Jump to content

Featured Replies

Posted

Probably done before at some stage but here is my dream forward line :

                                                                                                                               Farmer       Jakovich       Neitz

                                                                                                                               Lyon           Schwartz       Jurrah

Couldn't fit in some greats here, such as Norm Smith and others like Robbo and Darren Bennett and can't yet find a place for current players.

Not sure whether Fred Fanning should be on some sort of forward line interchange with others. 

        

 

From the revival in 1987 until today, I agree that this group of 6 is the best combination of pure skill, talent and footy smarts. The tragedy  is that only one (Neitz) played a full career at the dees without injury or other mishap. 

I weep when I recall the lost opportunity that, excluding only Jurrah, the rest could have been playing together in the nineties if not for injury to Jakovich, Lyon and Schwarz. Balme's time as coach was blighted by their injuries (as well as G Lovett, Tingay, Prymke).

Placing them in the best combination in their best positions would be a nightmare. But Jakovich must play at full forward. The rest can play anywhere.

 

This forward line (circa 2013) brings a tear to the eye:

HF McKenzie            Fitzpatrick             Watts

F   Rodan                   Dawes                      Evans

 

Edited by Bring-Back-Powell

3 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

This forward line (circa 2013) brings a tear to the eye:

HF McKenzie            Fitzpatrick             Watts

F   Rodan                   Dawes                      Evans

 

As in a cut from a blade?


6 hours ago, doug williams said:

Probably done before at some stage but here is my dream forward line :

                                                                                                                               Farmer       Jakovich       Neitz

                                                                                                                               Lyon           Schwartz       Jurrah

Couldn't fit in some greats here, such as Norm Smith and others like Robbo and Darren Bennett and can't yet find a place for current players.

Not sure whether Fred Fanning should be on some sort of forward line interchange with others. 

        

My wishful thinking 2019 dream forward-line.

Spargo, Weideman, Preuss

Tracca, TMc, Hanna.... ANB,

 I think we are very green,  as far as consistently high output...  forward of our centreline.

Behind centre we get much better...  and much much more mature.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

 

total recall forwardline

Gawn, Jakovich, RJackson

Farmer, Schwartz, Lyon

- - - - - - - - - -

aJohnson, Oliver, rFlower

sFebey, Neitz, rGrinter

mPike, sWight, Whelan

 

r/ jStynes, tViney, jViney

 emrg/ nJetta, gHealey, gYeates, sStretch..............................................

Edited by DV8

HF: Lyon         Schwarz    Green                                   

  F:  Jackovic  Neitz         Farmer

-------------------------------------------------------------

 HF   Yze            Bennett       Jurrah

    F    Wight   Robertson       Flower.            The great Robbie Flower.  Try stopping just him.

 

B: WHELAN, WIGHT, JETTA

HB: B.LOVETT, INGERSON, S.FEBEY

C : TINGAY, OLIVER, FLOWER

HF: LYON, SCHWARZ, YZE

F: FARMER, NEITZ, GREEN

FOLL: GAWN, T.VINEY, J.VINEY

IC: A.JOHNSON, STYNES, ROBERTSON, J.MCDONALD

EMERG: JACKOVICH, JURRAH, WHITE, BRUCE

Edited by WERRIDEE

8 hours ago, WERRIDEE said:

B: WHELAN, WIGHT, JETTA

HB: B.LOVETT, INGERSON, S.FEBEY

C : TINGAY, OLIVER, FLOWER

HF: LYON, SCHWARZ, YZE

F: FARMER, NEITZ, GREEN

FOLL: GAWN, T.VINEY, J.VINEY

IC: A.JOHNSON, STYNES, ROBERTSON, J.MCDONALD

EMERG: JACKOVICH, JURRAH, WHITE, BRUCE

Jackovich is streets ahead of Green 'WERRIDEE' and to be honest if we had these forward riches I would slip him into FF & then have the luxury of Neitz going back to his best position at CHB.

I would then bring Jurrah into the pocket to replace Green.

Farmer, Jackovich & Jurrah would be the most freakish FF line of all time.


Just now, spirit of norm smith said:

Try stopping these guys

Lyon Schwartz Jurrah

Farmer Jakovich Neitz

Now we're talking. OM little baby Jesus. That's a forward line to salivate over.

