Jump to content

Crackers and Stan

bush demon
in Melbourne Demons

Featured Replies

Posted

Have seen no reportage of these two since GF. Crackers always talked the Dees down in favour of his beloved North. Stan never really showed the love of the red and blue either, after spending most of his career as a champion in a losing side. Stan's first three games in 1965 had been in the Dees' (very briefly)  undefeated premiership team.

  • Quote
    • Like 1
     

    Wash ur mouth out Bush Dee, I have it on EXCELLENT authority from another player of the era that these two and Stan in particular were absolutely WRAPPED in the GF! Take that to the bank!!

    Edited by picket fence

  • Quote
    • Like 5

    Ha!

    While he played more games for the club than I ever will, Crackers literally wrote a book about his career as ruck coach at Collingwood! I've also heard him say on radio once that he had no love for us.

    crackers.thumb.jpg.87aee42ee834c318d5baddac7b14dd62.jpg

    If he tried jumping on the bandwagon now, he'd get as much love from me as Mark Jackson would. Or Cameron Schwab. 

  • Quote
    •  

    I heard Stan speak at an MFC function around 2003 might have even been the B&F. All he talked about in his speech that night was his love for the red and blue and his deep regret that he couldn't help bring us premierships. Another time I heard him speak at length about Norm Smith and how he helped shape him into not only the footballer but the person he became. Make no mistake there is much love there.

    Edited by layzie

  • Quote
    • Like 5
    • Author
    4 minutes ago, picket fence said:

    Wash ur mouth out Bush Dee, I have it on EXCELLENT authority from another player of the era that these two and Stan in particular were absolutely WRAPPED in the GF! Take that to the bank!!

    Well I'm pleased to hear that. Alves was my hero 'in the day'.

  • Quote
    • Like 1

    1 minute ago, layzie said:

    I heard Stan speak at an MFC function around 2003 might have even been the B&F. All he talked about in his speech that night was his love for the red and blue and his deep regrets that he couldn't help bring us premierships. Another time I heard him speak at length about Norm Smith and how he shaped him into not only the footballer but the person he became. Make no mistake there is much love there.

    I also think Stan was also a conspicuous presence at the club when Jimmy tried to bring us together during the 'Foundation Heroes' era.

  • Quote
    2 minutes ago, bush demon said:

    I think Alves had a falling out with Skilton, someone can correct me on that.

    Ah yes heard the same thing! Look, I have had some meetings/dealings with Stan and he is a magnificent human being and passionate Dee. Just a great bloke!!

  • Quote
    • Like 3
     
    1 minute ago, picket fence said:

    Ah yes heard the same thing! Look, I have had some meetings/dealings with Stan and he is a magnificent human being and passionate Dee. Just a great bloke!!

    Me too Picket. His playing career was well before my time but just after his time coaching the Saints ended my school had him down to take a few of our training sessions.

    He's one of those people you don't forget.

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    8 minutes ago, bush demon said:

    I think Alves had a falling out with Skilton, someone can correct me on that.

    Yes he did. Wrote that senior players came to him requesting Skilton be removed. He passed this on to the committee, Skilton found out, blamed Alves & demanded he be sacked. The Club backed the coach & that was it.

    I loved Alves, my favourite player till Robbie came.  A champion & regular state rep.

  • Quote
    • Like 1

    I use to speak to Crackers a few times a week for a number of years when I lived in Maribyrnong as he use to take his son to a mate of mines place for boxing training . He never once said a bad word against the MFC but he did have an intense dislike of Cameron Schwab.

  • Quote
    • Like 3

    Until this year I always felt it was akin to having teeth removed for Gerard Healy to reminisce positively about his days at Melbourne 

  • Quote
    • Like 4
    1 minute ago, joeboy said:

    Until this year I always felt it was akin to having teeth removed for Gerard Healy to reminisce positively about his days at Melbourne 

    Gerard Healy: Still haven't forgiven

  • Quote

    My very 1st autograph was Stan Alves.
    Before training MCG Jolimont end goal square.

  • Quote
    • Like 2

    Alves and Wells - both such huge losses. Alves was a gun, absolute gun. I was only young but footy obsessed and Alves was part of what made me listen on the radio and check the scores of a Saturday. I reckon he would be rapt to see a red and blue flag. 

  • Quote
    • Like 3
    33 minutes ago, Colin B. Flaubert said:

    Gerard Healy: Still haven't forgiven

    20 pieces of silver like the rest of them and the list grows Scully, Howe etc.

    Prefer to talk about those who stayed.

  • Quote

    Turns out $cully should have stayed with the Dees. What an unmemorable career

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    • Haha 1

    I used to listen to Stan alves on the abc, never heard him say anything positive about the Dees.

    Happy to hear he’s got passion for the red and blue.

    wasn’t Crackers also on the abc for a bit?

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    6 minutes ago, KLV said:

    Turns out $cully should have stayed with the Dees. What an unmemorable career

    Lucky for Voldemort that the GF wasn’t played at the G. The standing boovation he would have copped during the retiree parade would have been brutal.

