Willo on SEN this morning, great memories. The audio link is below the Lyon picture
https://www.sen.com.au/news/2017/08/24/we-were-relying-on-you-to-kick-a-bag-and-you-went-down-like-a-bag/
 

I had the number 7 on my jumper as a little fella. I love that he is still a passionate Demon and that his two sons also support Melbourne. (considering we gave him the ass and he finished up his footy at the Saints)

Fantastic player, was one of my favs from that era along with Stinger and Yatsey.

40 minutes ago, Tough Kent said:

I had the number 7 on my jumper as a little fella. I love that he is still a passionate Demon and that his two sons also support Melbourne. (considering we gave him the ass and he finished up his footy at the Saints)

Always suprised we didn't let him play out that final year after he got his 200 games. 

I hated that game againt The Aints when he gave the MCC Reserve the Bird. 

I know he was just having a laugh, but it was an insult to MFC members

21 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Always suprised we didn't let him play out that final year after he got his 200 games. 

I hated that game againt The Aints when he gave the MCC Reserve the Bird. 

I know he was just having a laugh, but it was an insult to MFC members

He kicked 6 that day from memory. It stung like buggery.

1 minute ago, Tough Kent said:

He kicked 6 that day from memory. It stung like buggery.

Lost badly and were made to look stupid

A very bad call

But good to know that The Fire ? man is a Demon. 

Wish he was playing against The Filth tomorrow

He loved a goal against that team more than others

Didn't Willo play with a local club for a couple of games, after his broken leg?

Kicked 14 or something like that?

Anyone remember?

He was a fireman at the airport and I think he played footy at Tullamarine. 

50 minutes ago, Tough Kent said:

He was a fireman at the airport and I think he played footy at Tullamarine. 

I remember that, but I thought he played a game over Box Hill/Wattle Park way.

His game against Footscray in 1987 got us all going and he ran himself into the ground. His last goal had the wing cheering well before the ball went thru the sticks. Perfect angle.  I have never heard a crowd cheering, chanting and just so loud as that match. When we heard Dunstan had kicked the goal the noise went up another level.

2 hours ago, Tough Kent said:

He kicked 6 that day from memory. It stung like buggery.

Yeah but didn't we have Rod Owen playing for us. He kicked a few that day as well.

He chased out of the backline up the wing, and then ran all the way back to get on the end of the handball to kick one of the most famous goals in Melbourne history "Wilson...cover yourself in glory!"

3 hours ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Always suprised we didn't let him play out that final year after he got his 200 games. 

I hated that game againt The Aints when he gave the MCC Reserve the Bird. 

I know he was just having a laugh, but it was an insult to MFC members

Insult to members?! Wasn't he the one shipped off to the Saints? 

1 hour ago, Ricky P said:

He chased out of the backline up the wing, and then ran all the way back to get on the end of the handball to kick one of the most famous goals in Melbourne history "Wilson...cover yourself in glory!"

'87 Western Oval

If my memory is correct : when we beat the Eagles in Perth - for the first time there ? - he walked off the ground , slapped his his left hand on his right upper arm , telling the booing Eagles fans to ....go away?!

And I did had a brief chat to him at the G 2 years ago and he told me not to give up on the Dees - not that I needed to be told.A good bloke.

Funny, I went to school at Braybrook High with Brian, Doug Hawkins and Russell Gilbert. Paul Callery was our PE teacher. Each a legend in their own lifetime. Me, a legend in my own lunchtime.

Edited August 25, 20177 yr by Dee Dubya
Spelling

7 hours ago, jumbo returns said:

I remember that, but I thought he played a game over Box Hill/Wattle Park way.

Yes I went up to Surrey Park, Box Hill to watch him play, forget what year it was 84? I lived down the road at the time. Not many people there. He played against or for Saint Leo's Wattle Park I think at centre half forward and had a couple of tall blokes on him but he just kept snagging pack marks and kicking goals. It was a master class on how to use your body to hold your ground against bigger bodies and take a grab. I don't remember him flying for pack marks, he just was always where the ball was falling and holding the other guys out. The game was played on an oval that is now buried below the Box Hill Aquatic Centre! Fuzzy but great memory of seeing a great player up close. And yes he kicked double figures, not sure it was 14. 

Edited August 25, 20177 yr by Earl Hood

He was a great in a great era when we got sooo close. Still pains me to think about those misses. From ( albeit faded) memory, in the last home and away game the year he left us...Northey benched him for most of the last qtr and put him on again with 3 mins to play where he promptly did his hamstring and quit the club right before the finals. 

We didnt handle his exit well...he was a brownlow medallist and a real gun. 

1 hour ago, Earl Hood said:

Yes I went up to Surrey Park, Box Hill to watch him play, forget what year it was 84? I lived down the road at the time. Not many people there. He played against or for Saint Leo's Wattle Park I think at centre half forward and had a couple of tall blokes on him but he just kept snagging pack marks and kicking goals. It was a master class on how to use your body to hold your ground against bigger bodies and take a grab. I don't remember him flying for pack marks, he just was always where the ball was falling and holding the other guys out. The game was played on an oval that is now buried below the Box Hill Aquatic Centre! Fuzzy but great memory of seeing a great player up close. And yes he kicked double figures, not sure it was 14. 

Thanks Earl, I thought you might chime in - Yep, 14, I remember he was snagging them from 55m out. I think he was with the Pioneers? Geelong colours? I remember thinking the horizontal hoops made him look a tad overweight...

Haha. I played for Pioneers mid 70s. 

Geelong hoops but burgundy and white. 

Willo was a star ... a real team player who seemed to handpass the ball more than most, back in the day.  Creative with excellent vision.

He continuously racked up the stats when 30 possessions was seen as a true benchmark.  Quite well suited to the modern style too.

 

9 hours ago, MT64 said:

His game against Footscray in 1987 got us all going and he ran himself into the ground. His last goal had the wing cheering well before the ball went thru the sticks. Perfect angle.  I have never heard a crowd cheering, chanting and just so loud as that match. When we heard Dunstan had kicked the goal the noise went up another level.

It was the last round of the year and a must win game to make the finals at Whitten Oval for the 1st time in many years. Its my favourite MFC memory. Robbie finally getting the chance to play finals. For the 1st and only time l went onto the oval and followed a number of supporters up the race expecting to get knocked back leading into the rooms. The supporters that got in early enough were able mingle and chat with the players. Massive buzz insude. Robbie signed my footy record that day. Its probably worth nothing but its priceless to me

Wonderful memories. I certainly remember the '87 Footscray game standing in the outer wing with my 2 young daughters and Willow giving us members the bird at the G.

If I remember correctly, post football he went off to become a fireman at Melbourne airport.