A night for the ages

[Demon3 2,541]

I was lucky enough to go to the 150 Heroes function last night and had an amazing time. The MFC should be congratulated on the event, it was fantastic. The players were great, all so accessible and freindly. it was a real CLUB feeling. Garry Lyon's speech was spine tingling when he asked the current crop of players to stand up and told them that they were our heroes at the moment.. awesome.

Chris Connolly was amazing, Barass and Noel McMahen and Don Cordner ... just brilliant.

[Gorgoroth 12,431]

I envy you for being there, but IU still would not pay $500

[sickto 0]

I envy you for being there, but IU still would not pay $500

I too think the price tag was too much. Less than 5% of all members attended this function (when you take out the 300+ freebie for the heroes). It might have had a "club feel" on the night but it's such a pity that the "club" excluded so many of it's people by pricing it out of their league.

We don't get another chance to repeat the 150th and the club has excluded so many members from the party. And before anyone comes back and reminds me of the walk - you can't equate the two functions unless you want to talk about the march for the have nots while the night was for the haves.

And they wonder why so many members are not committed to the club and feel disenfranchised - go figure!

[Bring-Back-Powell 13,599]

Any chance we'll be able to view Lyon and Cuddles speeches anywhere?

[MrMoose 262]

Any gossip from the night - good or bad?

Moose

[AdrianOB 0]

great night. Expect some of the speeches were taped and could be on the MFC website.

G Lyon was the best speech of the night. Never ever ever again can anyone question this mans love for our football club. EVER !

[Whispering_Jack 28,118]

great night. Expect some of the speeches were taped and could be on the MFC website.

There might have to be some dubbing of expletives here and there to cater for some sensibilities but yes, it was a great night, the speeches were fantastic, especially Garry Lyon, Chris Connolly and Jimmy Stynes.

Congratulations to the MFC and all those who took part in the night and in the organisation. It showed that we can get things right!

PS: apologies for not wearing the black tie mandated on the invitation which I didn't see until yesterday afternoon. Still, I managed to wear the alternative strip which was a red and blue tie with a touch of silver thrown in!

[Cards13 9,117]

So what were the great announcements?

[Whispering_Jack 28,118]

So what were the great announcements?

I don't think it was really a night for announcements but rather to celebrate the heroes of the past and present. I reckon however, that there might be some announcements of importance to come over the next few weeks. Don't ask me what they are, I'm just a snow bunny like most Melbourne fans.

[45HG 1,539]

What a night.

Just amazing! Well worth it. Great atmosphere, some great speeches, some bloody amazing footage!

And Wheels sat at my table!! Can't get better than that.

Only thing i found odd was the Ox, didn't seem like he wanted to be there when he spoke, seemed to be just interviewing Flower, and then went to the foyer with a camera to interview Neitz.

But all in all, amazing night and one i'll never forget (with the help of photos).

Players were pumped to, by all accounts they just felt like they wanted to run out on the ground then and there it fired them up that much.

[Ewok 9]

Was an awesome night. I paid $350, but in hindsight would have paid $500. Quite simply the best footy night I've ever been to.

[iw_s 0]

An outstanding evening, very evocative of our rich history and Garry Lyon's call to remember the present challenges was great. Chris Connolly's speech was hilarious, Barassi and Cordner were brilliant. The Last Post and Reveille for those players killed nin war was very moving, especially seeing Barassi choke up at remebering when he visited his father's grave at Tobruk. Excellent speech by Paul Gardner on the club's significance and place in history.

Great to see Andrew Obst in fine shape after his illness. And Gary Hardeman looked as if he could run on and play four quarters easily.

And it was particularly wonderful seeing Maloney taking a copy of the "Heroes' book and getting it signed by the past players in the room - he is clearly committed to the club and honoring its traditions.

If you couldn't be there on the night make sure you are at Fed Square tomorrow to soak it all up...

