Demons3031

I like your thinking Adonski - even in short bursts to make it difficult for the Opposition to plan and match up. Salem and Rivers all have something to offer in the middle and as I said we need to be planning for later in the year to have options- either because of injuries or just the flexibility to switch plans during a game. Other teams will be spending a lot of time planning for us second time around. ( e.g Richmond). Like others, I don't wish to tamper too much with a winning formula but I feel that longer term planning is also important and feasible.

I may be having another senior "moment"- but do others see the potential for Jackson during some game time to play as our centre (even whilst Gawn is rucking) with maybe Viney and Oliver alternating time on the wing (opposite to Langdon). I like his distribution skills in getting the ball and feeding it out to others and might be a hard match up for some opponents with his height as well. It might also free up Viney from being crash tackled so much and take some pressure off Oliver being bashed and tagged so often. Just a thought to vary things as an option. I wouldn't mind it being experimented with anyway. Someone on here said last week we do need to have Plan B , Plan C and I would add Plan D as other teams start to work us out - so varying things and changing things up might at least offer us options and build flexibility in the players. I'm open to others thoughts on this. It might also be an option if the 3 talls in the Fwd line is working-Weeds, BB and Tommy Mac. It gives extra height around the ground without complicating the forward structure.

I might be a little left field here but I would bring in Jetta to back pocket, Hibberd to HBF and Salem into Petraccas spot in the middle or forward--basically let Salem take the role Petracca has and still cover the defence with experience.

To me, the biggest player loss would be Langdon. He is a key to making the backlines efforts to get the ball out effective and to create a bit of Opposition panic in getting the ball into our forward zone. I don't know how we would replace him effectively if he were to be injured. I believe there would be a significant drop off in defence effectiveness and forward delivery.

FWIW, I feel all the good defensive work is effective because of a most important link in the chain - Langdon. His hard running to help out in defence or to create space and options on the wing is critical and is what translates the great defence into something. If he were out of the side I would worry that we would be getting out of trouble less often and the ball could easily be rebounding back putting immense pressure on our backs who have worked so hard to clear it. Can you imagine any replacement doing what he does. He means so much to this team.

1. T MacDonald 2. Langdon 3 Oliver 4. May 5. Harmes 6 Spargo

I like your line up Dee Spencer. I think I would be happy with Petty down back and Tommy in the forward pocket and occasionally switching with Jackson at CHF or on the HFF. I would like to see Rivers Sparrow and Chandler getting lots of game time.

As today's game has shown, every game from now on could be either seen as a danger game or one where we will not be favourites to win. There has been some talk on the forums about the need to be managing players. Always hard when you need your best team out on the oval. But whether its physical or mental tiredness, players carrying niggling injuries and others bursting to get into the team , it is something that needs looking at. Its a mix of strategic and weekly operational planning and needs thoughtful decision making. Chandler, Sparrow and Bedford are three busting for game time and of course Petty now that Tomlinson is injured. Whilst I know this might not be popular., our defence stocks are getting thin-maybe time to be giving Majak Daw some game time in the firsts even if it is off the bench. This might be of benefit instead of expecting or asking him to perform straight up if we do get another major injury down back and are forced to bring him in.. It might prepare him better with our game plan and getting used to the style and speed of the game again in the big league. Thats my two cents worth. (used to be my pennies worth until decimal currency came along). I know some will disagree with this last point but thats OK.

I think ur right there Demonstone. I keep going back to fixtures to see the year I saw him and am still not sure. I only know it was at Junction oval as I was given a free seasons ticket for the day by our school and sat right behind the goals. The S aints were so good in that game. :)

I saw Carl in his 3rd or 4th match totally dominate the Dees at Junction oval..with Stewart and Baldock on fire and Bob Murray kicking goals at full forward, they beat us easily...though we did go on to win the flag later that year!

Try this Sisso . Makes interesting watching. †here are other Majak daw highlights on youtube too..

Well said Hemingway. I liked Alan Rowarth..Could play half forward flank and kick goals and the swing to full forward and do likewise. I guess he really filled in after Athol Webb retired. Norm Smith seemed to use him abit like he did wth Barry Bourke a few years later-a small decoy full forward but one who could still kick goals. Thoose were the days of black shorts for home games at the G and I remember Alan coming out one day in shorts that must have been bleached as they had lost their black colour and turned grey. Dad got Denis Jones' signature for me on his photo which also said "Keep your eyes on the ball Tim " All of the players you mentioned hold memories for me. The versatile John Lord who was such a strong mark.and Clyde Laidlaw-great CHF.

