On 03/01/2017 at 4:51 PM, Demon Jack said:

1. Cale Morton 

2. Daniel Nicholson

3. Lucas Cook

4. Rory Taggart

5. James Strauss

6. Kelvin Lawrence 

7. Michael Newton

8. Alexis Georgiou

9. Michael Evans

10. Tom Couch

Josh Tynan stiff to miss out

Decided to actually post a serious list. My earliest memories of the Demons go back to the early 2000's when my mum started taking me to the footy as a 4-5 year old, so I wouldn't expect any Demons from last century. As much as I admire the Stynes' and Flower's of the club, I won't feature them on my list considering I never had the privilege to see them play live.

1. Nathan Jones - The skipper. Plain and simple. When I look back at this period in 30+ years time, he'll be the first name that comes to my head. Even if he does happen to taste success sometime in over the next five years, I'll remember him for the efforts he put in during what was arguably the darkest period in the club's history. Cheers Skipper. 

2. Russell Robertson - What can I say? The marks were the most exciting part of the game back when I was a kid! I'm still a sucker for a specky these days as well. But this guy pretty much elevated my interest in AFL to a whole new level. My mum has a cracking photo of me as a baby with Todd Viney and a baby faced, teenage Robbo who unbeknownst to anyone would become our third highest goal kicker of all time.

3. Adem Yze - Another one of the players I was naturally drawn too as a kid because of his natural yet uncanny ability to pull more tricks out of the hat than a magician. 

4. Jack Watts - I remember Jack being the first player I felt a sense of anticipation when I heard he would debut. While it's been a bumpy ride since then, I couldn't be more proud to see Jack become the player he is now, all while I grew up alongside him over the years.

5. Aaron Davey - In the Robbo and Yze category where my young eyes couldn't help but be drawn to his flashy goals and scintillating passages of play. 

6. David Neitz - The key forward we've been trying to replace for nearly ten years. He was also the first skipper I remember leading the club who now holds a good chunk of the club's records (yet seems vastly underrated when compared to the rest of the competition). My first footy badge too!

7. Max Gawn - Always had some time for Max when he was injured back in 2012-13. Instantly seemed to connect with supporters in a way no other player had done before. Now that's he now...well...Maximus, I'll admit he's leapfrogged a few in my rankings.

8&9. Brad Green & Cameron Bruce - I decided to group these two together as I saw them very similarly as a kid. Two utility type players who both led from the front and loved a goal. Had a great amount of respect for each

10. Austin Wonaeamirri - If for nothing else, then just for that moment when he put us in front against Freo back in 2008 when we came back from an astronomical margin to somehow win. Arguably the best football moment I've seen live (aside from a certain 2016 win).

A few honourable mentions go to Jamar, Jurrah and Jack Viney.

Judging from our current list, I wouldn't be surprised if there's a few changes here if I look back at this in ten years.

8 hours ago, bingers said:

Can't believe anyone could omit Robbie from their list!!

Well, perhaps the young uns who didn't see him play have an excuse.

I loved Garry Lyon as a player. But as a bloke ... hmm. So I guess that's why not many posters have not included him in their lists.

 

I've known for a long time that Garry was an ordinary bloke, but I compartmentalise the player and person.

He was one of my favourite players to watch*.

*Not withstanding he was a poor overhead contested mark when played as a forward.

1. Tingay 

2. Garry Lyon 

3. Jimmy 

4. Ox

5. Neitz

6.  Brad green 

7. Adem  yze

8. Whelan

9 Todd viney

10.  Max gawn 

1) Clint Bizzell

2) Nathan Jones

3) David Neitz

4) Aaron Davey

5) Max Gawn

6) David Schwarz

7) Neville Jetta

8) Clayton Oliver

9) Liam Jurrah

10) Shane Valenti

 

11 hours ago, Demon Jack said:

Decided to actually post a serious list. My earliest memories of the Demons go back to the early 2000's when my mum started taking me to the footy as a 4-5 year old, so I wouldn't expect any Demons from last century. As much as I admire the Stynes' and Flower's of the club, I won't feature them on my list considering I never had the privilege to see them play live.

