2 hours ago, The Sailing Demon said:

Jump on a book called "From the outer"
Amazing book about people from all walks of life and how AFL has effected them, there is a chapter in there about a heart broken Fitzroy supporter that had me in tears.

Agree SD, still one of the best footy books ever written, a compilation of articles and columns from a very gifted writer, Garrie Hutchinson, who was kind of the Martin Flanagan of the 70's and 80's. There's also a good piece in there about Robbie and how he used to run opponents in circles on the MCG wing. 

Just on that Fitzroy piece, I think one of the saddest footy stories I've read was this account of Vinny Catoggio's 1973 Grand Final, written by Brent Croswell, another talented writer. 

I think following the Dees has become a minor drug habit, like drinking coldies every night after work, or having more than one junk food meal a week. After 51 years of home and away support i will offer up the following:

1. collecting the ampol? series of player pix in vfl album, 1964.

2. getting my ron barassi boots as a birthday present, brought to school one morning. 

3.. we got a telly in 1964, and i can remember a snippet of a WOS replay where melbourne thrashed collwd in the second semi. one highlight was a chain of handballs to a melbourne player in the square (J Lord?) who popped it through. my only memory of any tv highlights. 

4. seeing the scores being updated on ABC 2, with the 'final scores'  caption showing a melbourne victory, 64-60.in 1964.

5. buying kool mints and donuts pre-game with my late friend ray. 

6. having numbers on jumpers competitions with ray and roger on the train to the footy.

7.. a game, about '67 where Hassa Mann dobbed a goal right on the siren to come from behind over North. Barry Vagg did a similar deed in another game in that time.

8.. Tiger Ridley's '71 season as coach, and going to read the Sunday Observer, with us near top of the ladder and  thrashing teams each week, first half-season.

9. Games in the 70's where both Ross Dillon and/or Greg Parke dominated.

10. the announcement that Ron Barassi was returning to Melbourne.

11. the recruitment of Diamond jim, and Kelvin Templeton.

12. Cameron Bruce's snap v carlton in 2000.

13.walking into an afl video shop one year and finally seeing crompton's goal on video.

14. The career of David Schwarz, esp. his breakout year in 1994.

15. the '87 finals series, and games leading up to.

16. going to victoria park last round in 1976 and seeing us whip collingwood. almost, but didn't make the finals.

17. the night finals in the late 60's and 70's where the dees starred.

18. winning the night flag in '87.

19. our great year in '98 under Neal Daniher.

20.2000 finals series and jeff farmer's great efforts during the year.

 

 

Nobody ever mentions the '89 Night Granny against Geelong. 

It was a tough game and was the beginning of The Gary Ablett era

 

Not losing all the time, being proud to be a Dees fan, playing finals and actually looking on occasions like we may win a flag. Ahh the late 80s early 90s. 

Live? Q2 and Q3 against the crows in 2002.

That, or when we were flogging the Hawks and the live ladder went up at the G, showing us in 1st, late in the season.

Round 16, 1990. My sadistic Filth-supporting father took an 8 year old me to Windy Hill and let me sit with the MFC cheer squad as he spent the first 3/4s at the bar. I used to run around with other kids and collect empty tinnies for Cash-a-Can. 

We got smashed all day and were down by 27 points at 3/4 time. We came back, kicking towards our end and won by 8 points. Darren Bennett kicked a bag (8?), Ricky Jackson got a few and Gary Lyon kicked a torp from 60-70 m out to give us the lead late in the game. 

Goosebumps! 

10 hours ago, JV7 said:

1. Being in Brisbane to see us beat Brisbane in 2002 when Lions were in their prime. Brisbane kick the first 7 goals to 1, Brisbane lady sitting next to us "you didnt come all the way from Melbourne to see this?" we come back and win by 21 points on the back of 7 goals to Neita..

A very special memory for me. The tear in the eye of my Dad after the game I'll never forget. And the German Club afterwards was brilliant. Not sure how many times we sung Grand Old Flag that night.

I was at the Footscray Oval when we won in '87 which was the start of the Cindarella story that wasn't.

That was special.

I was at the Grand Final against the Hawks ,good seats in the members,lots of free flags etc and the 5 hours sitting there before the game started was special.

From memory I think we lost the u 19s. May have won the reserves.Then it was just a gut -wrenching demolition but I now think just being there was great.

I watched the Essendon granny at home with my Bombers housemate at the time who was smirking and giggling as Simmonds was concussed,Lucas kicked goals from 60 etc.That was worse.

In summary,all my memories are pretty deflating and I have only followed the depressing old flag since about '84.

Look forward to many more life sucking adventures in the future!!!

Jesus Wept.

Wow, some great memories there!! I've followed MFC since the late 60s. But I only started going to matches in the early 70s. 

With one or 2 exceptions, I was at every match referred to from 1987 onwards. Ah yes, the 1987 Western Oval match ... The finals .... 

And I agree that there were some exceptional players over the years. None better than Robert Flower (RIP). To use that classic cliche, an ornament to the game!!!!

