For those who can remember back this far

[bush demon 1,885]

I'm only old enough to remember from the Northey era onwards so will have a go at players from that era;

Watts - Gerry Lyon in that he shows the ability to play forward, mid or back as required and his ability to handle the ball particularly in traffic is second to none

LJ - The great Jakovich has the ability to do the freakiest of things and then make the simple look difficult. Also similarities in that their defensive game could be seen as a weakness

Chip - Danny Hughes can match it with most key forwards in the league and has the ability to be a strong rebound from defence

Stef Martin - Jimmy Stynes both were late comers to the game and had to learn on the job - this year Martin has showns signs of Stynes' ability to play almost as another midfielder by racking up disposals around the ground as well as providing first use in the ruck

Wonna - Ricky Jackson little forward pocket crumber who can go missing for long periods but can bob up with a few goals a game every now and then

Morton - Steven Stretch lightly built winger who seems to have the ability and run when in full flight but questions continue about his commitment to the contest

Bate - The Duke Earl Spalding comparison due to both of their uncoordinated demeanour yet ability to snag goals when on song

Tapscott - Balls Grinter due to both of them having a "competitive" streak

Viney - Jones/McKenzie all hard as nails midfielders with questionable kicking at times

Feel free to pick these apart as you see fit - I was only a little tacker in the Northey days so my memory may be cloudy. Others that also come to mind are S Febey/Grimes, Wilson/Moloney, Johnson/Bartram, Yeats/Gysberts & B Lovett/Trengove. Obviously some will be better players than their counterparts but hopefully that will lead to greater success than we had during that era.

Nicholson is the match for Jackson, Diamond Jim Tilbrook for Tapscott (apologies to Luke!)

[Bobby McKenzie 2,169]

Nicholson is the match for Jackson, Diamond Jim Tilbrook for Tapscott (apologies to Luke!)

You jest of course 'bush demon'. The only similarity between Tilbrook and Tapscott is that their names both start with 'T' and they have the same body build. What a disappointment Diamond Jim was. On the other hand Luke is going to be one of our many important acquisitions.

[Sir Why You Little 34,443]

Aah the "Brilliant but erratic" Diamond Jim Tilbrook....He could kick the Ball 70metres....(Straight up in the air)

Dad and i went out to VFL Park to see i think his first game....it was very cold out at waverley. That is my only memory!!

[titan_uranus 22,358]

Yes, I was lucky. When I was 21, I had 4 Demon premierships under my belt. Would you believe, but when I was at school my jealous schoolmates branded me a 'Premiership barracker'. That wasn't a problem for you was it. Not a bad problem though. Most of the kids at Frankston primary school followed Essendon because they wore the same jumpers as Frankston in the Mornington Peninsula league. I thank my dad for letting me be different. BTW don't wish your life away. Your turn is coming. Soon I hope.

Haha, no I can safely say I have never been called a 'premiership barracker'.

Don't worry, I'm not wishing my life away at all. Eventually we'll get there.

TU - I was 23 before I saw our great team even play in a Final.

Yeh at least I can say I saw a Grand Final when I was 10. Pity we stank in it, against the best team of the last 20 years, but still. Richmond supporters my age can't say that. Suckers.

[Guest milpod]

I know Brad is at RFC now but.....

Brad Miller-Greg Parke both could mark,neither could convert.

[jnrmac 18,954]

"They say the darkest hour is right before the Dawn"

Which is why it is always the perfect time to steal your neighbour's newspaper!

[Deeoldfart 7,720]

Totally different players, but I've always seen great similarities between the kicking styles of Jake Spencer and the great Brian Dixon (but with apologies to Jake, I don't ever remember Dicko missing the ball completely).

Tappy reminds me of Greg Wells. Both nuggety and hard at it with good hands and very good disposal, although Wellsy didn't kick as far as Tappy. This comparison may become more obvious if Tappy gets to play in the midfield down the track.

