Down Memory Lane # 2

[dieter 3,325]

2011 AFL Round 7  Melbourne v Adelaide

[Traja Dee 104]

Thanks for sharing.

This was the game where Jack Trengove was controversially suspended for his sling tackle on Danger (1h 5min).  As a biased Demon, I felt that Trenners was hard done at the time but, looking, back, I now applaud the safety first attitude adopted by the AFL.

Interesting to see who was playing for Melbourne that season.  Somehow, I felt optimistic at the start of the season but now realise how far off the mark we were, especially compared to our 2018 team.  Our 2018 team would have defeated our 2011 team by 100 points, IMHO.

Still, I reflect on the potential in 2011.  Ricky Petterd, in particular, could have been a star and I likened him to Stevie J.  Nice to see Trenners up and about and Flash hitting up so many passes.  Jack Watts definitely looked like a 16yo on the loose.

[dieter 3,325]

2 hours ago, Traja Dee said:

Thanks for sharing.

This was the game where Jack Trengove was controversially suspended for his sling tackle on Danger (1h 5min).  As a biased Demon, I felt that Trenners was hard done at the time but, looking, back, I now applaud the safety first attitude adopted by the AFL.

Interesting to see who was playing for Melbourne that season.  Somehow, I felt optimistic at the start of the season but now realise how far off the mark we were, especially compared to our 2018 team.  Our 2018 team would have defeated our 2011 team by 100 points, IMHO.

Still, I reflect on the potential in 2011.  Ricky Petterd, in particular, could have been a star and I likened him to Stevie J.  Nice to see Trenners up and about and Flash hitting up so many passes.  Jack Watts definitely looked like a 16yo on the loose.

Of those playing only Jones is left in Demon colours. Frawley - who looked good that day- Dunne, Trengove - another star that day - and Watts who was just plain awful to very good in patches, mostly ducking and pretending to be involved - are left, the latter playing elsewhere. Tapscott was terrific and Jamar and Moloney  were the prototype for the various Gawn armchair rides. It does amaze me that they fell apart in Geelong later that year so there must have been a helluva lot of backroom shite at the time.

Yes, what a player was Davey. Supremely gifted and committed.

 

Edited November 11, 2018 by dieter

[Guest]

These years taught me that journos aren't necessarily wrong in their judgements.

I remember Rob Walls writing an article in the Age that sacking Baikey would give us five years of pain. Turned out he wasn't far wrong.

However, this particular game was a bright spot at the time. I was struggling personally and the team had just come back from the infamous game in Perth where the Eagles pretty much kept us out if our forward 50 for a half (kinda like the Prelim). We came out and brained the Crows and it gave me a bit of a bright spark. For that I thank those Demons.

[Tony Tea 2,786]

On 11/11/2018 at 6:25 PM, Traja Dee said:

Ricky Petterd, in particular, could have been a star and I likened him to Stevie J. 

Now, come on. Ricky was an okay footballer, but had average hands and was a poor kick.

[hemingway 7,589]

2 hours ago, Tony Tea said:

Now, come on. Ricky was an okay footballer, but had average hands and was a poor kick.

Ricky like most who played in this period showed glimpses of potential but like most had his limitations. He also had his injuries. During this period, I find it hard to distinguish or seperate the performance and capabilities of individual players from the team. The chicken or the egg ?

[Pates 9,537]

Jeez what a talent Jurrah was. ?

EDIT Although watching the first half he wasn’t on this game!

Edited November 12, 2018 by Pates

[praha 10,279]

2011 was a weird season. We would belt some teams by 14 goals and then get belted by 10 goals.

I'm of the opinion that neither Bailey nor management could have avoided what eventually happened. I understand there were key drivers of the fued that led to 186, but we were a one-way, "bruise free" team that had it coming. Bailey was an attacking coach and he would have had to completely change his coaching style to make us a finals contender. Given he was in his 4th season I couldn't see that happening, especially with the crew we had.

I knew we were done when we lost to Carlton by 50 odd points. I think that was the "bruise free" match. You could just smell it. We were comfortably a 10th-12th team, we a poor back office and resources. This led to division, poor management of injuries, no leadership, and low morale throughout the club.

2011 really was the perfect storm. Fast, erratic change, new branding, the dumping of McDonald, and an expectation that a young brigade would lead to a flag. All with a bunch of yahoos managing the club, and no real long term vision.

Edited November 13, 2018 by praha

[Salems Lot 2,377]

one certainly wonders what a different structure and culture could have done for some of those players.  #18 was no captain but at the same time you had some really promising youngsters coming through that needed the sort of help the club is now, 7 years later, able to provide.  I always had a softspot for young Tapscott.