On the upside, we are almost always in games against top sides. Only a few years ago, top sides almost always reamed us.

Get stuck into the froths and lifes good

jshc, I reckon it's a bit ironic to say that you can't mentally handle watching the team lose without taking out your frustration on your close family members, and then criticise the players for their mental weakness. Anyway, I think having realistic expectations probably help, and most teams don't go from dismal to dominant without a period where they're middle-of-the-road. What were you actually expecting from this year? Two games to go and we're 7th on 131%, despite injuries to key players (injuries we never could have coped with in past years).

I'm sure this point will get shouted down in amongst the 'the sky is falling' crowd, but I think we're probably tracking in about the right spot this year. IMO, we're clearly on an upward trajectory under Roos/Goodwin. We're now at a stage where we can not only defeat but bully poor teams 9/10 times (just the St Kilda slip-up), and we're thereabouts with most of the better sides in the comp (four losses under 10 points, vs Cats x2, Port and Sydney).

It's clear we've improved, because now the 'the sky is falling' posts come out after we lose a game by less than two goals versus a likely finalist and it's wrist-slashing time. These games used to be greeted with optimism, because only a few short years ago we were so pitiful this was about as close to a win as we'd get. The next step is to start winning some of the close ones, and minimising the damage when we have a dirty day (Richmond, Collingwood and Hawthorn).

Edited August 12, 20186 yr by Rogue

What hurts most is the same mistakes keep getting made. 

We don’t have leaders who can pick up the  team and drag them over the line

the same thing happened under Northey, Balme and Danniher. We always dropped crucial games, that good strong clubs always win....

I feel your pain mate. 

I keep thinking of those old grey supporters of the Swans and the Bulldogs whose long years of loyalty and pain were highlighted when a bunch of twenty-somethings broke their teams through. Maybe that'll be us one day. There's no guarantee, but those old Swans and Dogs had no guarantee either.

The poster above is right. Players and coaches come and go. Supporters are the heart and soul of the club. And we are the reason it will mean something if it ever does happen. I know you're not leaving, just like I can't ever leave. It's in our blood. But I know how much it can hurt, too.  You're definitely not alone feeling this way. 

3 hours ago, jshc__ said:

I'm gonna be upfront and say if you're one of the optimists on here, this post isn't for you.

Also if you're not into kinda long rambly posts that have strong pessimistic undertones, this post isn't for you.

Honestly, I don't think many are going to appreciate this post at all, but I need to vent my frustrations somewhere, and as long time reader of the forum thought it was bout time I joined in!

 

I really think I have had enough from this club. 18 years of support, which I realise pales in comparison to the years of garbage some of you have had to put with, but nevertheless, it has been 18 years of sadness, anger, being mocked at school, but most crucially disappointing, gut-wrenching losses such as today.  I thought about listing off a history of the shocking, demoralising losses I have either personally witnessed or simply just remembered as particularly painful, but it really boils down to the fact pouring my heart and soul into this club is no longer worth it. Attending on regular basis with my father from 2007 to 2014 then after that on my own. This year I have attended every game in Victoria bar 2, and I easily think this has been the most torturous year, all the years of drubbings don't compare to the heartache I have gone through (so far) in 2018.

I just don't see how it's worth it anymore, the cycle of false hope followed by awful loss that brings all the false hopes back to earth. It's terrible. I'm frustrated towards my mum and sister and it's not fair, but I don't know how to get out of this abusive relationship. It's clear from the mental toughness of the current crop the players will not lead us to the promised land, and maybe if we do have the list to lead us to a flag, we can't seem to get the best 22 on the park at any one time. I at wits end and really wish I could see the future, to know whether this cycle of pain will lead to a flag, or even finals success. ANYTHING.

I need assistance on how to get through this because even though I've promised to not watch our final 2 matches, I don't what 2019 will bring.

Again I'm incredibly sorry for the rant, needed to finally write my feelings down somewhere.

 

 

You'll probably get called a sook by a few on here, but I reckon you're right to bent usefully.

I think the biggest key in there is your period you've been a fan. 18 years. I've been a demon since I was a kid and watched Stynes/Lyon/Schwartz. I was a bit out of the loop in 2000 when we got to a GF, but the following 6 seasons we were, on and off, relevant. It was easy to follow Nietz and Bruce and Yze as, at the time, they had the potential to do something. Then of course since then, the hell we've been put through. It's possible that in the early years you weren't as immersed as some, and have only really been immersed after we were really in it.