Bryan Kenneally and Cale Morton. Both 'baby faced', skinny and very versatile. I'd love to think Cale could be as valuable a player (long term) as 'Kid' Kenneally.

[bush demon 1,885]

Aah the "Brilliant but erratic" Diamond Jim Tilbrook....He could kick the Ball 70metres....(Straight up in the air)

Dad and i went out to VFL Park to see i think his first game....it was very cold out at waverley. That is my only memory!!

Hey, I was at that game too! v South Melbourne?

We used to walk from Springvale and often crawled under the cyclone fence to get in. Tilbrook charged in for his first possession and the ball bounced awkwardly over him... embarrassing start, but was a beautiful kick.

[bush demon 1,885]

I know Brad is at RFC now but.....

Brad Miller-Greg Parke both could mark,neither could convert.

Greg Parke used to take huge pack marks, Brad Miller can't do that.

[Guest milpod]

Greg Parke used to take huge pack marks, Brad Miller can't do that.

Still shared the same non conversion module.

If you want to be a pedant,most of the comparisons are void.

[bjDee 1,247]

Aah the "Brilliant but erratic" Diamond Jim Tilbrook....He could kick the Ball 70metres....(Straight up in the air)

Dad and i went out to VFL Park to see i think his first game....it was very cold out at waverley. That is my only memory!!

So much of a disappointment that I think it was Lou Richards who quickly coined the term "Topaz Tilley".

Anyway... what about:

Gary Hardeman - Jared Rivers

Stan Alves - Jamie Bennell

Peter Moore - Steph Martin (loath though I am to acknowledge a team shifter from the Filth)

Sorry bobby mck. - intended to quote you rather than WYL, but both posted on the same Tilbrook topic

[Fork 'em 6,507]

Peter Moore - Steph Martin (loath though I am to acknowledge a team shifter from the Filth)

Watts reminds me of Moore at times .

Helps when your tall and blonde tho' .

Those trying to compare Flower are are drawing very long straws IMO .

Edited June 29, 2011 by Fork 'em

[Sir Why You Little 34,443]

Sorry bobby mck. - intended to quote you rather than WYL, but both posted on the same Tilbrook topic

Thanks!!

[bush demon 1,885]

Still shared the same non conversion module.

If you want to be a pedant,most of the comparisons are void.

Greg Parke was a hero of mine i was hoping someone better than Brad Miller could be slotted in at this late stage. ie Did Greg Parke have a stunnning g/f?

[Sir Why You Little 34,443]

Greg Parke was a hero of mine i was hoping someone better than Brad Miller could be slotted in at this late stage. ie Did Greg Parke have a stunnning g/f?

I had Greg Parke's No. 26 sewn onto my first Demon Jumper.

I thought he was a legend as an 8 y/o

[Whispering_Jack 27,971]

Frank 'Bluey Adams  - A smokey here since he hasn't had a game yet but Sam Blease could be the match. At least he's got the red hair and the speed.  

Those 50s & the first half of the 60s were such great days. 

Although I don't really like making comparisons of players from different eras I think you've nailed it with Bluey Adams and Sam Blease. Two redheaded speedsters and hopefully Sam will be one day be able to look back at as accomplished a career as multiple premiership player Adams.

[angrydee 842]

Watching Colin Sylvia dash out of the pack, straighten up and kick perfectly reminded me so much of the great Laurie Mithen in our golden era. His skills, marking reminded me so much of Laurie. What do you think Maurie?

Some other comparisons with the Golden era guys.

Ron Barassi - Jordie McKenzie for his fierce, Barassi like tackling, determination and work rate. Also, Stefan Martin. Why? Because Barass couldn't get a game until he became a ruck rover while Stefan was struggling until forced to be our acting number one ruckman. Look at him now.

John Beckwith - Colin Garland, so cool and reliable.

Bob Mckenzie - Aaron Davey with his blistering speed and goal kicking. The early edition of Davey. He was averaging 2 goals a game like McKenzie when he played as a forward which is where he has to be.

Noel McMahen - Luke Tapscott he charges through like McMahen who was fearsome.

