9 minutes ago, titan_uranus said:

I think anyone who disputes having felt even the slightest twinge of jealousy is hiding it well or too proud/stubborn to admit it.

IMO it's only natural for us, as Melbourne supporters, to be jealous. I want to feel how the Dogs' supporters are feeling. I want to ride the wave of making the finals, winning finals, making the GF, winning the GF. I'm sure, deep down, we can all admit to that slight twinge of jealousy.

That doesn't mean I'm not, overall, extraordinarily happy - 2016 might have been the most even season of AFL ever, the finals series this year may well have been the best finals series ever, and the year's result showed that you don't need to be one of the modern "big 3" or one of the traditional "big 4" to be able to win the flag. A great result all round.

Why? Because we now have the dubious honour of the longest premiership drought.  Other team supporters haven't seen that for a while either.

Yes, I also want the feeling of finals success, the GF build up (2000 was a very good year) and winning the Premiership etc but I don't care who wins the flag if it is not the Demons.  Nor do I care too much about other team's fairy tales.  So, very easy to be neutral. 

 

27 minutes ago, titan_uranus said:

I think anyone who disputes having felt even the slightest twinge of jealousy is hiding it well or too proud/stubborn to admit it.

IMO it's only natural for us, as Melbourne supporters, to be jealous. I want to feel how the Dogs' supporters are feeling. I want to ride the wave of making the finals, winning finals, making the GF, winning the GF. I'm sure, deep down, we can all admit to that slight twinge of jealousy.

That doesn't mean I'm not, overall, extraordinarily happy - 2016 might have been the most even season of AFL ever, the finals series this year may well have been the best finals series ever, and the year's result showed that you don't need to be one of the modern "big 3" or one of the traditional "big 4" to be able to win the flag. A great result all round.

Sorry to disappoint you tu and you can believe it or not but i do not have the slightest twinge of jealousy hiding anywhere.

I felt a tinge of jealousy but more so validation that it can happen and we are on the right path. They are a young team with a smattering of mature players that have been taught defensive minded, contested footy first by a man now at our club. They then overlaid an instinctive, aggressive, attacking style with a new generation coach who has them bleed for him through building relationships and team brotherhood.  

Aside from them falling into the finals in 2015 our year this year is not much different than their pre year preparation. It may not happen next year but it wont stop me dreaming now that with the right list management and preparation it could.

Edited October 1, 20168 yr by big_red_fire_engine

13 hours ago, AmDamDemon said:

Could be because they've written the fairytale script, taking the polish away from other teams wishing to do the same in the future. No fear though, our script will just have to be better. 

Yeah, we will pinch it from 8th!

When Bevo gave Murphy his medal, that was the most poignant moment in football I have experienced

The secret to the Dogs success is something simple.

Beat the teams below you on the ladder (outside the eight)... have an upset win or two against the top eight.... make the finals and who knows

Until we can achieve number 1 on that list (beating the teams outside the 8) we are going nowhere

No more.. we are too young or too tired.....

I said earlier in the year that this was going to be a very even year and that there was no stand out team, well that turned out to be about right, the flag was there, like 1990, to be grabbed and the Bullies did.

Next year, unless GWS really hit form and dominate, it may be the same again. Some of the teams that have dominated over the last few years have some ageing players that may be on their last legs and unless they can use free agency to rebuild quickly, they will start to fall away.

Some of the other major clubs that are rebuilding their lists and will either stagnate or drop down.

We are in a position to take advantage of this and if we can get our act together, we could have a very good chance of finishing in the top 6 or thereabouts.

We must get everyone on board and I think most are and we must get rid of the last remnants of The Neeld era, if we do, we have a good chance of getting in to a spot that will give us more chance of being a destination club.

Who knows, if all falls in to place we could play off for the big prize.

 

21 hours ago, old dee said:

Do not feel down in the slightest way.

The Dee's had their best year in a decade and the Dogs got up for a fairytale win after a drought of 58 years.

what is there to be down about.

A changed man, OD.

Just now, A F said:

A changed man, OD.

No just report the truth AF even when some prefer not to see it.

20 hours ago, jumbo returns said:

Too many self serving egos in our team

Oh get [censored]

23 hours ago, Bitter but optimistic said:

Mmmmmm .. I'll concede the year had some pleasing aspects, however, the [censored] ups against Carlton and Geelong left a very sour taste.

