maximum bob

You can always rely on Yze-not-so-Magic to have an opinion on everything regardless of knowledge or maturity. Enough of the glib put-downs YNSM and start substantiating your obversations. You're rapidly becoming a serial pest/poster who wants to see his name in print at every opportunity ie Demonland, Demonology, Big Footy etc. One well considered and backed-up opinion would be welcome. All you're doing here is adding fuel to the fire that Demonland is populated by testosterone driven teens. Cameron Bruce would well deserve the captaincy. Yes, I realise Brock will be captain one day, but not at the moment or even next year. Here's why. Bruce sets a superb example at training (an undervalued quality but critically important in terms of team culture and leadership); he leads by example on the field; he goes in hard when necessary; he runs all day like there's no tomorrow; he's respected by his peers; he often takes the hardest job on the field ie Heard; he has been consistent for a long time; he doesn't go missing as some assume (look at the games closely); he's been moved from pillar to post during many games and copes admirably IMO. There's more (along the lines of 'greatness being thrust upon him' with reference to Brock but the allusion may escape you) so that'll do for now. The bottom line is we're lucky to have some genuine leaders in reserve when the great Neita retires.

Thanks for the even handed account Dappa, much appreciated. BTW, take note of how a considered post can be written without wetting your pants Yze Magic. Enough of the hysteria.

You're not seriously suggesting that Junior, Trapper, Bruce , Green etc would just not show up to pre-season and not contact the club??? It's an absolutely irrelevant comparison.

A quick reminder that ND is on SEN this hour, before 6.00 pm is my understanding.

Good call. Bruce deserves it. In my opinion his contribution to the MFC has been undersung. He's committed, is a great role model, goes hard and is a great finisher. When he retires my favourite memories will be him shadowing Hird everywhere he went in the games they've played against each other, shutting him down and then running off him and booting some significant goals. Cam is a true Dees player and deserves the honour of being captain. No-one's going to argue that Brock is next in line. It basically depends on when Neita retires.

Of course the rider is that Jamar assumes number one ruck for more than 8 minutes a quarter which then frees White up to play at CHF for a while rather than sitting on the pine gasping for breath and looking knackered.

If White goes down we're in big trouble. You would hope then that the Russian rises to the occasion in the best of worlds. He's the next best thing but our ruck reserves are wafer thin. Jamar is clearly a better around the ground player than PJ but that perception may be because PJ has had limited opportunities since injuring himself against the Swans. Who knows what the consequences of that injury were and the time he's been given to prove himself? The key point here is that a strong ruck division is important to team success, especially if they can go back or forward like Jimmy Stynes, the last adaptable ruckman we had. White has it in some measure. Time to exploit our strengths. Give Miller a breather on the bench and switch White to CHF. See what happens.

Sometimes it's better to take a speculative punt than reward someone for mediocrity.

A perceptive point - 'class is skill and commitment combined'. When Yze plays a full game of hard, committed footy as a team player then I'll revise my current opinion of him. Skill has never been in doubt. His attitude has.

Thanks for the reports. As always much appreciated. Great to here that Newton is putting in and delivering. He could be a gun and it would surprise me if ND hadn't had an up close and personal chat with him during the off-season along the lines of 'Well, it's up to you son. Make up your mind.' For whatever faults ND might have, suffering fools gladly isn't one of them.

'Not getting it into the forward line with any confidence' says more about the deliverers rather than the receivers. It was a windy day and it was the Cats home ground. I see no cause for the pessimistic view at this stage. If we get flogged by the Aints in round 1, then I'll be worried. I still see this pre-season as one of the smartest our club has embarked on contrary to popular opinion.

I missed that about Carroll. Was it against the Tigers & what was the injury (or rumoured injury)?

Staying healthy for round 1 sounds like a good option to me. Less than 2 weeks now to get the side right. Most of them should be cherry ripe. Considering the expectations of both sides this year, a crowd of 55,000 - 65,000 isn't out of the question come Friday week. This seems to be one of the most 'eagerly expected' seasons for a while if I'm picking the vibe correctly.

On SEN, Dees 'very undermanned.' Robbo, Miller, Jamar amongst the best. Brock vg in the second half 20 touches or so, Bate good in the first.

Pretty much the result to be expected given the ground and the team we had on the park. Bring on the Aints round 1.

Just put SEN on and heard something about Trapper...caught the tag end of it...'doesn't look anything serious.' Any more info?

Basically get rid of Laidley.

Word is that Col is a long way off still. The upside is that if he recovers and then plays 3 weeks for Sandy and comes through ok, he'll be as keen as mustard come mid-season/serious end. I have an awful feeling however that even this is optimistic, but I wish him the best.

Bate doesn't need stamina, he needs experience. Not a dumb suggestion by any means, just give him time.

Bate will be in the starting 22. Nothing surer. He's just motoring along atm but that's part of the 'longevity plan' for the season.

Back to the topic. No room for Yze in round 1? Yes, no room. Welcome to the beach side oval at Sandy. Put in or get out. Enough coasting. Our club can't afford it if we're serious.

In two words - lame post.

Sorry Wayne disagree. Yze's effort today when he shirked a contest was a shocker as reflected by Dee's supporters response at the ground. It was like a collective moan of, 'Oh no, don't tell us what those nasty posters have been saying is true!' If you were there you couldn't ignore it, seeing him squib the contest. No excuse for him whatsoever unfortunately. Weak, disinterested, looking to retirement and raising his family. Good goals I agree, but he's lost the passion for playing hard footy for our club.

I expect a strong hit-out tomorrow. Minimum six goal win with the talent on the park. (Maybe reduced to four given our perceived confusion about exactly which game plan we're using atm.) It's time to get serious. Fluffing around will do none of the players any good regardless of new game plans. Just play old-fashioned hard footy, win the pill and whack it fast into the forward line. Very unscientific I realise, but ultimately it's a simple game. Beat your opponent and create unexpected and regular opportunities to score.

The secret's out. The Whitnalls are the illegitimate offspring of the Addams Family. Give Lance a bit more height & weight (and a shot of radiation) and you've got a Lurch in waiting. I'm sure his brother's hand has done a Thing impersonation more than once as well. And I can't figure out why there are so many blonde jokes. The two women look super intelligent.