I have to say though, I remember reflecting in about 2014 or 2015 that as bad and bleak as it seemed, even though we knew 10 goal losses would be the norm, I still didn't want to be anywhere else but watching the demons. And I have to say, during the worst parts we had the option of just opting out. Switch the TV off, don't look at the sports pages, go do something else. Now it's a lot worse. We're expected to do something, so when we don't, it stings more. When you expect nothing, it's all part of the plan when you get nothing. But when you low ball it, and just beg to make finals, and you end up missing out... it's worse than almost any other disappointment.

We were supposed to improve this year. We're supposed to be a premiership threat, and it's most certainly not the case. So I can get that it would hurt in a way that sticks a bit worse than your usual failed season.

I'd direct you to the list build though. We've always been about our core group. And its their profiles where I think you'll see a good reason to stay firm with MFC.

Every year you ask, who are the guys that in the next 3 seasons are considered "core." Or in other words, the names you cling to and don't consider trading. Hang on to for 200-300 games each. If you take that philosophy with Sydney, it's guys like Parker (25), Kennedy (30), Buddy (31),  Rampe (28) Lloyd (24). Along with some lesser lights like Hanneberry and Jack who aren't killing it like they usually would. The only core guys under 25, you could argue, are Aliir, Heeney and Mills who are all under 25. There's a reason they always compete well. They recruit a bunch of younger guys who always learn from great older guys while their mid-twenties brigade dominate. Once you have that in your list, it's simpler to educate players who are coming through.

The demons situation is way more difficult. Our core, the names that have led to our rise up the ladder, are almost all under 25. Think of Oliver at the top of the tree. Hogan, Tracca, ANB, Hunt (last year), Lever, Harmes (recently), OMac, Salem, Viney, Brayshaw, ... These guys are the main reason we're having any success at all, and are playing full games in roles of massive responsibility. The only guys really holding a spot and causing opposition headaches that are over 25 are guys like Lewis, Jetta, Hibbo, TMac, Gawn, Jones, Melksham and Garlett. That's a small smattering of leaders.

What I'm confident you'll see in coming years is that first group all stay and move into the mid-late twenties group. When they do, we'll improve a lot. The youngsters that take their place will come from the upcoming drafts, and you'll see the list resemble the successful teams' lists a lot more.

To put it simply, we're not in our peak yet with this current build. On one hand, that's great because we get to see a lot more improvement. On the other... it means that the stakes get even higher in the coming years. And should we lose a GF, this Swans game will feel like a fond childhood memory in comparison.

5 hours ago, Big Demon said:

You should give the Hawks a go pal they are generally thereabouts, no idea where their forum is but go find it and don’t let the Demonland door hit you on the ass on the way out.

 

Pity our team doesn’t find the Hawks, they actually know how to win games that matter through the year and September.

Whats The Point. There were heaps yesterday. Most from 25 to 35 metres out.

6 hours ago, Tony Tea said:

On the upside, we are almost always in games against top sides. Only a few years ago, top sides almost always reamed us.

this is loser's upside.

Spare a thought for me - I first started following the MFC in 1965....

Imagine this thread if we don’t make finals with a percentage of 125+! That’s my biggest concern??.

8 hours ago, jshc__ said:

I really think I have had enough from this club.

 

I don't usually post after a loss because I don't want to say something I'll regret (not a hard and fast rule though) but I thought your post deserved a response, and I'll try to do it with kindness, because I do hear you.

I watched Fitzroy destroy us by 190 pts. I watched us get heartbroken in 87 then destroyed in 88. I saw Essendon come back from (I think) 48 pts when we had won the first 5 games of the year. I watched craps sides (St Kilda aside) hold up the cup. I've seen us with talent to burn, and then burn that talent. I've seen more false dawns than you've had breakfasts. I was 5 years old before I saw our first win, and that was going to the G to watch them maybe 8-10 times a year.

I've been burnt, scolded, chopped up, [censored] up,  cut, smashed, stabbed, humiliated, and had my heart broken a million times by this club.

But I keep coming back. Why do I do that?

Because I was born with red and blue blood pumping through my veins into my MFC heart. I was Checker telling the boys to play like Demons. I was Barassi holding up yet another cup. I was Big Jim running over the mark. I was Smith at the Gabba. I was Yze stealing the game from Adelaide... Schwartz doing another knee... Flower sublimely taking on 3 opponents and making them look stupid... Gawn missing a sealer... Simmonds being pole-axed.... Froggy leaving his man to win a GF. I am all those things, and more. 

Because I am Melbourne. That's why I come back again and again. Because I know no other way, and would rather be in agony supporting my side when they finish last than support any other side that won the flag.

I have no choice, but even if I did I'd still be here. Because I have faith. Faith that one day all of this will be repaid in spades.

