monoccular

Like MELBOURNE of the late 50s would be even cooler. ;-) But I think if Neeld can get the players to meet his stated aim, of being the hardest team to play against, then we will be in for a fantastic exciting time.

Just a few points re your lineup: 1. Sylvia is suspended for round 1 2. Nicholson is (currently) a rookie 3. Strauss is coming back from a serious injury, and although he is making remarkable progress by all accounts, I would think it highly unlikely that he will be fit for round 1. I have given this a bit of thought too, and I would look at BENNELL FRAWLEY RIVERS TAPSCOTT SELLAR GARLAND TRENGOVE MOLONEY BAIL GREEN WATTS HOWE DAVEY CLARK JURRAH JAMAR MCKENZIE JONES MARTIN BLEASE JETTA (PETTERD) All lineups at this stage of course are highly speculative: pre-season Ansett/Wizard/etc Cup form, injuries and fitness etc etc Always fun to discus though

Ha ha - LOL A run in the park ain't a twisting turning tackling AFL match, but it my look good on the prjck's cv!

My humblest apologies to Mitch and all concerned. I will delete forthwith!!

By all accounts (not having witnessed it first hand) Nathan is a very vocal communicator to the playing group at training and on the ground. Does that make him a good communicator? Don't know enough about what he says or how it is taken by the rest of them. Not sure about his media presentation, but then Maxwell captained a premiership team and ain't all that flash in the media.

WorkSafe was worried about him and the high winds.

Webber - your post mentions many many big and bigger bodies this year as compared to earlier times. Was Morton an oversight or was he just hidden behind the bigger bodies so that you could not see him? If he hasn't built up when the others had, it can't be good news for him as he must currently be "marginal" at best.

It is something that has always puzzled me too, in this full time professional age. Surely anyone who reaches the AFL list level should have decent skills, and should be able to be taught how to make up for their deficiencies, especially something as fundamental in our game as kicking. One would think that if a "kicking coach" worked 5 days a week for several hours with someone like Bate on right foot kicking he would improve. Or with Bartram on even right foot field kicking. The same goes for all players with set shots from in front inside 50: they should all have a 90+% goal rate, but they don't. Is it lack of hard work and concentration, mental softness, or just human nature?

Welcome, Rocky. Enjoy your time here, and I hope you don't have to suffer frustration for nearly as long as many of us here have had to. And I agree with your reference to the great Norm - involved in some way in all but a handful of our flags. Time for a no nonsense approach, which Neeld has shown every indication of implementing.

Good observation: I would certainly add Colin Sylvia to the "greatest potential" group, but for various reasons he has been handled differently.

For Denis' relatives, (the Pagans), who don't know how to look up the good book: Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” So it is that Mark we recruited to coach us out of the wilderness - looks far too young, but he does offer very pertinent thoughts for the long-suffering Demon supporters, who must surely be totally overwhelmed by disbelief. Good pick up, Crompton's the man

Watch out Mr Dunderfield!!

As long as the straits aren't dire.

I certainly hope that you are right re Dunn and Bate underachieving and poor coaching. Undoubtedly they are skilled players, but they have been really nomads. Now with Neeld's emphasis on "roles" I wil be fascinated just what role he has in mind for these two in particular.

It surely just demonstrates what an absolute fantasy these fantasy footy games actually are. I don't give the proverbial rat's clacker how many super coach or dream team points or whatever Clark gets provided he offers a target, marks or brings the ball down to the smaller blokes, and pressures to keep the ball in our forward line if he can't get it himself.

Steamin Demon - I think this is the first time I have seen anyone mention Dunn, the forgotten man maybe? You mention clean handling - any other positives for him, as surely this must be his "crossroads season". Now Lynden is not the only one of course, one must add Bate and possibly Bartram, with other more skilled taggers maybe emerging. You also mention Tom McDonald out marking Frawley on a few occasions. Are we going to have an embarrassment of tall forwards, not that I would be complaining :-)

Is Strauss some sort of Lazarus? At the time of his injury he wasn't expected to be even running for 6+ months, let alone now- some have posted here or at 'ology that he looks nearly ready to go! Amazing: credit to his treating practitioners, and of course to James himself. Well done.

Howe

Sure he had every right to stop playing AFL, as does anyone. I guess it is just disappointing for us to see such raw talent without the heart and application to make the grade consistently: he really almost teased us!! Let us all hope that the new coaching and off field structures facilitate Liam, who also has has 'issues' at home, which is also a long way away, producing his best on a consistent and long term basis. If that happens we could be n for one very exciting times.

The guy appears to have clear plans, and right or wrong ( to be judged in the future) he seems prepared to leave no stone unturned to follow those plans. Is that 'inflexible'? I would hope that, despite his apparent clear plans and goals, on match day when things, as they nevitably will, sometimes not go to plan he will show a degree of flexibility and innovation that we haven't seem in a MFC coach since the days of (Balme and) Northey. Here's hoping.

Agree Alpha - thought that I had posted a reply last night to that effect but didn't get through. The likes of Dyer, Matthews and Sheedy off ball thuggery has no place at all. The Trengove 'incident' though really p'ed me off - what had always been regarded as a part of the game instantly became, for one week, illegal...and the so called 'victim', Dunderfeild didn't help one bit by his ineptitude.

Whisperer - I haven't been able to get there either, but it does sound from all reports, official, here and at 'ology, that this preseason is like no other in terms of professionalism and planning; all credit to Jim and the team for setting us up to have a genuine chance over the next few years, and avoiding the quick fix attempted solution. Some have complained along the lines of 'all this fitness stuff - where is the ball'; well, it isn't much use being an elite ball user if you are either too unfit to get it, or too buggered once you get it to use it properly, or too unfit to lay the shepherd etc to 'do an assist'! I amongst many are really looking forward to the preseason competition, and the real stuff.

.....but you have to be fit enough to (I) beat your opponent to the ball, or run him down, (ii) see out a game, and (iii) see out a season!! It is called planning!

Yeah - thank you gentlemen for your views.

"Errrh....ummm...the boys just didn't come out...errr....ummmm......to play today." "but we will be ruthless next year."