Since our last Premiership in 64 the Melbourne Football Club has brought in a long list of players from other clubs to bolster its team and in some cases hoping to lead us to that elusive cup. So with the help of some Melbourne tragics over a bottle or two of red we have put together a best of the lot list and called it the MFC Foreign Legion. (Why you may ask – well we have not got a selection of premierships on DVD to watch is one and after a bottle or two it seem a good idea)

By no means a team of the century, but perhaps a best of list that you can reminisce about and a list that made an impact in their time with us. We had a limited knowledge of player movements in the sixties and early seventies and I am sure we have missed some from this era and possibly players in recent times that should make the team.

The team was put together on the following basis:

Players had to have played at least 1 senior game with another VFL/AFL club before coming to Melbourne and could not be on MFC’s current list.

Each player is listed with the previous club they played for with the number of games played and goals in brackets along with MFC games and goals.

MFC's Foreign Legion

Crosswell an emergency?

  On 14/01/2020 at 20:37, Mazer Rackham said:

Crosswell an emergency?

Did not see Crosswell play for the Red and Blue Mazer. Certainly has an impressive resume and assume that he played as a half forward for us. Did he have much of an impact with his time at the Dees?

Surely Byron Pickett gets a gig?

  On 14/01/2020 at 21:17, Optimus D said:

Did not see Crosswell play for the Red and Blue Mazer. Certainly has an impressive resume and assume that he played as a half forward for us. Did he have much of an impact with his time at the Dees?

I like the concept. I'd like it even more if we dreamt of what might have been if each of the players mentioned played their best football with us. If that were the case, Crosswell would be a certain starter. Conversely, if Crosswell isn't good enough to get a game based on his performance with us, I'm not sure Templeton is either.

Wow great work Od especially in adding the games totals.

Didn't realise Jeff White had so many games with us. Indeed many of the proportions were unexpected even from Ne involved in the preparation. The wine possibly clouded my considerations and yes surprising to see Crosswell only played 76 with North. His MP act seemed far greater than his 48 with us. I guess his Carlton time was also well publicised..

it has raised even further discussion points I think. Will be happy to get together again and reprise this list. Hope we get some extra names from a larger Dland group.

GO DEES

 

  On 14/01/2020 at 21:17, Optimus D said:

Did not see Crosswell play for the Red and Blue Mazer. Certainly has an impressive resume and assume that he played as a half forward for us. Did he have much of an impact with his time at the Dees?

Past his best and in a very ordinary team that copped a lot of kickings. Was more of the "Jordan Lewis" teacher type than the Crosswell of old.

The Crosswell of old ... imagine the versatility of Bontempelli and the brain of Nathan Fyfe. And a good pack mark.

He was the model for Geoff Hayward in the "The Club". The awesomely talented boom recruit who played when he felt like it and was often off with the fairies.

  On 14/01/2020 at 21:17, Optimus D said:

Did not see Crosswell play for the Red and Blue Mazer. Certainly has an impressive resume and assume that he played as a half forward for us. Did he have much of an impact with his time at the Dees?

Crosswell was well and truly done by the time he got to the Demons. He was not the player at North that he was at Carlton, so by the time he got to Melbourne he was a liability. 

At the Demons, he had lost all the things that had made him special.  Including his fitness and enthusiasm. Was intemperate and gave away frees. And was a poor kick.  I remember him down back giving away silly frees. A wasteful and disappointing trade.

Ron got some things wrong. 

 

I doubt anyone will object if we remove Alistair Clarkson from the team...and make him non-playing coach instead.

A very solid effort overall and an enjoyable read and walk down memory lane.

However, I cannot give you an elephant stamp and would risk being ejected from Pedants Inc. for not pointing out the misspellings of Rohde, Pedersen, Bizzell, Bennett and Seecamp and, to a lesser extent, Alastair (Clarkson) and Stephen (Powell).?

Big Carl not in the side?

Sorry but that is not on

  On 15/01/2020 at 04:15, Sir Why You Little said:

Big Carl not in the side?

Sorry but that is not on

I'm curious...would you play White and Ditterich in the same side or not play White? If you play both, would you do so as two ruckmen or have one play in a different position?

