OB was a player who could play any small role, Wing, Flank, Pocket, Tagger... He was just learning & had huge upside.

o'brien was definitely NBT.

Obrien had his career cut short with a knee injury similar to N Daniher. Crosswell was everywhere! OK replace him with with anyone on the IC. Perhaps the Forward Pocket version with Robbie Walters? I don't agree with the Steven Smith comments. If Smith played for Collingwood in his Prime he would have been a Gun. He lost a lot of Confidence at the time all his Hair fell out(he had a health issue) and Mathews allegedly knocking him out was a big set back. Smith also played very well as a defender. He was offered big dollars by Carlton and remained faithful. Didn't find him disappointing at all.

HEy RC, i will back you on both o'Brien and Baker. i think he about number one for marks in the league around this time. unf. the team wasn't good enough for crosswell he kept arguing all the time. i think he had some kind of learning disability, called team-mates 'tiger' because he couldn't remember their names at training.

Edited March 8, 201213 yr by bush demon

Baker Giles Pinnell

Elliot Hardeman OBrien

Gordon Nettlefold Flower ©

Byrne Smith Healy

Crosswell Jackson Elshaugh

Keenan Fowler ODonnell

IC :Clayton Catoggio Walters Moir Seddon Hutchison Dittrerich

Coach :Ron Barassi.

A team to entertain Veteran Dee supporters here. Baker had Vice Hands, Peter Giles was a rugged Defender similar to Rivers but tougher. Pinnell was a star at Carlton. Elliot, Crosswell and Hardeman all Pedigree. Gordon and Flower two of the best wingers in the game and Nettlfold was tough. Byrne was tall and rangey and went on to be a star at Hawthorn. Gerard Healy could kick a goal, Steve Smith always underated CHF, great mark and kick-victim of a Mathews elbow allegedly.(I was there) Crosswell is what Finals are made of with Mark Jackson kicked 76 goals(was probably a mistake) then Tony Elshaugh Victorian rover. Crackers was Crackers, Laurie Fowler was tough as nails, could kick goals and play any defensive role. Kelly Odonnell was good but a softie.

The bench didn't lack talent with Cameron Clayton Vinny Catoggio Ex Blues star State rover Robbie Walters could make a lead and kick a goal (something Dees lack right now)Obrien did his knee and looked like being the next Gary Ablett.

What went wrong?

This team coached by the Great one won ONE game all season. How does it compare with the Dees of 2012 skippered by Trengove and Grimes and Coached M. Neeld?

Yes . If memory serves me correctly , we won one game by one point at the Western Oval [perhaps after a Flower mark at the end of the game ? ].

I'm quite prepared to be wrong .

Like many other Demons , I went to the first game of this year 1981 . We had a blistering first half , and Barassi received a standing ovation from the crowd ,

while I sat in my seat saying " No! No! No! The game isn't over yet ! Standing ovation after the FINAL siren ."

Of course , we were totally overrun in the 2nd half ....

Like many other Demons , I went to the first game of this year 1981 . We had a blistering first half , and Barassi received a standing ovation from the crowd ,

while I sat in my seat saying " No! No! No! The game isn't over yet ! Standing ovation after the FINAL siren ."

Of course , we were totally overrun in the 2nd half ....

I recall that first quarter. Dees were HOT:)

Good work remembering P, Obrien re the NBT comment. Some long standing Demon supporters can be a worry. Same as current day dudes bag out on a 20 yo Jack Watts. I also remember RF in his first couple of games and everyone knew he was NBT big time.

Yes . If memory serves me correctly , we won one game by one point at the Western Oval [perhaps after a Flower mark at the end of the game ? ].

I'm quite prepared to be wrong .

Yep , spot on . Though I'm not sure about the Flower bit . You're probably right on that one as well .

I was at the game on the outer wing , near the opposition Coaches box . Remember RDB slipping over as he went to run acoss the ground .

Needless to say , he copped some ribbing from the crowd ! That was a long , long season .

Cheers .

Good work remembering P, Obrien re the NBT comment. Some long standing Demon supporters can be a worry. Same as current day dudes bag out on a 20 yo Jack Watts. I also remember RF in his first couple of games and everyone knew he was NBT big time.

