Deemania since 56

Yes, very well.

wry.

That is correct - long awaited.

Spargo was terrific tonight - all night.

Thanks for that, W_J, it was a memorable performance and the numbers meant something was being confirmed - albeit abstractly. It was a short career, he was a muscle-bound smaller bloke whose purple patch on that day remains = hazy but unforgettable. I am not sure where the 8 to 11 goals came from but it doesn't matter now, does it? Could have been points kick and if straight, goals that mey have been added to his daily tally. Your recall is a tremendous confirmation to me so thank you.

I recall Ray Carr at full forward (MFC) got a bag nearing 8 + but not sure if it was his debut. Can't even remember the decade but possibly 1970 - '85. Sorry about that; my memory fails, at times. If I said he kicked 11 goals, it makes me closer to the mark of comfort with recall, yet things are now grey. Interesting stat and a fantastic performance --- I was there, I know that, and it was a Home game at the 'G.

Most probably so ... if you were in the particular colours.

I'd reckon that 'those glimpses' would have educated JSmith in a variety of defensive strategies of an elite backline. Could this mean - in the days of the Weidemann redemption for all sins (and there have been a continuous series over several games, seasons and opportunities) - that the JSmith backline education system has better prepared him for a more permanent run in his role as a forward ball-getting, goal-kicking skills machine, replacing Weidemann for mere reliability alone? Maybe his time 'up-back' has been a deliberated final cut and polish for our forward line.

It was wonderful to wake up this morning to check the score: Brissy vs. Collingwood (The Filth). I attempted to watch the game but the umpiring again gave me the willies, so I retired bored and disinterested for a long sleep. What is interesting is at this point of the fixture, Brisbane (who in my mind were only moderately impressive) appear to be the major challenge for the Dees this season. It was good to evaluate the first half of the game, albeit interrupted by the snot goblins attempting to make the game '...genuinely evenly balanced and competitive...', and with an intended bias towards The Filth to facilitate this ...' in an attempt to keep the viewing public ' ... on the edge of their seats...' Had this not occurred, at least in the first half that I saw, Brizzy would have won the match by half time, showing more skills across the ground and in moving the ball quickly, and well, on most occasions. It is not time for the Dees to relax, however. It is time to enter into the rest of the season with confidence and a determination to commit manslaughter in each game from now on. A bright season awaits us, surely.

You betcha, Picket. You betcha. You and I seem to be the only posters who seem to appreciate his true attributes - and according to his father, he is more than a son-of-a-gun, as well. His pace, alone, would be an meaningful attribute up there.

The umpires failed to recognise the old amateur league 1, 2, 3, in other words.

I, too, support the concept of a F50 JSmith; in support of an ageing BBB and an 'unleapable' TMac if the case may be...

If hope had something to do with it all, as we have dedicated to Weid, a small shift to development and confidence of JVR in the best 22 over a short period of time might be something that turns the tables, up forward. It has been extended in a monotonous series of re-starts to several 'allegedly' developing players from whom we still await a reliable spurt of talent. Except for an earlier TMac, the signing of BBB and Jesse, it has just not materialised.

... after such a long apprenticeship, occupying contract time, effort, money; after being granted (when there were others) so much game time for limited performance in return; after renewed confidences in his form and potential contributions onfield; after incredible team support and widespread tolerance from the fans of the MFC. It is most disappointing that this will most probably be the end result. Still, like many others, one must donate more tolerance and patience to him, our support (as MFC members) and opportunity to develop more completely if he is to be what we all wish him to be as a key player in our team.

You are correct. The result is left resting with the umpires; their obvious preference(s) lie time and again with GWS.

I feel as if our games this year can be described as 'warming up the engine'; we are moving to operating temperatures across the ground and across responsibilities with a common focus. In a few weeks - perhaps, sooner - we are going to be hot, hot, hot and each line of our team is going to be rampantly unstoppable. At the present moment, opposition teams have the luxury of putting a tag on some of our elites. The is short-term, we are going to give them hell.

Mr 'Gus' Playmaker is one of our greatest assets, turning the tide for many of our opposition ' big noters' with calm, steady and readable innovation in the propulsion of the ball, to advantage. He signposts how to win the game, others read and adopt his message.

Both were close to terrific! Folks, they're both still improving, as well!

That performance was regretfully and expectedly going to happen. He must adapt to putting in (at least) - because of the excellence of his teammates delivery to him - several consecutive games of earnest desire for the ball demonstrated by the one and two percenters should an outright mark not eventuate, novel leading to space and general lead directions, improved short-game passing by hand and foot, anticipated teamwork options. At the moment, he seems to be playing for himself, not the team about him in the crunches. Importantly in these processes, he must realise that he has an obligation to all, is accountable for ground space(s) and physically, should not tolerate being bumped or jostled out of his best line in his best presentation for the ball.

Here in Adelaide, many of my acquantances are Port supporters (strange that!) What you say is true, DS; their GF aspirations were centred on playing the Dees (because they could beat the Dees allegedly). Then, in mere days, it became embarassing for them and so they (nearly) all jumped ship, becoming Dees supporters with a deep knowledge of Dees' players and respective strengths. Most of these turncoats had MFC flags prominently displayed in their front yards, the facade of the triple-fronted brick veneers, in trees and dangling from their motor cars. After the GF, I became a very popular footy fan and quite the footballing authority! Streaming from my Port friends and many strangers were a series of continuous pats on the back, congratulatory comments on the game and predictions of the short-term to medium-term invincibility of the Mighty Red 'n Blue.

I think there is something wrong with TMac at the moment, perhaps longer-term relative to recent games performances. TMac just ain't getting off the ground as he used to - he now tends to rely on reach, alone - and this leads him to have his hands somewhere lower in the pack than a few hopeful opposition players who negate him. As a known, elite runner, he is a little too static on the ground these days, as well. Still, he may come good - it's in his nature to compete and win the ball.

In that first qtr against Essendrug, we had golden moments to score goals, it should have been all over. Chocko has to go out and refresh a few 'free wheelers' on how to kick goals.

All is in the open, Comrade loges. 'Just don't get caught' is the whisper...particularly if you don't wish to work in the ice and snow on meagre rations.

Fritta usually does his best work leading out laterally or to a frontal space. We cannot allow him to become static so it's heads up for the leading Fritta, for mine.

Shhhhh! Tacticals are our secret, there are a few of these. Just be glad Yze is onboard.