Deemania since 56

Smith has a variety of versatile assets, up back, down front, spoiling in packs from the side. His height is important to us, his leap and his aggression (from backline experience, mainly) and his rather pacey mobility would mean many useful things in a fluent and less-congested game than those played recently in the VFL (where entire games are congested and disarrayed). At AFL level, there is more open space to exploit his manoeuvrability and opponent coverage skills when the going gets 'thick'. At the least, he may well be able to cover, spoil and occupy a feathered Swan defender - and Smith is known for his tap-ons to smalls and other teammates.

If only there was a current-day clone ... absolute star quality.

...and just after the half-time siren sounds.

Wednesdays just don't go, Thursdays go too slow!

... and damage to opponents' bodies! What we really need, with JVR on the immediate future functions up forward, is more mongrel - big hearted, big bodied, big experience. Grundy could well do much of this, as a side-line to his real task. A better footballer than the Yank with a mission at cross-purposes.

Me too, OD. The interest wanes after about four pages, the vitriol heightens between contributing DL fans. Still, opinion and the right to hold these tenets of democracy must prevail. Who knows, maybe there is news on the front to consider?

Statements like that from the highest AFL official confirm that he does not see the benefit or right of passage provided by an even playing field and environment.

Agreed, No sorrow for the good riddance of the Cats. The arrogance - bred for years from assistive AFL officialdom in all of its worst forms to the detriment of all other teams in the AFL - can only be rewarded (or negated) by another finals collapse achieved as early as possible.

It's finals time. I am wondering if the umpires will finally acknowledge the amount of interference endured by Max, Clarrie, Harmes, Jackson, ANB, amongst others?

Tom - Mr Fitness - will be fine. Just imagine how 'hungry' he must be to get the job done for us. He's our leading forward and will run the legs off opponents across a game.

Carna Dockers!

Gee, WCW, you went lightly on Geelong. There are heaps of other primary examples of how they get there so often, whilst you have only mentioned the repetitive, non-even playing field ones. Did you contain yourself so you would not appear to have as many sour grapes on your plate as the rest of us? Fairy Nuff.

Four days left to prepare for the fifth. Geez, it would be good to spank the Swans. So many times this past week I have heard several astute commentators (ok, so there are only a few) refer quite openly to '...the juggernaut that is Melbourne...' relative to all other finalists. I hope they are correct. It is going to be a bewdy - keep the faith, folks.

Needs just a little encouragement and coaching on disposal options and techniques. These are some of the most difficult skills to master but upon settling into a side, due to his high rates of possession, for example, his role will be better defined and thus, you'd expect that process would be attended to by our remarkable swathe of coaches. Quite often, even Nathan Jones had this difficulty, for example - and that could really be the only criticism one could have of him - yet, it still improved nearing the sunset of his career.

Glad you enjoyed it. It is the absolute circumstance (of years ago) when one attempted to balance the scales of social interaction and pursuit by selecting either a weekend at Hotham or going to the footy. Leaving the 'G, a great fondness of the MFC was nurtured across the years in wintry conditions as the platform of Richmond Station approached, the throngs of rowdiness abated significantly for all travelling (from Platform 10?) to the SEastern suburbs on the Glen Waverley line whence, as the empty clouds of black and white diminished in a directional sense, dreams and visions of an eventual win for the Dees were nourished, scrutinised and confessed across what became incessant time. Glen Iris Station, hey? Its underpass footpath, Driver Bus Lines, the fish 'n chips shop, the tram terminus in High Street - all memories. Stan Alves worked at the Real Estate Agents on the southern corner at the intersection of High St/Lower Malvern Rd. Good Demon ground ... a hive and breeding ground of discriminating footy supporters.

It is all part of the ski season mentality - having sat in crowded football grounds across the winters surrounded by Filth supporters - amid the consistent bleatings that '"...Pendemberry" or "Day-Koz" done real good, like, at getting them frees!' One has to mentally interact with this language abomination whence the mind might otherwise be in full employment over a shiraz at Davenport estate between runs. With regret, so many times, the Dees didn't win the game so on the train back to Kooyong, one reflected on the overall negativities of the footy experience (over time) brought on by a reluctance to spend perfectly good Thursday afternoons climbing north-east with chains across the top of the Australian Geosyncline.

Leoncelli and Rigoni were incredible drivers for the whole team - ran all day - very talented with an abundance of skills frequently used to put the Dees in great positions across the game. Lovett was absolutely dependable and dominant - very, very few could compete against him on equal terms. The Macs came into their own, as well - albeit at slightly differing times. Viney was a great ball possession winner, yet his kicking - whilst usually long and powerful - was less than ideally accurate (most of the time). Great days ... great teams amongst many outstanding sides in those days. Ah, the memories....

Of course. My relativity fades as the years progress.

At least, one of the two of them (Geelong or the Filth) will have been eliminated. Stirring for all other teams in the finals.

This has got to the point of being inexcusable from the umpires.

What! Clarrie got a free kick? Bulltish! Who, when, what, why, where? I saw a few cheap punches from behind, one kick, seven 'holdings', three knees into the groin and a deliberate trip or two - nothing remarkable for Clarrie - but no compensatory frees! I thought I had good vision across the entire game. What am I missing out on?

If we are not set-up at the scene of ANB's ball possession or his intended points of disposal, he keeps possession and allows himself to be tackled, usually falling artfully with the ball and not getting a 'holding/incorrect disposal' decision against him, such is his mastery. In those few crucial seconds, the rest of the Dees are setting up or have already set up for the next play. This is a main value of the gut-runner, graduated and empowering team sacrifices. Just watch him, and when he does it. He occupies those seconds with a touch of class at all risks to his own well-being. Seldom does he not get away with it - and it is not negative play; it is highly positive - ie: for a purpose. If he gets to break whilst in possession, he goes for it should the downfield be set already; if not, withdraw defensively and repeat as required. Forcing a ball-up, his support structures (Viney, Clarrie, Petracca and Jackson) are then in place, enabling him to retreat for the next 'game interruption' of which I speak.

Times changed, surprisingly, around 1980. The usage of quotes-within-quotes became a common trend and to compensate, the single was used with the internally doubles used within. For example, John just confirmed that he is 'going to the footy but Jim let me know that "...he cannot get off work for the match..."', so we will both see the match and report back to Jim later.

Very, very good: that little bit about the Greek paratrooper.

Single quotation marks, not double.