Deeoldfart

It is a big wrap OD. I fell in love with Blease before we drafted him, and I maintain my optimism ..... or should I say, I regained it in the last few games of 2011. He certainly has some of Bluey's best attributes: pace and classy disposal. It's a pity there's no longer a Des Healey on Co#lingw#%od's list.

Three out of four was a pretty fair effort drdrake!

Ferocity seems fantastic! Is there a hint of Trengove in some of his tackling?

Agree. Bluey Adams = Sam Blease (in more ways than one)

That proves it then ...... I'm nuts as well!

She's probably correct! .... sorry OD. Edit: added the apology

Yes, but once you are up, you have a perfect opportunity for a pre-dawn check to see what's happening on Demonland. Topics like Redleg's update on the countdown to the Rookie draft make it all worthwhile!

Warm cocoa before bed!

'Dasher' Don Williams. An integral part of the greatest teams that ever played ............. and what's more, he would be equally at home on the HBF in the modern game as he was back then. But like you bobby, I have never before seen any suggestion that he was an Australian champion high jumper.

Wow. I had never attributed our decline to Chubby and the 1960's dance crazes. My careful analysis had always led me to the conclusion that it had something to do with Rise and Fall of Flingel Bunt by the Shadows: http://youtu.be/g9SSw6o3sOY but I now realise that I had the era wrong, and Fungel Bunt never had anything to do with the Dees. Thanks for setting me straight Jack!

If I'm reading you correctly WJ, you would be hoping that Freddie has a bit more substance than Chubby's song, if we go down the path of drafting him on Tuesday.

Like Don McLardy says in his review of season 2011 in Heartbeat: "Jim will never stand down while he can stand up and contribute." It's just such an unbelievable attitude to have about life and what inevitably follows it.

Why not? You can at least understand the words, even if they are a trifle simplistic. http://youtu.be/a0Zc9Io5IGo

Exactly WJ ..... and what's more, they all want to be Dees.

I read this beautifully written and inspiring piece through watery eyes, but with an inner smile. I can think of no one but Jimmy who could evoke that reaction from me. What a man!

Absolutely fantastic news. Hearing the word 'ecstatic' used in connection with Jimma's health is brilliant. Keep up the good work Jimma.

Ditto from a Canberra resident. Keep up the good work fellas, your reports add so much value!.

So long as they are not tall, skinny choir boys, eh old dee?

On the Permission to Train List at Richmond.

The Coaches Award for the last two years iirc. Now that says something!

Thanks HT. Reading your reply almost did the trick as well!

"Menzies was in Canberra, 'Blue Hills' was on the wireless, and Melbourne was on top of the football world. Everything was as it should be. Home and hearth was safe and sound, and the Demons kept winning. Melbourne had made the finals for 11 straight years, played in the Grand Final for eight of those, and it would surely be ever thus." The year, of course, was 1964, and you could probably have bought a whole bunch of bananas for a bob. Sadly for us Demon tragics, it didn't remain forever thus. But as Dylan and PP&M so eloquently put it, "The times they are a changin". I can feel it in my water ... even at 3:00am when I struggle out of bed for a second nightly pee (too much warm cocoa, but I need it to help me sleep). Yes, there is a mood of nervous anticipation around the house. Mrs Oldfart has always been more pragmatic than me, but she can feel it too! The Dees are on the march again. As sure as the sun will rise in the morning, #13 is just over the horizon. Realistic, dreaming or senility?

That about sums it up for me too dee-luded. I really liked the enthusiasm and glimpses of brilliance that Wanna brought to our line-up, but sadly it seems that the fire no longer burns strongly within him. A regular spot in our forward line beckoned, but he needed the commitment to make it his own.

From that short clip, it looks like he has all of his old man's hardness and determination, but with much neater disposal.

Just a gut feeling on my part rolly. Kel had several very strong games for Casey 2's iirc, plus he has shown glimpses in Casey ones indicating that he might have what it takes. He is a highly skilled player with a bit of 'x factor', but he needs to develop an AFL body and to build his consistency. 2011 was his first year on our rookie list, and he had the lightest possible pre season. In addition, he suffered very bad home sickness during the year. If he can become comfortable with life in Melbourne, and focus on footy, he might become the crumbing small forward that imo, we really need, especially now that we look like having have a tall forward set-up.