monoccular

If he don't want us,we don't want him. Simple. Conscript armies rarely outfight professionals.

I had thought that a veteran had to play 10 years at the one club - no doubt Vlad will have given the franchises special exemptions as he has for most things.

You missed my tongue in cheek.

you mean, since Moloney has pulled the plug he will no longer run the camp for the young Dees!

two cheap and meaningless possessions across half back there. Well done for your insightful contribution to the debate nd the pathway forward. We need "supporters" like you -NOT!

I would certainly like an up to date prognosis on Clark's recovery before I would consider this though.And interesting that you see Fitz > Martin as a forward considering he has had ? 2 games. I am disappointed that we haven't seen more of Fitz especially when we have been so short of tall timber up forward since Clark's injury; after all it is an experimental season.

Hi az_tec - if you look carefully at your keyboard, at each end of the bottom line is a key usually labelled either "SHIFT" or marked with an up arrow. This enables small letters to become big ones, like This! It tends to makes sentences easier to read, especially when there are a lot of names aka "proper nouns".

or Mt Martha Primary School -- oh hang on, they can't even play bruise-free footy there any more.

you must have missed the "silky skills".

Trouble is, turnovers cost, and his one consistency is that he does regular turnovers. Can he / Neeld turn it around? 5 years on the list (?4) and hasn't progressed in this vital KPI.

Surely must be b well ahead of (a). What have you against banana fritters? Did one burn your mouth? Should be eaten with liberal doses of ice cream

Brilliant stuff, Whisperer. I am confused, though, as to who could the dark, swarthy individual of heavy build possibly be?

Was he picked up anywhere? Pity - the name alone would draw crowds ;-)

And a few (hopefully celebratory) wines, bubblys or beers will do the same, but then again, unfortunately for those of us blokes old enough to remebmer "the glory days" the ageing prostate can do the same on it's own accord unaided!

I don't recall having seen anything much if at all about Lawrence in the various training reports. Reputed to be a potential slick crumbing forward, a much needed commodity at MFC, yet so little being said which is a worry. Have any of those who have been fortunate enough to get to training sessions anything to observe? If he is any sort of serious contender for the role, he should really be starting to make big statements (on the track) by now.

Hopefully that is just for Movember and the razor will be out on Thursday - and for Dunny while they are at it. And for me the name easily trumps Stainless Ferrous Edgeass, or whatever - that #22 Collingwood dude. Chicken Smallhorn would come in at second place - I remember him from Pelaco Inquest, a 1950s Saturday evening review of the six games, the full round, played that afternoon. Not a name to forget.

Well, this game we are all here talking about is ultimately based on what we do with that very ball once we get our hands on it ! Presumably that is what you are all referring to ?

Good point re Liam's goal assists And, like Davey, early in his career opposition defenders were shizenscared anytime he was around - he used to pounce from nowhere. Unfortunately both lost this ability, or probably rather the desire: Neeld sounds not the sort of man to put up with laziness, so Liam and Aaron, pull your socks up, contribute all the time. THIS coach recognizes the need for each and every player to have a role in each phase of the game : when WE have the ball, when THEY have the ball, and at stoppages or when the ball is in dispute. Pretty simple stuff really.

....here's hoping he doesn't need to !

I tend to agree -- if Neeld manages to get inside Col's head, and helps him to make HIMSELF focus properly and consistently, Col has the skills and ability to do it. Big challenge for Mark to throw down to Col : and huge kudos to both if he achieves, or even gets close.

Phew! Almost exhausted just reading it. We wanted a "no nonsense coach" and it seems we have found him. Enjoy the ride fellas - if you want to play, toe the line: if not, bye bye. Success will kill the pain. It will be interesting to see if all can tolerate the heat - I am getting very excited about 2012 and beyond.

Old chap - can't have been much snow at Banff during our footy season, what oh? Still, I guess one can just hang out with some of the chaps from school, or maybe from the city, and have a few cocktails, or do a bit of work for the old man, what? And old chap - better keep a bit of an eye on those Xavier chaps - they are gaining a bit of a reputation for getting a bit out of hand at times - and most of them are Catholics, what!

From the little that I have seen of Tom, he has quite a lot going for him - young, tall, strong, cool under pressure (which can't be taught). I am looking forward to seeing a lot more of him next season and beyond.

I'm with you on that - I can envisage, given Stef's amazing progress this year, his athleticism, ball handling and aggression,and his new found general confidence and goal kicking ability, him becoming a Dawes type strong big forward and a far better back up ruck man than Dawes. He also has experience and ability to take on a tall strong forward if needed. (I could also by the way see Stef becoming a big ruck-rover type - he has the athleticism and he tank to do this). This would allow us to let Gawnius Maximus continue his development as a ruck man backing up TMR.

I posted this last evening, concurring with your thoughts: Looks as if Cook may struggle to get a run this year - haven't actually seen him - is he anywhere near solid enough for FF at this stage? Martin is gaining many more strings to his bow this year - he has moved on significantly from being a third tall defender who can pinch hit in the ruck, to a dependable back up ruck who now can take a grab up forward, can kick goals and is very good at ground level for a man of his size. I reckon, especially with the progression of Gawnius Maximus, that Martin could be groomed as the big athletic body up forward in the Dawes mould.