Deemania since 56

It was great to watch W Dean, he was a very entertaining and stylish footballer after transfer to the Dees. His kicking was good but as mentioned, sprayed about, at times. He had a very good set of hands for a bloke without a great deal of muscle. There's still some great footage of him around - UTube, etc - back in the days when we were moving towards the repeat of '64. I often thought that Garry Lyon stylised his game on the influence and poise demonstrated by Dean; the similarities were clearly there - Lyon was the better footballer by far.

Speculative negatives, speculative positives across the DL board, this morning. It's getting difficult to pick a reliably worthy team from the advantage point of depth. As far a the Cats are concerned, we need mongrel - a team could be selected with this in mind.

Some of Jones' evasion from packs in possession of the ball have also been first rate and set up good plays.

Thanks heaps, KC, for this information. Hope we can get a report during & after the game.

Like your second point, in particular. Occupy Steward with Melksham as much as possible, enabling our other forwards to splash about in the happiness pool at various depths of competitive anihilation.

Sounds silly, doesn't it? Sadly, it's true. Umpires are the only negative of this game against Geelong this weekend.

Equal importance and from my perspective at this point, slightly more important as an interim informational pathway. That is not '...way off...', that is how the further information that I - as an inter-Stater - could best be evaluated as there is seldom Demon information over here, other than DL and a less than useful MFC/AFL site(s) coverage. There is an exception, PF's informative coverage of both training and other Club observations but it is not fair of us to expect PF to carry the full load for fans. The four points this weekend is not where this highway of success or failure ends. That stretch of bitumen extends for months and we will need another 14 victories to assure a spot in the finals this year. In anticipation of this success, Casey information this week - and possibly a succession of weeks to come - is critical to some of the thoughts that Demaon fans might entertain themselves.

Dees will be in front all game after the first goal (to Geelong from a free kick for nothing to Hawkins in front of goal). By the end of the 4th qtr, Dees will have amassed over 100 points again and Geelong will be humiliated with less than 40 points scored. 'Carna Dees!

Thanks pf. Keepin up-to-date ain't easy and so many get overlooked, a little. Looking fwd to your report on the Willy game with the Casey All-Stars(!) and their fwd line of perfection...

Getting at the contest is equally important so that the opponent can be '...shut down...' . This is where Jetta has lost a little at his career sunset. The actual nullifying process on an opponent is similar, each time, each opponent and thus, it can be expected that it is a widespread skill of most AFL-level footballers on a largely weight-for-weight basis rather than against an absolute giant. Hibberd can still be at the action with an opponent, is still lean and mean, is still mobile and defensive, is still able to run off an opponent creating space and metreage for the team, and his disposal is usually deep, penetrating and accurate, as well as reliable (on most occasions). Thus, Hibberd would be my preferred replacement for Jetta against the Cats. At the same time, I remain in awe of the quality and quantity of excellent work that Jetta has contributed to the MFC and will always hold him in the highest esteem for such consistent performances. To my eye, Jetta has been another Brett Bailey down back.

Now that is an excellent (the best so far) suggestion and the key to kicking intentionally straight. Great example, in Bennett, too; boy, could he kick straight from any distance, wind or no wind.

Loved this report, pf. Full of historical analogies, relevance and mind-stirring expectations of players and the will to be part of a great footy win. Nice profiling, too. Much appreciated...

Nope, Someone else can do that if they can add to it those thoughts that they may be ruminating upon. Good idea, though, OD.

It is (the forward line) potent on paper and most probably, onfield. This 'return from injury' list is vital to the MFC season - and great interest in the game itself exists because of that reinforcement to Casey - ultimately to the AFL side, as well. As members, supporters, fans and Demon-loyal advocates, it is essential that some form of game reporting (in full) takes place for this match between Casey and Williamstown. A club-organised broadcast on the MFC Web page would be ideal - and not too difficult to organise, either, if the Club had its supporters in mind. The information gleaned for the public from this VFL match has equal significance as the AFL match this weekend against Geelong. Make it happen, MFC, make it happen.

