Deemania since 56

We had heaps of exciting players - and some of them were 'the best around', if not a link to a premiership for the Dees of the past with teams not media-favoured, not hyped, not quite capable of winning everything before them. The Ox, in a team with Flower and the young Neitz, would be my 'most exciting', 'most talented', among the 'best ever' nearly every time he walked onto the ground. The greatness that supported him in his play enabled this and then, tragically, his knee!

Given Jay Viney's enormous successes for the Dees as a player procurer, surely he should be sent to Adelaide, regularly across the coming season, to tempt Sloane to the mighty MFC. Not that Sloane is the ideal pick for our needs but he is close to that mark, I guess. The idea of almost the whole of Adelaide disliking the MFC is really quite attractive. When they rage in the press, they lose on game day with consistency.

Whispering_Jack raises an interesting point about playing the Crows vs Dees, first round. What a clash of two worlds! Lining Jake up to out-Lever the Texan Dunderhead would be classic retribution and may provide an avenue for true justice in this two-club circumstance. Lever has the mobility and talent to do this from half-back flank, where I might prefer to see him play; I'd reckon ol' Frosty might be a better bloke at centre-half back but who knows? Then again, poetry takes many forms: I remember the very sad moment when Balmey positioned and held the Big Nick against the Tigers at the 'G, and suddenly a perfect line was enabled for that very talented Tiger, Lawry Fowler, to both operate and anaesthetise Big Nick in the same split second. Jake owes Tex one, Frosty might be the ideal compatriot; however, the MFC is above this sort of thing; be better to see it all on the scoreboard, after the game.

It is an elite spine, if only Oscar was not being considered. The number of times he has lost possession or failed to gain possession is quite wrenching. The whole backline, centres and deep forward lines are elite, at last. Bring on the 2918 season. Just about to send in my MFC membership renewal, too.

The ruckmens' craft is one the AFL will not part with lightly. Gawn, in fit form, is excellent in that role. However, I would prefer to see him in attack, where his marking and mobility would assist the team. We just need a role player as we have the midfield talent to play off the opposition ruck men. I see this as a training ground for the Weed. Crazy, I know, but Pedo and Tom are too valuable, elsewhere.

With these 2017 newbies, how can Port concentrate on their 3-man forward line and free kick count in front of goal for the likes of Gray and other forwards. Port are hamstrung with their game plans. Port will waste what talent it thinks it has recruited. 'Carna Dees.

Watts is now with the Power. His heart is not going to be working for that club. He will most probably have an inconsistent year ahead and will struggle to get the ball, to kick goals and to train as hard as he should. He was always the classic mobile forward with the best kicking reliability of all. He was never played in that role or to sustain that attribute when he broke free. Best wishes, Jack. I hope that I am wrong about the future with the Power.

I'd reckon this young bloke is worth the attention and the opportunity to be recruited to the Dees. A good summer workout, as hard as possible, followed by another across the year to come and he may well be the new Cameron with jumping beans.

Daws came into the team at a difficult and largely unskilled time; most players were in doubt about 'the game plan', not just the regular supporters. Dawes accepted the challenge as a true professional, doing a great job in motivating and merging with all of our players both on and off the field. Not one player consistently gave his 'all' to match days and on-field challenges like Dawes. He tried his heart out, he chased and chased, he took marks, he kicked some great goals; his body was crying in pain and injury, and let him down after such effort, so often. We need Dawes with a solid pre-season behind him, without nagging injury. He is a true Demon, through and through.