Ha Ha..Fenton Smith just got censored again. Maybe if we called him Doc or Duck instead of [censored] it might get through?

LOL I remember [censored] Fenton Smith. I wouldn't have censored him! :)

Hi P2J Yes-legends for sure. I was born in 1950 and sop lucky that Dad used to take me to matches at the MCG to see these guys-they have given me so many memories to carry through the years. I would love to meet some of them before we all pass on. :)

Thanks The Stigga-you got me keen to go back and look at the selected sides and stats-gee 1959 and 1960 teams were so good. I can't pick between them. Was also amazed when I saw the emergencies for 1959 - players who didn't make the team-what a line up:- Athol Webb Trevor Johnson and Neil,Crompton :) Team B: John Beckwith (c), Tassie Johnson, John Lord HB: Geoff Case, Dennis Jones, Ian Thorogood C: Ian McLean, Laurie Mithen, Brian Dixon HF: Geoff Tunbridge, Clyde Laidlaw, Hassa Mann F: Ron Barassi, Alan Rowarth, Ian Ridley R: Bob Johnson, [censored] Fenton-Smith, Frank Adams S: Don Williams, Peter Brenchley Emg: Trevor Johnson, Neil Crompton, Athol Webb Coach: Norm Smith Scoring Barassi 4.3, R. Johnson 3.1, Tunbridge 1.2, Rowarth 4.1, Adams 3.1, Ridley 1.0, Mann 1.2, Rushed 0.3 1960 Melbourne B:John Beckwith Tassie JohnsonTrevor Johnson HB:Geoff CaseJohn Lord b1937Ian Thorogood C:Brian DixonLaurie Mithen Bryan Kenneally HF:Geoff TunbridgeClyde Laidlaw Hassa Mann F:Bob B JohnsonAlan Rowarth Frank Adams Foll:Len Mann Ron Barassi Jnr Ian Ridley Reserve(s):Brian Leahy Ray Nilsson Coach:Norm Smith

As a boy we struggled a bit financially-for many years I kicked a plastic footy when my mates with their real "footies:"were not around. I didn't have a footy jumper so I wrote to the great man asking him for one of his. I posted it addressed to Ron via the club -in a scenario akin to sending a Christmas wish to Santa at the North Pole! I received a lovely photo with his signature saying:- "Sorry no jumper Tim - I hope this will help." This has become more poignant now as I received this a week before his big move to Carlton was announced. He must have had a million things on his mind at the time. But thats Barass-he knew how important things like this were to young kids. A great man Ron-always an inspiration to me. :)

The guy deserves his dignity. Rather a tasteless comment

Thanks Cuz :)

There have been occasions when I have missed Maurie and his Number 3 clunking a mark or giving a bit of don't argue out! :)

One thing I liked in those video clips apart from the marking, goal kicking ability was the tackling-he is prepared to chase and effectively tackle and negate Opposition forward thrusts.

Spot on John D. I think I saw your post last year and you beat me to it. I

Excellent post QBD.

I've thought long and hard before deciding to post on this and thinking through the various views. I almost posted late last year suggesting we could look at Majak Daw when we made the move on Preuss and Majak was delisted.last year I understand where people are coming from on this but in my view is that being delisted from a club is not an automatic stamping a players papers that that should not ever play AFL again. Clubs delist groups of players both collectively when refreshing and rebuilding lists and individually depending on circumstances including form, team balance ,injury potential etc.-each year and each case has its own individual characteristics and variables. North made its list clean out last year for its own reasons. I'm not sure being delisted is a statement on whether a player has a future in AFL or not. They may well still have a place in another club where they are just what the club needs. Others will disagree but I feel more comfortable having him on the list than not. With the injuries we already have in the talls department, we are only a match incident away from major deficiencies in our team... and we are relying on Petty, Joel Smith and others to be injury free and contributing-this is not guaranteed. Petty has been out for a long time-though I think he has massive potential to lift us if fit and on the park. Whatever you believe about our coaching situation in the past, I feel we are much better placed in that area this year-especially in game plans and getting the best out of our list. Majak has shown he has ability to be a really good contributor-those video clips show that. Its more the consistency and other factors like injury that might be challenges. But if he is happier at Melbourne than at North last year, who knows what could happen. We do need strong types to take on the hulk and bulk of clubs like West Coast, Geelong and Richmond. Thats my pennies worth-(but am happy to go decimal if need be and make it two cents worth. :)

Wondering if you kept those boots Bush Demon? I was thinking the other day of how many things I have thrown out over the years that would be treasures today....including my Melbourne guernsey with 31 on the back. From memory, did those boots have Rons signature in silver on the ankle bone part of the boot?