ANB has really improved; he has generally been useful and capable of the snap goals but now he has diversified his game and appears to be a freer player, still with that excellent aerobic capacity. He has a great sense of roving the pack and moving through so the Cats will be stretched to contain him with similar smalls. Attrition amongst the Cats is encouraging for our game and its outcome. Our smalls, in general, will have a field day I suspect and if the talls move to space, they will as well.

In a very low priority, somewhat '...on occasion...' The ratio of infringements to frees given to CO would be as low as 1: 10 - where only the most blatant, open-space misdemeanour was acknowledged, and late, as well. Just another episode inside a saga of 'allowable onfield abuse'.

Throw Melk into that mix, as well. Sheesh-sheesh!

That is an occurrence that must be addressed - so far in Clarrie's career this has been an unaccountable constant and an absolute 'blind-spot' for umpires; in each game the Dees play this anomoly arises, and must surely be addressed, and acknowledged satisfactorily, not just haphazardly. As for the excesses of holding, bashing from behind, etc that Gawn experiences, we must question if the umpires are fit for purpose.

Kinda exciting to think about and consider, at this point of their eventual return to the team, just how opposition sides are going to counter a forward set-up such as the one that is going to be in place in the very near future for the Dees. Unless there are executive decisions to mess up the functionality of the array - including its potential, multiple and layered strategies for a avalanche of goals - the near future is looking particularly bright across the whole field of play. There are others in the team other than the mentioned key players, bubbling along, who will provide considerable support and further options for aggressive scoring options and pathways. I sense that both Yze and Chocko will contribute significantly to this new deck of cards winning many tricks onfield and before goal. 'Carna Dees!

Would most probably work. ANB could do it all game. Sparrow could provide the mongrel and shadow.

The Catty Puts persist with the possession game because the majority of KP players are old men now, unable to run and carry and continue the process for the length of the ground for the length of the game, using two or three smalls to achieve their ball momentum and forward thrust - and conning the umpire when Selwood is tackled in possession.

Hibberd is needed as another clearance kicker with a little running physicality at the opposition. He can get up the ground towards the midfield, as well and pass with less pressure, on occasion. Jetta cannot and particularly cannot now. Sad but true. Sparrow was going OK and against GWS, was a fresh and mobile unit. He has bulk and some good athletic pace when targetting an opponent or closing in on the melees. He also has some good hands at pickups and handballs. I'd keep him in as a utility for the back half and maybe a 'run-with' role against the Catty Puts who utilise one or two smalls to penetrate into deep forward and/or feed FFwd/Hawkins. We can pull this one off, I'd reckon, with a good score and greater accuracy to score. With two keys down, and an ageing team capable of short bursts, only, we can outrun them again in straight lines through the midfield. Flankers beware: We must have outside readiness to join the goal pathway chain.

Continuing with his improvement and contributions. Played a valuable game across a full zone onfield.

Yes please, that would be nice and might resettle the amateurish umpire management of the AFL to ensure a level playing field. Several frees both on and off the ball were necessary, agreed; it almost makes up for the dozens of punches, pushes, behind-the-head haymakers and the occasional ground crunch with knees and full body weight on joints and legs that were endured in the name of a well-umpired footy match. The judiciary rests; it was supposed to do its job well; a higher authority needs to be put into action when we see failures such as those on Sunday.

Geelong are a 'holders', 'grabbers' and 'pushers' in all matches and sometimes, 'bashers'. Last night, the umpires 'allowed' the same constant, all-game violations of rules to be performed by GWS - particularly on Clarry and Gawn - without penalty, without adjudication, without one significant moment of acknowledgment. The effort to so neutralise these key Demons was so great that they injured themselves, eventually. We are going to be in that same camp against the Cats - with two of their key players, Dangerfield and Rowan, missing - it will be sanctioned by the umpires as 'OK under such circumstances' to bash the key Dees all game to assist ensure the AFL bankroll is maintained by winning the game against the MFC. Level playing field?