Restoking a rivalry: Melbourne v Geelong

[Sir Why You Little 37,036]

Magner was a dam good choice in that joke of a draft. Ready to go meat and potatoes type. I hope he makes it.

[Demonsterative 3,020]

That's it. I have a good feeling with him and Williams

[Guest Jackie]

Does anyone know what the combined continuous losing streak against Geelong, Collingwood, Hawthorn, and Carlton is? Me thinks at least a seasons worth. Even more ugly if we include North and the Saints.

Edited January 1, 2012 by Jackie

[Biffen 12,943]

Reviving the rivalry would be a fairly good idea if there wasn't 31 goals difference between the two sides .

More like a revelry for the cats .

[Guest Jackie]

Just compliled this statistic. Our last win against any of Geelong, Saints, Pies, Carlton, Hawks, Bulldogs and North was round 11, 2006 when we downed the Pies. Since then a combined losing streak of 45 games and one draw against the cream of Victorian clubs. Ouch! Perhaps the only rivalry that may exist is between other clubs to see who can maintain the longest winning streak against us. Essendon and Richmond must feel humiliated at being left out of the challenge.

Edited January 1, 2012 by Jackie

[DemonWorshipper 304]

Just compliled this statistic. Our last win against any of Geelong, Saints, Pies, Carlton, Hawks, Bulldogs and North was round 11, 2006 when we downed the Pies. Since then a combined losing streak of 45 games and one draw against the cream of Victorian clubs. Ouch! Perhaps the only rivalry that may exist is between other clubs to see who can maintain the longest winning streak against us. Essendon and Richmond must feel humiliated at being left out of the challenge.

I think you will find we did beat the Magpies, Carlton and Dogs in 2007. Our last win against those sides was against the Blues in Rd 22 2007 in the so called "Kreuzer Cup".

But as any of us on here should now, the only 2 Victorian teams we have beaten since then are Richmond & Essendon and we of course drew with the Pies in Rd 12 2010.

Edited January 1, 2012 by DemonWorshipper

[Guest Jackie]

I think you will find we did beat the Magpies, Carlton and Dogs in 2007. Our last win against those sides was against the Blues in Rd 22 2007 in the so called "Kreuzer Cup".

But as any of us on here should now, the only 2 Victorian teams we have beaten since then are Richmond & Essendon and we of course drew with the Pies in Rd 12 2010.

Thanks for the correction. Since the Kreuzer Cup our streak is 41 losses and one draw. I hope this never happens again.

Edited January 2, 2012 by Jackie

[Rich Demon 5]

i agree buts its pretty hard to have a big rivalry at the Cattery when only 500-1,000 MFC Supporters can get in to the crappy ground!!

Never buy that argument, I get a GA ticket most years we play there, only the drawn match in 2006 from memory sold out before the bounce. Never seen any trouble either, but wouldn't pay the high reserved seat prices to sit in a sea of cats. The problem I see is the same supporters refusal to travel to Docklands.

Be a shame when Geelong complete their ground and there'll still be just a smattering of MFC supporters looking like a game at Subiaco. Doesn't help when the Club treat it as an interstate game for the players and supporters either.

[bush demon 2,040]

Norm Smith famously used the end-of-season matches in Honolulu and Hawaii as motivation against Geelong for Melbourne's failure to win the '63 premiership. Melbourne won both games - apparently spiteful contests - and went on to win the premiership the following year. Alas, both teams went into a prolonged drought, Melbourne's far, far worse than Geelong's. At least Geelong had regular finals appearances, not to mention their amazing humiliation of Melbourne in season 2011. It was not until the 'Battle for Geelong Road' occurred in season 2012 did Melbourne have the opportunity to avenge their 'stuck in traffic' (1964-2011) feeling. The clip is a match preview of Melbourne v Geelong's season opener in Round One, 1964. Melbourne went down narrowly, but showed they remained a force and would be a contender again, as they had for the previous eleven seasons:

[old dee 23,791]

Queens Birthday is entirely a rivalry from that long time ago. Other "fad" rivalries come and go.

Agree wyl.

IMO there is one rival "The Pies"

The rest are just games to be won or lost.

As you state later how can you have a rivalry when it is played at Geelong every year when 500 MFC fans can get in.

The whole idea is crazy.

They have been belting us for 20 years and I cannot see that chaging any time soon.

The only thing to consider with this game every year is the size of the loss.