21 hours ago, doug williams said:

Probably done before at some stage but here is my dream forward line :

                                                                                                                               Farmer       Jakovich       Neitz

                                                                                                                               Lyon           Schwartz       Jurrah

Couldn't fit in some greats here, such as Norm Smith and others like Robbo and Darren Bennett and can't yet find a place for current players.

Not sure whether Fred Fanning should be on some sort of forward line interchange with others. 

        

Top selections from the past, no doubt. I also wonder about Darren Bennett - he was truly fantastic, both leading out and kicking (from almost any distance) but as discussed with him at the time, he couldn't get the selectors' eyes against Jakovich. I thought that he was just as good, if not a little more reliable than the former; however, the bulk of goals that Jakovich could muster was magnificent. Neitz was great too, when shifted to the forward line, but was better at CHB earlier on - and perhaps was played as a forward late in his career for just that little bit too long. Into Neitz's spot, I'd consider Bennett due to that 50 metre lead he'd pull, kicking the big ones nearly every time from out near the 60-70 metre zone, post high. I'd never seen a player do that so easily, so often, so well. Fanning was a freak, they say, but my Dad said he did it in the days when footballers and most of the opposition for the Dees were part-timers, also-runners, and paddock grazers. 

1 hour ago, Deemania since 56 said:

Top selections from the past, no doubt. I also wonder about Darren Bennett - he was truly fantastic, both leading out and kicking (from almost any distance) but as discussed with him at the time, he couldn't get the selectors' eyes against Jakovich. I thought that he was just as good, if not a little more reliable than the former; however, the bulk of goals that Jakovich could muster was magnificent. Neitz was great too, when shifted to the forward line, but was better at CHB earlier on - and perhaps was played as a forward late in his career for just that little bit too long. Into Neitz's spot, I'd consider Bennett due to that 50 metre lead he'd pull, kicking the big ones nearly every time from out near the 60-70 metre zone, post high. I'd never seen a player do that so easily, so often, so well. Fanning was a freak, they say, but my Dad said he did it in the days when footballers and most of the opposition for the Dees were part-timers, also-runners, and paddock grazers. 

Bennett better than Neitz!

Many say Neitz played his best football as a defender. He certainly played much of his early career there and yet his career average is 2.1 goals per match. Bennett a forward averaged 2.8

Bennet never won the Coleman medal, Neitz did.

Bennett's best was 4th then 10th and 10th in the Coleman. Neitz 1st, 3rd, 3rd, 5th and 9th 

Bennett 78 games - Neitz 306

Bennett's accuracy career 215goals 152 behinds, Neitz  631goals, 368 behinds. 

Neitz for me, plus he was hard, players feared being hit by Neitz not so much Bennett.

13 hours ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Try stopping these guys

Lyon Schwartz Jurrah

Farmer Jakovich Neitz

It would be awesome if one of our tech experts on here put a montage together of their highlights. Some incredible memories.


In fairness to Darren Bennett.

He was a classical full forward in the days when there were many classical full forwards such as Lockett, Ablett and Dunstall. Their game was to lead and to expect and receive good service from their teammates up the ground and kick goals from set shots.

At that time, the service to Bennett was garbage - passes over his head, passes that dropped short, passes to where he wasn't and many other insults to his role as a leading full forward (seems that nothing has changed in 30 years). Nevertheless in one season he kicked over 80 goals and was more than competitive.

His kicking style was simple and effective - good balance, controlled ball drop and high follow through (Weideman reminds me of his style). Served him well when he won a kicking competition and received a pass to try out in the NFL where he made a successful career as a punter.

Sadly his game was one dimensional. That Jakovich could kick bags of goals from any position as a leading full forward or as a cunning goalsneek made life difficult for Bennett. In all my time following the dees he was by far the best classical full forward I have seen (Neitz was not so classical, more flexible and versatile and capable of playing in many positions although no less effective).

