Tarax Club

Thank you Six6Six! Melbourne is the centre of the Aussie Rules universe and the Demons it's nucleus. Any captured light which escapes to the diaspora rim is much appreciated. After reading the training reports, your Lumiere-like sequence of Latrelle Pickett's moves had us all salivating. Enjoy your sojourn OS. May "the Spirit of Twenty Six Six Six" be with us.

Paddy Cross comes to mind. Pies pipped us on Roan Steele. Who immediately lost his matinee idol looks with the beagle boys lobotomy cut. But Uncle Jack has stepped in.

Was some chat last week about his chances of promotion to their senior list via the mid-season draft. If this scenario comes off it would be a left field, blindside, Bradbury move.

wayne your reports are my immediate go to, for authoritative updates during the pre-season. Today's... highlights some of the less illuminated foot soldiers on the list. Amongst the better known personalities. Pleasingly accentuating the positives and delivering neat pen portraits of skills, abilities, etc plus some of the buzz going on at Gosch's Paddock. Nothing beats 'being there', in the spirit of Captain Blood "He's a good ordinary footballer". Trust we have a few of them this season.

Cheers doc, Round 1 1988 at the ‘G v Tigers. It was an unseasonably hot opener mid-30’s. So were the Demons against the once great but now fading Richmond. So many talented footballers on the park for MFC, truly a halcyon day at the footy.

Tough first up gig for Casey against the reigning VFL premiers in the land of make believe.

Carlton a good fit for Wade may he prosper.

Given the current attrition rate recent claims of training down the house may need sober re-assessment.

Round Zero nice if the AFL meat raffle wheel clicks and it's a win. You'd think a definite advantage Round 2 1, if you're running already battle-hardened and warmed up. Didn't help Harold though. Perhaps a judicious 4-5 day turn-around march would balance it out. In the realm of possibility logically all the early bird starters would swap partners next round to be fair. But of course AFL, logically and fair are mutually exclusive.

Quote “...have departed, some carrying bruises of love gone cold.” Some of your finest prose WJ. Expect Mills and Boon to come knocking.

A momentum swing like the tolling of an almost forgotten bell.

Ugly breed. I like Sopwith Pup. Admirable flying characteristics with excellent maneuverability. Put bison to bed.

Unnumbered small across half-forward ? Paddy Cross played with Casey last season. Smart player knows where the goals are.

WJ you appear to have more than one inkwell at your Demonland desk! I did open the Panthers webpage and took brief notice of welcome to club of this season's new recruits. Deakyn Smith was not listed. Agree lists are yet to be finalised. Some very good footballers have emerged from the Gippsland region. As the hawks would attest to. Be nice if a champ or two came our way directly via the draft or more circuitously via the Casey connection.

Is Brody Mihocek a natural right footer? Reportedly that's the foot he injured his toe late last season. Just been viewing the Training Gallery January 21 on the club's website. Where he's off bike and looks like having a kick to kick in the park. Using his right peg.

Doctor Don's generosity is probably the main reason I'm a lifetime Demon supporter. When my mother was a student nurse at the Royal Melbourne, he gave her a complimentary ticket to attend a game at the 'G. She remained a Melbourne supporter for many years. Fortunately I followed her rather than my father's team Carlton.

No, the good ship Lollypop is preparing for this season’s cruise. Replacements (may) have been found for those who either walked the plank, were keel-hauled or jumped ship.

If you care to did deeper there's a terrific 'historic' video of Simon Goodwin discussing the season ahead. Full of optimism and belief. Come to the 'predictions' from the so called experts* they can be virtually dumped with the trump video into the sewage system of history. * 'ex' as in "has been" , 'pert' pronounces "spurt" ie. a drip under pressure.

Cheers Kasey, a comprehensive ‘state of play’. Quite a turnover of players on the Casey AFL and VFL lists. Pleased to read many of those moving on from Casey Fields will continue to play. Appears birds of a feather stick together. Kynan joins Noah and Mitch K-S bayside at Trevor Barker Oval. Will Verrall back home at the Sth Adelaide Panthers to be joined there by Deakyn Smith. Taj Woewodin reprises Dad moving to Collingwood VFL. Rhett McLennan’s connections with Gippsland junior footy appear to have influenced recruiting to the Casey VFL list. Am l correct in assuming Tom Freedman having acquired an additional “d” is now entering his post Casey playing days? Interesting future watch, to see if any of those listed including Toby Sinnema and Tairon Ah-Mu get a second 'bite of the cherry' by being listed on an AFL list. Riley Bonner would have to be odds-on for captain.

Leo that was an effusive, engaging, and entertaining report. Big expansive writing at its best. The drums are beginning to beat. Dare we dream of a glorious reversal of Demon fortune this coming season?

Mackenzie Theory saw them play on multiple occasions including Sunbury. Rob Mackenzie’s tripped out guitar with Cleis Pearce’s electric viol. Added Paul Wheeler ex-Aztecs when the rhythm section was re-energized, gave it a much harder edge. Until relatively recently have pondered Rob’s whereabouts. At the time thought he was destined to greater things. Band was at the top of its game and quite popular. Suddenly it was announced he was heading OS and seemingly disappeared into the ether he had come from. An entry in wikipaedia mentions he re-emerged in the States playing with Sha Na Na. A massive stylistic shift from ‘Theory, got to roll with the times though. Stephen Cummings of Sports fame is a Demons supporter. I remember we both got caught up a cul-de-sac whilst attempting to exit a Collingwood home game. Deep in enemy territory.

hardtack excellent recall there. Story has it Barry Humpries attended the monthly show at the Central Hall Brunswick Street Fitzroy and described it as Too F*cking Much. The Edison Light Show by Hugh McSpedden was legendary. My crowd were attendees at the later incarnation Much More Ballroom. I'd forgotten the interlude acts that allowed the bands to set up. Magicians, fire-eaters, jugglers and the like. Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band featured Mick and Jim Conway ' jugband music is so damm sweet'. Strongly influenced by vaudeville, Mick's record collection at the time featured mainly old 78's, Jim could tap dance with the best. Terrific entertainers, last time I saw them at the Melbourne sesquicentenary, playing on stage at the old city square opposite the town hall. Station Hotel in the Greville St Prahran 'alternative precinct' featured bands like McKenzie Theory, Carson County Band, Dutch Tilders and very early Richard Clapton. Heady days!

As this thread has re-surfaced like flotsam and jetsam give your sub-woofer a blast!