IN 1965 Ray Groom found himself in the middle of the biggest football story ever Melbournes sacking of its great coach Norm Smith. Fifty years on, Groom remembers the madness that still haunts the club.

Norm Smith was sensationally sacked by Melbourne 50 years ago on Thursday

The moment that sent the MFC into the footy wilderness.

Is the curse over?

Is the curse over?

not yet, it lives in pretentiousness, & political correctness, the enemies of the razor tongued red fox... first rounds went to the redhead, but in the end he was knocked out by the growing soft attitudes of the time, which still prevail within so many unwitting carriers.

In other news, Hannibal seized Cannae on this day in 216 BC.

Also on this day in history. Australopithecus went down once and for all to Homo habilis after a protacted battle for supremacy in 2,000,000 BC.

RIP MFC

Is the curse over?

Yes, it was the standard 50 year curse.

Back to normal now, 4 flags in the next 5 years.

"Wake up you're late for work". Damn, dreaming again.

The birth of #fistedforever as we know it today.

wonder if nostradamus predicted this?

Yes, it was the standard 50 year curse.

Back to normal now, 4 flags in the next 5 years.

"Wake up you're late for work". Damn, dreaming again.

You know, it's hard to ignore how coincidental it all was.

10 straight finals appearances. 6 flags. Then all of a sudden...wilderness for 50 years.

I'm a spiritual man, and maybe there's something greater at play here. I do think the club has deserved this to some degree. Not the fans, we deserve much better, but you can't ignore the cultural shift after his sacking, which literally happened over night. We haven't had a "strict disciplinarian" style of play since Smith. We recaptured it a bit in the Northy years, but we still buckled.

I think today the curse has lifted. 50 years is a long time. We will turn a corner soon enough.

Good things come to those that wait. I believe that.

I'll was shattered the day Norm was sacked, but not for one second did I think we would still be stuck on twelve 50 years later. Bloody hell!

In other news, Hannibal seized Cannae on this day in 216 BC.

Also on this day in history. Australopithecus went down once and for all to Homo habilis after a protacted battle for supremacy in 2,000,000 BC.

What was the final score?

wonder if nostradamus predicted this?

I have just googled the 942 quatrains, guess what I found? A reference to the Great Norm Smith. As we all know when it comes to Nostradamus he hides the real names. Norm is "the King."

NB A reference is made to several posters here in line 3

From the enslaved people, songs, chants and demands,

The princes and lords are held captive in prisons:

In the future by such headless idiots

These will be taken as divine utterances.

(Century 1, Quatrain 14)

Before the war comes,

the great wall will fall,

The King will be executed, his death coming too soon will be lamented.

(The guards) will swim in blood,

Near the River Seine the soil will be bloodied.

(Century 2, Quatrain 57)

The River Seine - (The Yarra - obviously) and the soil nearby - The MCG

Still researching will let you know immediately I work out Nostradamus predictions on Dawes marking and Trengroves foot.

Edited July 22, 20159 yr by ManDee

I have just googled the 942 quatrains, guess what I found? A reference to the Great Norm Smith. As we all know when it comes to Nostradamus he hides the real names. Norm is "the King."

...

Still researching will let you know immediately I work out Nostradamus predictions on Dawes marking and Trengroves foot.

These will be referred to somewhere in the final quatrains, surely.

These will be referred to somewhere in the final quatrains, surely.

Nothing on Dawes yet, but there is a reference to Essendon.

The great Senate will ordain the triumph

For one who afterwards will be vanquished, driven out:

At the sound of the trumpet of his adherents there will be

Put up for sale their possessions, enemies expelled.

77

Thirty adherents of the order of Quirites

Banished, their possessions given their adversaries:

All their benefits will be taken as misdeeds,

Fleet dispersed, delivered to the Corsairs.

So there it is in black and white, four of the cheats get off.

For speculation about the Melbourne Football Club and its sons and daughters, the Apocalypse, is my preferred read.

For speculation about the Melbourne Football Club and its sons and daughters, the Apocalypse, is my preferred read.

not dantes inferno, bbo?

What was the final score?

Unknown. Homo habilis relocated their franchise to the Gold Coast which caused prolonged expense and heartbreak, were not heard from after 1,800,000 BC.

Homo sapiens drafted all their best talent as free agents and the rest is history.

I think all Nostradamus quatrains are about Andrew Demetriou.

The old Nost' was a footy tragic of the worst kind.

Looking forward to the Mark Neeld anniversary... only 48 years to go...

Guru Bob from the Temple was none too happy either- predicted very bad karma and decades of dodgy vindaloos

not dantes inferno, bbo?

It certainly has its grand old moments dc.

It's been 51 years since Melbourne won a flag.

50 years since Norm was sacked.

We have 5 wins this season.

51 - 50 + 5 = 6

Smith won 6 flags. Illuminati?

6 flags, 8 Grand Finals, 10 straight Finals series.

10 - 8 + 6 = 8

8 - 5 = 3

Half-Life 3 confirmed.

I note that The Beatles released "Help" on this very same day, too. How appropriate.

Edited July 23, 20159 yr by La Dee-vina Comedia

If only time travel was available.

What madness were those committee fools thinking???

10 final series for 6 flags carries RESPECT

in the immortal words of "Dr. Smith"

"Oh the pain...."

If only time travel was available.

What madness were those committee fools thinking???

10 final series for 6 flags carries RESPECT

in the immortal words of "Dr. Smith"

"Oh the pain...."

Yeah top 4 finish 10 years in a row......they must have wanted top 2....knobs.