Jump to content

Featured Replies

Posted

There is occasionally (rare) the romantic footy story of a player returning to their original club. Paul Salmon is the best example that I recall. 
 

For the Dees, I can only recall Carl Ditterich as an example although he will be remembered as a Saints man. Ironically he was a “return” at the Saints and the Dees. He played with Melbourne from 1973-75 and then as player/coach 1979&80.  

I am still thinking that one day perhaps Jesse Hogan could return but history shows it is a 0.01% chance of happening for any club or player.  

 

Gary Hardeman went to play in South Australia in the 70's then came back to play under Barassi in 1980.

 

Norm Smith left Melbourne in 1948 and played for the Royboys as coach in 1949?  He came back to Melbourne 1950s as coach. 

Peter Patrick Pius Paul Crackers Keenan - 1970-1975 101 games; 1981-82 - 30 games


Don Williams left Melbourne late 50s or early 60s went back to play for Sale then came back to star in Melbourne's '64 premiership team.

Todd Viney ‘retired’ to train Mark Philippoussis, only to later return to the Dees when that inevitably went aas over elbow.

Neil Crompton. Left in 1961 to play for Glenelg. He was a rover in those days, kicked 7 against North in a match in 1959. He returned in 1962 and became the tightest back pocket in the competition. 

Crompton also played 45 first class cricket matches for Victoria. he averaged 32 and was known as a superb fielder.

 

This doesn't apply, but Chris Heffernan grew up supporting Melbourne, got drafted to Essendon, was traded to Melbourne and then got traded back to Essendon!

  • Author

Ok so really it’s just Carl Ditterich and Crackers Keenan who played with the Dees, went to another (VFL/AFL) club and returned. No one else in the past 40 years. Still will hope that the Dees reach out to Jesse Hogan to see if there is any interest in a return one day. 


2 hours ago, bush demon said:

Don Williams left Melbourne late 50s or early 60s went back to play for Sale then came back to star in Melbourne's '64 premiership team.

And what a champion player he was. Dasher Williams! 

Like yourself, I'm told, Bobby.

Don Williams used to take hangers( front  cover of footy record for ages), dash out of defence bouncing it, then kick long drop kicks!

He was spectacular....and tough.

Des Campbell??

7 hours ago, bush demon said:

Don Williams left Melbourne late 50s or early 60s went back to play for Sale then came back to star in Melbourne's '64 premiership team.

Yes , Don had two stints with us '53-59 & '64-68   with West Perth '60-62 and Sale '63 .

  • Author
2 hours ago, picket fence said:

Des Campbell??

Another who played a year then went back to the bush.  The VFL era was where players came and went to VFL, SANFL, the bush of the VFA.  It depended on job opportunities, family and money available.  Totally different to today’s professional footballers. 


1 minute ago, spirit of norm smith said:

It depended on job opportunities, family and money available.  Totally different to today’s professional footballers. 

Absolutely correct, Norm.  Here's a stunning example:

The game in 1947 in which Fred Fanning kicked a league record 18 goals (still a record) against St Kilda was the last game for the season and Fred's last appearance for Melbourne.  His final kick was the sole behind in his day's tally of 18.1.  He had kicked 16 until three-quarter time before being quietened somewhat in the last.

The following season, he was lured to coach at Hamilton because of the extra money on offer, which worked out to be six times what Melbourne could pay.  That situation would be totally inconceivable these days.

9 hours ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Ok so really it’s just Carl Ditterich and Crackers Keenan who played with the Dees, went to another (VFL/AFL) club and returned. No one else in the past 40 years. Still will hope that the Dees reach out to Jesse Hogan to see if there is any interest in a return one day. 

Jim Stynes... was with Melbourne, went to Prahran,  then back to the Dees, when his footy took off.

Jim was essentially loaned to Prahran as Melbourne did not have a VFL affiliate in those days. He was still tied to Melbourne.

36 minutes ago, John Dee said:

Jim was essentially loaned to Prahran as Melbourne did not have a VFL affiliate in those days. He was still tied to Melbourne.

Yes,  but there wasn't necessarily a return ticket.  He made good.

23 hours ago, spirit of norm smith said:

There is occasionally (rare) the romantic footy story of a player returning to their original club. Paul Salmon is the best example that I recall. 
 