I'm not sure where we stand atm. We are certainly a long way off any of the sides I've seen play in the last 3 weeks. 

Things can turn quickly, BBO. The Bulldogs finished 14th two years ago. Similarly, Hawthorn were a 9 win 11th placed team in 2006 and 2 years later won their first flag under Clarkson. We're tracking on a similar trajectory to both teams. I expect finals in 2017 and top 4 in 2018. A flag is a real potential anywhere between 2018-2025 if we can hold this list together.

Edited October 2, 20168 yr by A F

Great to see the Bulldogs seize their opportunity without dithering and obsessing with slow burn plans that only start showing progress after a long time if ever. As far as I am concerned our list is just as good or better than theirs on paper.  We did improve but as with the past two seasons we could and should have done a little  bit more to put us on the cusp of a finals spot this season at the least. No doubt if we finish 9th or 10th next season there will be the same cheerleaders  getting all wet and excited.

If anything I feel let down by us our last two games which dampened down what was to be the begining of our seize the moment opportunity and the pathetic way the players saw out Roos's tenure. I hope to hell the players do not show that kind of disrespect to Goodwin.

Edited October 2, 20168 yr by america de cali

Devils advocate: I wonder how will the dogs go next year? Can they maintain the rage or will they drop off a little/others catch up? 

Given they did finish 7th but managed to ride an extrodinary wave of emotion through the finals, its hard to call I reckon.

21 hours ago, Nasher said:

Nup, not remotely sad.  Didn't even feel happy for them, I felt happy *with* them.  I felt a part of that victory like I never have for a team outside Melbourne.  Great day, great game.

And for me, it was the first sign I've seen in a long time that you don't need to be a power club to win the flag.  It brought the dream to life for me.

This is where my envy stems from though. We will never have the same feeling or support from the wider football community. I'm rapt for them (or with them even Nash), and I've got big hopes for our future, but when you stand back and look at this whole thing it's a bit of a slap in the face for how our club will always be perceived.

Won't bother me if we ever lift the cup tho...

 

12 minutes ago, Deemented Are Go! said:

Devils advocate: I wonder how will the dogs go next year? Can they maintain the rage or will they drop off a little/others catch up? 

Given they did finish 7th but managed to ride an extrodinary wave of emotion through the finals, its hard to call I reckon.

I think they will continue on, I'm not saying they'll win a flag but I believe they are hungry for success and that will drive them.

Let's see how the draw is first, that will have a bearing in where they will finish up at the end of the home and away games.

5 minutes ago, stuie said:

This is where my envy stems from though. We will never have the same feeling or support from the wider football community. I'm rapt for them (or with them even Nash), and I've got big hopes for our future, but when you stand back and look at this whole thing it's a bit of a slap in the face for how our club will always be perceived.

Won't bother me if we ever lift the cup tho...

 

Every club apart from us has some sort of support within the community, we elicit some sympathy from the supporters of other clubs, they look at us as some sort of nothing that exists but doesn't matter.

It's up to us to change that, it's going to be hard though, flags are the only way we will become relevant.

29 minutes ago, Deemented Are Go! said:

Devils advocate: I wonder how will the dogs go next year? Can they maintain the rage or will they drop off a little/others catch up? 

Given they did finish 7th but managed to ride an extrodinary wave of emotion through the finals, its hard to call I reckon.

Will they do a Leicester next season?

33 minutes ago, Bobby McKenzie said:

Will they do a Leicester next season?

Yes indeed that was the ponder

It's not the superiority of the Dogs' list that got them the flag. It's that they just play for each other and for their coach far far better than anyone else. Their fairly simple game plan more or less forces them to trust each other and to back each other up.

They spanked four teams that probably have better midfields if you line them up man-against-man, but the Dogs midfielders just work together better as a midfield. To a far greater degree than any premiership team I can remember, their whole is greater than the sum of their parts. And that's why they won. That's what team sport should be all about, and I couldn't be happier for them.

No reason we can't do the same next season with a full-version of Goody's "run-and-gun" game plan, as long as we trust each other & back each other up.

Oh, and when we get into our next Grand Final, especially if it's against an interstate club, we can expect just as much support as the Doggies got.

4 hours ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

Oh get [censored]

[censored] you.

On ‎1‎/‎10‎/‎2016 at 7:52 PM, praha said:

I feel weird, and have all week.

