What's in a name?

[Whispering_Jack 27,924]

The 2016 trade and draft period saw some familiar surnames the club's history, stretching all the way back to our first season in the VFL.

Dion Johnstone from Scotch College and Oakleigh Chargers via Warrnambool shares his surname with George Johnstone who played eight games for Melbourne in 1897-98. Then there was also ten year player Travis Johnstone who played 160 games (111 goals) from 1998 before moving to the Brisbane Lions in 2008. Trapper was an AFL Rising Star nominee in 1998 and won the club's best and fairest, the Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Medal in 2005. I don't believe that any of the Johnstones are related.

Mitch Hannan comes to the club after spending a season with the Footscray Bulldogs in the VFL but way back in 1927 a little known player named  Peter Hannan from Yarraville played 2 games with Melbourne. He ended his career with 6 games at Footscray in 1933. 

Former North Melbourne champion Johnny Lewis gave Melbourne three good years in the twilight of his career in the 30s and the club will be hoping for the same from Jordan Lewis after he crossed from Hawthorn in the trade period. 

There is no record of a Hibberd, McKenna (a bit of a surprise actually), Filipovic or a Keilty at the club before Lachlan and Declan were drafted in the recent rookie draft but the Smith name is legend at the club and Tim Smith now joins Joel, son of Shaun, in illustrious company. Norm Smith played in four premierships in a playing career that spanned 1935 to 1948 and coached the club to six flags between 1952 and 1967. His brother Len also played with the club and played and coached at Fitzroy and later for a short period at Richmond during which his innovative approach laid the foundation for the Tigers' golden era of the late 60s through to 1980. Norm's son Peter also played with the club for a short period in the 60s.

Current MCC President and former captain Steven Smith was one of the Demons' best players in the 70s and 80s and captained the club. At least a dozen Smiths have represented the club. Included are Ray Smith, a defender from Essendon in the mid 70s, Shaun Smith  (father of Joel) who took the mark of the century in a game in the 90s at Carrara and tall forward Nick Smith who was listed on the injured list as being out for "four to six" weeks so often that he earned the monicker "426".

On balance, having a Smith at the club must be good because a Smith has been associated with the club for ten of its 12 premierships - 11 if you count dual Brownlow Medallist Ivor Warne-Smith who played in the 1926 team. Having two Smiths at the club will therefore be even better!

Edited December 27, 2016 by Whispering_Jack
Scotch College and McKenna

[Deeoldfart 7,711]

Thanks Jack.  You are a marvel for filling the quiet times with gems like this.

[Salems Lot 2,361]

Small edit re young Dion; I believe he was captain of the Cardinal, Gold and Blue of Scotch College.  If he is half as good as your Cyril we have a goodun!

[Whispering_Jack 27,924]

3 minutes ago, Salems Lot said:

Small edit re young Dion; I believe he was captain of the Cardinal, Gold and Blue of Scotch College.  If he is half as good as your Cyril we have a goodun!

Fixed - thanks 

[dee-eee 231]

No club surname is more famous than Cordner and just a few weeks ago the last of the legendary four brothers of the 40's/50's  , John , passed on .  I was surprised to read in his obit that not only did he play for us in 1951 'til overseas studies called but he also played Shield cricket for Victoria and County cricket with Warwickshire .  Perhaps WJ could expand a bit on the fab four and upload that famous photo published in the club's histories of the four boys watching home movies with their dad Ted Snr.

[Whispering_Jack 27,924]

18 hours ago, dee-eee said:

No club surname is more famous than Cordner and just a few weeks ago the last of the legendary four brothers of the 40's/50's  , John , passed on .  I was surprised to read in his obit that not only did he play for us in 1951 'til overseas studies called but he also played Shield cricket for Victoria and County cricket with Warwickshire .  Perhaps WJ could expand a bit on the fab four and upload that famous photo published in the club's histories of the four boys watching home movies with their dad Ted Snr.

And let's not forget that the name lives on with Harriett Cordner who is in the MFC inaugural women's squad for 2017.

I'm not sure as to whether all that many supporters are as interested in the club's history as some of the older brigade are but over the next month or so when things are quiet, I will post some historical articles including a story on the number eight and another reprise of our club history series with an updated final chapter to cover the past decade (inspired by the book I'm reading by Supermercado about The Great Deepression. 

Then perhaps I'll take you up with a piece on the Cordner dynasty at the club which spans more than a century.

