Deemania since 56

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.

Gosh, fellas, Jesse is Jesse and that is a great thang. I rather admire his casual attire choices - it obviously puts the shakers up the spines of the uninitiated - how esoteric do you wish to be? He is not long from Perth and if you knew the town well, realise, at least, that fashion is not a big achievement over there. The Sandgropers are three hours behind and a generation or two out of whack attempting to catch up a light speed with some very abstract effects. Good on yer, Jesse. I reckon you are one of the smartest players on the field with your MFC jumper and Demon scowl. Set your own pace - and make history in what you do best.

Thanks, 'Comdedia

Could not agree more with the AFL/Sydney/Canberra point, hardtack. My son, based in Sydney, feels the very same but is fortunate to drive to Melbourne often across the season(s) to watch his Demons play. You are correct, it does not matter where nor when, we must win, win, win regardless of difficulties, travel and home crowd bias. For example, the 2017 game against the Crows at Adel Oval was an example of the resolve that we must show week in, week out.

Financially, not a good draw or as good as it well might have been. We have the 'G and so, it is up to us to attend en masse. This should occur as it is widely considered that the Dees will have a better season in 2018 and with that momentum, more members and supporters will attend games - even those non-supporter crowd numbers will come in droves because they want to see the mighty Dees do well all the way into September. Have faith folks, we are going into the big-time at last.

He had his good days, he had his bad days; he was a backman who could rotate up forward; he was just one of many who had some problems with Peter Hudson, and others up forward in that era. Still respect his reliability, though.

Other than both his running and attach on the ball, it's good to see Deespicable mention the talents of Sean Wight. Impossible heritage, unstoppable player. 1987 was just one of his big years. He made many a player look good with his initiating foot passes over great distances. Grinter's passing up the field can never be ignored, either. He was just superb at finding a team mate's space to mark with a kick deliberated 50m upfield.

Yeah, he would be a good pickup no matter what we try to say about him to discourage Adelaide and Collingwood, in particular.

Honestly, this is an impossible selection to make, as we could all pick over forty players who would make the grade. What about defining our selections for this coming season, 2018? The backline looks elite on possibilities, except for Oscar. What about the rest of the team? Then, the application of the game plans the coaches should apply.

It was rumoured, as well, that other team members are scared to hit the showers with him. That would rule out a pick-up by Adelaide, Port, Collingwood, Hawthorn, GWS, the Doggies, don't you think?

Biffen was a rule-stretcher, yes; however, he was only protecting his team mates. He made a few opposition forwards shake in their socks and he was incredibly reliable at full back.

I am no bloody typist! I meant to write 'take-off' speed, above. Sorry.

Can never forget Stan Alves. The best blind-turner the game has ever seen. Unique tack-off speed and made space beautifully, often in impossible situations. Tremendous kick of the football, both sides. Would have been a great coach for the Club in our driest times. He did work hard, always, lifting a series of mediocre teams to save or challenge in every game. I'd reckon he had some involvement in the development and masterclass shaping of the greatest winger of all time: Robert Flower.

Petruccelle seems to be a little 'Peter Daicos-y', no? He'd be a great pick-up but our draw ain't too good. If only there was another Leoncelli!

Highly supportive of Pedo in the best 22; he has the utility assets to change an opponent's game plan and this is generated from an outstanding attitude towards his contribution and that of players around him. He can change games on his very special gifts and skills, and with big fitness improvements, 'his tank' had enabled this attitude to shine through the past season. I am worried about the young fella who is the spitting image of the great Melbourne player and captain, Hassa Mann, on the field. That is, Dean Kent. Few athletes can overcome the damaging effects of a dislocated shoulder, a long-term weakness in the stability of the joint arises. To me, this is a real shame, as Kenty has shown plenty and if he can get up well for 2018, I'd reckon he has those attributes (in buckets) that we need on the half-forward flank both as a goalsneak and as a key linkman for other forwards. His kicking and running can both be excellent if he has game time to settle in this role. He is a killer short-pass exponent. He is also quite tough and hard at the ball. His head is always up, and with his fast on-field mind, zeros in on a team-mate to deliver the end result through a scoring opportunity.

Good thinking, actually. Jake impressed with his rucking and given a chance to take a speccy or two, certainly was a mini-rock of Gibraltar, when required. He is a good both-sides tap, reading the flight and position that is required, well. I always thought that he was the preferred backup to Gawn during Gawn's injuries. Whilst 3 others did very well in that role, the team was unbalanced and a few slipped by on the scoreboard when maybe, Pedo, Watts and McDonT might well have been needed in their normal playing roles for vital moments of several quarters across the past season. I'd like to see Jake Spencer back on the list - he is a valued asset as far as I am concerned.

We signed on, again. No worries. I'd like us to get at least 1/4 of the free kicks that the Crows got from the umpires in front of goal at Adelaide Oval during 2017! We would win the flag, regardless of how well the Tigers might play on the day.

We signed on, again. No worries. I'd like us to get at least 1/4 of the free kicks that the Crows got from the umpires in front of goal at Adelaide Oval during 2017! We would win the flag, regardless of how well the Tigers might play on the day.

We need to develop a few individual players with the 'frame' and 'desire' to play 'unstoppable' football. We have the role models and a list that may just produce a brighter present day for the Dees and particularly, a few years of matching the potentials that we have shown on-field in our recent past, albeit erratically, looking back. We have the role models, the contacts and the analysis, and if we can begin to play, this coming season, as did Lovell, Lovett, Tingay and Bailey, for example, our key attribute players cannot fail.

Terrific analysis with some debatable items; however, we do need to think more about 'links' and 'avenues' from a team perspective. These are the things that made our 'great players' so great; the support that they received from '...whence the ball came...' were the keys to fantastic Demon football, across all of the past three decades.

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.