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Famous MFC jumper number

Big Carl
Big Carl
in Melbourne Demons

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  On 05/11/2017 at 09:00, Big Carl said:

Even though we didn't have success he made up a great centre line in the 70's

Alves Wells Flower

31 was why I started following the Dees before he defected.

2 Flower  I moved to Melbourne and started going every week in his debut season '73. Only missed one year in his career when I lived OS in '82. Poetry in motion. Most of his career was lean especially the first years but this was the best centre line we've had in my time. 

2 From memory Tingay had it and Jonesy has been a worthy 2

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      On 05/11/2017 at 07:33, Big Carl said:

    Norm Smith, John Lord

    Loved watching John Lord took 3 bites of every mark

    Never a boring one grab 

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      On 05/11/2017 at 07:25, pineapple dee said:

    4 Tony Sullivan, Peter Giles and............ Watts his name

    Brett Grgic?

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      On 05/11/2017 at 10:42, Earl Hood said:

    4 Norm Smith - 4 and 6 - greatest football strategist, player manager in VFL history. 

    31 Ron Barassi - 6 and 4 - most competitive and successful footballer ever? 

    2 Robert Flower - our most exceptional and graceful player

    11 Jim Stynes - the most inspirational player story in the VFL/AFL's short history! 

    11. Jimmy & Greg Wells

    2. Flower &  Nathan Jones

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      On 05/11/2017 at 10:03, It's Time said:

    I thought he defected and went to North chasing the Premiership he got in '77 but I met him and he explained that Skilton became the coach at the end of '76 and even though he was the Captain sacked him saying he was rebuilding with youth. (Sounds familiar). He was devastated and thought his career was over but then got a call from Barassi asking him to come to North. No wonder he did a cartwheel on his wing when the siren sounded and he won a Premiership at the end of that season. 

    Skilts was coach for the ‘76 season

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    69.

    In and under type.

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      On 05/11/2017 at 20:56, Whispering_Jack said:

    54 Trevor Korn - only played about 3 games in 1981 under Ronald Dale Barassi but I've known him since he was a little kid. 

    The club must agree with me because, like 31, they've retired the number until someone else suitable comes along.

    Lol, the club thought Brent Heaver was the one in 1990. He wore 54 that season.

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      On 05/11/2017 at 20:02, Sir Why You Little said:

    Skilts was coach for the ‘76 season

    Yeh you're right. Couldn't remember. '74_'77. Not a great period in the Club's history. 

    Won't ever forget the last game of that season against Collingwood. Cemented my lifelong antipathy towards that club. We had to beat them and Blues who were top of the ladder had to beat Dogs who were bottom and we would have made the finals. Blues and Dogs drew so we missed out. That result came up on the scoreboard just as our game finished and the Collingwood players jeered, clapped and laughed at our players. They had just won the wooden spoon but the next year made the drawn Grand Final and beaten in the replay by Barras's North. So sweet. 

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      On 05/11/2017 at 21:27, It's Time said:

    Yeh you're right. Couldn't remember. '74_'77. Not a great period in the Club's history. 

    We have had a few of those!!

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    My favourite thing about #31 is that it for the whole VFL/AFL competition, there's no-one else that comes close to RDB. Other numbers have arguable favourites. For example, #5 could be Ablett Sr, Judd, Buckley or Hird; #18 could be Lloyd or Carey; #23 could be Brereton, Franklin or Don Scott etc. But Barassi - as he should - stands alone. 

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    Number 4 is not famous .. maybe 50 years ago.. it's been worn by duds in the modern era..Sullivan...Grgic and 'Poster Boy'..I think Ben Holland even wore it... retire the number 4. 

