Now that the premiership flag’s been won and the season’s over, we can discuss various topics from a new perspective. Why not start by facing one of our greatest demons - 186?

The events of ten years ago that saw a coach move on and massive upheaval are now a thing of the distant past. 

This article looks at the players who took part in the game against Geelong at Kardinia Park that came to be known as 186.

Where are they now?: Melbourne’s 22 – Round 19, 2011

What are your recollections and views on that game now that most of its “Demons” have been well and truly buried?

1 hour ago, Whispering_Jack said:

Now that the premiership flag’s been won and the season’s over, we can discuss various topics from a new perspective. Why not start by facing one of our greatest demons - 186?

The events of ten years ago that saw a coach move on and massive upheaval are now a thing of the distant past. 

This article looks at the players who took part in the game against Geelong at Kardinia Park that came to be known as 186.

Where are they now?: Melbourne’s 22 – Round 19, 2011

What are your recollections and views on that game now that most of its “Demons” have been well and truly buried. It’s time to move on Whisper

I get that articles will be printed and you want to start a conversation but we are all now in a happy place now rather than in a vale of negativity. 

Personally I am looking forward to next season and going back to back rather than going over old ground. 🏆

4 minutes ago, DemonOX said:

It’s time to move on Whisper.

I get that articles will be printed and you want to start a conversation but we are all now in a happy place now rather than in a vale of negativity. 

Personally I am looking forward to next season and going back to back rather than going over old ground. 🏆

Precisely why I’m raising it now. That and the fact that I lived through the successful era when we won lots of these 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆.

The philosopher Santayana said, “those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it”. It’s worth remembering for that reason.

11 minutes ago, Whispering_Jack said:

The philosopher Santayana said, “those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it”. It’s worth remembering for that reason.

Agree totally and I will never forget that game or our horrid past but I don’t need to be reminded about it either.
Like I said we all know our past but it’s time to move on. 

I watched the whole game and marveled at how good that cats team was. It doesn’t worry me, I moved on before that game was even done. We were a rabble.

People at work try and bring it up from time to time but realise I don’t care or that I agree that whilst we were poor they were elite. 
tbh, with how good that cats team was, and I’ve said it to the cats fans, you under achieved by at least one flag.

I knew we were in for a bad day when we got flogged by over 100 points in the twos. 

It was time to leave the ground at quarter time in the ones.

It’s the memory of days like that which made our comeback in Round 23 at GMHBA Stadium and our trashing of them in the Preliminary Final at Optus Stadium all the more joyful.

1 hour ago, Whispering_Jack said:

Now that the premiership flag’s been won and the season’s over, we can discuss various topics from a new perspective. Why not start by facing one of our greatest demons - 186?

The events of ten years ago that saw a coach move on and massive upheaval are now a thing of the distant past. 

This article looks at the players who took part in the game against Geelong at Kardinia Park that came to be known as 186.

Where are they now?: Melbourne’s 22 – Round 19, 2011

What are your recollections and views on that game now that most of its “Demons” have been well and truly buried?

Sorry to to bring this up but in 1979 Fitzroy kicked 36.22.238 to win by 190 points i was at that game.

1 hour ago, Whispering_Jack said:

Now that the premiership flag’s been won and the season’s over, we can discuss various topics from a new perspective. Why not start by facing one of our greatest demons - 186?

The events of ten years ago that saw a coach move on and massive upheaval are now a thing of the distant past. 

This article looks at the players who took part in the game against Geelong at Kardinia Park that came to be known as 186.

Where are they now?: Melbourne’s 22 – Round 19, 2011

What are your recollections and views on that game now that most of its “Demons” have been well and truly buried?

An interesting read. Of the four members of the team still playing in the AFL in 2021, only Nathan Jones was still at Melbourne. Stef Martin played against us in the Grand Final (and passed on the curse to the Bulldogs), Jeremy Howe went to Collingwood for premiership success and to play on the forward line (look how that turned out) and recently retired James Frawley got his flag with the Hawks. A number of other players ended their careers elsewhere.

 I wonder whether the experience of playing in that team on that day had a defining effect on their careers?

That game was wiped from my demon history when over.

What I can't forget is the distress at watching a terminally ill Jimmy struggle though the press conf to sack Dean Bailey.  And then watching Bailey all alone to front the media, stripped of club colours and of a sponsor board.  He was a good man, gave us his all and deserved better.  I had tears all the way for both of them and for our beloved club.  