 

 

We are turning things around. It feels like it's not because of the little losses along the way but the next few years we will be starting to hit our peak. Stick fat, it will be worth it.

I don't understand this "club owes me" tripe.  On radio when I hear a supporter complain because the club has fallen short at the last hurdle etc...I vomit.

 

 Get on board, enjoy the ride, endure the pain, and if/when the ultimate arrives, it will be the sweetest victory of all.  

Paradoxical that we want our players to be tough and smart out there, and off the field, we as supporters are feeble and simple.

You will always cop a bit of whack from some for this type of post, but I do feel your pain. Been a Melbourne supporter for 36 years and a member for ten plus years. I became increasingly more passionate when my father who was Melbourne mad- died a few years back. I’ve wanted success so much for him even though he is no longer around to see it.

last year round 23 hit me so hard I didn’t watch a game of footy over the finals series. My wife pleaded with me this year not to follow them so closely as it effects my whole mood over the week, so for the first year I didn’t buy a membership. I thought this would help, but I’m unfortunately too passionate. Yesterday was hard and not sure I can continue next year if we miss finals again.

Most will say it’s melodramatic, but after having a serious motorcycle accident a month ago, I need to focus on more important things.

I wish you all the best, hope you find a healthy mix and can continue to follow the Dees. 

I feel your pain jshc... It’s a seriously tough gig following this mob. They taunt & tease with moments, quarters & games of brilliance yet fall back into terrible old habits. 

I wish I didn’t care as much as I do but the fact is I do, as much as they crush me with performances like yesterday I wouldn’t change it for the world. This year all I was hoping for was a finals appearance, I just want to get back there even for 1 game, I think back to my early to mid teens when we would make finals. The buzz in the air, the excitement in the crowd, when spring has sprung & the smell of finals footy is about, the roar of the crowd after the national anthem... I just want to be apart of it again even if it’s for a short time... 

Jimmy Bartel said last week we’ve gone from a side who would lose games to teams below them, we now beat them, we’ve just got to learn how to beat sides around us & above us. They’ve  got 2 weeks to show us something, a finals spot is in their hands, they stuffed it up last year... Lets see how they go this year 

 

Edited August 12, 20186 yr by JV7

8 hours ago, Rogue said:

jshc, I reckon it's a bit ironic to say that you can't mentally handle watching the team lose without taking out your frustration on your close family members, and then criticise the players for their mental weakness. Anyway, I think having realistic expectations probably help, and most teams don't go from dismal to dominant without a period where they're middle-of-the-road. What were you actually expecting from this year? Two games to go and we're 7th on 131%, despite injuries to key players (injuries we never could have coped with in past years).

I'm sure this point will get shouted down in amongst the 'the sky is falling' crowd, but I think we're probably tracking in about the right spot this year. IMO, we're clearly on an upward trajectory under Roos/Goodwin. We're now at a stage where we can not only defeat but bully poor teams 9/10 times (just the St Kilda slip-up), and we're thereabouts with most of the better sides in the comp (four losses under 10 points, vs Cats x2, Port and Sydney).

It's clear we've improved, because now the 'the sky is falling' posts come out after we lose a game by less than two goals versus a likely finalist and it's wrist-slashing time. These games used to be greeted with optimism, because only a few short years ago we were so pitiful this was about as close to a win as we'd get. The next step is to start winning some of the close ones, and minimising the damage when we have a dirty day (Richmond, Collingwood and Hawthorn).

My other issue is the golden rule, don’t played injured players. It seemed Hogan is injured but let’s play him. Weeds a better option. Could not have done worse!

2 hours ago, London Demon said:

Spare a thought for me - I first started following the MFC in 1965....

Me too London. You and I are equally responsible for our decline. Keep up the good work. 

2 hours ago, #11-TonyAnderson said:

Imagine this thread if we don’t make finals with a percentage of 125+! That’s my biggest concern??.

Meh. It's a journey of process margins 

Totally helpless as a supporter.  Just gotta turn up, pay out hard earned and hope for the best. The club is a misery to follow plain and simple.

To me, the Melbourne Football Club is like family.  You stick fat, regardless of circumstances.  The love tests you, but it's unconditional.

I was 9 months old when we won our last premiership. It is heartbreaking but all I can say is my love of the MFC is and always has been there. It is one of the few things in life I have never changed for.

About time @Dappa Dan wrote a thesis! Kudos!

Honestly, we are at the point where we are trying to be a Sydney. A team that wins games they shouldn’t and stay competitive for years past their ‘use by’ date.

We are not there yet but we are close and it may come in the next two weeks. I want to be around to see it, I have put up with much worse than this on false hope and I am not about to argue with the reality that we are a good team that just needs to put it together for 4 quarters against a good team in a game that means something. Even if I have to wait until next year...

