Hope you are right because we could easily become as irrelevant as North Melbourne.

I Don't think that's possible while we continue to support our club through memberships and attending games.If we don't then no doubt we could end up like north melbourne.

There have been hard years, but the win will be worth it.

If you want to follow a team for the win, then go hop on Collingwood. And after that, whoever is next.

I was also there on 'that' day, and will keep being there. I follow Melbourne.

Sure, footy has its ups and downs, but for me they will always be red and blue ups and downs.

Sounds like there are a few hearts not beating true.

I think the club still has a very bright future just around the corner.

I agree.

I agree.

My optimistic side hopes you are correct. Unfortunately my bitter side has has heard such sentiments all too often. Still I suppose we will crack it one day - I just hope I am not fully into mt dotage and can enjoy it.

That is rather funny. Just look at the Saints and Bulldogs. We have 10 more premierships than both of them.

And have you ever been around to see one of those Premierships? I know I havent

And i think there is a little history re-writing - Robbie F said later he could not have played in the GF ( had we won the prelim) he was so injured and Wilson was also out - we were the walking wounded. As it proved to be the case - no one was going to beat Carlton - much as i would like to think we could have

.

Correct me if I am wrong but Melbourne was on a roll. We had beaten Collingwood and Westcoast and then we had to beat the Doggies, but Hawthorn had to beat the cats, I was there that day I will never forget it . The two sides were never more than a couple of goals apart, but at three-quarter time it looked as if the Cats were going to triumph and ruin both team's day. Wary of a fadeout in the last quarter it was reported afterwards, that the coaching staff had told the players that Hawthorn were winning and all they needed to do to play finals was to beat the Doggies. However this was not exactly true. With the game all but over and won, if I remember correctly, they actually started broadcasting over the loudspeaker the game between Hawthorn and Geelong with Dogie supporters Barracking for the Cats. It was a double win that day with the Hawks falling over the line by 3 points. We were in the Finals and all of us as supporters where delerious.

Then we beat Nth Melbourne at the MCG it was fantastic! We rolled out the ground singing the Melb. Theme song over and over and we had next weeks game to look forward to as well against the Sydney Swans. At the end of that day we got to sing the theme song even louder if that was possible.

Next it was out to VFL Park good old Waverly . It was a classic match, tough hard, emotions up and down . I thought we had it won. Sure there was some stuff ups but thats Finals Football. We new there was only seconds on clock left but Hawthorn was attacking. Bucks got a free kick. But then the Siren sounded. We had won, there was no way would make that kick he was too far out

Then the nightmare began!

Jimmy ran over the mark he paid a 15 metre penalty which bought Bucks in to range and it sailed through . Everyone though was screaming the siren had gone it was a travisty a injustice men and women around me where in tears

Most just sat dumbstruck. Were we where, not even the Hawthorn supporters were making much noise. They knew they had got away with Highway Robbery

But then it still wasnt over they hadnt heard the siren the umpire was about to bounce the ball again, we thought well if he hasnt heard it there is still a chance . This is all in a matter of a minute or so.

But then a Copper from the boundary ran out to tell the umpire the siren had sounded ,then he held up the ball signalling the end of the game . At least that is the way I remember it. To this day I still think that copper was a Hawthorn supporter.

We all know the wash up of that game and the ramifications afterwards, but that year was a fantastic feeling though not at the end. But in my heart I know regardless of Injuries we would certainly have given it a better shake than Hawthorn and that is what hurts still, because we will never know.

However all I ask is that I get to re-live that dream one more time, this time though hopefully with my sons and daughter who had no hope of being anything else but demon supporters, Being born back then they havent this sort of experience yet and I would hope that all of us can share in that again .

So I dont think that is to much to ask for , after all our years of support for the Melbourne F C does anyone?

Edited May 31, 201114 yr by Demon Stalwart

I might be overly optimistic, but I think the club still has a very bright future just around the corner. We do have a good list, and I think any deadwood will be cleared off at seasons end regardless of where we finish.

I didn't suffer through the 80s as much as some of you, as I was only in primary school. The passion still burns the same, and falling in love with the lovable loser that is the MFC is one of the most rewarding and horrific experiences I have ever had.