I'm a current day "dude" that recognises Watts' short comings. I'm also an old 'dude' that knows that Paul O'Brien would be embarrassed to be compared to Robert Flower.

Btw, it doesn't mean that I didn't rate O'Brien, because I did. I just recognise that one player had shown heaps of potential in his 22 games and the other was the greatest wingman in 100 years of football.

You're embarrassing yourself with such a comparison.

Edited March 8, 201213 yr by Ben-Hur

It was tough going back then

'77 - 5/17

'78 - 5/17

'79 - 6/16

'80 - 5/17

Then Barass comes home and we're all over the moon and a little excited

And we go 1/21 .

Finals were still 6 years away .

Cheers !

Yep , spot on . Though I'm not sure about the Flower bit . You're probably right on that one as well .

I was at the game on the outer wing , near the opposition Coaches box . Remember RDB slipping over as he went to run acoss the ground .

Needless to say , he copped some ribbing from the crowd ! That was a long , long season .

Cheers .

Flower kicked the winning goal.

Flower kicked the winning goal.

He was poetry in motion ! I remember his long handball to advantage - we don't see that as much as we should .

Cheers

Laurie Fowler in an interview in this week's Inside Football says that the players were so in awe of RDB that they became tentative and inhibited because they were afraid of making a mistake in front of TGM.

As an aside, he stated that big Carl was the best coach he played under (they included Hafey & RDB).

Edited March 8, 201213 yr by angrydee

no one picked it. Big Carl wasn't actually in the team of 1981. What could of been if he coached the side instead of RB. Premiership or Spoon for thought? Good Post Angrey Dee!

Edited March 9, 201213 yr by thaipantsman

no one picked it. Big Carl wasn't actually in the team of 1981. What could of been if he coached the side instead of RB. Premiership or Spoon for thought? Good Post Angrey Dee!

Yeah, I did. Thought it was odd, so I checked.

I didn't think I remembered him there then, & I thought Barassi wouldn't have the ex coach there as he's doing a clean sweep.

As you say, he wasn't there in '81.

It was tough going back then

'77 - 5/17

'78 - 5/17

'79 - 6/16

'80 - 5/17

Then Barass comes home and we're all over the moon and a little excited

And we go 1/21 .

Finals were still 6 years away .

Cheers !

Barassi's 5 years did set us up for 1987, though .

Went to his 1st game as coach , made a point to go to his last day as well [ 1985 was not good either ]. It was a cold , wet , windy day at the 'G .

Went in to afternoon tea at half time , and stayed there for the duration .

It was much warmer and drier , and the Devonshire Tea was very nice.

Laurie Fowler in an interview in this week's Inside Football says that the players were so in awe of RDB that they became tentative and inhibited because they were afraid of making a mistake in front of TGM.

As an aside, he stated that big Carl was the best coach he played under (they included Hafey & RDB).

And in that could be what part of the problem was. That if the players had learn't to not push themselves to excel, but rather back it down a bit so they don't make mistakes, The deespiraling of the team.

If your not making mistakes your not trying. Don't backoff lessening your skills, push hard to improve them. At the elite level.

It seems the shyness pervaded over a desire to impress.

I remember going to a Melb Vs Filth game during Barassi's 2nd year i think. and the banner "from the filth" saying the great revival 12th to 11th or something like that. more than a few teams had fun at our expense.

Barassi's 5 years did set us up for 1987, though .

Went to his 1st game as coach , made a point to go to his last day as well [ 1985 was not good either ]. It was a cold , wet , windy day at the 'G .

Went in to afternoon tea at half time , and stayed there for the duration .

It was much warmer and drier , and the Devonshire Tea was very nice.

Yep , spot on 'mollydee' .

I've often stuck up for Ron about how he helped set up us for the future . We weren't in great shape when he took over from Big Carl . I thought we occasionally played some quite good footy in '82 , '83 and '84 . We had limited recources and it was hard to attract good players to the club . Our zones weren't that productive either . It's a much more even playing field now with the draft and salary cap .

