If we won the Richmond game, we still had Freo at the "G" the next game(or two) which we won but could have 'lost' as insurance

Hell, to lose the Freo game in 2009 would have made the Richmond tank effort look very mild. Freo were putrid that day and tossed the towel in early.

Hell, to lose the Freo game in 2009 would have made the Richmond tank effort look very mild. Freo were putrid that day and tossed the towel in early.

Yes I remember that day to lose would have meant retiring at three quarter time.

Worst day fo my demon following life. Only multiple flags with many of the younger players on the list that were there that day and turned it into the reason to succeed will make up for it.

Worst day fo my demon following life. Only multiple flags with many of the younger players on the list that were there that day and turned it into the reason to succeed will make up for it.

I do wish i could get hold of the SEN commentary of the Richmond Tanking game though....KB refused to believe there was any tanking.

Andy Maher left the Box...it was sad, but hilarious all in one.

i am not proud of it.

Tank, shmanck........what about all those clubs that send all their better players off for surgery before the year's end?

List management? Gimme a break!!

We didn't tank .Jordie McMahon proved it .Carlton tanked , rorted and brown-paper bagged their way to an ever closing window .

I think 186 was the straw (bale) that broke the camels back and forced Melb to take decisive action to address issues in the club that had probably been apparent for a year or two. If Neeld and the boys have a good 2012, we make the finals, and play consistently hard footy, then 186 may have been worth enduring.

If we win a flag under Neeld's reign, then 186 was a blessing.

Go Dees

Agreed .it was a wake up call on Bailey and "the boys" trying to wag the dog .I think a fair bit of LG demotion is due to that day .Of course they were happy with Bailey .They trained just hard enough to look good in the nightclub .Anyway -it's history .

2007 5 wins

2008 3 wins

2009 4 wins inc jordie mcmahon loss.

2010 8 wins.

2011 8 wins

we beat richmond and we miss out on pick 1. fair to say after the two years previous (8 wins total) that we [censored] deserved one.

Forget about QBW, I'm waiting for round six in early May. No more sooking, I want us to go down there and give them hell. Win, lose or draw I want to see them crippled for the rest of the season and I hope they'll crap themselves everytime they they meet us thereafter.

I did.

I am struggling to understand where you are coming from.

Are you saying that people tolerated the Daniher 'good team, good depth, no hope' years or are you having a go at those in favour of tanking in 2009?

big call and also rough on Neil Daniher. He took us very very close!!! I do think his love for Jeff White was OVER the top.

I always find comfort in the old saying that it is always the darkest before dawn. I86 was certainly the darkest and most humiliating moment for the club that I could remember. Much soul searching and swift changes have occurred since then and the season proper has not stared yet. There seem to be a different attitude around the club and with supporters.

Just a few things I have noticed.

Though it is still preseason there seems to be more competitiveness around the club. Never been so difficult to identify who could be our best 22 at round one.

The new coaching regime seem to have sown the seeds for genuine work ethic and discipline amongst the players.

There seems to be less spin and excuses coming out of the club and less tolerance for them from supporters.

The inadequate leadership group has been banished.

Different attitude amongst many supporters with a significant reduction of the passive acceptance of mediocrity as in the past.

Any other opinions?

Nice quote but not if you happen to be a Fitzroy Supporter. Doubt if many will read your quote though. Love your post!