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

    • REPORT: Carlton

      I am now certain that the decline in fortunes of the Melbourne Football Club from a premiership power with the potential for more success to come in the future, started when the team ran out for their Round 9 match up against Carlton last year. After knocking over the Cats in a fierce contest the week before, the Demons looked uninterested at the start of play and gave the Blues a six goal start. They recovered to almost snatch victory but lost narrowly with a score of 11.10.76 to 12.5.77. Yesterday, they revisited the scene and provided their fans with a similar display of ineptitude early in the proceedings. Their attitude at the start was poor, given that the game was so winnable. Unsurprisingly, the resulting score was almost identical to that of last year and for the fourth time in succession, the club has lost a game against Carlton despite having more scoring opportunities. 

      • 1 reply
      Demonland

    • CASEY: Carlton

      The Casey Demons smashed the Carlton Reserves off the park at Casey Fields on Sunday to retain a hold on an end of season wild card place. It was a comprehensive 108 point victory in which the home side was dominant and several of its players stood out but, in spite of the positivity of such a display, we need to place an asterisk over the outcome which saw a net 100 point advantage to the combined scores in the two contests between Demons and Blues over the weekend.

      • 0 replies
      Demonland

    • PREGAME: St. Kilda

      The Demons come face to face with St. Kilda for the second time this season for their return clash at Marvel Stadium on Sunday. Who comes in and who goes out?

        • Haha
        • Like
      • 107 replies
      Demonland

    • PODCAST: Carlton

      The Demonland Podcast will air LIVE on Tuesday, 22nd July @ 8:00pm. Join Binman & I as we dissect the Dees disappointing loss to Carlton 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/

        • Like
      • 28 replies
      Demonland

    • VOTES: Carlton

      Captain Max Gawn still has a massive lead in the Demonland Player of the Year Award from Christian Petracca, Jake Bowey, Kozzy Pickett & Clayton Oliver. Your votes please; 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 & 1.

        • Like
      • 22 replies
      Demonland

    • POSTGAME: Carlton

      A near full strength Demons were outplayed all night against a Blues outfit that was under the pump and missing at least 9 or 10 of the best players. Time for some hard decisions to be made across the board.

        • Love
      • 311 replies
      Demonland
    View All