Red Fox

[wattsup 470]

i am in the middle of reading the red fox and what a brilliant book it is i am learning so much about the MFC and norm smith that i never knew, how he didnt kick 100 goals in a season is beyond me maybe its the drop kicks fault he did love it im about half way through and loving it has anyone else read it and what were your thoughts, and is there any other MFC books that anyone would recommend

[Grapeviney 9,799]

I read it just a couple of months back wattsup and like you i thoroughly enjoyed it.

It's meticulously researched - really an exhaustive account with dozens of interviews with friends, colleagues, team-mates, and players who played under him.

I think one of the main reason Norm Smith didn't kick a ton is because of his unselfishness and the decoy forward line set-up which saw so many other players around him kick goals.

I found the chapters on his bust-up with the club to be quite sad - and if you youtube the tony charlton footy show episode with Norm talking about his departure, it's enough to bring a tear to the eye!

Fasntastic read, a super addition to football literature by author Ben Collins

[WonnaJurah 5]

i am in the middle of reading the red fox and what a brilliant book it is i am learning so much about the MFC and norm smith that i never knew, how he didnt kick 100 goals in a season is beyond me maybe its the drop kicks fault he did love it im about half way through and loving it has anyone else read it and what were your thoughts, and is there any other MFC books that anyone would recommend

it kinda of mfc based by the Troy Broadbridge book by Trish is a really moving book i found, still reading Red Fox and i have a Gary Lyon one to get through as well

[Demonic Ascent 0]

I'm currently working through the new Barassi biography which is quite good (I'm up to the 1970 GF) and have the Red Fox sitting there waiting for me when I finish it. I'm really looking forward to it.

[Deeoldfart 8,061]

Outstanding read. Such great memories came flooding back.

[wattsup 470]

Outstanding read. Such great memories came flooding back.

no memories 4 me only started following dees early 90s but i like history and learning more about the club and the people involved

[DirtyDees DDC 187]

Read it - loved it - recommend it to anyone who follows the Demons. Try to avoid the temptation to jump to the chapter on 1965. It's the most engrossing chapter in the book, but it helps to read the early stuff and build up a picture of the man who helped the MFC win 10 premierships.

I can only remember the last premiership in '64 so the book filled in a few gaps. I'm not sure if we had as good a side as Richmond in the 60's and '70s or Hawthorn in the '80s yet we didn't just win grand finals, we absolutely dominated them.

We won 5 out of 6 but the only one that was discussed in the 60's was the 1958 GF. That is so unfair. Some even said they would give up the 59 and 60 flags for the 58 GF but I can't agree. We should be proud of every GF win. Hawthorn supporters never say they would swap the 88 and 89 flags for the 87 flag. You have to judge each year on its merits, and one that stands out is 57. We lost Stuey Spencer, Denis Cordner, Noel McMahon and others, yet Norm got us up for a 3rd flag in a row. An absolutely amazing effort.

[Sideshow Bob 2,410]

Just bought both the Red Fox and Barassi for my dad for christmas pressies - I can't wait to start reading them over the summer..... when i can get them back to read - is it wrong to buy him something that really is just so i can read them

[Sir Why You Little 37,124]

Just bought both the Red Fox and Barassi for my dad for christmas pressies - I can't wait to start reading them over the summer..... when i can get them back to read - is it wrong to buy him something that really is just so i can read them

No not at all!! I hope your dad is a Demon as well. B)

[bush demon 2,062]

Our club's fame was almost completely based on the feats of Smith and his protege, Barassi. When recruiting rules and a level-playing field finally caught up with the demons we had BArassi, still only 28 and a premiership winning captain/ best & fairest taking the money to further his career elsewhere. i will never understand why MFC didn't match his offer, maybe they did.

It was said that Smith would have stood aside for Barassi but the greater truth is that Barassi had to go elsewhere to obtain the blind obedience necessary to win premierships. it is a sad fact that we relied too much on these two football greats and that when their partnership broke up the whole thing imploded. Sadly, that meant endless televised replays of the new teams and only Hassa Mann flying the flag for our club. all that remained of our premiership era was memories and anecdotes. The erasure of the '64 premiership win by the tv stations was the final snub to our club.

[Sideshow Bob 2,410]

No not at all!! I hope your dad is a Demon as well. B)

Of course he is :-) so was his dad and before him his dad as well. I'm a 35 year old 4th generational demon...

This is the first time in my lifetime that a sense of a successful era is coming... the demon is awakening