Is This The Greatest Melbourne Team Ever?

[Bobby McKenzie 2,194]

Firstly, let me say how happy I am for all the loyal Melbourne supporters who had NEVER seen even ONE Melbourne Premiership. So very pleased for you all.

I am one of the very lucky ones to have now notched up my 8th Premiership Title. This one had the most wonderful taste of all and that's saying something.

When you are 83 and you see the Bulldogs seemingly ready to seize the GF by the the throat you think "I have seen 7 but I aint going to see anymore". How wrong was I ?

This so young, talented gutsy team just will not accept defeat and seemingly don't panic when the goings  get tough. No one beats us attitude.

Until this season I always believed the great 1956 Melbourne team with its array of stars, Barassi, Cordner, Spencer, Ridley, McMahen, Williams, Dixon, Marquis etc etc was the the greatest of all BUT this years Demons are something extraordinary. I'm now leaning towards the present. What do other old Demons on this forum think? Over to you. Go the mighty Demons, you sure gave the Bulldogs Hell!

[Wells 11 4,846]

notched up your 8th! mate you are a true legend. That was my first so i can’t answer your question,  but i have a feeling over the next 3-5 years this team might leave no doubt. 

[old dee 22,966]

2 hours ago, Bobby McKenzie said:

Firstly, let me say how happy I am for all the loyal Melbourne supporters who had NEVER seen even ONE Melbourne Premiership. So very pleased for you all.

I am one of the very lucky ones to have now notched up my 8th Premiership Title. This one had the most wonderful taste of all and that's saying something.

When you are 83 and you see the Bulldogs seemingly ready to seize the GF by the the throat you think "I have seen 7 but I aint going to see anymore". How wrong was I ?

This so young, talented gutsy team just will not accept defeat and seemingly don't panic when the goings  get tough. No one beats us attitude.

Until this season I always believed the great 1956 Melbourne team with its array of stars, Barassi, Cordner, Spencer, Ridley, McMahen, Williams, Dixon, Marquis etc etc was the the greatest of all BUT this years Demons are something extraordinary. I'm now leaning towards the present. What do other old Demons on this forum think? Over to you. Go the mighty Demons, you sure gave the Bulldogs Hell!

Did you get to the Game Bobby?

Edited September 26, 2021 by old dee

[old dee 22,966]

1 hour ago, Wells 11 said:

notched up your 8th! mate you are a true legend. That was my first so i can’t answer your question,  but i have a feeling over the next 3-5 years this team might leave no doubt. 

They seem to have that" it ain't over yet Attitude" that marks great teams. I look forward to the ride over the next few years.

[Fork 'em 6,565]

 Keep this side together and we should look forward to more flags.

[Docs Demons 1,671]

7 minutes ago, Fork 'em said:

 Keep this side together and we should look forward to more flags.

I don't think to many will be leaving. Maybe a couple of the reserves but we are in for a great ride. Some of those young kids who didn't play plus Tomlinson augers well for a bit of a dynasty me thinks.

[Hellaintabadplacetobe 4,099]

Hassa Mann seems to think it is, and he would know better than most!

First flag for me but best team in my 50+ years by a long way.

[Stretch Johnson 2,586]

We will find out over the next five years.

Look forward to seeing you ball at the G for the next one.

[Bobby McKenzie 2,194]

42 minutes ago, old dee said:

Did you get to the Game Bobby?

No mate. Too much demand for tickets. Happy with TV and my lounge chair. Cheers.

[Emerald 1,720]

I will say yes if we have a 4peat in 2024.

[old dee 22,966]

9 minutes ago, Bobby McKenzie said:

No mate. Too much demand for tickets. Happy with TV and my lounge chair. Cheers.

Sorry to hear that mate. Still we won by 12 goals that is not a win but a slaughter. 

[darkhorse72 1,745]

They are the greatest in the last 57 years.... anything beyond that will be an endless debates, unless they go onto win 4 in a row...then they will be greatest AFL/VFL team ever.

[monoccular 16,328]

My heart being 57 years older than last time, I don’t know that it would have lasted the tension of the last one in 64 with the last minute 4 point win with the winning goal by a back pocket straying, against coach’s orders, to the half forward line. 

The 56, 57 and 60 teams were also etched into my memory but it is so hard to compare eras.  
 

That said the current mob look pretty complete and superbly fit. 

[Tony Tea 2,792]

I have Eagle and Docker supporter friends in Perth who have said to me that they have never seen a side play better than Melbourne has in the last two matches at Optus.

