old55

Is it any surprise that biffo eventuated? Occam's Razor says one cause: Kevin Sheedy. He was head thug in the dirtiest environment in my lifetime at Richmond in the late 60s early 70s. They even turned mild mannered Neil Balme into a temporary thug - that's how bad it was. Then onto Essendon where for many years they had an equally offensive opponent in crime in Hawthorn led by Leigh Matthews. The 1990 GF quarter time brawl where TD went berserk was the biggest in recent history. And then there's Long/Simmonds and Hardwick-Wallis/Green from the 2000 GF. The only exception to the rule was the "Baby Bombers" in 1993. That in between he has put together some "marshmallow" outfits that couldn't deliver on the program is no get out clause. Now the IR last year with Chris Johnson going crazy and then this year. Sheedy can't have it both ways - either he habitually instructs his players to go the bash or he has so little control over his players that he is not fit to be coach. Ash - right of reply of course!

I think those beautiful kickers of yesteryear stood out because there were so many shocking kickers. Agreed the drop kick and stab pass offer nothing over the drop punt except uncertainty. Players need to concentrate effort on the drop punt off both sides. It's a disgrace if they are not proficient on their non-preferred. I agree that the "banana" is an important skill for goal kickers and it's they need to be able to kick it off both sides - set shots from the boundary are common enough. I think the torp is a third skill worth thinking about putting some time into. There is the rare occurrence of the after the siren shot from 60m when it could be useful. But really how often does it happen?

I think Shmekel's girlfriend is a microscopist.

If they're not all in it'll only be because they are injured. Definite best 22 now. Miller is battling for a position with Holland, not Dunn.

Percy Beames has to be in the list - BOG in each of the 39, 40 and 41 GFs, and was first player to play 200+ games for MFC. To put it in perspective imagine if Brock McLean wins 3 Norm Smith Medals in consecutive flag years ... Allan LaFontaine and Jimmy Stynes both won 4 B&Fs.

That's very true and on show in the reel. A couple of times he works space on the boundary line where there just was none. I think he hypnotised the opposition. Robert Harvey is another that has had a similar ability. Another great player he could be favourably compared with is Peter Daicos.

Thanks to Ash30 and Mark, the DVD is fantastic. For all his great attributes one thing that stood out is that Flower was amazingly strong overhead and retained this ability right through his career. When Steven Febey started he was a strong mark (nothing like Robbie) but from about 3-4 years into his career he never took any overhead marks at all. The other thing is that it is hard to tell on the tape which is Robbie's preferred foot - outstanding on both sides.

hi mark, Thx for doing the DVD. where's your shop?

I often agree with you bjgc but not this time ... I think Bucks is a superstar and the fact that he plays in B&W causes other teams supporters to downgrade him. If he played for MFC there would be unrivalled adoration on the pages about his virtues. He is right up there with Voss and Hird IMO. If we could get any one player to MFC it would be J.Brown for me with Tredrea the other possible challenger mainly because he has had less injuries. Judd is a super player but I am old-fashioned and value a great CHF ahead of all other players. Leppitsch was a very good player now crippled by injury. Triple premiership CHB, they don't grow on trees.

I didn't get the impression that they were "coming back" Freak. AT the MIN the message from ND was they were still lingering and had to be managed, I more got the impression that they never completely went away.

Add old55 please Mark!