Robbie Flower -( Sadly not in a golden era but has to be included here.) Maybe Jack Trengove could be closest here. I think Stephen Hill of Freo is very much in the mould of Robbie.

Stuart Spencer - Tom Scully with his ball getting and long left foot kicking. Not as long as Spencer's lovely drop kicking though.

Don Williams - Stefan Martin again. His athleticism reminds me a bit of Donny. Leaping, twisting, weaving etc etc.

Frank 'Bluey Adams - A smokey here since he hasn't had a game yet but Sam Blease could be the match. At least he's got the red hair and the speed.

Enough of nostalgia but the last two weeks have given me heart that we are about to take on the football world in a big way. I guess when we have a near full strength team and so many promising kids it helps a lot. Anyway, I would be interested in feedback from the posters of my era.. Even the young ones could ask their dad or even their GRANDDAD!!

Nicho reminds me of Bluey - who I was lucky enough to have as a neighbour in St. Kilda. And he wasn't above playing kick to kick with a 10 year old fan either. By the time I was 18, I'd been to 7 grand finals and seen 6 flags. I just want to see at least 1 more before I permanently leave this mortal coil.

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,397]

Three quick Robert Flower stories:

1. He turned up for his first try-out with Melbourne FC under 19s and only lasted a few minutes...because they decided he was too good and took him off the ground to wait for the seniors group to train later that day. I know this because my cousin did the same on the same day...except for the bit about being too good. (In fact, my cousin didn't make it in the then VFL at all - but played about 250 games in the ammos).

2. In one game against Richmond, the Melbourne strategy each time Richmond kicked a behind was to put all players on one side of the ground bar Robbie. He was left one-on-one with his opponent on the other wing. All but one of the kick-ins was sent his way and he won just about all of them. I don't now why the Richmond coach (was it Francis Bourke?) didn't do anything about it, but I seem to recall it might have been the coach's last match because of it.

3. Robbie showed his true class by almost always being in the best players in State of Origin clashes. He relished playing with the quality which surrounded him in those games, unlike most of his games for Melbourne where the standard was, err, disappointing.

[Bobby McKenzie 2,169]

Three quick Robert Flower stories:

1. He turned up for his first try-out with Melbourne FC under 19s and only lasted a few minutes...because they decided he was too good and took him off the ground to wait for the seniors group to train later that day. I know this because my cousin did the same on the same day...except for the bit about being too good. (In fact, my cousin didn't make it in the then VFL at all - but played about 250 games in the ammos).

2. In one game against Richmond, the Melbourne strategy each time Richmond kicked a behind was to put all players on one side of the ground bar Robbie. He was left one-on-one with his opponent on the other wing. All but one of the kick-ins was sent his way and he won just about all of them. I don't now why the Richmond coach (was it Francis Bourke?) didn't do anything about it, but I seem to recall it might have been the coach's last match because of it.

3. Robbie showed his true class by almost always being in the best players in State of Origin clashes. He relished playing with the quality which surrounded him in those games, unlike most of his games for Melbourne where the standard was, err, disappointing.

Another Flower story.

When I was teaching at Cheltenham High we were playing a game against Murrumbeena High. At three quarter time we were 6 goals behind and I said to my burley captain " Wattsy, you go onto that skinny kid with glasses, he's killing us." Gee", he muttered, I don't know, he's so quick and elusive." The skinny kid kicked two more goals to take his tally to seven and we went down by nearly 10 goals. After the game I approached the youngster and congratulated him on his game saying that maybe he would play VFL one day. When I asked him his name he replied shyly, "Robert Flower". I got that right didn't I? Not such a good judge with one of my own players though. He was small and just made the team. The year after he left school I heard that he was playing in the reserves for St Kilda. I thought at the time that he had exceeded all my expectations until I saw that he had been chosen in the St Kilda Firsts. He starred and never looked back becoming a legend at the club. He was of course the late, great Trevor Barker.

Edited June 30, 2011 by bobby mckenzie