[Bobby McKenzie 2,194]

43 minutes ago, Tony Tea said:

I have Eagle and Docker supporter friends in Perth who have said to me that they have never seen a side play better than Melbourne has in the last two matches at Optus.

They certainly have erased memories of their awful preliminary final at Optus in 2018. I think the ground suits their style. Look out Eagles and Dockers.

[faultydet 7,593]

1 hour ago, Tony Tea said:

I have Eagle and Docker supporter friends in Perth who have said to me that they have never seen a side play better than Melbourne has in the last two matches at Optus.

 

56 minutes ago, Bobby McKenzie said:

They certainly have erased memories of their awful preliminary final at Optus in 2018. I think the ground suits their style. Look out Eagles and Dockers.

Will be interesting to see the reception we get when we head back there next year.

They certainly seem to love Max.

[Cassiew 1,872]

1956 was definitely our greatest ever team. Only 2 losses, the last year with Stuart Spencer, etc.I’d definitely out this team over 1964. We were in the top four all year, whereas 1964’s team only scraped in the 4 with that lucky kick from Hassa Mann. They also were very lucky to win that grand final, where our team belted Bulldogs out of the park.

[durango 1,984]

This is team is better than the 1950's team because the 5 outstanding midfielders in Gawn Jackson Oliver Petracca and Viney.

The Melbourne teams of the 1950's did have good ruckmen but not outstanding ruckmen which this team now has probably the best ruckmen combination since the essendon teams of the 1980's and even they had ruckmen which would struggle to match these two.

They have emulated the Dean Cox version times 2. 

[FritschyBusiness 1,455]

With all due respect, I think it's impossible and almost unfair to compare this team with teams from the 50's and 60s because of the level of athlete these current players are and the standards they currently play at. A big difference is the teams and players are doing it nowadays as their full time job.

The advances made in the game, the talent, sports science, training standards and athleticism has improved to an unfathomable level in all sports in the last 60-70 years. 

In all honestly, I don't think we've seen the peak yet.
I think this team finally clicked in the finals and can hold this run for another 3-5 more years

 

[WalkingCivilWar 33,083]

2 hours ago, Cassiew said:

1956 was definitely our greatest ever team. Only 2 losses, the last year with Stuart Spencer, etc.I’d definitely out this team over 1964. We were in the top four all year, whereas 1964’s team only scraped in the 4 with that lucky kick from Hassa Mann. They also were very lucky to win that grand final, where our team belted Bulldogs out of the park.

Hey Cassie! You’d better be typing this with a Sailor Moon ‘do 

A dare’s a dare. 😆

[Cassiew 1,872]

9 hours ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

Hey Cassie! You’d better be typing this with a Sailor Moon ‘do 

A dare’s a dare. 😆

The funny thing is virtually no one made fun of me. They commented how it actually suits me. Boss didn’t even say a word, even though he make me one of his “looks.”

Most actually wanted to know how to do it. Not a bad bet after all. Way better than nudie runs or sharing socks lol

Edited September 27, 2021 by Cassiew

[John Crow Batty 8,291]

10 hours ago, durango said:

This is team is better than the 1950's team because the 5 outstanding midfielders in Gawn Jackson Oliver Petracca and Viney.

The Melbourne teams of the 1950's did have good ruckmen but not outstanding ruckmen which this team now has probably the best ruckmen combination since the essendon teams of the 1980's and even they had ruckmen which would struggle to match these two.

They have emulated the Dean Cox version times 2. 

Then it was a semi pro suburban competition. We were great then but this is the greatest ever for the reasons you state and it’s a national competition now with the best players in the land playing.

[Biffen 12,398]

In terms of footy card profiles I'd say the 70's .

Our premiership team of 2021 look like they just stepped off a Yacht and into a flag.

With the exception of perhaps Max ,who looks like he stepped off a Pirate ship.

[Dr. Gonzo 22,572]

Best I've ever seen - they will need to add to the tally if they want to be considered the best of all time though.

[Maldonboy38 5,997]

Definitely the best I have seen. I actually rated the 1994 team as the best until now, but this eclipses that easily. No comparison any more.

There might be another cup or two in this list, and I certainly hope so. But even as a single season premiership team, I always rated 1995 Carlton and (unfortunately) 2000 Essendon as the 2 standout single season teams. But this Dees 2021 wipes those 2 off the table. The end of that 3rd quarter - the best thing I have ever seen in footy, bar nothing. Midfield perfection. 

But the clinching factor is the TEAM element. These 22 played as a single unit. That is what I love most.