Deemania since 56

Agree with all of your comments but the above is a matter for just that little bit of discussion. Gawn will be playing forward for more minutes in his gametime in weeks to come. His set shots have a fault, confirmed from close observation: he does not guide the ball to his foot (possibly because it is so far away from his brain) but instead, lets go of the ball in the process of laterally extending his arms, sideways. Dependence on the force of gravity rather than a 'guiding' single-handed and lower drop, the ball moves from too high 'as a drop', subject to the vagueries of gravitational roll forward and sideways. It would be lucky to hit his foot square on, and each time he sees the ball off-centre, he adjusts with his leg swing at the last microsecond. The ball splays in the direction of this leg movement on (and just after) the impact. He misses the goal by a bee's kcid. He does need a more 'hand-guided' delivery to the foot and a reduced 'whole' leg movement, relying instead and concentrating on the extension of the knee alone to 'steer' in line with the big sticks. Cute little Melksham 'leg swings' are not Gawny's forte. However, he got a few quite correctly in last night's game, so well done!

Agree, we cannot carry him awaiting another good game. Petty time, for mine.

It was a good win, P2J, but we should have creamed them. As for Greene, he was fortunate up forward as our backs were a little down, I thought. I think we got the shivers and hesitations from the bashings we were experiencing without umpire scrutiny and it needed their attention, not blindness. How Gawn and Oliver put up with it each week is astounding. The AFL does not do positive things when such are needed. LJ did continue to improve and he is becoming a good ruck, who lands on his feet, ready to move and shield. Nice to be 3-0. Gus is getting his game back - see ball/get ball/deliver ball - Viney was physically valuable in tonight's game and not too wasteful with his endeavours.

Jones' strength and experience will serve us well against GWS.

All good, but we must play with MONGREL.

K'noath.

More than likely, it will never happen to our great dismay. There are no clear signs that umpiring and free kicks to affect a game are under appropriate 'even playing field' management from the AFL.

Mr Gross Efficiency! Used the ball superbly. Not top five, but above the clouds.

It's predicted, also, that the goal-kicking yips are going to disappear this week. There is no reason for it other than good fortune and happenstance. Thus, the Dees will win this one by about ten goals and commit two of the opposition players to bed rest in hospital. Crystal balling it, I know, but wouldn't it be nice?

This element of our performances must be due for improvement, by now. We do have a new, specialist coach for this in Chocko and around half a dozen forwards in the class. Most of these (pupils) only miss goals, not the points, by a small margin so correction, with real practices, cannot be as mystifying as it looks. Once BB hits the team, value pressure is going to be widespread across the transgressors - almost above and beyond any other football credibility. When the corner, fast approaching, is reached, it may well prove to be stunning. Against the Saints, out-of-bounds and points totalled 31 appearances. Hell, that is a good deal of kicking for a score! Pity is was wasted, in reality. If only half of these were correctly on-track, imagine the victory margin we might have otherwise provided against a fair dinkum finals contender in the Saints.

Dunno about some of this assessment as it is still very early days onfield for Jackson. He does get 'defended' effectively by opposition backmen, and jolted out of the way. I do feel he is a good ruckman, however, at open-space tapping opportunities; further, with the return of Weed and Brown (x 2, perhaps) I'd think that their presence would be totally complementary to Jackson's run, carry, interceptions and focussed opposition attention that may reek havoc in the forward line in which his potency as a forward will considerably increase. His feeds in close and follow-ups are already notable and efficient. We are: potent in the backline and on the return of KPFs, we are going to be absolutely ripper in the forward line as well - and have one of the best midfields in the competition that already severely worry most teams. Exciting ...

Good footy, finally. Heart-warming when executed by the Red'nBlue!