[Demon trucker 1,731]

7 minutes ago, Whispering_Jack said:

And let's not forget that the name lives on with Harriett Cordner who is in the MFC inaugural women's squad for 2017.

I'm not sure as to whether all that many supporters are as interested in the club's history as some of the older brigade are but over the next month or so when things are quiet, I will post some historical articles including a story on the number eight and another reprise of our club history series with an updated final chapter to cover the past decade (inspired by the book I'm reading by Supermercado about The Great Deepression. 

Then perhaps I'll take you up with a piece on the Cordner dynasty at the club which spans more than a century.

Do u have any resent photo of Geff case , I knew a old man in Darwin who claimed he was geff would like to know if  it was him

[Whispering_Jack 27,924]

1 hour ago, don't make me angry said:

Do u have any resent photo of Geff case , I knew a old man in Darwin who claimed he was geff would like to know if  it was him

Was he bald?

I didn't know him but he was on the committee some years ago. I recall that he was bald, thin and had a moustache.

[Demon trucker 1,731]

59 minutes ago, Whispering_Jack said:

Was he bald?

I didn't know him but he was on the committee some years ago. I recall that he was bald, thin and had a moustache.

He was bolding, I just thought you had seen him at a MFC functon he was involed with magpies in the NTFL  who Arron Davey played for in Darwin 

[Oliver Sholem 17]

On 26/12/2016 at 6:24 PM, Whispering_Jack said:

Current MCC President and former captain Steven Smith was one of the Demons' best players in the 70s and 80s and captained the club. At least a dozen Smiths have represented the club. Included are Ray Smith, a defender from Essendon in the mid 70s, Shaun Smith  (father of Joel) who took the mark of the century in a game in the 90s at Carrara and tall forward Nick Smith who was listed on the injured list as being out for "four to six" weeks so often that he earned the monicker "426".

On balance, having a Smith at the club must be good because a Smith has been associated with the club for ten of its 12 premierships - 11 if you count dual Brownlow Medallist Ivor Warne-Smith who played in the 1926 team. Having two Smiths at the club will therefore be even better!

Geez, Nick Smith could have been a top player if only he wasn't injured all the time. I remember some of his pack marking was excellent but I suppose he was never able to develop any consistency the way things turned out. 

[dee-eee 231]

On ‎27‎/‎12‎/‎2016 at 9:50 PM, don't make me angry said:

He was bolding, I just thought you had seen him at a MFC functon he was involed with magpies in the NTFL  who Arron Davey played for in Darwin 

If you Google  " Hall of Fame -Geoff Case " you will see a short interview with him .

[Demon trucker 1,731]

15 hours ago, dee-eee said:

If you Google  " Hall of Fame -Geoff Case " you will see a short interview with him .

how about that there is a old man in Darwin who is pretending to be Geoff case, I thought he was tell lies when he said he played 176 games case played 126 games or so

[dee-eee 231]

2 hours ago, don't make me angry said:

how about that there is a old man in Darwin who is pretending to be Geoff case, I thought he was tell lies when he said he played 176 games case played 126 games or so

The late Tommy Hafey in retirement loved to visit country footy teams to take training  following up  as panellist on a Sportsmans Night fundraiser .  Chatting afterwards , he was sometimes approached by oldtimers claiming to have played a handful of VFL games . When he would tell them he would check them out in his copy of The Encyclopedia of League Footballers which he  handily kept in his Glovebox ,  they seemed to  quietly disappear  .

[Demon trucker 1,731]

4 hours ago, dee-eee said:

The late Tommy Hafey in retirement loved to visit country footy teams to take training  following up  as panellist on a Sportsmans Night fundraiser .  Chatting afterwards , he was sometimes approached by oldtimers claiming to have played a handful of VFL games . When he would tell them he would check them out in his copy of The Encyclopedia of League Footballers which he  handily kept in his Glovebox ,  they seemed to  quietly disappear  .

Saying u played vfl is one thing but going around and saying u are someone  is another thing,  and Tommy I met him once made him a coffee,  the only thing is Tommy did not drink coffee he asked for a tea.

[dee-eee 231]

Then we have the frauds who don't change their names but claim to be Vietnam War veterans .  Their exposure is a regular story in our local paper .

On ‎29‎/‎12‎/‎2016 at 9:59 PM, don't make me angry said:

Saying u played vfl is one thing but going around and saying u are someone  is another thing,  and Tommy I met him once made him a coffee,  the only thing is Tommy did not drink coffee he asked for a tea.