Deemania since 56

The beauty of having footballer options, as you state, is that you can start at No. 1 and finish at number whatever. It is the order in which you rank the players that is important, in selection terms. For example, I would have Weideman number 8, TMac number 7, Melksham number 6, Jackson number 5 (utility in the main), Mitch Brown number 4, Majak Daw number 3, Fritta number 2 , Ben Brown number 1. You start somewhere else, it's your right, loges, not your cynicism cue. Then you pick the 'fillers' and 'smalls' to match the dynamics of your preferences and omissions. Just because we do not agree on these positions, it does not make your decisions or mine incorrect. The decisions are just different for varied reasons. Goodwin had a go with his team and at this point, I am not all that happy about the longitudinal, evidentiary outcomes.

Ode to Majak: He gets to them, he holds them, he can kick 'em, he can tap 'em, he can and does intercept 'em. The Weed ain't done none of that after four years of mind-bending patience, deficient in any sign of consistency and/or reliability. Majak is a massive presence and obstruction, another difficult match-up forward, backward and in a jostle when umpires throw up. Who's going to be the opposition's lucky bunny if the bank of footballing wisdom selects the Weed, not Majak?

Looking forward to your report, MaH. There was so much of interest in this 'practice match'.

hells bells - that was terrific of you to keep us informed all game - it would not have been an easy task. Thank you for your efforts.

He does and can impact games, surprisingly well. I'd have him on the bench as a spare tap ruck, as a backman, as a forward within range.

Deserves a run in the seniors, does Daw. Useful.

How sad, what bad luck.

Sounds like the Casey boys are coming home ....

Well, that's four mysteries now ... BB, Weed, Petty and VDB...

Great effort on your behalf, hells bells. Thank you for your efforts. Many of us are deeply concerned about this game and its performers.

Here's hoping that is the case - resting, running, limited risk.

Thanks for this footage. Great team of great Demon players - wish we had this team, now. Really good.

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.