For what it's worth, when they played with us, I think White was the better ruckman but could not play any other position. I can't recall Ditterich playing anywhere with us other than as a ruckman. I would only pick one ruckman, so I would choose White. Peter Moore can provide the back-up.

Big Carl was captain/coach of the Dee’s in ‘79. I particularly remember his last game against Collingwood where he went about clobbering every opposition player in sight, very entertaining and something one doesn’t see these days.

 

Ha ha, I remember this.  It was glorious and Big Carl had a great time that day, the Magpie players less so.

Teddy Fidge's last game was also against Collingwood  in 1988 when he snotted Magpie champ Darren Millane early on and put him out of the game, which we won.  Fidge got suspended for a few matches (justifiably, I might add) and that was the last we ever saw of him in red and blue.  If it was a plan, it worked!

  On 15/01/2020 at 05:19, Dee Dee said:

Big Carl was captain/coach of the Dee’s in ‘79. I particularly remember his last game against Collingwood where he went about clobbering every opposition player in sight, very entertaining and something one doesn’t see these days.

 

I also remember Big Carl throwing a wild back hander and collecting one of our own, Kelly O'Donnell

Thanks for correcting me Jontee

Edited January 15, 20205 yr by Neil Crompton

  On 15/01/2020 at 05:59, demonstone said:

Ha ha, I remember this.  It was glorious and Big Carl had a great time that day, the Magpie players less so.

Teddy Fidge's last game was also against Collingwood  in 1988 when he snotted Magpie champ Darren Millane early on and put him out of the game, which we won.  Fidge got suspended for a few matches (justifiably, I might add) and that was the last we ever saw of him in red and blue.  If it was a plan, it worked!

Ted Fidge;  I have a memory vs Richmond, ball down Punt Rd end, Ted on the members wing (right in front of me), when a Richmond player pointed to his chin and asked Ted to have a go....gee there was alot of blood.

 

Anyway back on topic what about Jamie Duursma...played on Dermot 2 weeks running and did the job, did a job on Kernahan in a final;  not a great player but played some great games

  On 15/01/2020 at 07:12, Neil Crompton said:

What about Brian Wilson? Dogs to North then to us. And won a Brownlow with us.

Would have thought he could have scraped into the side.

he is there as rover

  On 15/01/2020 at 07:17, Jontee said:

he is there as rover

thanks Jontee - must be blind

Great thread Optimus D - it brings back memories, about one’s own life really. Some of those players mark the different chapters.

Bernie Vince heads the list, but a few of those players are definitely amongst my favourite ever Demons.

 

Edited January 15, 20205 yr by Ron Burgundy

Needs more Tom Gillies

Ran into Brian Wilson at the MCG 3 years ago.I lived next door to him for about 12 months in the 1980s.Had the occasional chat over the fence.At the G he told me not to give up on the Dees- keep supporting them as he was.Great stuff Willow!

Our current set of imports alone would have to be a considerable core to a team if all playing well etc caveat thing thing.

Hibberd, Melksham, May, Tomlinson, Langdon, Kolodjasnij, Preuss, Lever and Mitch Brown now too. Possible Harley Bennel at any moment now.

I almost included Hannan, from Footscray!

And Gawn is literally foreign - New Zealander! Or possibly some as-yet unidentified planet. May have arrived with the Murchison meteorite.

  On 15/01/2020 at 04:44, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

I'm curious...would you play White and Ditterich in the same side or not play White? If you play both, would you do so as two ruckmen or have one play in a different position?

For what it's worth, when they played with us, I think White was the better ruckman but could not play any other position. I can't recall Ditterich playing anywhere with us other than as a ruckman. I would only pick one ruckman, so I would choose White. Peter Moore can provide the back-up.

Big Carl was the Captain/Coach

He Plays, alright...

  On 15/01/2020 at 05:19, Dee Dee said:

Big Carl was captain/coach of the Dee’s in ‘79. I particularly remember his last game against Collingwood where he went about clobbering every opposition player in sight, very entertaining and something one doesn’t see these days.

 

That’s why he plays

Talked to Robbie Flower not long before he left us, he told me with great passion that he loved playing with Carl, and hated it when he went back to the Saints and loved him again as Captain/Coach!!