The Class of 2000

[Demonland 72,185]

 

[Cassiew 1,903]

Seeing Essendon win. A team that had won 7 years earlier. That hurt more than anything. This is our year.

[leave it to deever 17,511]

The forward line in our team was sensational.

[Skuit 10,031]

I hope Jeff Farmer is okay - quoted as not being interested (it's not clear if he isn't interested in the GF or simply not interested in being interviewed, saying he is 'happy living the quiet life'). Seeing his celebrations at the MCG in recent times was a massive boon, but maybe he identified that he needed a spell (or that memories of 2000 are a bit too emotional). I also hope it's not related to Kobe not getting a gig - I'm sure that our club is professionally run nowadays and treated Kobe well. Does anyone know what the youngun' has been up to this year football-wise? No doubt he remains on our radar. 

[leave it to deever 17,511]

13 minutes ago, Skuit said:

I hope Jeff Farmer is okay - quoted as not being interested (it's not clear if he isn't interested in the GF or simply not interested in being interviewed, saying he is 'happy living the quiet life'). Seeing his celebrations at the MCG in recent times was a massive boon, but maybe he identified that he needed a spell (or that memories of 2000 are a bit too emotional). I also hope it's not related to Kobe not getting a gig - I'm sure that our club is professionally run nowadays and treated Kobe well. Does anyone know what the youngun' has been up to this year football-wise? No doubt he remains on our radar. 

 Loved watching that bloke play.

Im sure all will be well.

[Little Goffy 14,542]

"In the 18 months before the 2000 season, three of the club’s Team of the Century members had retired: Jim Stynes, Garry Lyon and Todd Viney."

On will be presenting the cup, one has their son on the field, and the other has become the deepest spirit within the club.

[leave it to deever 17,511]

40 minutes ago, Skuit said:

I hope Jeff Farmer is okay - quoted as not being interested (it's not clear if he isn't interested in the GF or simply not interested in being interviewed, saying he is 'happy living the quiet life'). Seeing his celebrations at the MCG in recent times was a massive boon, but maybe he identified that he needed a spell (or that memories of 2000 are a bit too emotional). I also hope it's not related to Kobe not getting a gig - I'm sure that our club is professionally run nowadays and treated Kobe well. Does anyone know what the youngun' has been up to this year football-wise? No doubt he remains on our radar. 

Jeff farmer reminds me of Toby g but just a nicer person. Not a fan of Tg but when i see him win games off his boot it reminds me of the Wiz....although JF was a better player.

Win or lose it was always worth tbe price of a tix to see Farmer doing what he could.

Would be great to have his son play for us.

[Biffen 12,943]

1 minute ago, leave it to deever said:

Jeff farmer reminds me of Toby g but just a nicer person. Not a fan of Tg but when i see him win games off his boot it reminds me of the Wiz....although JF was a better player.

Win or lose it was always worth tbe price of a tix to see Farmer doing what he could.

Would be great to have his son play for us.

Both TG and The Wiz have a bit of in them.

Big men feared the Wiz.

[Skuit 10,031]

Other highlights though:

Guy Rigoni:

“We went over to Todd’s place for a midfield meeting one day and Jack Viney got his teeth knocked out on the trampoline out the back. He came inside and Todd said ‘don’t you cry!’”

Andrew Leoncelli:

“Jack Viney has always been heart and soul. He was a wild kid. Todd was an unusual dad, so Jack would just be tearing around, kicking the footy, and Todd would grab him and say ‘shut up!’ Olden day parenting, you know.”

Brent Grgic:

“Todd played when I was playing. He used to drag Jack around and his brother Max. He was a very tough two-year-old! He played the same as his Dad.”

Travis Johnstone:

“I remember Jack Viney annoying the crap out of us when he came into the rooms. He would go mad, crashing into walls. He grew up with us and now he’s playing.”

Jeepers. We know that Jack is special, and I don’t agree with the parental approach (although I grew up in the world of high-level tennis and often regret that I didn’t have overbearing parents – pretty much the only way you can succeed in the sport) – but Jack was reared as a hardened football robot. A flag and Norm Smith medal is the only reasonable outcome.

David Neitz:

“I had a shot early and I will never forget missing it. It was a left foot snap and you do it in training which makes it sort of gettable. I slammed it into the post. I never forget that.”

I’ll never forget that either. On a day where you felt everything had to go right, this was a serious early blow to the confidence (thankfully today feels completely different, and that we can overcome any early set-backs). I still remember my muck-ups in regular under-15 games. I feel sorry that Neita has to live with this.

Anthony Ingerson:

“On the ground, I smashed heads with a teammate in the first few minutes. I went to the bench and Neale Daniher was screaming: ‘Get him on the ground!’ The doctor stapled across my forehead and I was back out on the ground within two minutes, with my entire head sideways.”

We did get bullied in 2000, but the general carnage was insane. The game feels different today (though last year’s grand final was pretty hectic), and our team feels different. We will stand up to any physical onslaught, even if a couple key players go down.

David Schwarz:

“Running out onto the ground was [censored]ing phenomenal. The roar was like 25 steam-trains going at once. You couldn’t even hear yourself think.”

Troy Simmonds:

“I’ve seen the vision of Long’s bump on me numerous times. When I finished up at Richmond they put it on the highlights video! I went to hospital. I do remember coming in the changerooms. I saw my parents there and I was asking ‘where am I’ and ‘what’s going on?”

Fire! All of the old boys are tipping us to win, with Oliver, Petracca and Gawn splitting allegiances as to favourite current player and Norm Smith tip.

 

 

[Timothy Reddan-A'Blew 5,129]

1 hour ago, Little Goffy said:

"In the 18 months before the 2000 season, three of the club’s Team of the Century members had retired: Jim Stynes, Garry Lyon and Todd Viney."

On will be presenting the cup, one has their son on the field, and the other has become the deepest spirit within the club.

Like it, Goffy.