1. Nathan Jones - The skipper. Plain and simple. When I look back at this period in 30+ years time, he'll be the first name that comes to my head. Even if he does happen to taste success sometime in over the next five years, I'll remember him for the efforts he put in during what was arguably the darkest period in the club's history. Cheers Skipper. 

2. Russell Robertson - What can I say? The marks were the most exciting part of the game back when I was a kid! I'm still a sucker for a specky these days as well. But this guy pretty much elevated my interest in AFL to a whole new level. My mum has a cracking photo of me as a baby with Todd Viney and a baby faced, teenage Robbo who unbeknownst to anyone would become our third highest goal kicker of all time.

3. Adem Yze - Another one of the players I was naturally drawn too as a kid because of his natural yet uncanny ability to pull more tricks out of the hat than a magician. 

4. Jack Watts - I remember Jack being the first player I felt a sense of anticipation when I heard he would debut. While it's been a bumpy ride since then, I couldn't be more proud to see Jack become the player he is now, all while I grew up alongside him over the years.

5. Aaron Davey - In the Robbo and Yze category where my young eyes couldn't help but be drawn to his flashy goals and scintillating passages of play. 

6. David Neitz - The key forward we've been trying to replace for nearly ten years. He was also the first skipper I remember leading the club who now holds a good chunk of the club's records (yet seems vastly underrated when compared to the rest of the competition). My first footy badge too!

7. Max Gawn - Always had some time for Max when he was injured back in 2012-13. Instantly seemed to connect with supporters in a way no other player had done before. Now that's he now...well...Maximus, I'll admit he's leapfrogged a few in my rankings.

8&9. Brad Green & Cameron Bruce - I decided to group these two together as I saw them very similarly as a kid. Two utility type players who both led from the front and loved a goal. Had a great amount of respect for each

10. Austin Wonaeamirri - If for nothing else, then just for that moment when he put us in front against Freo back in 2008 when we came back from an astronomical margin to somehow win. Arguably the best football moment I've seen live (aside from a certain 2016 win).

A few honourable mentions go to Jamar, Jurrah and Jack Viney.

Judging from our current list, I wouldn't be surprised if there's a few changes here if I look back at this in ten years.

That bloody tackle that did Bruce's shoulder. He was on fire in those first few rounds.

flower

stynes

wight

b.lovett

johnson

neitz

farmer

schwartz

lyon

jones

1. Whelan - Quiet toughness. Just loved the way he went about it. Didn't brag or act boisterous with false bravado, just did the tough things that would be of advantage to the team. Underrated for his ability to deliver by hand and then protect the player.

2. Farmer - Maybe it's the era he's associated with, but I've never been more excited at a game than I was at a few of his very specials finals for us.

3. Jurrah - Pure talent.

4. Jimmy - Pure heart.

5. Flash - Still feel he's underrated around the rest of the comp. Pretty much invented forward pressure.

6. Jetta - Just the heart of a champion.

7. Doggy - Concussed pretty much twice a quarter, but always got up and kept trying.

8. Todd Viney - Wrecking ball.

9. Jack Viney - Wrecking ball Jnr.

10. Carroll - Just for that couple of seasons where he was our rock in defence and our balls.

 

In no particular order, a list that would change every time I tried to write it:

Hassa Mann

Tassie Johnson

Stan Alves

Robbie Flower

Garry Lyon

Jeff Farmer

Jim Stynes

Aaron Davey

Max Gawn

Liam Jurrah

Tassie Johnson

Alan Johnson

Travis Johnstone

Stan Alves ( best Captain in poor sides)

Hassa Mann

David Neitz

John Townsend ( best looking)

John Lord ( most entertaining)

Jim Stynes

Gary Lyon 

Gary Hardeman

Steven Smith

Danny Jennings 

Max Gawn

of course  Robbie Flower

5 hours ago, stuie said:

1. Whelan - Quiet toughness. Just loved the way he went about it. Didn't brag or act boisterous with false bravado, just did the tough things that would be of advantage to the team. Underrated for his ability to deliver by hand and then protect the player.