Not enough mixture in 'selected' flanks from deep defence. It is predictable, as you suggest. It also creates an amount of congestion about Gawn. The latter leads to many turnovers from which, once again, we must recover so often. Burning calories for no benefit. I have been thinking about this for two years now. If Salem is to play backman and upon the return of Hibberd as a backman, their flank kicking could be a big improvement on Gawn (location)/ midfield kicking entries, particularly with their noted accuracy with clearance kicks. These also crowd the midfield and often we have another turnover due to the predictability of intent. From fullback and HBFlank, the kicking could be alternated to the opposite side of Gawn, avoiding most of the congestion, the propensity for a turnover and selective Demon flooding (from coaching) to receive, continue or initiate an attacking series of moves; thus, opening a corridor down the 'outer flank' that leads to some 60 metres of space for the HForwards and deep forwards to move into. Again, the bloke who I believe is ideal for this co-ordination is Tomlinson who makes space, runs both ways, takes a few difficult marks against opponents and has eyes-up for downfield teammates, gaps, taps, kicks and handballs. We have his backline role in abeyance through Petty; we currently do not have Tomlinson's spread and skills as a free-wheeling winger.

Reduce patting the ball, increase directed hitting the ball to pre-advised teammates and 'spots' - particularly when rucking in the middle of the playing field. All it would take was a wink or two...

It is just a personal opinion, established after watching T'son working on the wing for a while, now. It is a big corridor to goal for forwards to lead into as a trident of opportunity.

TMac is a great runner, sure, but not a fast or agile paceman as required on a wing. Prefer Tomlinson on the 'outer' side who is demonstrating a few more attributes than most, using space to complement speed = ball delivery

...and Schwarta's sons, too ...

Good footballer, marking, running, kicking, reading the play, anticipating ....

It was most opportune for him to exhibit the goods, TC. It really made a backline difference.

Sadly, true. The AFL has lost control of the rules it implements. This is no level playing ground, just an avenue for cash.

I remember, Dieter, that you played for Ewing Memorial at Central Park. That's why I answered your post. I spent hours there as it was close to home, practising my drop kicks and stab passes, and running with the Harriers at least four times per week, and taking in the glasshouse and fountain on my bike. We - at the tennis club I played for - used to love beating Ewing in our seasonal competition tournaments but I played cricketand footy for Chaddy with my mates, not at Central Park despite it being so close to home down Burke Road. As an adult, I took my young kids to Hedgely Dene gardens for picnics nearby, catching yabbies with them, feeding the ducks, etc. Great days are made of these..........they all grew up being Demons supporters and fanatics, at that!

Who played well for Casey up forward? Can we get these guys into the Seniors?

Have confidence in our mids because even the very top sides would love to have them: Oliver, Brayshaw, Petracca and Viney. Throw in some of our 'runners' new to the MFC and you have a combination to steamroll everyone.

Yes, he was a Phys Ed teacher (and obviously moved to a less phyisical and demanding role in teaching - the Humanities - later in life. This is an example of his flexibility and talent. I recall him entering the Swan Hill Tech staff room prior to appointment for the next year (I was on staff at that time prior to a requested transfer closer to the Melbourne zone). Whilst at Swan Hill, I think that Big Carl coached a local team very competitively in the Murray Valley League ( Woorinen FC, I think it was from memory), keeping his boot studs muddied by the attractions of Aussie Rules. As you know, Dieter, the Malvern area was my old hunting ground and home; it was quite amazing how many footy identities appeared in stores and retreated into the carparks in the Glenny Road shopping precinct, as well. Thanks for the memories.....

Stronger teams can 'read' our game - easily - and thus, such game plans must be terribly transparent to do those things that offset us from winning more matches. Our coaching must by now know how we are beaten or out-manoeuvred. I see much benefit from the ascent of Yze and Chocko in that coaching mix, plus their advice. Lewis the Jordan could see it in his first year but he, too, it appears, was not listened to by the coaching leadership. Time for the complete change is now - lest we fully stagnate within the space of a smallish and unrefreshed mindset.