[H_T 3,047]

The servo's are owned by Peter Spargo, a Melbourne FC board member. Someone needs to get in his ears about the flags.

If that is indeed the case, you think he would have input. Enough input to be up to speed with change and put the current "emblem" flag up.

Those servo's are currently in the midst of a massive windfall.

[Supermercado 2,797]

Shame somebody didn't at least go nuts and biff a few players during the 186 debacle. Knowing our luck that day they'd have accidentally punched themselves in the head.

[Whispering_Jack 30,107]

Shame somebody didn't at least go nuts and biff a few players during the 186 debacle. Knowing our luck that day they'd have accidentally punched themselves in the head.

They did a good job of shooting themselves and their coach in the foot though.

[Thrice 216]

We will have rivals i have no doubt, i just want them to be organic rather than set up. I think our main rival apart from the Filth will be Richmond and Hawthorn. But lets beat anyone in September and see who it is. Carlscum victories are as good as sex.....!

A rivaly has to be reciprocal. So on that basis the only one we have at the moment is with Richmond. There is also potential for a bit of a one to develop with North (certainly the right noises are coming from the other Scott), but that's like having a rivalry with your red-headed step-son.

Hawthorn supporters treat us with contempt; this, by definition cannot be a rivalry. There was an attempt to manufacture a 'no merger' rivalry which had some currency during the late 90s and early 2000s when both teams were relatively strong but we haven't beaten them since 2006.

Geelong: When the AFL were puyshign the rivalry round concept they pitted us against them in an attempt to create something along the OP's suggestion. I think Daniher summed it up well in one of the pressers, i paraphrase: "Well let just hope we meet them in finals in the next few years". We did once, they spanked us (after beating them by a point at the cattery 3 weeks earlier).

Collingwood: Well I guess if Carlton, Essendon, Richmond, Geelong and Hawthorn didn't exist we'd be somewhere near the top of their chief rivals. The reality is they're most club's supporters' main rival because they've always been strong, so each club has a 'history' with them. Ours was fierce 50 years ago, but seriously, we've played them once in a final in 20-odd years. In the minds of their supporters they don't seem to have the contempt that Hawks supporters have, more just a slightly pitying indifference. I'm not sure what's worse.

Carlton and Essendon: Yeah, nah.

The others: Meh. Maybe GW$ for as long as HWSNBN is there.

[deesrule 104]

I agree the 1963 premiership was stolen from us by Geelong but a better reason to want to beat them is what they did to us last year. This year under Neeld what better way to show our improvement (and Hardness) than to knock them off at their home.

Ps we beat them three times in 1963 Hawaii as well

[Sir Why You Little 37,036]

A rivaly has to be reciprocal. So on that basis the only one we have at the moment is with Richmond. There is also potential for a bit of a one to develop with North (certainly the right noises are coming from the other Scott), but that's like having a rivalry with your red-headed step-son.

Hawthorn supporters treat us with contempt; this, by definition cannot be a rivalry. There was an attempt to manufacture a 'no merger' rivalry which had some currency during the late 90s and early 2000s when both teams were relatively strong but we haven't beaten them since 2006.

Geelong: When the AFL were puyshign the rivalry round concept they pitted us against them in an attempt to create something along the OP's suggestion. I think Daniher summed it up well in one of the pressers, i paraphrase: "Well let just hope we meet them in finals in the next few years". We did once, they spanked us (after beating them by a point at the cattery 3 weeks earlier).

Collingwood: Well I guess if Carlton, Essendon, Richmond, Geelong and Hawthorn didn't exist we'd be somewhere near the top of their chief rivals. The reality is they're most club's supporters' main rival because they've always been strong, so each club has a 'history' with them. Ours was fierce 50 years ago, but seriously, we've played them once in a final in 20-odd years. In the minds of their supporters they don't seem to have the contempt that Hawks supporters have, more just a slightly pitying indifference. I'm not sure what's worse.

Carlton and Essendon: Yeah, nah.

The others: Meh. Maybe GW$ for as long as HWSNBN is there.

Like i said let us wait for September.

Collingwood will always be a rival. Other clubs merely try to create it.

[gOLLy 401]

Saw the flag the other day at BP.

Something really needs to be done...the blue is purple and red pinkish

[Supermercado 2,797]

Collingwood rivalry is treading water until we're both good in the same season again. With any luck the next time we're up they're about to go on a tumble again

[Carlos Danger 380]

Only worth restoking if we can start beating them.