It wasn't all down to Northey. Barassi was the force behind the revival which carried over to the Northey years. His coaching may not have produced the results while he was there but he laid the foundations for culture change and improved recruitment.

It wasn't all down to Northey. Barassi was the force behind the revival which carried over to the Northey years. His coaching may not have produced the results while he was there but he laid the foundations for culture change and improved recruitment.

often forgotten

It wasn't all down to Northey. Barassi was the force behind the revival which carried over to the Northey years. His coaching may not have produced the results while he was there but he laid the foundations for culture change and improved recruitment.

Barassi's Irish experiment delivered Wight in 83 and Stynes in 86. The club finally worked out that there was talent interstate something Hawthorn and Carlton had been doing for years and brought in Stretch in 86 and Dean, Spalding, Viney in 87 along with draftees the Febeys and Obst. That sudden influx of talent ensured we would be competitive in 87.

I will never forget the tears of joy streaming down the faces of our supporters that day in the outer at the Western oval when the Hawks won at Geelong and we were in the finals.

What a great run we had that year and to think we might have another Lovett at the club in a couple of seasons.

Just reading this thread does that to me rjay. Well not quite tears, but definitely moist eyes as those euphoric memories come flooding back.

It wasn't all down to Northey. Barassi was the force behind the revival which carried over to the Northey years. His coaching may not have produced the results while he was there but he laid the foundations for culture change and improved recruitment.

There was a handful of Melbourne 'greats' in that team, but for the most part it was a team of 'battlers' ........... but they played for each other as if their lives depended on it. If only we could find some of that spirit today there's no way we would be sitting 3 and 6!

Barassi's Irish experiment delivered Wight in 83 and Stynes in 86. The club finally worked out that there was talent interstate something Hawthorn and Carlton had been doing for years and brought in Stretch in 86 and Dean, Spalding, Viney in 87 along with draftees the Febeys and Obst. That sudden influx of talent ensured we would be competitive in 87.

plus: glen lovett, brett lovett, andy lovell, graeme yeates, b wilson, s healey, s newport, r white, strawbs odwyer, judy judy giles, z tanner, s icke, russell richards, steven tingay, danny hughes, michael o'sullivan, mumbles bailey, dicko dickson, rowdy seddon, rod grinter, dirty williams, john fidge, teddy fidge, alan johnson, etc etc.

& moved on the likes of hutchison, withers, zantuck, & other older players who all helped shape the past years.

There was a handful of Melbourne 'greats' in that team, but for the most part it was a team of 'battlers' ........... but they played for each other as if their lives depended on it. If only we could find some of that spirit today there's no way we would be sitting 3 and 6!

that 'spirit' was bred hard in the under 19's, via 'Slug Jordan', & his hard ways, & a great team bonding of an attitude 'all look out for one another'... that attitude served the club very well.

Edited June 1, 201510 yr by dee-luded