Whelan the Wrecker one of my favourites also! Can't believe I forgot him will have to fit him in somewhere perhaps in place of Jurrah

On 03/01/2017 at 1:51 PM, Demon Jack said:

1. Cale Morton 

2. Daniel Nicholson

3. Lucas Cook

4. Rory Taggart

5. James Strauss

6. Kelvin Lawrence 

7. Michael Newton

8. Alexis Georgiou

9. Michael Evans

10. Tom Couch

Josh Tynan stiff to miss out

I sat next to Kelvin Lawrence at a Debt Demolition Dinner several years ago. He was a lovely kid.

There was a silent auction on all of the players' guernseys, the results of which were continually being updated on a big screen that everyone in the room could see. Every single player's guernsey was rapidly escalating in price. Except Kelvin's. His had not attracted one bid. He sat there silently, and gently, watching the progress of the auction. I thought he was going to cry.

I turned to him. I said "hey mate - I've heard you're super quick. And talented. You going to play seniors some day?'. He shyly responded 'I really hope so'.

I said 'well mate, I believe in you. Make it happen' - and I immediately took out the bidding machine and, with him watching, I put on a bid of 500 bucks for his guernsey. He was no longer last on the leaderboard. Not remotely. 

I winked at him. It was met with the biggest grin ever - it almost brought a tear to my eye. He never played a senior game for the club and was ultimately delisted. A lovely young fellow. The game at this level is brutal.

 

30 minutes ago, Ron Burgundy said:

I sat next to Kelvin Lawrence at a Debt Demolition Dinner several years ago. He was a lovely kid.

There was a silent auction on all of the players' guernseys, the results of which were continually being updated on a big screen that everyone in the room could see. Every single player's guernsey was rapidly escalating in price. Except Kelvin's. His had not attracted one bid. He sat there silently, and gently, watching the progress of the auction. I thought he was going to cry.

I turned to him. I said "hey mate - I've heard you're super quick. And talented. You going to play seniors some day?'. He responded 'I really hope so'.

I said 'well mate, I believe in you. Make it happen' - and I immediately took out the bidding machine and, with him watching, I put on a bid of 500 bucks for his guernsey. He was no longer last on the leaderboard. Not remotely. 

I winked at him. It was met with the biggest grin ever - it almost brought a tear to my eye. He never played a senior game for the club and was ultimately delisted. A lovely young fellow. The game at this level is brutal.

 

That was very thoughtful and kind RB.

On 1/5/2017 at 5:53 PM, stuie said:

1. Whelan - Quiet toughness. Just loved the way he went about it. Didn't brag or act boisterous with false bravado, just did the tough things that would be of advantage to the team. Underrated for his ability to deliver by hand and then protect the player.

2. Farmer - Maybe it's the era he's associated with, but I've never been more excited at a game than I was at a few of his very specials finals for us.

3. Jurrah - Pure talent.

4. Jimmy - Pure heart.

5. Flash - Still feel he's underrated around the rest of the comp. Pretty much invented forward pressure.

6. Jetta - Just the heart of a champion.

7. Doggy - Concussed pretty much twice a quarter, but always got up and kept trying.

8. Todd Viney - Wrecking ball.

9. Jack Viney - Wrecking ball Jnr.

10. Carroll - Just for that couple of seasons where he was our rock in defence and our balls.

 

Who was Doggie?

Mat Whelan

Aaron Davey

David Neitz

Brett Lovett

Sean Wight

Jim Stynes

Robert Flower

Ron Barassi

Steven Tingay

Hassa Mann

Garry Baker

In 2005 I sat down in Fitzroy Street for some sushi lunch.

It was kerbside dining. On the next table sat three hooded young men, 2  dialing frantically on their mobiles. I assumed they were doing 'deals'. One of them, an Aboriginal chap, kept looking my way. I realized he was looking at me because I was looking at him because I vaguely recognized him. Then another young chap passed them and they got into a conversation. I assumed it was going to be another 'deal done'. There were a lot of f words, but I soon got the drift that they weren't nasty F words, just conversationalese, if you get my drift.

Then the penny dropped. Swear word starting with F, I said to myself, that's Nathan Brown doing all the cussing, the hooded chap on the mobile doing the imagined deals was Matty Whelan and the Aboriginal dude who kept staring at me because I was staring at him was the one and only Aaron Davey.

I got up and said, G'Day, admire your work, boys.