For the Dees, I can only recall Carl Ditterich as an example although he will be remembered as a Saints man. Ironically he was a “return” at the Saints and the Dees. He played with Melbourne from 1973-75 and then as player/coach 1979&80.  

I am still thinking that one day perhaps Jesse Hogan could return but history shows it is a 0.01% chance of happening for any club or player.  

Interesting thread. I like that Paul Salmon is your "best example" which suggests you've either forgotten about Gary Ablett Jr and Eddie Betts or you don't think of them as "good examples". Trent Croad is another "good example" because he played in a Premiership on his return to Hawthorn. 


Jack Mueller retired and was recalled to come back and play for the team just for the finals in 1948 and was instrumental in the Premiership win. He kicked 8 goals in the Prelim and 6 each in the first Grand Final against Essendon which was a draw and in the win the next week. The other key forward was Norm Smith in his last game for MFC before he finished his career playing for Fitzroy for two years. Something I didn't remember until I just read it. 

Edited by It's Time

  • Author

A few other Dees are at other clubs aside from Hogan.  Watts, Dunn, Howe, Kent, Tyson, Frost, Frawley.  Would any one return for a final farewell year in their careers?

 
11 hours ago, spirit of norm smith said:

A few other Dees are at other clubs aside from Hogan.  Watts, Dunn, Howe, Kent, Tyson, Frost, Frawley.  Would any one return for a final farewell year in their careers?

Interesting looking at that list because people on here often bemoan the fact we give away players for peanuts. If he got his foot (and probably more importantly his head) right Hogan is the only one I’d really happily have back. Howe as well maybe but he’s not something we desperately need. 

Watts maybe as well for a chuckle! ?

On 4/19/2020 at 9:56 AM, bush demon said:

Norm Smith left Melbourne in 1948 and played for the Royboys as coach in 1949?  He came back to Melbourne 1950s as coach. 

I wish he could come back now and end this curse.


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: North Melbourne

    Can you believe it? After a long period of years over which Melbourne has dominated in matches against North Melbourne, the Demons are looking down the barrel at two defeats at the hands of the Kangaroos in the same season. And if that eventuates, it will come hot on the heels of an identical result against the Gold Coast Suns. How have the might fallen? There is a slight difference in that North Melbourne are not yet in the same place as Gold Coast. Like Melbourne, they are currently situated in the lower half of the ladder and though they did achieve a significant upset when the teams met earlier in the season, their subsequent form has been equally unimpressive and inconsistent. 

    • 0 replies
  • REPORT: Adelaide

    The atmosphere at the Melbourne Football Club at the beginning of the season was aspirational following an injury-plagued year in 2024. Coach Simon Goodwin had lofty expectations with the return of key players, the anticipated improvement from a maturing group with a few years of experience under their belts, and some exceptional young talent also joining the ranks. All of that went by the wayside as the team failed to click into action early on. It rallied briefly with a new strategy but has fallen again with five more  consecutive defeats. 

    • 0 replies
  • CASEY: Coburg

    The Casey Demons returned to their home ground which was once a graveyard for opposing teams but they managed to gift the four points on offer to Coburg with yet another of their trademark displays of inaccuracy in front of goals and some undisciplined football that earned the displeasure of the umpires late in the game. The home team was welcomed by a small crowd at Casey Fields and looked right at home as it dominated the first three quarters and led for all bar the last five minutes of the game. In the end, they came away with nothing, despite winning everywhere but on the scoreboard and the free kick count.

    • 0 replies
  • PREGAME: Rd 18 vs North Melbourne

    After four weeks on the road the Demons make their long awaited return to the MCG next Sunday to play in a classic late season dead rubber against the North Melbourne Kangaroos. Who comes in and who comes out?

    • 160 replies
  • POSTGAME: Rd 17 vs Adelaide

    The Demons were wasteful early before putting the foot down early in the 2nd quarter but they chased tail for the remainder of the match. They could not get their first use of the footy after half time and when they did poor skills, execution and decision making let them down.

      • Like
    • 246 replies
  • PODCAST: Rd 17 vs Adelaide

    The Demonland Podcast will air LIVE on Monday, 7th July @ 8:00pm. Join Binman & I as we dissect the Dees disappointing loss to the Crows.
    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/

      • Sad
      • Haha
      • Like
    • 28 replies