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Fannin
Demon
FRED FANNING, League leading goal-kicker
last season and Carnival representative, is
likely to lead Melbourne's attack in the opening
game against Essendon. Fanning was
recently appointed playing coach of Hamilton.
PANNING has been living
at Hamilton where he-is in-h
terested in his father-in-law's
business and has intimated his
desire to play football with .
his "home town."
But — and it's a big point —
e has to be cleared, and there
is strong feeling around the
MCG that he should remain
with the Red Leg*
Fanning is only 25, and has
several years of match winning
football ahead of him. Few
players have such bad "off"
Idays, but there are fewer
cap&blc of winning so many
matches off their own boot.
I With Panning back at the
spearhead, the Demons will
leave Jim Mitchell
at centre half-forward, and
Norm Smith, who is free from
aggravating m<..ri«« injuries and train-
ing with all his former zest
and shrewedness, will play the
part of the "foil" in attack.
HARDIE CENTRE?
If Dave Hardie, former
Scotch Collegian, has kicked-
• on as expected, he should adeiquately
fill the centre position,
land thus enable Len Dockett
to transfer to a wing - opi
,
posite Jackson. Dockett's left
foot turning and accurate disjgosal
may overcome their
;flank problem. „
Don Cordner, 1947 Brownlow
jMedallist, is training, and
ing ^ L ^ a v e ^en
scotched. ^ i ^ D u S , Rule
:iS|ed P?ay^ Ihd Huma*
"" ~"Doc" completes a solid
. " uartette ol ,oi -
lowers.
ROVING PROBLEM
However, there is still a
problem with the roving.
Rodda was asked to do too
much last year, and needs assistance.
O'Connor is expected to
have a good season, but a spare
! rover has yet to be found,
I Shane McGrath, whose name
.was linked with a tempting
offer from Corowa, will be in
his old place at full back, and
his reliable lieutenants, Lock
| and Deans, are training well,
jlf a good recruit can fill
Dean's place in defence the
latter may be tried as a rover.
He may fill this problem posltion
in practice games.
Checker Hugftes, shrewa
tactician, is likely to try
(several experiments during the
j sorting out process of the next
I few weeks.
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