When the Saints were in the GF, I didn't like it. I hated them. I hate them. I didnt want them to win. I admittedly preferred a Pies and Cats victory.

But the Bulldogs...I loved that they were in it, and I loved that they won.

But...

I'm sad. Does anyone else feel the same way? 

How could a sane Dees tragic  prefer our traditional enemy who in '58 stopped us winning 6 in a row to the hapless Sainters - one Flag only . !

Edited October 2, 20168 yr by dee-eee

10 hours ago, Akum said:

Oh, and when we get into our next Grand Final, especially if it's against an interstate club, we can expect just as much support as the Doggies got.

Just can't see that happening:

• Perceptions: they are from the under underprivileged West; we as the silver tails who go skiing with kids at private schools.
• Flags: they have won only one flag; we have 12 (albeit the last was 1964). 
• GF's: they have not been in a GF for 50+ years; we were there in 2000.
• Media: Everyone in the media loves them; for us there is no love lost from many media folk.
• Fans: WB have all of Western Victoria cheering for them, demanding to be heard; our fans are scattered far and wide.
• Competition: WB played an interstate team who have dominated finals for the last 10 years - the team everyone loves vs a team people love to hate
• Fairy tale:  It was a  David and Goliath story and the media and the AFL played that tune beautifully; throw in the aussie love for the underdogs vs the tall poppy and the fairy tale is complete!!
• Struggle:  The bulldogs clawed their way thru adversity; we stuffed up our club and were bailed out by the AFL.
• Club Representative's personal history:  Their spokespeople (Gordon, Smorgon, Susan Alberti etc) are long standing, passionate and pained bulldogs, ours (Jackson, Mahoney) are administrators and even our low profile president is a johnny-come-lately to the demon's flock.
• Lastly, but perhaps the most significant in most people's eyes we 'tanked'.  They will never let us forget. 

Some of those may be more significant than others but we would not have a fraction of the bulldog's support.  That is just the way it is.

And, to be honest I don't really mind what all other fans/media/AFL think.  The flag will be enough!

Edited October 2, 20168 yr by Lucifer's Hero

Even their own sponsors can't believe it. This is from today's (3 Oct) Age newspaper. 

10 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

Just can't see that happening:

• Perceptions: they are underdogs from the under underprivileged West; we as the silver tails who go skiing with kids at private schools.
• Flags: they have won only one flag; we have 12 (albeit the last was 1964). 
• GF's: they have not been in a GF for 50+ years; we were there in 2000.
• Media: Everyone in the media loves them; for us there is no love lost from many media folk.
• Fans: WB have all of Western Victoria cheering for them, demanding to be heard; our fans are scattered far and wide.
• Competition: WB played an interstate team who have dominated finals for the last 10 years - the team everyone loves vs a team people love to hate
• Fairy tale:  It was a  David and Goliath story and the media and the AFL played that tune beautifully; throw in the aussie love for the underdogs vs the tall poppy and the fairy tale is complete!!
• Struggle:  The bulldogs clawed their way thru adversity; we stuffed up our club and were bailed out by the AFL.
• Club Representative's personal history:  Their spokespeople (Gordon, Smorgon, Susan Alberti etc) are long standing, passionate and pained bulldogs, ours (Jackson, Mahoney) are administrators and even our low profile president is a johnny-come-lately to the demon's flock.
• Lastly, but perhaps the most significant in most people's eyes we 'tanked'.  They will never let us forget. 

Some of those may be more significant than others but we would not have a fraction of the bulldog's support.  That is just the way it is.

And, to be honest I don't really care what all other fans/media/AFL think.  The flag will be enough!

I think we would have better luck with newer migrants and arrivals who will identify with the greater city of Melbourne rather than Caroline Springs etc where they might live. Not many will identify with or live in traditional club suburbs. The realestate is just too expensive. 

Edited October 2, 20168 yr by america de cali

On 1 October 2016 at 7:52 PM, praha said:

I feel weird, and have all week.

When the Saints were in the GF, I didn't like it. I hated them. I hate them. I didnt want them to win. I admittedly preferred a Pies and Cats victory.

But the Bulldogs...I loved that they were in it, and I loved that they won.

But...

I'm sad. Does anyone else feel the same way? 

I've been since the 70s as a kid wondering will we ever win a flag? I'm 52 & still sad as thrs only us &. Saints supporters who haven't witnessed a flag!