This from The Age today. Applies to us, too. If someone targets Toumpas, boy I hope we don't take it. I have bad memories from our last GF appearance, but I'm old enough to have good memories if our last GF win. We were tough.

http://m.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/unleash-the-mongrel-20130323-2gms5.html

Yes. Sticking up for team mates. Haven't seen enough of that in the last decade.

Mongrel against top sides, now that would be nice.

Very interesting year for Coach Neeld, this is where it starts 2013.

Ball is in his court. Instill an attitude of no compromise...

This from The Age today. Applies to us, too. If someone targets Toumpas, boy I hope we don't take it. I have bad memories from our last GF appearance, but I'm old enough to have good memories if our last GF win. We were tough.

http://m.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/unleash-the-mongrel-20130323-2gms5.html

Toumpas has had a couple of years of senior football already so he will be able to look after himself...but I think in general you will see a different mindset amongst the players, they will work for each other.

The old days of having an enforcer in the side are long gone from AFL football, but you do need to clear a path and work as a team to get players free and this is what Geelong were good at with Gary Jnr, but as you can see at GC he is quite good at the game without that assistance.

Where's Rodney Grinter when you need him ?

Heard Dean Kent got reported yesterday playing for Casey. Smiled.

Cue Jack Viney....

I have absolute faith that a Mark Neeld coached team will ultimately have these qualities. It may be a while before we see it consistently, all over the field, but it's a certainty to be part of the agenda. The changes to our list under Neildy's watch are clear evidence of this imo.

I get the impression that J.Viney and J.Toumpas are now thick as thieves, if he gets roughed up Viney will be sprinting from the other side of the field!. I'm not trying to put to much on young Viney but when you have a player throwing himself at every contests and person, everyone will lift. His old man was the master of This, we have a fair bit of mongrel now, Jones, Clark, Viney, Silvia. I feel as the the wind has changed for Melbourne. Bruise free football is now dead!

Lets hope the boys get angry! We'll surprise a lot of teams!!

How often did a certain ex midfielder go in to fight for his mates??

Don't think i ever saw it happen. Playing a game with the Flu is of course the other extreme.

Could be a VASTLY different side this year.

frankie_d, on 24 Mar 2013 - 14:41, said:

This from The Age today. Applies to us, too. If someone targets Toumpas, boy I hope we don't take it. I have bad memories from our last GF appearance, but I'm old enough to have good memories if our last GF win. We were tough.

http://m.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/unleash-the-mongrel-20130323-2gms5.html

We weren't just tough in the 50's and 60's. At least at the end of the 80's, we had blokes like Steve O'Dwyer and Rod Grinter. Lots of blokes took shorter steps in their vicinity.

By years end we will be smiling about the Viney/ Toumpas combination.

Viney/Toumpas are too young to be true Mongrels. Our only true Mongrel is Clarke. He goes at the contest with no care for life or limb - his own or anybody elses. Tappy is close but may not be a regular. If a few more followed Clark's lead then you would have opposition teams taking us seriously.

He is the type of player that demands attention/caution/the feeling that you might be hurt.

We weren't just tough in the 50's and 60's. At least at the end of the 80's, we had blokes like Steve O'Dwyer and Rod Grinter. Lots of blokes took shorter steps in their vicinity.

Don't forget Danny Hughes!, and big Earl Spalding once bumped a Sydney player so hard he dislocated both shoulders.