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Exciting to watch Demons over the years


Bobby McKenzie

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I have come up with a list of the most exciting players to represent the MFC. This list is not necessarily our best ever players but ones who were capable of dazzling, creative footy that could turn a game in minutes. The solid, hard working guys don't come under consideration in this case. Those below are not listed in any particular order but just so exciting to watch.

Don Williams, Ron Barassi, Geoff Tunbridge, Laurie Mithen, Jeff Farmer, Bob McKenzie, Robert Flower, Stephen Tingay, Adem Yze, Travis Johnstone, Frank Adams, Stan Alves, Todd Viney, Aaron Davey, Sean Wight, Alan Johnson, Peter Vardy, Glen Lovett, Gary Lyon, Gary Hardeman, David Neitz, David Schwarz, Hassa Mann, Jim Stynes, Russell Robertson, Steven Stretch, Big Bob Johnson and Allen Jakovich.

Who have I left out that should be there? Please feel free to contribute your thoughts.

Edited by Bobby McKenzie
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Another left-footer - Big Bob Johnson.

Let's hope there are plenty now serving their apprenticeship: J. Howe, J. Watts, J. Trengove, L. Jurrah for starters.

Yes, missed Big Bob. He's there now. The above players you mentioned certainly have the potential to be excitement machines. They have shown a bit already.

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A career too short - Rhino Richards

If Neeld wants grunt (and pace) he would have loved Russell. Did a huge don't argue one day on, was it, Dipper?

Ricky Jackson. Would be handy at Clarke's feet

And Brett Lovett because he had stumpy legs, little pace and a mullet and still no one could get near him. Deep in the back pocket, surrounded by 3 defenders and with his feet firmly planted to one square metro of turf he could evade all. He was excitingly reliable.

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I have come up with a list of the most exciting players to represent the MFC. This list is not necessarily our best ever players but ones who were capable of dazzling, creative footy that could turn a game in minutes. The solid, hard working guys don't come under consideration in this case. Those below are not listed in any particular order but just so exciting to watch.

Don Williams, Ron Barassi, Geoff Tunbridge, Laurie Mithen, Jeff Farmer, Bob McKenzie, Robert Flower, Stephen Tingay, Adem Yze, Travis Johnstone, Frank Adams, Stan Alves, Todd Viney, Aaron Davey, Sean Wight, Alan Johnson, Peter Vardy, Glen Lovett, Gary Lyon, Gary Hardeman, David Neitz, David Schwarz, Hassa Mann, Jim Stynes, Russell Robertson, Steven Stretch, Big Bob Johnson and Allen Jakovich.

Who have I left out that should be there? Please feel free to contribute your thoughts.

Ahhh....Jim Stynes. His impact on the game of ruckwork and his mobility and endurance for such a big player was exciting..

Jeff White

Greg Wells

Darren Bennett- One of the best kicks of a football I have ever seen.

Brian Wilson.

Peter Moore while at MFC

Brief cameos from Sean Charles and Darren Cuthbertson

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Ahhh....Jim Stynes. His impact on the game of ruckwork and his mobility and endurance for such a big player was exciting..

Jeff White

Greg Wells

Darren Bennett- One of the best kicks of a football I have ever seen.

Brian Wilson.

Peter Moore while at MFC

Brief cameos from Sean Charles and Darren Cuthbertson

In the spirit of your post I would have both Ross Dillon and Greg Parke well and truly on the list for their contested pack marking in our gloomy late 60's early 70's phase.
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A career too short - Rhino Richards

If Neeld wants grunt (and pace) he would have loved Russell. Did a huge don't argue one day on, was it, Dipper?

Richards career was quite long enough.

Had the tools but very rarely produced.

Kicked about 3 goals against the top side Dawks and earned his nickname Rhino by putting dipper on his arze the day you mentioned but that was about the total sum of his career.

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Phil Carmen and Mark Jackson were pretty exciting, but probably for all the wrong reasons :-) From earlier days, I would say John Townsend and Barry Bourke have stuck in my memory and in the 70's a couple that spring to mind are Henry Coles (but again, probably for all the wrong reasons) and a guy I used to work with at the time at Veterans' Affairs, Colin Graham - a winger with some pace and good skills but a bad attitude; he would occasionally go missing (literally)

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Guest Dr Who

I remember watching him take that speccy against the Tiges in 1998. What a great year that was...only to be robbed.

I remember in that infamous game against the Pies - where he kicked 10 and we beat them - pure wizardry.

But you are touching on a very good point - One thing I think we have done very poorly in the past is "sell" our players.

MFC players biggest critics are sadly MFC "supporters" and I use the term "supporters" very loosely.

Imagine if we could some how conjure up the ability to supporter our boys thru thick & thin ... maybe, just maybe the more kids in the school yards would want to be like them. You only have to go to any MFC game and listen to how the people in red & blue refer to their own. Its embarrassing to take your kids & their friends.

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I got two - one very obscure.

1/ Andy Moir - a whizzkid at 18 who fizzled very quickly but boy could he take a hanger

2/ In the darker years - I dont know if excitement is the right word but you felt taller and braver watching Big Carl in the Dees jumper ( and terrified when he wore the Saints jumper)

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I'm going to add two future excitement machines ( disclaimer - they have to grow and build on the glimpses they have provided)

Sam Blease - I think he has done it maybe 5 times in his brief career - those flat out after jets on runs bouncing the ball. Got my pulse racing. When Jetta of the swans does it too.

Jeremy Howe - will take mark of the year in his career - enough said

We have left one out of the list of current excitement machines - how quickly we have forgotten and how I yearn for those days. Flash in his first 3 years grabbing the ball and taking off - didnt need to dispose because he knew no one could catch him.

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Blair Campbell . Only 12 games for 23 goals but a couple of those "boomerang goals" were beauty's !

A few others that had a bit of "excitement" about them were Denis Clark , Warren Dean , David Williams , Les Bamblett , Ted Fidge , Allan Davis , Cameron Clayton and Brent Crosswell . Some characters there !

Cheers

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I got two - one very obscure.

1/ Andy Moir - a whizzkid at 18 who fizzled very quickly but boy could he take a hanger

2/ In the darker years - I dont know if excitement is the right word but you felt taller and braver watching Big Carl in the Dees jumper ( and terrified when he wore the Saints jumper)

One was a lair. The other was a slightly reformed thug.

Dont think i've seen Byron Picket mentioned yet! He was exiting at times

In one game he did not even front up!. Overblown failure at MFC. Mercenary for the money. Slack attitude and physique killed his input at MFC

Lets talk hangers - pre knee injury- Gary Baker.

Good pick up. Had a sterling year in 77(?) then did his knee and was not as good.

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