Deemania since 56

Added values to his game from the North Melb days and these appear across the board, characterised by good signs of forward and ground pressure; interestingly, our midfield 'feeders' are starting to better position the ball for BBB so that he runs into to flight and can use his extraordinary reach to mark - clear of the opponents. He was merely 'stiff' to miss a couple of goals last night, otherwise his tally might have been absolutely frightening for the Doggies' players. Our midfielders seem to have learned how to deliver without always bombing it onto the forward's head. Now, let's have an impressive JSmith up there, as well, just as soon as Salem can return to the backline and the entourage of other GF backs get onto the field.

We certainly missed Salem's congested clearances and his well-timed , more thoughtful clearances and play-making. But the menagerie backline actually held up well - enough to confuse the Doggies, that is.

Not even warmed up for the season.

All seems fair, on reflection. However, I'd still like to see Smith play some minutes in our forward line, the closer to goal, the better.

It would be appropriate for us to learn the lessons of the Carlton praccy match in regard to those sensitivities of those who wilfully interfere with what is now 'protection' in the form of game-changing handwashing for their mistakes onfield - when all that the supporting and more general public want is a fair shake of the sauce bottle from the now annointed 'larvae'. Good substitute name, buck-n.

Went fishing for a schnapper report and used the wrong bait, that's all. :0)

Thanks, Mate. I overlooked that item. Still, I hold Yze in very high regard both as a player (former) and now as a coach/tactician.

Adem has a good deal on his mind - I forgive him; his performances over the 2021 season were brilliant - and I am expecting him to now have the 'tools' to do the job on the Doggies (including all other teams) with aplomb. Minor statistical errors occur but seldom de-rail a locomotive.

Rather than cancellation for King, he needs to wake up to himself - and abdicate!

We have to keep Sparrow - build his confidence and he will most likely be another round in the muzzle of invincibility for the Dees.

I'd reckon that the Dogs are going to be twice as 5hitfaced as they were at the end of the GF, as well.

Park bench No. 4, Treasury Gardens. Very comfortable, quiet, vacant and often allows for a view of the stars. Short walk to the tram stop in the morning. Ideal, as usual. :-)

It is dificult to believe; Gawn was more than off-balance at the time of the rapid descent to the ground. Watch his feet - both were in the air - when the 'swinging' element was applied by a nasty little fellow attempting to play David with Goliath. His centre of gravity was thus very high, not near his midriff and certainly not near his legs. The old adage, a 'low centre of gravity' , keeps one stable. A high CoG makes one totally unstable. A raised CoG unbalances and cannot be re-established when avoiding a 'leg tuck' to execute a somersault or part thereof that would lead to an injury most likely . As Gawn momentarily had no base of support with his feet off the ground - David did the 'nasty' on him, due to his already out-of-balance state. Gawn lifted both legs (feet) off the ground before the 'swing' was applied to avoid a twisted ankle (or two) - which may have restricted the rest of his onfield game time. The end product was seen for what it was: a deliberated - although quickly applied - sling so that he landed not on his feet but head first. Daniel (oops, David) will have a moment in the near future to re-visit that incident and may experience some reciprocal exploitation of his balance in such a process.

The more I see of Gawn - over time and into the future - the more that I consider him to be the ultimate Captain for the MFC and, having read his book and listened carefully to his intent and purpose across multiple interviews, broadcasts and journalistic efforts to 'reveal' something special or to raise doubts, the more I feel that Gawn is well-above the crowd, the best expectations and previous, futile efforts to knit this team as one. The players came together acting as one organism; Gawn sowed the seeds for this and clearly, received 200% co-operative contributions from all players to see this enacted.

You obviously have high regard for your mother-in-law, such a worthwhile gesture. I'll let you in on a secret, Dr G - I failed to have the same level of regard for my mother-in-law. She was a classic case, absolutely difficult at the best of times. She has now passed away but still the memories reside. To quote a very truthful joke from Rodney Dangerfield - from several years ago - an apt descriptive might well be: 'My mother-in-law is such a terrible cook and host that we say grace after the meal!'

Being big is important, sure. It means dollars and these mean options in a myriad of ways. Our membership is not the problem, despite being conservatively 'average' and well below the achievements (in terms of growth and population) of some other clubs. If we look between the lines, it is clearly evident that we are better off with whatever membership numbers we attract ... simply because of the class, calibre and superb citizenship of those people who could attach themselves to any club but instead, with such high-ranking character and discriminating sociological foundations, select and stick with the sophistication and refinement of the Melbourne Football Club over all others.

He's just winding up the spring that propels him; pressure is his mantra, goals are his delight. Receiving on the outside is where he can change a game.

Yep, the Sainters are due for some good luck, providence and greater success. However, it is difficult to imagine the Saints improving adequately in one season (almost) to play off - and win - a Grand Final. I feel strongly that the Dees will do it again in '22, possibly in a GF against Brisbane. The horizon for the coming season is broad, scattered, lean in terms of depths of talent in general amongst 'other' sides and stewing in an atmosphere of cloudless, untold sky. The Dees, in comparison, represent that great, tall and enduring mountain ash in that distance between the Premiership of '21 and that of the '22 season.

That is simply it: a dual role for small forwards is essential . A third role might be 'getting under the feet' of opposition backs as annoying little blowflies with the intent of destroying their (the opposition's) critical balance, just like Paul Callery used to do.

Very noble of you, Clinto. I'd hope that was the case - at the main thoroughfare. It does seem, to me, to be just a little knee-jerkish and amongst traditionalists, I'd reckon somewhere in the back of phootballing phanatics' minds, umpire abuse (as it were) is par for the course and an entertaining critique, at that; however, the 'new' rule does give the snot-goblins more opportunities to affect the outcomes of games. Let's hope such a 'power' improves games in the very near future, rather than stimulate cynicism, as it has done with me at this early stage. Carna Dees.

Do you reckon that the brown paper bag syndrome made its re-appearance last night? This is an extraordinary count of critical goal opportunities provided to Carlton at the micro-second drop of the hanky. The status of umpires has fallen, albeit affecting games and games outcomes for some years (perhaps reaching a boiling point); this new 'whistle-controlled modification of player intellectual discontent with rule applications' will serve no purpose other than to further confuse, irritate and degrade the players whilst simultaneously further plunging an umpiring fraternity into the very shallow depths of a wading pool wherein they have the immense bad fortune to drown - in increasing numbers - whilst standing on two feet.

Nailed it!

There is something very comforting about this, 'Faulty. It seems like a whole new 'history' in construction; it seems as though the impetus of the 2021 season is swelling and each piece of the jigsaw puzzle we touch fits perfectly into the whole, first time. Carna Dees!

No-one (going back to the Carlscum teams of the 90s) is playing footy anymore. Footy history is littered with episodic teams that surprised, suddenly, in a game or two to pull off a surprising dominance to win with - and displaying - unexpected 'no-form' characteristics. By golly, the Mighty Dees did that a few times, too, across decades (as we all know) but against the Carlscum froth and bubble this week, there just ain't going to be any problem; the Dees will anihilate them. We have spirit, we have composure, we have better players and teamwork, we have earned attitude that will last; we also have Yze to call the shots and mesmerise with stunning effect - no matter who we play against. I actually agree with you, JD; we have the 'greasers' covered.

Fairy Nuff.