Whispering_Jack

We're definitely missing the ability of Tom Scully and Jordie McKenzie in the middle.

Gee ... those Swans look anaemic, don't they?

Jimmy and his family are fighting a long and constant battle and it's full credit to them that they have been able to focus not only on his recovery but also on doing good things for others during this time. I'm not claiming any credit for any of this but, on my travels, I've just visited the ancient city of Jerusalem and the Western Wall of what's left of the Temple that stood there 2,000 years ago. The tradition is that you're supposed to leave a note in the cracks of the wall with your wishes to god (assuming he or she exists) and I left two notes. The first was a follow up to a request I made in 2000 which was partially accepted when the Demons made the grand final. This time I asked for "one better please". The other note was for Jimmy and all of those in need of healing including the world itself. I know that both requests are pretty hard asks but hopefully, this news is an indication that, in spite of all of the natural and the man-made catastrophes we're seeing, something's working up there.

Half Time - Melbourne 8.1.49 to Hawthorn 5.5.35. Goals Melbourne Maric 3 Green Jamar Jurrah Moloney Scully Hawthorn Birchall Bruce Guerra Roughead Whitecross Less scoring shots but we're in front. Next quarter vital if we're to win.

At least Crown Casino are learning. If only they would have kicked him out two years ago when he was blind drunk and causing pandemonium at the casino, he might have still been with Carlton where he really belongs.

It doesn't exactly enthuse me either especially since the Scorps' skipper missed last season after sustaining a shocking head injury allegedy from a drunken hoon but, in the end, it's Casey's decision to make and if the club believes it can rehabilitate the local boy then so be it. We didn't quite help their cause in 2009 when only 3 MFC players (2 rookies and 1 senior who was subsequently delisted and reinstated as a rookie) were available for the finals or in 2010 when we had 7 or 8 against almost double that in the Northern Bullants team in the semi final. A win in that game would have gained Casey a place in the prestigious second tier national competition that starts later this month. We hardly have a right to veto this decision despite the enormous input we put into Casey in terms of money, players and expertise. As much as we might not like having Fev at Casey, if the decision has been made we have to respect it.

It's hard to keep news like this quiet, isn't it? Well it's true, we've had a high powered meeting here and the Fev is now officially writing for DEMONLAND. We've even bought him a set of crayons to enable him to better perform his duties!

Well done Pinkster and I can't describe my disappointment at the outcome today. From what I've read about the game, our structures were aweful with the forwards outnumbered when we got the ball there and played a pretty poor style of game with too many wasted kicks including a few shockers that cost goals. I'm overseas and woke in the middle of the night to catch the half time score. Things were pretty ordinary at that stage so I went back to sleep and by the time I woke up again, two or three dictators from the region I'm visiting had been deposed and we lost to Brisbane by 29 points. I have no idea what the football department has been doing since that first night in Adelaide when we went direct down the corridor and looked for and found targets in front of goals. The past two games have seen some sloppy ball movement, players being ignored when they're in good position to move the ball to the team's advantage and those costly defensive errors. I also wonder why the AFL has drawn Melbourne to play Hawthorn in Tasmania next week when we play them in round 2. I'd say almost certainly that Bailey will refuse to show his hand next week. We should rest at least half a dozen players and no doubt will play a few out of position. The result will again be meaningless although I hope that there will be a marked improvement in how the players tackle the game. I've heard some good reports on Dan Nicholson's game today. Any thoughts?

Tuning in from the other side of the planet where it's the middle of the night and I've just woken up to the half time score. Disappointing to read that we're still committing the same sins that we did last week but it looks as if we don't really have the A team out there and, as my taxi driver reminded me earlier tonight, it's only a practice match (he couldn't speak English but at least I think that's what he was saying). Anyway, I wouldn't get my knickers in a knot folks. The same driver told me the Cats and the Saints both copped floggings and I'll be back to direct the team's fortunes for Round 1. Meanwhile, I'm looking over the Mediterranean and wondering if the mad colonel has been kicked out by his people yet. Time to go back to sleep.