Loving the memories. All the recent ones ring true. Im envious of the folks who were there in 64. 

Ive got a strange one. 1971 round 9 vs the saints. It was the first year I followed them. Age 11. 2nd game Id been to. First win. We went into the game 7-1 as we had started that season on fire. Ridley had taken the team on a 2 week , and at that stage, highly unusual preseason training camp and we were oneof the fittest teams around. 

We ended up winning up by 3 points...Gary Hardeman and Wells dominating for the dees. I was with a friend, on the second level at the front against the railing, and we were barracking so hard a saints fan behind us put his hand my back as he was scared I was going to fall off! Missing the finals that year is still one of biggest disappointments. 

2 hours ago, Deemented Are Go! said:

Round 16, 1990. My sadistic Filth-supporting father took an 8 year old me to Windy Hill and let me sit with the MFC cheer squad as he spent the first 3/4s at the bar. I used to run around with other kids and collect empty tinnies for Cash-a-Can. 

We got smashed all day and were down by 27 points at 3/4 time. We came back, kicking towards our end and won by 8 points. Darren Bennett kicked a bag (8?), Ricky Jackson got a few and Gary Lyon kicked a torp from 60-70 m out to give us the lead late in the game. 

Goosebumps! 

I was on the a ashfalt standing on the half forward flank

what a day that was

blood and teeth were spilt 

The win against the Coasters, over at Subiaco, after we were thumped the previous two weeks in a row by over a hundred points?

Robbo starred, Junior was amazing, a young, blonde Nathan Brown made his debut and Stinga made a sensational comeback.

Huge win!

Never felt a feeling like western oval 1987 until the following 2 weeks at the G

 

On 7/20/2016 at 7:32 AM, Wrecker45 said:

Whelan flattening Hird and Travis Johnstone running onto the ball and banging it through on the boundary line from outside 50m in a final. The single greatest passage of play I have seen as a Melbourne supporter. 

 

And we lost both those games.

2 hours ago, Tony Tea said:

And we lost both those games.

Same game, same passage of play Tony.

God I hate the fact we lost a final to Essendope by less than a goal.

16 hours ago, Sir Why You Little said:

I was on the a ashfalt standing on the half forward flank

what a day that was

blood and teeth were spilt 

Haha on or off the ground??

11 minutes ago, Ricky P said:

Haha on or off the ground??

Too right mate. Leaving the ground was heavy and i mean that seriously. Windy Pill was more full on than Vic Park from my experiences. 

Watching Collingwood be embarrassed in the 1960 Grand Final.

Watching Neil Crompton break the hearts of  magpie supporters in 1964.

Sitting at the western oval after the game in 1987 to find that we'd made the finals.

Watching us win the 1956, '57 and '59 premierships.

7 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Too right mate. Leaving the ground was heavy and i mean that seriously. Windy Pill was more full on than Vic Park from my experiences. 

True - I was there in Peter Moore's last game against the Dees and the supporters were giving him hell...I was right amongst the Pies' supporters that day with a couple of mates and we had a ball!

Just now, jumbo returns said:

True - I was there in Peter Moore's last game against the Dees and the supporters were giving him hell...I was right amongst the Pies' supporters that day with a couple of mates and we had a ball!

Oh yes. Remember the "MOORE FILTH" Banner. 

They hated him. Sad he reconciled and considers himself more of a Magpie than Demon. 

He did love his time at Melbourne though. I got ask him one day as i reminded him about his Charlie...

Having the opportunity to sit for half an hour and talk footy with Jim Stynes

17 hours ago, jumbo returns said:

The win against the Coasters, over at Subiaco, after we were thumped the previous two weeks in a row by over a hundred points?

Robbo starred, Junior was amazing, a young, blonde Nathan Brown made his debut and Stinga made a sensational comeback.

Huge win!

Probably the biggest upset win by us in my memory. I seem to recall that we had a lot of key players out. Stinga had a blinder.

Our win against the Bombers after 190 in 1979 was the most memorable home and away match I attended. Robert Walters kicked 9 against 2 state reps in Kenny Fletcher and Garry Foulds. Went with a bunch of Essendon mates which made it more enjoyable.

 

I'm one of the fortunate ones start ed going to the MCG for every home game and finals as a member in 1962 aged 8

64 grany still my Highlight

watching u/19 win , reserves runners up

Cried when Gabliech kicked the goal to put pies in front

But Cromptons Goal in reply gave me Happiness for 6 months or more

 

The brilliance and arrogance of Allen Jacovich in his debut year kicking an extraordinary 71 goals in just 14 games .

27 minutes ago, Old Bear said:

I'm one of the fortunate ones start ed going to the MCG for every home game and finals as a member in 1962 aged 8

64 grany still my Highlight

watching u/19 win , reserves runners up

Cried when Gabliech kicked the goal to put pies in front

But Cromptons Goal in reply gave me Happiness for 6 months or more

 

Pity you've had to try to extend that feeling of happiness for over 50 years now