For mine the aftermath of 186 was more ignominious for our club than the loss itself.  

Any lingering feelings about 186 were wiped with the rnd 23, after the siren goal to give us a redeeming win at the scene of the crime.

Ultimate redemption was thrashing the Cats in the penultimate game of our season; a Preliminary final on the second biggest stage of all with the footy world watching.  All was atoned that day.

Edited October 8, 20213 yr by Premiers

Round 19. 

We had 7 wins a draw and 9 loses (2 byes that year) at this point. We were tracking pretty well considering the year's we had just had.

I was travelling that day and knew I would miss most of the game due to loss of radio signal.

I listened to pre game commentary on ABC radio praising us for seemingly being on the right course. Our rebuild was tracking well.

I lost reception. I tuned in later on thinking I might catch the last minutes of the game. All I heard was Gerald Whately saying "Geelong has beaten the Demons by 186 points and there is only one question. Will they sack the coach now or later in the week"

I was gobsmacked. 

I avoided all replays and my only other recollections are the picture of the scoreboard that pops up now and then and a memory that some Demonlanders said that Jordie McKenzie 'tried hard' as the only positive. 

Edited October 8, 20213 yr by BAMF

41 minutes ago, Gorgoroth said:

I watched the whole game and marveled at how good that cats team was. It doesn’t worry me, I moved on before that game was even done. We were a rabble.

People at work try and bring it up from time to time but realise I don’t care or that I agree that whilst we were poor they were elite. 
tbh, with how good that cats team was, and I’ve said it to the cats fans, you under achieved by at least one flag.

I'd love to turn the tables and inflict better than 186 on the Cats in a few years.  Still think we have plenty of scope to get better and that they will head on a downward spiral in the next few years.

...and to do it at a packed MCG in front of 80,000 screaming Melbourne supporters.

Edited October 8, 20213 yr by Rodney (Balls) Grinter

I spent most of the game with a wry smile, and an occasional disbelieving laugh. I had thought we were a slim finals chances before that day and came away from it knowing we were right back at square one. 

34 minutes ago, DemonOX said:

Agree totally and I will never forget that game or our horrid past but I don’t need to be reminded about it either.
Like I said we all know our past but it’s time to move on. 

This article is not all doom and gloom though, DemonOx. For example, I was really touched by what Colin Garland recently said about Goodie…

“In a recent interview with AAP, Garland revealed Simon Goodwin reached out to all past players prior the prelim, wishing they could all be there.”

A shout out to Col Garland.  In the article he says:  "The club means a lot to me. I was there from age 18 to 30...After your time, you just become a supporter...And it's just like anything in life. When you see close friends, who are good people, achieve success in whatever field - that's a really good thing."

I always was a fan but he went to the top when he commented on (his good mate) Frawley winning a premiership.  He said something like:  If I don't win one with Melbourne it won't mean much'. 

Little doubt Garland's heart still beats true.

My only memories of 186 was I had the flu at the time and had been asleep when the game started. I woke up during the 2nd quarter and checked my phone to see we we're about 80 points down at the time. I avoided checking again until it was over.

I don't blame the club for sacking Bailey after that, though they probably should have sacked Schwab at the same time to.

My memories of 148 v Essendon are a lot stronger as sadly I was there that night.

Edited October 8, 20213 yr by MadAsHell

3 minutes ago, MadAsHell said:

My only memories of 186 was I had the flu at the time and had been asleep when the game started. I woke up during the 2nd quarter and checked my phone to see we we're about 80 points down at the time. I avoided checking again until it was over.

I don't blame the club for sacking Bailey after that, though they probably should have sacked Schwab at the same time to.

My memories of 148 v Essendon are a lot stronger as sadly I was there that night.

Yes, lots of us sat through crap performances, yet missed out on being there in person on our day of redemption on September 25, 2021. Trusting that this will be the driver to see the club through to another one in 12 months time at the G.

Another shout out to the player's at the club for 186 who didn't play that day but stayed true and got to win or be part of a premiership campaign.  Max Gawn.  Tom McDonald.  Neville Jetta.

Along with Jones, they are loyal and true Demons who stuck fat through our darkest days on and off the field.