Ivor

[45HG 1,539]

Gardner's call that when our club was formed no one had hear of Hitler, Stalin or Collingwood was great

[Jaded No More 59,750]

Gardner's call that when our club was formed no one had hear of Hitler, Stalin or Collingwood was great

That is gold!

The three evils of the world

Sounds like it was a fantastic night. It's great every once in a while just to reflect on the fact that our club has created an Australian tradition that is now an integral part for so many Australians' lives.

[Mono 454]

Gardner's call that when our club was formed no one had hear of Hitler, Stalin or Collingwood was great

Great line. The filth!

[Little Goffy 12,953]

Gardner's call that when our club was formed no one had hear of Hitler, Stalin or Collingwood was great

Ahhh...

Lovely.

Totally inappropraite, but just such a clean slap.

Nice work Gardner.

[Ewok 9]

I'm sure (hopefully) videos of the speeches will turn up. Here is the only video I took on the night:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2r_siBAUCsQ

[w00dy 146]

my head hurts

fantastic night... speeches by lyon and connolly were fantastic... highly entertaining...

as a 16 year old lyon was on a pre season training camp... trained hard all day and was exhausted so went to bed while all the players went out on the booze... in the middle of the night someone staggered into the dorm room they were sleeping in and jumped into bed with lyon... gaz just rolled out of bed onto the floor... turned out it was ron barrassi who jumped into bed with him

club made a pretty penny on the auctions too... the robbie flower jumper they had went for close to 20 grand from memory? was pretty drunk by this stage...

[45HG 1,539]

Thought it went for 25 in the end. But i'm in your boat, sunlight is evil

[dees189227 11,249]

There isn't much in the media about last nights dinner so I just wanted to know from people who went what did the players say especially the old ones. I heard Garry Lyon gave an excellent speech and told all the current players to stand up and told them they are in charge to lead this club foward. What did the ox say. On tv today he said this was the 1st time he'd been back to the club in 6 years said it was a great night and sounds like he has embraced melbourne again. Also was neale daniher there?

[Ewok 9]

Daniher wasn't really mentioned in the speeches. And I didn't see him there (doesn't necessarily mean he wasn't there).

Dr Cordner spoke about this era, Barassi likewise. He (Barassi) was particularly humble and said if he played in a different era he possibly would never have played in a final let alone multiple flags.

Robbie spoke about playing 4ths at Melbourne and how excited (and initially content) he was with getting a senior game (after 3 reserves games). He then spoke about the 87 season.

Garry Lyons' was a standout. He is very motivating.

[45HG 1,539]

I didn't quite get that the Ox felt happy to be there.

Connoly's speech was great, such a good speaker, probably the best at our club.

Gardiner's set up the night well

[iw_s 0]

Thought it went for 25 in the end. But i'm in your boat, sunlight is evil

Yep, Robbie's went for $25k, Barassi's went for $17k (and probably could have fetched more but I felt the auctioneer was unsighted with bids in the far back corner). Raffle tickets were $50 each and our group of four bought one each.

The Heroes book is well worth getting, too. Great reading for a player history of the club and the extraordinary talent of some of the great legends of the Mfc and the game.

I hope the club can package up a video of the a/v packages used during the night as we really should mark the event permanently with a DVD record.

[45HG 1,539]

What does the Heroes book say about Hopgood?

Interested that the only product with signatures from each Hero was a big board with signed player cards on it, should've been a jumper

[Prodigal Son 0]

What a night.

Just amazing! Well worth it. Great atmosphere, some great speeches, some bloody amazing footage!

And Wheels sat at my table!! Can't get better than that.

Only thing i found odd was the Ox, didn't seem like he wanted to be there when he spoke, seemed to be just interviewing Flower, and then went to the foyer with a camera to interview Neitz.

But all in all, amazing night and one i'll never forget (with the help of photos).

Players were pumped to, by all accounts they just felt like they wanted to run out on the ground then and there it fired them up that much.

Strange He said on the radio today "That it was the greatest football night he has ever been involved in."