12 Long Painful Years Finals - At Last!!

[bing181 9,348]

Bittersweet for Stretch, Hogan and Lever (at least).

[Cassiew 1,903]

If someone had told me in 2006 that it would be 12 years until our next finals, I would have laughed in their face. In fact I thought after winning our first final since 2002, we were posed to go one better in 2007.

Finally, no more sitting around, watching other teams play in the finals, while wondering what could have been. This time we’re playing to win.

Edited August 19, 2018 by Cassiew

[What 18,810]

4 hours ago, Cassiew said:

If someone had told me in 2006 that it would be 12 years until our next finals, I would have laughed in their face. In fact I thought after winning our first final since 2002, we were posed to go one better in 2007.

Finally, no more sitting around, watching other teams play in the finals, while wondering what could have been. This time we’re playing to win.

Being the first team to ever lose to Freo in a final set us back 12 years.   It was shameful.

The current equivalent of that would be the first team to ever lose to Gold Coast in a final.  Pray we are not that team or we might get wiped out for another decade.

Edited August 20, 2018 by Petraccattack

[Lucifers Hero 40,440]

What 12 years means to past and current Demons:

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2018-08-20/the-social-media-reaction

Examples:

• I like September ??  — Jeff White (@JeffWhite34) August 19, 2018

• Love the Demons #finalsbound ❤️? @melbournefc — Brad Green (@bradgreen18) August 19, 201

• I love my big friend Max ? #cuties  claytonoliver13 (Accompanied by a delightful pic of Clarrie crying on Max's shoulder.  Happy tears ??

 

[titan_uranus 25,050]

20 hours ago, bing181 said:

Bittersweet for Stretch, Hogan and Lever (at least).

And Bernie.

[MudDogs Gawn Win.. someday 499]

The last time we played in a Final.

 

[Cassiew 1,903]

 

11 hours ago, MudDogs Gawn Win.. someday said:

The last time we played in a Final.

 

6. Is still true.

7. Hell, I’m wearing one right now!

 

Edited August 21, 2018 by Cassiew

[MudDogs Gawn Win.. someday 499]

17 hours ago, Cassiew said:

Hell, I’m wearing one right now!

You must be making one man very happy!!

[Little Goffy 14,668]

 

[Cassiew 1,903]

6 hours ago, MudDogs Gawn Win.. someday said:

You must be making one man very happy!!

I’m single. Wear for comfort rather than for someone else ?

[Cassiew 1,903]

5 hours ago, Little Goffy said:

 

Oh my Buddha. Even a year before iPhones. 

My younger brother was single, I was engaged. Now I’m single and he’s married with children. 

Geelong missed the finals.

Jack Palance was still alive.

Gold Coast Suns And GWS didn’t exist.

There was no bye.

My older brother was still a newlywed.

[praha 11,240]

On 8/20/2018 at 6:32 AM, Cassiew said:

If someone had told me in 2006 that it would be 12 years until our next finals, I would have laughed in their face. In fact I thought after winning our first final since 2002, we were posed to go one better in 2007.

Finally, no more sitting around, watching other teams play in the finals, while wondering what could have been. This time we’re playing to win.

I remember going into the season, we were Victoria's best chance to bring the flag back home. According to The Age.

Went into the Saints game full of confidence. We were awful. Lost the first 9, beat Adelaide and the Pies, and then got smacked by bottom placed Richmond, who hadn't won a game. Daniher was done. 

Genuinely thought we had the right foundations in 2010. In hindsight it is no surprise we crumbled as badly as we did. What terrible recruiting. 

Undoubtedly we have the best young core that we've had in my time supporting the club (28 years). In the 90s and 2000s we were led by an older brigade. On the weekend, Oliver, Harmes, Petracca, Kent, Salem, Hannan and Melksham got us over the line. Some good leadership by Jones Lewis and Gawn in the final 10 minutes as well. But it was the young core.

[layzie 34,147]

1 hour ago, praha said:

I remember going into the season, we were Victoria's best chance to bring the flag back home. According to The Age.

Went into the Saints game full of confidence. We were awful. Lost the first 9, beat Adelaide and the Pies, and then got smacked by bottom placed Richmond, who hadn't won a game. Daniher was done. 

Genuinely thought we had the right foundations in 2010. In hindsight it is no surprise we crumbled as badly as we did. What terrible recruiting. 