Edited October 8, 20213 yr by Premiers

On the morning after our prelim win this year I met a neighbour who is a Dees supporter but I never knew about him, nor did he know about me. Naturally what ensued was 20 mins of unabashed gushing about our Mighty Dees. 
Then he says (after looking around to see if anyone was watching) “hey, I wanna show you something. It’s something I don’t usually show anyone. The last person I showed it to was my ex-wife.” So I’m thinking wow that went from nought to creepy in the blink of an eye. 
He turns around, lifts up his shirt to reveal a full back tattoo. From his neck to his lower back and from one side to the other, it took up the entire space. It said Melbourne Demons, it had the demon holding the trident and heaps of flames and stuff. 
I was gobsmacked. I really wanted to take a pic but then I would’ve been the creepy one. 😆
Anyways, here’s the best part: the tattoo looked fairly old so I asked him when it was done. He told me he was at the 186 match and couldn’t bear watching it anymore so he left at three-qtr time. He went directly to a tattooist and got it done there and then. This was his thinking: “I knew if I still love the Dees having just sat through that nightmare, I’ll always love them.”

❤️💙💕❤️💙

5 minutes ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

On the morning after our prelim win this year I met a neighbour who is a Dees supporter but I never knew about him, nor did he know about me. Naturally what ensued was 20 mins of unabashed gushing about our Mighty Dees. 
Then he says (after looking around to see if anyone was watching) “hey, I wanna show you something. It’s something I don’t usually show anyone. The last person I showed it to was my ex-wife.” So I’m thinking wow that went from nought to creepy in the blink of an eye. 
He turns around, lifts up his shirt to reveal a full back tattoo. From his neck to his lower back and from one side to the other, it took up the entire space. It said Melbourne Demons, it had the demon holding the trident and heaps of flames and stuff. 
I was gobsmacked. I really wanted to take a pic but then I would’ve been the creepy one. 😆
Anyways, here’s the best part: the tattoo looked fairly old so I asked him when it was done. He told me he was at the 186 match and couldn’t bear watching it anymore so he left at three-qtr time. He went directly to a tattooist and got it done there and then. This was his thinking: “I knew if I still love the Dees having just sat through that nightmare, I’ll always love them.”

❤️💙💕❤️💙

So you're saying he carried Melbourne on his back from its lowest ebb all the way to a flag. Almighty effort.

5 minutes ago, Chook said:

So you're saying he carried Melbourne on his back from its lowest ebb all the way to a flag. Almighty effort.

Literally on his back!

34 minutes ago, MadAsHell said:

My only memories of 186 was I had the flu at the time and had been asleep when the game started. I woke up during the 2nd quarter and checked my phone to see we we're about 80 points down at the time. I avoided checking again until it was over.

I don't blame the club for sacking Bailey after that, though they probably should have sacked Schwab at the same time to.

My memories of 148 v Essendon are a lot stronger as sadly I was there that night.

From memory wasn't Schwab supposedly sacked or fell on his sword in the week leading up to this match then miraculously kept his job days before. I could be wrong but that was my understanding.

Was 186 some sort of player protest?? We sure were a Jeckyl and Hyde team,  we played some scintillating footy amongst downright embarrassingly putrid in that era.

The treatment of Bailey still doesn't sit well with me. We are completely unrecognisable as a club now thankfully.

8 minutes ago, Hellaintabadplacetobe said:

From memory wasn't Schwab supposedly sacked or fell on his sword in the week leading up to this match then miraculously kept his job days before. I could be wrong but that was my understanding.

Was 186 some sort of player protest?? We sure were a Jeckyl and Hyde team,  we played some scintillating footy amongst downright embarrassingly putrid in that era.

The treatment of Bailey still doesn't sit well with me. We are completely unrecognisable as a club now thankfully.

Yes I think you're right re: Schwab. But the club didn't want the CEO and coach leaving at the same time.

And yes, before that game we had some very impressive wins. Were capable of steam rolling the interstate teams in our own backyard.

I would love to read the match day and post game threads from this game. I imagine I wasn’t very nice 😂

The Kardinia Park scoreboard was running on Preliminary Final night.

5 minutes ago, Demonland said:

The Kardinia Park scoreboard was running on Preliminary Final night.

Really? Hope they enjoyed getting thrashed in a game that meant something. 
God I despise that club. Hope they struggle for the rest of eternity.