 

 

 

 

On 05/01/2017 at 1:35 PM, Bombay Airconditioning said:

That bloody tackle that did Bruce's shoulder. He was on fire in those first few rounds.

He had 8 brownlow votes  in first 3 rounds. x

1 hour ago, dieter said:

Who was Doggie?

Nathan Brown.

15 minutes ago, ProDee said:

Nathan Brown.

Great player.
 

10 hours ago, dieter said:

Great player.
 

Brave as brave 

17 minutes ago, old demon me!!! said:

Brave as brave 

Yep. But wasn't he Brown Dog?

? maybe probably been known as both by us supporters 

 

On 05/01/2017 at 11:45 PM, Dr. Gonzo said:

Whelan the Wrecker one of my favourites also! Can't believe I forgot him will have to fit him in somewhere perhaps in place of Jurrah

 Anyone got the tackle he put on the grub?

16 minutes ago, binman said:

Yep. But wasn't he Brown Dog?

That was the other Nathan Brown I'm pretty sure.

 

5 minutes ago, Bombay Airconditioning said:

 Anyone got the tackle he put on the grub?

Do you mean this? (Also, check out the handball)

 

Cheers Stu, 

Nice goal from Trapper too.

1) Jeff Farmer: 1998 was a landmark year for me. I graduated from high school that year. The year was also memorable for me as well in that after a year on the bottom of the ladder, the Demons matched Collingwood's record for greatest single season improvement and became a genuine flag threat. There was plenty of quality on most lines, but the one whose exploits stood out to me the most was Jeff Farmer. Our run at the end of the year was breath taking and he seemed to be in the thick of it. The second he took that hanger against Richmond in round 22 in the opening minutes, you just knew the floodgates were about to open
Wiz spent more time at Freo but he played his best footy with us. As is the case with a lot of forward pocket players, he could have some howlers. However, you ignored him at your peril as when he switched on, heaven help the opposition. Just ask the Collingwood team of 2000. Wiz's second half turned what was looking to be a near run thing into a 60 point toweling. From memory, that gave us a lot of the momentum we needed to make the Grand Final.
Just because he left you with the feeling something amazing was going to happen at any moment, the Wizard is my all time favorite player.

2) David Schwarz: Similar to the Wiz in 1998, Ox was the player who provided the X factor to our finals run in 1994. I gave up counting how many one handers he took in that final against Footscray in 1994; so clearly did he have Danny Southern's measure. I thought our chances against the Eagles in Perth were pretty remote, but Ox made us dare to dream. 
Unlike Wiz, we never got to see what the Ox was capable of. He was a different player upon his return. The grace which was supplemented by an almost unheard level of power just became straight up power. He played a role that won him a best and fairest but we all knew in our hearts that we may have been a premiership team had he remained the player he was.

3) Jeff White: His recruitment was the day hope returned for me. Little did I know that in ten years time that I would experience much worse than two years anchored to the bottom of the ladder!
I was delighted that a player who was considered hot property had decided to come to us. I was also a little worried too that he wouldn't live up to the hype. Thankfully I was proven wrong. He had become the number one ruck at Melbourne by the end of his first year. I also believe that him carrying an injury into the preliminary final against North cost us vital momentum for the center bounces. While Jimmy was a decent tap ruckman and could pick up possessions as a link ruckman, Jeff had an ability to sink the ball right down his rover's throat. Watch our comeback win against the Eagles in 1998 if you want to know what I am talking about.

4) Garry Lyon: Like ProDee, I tend to compartmentalize the man from the footballer. I have heard less than complimentary stories about him, thought he cheapened the Australian public discourse by participating in that foetid cesspit that is the Footy Show and I don't approve of his political shenanigans post 2011. However, the man was silk on the field and one of the few A graders we have ever had. While I think he has used his influence questionably over the years in some ways, his control over that group of players could turn your head. I believe that the leadership he displayed in the game after Balmey was sacked in 1997 was the reason we got over the line that night.

On a separate note, I am sympathetic to his struggle and wish him well in his recovery.

