Players who didn't live up to expectations

[Guest Redleg_24]

Steven Pitt in the 2000's. Played a couple of good games, looked as though we may have found a FF but died in the arse! I watched him play against North (2nd time round @ Colonial Stadium) 2000 and the bloke looked so impressive. Faded very quickly.

[Dee Fan 3,247]

Martin Pyke was good for us and we let him go as he wouldn't toe the social line outside the club. Played in a different in the premiership sides and would have been good for us if we kept him, a good mean player without being dirty.

Most of the players are wrongly listed here as they were curtailed by injury not whats between their heads and some was stupid recruiting..I remember Templeton, but we got good value out of Moore. But that was the Barrasi way, recruit established talent.

Earl Spalding, - was good till you needed him to kick that important goal.

The only player I had high hopes for that failed,was Craig Nettlebeck, former NO.1 draft pick for SYdney, and a Dee's supporter as a kid. But then he did play in a crap period for Melbourne.

So many more to comment on but a special mention to ex-don players were took for some reason.

Pyke was a very good player but a p/head, remember seeing him in the outer at princess park one day when he was out injured, he had 6 cans at his feet and was not going to stop at that. He won the B&F at Fitzroy and was supposedly too [censored] to make an acceptance speach.

Spalding grew an extra leg when he went to the Blues he was a much better player for them than he was for us, his left foot, flat punts were terrible.

Nettlebeck suffered a neck injury and could hardly lift his hands above his head, would have been ok but for that.

[furious d 472]

Trapper for me. Never delivered consistently

[dazzledavey36 55,316]

nick'426' smith remember we all use to think he was the next wayne carey B)

[Guest Redleg_24]

Jace Bode

Edited October 26, 2010 by Redleg_24

[Dalrot 85]

Jace Bode

You honestly had expectations on a rookie list player?

[Guest Redleg_24]

You honestly had expectations on a rookie list player?

Nah..but since we are just throwing out anyone who ever played as non achievers, may as well eep the off season interesting...

[Red Sox 2]

I remember going down to watch Sandringham one day because it was Tingays comeback game and he was one of my favourite players. I think they also had Alistair Nicholson and a few other Melbourne players playing. The whole senier side was there watching.

Tingay was ok in the first half, big Al got injured. After half time Tingay did not come out with the players, so I assumed he was injured. Nicolson got injured in the second quarter, and spent the remainder of the game sitting on the bench with the other players, so I was surprised there was no Tingay.

About 10 minutes into the third quarter, I spotted Tingay near me (about 50 metres away from the other players), no injury, showered and in his street clothes, talking to a couple a blond girls. He left with them half way through the final term. Big Al continued to sit on the bench for the remainder of the game supporting his teammates. The reports after the game were that Tingay was only suposed to play one half, and pulled up well.

I knew then that Tingay would never make it back to the top with that sort of attitude, and lost a lot of respect for him.

So Stephen Tingay didn't live up to expectations?

What an abysmal effort in summing him up here and having him included amongst this list of players.

Martin Pyke was good for us and we let him go as he wouldn't toe the social line outside the club. Played in a different in the premiership sides and would have been good for us if we kept him, a good mean player without being dirty.

Most of the players are wrongly listed here as they were curtailed by injury not whats between their heads and some was stupid recruiting..I remember Templeton, but we got good value out of Moore. But that was the Barrasi way, recruit established talent.

Earl Spalding, - was good till you needed him to kick that important goal.

The only player I had high hopes for that failed,was Craig Nettlebeck, former NO.1 draft pick for SYdney, and a Dee's supporter as a kid. But then he did play in a crap period for Melbourne.

So many more to comment on but a special mention to ex-don players were took for some reason.

Your underrating the Duke and his output with us, I suspect because he played in a fairly decent blues side. IMO he was just as good for us and contributed heavily in many important games, starting with the end of 87.

There's probably not any more that I could add here that aren't already listed. The most disappointing aspect for me has been the injuries suffered to many players I thought could have been even better, if not for these injury concerns.

Edited October 26, 2010 by Demon Hill

[Red Sox 2]

Yep. Lord Byron is here.

Trevor Spencer from Essendon in the 1979s/80s was supposed to be a gun KPF for MFC. Ugh.

Wasn't he from the early 90's? Then Geelong took him on from there?

I believe he came from Essendon together with Steven Clark?

In any case, two names to include here. Clark 'nearly' had a torpedo sail through after the siren at Windy Hill in 91 to defeat his old side. Sadly it fell short.

Pretty sure it was 91 as 1990 I remember Darren Bennett going nuts on Van Der Haar and winning us the game by 4 goals in a second half comeback - great day!

[Dnic 5]

I believe he came from Essendon together with Steven Clark?

In any case, two names to include here. Clark 'nearly' had a torpedo sail through after the siren at Windy Hill in 91 to defeat his old side. Sadly it fell short.

Pretty sure it was 91 as 1990 I remember Darren Bennett going nuts on Van Der Haar and winning us the game by 4 goals in a second half comeback - great day!

Steven Clark only lasted the one season with us I think before moving on and failing with the Saints.

I think his after the siren kick to the Napier St end would've given us a draw that day.

We haven't had much joy trading with the Bombres.

[Guest Thomo]

So Stephen Tingay didn't live up to expectations?

What an abysmal effort in summing him up here and having him included amongst this list of players.

Didn't live up to my expectations as a fan. I expected more from a senior player, the way that he conducted himself that day was dissapointing.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

nick'426' smith remember we all use to think he was the next wayne carey B)

I dont think so.