I don't know what's happened to Demon fans lately. Collingwood is and was always the # 1 enemy, followed by Carlton. I just couldn't be bothered wasting any energy on hating or even disliking Essendon. They might be riding high in March but they'll be shot down by May.

We've been counselled in the past to remain patient and that is what we must do. Coaches expect a disciplined approach from players both on and off the ground and that applies to the patience needed in following the scientific requirements when it comes to recovery from injury. Perhaps it's only fair that supporters adopt the same levels of discipline when it comes to our players too. You never know, the wait might be worthwhile

Deeman and Demon Rob. I know the Comedy Festival is coming up but you'll have to work on the material before you go onstage.

On Tuesday night Max said he had recently hyperextended his knee slightly and that set him back a little but he was just about right now and might play half a game this week or the next at Casey.

Damn ... I was really hoping for a big win to Canada. A result like that would have had the UN Human Rights Council working overtime to condemn the Pakistanis and get the heat off Ghaddafi.

I'm overseas till 23 March but if you PM me after that I can supply lots of old photographs for you including from MFC annual reports.

Based on what I saw in Canada v Zimbabwe the other night, they'll struggle to win but 0/16 after 3.5 is a fair enough start. A win to Canada should get all of the cricket world's conspiracy theorists well and truly out of the woodwork.

Firstly, UTAH this is not just another Tom Scully thread although obviously what Sheahan describes as his "dilemma" forms a part of it. I'd like to think that the Scully aspect is more in the nature of background. It's more about us as a club and the transient nature of those who make up a team. In 10 or 15 year's time they'll all be past players but the club's heritage continues on. I'd like to think that after that time passes, a few of our younger players including Scully will have enhanced and enriched the club and, in term, they will all be wealthier for the experience and not just in the pocket. Secondly, Jayceebee - thanks. I made a slight change to reflect what you said.

At the club's sponsors night during the week Tom McNamara said he has a bit of a hot spot in the foot and will be out for up to six weeks. Bit of a blow. Was making no excuses but apparently was probably affected by it in Adelaide.

I'm not sure what an official injury list means but the afl.com.au site usually publishes an injury list for all clubs every Tuesday. Such lists aren't usually accurate but sometimes the players listed are actually injured.

Zimbabwe v Canada. Now there's a case for a clash strip in cricket!

The credit will belong with the people who administer the club, the football department, his teammates and Tom himself. Hopefully, it will happen this week and we can all move on to the next set of rumours.

For everybody's information there's been a fair bit of interest shown by various groups in helping out this initiative. I'm hoping that an AFL club gets behind the project and it has had support from David Smorgon of the Western Bulldogs but what better than the MFC as a supporter of this enterprise? Any thoughts?

The Frawley to the forward line suggestion was put forward here at about this time last year but it wasn't adopted by the club despite the team's ups and downs. With Chip out probably until Round 4 or 5 there's no opportunity to experiment in the meantime and I have no doubt that he'll resume as a backman. As for Jack Watts, I see no issue with giving him a few runs in defence against good opposition forwards. He might learn something about the way good forwards should play and can only help him improve. On the wider issue of making "radical" moves, I wonder how many radical positional changes have been tried at the club since Dean Bailey became coach. I can't remember too many that have been tried and less that have worked to the point where you could say that a player has successfully made a groundbreaking transition. Ricky Petterd was a defender at the start under Daniher and was close to becoming a serious forward before injured last year. Who else? That's not necessarily a criticism but an observation of where I think footy's at these days. The emphasis seems to be more on strategies for the entire team rather than fiddling around with player placements. That and the fact that half your team these days are "midfielders" despite their nominated positions in selected sides.

Yes and judging by the score on the board it looks like the Blues are going to finish with a cricket score. Not so good for Carlton's preparation.

Correct. It was pure speculation. Nothing in this story.