5) Nathan Jones: When I watched Freo knock off Geelong in 2012 in the elimination final, my younger brother made a point that most neutrals would be feeling great joy for Matthew Pavlich. After years of playing in diabolical teams, he was finally in a squad that had a real shot at going somewhere. Most neutrals will feel the same way should Chunk reach a similar pinnacle or higher.
I don't believe he is the best captain in the AFL. I don't believe he is the best midfielder in the AFL. By by god, he is the most loyal individual to a club that at times hasn't deserved that type of loyalty. He puts in day in and day out and he will fully deserve any team success that may come his way.

6) Jim Stynes: Jim would rate higher but I tend to go for players with a bit more flash and 'x factor'. It's also the same reason I can't rate Chunk higher.
Jimmy was relentless. If Greg Williams hadn't got the nickname of Diesel first, I am sure Jimmy would have been a worthy recipient. This was because of his fearsome determination to get the absolute best out of himself and his refusal to give up when things got tough. What this produced was a footballer from who you knew what you were going to get every time he stepped onto the ground. 
I am a little ambivalent about his time in charge of the club as I believe it fostered a boy's club culture that resulted in the fiascoes of 2012 and 2013. However, I won't doubt his contributions as a human being in making the lives of many young people better or his contribution as a player.

7) David Neitz: Mathematically, he should be rated higher than this. Anyone who holds the title of having most games capped, longest tenured captain and all time leading goal kicker should be a certainty to crack the top 3 of anyone's all time favorite players, shouldn't they?
I think David loses points with some supporters for two reasons. The first is that he was more a draft horse than a thoroughbred. He did the hard work as opposed to the spectacular. The second reason is due to the crop of players he came up with. Neita's contemporaries included men like Carey, Buckley, Hird and Voss. It's hard to stand out among such elite company (though 2 of those 4 gentleman did slide into ignominy after their playing careers ended).
Neita captained our last grand final team but at that stage he wasn't a good captain. He came into his own after that hit on Luke McCabe in 2002. From that point on, he was the true leader of the team but sadly, he could not cure it of the flakiness that exists to this day. I believe if those teams had possessed David Neitz's stoicism and hardness, then we would have gotten further than an early finals exits in those years.

8) Russell Robertson: I'm a sucker for a highlight reel type player and Robbo was definitely one of those. While people used to rant and rave about Jeremy Howe being the new Robbo when he was with us because he could take hangers, what people forgot when making that comparison was that Robbo could do the job he was sent out to do on a consistent basis. Howey could do the spectacular but he also lacked Robbo's consistency.
Russell has a special place in my heart thanks to his 2005 season. He was one of the main reasons we staggered into a finals spot when we had no right to do so. Plus his level of passion and ability to keep on trying (though he was a bit limited in some aspects of his defensive game) made him a keeper.

9) Jack Viney: Todd showed many of the same attributes as Jack but one reason I couldn't put Todd in my top ten is because of his disposal. Todd displayed a level of mongrel that has been absent from the club minus the Swooper Northey days. Jack is bringing that back and he also has much cleaner disposal and speed. Had he had more years under his belt, he would have been rated much higher.
Jack can rack up 35 plus possession games while also flying the flag. Someone as inarticulate as Billy Brownless summed it up quite well when he described Garry Hocking: 'in those days you were either tough but dumb or skilled but soft. Buddha was both tough but skilled.'. A similar description could be applied to Jack Viney.

10) Allen Jakovich: Jaka was defintely one of those 'you had to have been there to have got it' types. One of the last great unprofessionals, Jaka was the dying wail of 80's football lairism. He could do the unbelievable like kick Pele style bicycle kick goals on his way to 11 goals straight against the Roos then kick 4.7 against the Hawks and miss a goal from 10 meters out. He could then kiss his brother, high five the crowd and call it a good day's work. It would have been frightening how good he could have been if he had his brother's temperament or commitment. The fact that there is a lingering interest among Melbourne supporters  of a certain vintage concerning his whereabouts shows how fondly he is remembered. He was a bit like Mark Jackson with all the anti social d-head bits taken out.

Apologies to: Steven Tingay (missed out by a bee's digit), Brent Moloney (I think his after hours conduct is a bit lacking but I loved his drive out of the center and his passion for the club), Brock McLean (I thought he did the right thing actually so shoot me) and Steve O'Dwyer (my first ever favorite player).

I couldn't include Robbie Flower as I never saw him play though I wish I had.