Wasn't he from the early 90's? Then Geelong took him on from there?

I believe he came from Essendon together with Steven Clark?

In any case, two names to include here. Clark 'nearly' had a torpedo sail through after the siren at Windy Hill in 91 to defeat his old side. Sadly it fell short.

Pretty sure it was 91 as 1990 I remember Darren Bennett going nuts on Van Der Haar and winning us the game by 4 goals in a second half comeback - great day!

Correct. It seemed further back than that.

[Guest Redleg_24]

I dont think so.

Correct. It seemed further back than that.

David Williams

[daisycutter 29,729]

Did Jamie Shanahan get a mention? Mind you I didn't have great expectations

[Guest Rojik of the Arctic]

Did Jamie Shanahan get a mention? Mind you I didn't have great expectations

Shanahan did about what I expected from him. He was just a good average player that did a good average job.

[loges 6,767]

Wasn't he from the early 90's? Then Geelong took him on from there?

I believe he came from Essendon together with Steven Clark?

In any case, two names to include here. Clark 'nearly' had a torpedo sail through after the siren at Windy Hill in 91 to defeat his old side. Sadly it fell short.

Pretty sure it was 91 as 1990 I remember Darren Bennett going nuts on Van Der Haar and winning us the game by 4 goals in a second half comeback - great day!

Spencer was early 90's and cost us Earl Spalding. For some strange reason Northey kept picking him ahead of Spalding for chf . Absolute dud!

[bazza226 74]

I was going to say that this is a pretty ordinary thread but stopped to say that...

Roger Ellingworth left Melbourne to go to Hawthorn.

I would have been pretty surprised if he got a game. Not many I would think!

The all time shooting bambi for me was Kelvin Templeton. Say it aint so Joe.

Talk about being sold a pup!

This selection was known as Barassi's folly. Melbourne sent Templeton to medical specialists in Sydney and Melbourne who advised that Templeton was gone (broken thumbs and no knees).

Barassi said that Peter Moore and Templeton were a package with Barassi and if one of them was gone then Barassi was also gone. MFC caved in and we had the most expensive kicking coach in the history of VFL/AFL football.

Templeton only played one good game for the Dees when he beat Geelong at Kardinia Park by kicking 7 goals.

[Demonised 1,355]

Rod Keogh. Didn't he win TWO Gardiner Medals for B&F in the reserves competition? Didn't we give him RDB's No. 31? I had great hopes for him, never really produced before we sold him to the Saints.

And Tom Kavanagh. Maybe a bit unfortunate, but being the son of a champion meant we had high expectations and he didn't manage to deliver.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Spencer was early 90's and cost us Earl Spalding. For some strange reason Northey kept picking him ahead of Spalding for chf . Absolute dud!

Spencer played 3 games for MFC. I dont think he held Earl Spalding back at all.

Rod Keogh. Didn't he win TWO Gardiner Medals for B&F in the reserves competition? Didn't we give him RDB's No. 31? I had great hopes for him, never really produced before we sold him to the Saints.

Rod Keogh is a good get.

[bush demon 2,062]

Diamond Jim Tilbrook needs further mention. There was wide media coverage of Melbourne's recruiting coup in securing his services, i think from Sturt. He was supposed to be a tear-away half-forward with a booming kick who could win games off his own boot. First game v South? he badly over-run the ball and I thought Oh oooh. Became a serviceable half-back from memory. Lou Richards on W.O.S starting calling him "tillendrium" tilbrook when his currency devalued.

[Hannabal 4]

Your underrating the Duke and his output with us, I suspect because he played in a fairly decent blues side. IMO he was just as good for us and contributed heavily in many important games, starting with the end of 87.

Even his good mates such as Lyon lament that we never got the stellar Carlton version. It needed the kick up the backside to produce his best, which was at Carlton.

I'm very close to someone that famously said, "we'll never win a flag with Spalding at CHF". And no, it wasn't me, but I knew what they meant at the time.

His best year was Carlton's premiership year. He had more marks, disposals and goals than he'd ever had before. It really was a year that was head and shoulders ahead of any other. Needless to say, I didn't enjoy it.

Edited October 26, 2010 by Hannabal

[armstrong35 262]

brad miller?

future star

future captain

now delisted

[Damo 3,374]

David Williams

You have shown no clue at all.

Fantastic for his size and delivery he received.

Quite often only shining light. Im betting you never ever saw him.

[Demon trucker 1,800]

Darren Kowal - Had huge wraps but failed was simply too small & not polished enough

Phil Gilbert - Hard nosed defender however his football skills where non existant.

Both very poor draft choices in the late 80's/ early 90's

Daniel Ward is one player i thought would be anything remember the gabba 2002 when we came back from 39 points in the third qtr, he played a blinder running off half back, he kicked a few goals, the best game of his life, never played another game that well again. every dog has his day

[Red Sox 2]

Even his good mates such as Lyon lament that we never got the stellar Carlton version. It needed the kick up the backside to produce his best, which was at Carlton.

I'm very close to someone that famously said, "we'll never win a flag with Spalding at CHF". And no, it wasn't me, but I knew what they meant at the time.

His best year was Carlton's premiership year. He had more marks, disposals and goals than he'd ever had before. It really was a year that was head and shoulders ahead of any other. Needless to say, I didn't enjoy it.

It was a fairly decent side that he was able to be a part of. But in all fairness he was as much a contributor to that 95 flag as anyone.

I still believe though he played as many fine games in the red & blue as did for the other mob. A favourite of mine in any case.

Edited October 26, 2010 by Demon Hill