  • Quote

    1 hour ago, KLV said:

    I used to listen to Stan alves on the abc, never heard him say anything positive about the Dees.

    Happy to hear he’s got passion for the red and blue.

    wasn’t Crackers also on the abc for a bit?

    I mean, let's be honest, there probably wasn't anything positive to say about the Dees during the period he was commentating!

    Edited by Northern Summer

  • Quote
    • Like 5
    • Haha 1
    2 hours ago, KLV said:

    Turns out $cully should have stayed with the Dees. What an unmemorable career

    But lots of $’s.

  • Quote
    17 hours ago, picket fence said:

    Wash ur mouth out Bush Dee, I have it on EXCELLENT authority from another player of the era that these two and Stan in particular were absolutely WRAPPED in the GF! Take that to the bank!!

    That cheque will bounce.

    Keenan definitely not barracking for the Dees in the GF.

    He does keep in touch with past players but regards himself as a North player first and foremost, followed by Essendon.

  • Quote
    • Like 1
     
    17 hours ago, Colin B. Flaubert said:

    Gerard Healy: Still haven't forgiven

    Gerard Healy football career is one big irony  t isn't it, he left Melbourne to go to Sydney "saying he wanted to have some success" only to be knocked out of the finals race in 87 by which team his old team.

  • Quote

    I would be curious to know Brock McLean's thoughts on the Demons winning the 2021 Premiership. I suspect still a lot of bad blood there.....

    Mark "Jacko" Jackson's would be quite bemusing to know about too. He was definitely popular with Demons fans in the early 1980s apparently, but whether or not he cares about us anymore I would be surprised.

    Actually the two people I would really like to hear their thoughts on about the Demons winning the 2021 flag would be David Neitz and David Schwarz. I bet they had tears of joys in their eyes just like the rest of us!

    The former Demons coach John "Swooper" Northey would be over the moon too! Glad he is still around!

     

    Edited by Supreme_Demon

  • Quote

    • 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

    • PREVIEW: Carlton

      Good evening, Demon fans and welcome back to the Demonland Podcast ... it’s time to discuss this week’s game against the Blues. Will the Demons celebrate Clayton Oliver’s 200th game with a victory? We have a number of callers waiting on line … Leopold Bloom: Carlton and Melbourne are both out of finals contention with six wins and eleven losses, and are undoubtedly the two most underwhelming and disappointing teams of 2025. Both had high expectations at the start of participating and advancing deep into the finals, but instead, they have consistently underperformed and disappointed themselves and their supporters throughout the year. However, I am inclined to give the Demons the benefit of the doubt, as they have made some progress in addressing their issues after a disastrous start. In contrast, the Blues are struggling across the board and do not appear to be making any notable improvements. They are regressing, and a significant loss is looming on Saturday night. Max Gawn in the ruck will be huge and the Demon midfield have a point to prove after lowering their colours in so many close calls.

      • 0 replies
      Demonland

    • REPORT: North Melbourne

      I suppose that I should apologise for the title of this piece, but the temptation to go with it was far too great. The memory of how North Melbourne tore Melbourne apart at the seams earlier in the season and the way in which it set the scene for the club’s demise so early in the piece has been weighing heavily upon all of us. This game was a must-win from the club’s perspective, and the team’s response was overwhelming. The 36 point win over Alastair Clarkson’s Kangaroos at the MCG on Sunday was indeed — roovenge of the highest order!

      • 4 replies
      Demonland

    • CASEY: Werribee

      The Casey Demons remain in contention for a VFL finals berth following a comprehensive 76-point victory over the Werribee Tigers at Whitten Oval last night. The caveat to the performance is that the once mighty Tigers have been raided of many key players and are now a shadow of the premiership-winning team from last season. The team suffered a blow before the game when veteran Tom McDonald was withdrawn for senior duty to cover for Steven May who is ill.  However, after conceding the first goal of the game, Casey was dominant from ten minutes in until the very end and despite some early errors and inaccuracy, they managed to warm to the task of dismantling the Tigers with precision, particularly after half time when the nominally home side provided them with minimal resistance.

      • 0 replies
      Demonland

    • PREGAME: Carlton

      The Demons return to the MCG as the the visiting team on Saturday night to take on the Blues who are under siege after 4 straight losses. Who comes in and who goes out?

        • Clap
        • Love
        • Like
      • 222 replies
      Demonland

    • PODCAST: North Melbourne

      The Demonland Podcast will air LIVE on Monday, 14th July @ 8:00pm. Join Binman & I as we dissect the Dees glorious win over the Kangaroos 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/

      • 29 replies
      Demonland

    • POSTGAME: North Melbourne

      The Demons are finally back at the MCG and finally back on the winners list as they continually chipped away at a spirited Kangaroos side eventually breaking their backs and opening the floodgates to run out winners by 6 goals.

        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 253 replies
      Demonland
    View All