Undoubtedly we have the best young core that we've had in my time supporting the club (28 years). In the 90s and 2000s we were led by an older brigade. On the weekend, Oliver, Harmes, Petracca, Kent, Salem, Hannan and Melksham got us over the line. Some good leadership by Jones Lewis and Gawn in the final 10 minutes as well. But it was the young core.

I still remember heading to the game that night listening to 3AW’s pregame and hearing Rex and Wallsy talking about us going one better and making top 4 that year. Was a moment in time. 

[ManDee 7,239]

On 8/22/2018 at 5:05 AM, Cassiew said:

 

6. Is still true.

7. Hell, I’m wearing one right now!

 

What, a dwarf planet?

[spirit of norm smith 16,596]

Love it. 

Just working out how to get finals tickets. 

The Bass outlet at Chadstone appears to be shut!!! What’s this online caper!!!!

[Mazer Rackham 14,971]

1 hour ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Love it. 

Just working out how to get finals tickets. 

The Bass outlet at Chadstone appears to be shut!!! What’s this online caper!!!!

Take your sleeping bag and thermos to the G and camp outside for 3 days. You will find fulfillment there.

[jackaub 1,402]

2 minutes ago, Mazer Rackham said:

Take your sleeping bag and thermos to the G and camp outside for 3 days. You will find fulfillment there.

Ahhhhh the good old days pre 2006

[Cassiew 1,903]

9 hours ago, ManDee said:

What, a dwarf planet?

But of course ?

[old55 23,800]

9 hours ago, ManDee said:

What, a dwarf planet?

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theage.com.au/sport/afl/st-kildas-clinton-jones-apologises-for-dwarf-burning-incident-20130902-2t1fz.html?source=images

[titan_uranus 25,050]

15 hours ago, praha said:

I remember going into the season, we were Victoria's best chance to bring the flag back home. According to The Age.

Went into the Saints game full of confidence. We were awful. Lost the first 9, beat Adelaide and the Pies, and then got smacked by bottom placed Richmond, who hadn't won a game. Daniher was done. 

I have such vivid memories of Round 1, 2007.

I strongly recall how excited I was to go to the game. We were the first game of the year, Friday night at the G, we'd just beaten them the Elimination FInal and because we'd finished 2006 as the best Victorian club and the previous 5 premierships had been won by interstate sides the media was all over us as the next big thing.

We were never in the game and by the time we could blink we were 0-9 and everything had completely changed. 

[Demonsone 2,050]

Reinforces why this group shouldn’t take it for granted as the finals/premiership clock can be very short eg Bulldogs!

[MT64 1,144]

18 hours ago, Mazer Rackham said:

Take your sleeping bag and thermos to the G and camp outside for 3 days. You will find fulfillment there.

And possums.

[spirit of norm smith 16,596]

Richmond fear us. We are the contested ball winning team that can run and score.  We just need to learn how they setup to defend the contest and set up behind the play (defensive zone). Act quick. Choose the first option. Not a bomb. 

Imagine if Hogan & Lever & Viney were all fit and firing. That’s 2019. 

For now, it’s the belief in 2018 and we are capable 

[Bring-Back-Powell 15,064]

On 8/20/2018 at 11:11 AM, Petraccattack said:

Being the first team to ever lose to Freo in a final set us back 12 years.   It was shameful.

The current equivalent of that would be the first team to ever lose to Gold Coast in a final.  Pray we are not that team or we might get wiped out for another decade.

In fairness, Freo were a 15-7 side that year that went 10-2 at Subi.

Not many if any sides were going to beat them in a final over there. And I can recall none of us were shocked that we lost.

[Allus Monk 568]

13 hours ago, titan_uranus said:

I have such vivid memories of Round 1, 2007.

I strongly recall how excited I was to go to the game. We were the first game of the year, Friday night at the G, we'd just beaten them the Elimination FInal and because we'd finished 2006 as the best Victorian club and the previous 5 premierships had been won by interstate sides the media was all over us as the next big thing.

We were never in the game and by the time we could blink we were 0-9 and everything had completely changed. 

And our then-Great White Hope Brock MacLean, after being BOG in the EF, had hurt his foot(!!!) by quarter time and was pretty much done for half the season. 

Robbo did kick a goal while lying flat on his back, though.