 

3 hours ago, chook fowler said:

Lockett  Hudson  Farmer

G Ablett Snr  Carey Jezza

I like what you've done here, but to be honest there's others I'd put ahead of Farmer. Examples include Leigh Matthews, Eddie Betts, Cyril Rioli and Robert Flower (not because that's where he played, but if I'm picking any side from the centreline forward, he's got to be in there)

1 hour ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

I like what you've done here, but to be honest there's others I'd put ahead of Farmer. Examples include Leigh Matthews, Eddie Betts, Cyril Rioli and Robert Flower (not because that's where he played, but if I'm picking any side from the centreline forward, he's got to be in there)

You’re probably right about Matthews - I have a bias against him because of his thuggery. As a pure forward pocket I rate Farmer above Betts and Rioli but again bias comes in to play. As to Tulip he rates absolutely as in the best 22, but as a wingman. 

7 minutes ago, chook fowler said:

You’re probably right about Matthews - I have a bias against him because of his thuggery. As a pure forward pocket I rate Farmer above Betts and Rioli but again bias comes in to play. As to Tulip he rates absolutely as in the best 22, but as a wingman. 

One must wonder how unstoppable the Tulip actually was - I don't think he was ever an aggressor on the field, just a bloody talented footballer with class and application to burn. Yet, Matthews was in my best 3 footballers of all time. Tulip, Matthews and Blight. The Ox is No. 4, pre-first knee injury. Great memories, all of this posting - but pointless to scale footballers across the 50 years of associated daydreams. However, I remain very excited about the young Kobe Farmer coming to the Dees in years to come - the Wizard also had it all in teams that failed to deliver to elicit his complete talents. Maybe Kobe can make up for that when the time is ripe. 

2 minutes ago, Deemania since 56 said:

One must wonder how unstoppable the Tulip actually was - I don't think he was ever an aggressor on the field, just a bloody talented footballer with class and application to burn. Yet, Matthews was in my best 3 footballers of all time. Tulip, Matthews and Blight. The Ox is No. 4, pre-first knee injury. Great memories, all of this posting - but pointless to scale footballers across the 50 years of associated daydreams. However, I remain very excited about the young Kobe Farmer coming to the Dees in years to come - the Wizard also had it all in teams that failed to deliver to elicit his complete talents. Maybe Kobe can make up for that when the time is ripe. 

The Wizz entered AFL life, into a team dominated by the Hollywood boulevard.

Not a great culture to enter into, as a lad.


7 hours ago, rjay said:

Jackovich is streets ahead of Green 'WERRIDEE' and to be honest if we had these forward riches I would slip him into FF & then have the luxury of Neitz going back to his best position at CHB.

I would then bring Jurrah into the pocket to replace Green.

Farmer, Jackovich & Jurrahould be the most freakish FF line of all time.

If Norm Smith is considered as a player then make it a Club best team ever or 150 year team. Or make it over 54 years since 1964 and many trajicsvlike me can give greater importance to yesteryear.

A team from 1896 to 1964 can be done and then the best selected from those 2 teams.

Remember those who have played in premierships should IMO be graded in front of others if about equal.

I agree that Jakovich on pure ability for FF and Neiter to backline as it's a bit small anyway. No real big players to play on beasts of the opposition.

Also Tommy Mac in Forward  Pocket instead of Brad Green is also a chance maybe Jurrah starts but Tommy in 22 and he can play forward or back as well.

Greeney and Ooze fight out HF flank.

if over longer period then Wellsy  snd Alvesey  are surely better than Tingay over a longer period and Gary Hardeman is in our Team of Century I think. (Again just as good if not better over a longer period ) 

Also surely Gerard Healey if Jako and Jurrah Are in over the shorter period would get a guernsey.

Pre 12th flag The Cordners  Ivor Warne Smith Percy Zbeames are nearly walk up starts and a plethora of flag heroes of 1954 to 64 and 1939 to 1948 also.

Mueller Fanning? Mithen Roet Keneally Ridley and the greatest of all Baras. Tas Johnson Stuart Spencer Don Williams Geoff Case and Hassa Mann.

Reckon the modern side would be the most exciting but the 12 flag side too tough and smart when the chips were down if they ever met.

Sorry to digress but the most important now is how our current team can write itself in these thoughts after say a flag or two or dare I say 3!!!

Can also be purely an AFL team since 1990. !

