Deemania since 56

Largely spot on, AF. I'd reckon JSmith has the 'go' to surprise ... would like to see him again up forward with just that little bit more game experience behind him, and daring. He's a very good contributor already with forward defence, now for some 'lone ranger' with Tonto (Fritta) both finding spaces.

The Swan in Perth is a good joint, you can go there, watch the game and still have change in your pocket - free of the guilt for supporting the Catty Puts in their rip-off endeavours. :-)

Critical information to analyse; footy is becoming a game of pure guesswork under advised 'leadership' from whom we expect consistency above all. Well commented, monoccular.

Nut crushers were on the agenda as well, I heard. Got the idea from Cox.

We can see that Tracca is a gentleman. Apologised most likely for no reason, other than goodwill - then moved on and away.

We must keep our entitlements and father/son preferences to ourselves; otherwise, the AFL, The Filth, the Catty Puts and Whoreform will attempt to intercede. I understand Jeff's pride in his son; do we understand the pride we should have in Jeff to point his son in the right direction?

Now that the answers have been declared and winners announced (congratulations, as I had no idea), I can remember several of these goals - particularly Stinger's goal and his display of elation. It was a marque of a champion to come in the near future. My question relates to the Captain of such a team. Frank Davis was one of our best in lean times and also, one of our great leaders, working from the back pocket across the whole backline setting examples and imagery for all of our players. In terms of footballing stature, Davis was a squirt but by jiminy he could play against all sizes, all physiques, all comers. I'd consider him to be in the top six of Demon captains without doubt.

It could well be that he is subdued in comparison to 'normal' games due to his fitness status after such a lengthy sufferance with hospital food and the regularity, and intensity, of his exercise requirements. However, if selected, he could play one or two of his invincible cameo roles from the centre and not stray too far into the field or battleground depths of the game. If that is the case, the team members around him could make great contributions to his role/skills execution as the game progresses. The catty puts are weakest in the centre/midfield - astounding as that sounds - possibly leaving Clarrie another trophy of conquest, whilst injured/deemed unfit.

Yep, but I think it is almost time for Spargo to be rested and Kozzie to be retained (except in a defensive forward flash) in the forward pockets or thereabouts. He has incredible pick-up skills with the ball and we all know he can run 'em down and kick reliable snaps.

Yes, they are both nice guys in that regard. They never put a player down in malice yet when the game calls for 'mongrel' both adhere to the respectabilities of the game whilst getting the job done - just because they sometimes hurt the player, we have to acknowledge that '... that's footy, folks!' in its most subtle form.

Elegantly posited beezlebub. Agree about Clarry for Spargo as the other smalls seem capable of making a greater contribution (I hope one of them can mark Close). Kitties will be licking their wounds; against Port, they ran out of legs and alternatives to their modus seen in the first quarter. The title of your recommended Operation is quite apt; it most certainly is time for it to commence - haven't seen it for at least a year. Umpires will be factor - right across the game but I hope that they do not change the rules in the last quarter like they did in our match against The Filth.

Yep, time for a Spargo rest ... Clarry in, hopefully, and JJ onto the bench as Emerg. Smith should stay in - he appears to be on a roll, and has lots to offer in attack, forward defence, creative plays. Somehow we need to consider Bowey into the equation, probably from the bench as well. We can beat the Cats at their home - run them off their feet and attack, attack, attack.

I know where you are coming from ... it's pretty obvious that oppo fans actually motivate him to do well. Our team, as a whole, seems to really support him when the crowd chips are down. That's just flying in the face of adversity, in my opinion. Carna Dees!

Hunter's first half kicking down the flank left quite a bit to be desired ... he was supposed to be lethal at that talent ... but he gave The Filth many central corridor starts as a consequence of 'rushing' to clear rather than exploiting the attack potentials.

Sorry. However, his injuries and illnesses did alter his game enthusiasm for some assignments over the last two years; certainly, today he demonstrated 'mongrel' quite well, giving a few lessons-by-example to those receptive enough to interpret what he was all about and that includes The Filth players in his vicinity; you can see young MacV has picked his way through a few of Salem's enablers.

The umps changed the rules for The Filth in many last quarters so far this year...but the media are too scared to deal with this in their normally exaggerated criticisms.

Today was his warm-up; some of us at DL have known for some time that this ability would surface as a consequence of him playing way-back-when as a backman. He learnt some tricks; reversed these, used these today. Soon, he won't miss his shots...today he was a 4-goal man with a lack of gametime practice. Got excellent reach, hasn't he? Mobile as a forward and finds space.

I thought ANB stopped many run-ons for The Filth, thus giving (when needed) his teammates those necessary moments to catch and beat their Filth opponents; and, he did this, once again, crushed with the ball under at least six Filth players.

The umpires under instructions from the AFL regard themselves as 'entertainers par excellence', far more important than the players, and teams. If we killed The Filth by significant amounts, the 'entertainment' level and resultant anxiety from a spectator's point of view would be massively eroded. Plus, of course, this game was against The Filth and its hotline to the media in general, the AFL Headquarters, the gate receipts, the broadcast rights, the Tribunal and the thousands of toothless simple minds (so represented) in the Piggery. Sad to say, but evident. I knew we would win, and JSmith would start making a supporting difference to the game up forward when I noticed several Demon supporters breaking out the French brie at 3/4-time. Of course, they didn't have any wine; who would drink the swill provided by the caterers at the ground - and you cannot bring a dusty but mature red into the ground as an accompaniment. Viney and Salem were great today - and May was a rock, well supported.

Rod Grinter was something else imho - he was a sacrificial lamb who would do anything for the benefit of the Demons. He was very effective in clearing the slate through acts of what the media regarded as 'thuggery' but they could go to the other 'uggery' if you ask me. His career was heavily curtailed by 'acts of immense generosity' towards the team against the assumptive actions and brutality of opponents. Some of those were delivered with enthusiasm, some were last resorts. We were not a powerful team in that era - Rod stood up making many opponents think twice either before or after it was medicine time. The cowards avoided him onfield; the brave generally wore the consequences. At least it can be said that Rod Grinter kept the Tribunal in employment through acts of restitution and levelling.

Gulp! Sniffle. Sniffle. What other footballer could invoke such emotions?

Blair used to teach me how to do 'the banana' kick at Central Park (Malvern) when I was a little fella. He'd train/run there a couple of times per week. It added a whole new string to my bow - I used to drop kick for distance, stab pass for accuracy and only had a weak mongrel punt prior to that contact.

I'd reckon that JJ's positioning would considerably reduce an over-reliance on 'zip and energy around the ball' provided our midfielders can spot him - or do intend to spot him. He is a very good island in midstream flows and has great disposal when mobile.

Nicely posited but Golly, I could see these approaches being very useful with many Dees players since '64; in fact, these tenets possibly could have made Gysberts a run-away champion! Sadly, he didn't get very far past 'run-away'.

Entirely reasonable but what is a Bronwlow?