Deemania since 56

Vanders adds something special ... thud.

Kozzie is becoming predictable to the opposition - still highly skilled, an electric surprise machine, potentially lethal - but could watch the next match to take onboard those 'team footy' fundamentals.

A key and vital consideration to the ascending staircase of goals that we need.

Interesting - who can disrupt the trip-wire of innovation, good effect onfield and classy foot skills - particularly for our forwards.

A little time at Casey, to re-hone skills and applications. Nothing more ...

Right now, Kozzy and Spargo would benefit with a rest to watch how Jones' techniques work so well for so long. He may not have that pace these days but he plays hard, has unique evasion and is now kicking at targets, not bombing or holding up play for awarded frees.

Kozzy needs a rest for a week, whilst Spargo contributes, he needs a rest as well. I am thinking Jones and Bowie as feeders to the forwards. Probably not a popular choice but worth a try if our forwards respond to what those two can do in range.

Jordan is doing ripper week to week, and that form is improving, week to week. Got a lively asset, there!

6. May 5. Lever 4. Langdon 4. Gus 5. Trac 6. Oliver

BB is the next shift for us. Fritta struggled, again, in a lead role. Without BB, he is stifled by a decent defender each week. TMac has a role already and is achieving most of the things we need of him but Fritta, he is not having the clear run that he deserves. BB will assist in that regard, drawing the better defenders, enabling the Fritt to roam about for marks and subsequent shots. Petty could be a part-time solution up forward, as well - and he can kick 'em.

For decades, the Bombers treated us with contempt on the field, carving gaps and scoring opportunities through our often-makeshift defences and rather poor team skills. There were, of course, exceptions to this trend but these were short-lived and across a timeframe, very difficult to repeat. The Dees became the lambs of the competition as far as the Dons were concerned. Essendon played with mongrel by the bucket load. Tonight is our night to return the compliment - we are the new mongrel team ready to pounce.

All the makings of an intense Demon euphoria!

Agreed. Would still like to see him rotate forward on occasion. Balance in application, largely.

Dees by 25 points. Clarry and Tracca dominate. Petty surprises, once again.

Lest We Forget - AvB is our best 'unfortunate accident' son.

Difficult question to answer, fully, Smokey. Perhaps in some aspects of the MFC and onfield outcomes, a balance scale may tip slightly that way; perhaps, we are still in a position of improvement and one hopes like hell it is continuous - so the balance scale reading improves our spirits far above where it peaked in all of those years of minimal success. As for the Weid, we can be a little apologetic about his performances as if we accept that he is still the best option we have at the moment. If that is the case, this is not going to be a Premiership season for the Dees. We are prepared to wait for a Premiership whilst we wait for Sam to improve.

This thread is also getting very apologetic. Are we heading for another longer-term stint at failure being tolerable?

Wonderful reply.

Ripper attitude, held by many of us - let's hope our theme of the week is 'mongrel' and we anhilate across four quarters.

I pulled up at the lights in Swanston St / Flinders St corner one day, back in the old days when that was the way to cross from one end of the city to StKilda Rd. Blow me down, the car in the right lane parallel to mine was driven by Jack Dyer, happily munching on a meat pie and simultaneously eating a doughnut and also, combing his hair. He was obviously a man with much on his mind and perhaps, that is one of the reasons why he messed up a few lines. The funniest thing was that amid this hyperactivity, he also had time to glance left, see me watching him and then, offer a couple of waves in a friendly salutation. The lights changed, we moved forward and my last image of him was sloshing down a soft drink as he drove across Princes Bridge. Obviously on his way to Channel 7 in Dorcas St.

'Oh, if ya don't mind, Lou!' (When Lou Richards was telling the TV audience about how to warm fish balls in the cooking segment). I think the best ever was from Tim Lane (ABC) when he was describing on air (in Tassy) a particular long torpedo bomb from one of the players: 'He launches an up country punt kick' - that he apologised for, coz he got it all wrong!

Sounds like BB was working on a whisper in his ear for the game against Essendrug. Daw is getting interesting, matching it with Maxi and taking a few. Declase (?) could be a smokey for us with a few weeks of tougher stuff under his belt.

Not sure how meaningful such a small game actually was, but there are some really interesting observations provided to think about and consider. Thanks, 'Rigid.

Convincing and thought provoking - I like the idea of '...building fitness and form...' within the team. He's smart - it comes out in his best games so far - it also is a sign of adaptability and with his footballing experience, such adaptation to the 'new' Dees cannot take long. We just need him fit and in position to turn the tap on, not at a dribble, either.