 

 

 

 

87ish to now, but excluding robbie:

b: jetta - wight - ingerson
hb: s febey - neitz - b lovett
? tingay - g lovett - davey
hf: lyon - schwarz - jurrah
f: stynes - jakovich - farmer
foll: gawn - oliver - t viney
i/c: jones - j viney - yze - green
emerg: prymke - woewodin - vince - whelan

but that's just a random run thru without 'thinking' about it...

Ppl and media still caught up in 'fwd line' rubbish.

It's about a team...a delivery system...game style. Not about 6 blokes who may or may not fire etc. 

Happy to have best TEAM...others can have best bits n pieces ;)

 
On 1/8/2019 at 12:11 PM, doug williams said:

Probably done before at some stage but here is my dream forward line :

                                                                                                                               Farmer       Jakovich       Neitz

                                                                                                                               Lyon           Schwartz       Jurrah

Couldn't fit in some greats here, such as Norm Smith and others like Robbo and Darren Bennett and can't yet find a place for current players.

Not sure whether Fred Fanning should be on some sort of forward line interchange with others. 

        

On paper and based on talent great but that forward line would not win you a premiership in today's footy. 

I would also expect they would struggle to have 1 inside 50 tackle between them in a full season :)


Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Reply to this topic...

Featured Content

  • PREVIEW: Carlton

    Good evening, Demon fans and welcome back to the Demonland Podcast ... it’s time to discuss this week’s game against the Blues. Will the Demons celebrate Clayton Oliver’s 200th game with a victory? We have a number of callers waiting on line … Leopold Bloom: Carlton and Melbourne are both out of finals contention with six wins and eleven losses, and are undoubtedly the two most underwhelming and disappointing teams of 2025. Both had high expectations at the start of participating and advancing deep into the finals, but instead, they have consistently underperformed and disappointed themselves and their supporters throughout the year. However, I am inclined to give the Demons the benefit of the doubt, as they have made some progress in addressing their issues after a disastrous start. In contrast, the Blues are struggling across the board and do not appear to be making any notable improvements. They are regressing, and a significant loss is looming on Saturday night. Max Gawn in the ruck will be huge and the Demon midfield have a point to prove after lowering their colours in so many close calls.

    • 0 replies
  • REPORT: North Melbourne

    I suppose that I should apologise for the title of this piece, but the temptation to go with it was far too great. The memory of how North Melbourne tore Melbourne apart at the seams earlier in the season and the way in which it set the scene for the club’s demise so early in the piece has been weighing heavily upon all of us. This game was a must-win from the club’s perspective, and the team’s response was overwhelming. The 36 point win over Alastair Clarkson’s Kangaroos at the MCG on Sunday was indeed — roovenge of the highest order!

    • 4 replies
  • CASEY: Werribee

    The Casey Demons remain in contention for a VFL finals berth following a comprehensive 76-point victory over the Werribee Tigers at Whitten Oval last night. The caveat to the performance is that the once mighty Tigers have been raided of many key players and are now a shadow of the premiership-winning team from last season. The team suffered a blow before the game when veteran Tom McDonald was withdrawn for senior duty to cover for Steven May who is ill.  However, after conceding the first goal of the game, Casey was dominant from ten minutes in until the very end and despite some early errors and inaccuracy, they managed to warm to the task of dismantling the Tigers with precision, particularly after half time when the nominally home side provided them with minimal resistance.

    • 0 replies
  • PREGAME: Carlton

    The Demons return to the MCG as the the visiting team on Saturday night to take on the Blues who are under siege after 4 straight losses. Who comes in and who goes out?

      • Like
    • 213 replies
  • PODCAST: North Melbourne

    The Demonland Podcast will air LIVE on Monday, 14th July @ 8:00pm. Join Binman & I as we dissect the Dees glorious win over the Kangaroos at the MCG.
    Your questions and comments are a huge part of our podcast so please post anything you want to ask or say below and we'll give you a shout out on the show.
    Listen LIVE: https://demonland.com/

    • 29 replies
  • POSTGAME: North Melbourne

    The Demons are finally back at the MCG and finally back on the winners list as they continually chipped away at a spirited Kangaroos side eventually breaking their backs and opening the floodgates to run out winners by 6 goals.

      • Haha
    • 253 replies