Hang tough, I think there is going to be light at the end of the tunnel this time around.

As for the coach? TBC

I agree. I think we've got a great young list that will be a terrific side in the not too distant future. Maybe bails will be the man to lead us forward, maybe not. I hope so, because I like the guy, but if it's not I won't be too worried. We'll just get someone else in. Our ascent from bottom to top was never likely to have an evenly spaced trajectory.

I don't think the support being divided on the coach is a desperately terrible issue. It's just human nature to have differences of opinion. It doesn't mean either side loves the club any less.

While I'm at it, I'm sick of the, "Essendon/Collingwood/Carlton wouldn't stand for this" opinion. If you're so enamoured with the supporters of opposition clubs, fark off and follow them.

Forget Stynes and Buckenara, it's Eishold, Yeates and Campbell who should be burned at the stake

I wouldn't lump Yeater in there Grape. I was directly behind our goals (smack bang in the middle) in the last quarter when he took that shot on the run.

I swear that ball was shooting straight towards me when he first launched it and up to about half way towards goal. I was even thinking at the time that i could have a go at marking it or that i might have to protect the war office! Suffice to say in that split second i'd already marked it down as a goal (and almost the sealer!). It swung away in the last 15 meters, almost as if an invisible hand was pushing it to the left of the goal posts and didn't want for it to go through (left from my perspective).

I can still remember looking at my other half at the time in bewilderment thinking "WTF!??".

There's a whole lot of things that lead to these close finishes. Another for example.... there was a very obvious throw about 20 meters in front of the Hawks goals in the first quarter and they scored a goal. I'm not mentioning the player here out of respect.

On the day, yeah there was Eishold, Campbell, Stynes and the throw etc. But the kick on goal by Yeater was the moment for me that always sticks and i always think "what if?"...and "why/how didn't that shot go through?"

If you trailed through the replay i'm sure you'd find plenty of others.

But those boys did us proud during that finals series, including Yeater, and shouldn't be remembered for the "odd" things that didn't work out in our favour in the heat of battle.

I prefer to see them all as Swooper's heroes and heroes of our club, given what we were up against, where we'd come from and the great efforts they'd made to get us (and Robbie!) within one kick of a GF...after the siren. They truly played for each other and gave their all for the Red & the Blue!

B)

Mighty Demons Forever

I wouldn't lump Yeater in there Grape. I was directly behind our goals (smack bang in the middle) in the last quarter when he took that shot on the run.

I swear that ball was shooting straight towards me when he first launched it and up to about half way towards goal. I was even thinking at the time that i could have a go at marking it or that i might have to protect the war office! Suffice to say in that split second i'd already marked it down as a goal (and almost the sealer!). It swung away in the last 15 meters, almost as if an invisible hand was pushing it to the left of the goal posts and didn't want for it to go through (left from my perspective).

I can still remember looking at my other half at the time in bewilderment thinking "WTF!??".

That was the curse-of-'65 stepping in to prevent a return to the Promised Land. I know we had a stack of injuries but my lord we were good in that latter part of '87. We would've given the Grand Final a shake.

It all seems so far off now.

Maths fail

That's why arrays should be zero-indexed...

That was the curse-of-'65 stepping in to prevent a return to the Promised Land. I know we had a stack of injuries but my lord we were good in that latter part of '87. We would've given the Grand Final a shake.

It all seems so far off now.

Not the dreaded Smithy sacking curse you mean lol! I sometimes wonder how/why our injury probs arise year after year, yet some other clubs run the whole season almost injury free, sometimes helping them win the big one eg., The Filth last year. Hawks in 2008 etc.

Bro is longer in the tooth than i Demon wise and he swears there's something there "curse" wise too.

Is there someone around who can come down and conduct an anti-curse ceremony lol?

Changes will happen in 2012...

This comment seems to me to be the core issue and no one seems to be discussing the Board attitude.

Do we have confidence that the experienced people at that level who no doubt have the interests of the Club at heart (and therefore our own) will be able to make the right moves?

Enthusiasm is great but what we need is nouse as well.

( Not a supporter of " Off With His Head " as a panacea for all problems.

The knife may need to cut deeper if it is used)