Jump to content

Parallels with our 1955 team

In Harmes Way
in Melbourne Demons

Featured Replies

 

The ancestors of some current Demonlanders were probably even then clogging up Jim Cardwell’s in-tray with letters asking “Is Norm Smith the right guy?”

Edited by Tim

  • Quote
    • Like 6
    • Haha 15

    I loved that read he was so open and forthright and always looking to improve his side and they had similar forward issues in 1955 - 56.

    Thanks for posting that article - In Harmes Way.

  • Quote
    • Like 3
    • Thanks 1
     
    3 hours ago, Tim said:

    The ancestors of some current Demonlanders were probably even then clogging up Jim Cardwell’s in-tray with letters asking “Is Norm Smith the right guy?”

    Doh.

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    3 hours ago, Tim said:

    The ancestors of some current Demonlanders were probably even then clogging up Jim Cardwell’s in-tray with letters asking “Is Norm Smith the right guy?”

    They got their wish in 65 unfortunately. The fox is a legend of our MFC.

  • Quote
    • Sad 1

    We WILL win it this year. I have never ever thought this is in my 52 years watching. But this is THE year. Our Best is the Best and it is in our hands.

    Edited by Wizard of Koz

  • Quote
    • Like 2
     
    4 minutes ago, Chook said:

    Not enough talk about connection for my liking.

    Or learnings 

  • Quote
    • Haha 1

    Was talking to my old man weeks ago when we were continuing to win, without having played particularly well.

    He was a fourths, thirds and seconds player mid 50s and made the senior list in 59 but never played a senior game.

    His comment was that the team of that golden era, had surprising similarities in that they seemed to manage to win games they either weren’t expected to or maybe shouldn’t have, given their performance. They just found a way.

    Im holding out hope that comparison comes through come the end of September. 
    This week is huge.

     

  • Quote
    • Like 4

    Loved the article IHW!  Thanks for posting.  Brings memories flooding back for this old fart, including reference the old Argus newspaper!

    The final quote from Norm in the article struck a particular chord with me:  "But all in all, and looking down the list of Melbourne players, I think I can promise football lovers, that Melbourne will make every team fight hard if they want to down us". 

    To me that quote rings true with today's team, and the 'DNA' that Goodie keeps referring to.

    But the similarities don't stop there, as the following extract from 'The Grand Old Flag' Lynda Carroll's outstanding history of the MFC shows:

    "The first ten rounds of 1955 were enthralling, ones for Melbourne.  StKilda, Geelong, Footscray, North Melbourne, Essendon, Hawthorn, South Melbourne, Carlton, Richmond and Fitzroy all capitulated to the Demons.  This run of consecutive wins established a new club record.  There were always replacements on hand for anyone who was injured, and the challenge from young players kept senior members of the side on their toes.

    Unfortunately, the first defeat of 1955 came at the hands of the old enemy - Collingwood. ........ in Round 11.  Melbourne's innaccurate kicking for goal during the season finally cost the team a match. ............. The same price would be paid again over the next month, with narrow losses to both Geelong and Footscray being directly attributable to the inability of the forwards to convert their opportunities fully.

    ............................................................................

    Despite the problems of inaccuracy  Melbourne was on top of the ladder, racing towards the top of the tree in 1955.

    I won't indulge myself any further here, but suffice to say, to this point in the season, there are some notable similarities between 1955 and 2021.

    If I may l add one further point however. In the second quarter of the 1955 GF, the Dees kicked 1.7. to keep Collingwood in the game.  At 3/4 time the margin was just 7 points.  However, in the end Dees superior fitness saw them run out winners by 28 points.  Just something to ponder for chronic sufferers of MFCSS.

    Lets hope that we can all revel in the glory of #13 in September 2021, to complete the circle, and commit Norm's 'curse' to history,

  • Quote
    • Like 6
    11 hours ago, Beetle said:

    This week is huge.

    "Massive"

  • Quote
    • Like 2

    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...
    Go to topic listing

    Featured Content

    • NON-MFC: Round 15

      As the Demons head into their Bye Round, it's time to turn our attention to the other matches being played. Which teams are you tipping this week? And which results would be most favourable for the Demons if we can manage to turn our season around? Follow all the non-Melbourne games here and join the conversation as the ladder continues to take shape.

        • Like
      • 42 replies
      Demonland

    • REPORT: Port Adelaide

      Of course, it’s not the backline, you might argue and you would probably be right. It’s the boot studder (do they still have them?), the midfield, the recruiting staff, the forward line, the kicking coach, the Board, the interchange bench, the supporters, the folk at Casey, the head coach and the club psychologist  It’s all of them and all of us for having expectations that were sufficiently high to have believed three weeks ago that a restoration of the Melbourne team to a position where we might still be in contention for a finals berth when the time for the midseason bye arrived. Now let’s look at what happened over the period of time since Melbourne overwhelmed the Sydney Swans at the MCG in late May when it kicked 8.2 to 5.3 in the final quarter (and that was after scoring 3.8 to two straight goals in the second term). 

      • 2 replies
      Demonland

    • CASEY: Essendon

      Casey’s unbeaten run was extended for at least another fortnight after the Demons overran a persistent Essendon line up by 29 points at ETU Stadium in Port Melbourne last night. After conceding the first goal of the evening, Casey went on a scoring spree from about ten minutes in, with five unanswered majors with its fleet of midsized runners headed by the much improved Paddy Cross who kicked two in quick succession and livewire Ricky Mentha who also kicked an early goal. Leading the charge was recruit of the year, Riley Bonner while Bailey Laurie continued his impressive vein of form. With Tom Campbell missing from the lineup, Will Verrall stepped up to the plate demonstrating his improvement under the veteran ruckman’s tutelage. The Demons were looking comfortable for much of the second quarter and held a 25-point lead until the Bombers struck back with two goals in the shadows of half time. On the other side of the main break their revival continued with first three goals of the half. Harry Sharp, who had been quiet scrambled in the Demons’ first score of the third term to bring the margin back to a single point at the 17 minute mark and the game became an arm-wrestle for the remainder of the quarter and into the final moments of the last.

      • 0 replies
      Demonland

    • PREGAME: Gold Coast

      The Demons have the Bye next week but then are on the road once again when they come up against the Gold Coast Suns on the Gold Coast in what could be a last ditch effort to salvage their season. Who comes in and who comes out?

        • Haha
      • 110 replies
      Demonland

    • PODCAST: Port Adelaide

      The Demonland Podcast will air LIVE on Monday, 16th June @ 8:00pm. Join Binman, George & I as we dissect the Dees disappointing loss to the Power.
      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/

        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 32 replies
      Demonland

    • POSTGAME: Port Adelaide

      The Demons simply did not take their opportunities when they presented themselves and ultimately when down by 25 points effectively ending their finals chances. Goal kicking practice during the Bye?

        • Clap
        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 252 replies
      Demonland
    View All