Deemania since 56

These are two required players for the Dees: Kent and Vandenberg.

It would be phantastique, yes. Fritsch, Petruccelle and Lever as the main MFC pick-ups for the 2018 season and then, there would be no need to call on Rex Hunt to go ape-[censored] over the calls - every Dees supporter would be heard en masse doing that for him across 100 minutes of football, every week.

Ronald-Oxenblood-Tulip was a good Demon name, too....

I would love to know how van der Haar is progressing...his old man was sharp! Wasn't too bad as a mobile utility, either,

Good onyer, Kenty. Hope a full recovery is near.

Thanks for that

That's only because he is blind in one eye and has 5/20 vision in his 'good' eye. So there. At least he is trying.

That is a real weakness of interstate 'armchair' membership. However, the luncheon at their Richmond pub not far away from the 'G, hosted by the Club and Robbo last season, is a worthwhile freebie if you can get to that home game, around August.

Really have a good deal of support for Kent, as I have stated previously. He has some great attributes culled by a shoulder dislocation that is a cruel, longer-term injury at best. Yep, it would be nice to see him back on the training track and interacting with the team very closely, particularly after the season that he has endured. It is not a great sign that he has perhaps missed early sessions by remaining on his holidays, if that is the reason - despite the 20 November schedule for return. Kent is capable of great movement and positioning, and can actually kick some wonderful goals 'on the run'. He is tough, although not as tough as he was prior to his injury, of course. Really looking forward to his return to the body of the kirk - a needed player and I hope his injury can largely be regarded as 'behind him'.

Max has been a great tap ruckman but less effective in this role since his injury. He tended to just tap the ball down for scouts, hopefully able to run onto its passage. However, now he is trimmed and fit again, I'd reckon that his mobility and endurance for running all over the ground would be greater and hopefully, the leg issues are behind him. This could create the greatest mobile big man the team has seen since Stynes. He won't waste his time wrestling - that is below his contributory function. He can take that big intercept mark and roll forward for the occasional goal - let's hope some of these play-based moves eventuate. He is a terrific asset.

Redleg, footballers are complex things. Young footballers, without an intense understanding of their direction, are even more complex. You didn't start anything wrong, that's for sure. You just brought to our combined attention the considerably unfavourable aspects of one of our potential interests in the draft. We all thank you for this. We are reflecting on your advice. That other members of the site wish to also annotate their experiences with this young player, be it so. To be really effective, we need to send daily up-dated copies to anyone who can read at the Collingwood Football Club and even to the The Crows.

Some people will do anything to eliminate Big Max's influence. Why not just toss the ball to a Demon's opponent? That is what happens in the Port Adelaide forward line, regularly.

Getting in with the mateship thing, already. Onyer, Balic.

Bayley Fritsch and Petrucelle for me, this year. Both are too good to miss.

Thanks for this advice. Maybe it is too early to extract expectations from one so young. His father was a little slow at times but read the play and his roles extraordinarily well.

What are the circulating words about Jake Lovett? What is he like as a developing footballer and does he bear any similarity with his father? If he has one ounce of his father's talent, he may well be a great talent for us down the track.

Fully agree - particularly with Jack Watts' contribution to our side and the aspirations of the coaching panels. Sometimes I think these two things were in conflict, given the changing nature of our coaching panels across the last 12 years or so. Watts was close to being the most skillful forward around and given a team with genuine momentum, would have ideally suited the emerging Demons in all regards, and now, must adapt (yet again) to another, alien set of coaches and teammates, considerable egos and anxieties. Boy, I would still like to see Jack in Attack Watts with the Demons, in our best 22. Particularly now that there are signs of smarter, more quick thinking young players making progress with a defined development. The speed of Watts' thinking and execution were always highly regarded on-field and supported by his great team play, and was often too quick for 'developing' players. Thank heavens for a duplicate quick thinker and mover - Clarry - who added great similarities in play-making to the team as Watts tried to do for so many seasons. I really think that Nathan Jones was the only other player who could 'read' what Watts was doing, could do and often did in attack. Pedo was on to it as well, whenever he had 'game time' . Watts' legacy will last for years at our club. We are going to miss him as a footballing asset, not just as a sentimental 'favourite' battered from pillar to post.

Thank you. I thought it might well have been him. I'd only heard of that nickname once and was dumbfounded by it. Again, thanks for the clarification.

Great comments and pics, guys. Terrific to see. May I ask: Who is 'Nibbler'?

A mindful backman has just intercepted a forward thrust from the opposition, has skilfully passed the ball quickly to a running teammate and surveys the progress of the ball whilst picking up his opponent. Blissful is he who has initiated a chain of promise that led to a goal scored from his instigation. Fairly similar for a midfielder ... very similar for a forward. Both of these are of a lesser duration; but, the vibe is stronger and so they must attempt to set the patterns again, and again, and again to play winning football. And then, they think as one to do it again, and again, and again. A win results. Simple? Or do I need psychoanalytics ....

Pendlebury injured his finger. The quoit was too tight for his usual greeting to an opponent working hard at the football.

Pedo is one of our best and certainly, most reliable, when needed. He lifts, and lifts, and lifts. The Weed worries me. With a great heritage and all the physical attributes (other than those for which he must be working out in the gym every day) to further his skills set and endeavour. It is as if he cannot read the play and if he does, he does nothing about it. The great Ox and even Lyon should be taking him aside after team training and working on him - teaching him - motivating him - and supervising his pre-season very closely, as two individual coaches working together from their experience(s) to bring this possibly great young player to some modicum of importance to our side with a role and a potential to excel. What'cha reckon, guys?

Hope we get some responses from those able to attend training in this rather still, quiet and what appears to be 'silent' start to the next season. Even the MFC Website appears loathe to add daily news and views - though Matt Burgen probably does need a vacation and he does do such a great job over the course of the calendar year. Anyway, we are all missing our footy and some Demon stimuli in this period - is a wake or period of silent dismay for our loss of Jack in Attack Watts? When living in Adelaide, interstate, as I am, one of the greatest difficulties in keeping abreast of daily, weekly and pre-season information. The papers here refuse to publish articles on the Demons and the media, in general, is very incestuous about two alleged teams called The Power and The Crows, whoever they may be. So folks, how are the mighty Dees looking at this point? Kind regards to all....

Maybe a short lifetime eating Mama's pasta can be run, worked and dieted off the lad ... a weight reduction would enhance his speed, agility, reducing a future propensity for injury and to enable more blistering centre clearances. Just maybe ... he has to kick at least fifty goals this coming season, as well.

Great list of messages, well stated and realistic, It's Time (above). Some hard truths, some complimentary but all valid and these are the things that supporters like to consider and dwell upon. With this accurate analysis, improvements can be measured. Strongly agreed with your analysis.