     

    I'd say the number 2 is most iconic. FLOWER and Tingay and now Jones. Forget Armstrong inbetween. The 9 is also pretty famous. I'd give that to leaver. The 31 should be sacked and never handed out again. Wheatley was the only worthy wearer of it in 30 plus years

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    Can never forget Stan Alves. The best blind-turner the game has ever seen. Unique tack-off speed and made space beautifully, often in impossible situations. Tremendous kick of the football, both sides. Would have been a great coach for the Club in our driest times. He did work hard, always, lifting a series of mediocre teams to save or challenge in every game. I'd reckon he had some involvement in the development and masterclass shaping of the greatest winger of all time: Robert Flower. 

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    I am no bloody typist! I meant to write 'take-off' speed, above. Sorry.

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    The quality of the player and his legacy makes the number significant such as a Barassi or a Flower. Given its history over the past 50 years, number 31, no longer holds the importance it once did whereas number 2 arguably still holds significance. It's all about the era and the age and the memories of the collective mass of supporters. 

    For me, probably due to our poor record over the years, very few numbers have significance. Perhaps Flower and number 2 has some sentimentality but few others.  

    Its the guy inside the jumper that matters. I would be happy to see Lever with number 50 as long as he produces some exciting footy. 

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    2. 11 and 31 and 11 for obvious reasons.

    But Dont forgot lucky No. 13 Jakovich, Yze and Oliver

     

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      On 07/11/2017 at 07:11, hemingway said:

    The quality of the player and his legacy makes the number significant such as a Barassi or a Flower. Given its history over the past 50 years, number 31, no longer holds the importance it once did whereas number 2 arguably still holds significance. It's all about the era and the age and the memories of the collective mass of supporters. 

    For me, probably due to our poor record over the years, very few numbers have significance. Perhaps Flower and number 2 has some sentimentality but few others.  

    Its the guy inside the jumper that matters. I would be happy to see Lever with number 50 as long as he produces some exciting footy. 

    Not sure I agree with your first paragraph, but definitely agree with the last. I've never understood why players change numbers during their careers or why we (the club) perpetuate the idea that a lower number is considered to have a premium. What message does it send to a player who's given a number in the 30s or 40s? We don't think you'll make it?

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      On 07/11/2017 at 22:42, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

    Not sure I agree with your first paragraph, but definitely agree with the last. I've never understood why players change numbers during their careers or why we (the club) perpetuate the idea that a lower number is considered to have a premium. What message does it send to a player who's given a number in the 30s or 40s? We don't think you'll make it?

    We seem to put a premium on the lower numbers, but I agree with your comments. 

    I don't think its a great idea to give our best young draft picks low numbers in their first season or two. Reckon, if we value the low numbers the player should earn it and not be given the choice until at least 2 or 3 successful seasons. 

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    All that said, my current favourite player is 29.

    (number, not age)

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    My order would be 2 obviously, 31 and maybe the forgot jumper for me 9 with special mentions to 3, 4, 11 - ah stuff it - on second thoughts I luv them all. 

    Go Dees

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    Donny Williams.  Number 25.  An absolute dasher and a star.  5 time premiership player was named on the HBF in our team of the century.

    Don Williams

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    15 - Paul Hopgood, Ross Funcke.

    I saw 4 mentioned earlier and there was no sign of Craig Ellis.  That's a travesty.

    In all seriousness, 5 with the Ox and Petracca isn't half bad.   All the others have been rightly mentioned.

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      On 09/11/2017 at 01:07, iv'a worn smith said:

    Donny Williams.  Number 25.  An absolute dasher and a star.  5 time premiership player was named on the HBF in our team of the century.

    Don Williams

    A dasher sums it up. 

    Also had a big leap, took some absolute screamers over the pack and a beautiful drop kick off half back. 

    Went to WA for a few years to make a quid and returned better than ever. 

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      On 05/11/2017 at 07:25, pineapple dee said:

    4 Tony Sullivan, Peter Giles and............ Watts his name

     OH MY LORD!     4   John Lord  Great player,  predominantly  played in the Ruck in the late 50s to early 60s. Also CHB at times.

     

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