I also liked Ditterich as coach . He did his best in a tough enviroment . It was interesting to note Laurie Fowler's praise of Carl in 'angrydee's post . We've had some good coaches over the years but what can you do if you don't have the talent ? Bobby Skilton and Ian Ridley were a couple of others that were perhaps better coaches than their record suggests .

Cheers

Yep , spot on 'mollydee' .

I've often stuck up for Ron about how he helped set up us for the future . We weren't in great shape when he took over from Big Carl . I thought we occasionally played some quite good footy in '82 , '83 and '84 . We had limited recources and it was hard to attract good players to the club . Our zones weren't that productive either . It's a much more even playing field now with the draft and salary cap .

I also liked Ditterich as coach . He did his best in a tough enviroment . It was interesting to note Laurie Fowler's praise of Carl in 'angrydee's post . We've had some good coaches over the years but what can you do if you don't have the talent ? Bobby Skilton and Ian Ridley were a couple of others that were perhaps better coaches than their record suggests .

Cheers

As we now know, it's simply not enough to go get the talented player. Thats just the start of a potential success.

It's the building ontop of the 'foundations of Talent', that house the trophies & memories.

Teach & build, teach & build, till the Pyramid is complete. And before you know it you have a new culture, Winning.

Actually Macca, I thought that Riddles on many occasions snatched defeat from the jaws of victory with strange positional moves that often resulted in defeat. He was a master of 'robbing Peter to pay Paul'. Skilts, on the other hand, I thought did a terrific job with minimal resources and was unlucky not to make the finals. I was sad to see him sacked.

Actually Macca, I thought that Riddles on many occasions snatched defeat from the jaws of victory with strange positional moves that often resulted in defeat. He was a master of 'robbing Peter to pay Paul'. Skilts, on the other hand, I thought did a terrific job with minimal resources and was unlucky not to make the finals. I was sad to see him sacked.

I'll bow to your better judgement 'angrydee' . I was a little young to know anyway !

I do remember we won 8 of our 1st 9 games in 1971 though . I 'spose I was basing my opinion on that . Our list didn't seem strong from what I've read .

Ian did a lot for our club and even though I wasn't happy about the proposed merger I never really blamed him . Too many premiership medallions !!

I was at that round 22 game at Vic Park in 1976 . Bobby nearly got us there .

Cheers

Edited March 9, 201213 yr by Macca

Yeah, I did. Thought it was odd, so I checked.

I didn't think I remembered him there then, & I thought Barassi wouldn't have the ex coach there as he's doing a clean sweep.

As you say, he wasn't there in '81.

well picked up deluded! Did you also pick up I didn't give some players of that year a mention, i.e, Spud Dullard.

I'll bow to your better judgement 'angrydee' . I was a little young to know anyway !

I do remember we won 8 of our 1st 9 games in 1971 though . I 'spose I was basing my opinion on that . Our list didn't seem strong from what I've read .

Ian did a lot for our club and even though I wasn't happy about the proposed merger I never really blamed him . Too many premiership medallions !!

I was at that round 22 game at Vic Park in 1976 . Bobby nearly got us there .

Cheers

so was I !! Greg Wells was dominating the centre and who knows how far Dees would have gone if we made it. I recall tuning in to Bulldogs game. Did Bullies not have to win for us to get in?? or was it draw?

so was I !! Greg Wells was dominating the centre and who knows how far Dees would have gone if we made it. I recall tuning in to Bulldogs game. Did Bullies not have to win for us to get in?? or was it draw?

The Bulldogs only had to draw . I still remember the roar that came from the Collingwood social club when Footscray drew with Carlton . They had long memories .

Still , we've beaten that "mob" 15 times of the the last 16 times we've played them in finals . I let every Pie fan I come across know about it . Oh , and the fact they've only won 4 flags in the last 75 years .

Hehehehe

Cheers

Edited March 13, 201213 yr by Macca

Like many other Demons , I went to the first game of this year 1981 . We had a blistering first half , and Barassi received a standing ovation from the crowd ,

while I sat in my seat saying " No! No! No! The game isn't over yet ! Standing ovation after the FINAL siren ."

Of course , we were totally overrun in the 2nd half ....

Are you sure it was the first game in 1981 'mollydee'? i looked up all the VFL scores and we were miles behind Hawthorn at halftime in the first game of the 1981 season.