specific outcomes in mind. We have direct evidence of team members managing their own training and development - seen in their conditioning across the season break and in particular player improvements in training drills and skills since then. Cancelling the boot camp programme will save our Club many thousands of dollars, too. This is an important consideration for Members.

Ooops, it WAS the SPORTING GLOBE pub, sorry Hemingway. Memory and ageing do no coalesce sometimes. Sorry. I got my MFC Membership package in the Adelaide mail, this morning. Bewdy.

I'd reckon and on reflection firmly believe that 'MIA' is not the mantra to use for Robbo - even on 'bad' days. He was a team man and this necessitated teamwork and accuracy - and that is what made Guy Rigoni so good as he saw this in Robbo and played a feeding role to him with aplomb. Robbo nearly always ran into space and position to receive passes, making up for 'bombs' with occasional great marking skills - depending on who he was playing against.

The Vine, Hemingway.

He (Robbo) hosts a pub lunch before an Demons' MCG game in Richmond on behalf of the Club. It is a snack and beer thing, and is very pleasant, well-attended and free. I think it was and will be held in August. It is worth attending, if you can get there. The pub is across the road from the Richmond Town Hall. Free tickets from the Memberships side of the MFC.

Given his physical stature and the package of attributes, Robbo was one of those great Melbourne stars, and such a nice bloke.

It would still be nice to think and experience the Dees' 2018 season as one in which Port is annihilated by the red n blue.

What great footage. Robbo could do special things - all it took was the initial teamwork.

Thanks, Dr Gonzo, I admit that there was some mid-term improvement but at that level, I feel that weakened the backline defences with Tom off to other duties and Oscar was somewhat repetitive in errors of old. Still, I also believe that more stints with Casey will assist him with sticking to his man, spoiling more effectively, more often and taking marks with subsequent and effective clearance play. I may be wrong, certainly; in time, I'd hope that his improvement is a continuum and occurs more consistently. Thanks for the comment. Go Dees!

Like your comment, Tarax Club. A real Ron Blaskett with Gerry Gee. What a fabulous memory, down to the Channel 9 studios in Richmond just after school for all the Tarax lemonade that you could drink whilst running berserk on the show as an 'audience'. Those were the days, and MFC was really strong, then.

Thanks, one-eye. You would think that was the case, quite naturally. From adversity comes.....stoic resolve?

Worrying, amusing, unsettling, fd preferences leave some in wonderment, but thank you for the opinion. 'Carna Dees!

He does have some attractions, even though little has been seen of him for some time. He has a tough and long road - possibly full of potholes - ahead of him so it will be a challenge.

Weideman and Oscar McD - - plenty of Casey room for these two.

Depends who is challenging this linking series, Clint. We are a different team to what we were - for so long. Somewhere in the chain, Frosty, Lever and Hibberd must be given a chance to interrupt, fatally; I'd reckon that Jetta would have a say in the proceedings, as well. Not terribly sure that JW will tear us to shreds unless he plays on Oscar McD.

We must assume that Balic can regenerate form and fitness - even if it takes us into the season proper. He has shown top form and ability, and was unfortunate with injuries but he would not be invited to 'suit-up' if it wasn't apparent that it was all still there - subject to conditioning at a level where he has recently been. I'd say he might well be a 'smokey' when these things are achieved. Players change and change rapidly when highly motivated.

100 days to Round 1. Time to get cracking Dees. Each year that advancing doubt raises its head. This (2018) has got to be the year. Injuries must be overcome before February. Let's do it!

Good, possibly means that these are all going to be distributed from now on...I need a new car sticker!

Salem does come out of the backline very well, quickly and with the ball, his kicking is often masterclass. He also provides a terrific running link for the progress of play into the forwards. Keep him on the backline to mellow from familiarity...

When I cleaned my glasses, this 'stomach' looked much better...

This is an interesting public statement by Jack Watts. In this morning's Adelaide Advertiser, to appease the Port supporters for press coverage, no doubt - which happens a great deal in Adelaide - Jack Watts' comments about Port being closer to a Premiership than Melbourne are back-page news (sports headlines). The article does not have much depth; however, it is fairly lengthy for items of this nature. Maybe, it is an attempt at controversy and/or incestuous local grandstanding. That Watts has fallen for this type of coverage is alarming for the mild-mannered, temperate opinions and feelings that he has expressed in the past in a 'red n blue' clown suit. I have been one of his most ardent supporters over the years and have seen him do things on the footy field that truly cut the mustard. At least he does not brag on this record nor does he make promises that 'he is going to be the difference' for the Port Adelaide side. He instead retains some modesty and draws upon the skills and reliability of some of the existing Port players (in the forward line where he will be utilised), and then refers to Port's 'strengthening' of an already impressive team that has just come forward via its 2017 draft recruitment outcomes. I really don't have an opinion on all of this but I thought it might be of interest to Demonland readers.

Maynard looks ready.

Whilst as a Dee supporter, I loved him as a player. However, his '...best decision I've made...' statement really might well read: 'The only decision I had left.' It is a pity.

Flying under the radar is good for the start of the season, although we can rabbit on a little amongst ourselves because the Dees are an unfavoured team, by most accounts - certainly in the media and certainly by Sam 'the brainless' Newman. I don't mind if they all (the media) have their rogers growing out of their foreheads in blind prejudice - because it is another indication that they 'cannot see for nuts'! Outside the supporter and club groups, I would doubt if our best 22 were fully known in the media's mindset. Still, nice to come into a match as an unannounced underdog and cream their dreams by quarter-time - and we will do it, this coming season with some massive victories across many games. 'Carna Dees! Remember the Crows game at Adelaide Oval in 2017?

Hiya, Nuts. Agree strongly with your request, above. Would be phabulous in the extreme, as last season was a long-awaited eye opener for the Dees, providing us with some incredibly good football to savour but access to critical plays are virtually unobtainable. Good one.