Lou C. Fur

Indeed.

OK, you are neither negative nor pessimistic. But IMO your POST is both. (especially the notion of filth envy...come on BB you're better than that!) I do agree however that if 70k+ membership is to be achieved, real success is required - MFC needs to win a premiership(s). Identity is subjective. Melbourne's is fine with me and better than it has been for ages. I'm proud to be a loyal, faithful, patient and passionate supporter of the oldest and greatest professional football club in the world. One who is once again verging on ultimate success.

Preuss's inclusion was indeed a long time coming - agreed. Finally it happened and it reduced Max's load and balanced the rucking demands. I agree that having Preuss forward has the advantage of forcing an opposition defender deep and allows TMac, Weid and Trac crucially a little more freedom. Reminds me of the Stynes-Strawbs combination of yesteryear. An old winning formula that opposition sides did and will find difficult to counter. I hope Pruess passes his fitness test for Saturday - I am so looking forward to seeing him out on the ground with Max and the team again.

...chips, lollies, chocolates and potato chips...

Salem heir apparent to Lewis...who else?

Fix.

Bit hard on the players! My observation is they are giving 100%

Ye, who have little faith...

Not my definition of a winner...

Also agree

We should fear no one. Agreed.

There's still time. Get them onboard!

Really? I think you need a hug. I'm guessing PD, that like me, you were born after Melbourne won its last premiership in 1964 and you have never seen Melbourne win a Grand final... Be that as it may... 2019 has been a rocky road to walk so far and I have walked it with you. Countless other devoted, dedicated, passionate and patient Melbourne supporters have done the same and after two successive embarrasing losses, we are bleeding red and blue right now. Given all of that, I still cannot help but remain optimistic. Melbourne's consistent positive development over the last 5 years has given me additional reason why. Seeing Melbourne last year knock off West Coast in Perth to make the finals (IMO one of our greatest victories ever) and then seeing Melbourne exact retribution on both Geelong AND Hawthorn IN THE FINALS cemented my enthusiasm and optimism. OK. The losses to Port and Geelong in the last fortnight have put a dint in the beginning of Melbourne's 2019 season. Nonetheless, I can't wait for Friday night to witness Melbourne putting the sword to Essendon, to put our feet on their throat, to grind them into the ground, to put the trident through their cheating heart and stamp ourselves as genuine contenders in the AFL once again.

I like it. It worked in the past with Strawbs and Jimmy, why not now with Preuss and Max?

Thanks WB.

I agree that there is depth to tap but there will be an agonising wait for most of those to which you refer before they convalesce. See below (weeks till player's estimated return from injury in brackets): BACKS: Lever (10), Lewis (4), Tim Smith (1), Joel Smith (5) FORWARDS/MIDS: vandenBerg (4), Garlett (2), Kennedy-Harris (12), Hannan (10). Who are the inside 50 capitalist forwards you mention? Are they currently playing at Casey?

Creation of turnovers. A skill that must be developed, procured regularly and upon each occasion should be fully capitalised.

On Saturday, Melbourne's forward line was congested and Geelong's forward line was open. The preparation and set-up of this by both teams was vastly different.

