Deeoldfart

He certainly features in a couple of the excellent pics shown by Outside fifty.

Yep. I'm sure we are in very competent hands ....... and they don't need advice from the likes of you and me.

Maybe, but we wouldn't want to be putting too many eggs in the Hogan basket, because we have quite a few emerging players who will warrant very solid coin when their next contract comes around. Hopefully, mateship, loyalty and the strong prospect of team success will keep them in the red and blue. I'd expect Freo to to be pretty flush next season with Pav and possibly Sandi and others expected to retire.

Reported on ABC (Canberra) radio this morning that Freo have now turned their attention to securing Jesse, following Hooker's signing at Essendon. It was most likely just a 'gap filler' on their sports report, and I doubt that anything much has changed because Jesse has probably never been off their radar. Anyways, if both Melbourne and Freo keep playing like they are at present, I can't see Jesse seeking a trade to Freo, no matter what they might throw at him.

Calm down and take a deep breath everybody ............ we've all earned this!!

....... and what an outstanding presser it was: Media conference: Jack Viney Jack is so composed and well considered in everything he says. He's growing enormously as both a footballer and a leader. His maturity belies his age and experience.

.... and it seems that they don't condone it Baghdad. On 360 tonight Robbo said that his mail is that the Club were unhappy with the action. My guess is that they may have been behind the Bugg apology. Good on them if that's the case.

Lots of posters (myself included) suggesting that Gus may make way for Clarry against the Saints. Gus certainly hasn't hit the ground running like he did in his first season, and it got me thinking about the following comments from Roosy in this years edition of Heartbeat: "One of the things we're working on with Angus is his training habits. They've certainly improved and he's got more consistency in his training after Christmas". If Gus's training habits were below par before Christmas, and he subsequently lost several weeks as a result of his pre-season injury, it suggests that he might still be a bit underdone. If this is the case, playing predominantly through the midfield at Casey might be the best way to get miles into his legs.

Not dissimilar to 1987 at the Western Oval. One of my very favorite moments in MFC history!

Well I just love the fact that we are having this conversation at all ...... and while it's still very early in a long season, it's a legitimate discussion to be having. Bugger me, even a few in the media are not totally dismissing our chances of scraping into the eight. When was the last time that happened? Of course there are a multitude 'ifs & buts', but I think we are a sneaky chance if our key players remain fit, and our younger players don't tire too much in the second half of the season, when our draw clearly gets tougher. Importantly, we are only one or two poor games away from ending our chances for 2016, so we can't afford slip-ups. Some people have said that the Essendon game was the 'wake-up call' we needed to have, and that might well be the case. However, another 'shocker' like that will not only cost us 4 points and percentage, it will almost certainly knock a hole in the confidence which is a key ingredient of the 'winning' brand of football we are currently playing.

The win against the Tigers, two in a row and our new attractive and combative game style are all are positives. Probably being over optimistic, but if we can win the next two we might still give 40k a nudge.

It wouldn't surprise me if J. Hunt, gets a nomination at some stage later in the season (as he gets more comfortable at the level). I have a feeling that our recruiters may have plucked another definite 'keeper' from nowhere with this kid. I like the little I have seen, a lot!

Rance 3 weeks down to 2 with early plea for his weak act on Watts. The MRP criteria should be amended to add an extra penalty for cowardice.

As it should be!

Oliver for Brayshaw would be my only change, but I expect the short break might influence the final outcome. We wouldn't want to be going in with any niggles or tightness in young bodies .......... and besides, it seems like a game tailor-made for Tracc. ps. most of us are being bloody tough on Matt Jones.

6. Viney 5. Gawn 4. Tyson 3. Vince 2. Garlett 1. Tmac

........ or do what C'wood did last week.

I both agree and disagree Jaded. If us hard-core Demons had failed to stick fat during the dark times, there may not have been any sh!t left to get under control, so it can be regarded money well spent! .......... and as a consequence of our loyalty and die-hard attitude, the Football Gods will soon compensate us for the unprecedented and 'never-to-be-repeated', pain and suffering we have been forced to endure. It will need to be a bountiful feast!

Compelling arguments Jack.

The financial benefits of playing an annual game in China are potentially substantial, but PJ makes the excellent point that they need to be balanced against the detrimental effects on team performance in the week(s) following the travel involved. We are a football team first and foremost, and imo we have already seen the down-side of playing games in the NT. I'll be very happy for us not to be involved in the China 'experiment', and to scale back our games in the NT (to zero if it doesn't compromise the finances too much, or our talent academy in the Alice).

I agree, Especially at my age, with the game 72 + hours, and three sleepless nights away! Gotta love our footy Club!!

Maybe, maybe not, but someone will have to be very, very unlucky to make way for both of them. On the other hand, but the prospect of both playing has me very, very excited.

Paul Roos' leadership and people managements abilities have been a huge part of the progress we have made during his time as senior coach (dishwater to Moet compared to his recent predecessors). Game plans and strategies are irrelevant if you don't have the entire playing list, Footy Department and beyond working in harmony, in both the good times and the tough ones. We have made a quantum leap forward in the last couple of years, and I can't think of anyone who might have done a better job in the circumstances than Roosy.

My guess is that if an (underdone) Deledio is selected, he will spend a high percentage of his time deep forward, where his strong marking and good kicking can be dangerous, especially given their alternate goal-kicking options. We will need strong team defense to counter them all. Who would be our first option to stand Deledio? Wagner?

It's great that some of our bigger names performed well against C'wood, but it's also fantastic that a few of the lesser lights did well. Joel Smith was obviously impressive and seems to be coming along at a much faster rate than I expected. My initial thought was that he would spend the first half of the season in the Development League.