14 hours ago, jshc__ said:

I'm gonna be upfront and say if you're one of the optimists on here, this post isn't for you.

Also if you're not into kinda long rambly posts that have strong pessimistic undertones, this post isn't for you.

Honestly, I don't think many are going to appreciate this post at all, but I need to vent my frustrations somewhere, and as long time reader of the forum thought it was bout time I joined in!

 

I really think I have had enough from this club. 18 years of support, which I realise pales in comparison to the years of garbage some of you have had to put with, but nevertheless, it has been 18 years of sadness, anger, being mocked at school, but most crucially disappointing, gut-wrenching losses such as today.  I thought about listing off a history of the shocking, demoralising losses I have either personally witnessed or simply just remembered as particularly painful, but it really boils down to the fact pouring my heart and soul into this club is no longer worth it. Attending on regular basis with my father from 2007 to 2014 then after that on my own. This year I have attended every game in Victoria bar 2, and I easily think this has been the most torturous year, all the years of drubbings don't compare to the heartache I have gone through (so far) in 2018.

I just don't see how it's worth it anymore, the cycle of false hope followed by awful loss that brings all the false hopes back to earth. It's terrible. I'm frustrated towards my mum and sister and it's not fair, but I don't know how to get out of this abusive relationship. It's clear from the mental toughness of the current crop the players will not lead us to the promised land, and maybe if we do have the list to lead us to a flag, we can't seem to get the best 22 on the park at any one time. I at wits end and really wish I could see the future, to know whether this cycle of pain will lead to a flag, or even finals success. ANYTHING.

I need assistance on how to get through this because even though I've promised to not watch our final 2 matches, I don't what 2019 will bring.

Tbh if it’s getting to the point where your weekends are ruined and impacting your close family relationships, you might want to try to emotionally step back a bit. 

Go to games, support the club but don’t let the team dictate your week. Take a more casual observer approach

Easier said then done though!

14 hours ago, jshc__ said:

I'm gonna be upfront and say if you're one of the optimists on here, this post isn't for you.

Also if you're not into kinda long rambly posts that have strong pessimistic undertones, this post isn't for you.

Honestly, I don't think many are going to appreciate this post at all, but I need to vent my frustrations somewhere, and as long time reader of the forum thought it was bout time I joined in!

 

I really think I have had enough from this club. 18 years of support, which I realise pales in comparison to the years of garbage some of you have had to put with, but nevertheless, it has been 18 years of sadness, anger, being mocked at school, but most crucially disappointing, gut-wrenching losses such as today.  I thought about listing off a history of the shocking, demoralising losses I have either personally witnessed or simply just remembered as particularly painful, but it really boils down to the fact pouring my heart and soul into this club is no longer worth it. Attending on regular basis with my father from 2007 to 2014 then after that on my own. This year I have attended every game in Victoria bar 2, and I easily think this has been the most torturous year, all the years of drubbings don't compare to the heartache I have gone through (so far) in 2018.

I just don't see how it's worth it anymore, the cycle of false hope followed by awful loss that brings all the false hopes back to earth. It's terrible. I'm frustrated towards my mum and sister and it's not fair, but I don't know how to get out of this abusive relationship. It's clear from the mental toughness of the current crop the players will not lead us to the promised land, and maybe if we do have the list to lead us to a flag, we can't seem to get the best 22 on the park at any one time. I at wits end and really wish I could see the future, to know whether this cycle of pain will lead to a flag, or even finals success. ANYTHING.

I need assistance on how to get through this because even though I've promised to not watch our final 2 matches, I don't what 2019 will bring.

Again I'm incredibly sorry for the rant, needed to finally write my feelings down somewhere.

 

 

Don't give up,,, jshc_

We are right on the cusp of breaking through...  our best chance since the 80's.

 

We ARE on the right track... it just seems we are closer than we are.  If you know what I mean.   A false dawn, just ahead of the real dawn.

We still have some lingering amateurish attitudes lingering within the club, from the decades & the days, before Roosy.

These attitudes will leave the club,,,  if we continue this struggle in the direction we are currently on.

 

I think Goody knows these issues, I sense he does anyway.

 

We still have some horse trading to do, and further recruiting.  But we are very close.   And we are very young within.

We need another mini clean & freshen.

The game has changed over the last 2 years, and so an adjustment is required.

 

Stick tight buddy... I hope your dad is OK.

I too went through the feelings at school your talking about, and attended games alone,,, as well as often going to Sainters games with good mates.

 

.

I loved it when Melbourne and Flower pants-ed the Sainters.