IS INSIDE 50 DOMINANCE A STRATEGY TO EXPLOIT? In 2013, on 13 July, Geelong beat Melbourne in the inside 50 count by (70-19)1. Geelong also easily won the game. This hurt and embarrassed Melbourne. But Melbourne learnt a lot from this. Fast forward to 7 September 2018, Elimination Final, Melbourne v Geelong. Melbourne dominated with a +17 inside 50 count2. Melbourne famously won the game. This famous victory of Melbourne over Geelong in the 2018 Elimination Final inflicted hurt and embarrassment on Geelong. Good. GO DEES! But Geelong also took some learning from this... Yesterday (Saturday 30 March 2019) at Kardinia Park, Melbourne again smashed Geelong in the inside 50 count by (72-48), but this time, Melbourne staggeringly, lost the game by 80 points. The Melbourne Football Club is again hurting and the learning necessarily continues. These are not isolated incidents and Melbourne has lost other recent games after regularly dominating the inside 50 count. These losses whilst dominating the inside 50 count need examination. Melbourne’s conundrum of yesterday is not isolated: Gold Coast also smashed West Coast yesterday in the inside 50 count (62-46) but Gold Coast lost the game by 52 points. How can AFL football sides be so dominant in the inside 50 count and still lose? Simon Goodwin touched on this regarding what the MFC needs to do to address this in his press conference yesterday after the game: We had 72 entries which is a lot, and we need to connect better forward of centre. We need to win more contests ahead of the ball. We need need to move the ball better in a way that's going to connect better to maximise those entries. These are astute observations, as usual, from Goodwin. However, Jude Bolton focussed the attention on how Geelong used Melbourne’s inside 50 dominance to their advantage: The ability of the Cats midfielders to spread and get on the outside and really start to pick away this Demon’s outfit particularly off the half backline - I thought they were able to stymie any offence moving forward and then just cut them on the way back3 Leigh Matthews was even more specific: If the ball is locked in the 50 metre line for a while you might get a crumb and goal. But basically its hard to set up goals actually if the defence is set. So basically the best way to score is to allow the opposition to go into the backline, do this, mark it and run it out of defence whilst the opposition is out of position.4 Matthew’s comments in this particular case align with some of my ideas. Anyway, I was there at Kardinia Park yesterday. I saw it all with my many vocal and supportive fellow Melbourne supporters under the rain on seats adjacent to the half forward flank. The game was a spectacle of Melbourne’s 72 (or was it 73) forward 50 entries mostly repelled by a Geelong defence well prepared to do so. Geelong then took full advantage of an open football field and their players were regularly well organised and able to receive so many uncontested possessions on the way to link possessions on the way to far too many easy goals. This was extremely frustrating to witness. A rare highlight was the unforgettable moment of 1st gamer Jay Lockhart and his brilliant 1st AFL goal (You Byooty!) in the 1st quarter which put us in front and raised us to our feet, elicited a grand collective yell of celebration and engendered a real sense of belief. Long may Lockhart prosper with the MFC! I also feel it necessary to say that you cannot doubt the collective Melbourne players effort yesterday. They were as usual voraciously fierce at the contest and delivered the ball to the forward line on an excitingly regular occasion. I think the reason goals were not scored once the ball was in the forward 50 line was less a matter of effort and more a matter of strategy. Sun Tzu (in “The Art of War”) said: Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.5 Geelong may or may not have used this Tzu strategy, but they certainly prepared a defence accepting Melbourne’s forward 50 strength, and allowed Melbourne to deliver the ball into their defensive 50 knowing that defending that area was Melbourne’s strength and carefully prepared for multiple counter attacks in open spaces once Melbourne made mistakes. Will Tzu provide the MFC strategists with some new and helpful ideas? It’s only round 2, but maybe these ideas will help the Melbourne Football club to continue its climb and improve again this year as it has done for the last 5 years. GO DEES! References: 1. http://sit.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2013/07/13/369199_gfc.html 2. http://www.espn.com.au/afl/story/_/id/24601335/afl-melbourne-demons-vs-geelong-cats-there-no-finals-demons-melbourne 3. “Game Day” broadcast on HSV7 television, Sunday 31 March 4. “Game Day” broadcast on HSV7 television, Sunday 31 March 5. Sun Tzu, c. 512 BC “The Art of War”

It's time...for 3

Thanks for your collective suggestions on Geelong Pubs in which to celebrate a Demon victory. Much appreciated. So far we have: IN GEELONG: Gold Diggers Newtown, The Cremorne Newtown, The Valley inn South Geelong and The Barwon. IN OCEAN GROVE: Collendina Hotel or Barwon Heads Hotel. Any further input to help confirm a decision?

All the best to KK for his first game and beyond in red and blue!

I'm going again this Saturday. I've had 2 unsuccessful visits so far. I saw Roos's last game as coach and the game after that at the kitty litter. Haven't gone since then. However, I'm feeling bullish and confident that this will be 3rd time lucky. With that in mind I ask: which pub or venue after a long awaited glorious Melbourne victory at the kitty litter is the venue of choice? I await your collective advice in anticipation of a glorious celebration...

home now but keen next week...after revenge at Kardinia Park...