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"Norm never forgave Crommo for that"

bush demon
bush demon
in Melbourne Demons

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I'm Melbourne at this stage, Tony. I'm Melbourne. I'm Melbourne and to talk about anything like that would be against these principles that I mentioned. I am Melbourne and I'm Melbourne through and through.

- Norm Smith.

I have always been fascinated with this excerpt from The Tony Charlton Football Show which Dappa Dan uses on his posts. "Red Fox", p573, quoting Norm Smith goes further: "Winning is important - it's damn important - but it's not as important as sticking to solid principles. If you deviate from the principles you deteriorate quickly." In this case Norm Smith was paying out on Neil Crompton's refusal to follow team instructions in the dying minutes of the '64 grand final. Of course he was referring to Crompton's decision to wander forward and kick the winning goal that won Melbourne its last premiership.

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    It's true, though. Not doing the team thing can win you a game, but following instructions will win more over the journey - and not just games, but respect, admiration and loyalty.

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    I'm Melbourne at this stage, Tony. I'm Melbourne. I'm Melbourne and to talk about anything like that would be against these principles that I mentioned. I am Melbourne and I'm Melbourne through and through.

    - Norm Smith.

    I have always been fascinated with this excerpt from The Tony Charlton Football Show which Dappa Dan uses on his posts. "Red Fox", p573, quoting Norm Smith goes further: "Winning is important - it's damn important - but it's not as important as sticking to solid principles. If you deviate from the principles you deteriorate quickly." In this case Norm Smith was paying out on Neil Crompton's refusal to follow team instructions in the dying minutes of the '64 grand final. Of course he was referring to Crompton's decision to wander forward and kick the winning goal that won Melbourne its last premiership.

    Thanks for reminding us about that bush demon. Those events of 1965 were among the most significant of the club's history. They led to the deterioration of a great football club and we never recovered from them. Funny thing is that I'm coming around to the belief that the "unsavouriness" of last year's tanking list management controversy will turn out to be equally significant and will see us heading in the opposite direction - upwards with our new #31, 9 & 5 playing major roles in the modern Demon success scenario.

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    Catch-22. Taking initiative can work very well in your favour a lot of the time, but at the same time, you're defeating the purpose of having a head coach.

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    I'm Melbourne at this stage, Tony. I'm Melbourne. I'm Melbourne and to talk about anything like that would be against these principles that I mentioned. I am Melbourne and I'm Melbourne through and through.

    - Norm Smith.

    I have always been fascinated with this excerpt from The Tony Charlton Football Show which Dappa Dan uses on his posts. "Red Fox", p573, quoting Norm Smith goes further: "Winning is important - it's damn important - but it's not as important as sticking to solid principles. If you deviate from the principles you deteriorate quickly." In this case Norm Smith was paying out on Neil Crompton's refusal to follow team instructions in the dying minutes of the '64 grand final. Of course he was referring to Crompton's decision to wander forward and kick the winning goal that won Melbourne its last premiership.

    Ying & Yang.

    It can go for you or may not & may hurt you. There's one thing for sure their equal & opposite powers.

    What ever we do,,,, We pay for, one way or in another.

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    Does that mean that Norm considered the 64 Flag as a hollow victory?

    I sure hope not as we all know since then how hard a flag is to win.

    Heat of Battle i am glad Crompo took the game on.

    There is a picture of him upstairs at the Bentleigh club, as i walked past i paid my respects.

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    One of the great videos on YouTube.

    True, that is a great video... the anguish on his face during that "I'm Melbourne" line is haunting, the man loved the Club.

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    I'm Melbourne at this stage, Tony. I'm Melbourne. I'm Melbourne and to talk about anything like that would be against these principles that I mentioned. I am Melbourne and I'm Melbourne through and through.

    - Norm Smith.

    I have always been fascinated with this excerpt from The Tony Charlton Football Show which Dappa Dan uses on his posts. "Red Fox", p573, quoting Norm Smith goes further: "Winning is important - it's damn important - but it's not as important as sticking to solid principles. If you deviate from the principles you deteriorate quickly." In this case Norm Smith was paying out on Neil Crompton's refusal to follow team instructions in the dying minutes of the '64 grand final. Of course he was referring to Crompton's decision to wander forward and kick the winning goal that won Melbourne its last premiership.

    I've always found the footage inspiring. Perhaps because, outside of Daniher and perhaps Beamer, it's pretty rare to see any MFC person get openly emotional (or slightly, in this case) about the club. And to make grand statements in that way is almost unheard of. You hear about Hawthorn's line in the sand, and Geelong, Brisbane... they have their halcyon days (more recent ones obviously)... ours are such a long time ago that they don't get spoken about anymore.

    In the same interview, they say something along the lines of "the most powerful football club in Australia" As though it's just a given. Like saying the AFL is the most powerful league in Australia.

    With the big 4 it's hard to see us ever getting there again in my lifetime. Onfield success? Sure... but to be in a position where we can make the finals once in 30 years and STILL be considered one of the big 4? Not anytime soon.

    Ooh jeez. I didn't mention big Jimma's presser when he assumed the presidency at MFC. That was pretty emotional.

    Though what I was going for was more to do with brazen talk of confidence, backed up by star players who dominate more often than not. I think the next player with that potential would be Watts.

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    Hang on Crompton was not wandering about aimslessly chasing kicks - he had followed his opponent, the resting forward pocket rover, downfield like a good back pocket should.

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    Hang on Crompton was not wandering about aimslessly chasing kicks - he had followed his opponent, the resting forward pocket rover, downfield like a good back pocket should.

    Norm's sacking was to do with the then then Committee's, under the leadership of Dr. Duffy, not supporting the Red Fox, after comments he made about an umpire and a subsequent writ issued by that umpire. While Norm was big on team discipline, it was not Froggy'smatch winning goal that was at the heart of the sacking controversy.

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    The mystery of what became of Froggy's jumper still remains unsolved. Last seen in the care of the greatest ever demon in Tasmania - wonder where it is now?

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