Jump to content

The intangibles that won a flag

The Stigga
The Stigga
in Melbourne Demons

Featured Replies

Posted

Apart from the obvious- talented list, great coaching staff, terrific form leading into the finals, I've been thinking about the list of luck coincidences if you like, that helped us lift the cup:

- a great comeback against Geelong that guaranteed top spot, the kudos of a minor premiership, as well as minimal travel 

- three unexpected Footscray losses that made the above much easier 

- the intervention of Pert and Roffey to keep Goodwin entrenched as coach 

- an extra break before the Grand final that allowed May to play 

- the respectful way the Jones situation was handled, which could have had the potential to derail things 

Please add to the list!

 

 

 

 

  • Quote
    • Like 3
    • Thanks 1
     

    Casey and quarantine ended up well for us in the sense that it provided consistency

    Location in WA for 6 odd weeks at the end was a big plus.

    Would we have won in a normal season.

    Probably but GF day in Melbourne was cold and damp so it might have been a lot closer.

  • Quote
    • Like 3

    Good umpiring???!!!WTF

  • Quote
    • Like 1
     

    An excellent run on the injury front (for a change).

  • Quote
    • Like 6

    Just read an extract from Max’s diary to be released on 10 December. I’m not usually one for books published by sports people. They are usually rubbish but this is intelligent thoughtful and informative. Definitely will be getting a copy. It’s easy to underestimate Max - he is much more than a great footballer. 

  • Quote
    • Like 7
    • Love 2

    The number of young players who played above and beyond their number of years and games and the clubs faith in them.

    Bbb to show glimpses of his old form heading into and during finals.

    Fritta to reveal he is the best forward we have had for a while.

  • Quote
    • Like 7
    15 minutes ago, Deeoldfart said:

    An excellent run on the injury front (for a change).

    Honestly our lack of injuries to key players had a huge factor in our success. I think it is our single biggest threat to success next season. 

  • Quote
    • Like 7
     
    2 minutes ago, FarNorthernD said:

    Honestly our lack of injuries to key players had a huge factor in our success. I think it is our single biggest threat to success next season. 

    100%.
    To win flags ya gotta keep the guns in working order.


     

    Edited by Fork 'em

  • Quote
    • Like 3

    I was talking to a Dees fan whom I met at the supermarket a couple of days after the grannie. He works for the MFC as an accountant and this very subject came up. He believes that last year’s interstate bubble situation is a huge factor in this year’s success. He said while the players were close as it was, that time together truly cemented the bonds like nothing else. 
    Edit: Didn’t wanna give the wrong impression. Talking to strange men at Coles is not usually my wont. He approached me when he spotted my beanie. And it’s a given that when two Dees supporters discover one another in our suburb much gushing ensues. We’re as rare as hen’s teeth around here. 😁

  • Quote

    28 minutes ago, chook fowler said:

    Just read an extract from Max’s diary to be released on 10 December. I’m not usually one for books published by sports people. They are usually rubbish but this is intelligent thoughtful and informative. Definitely will be getting a copy. It’s easy to underestimate Max - he is much more than a great footballer. 

    I can’t wait to get into this chook, I’ve got it on preorder from Amazon, delivery on the 10th.

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    31 minutes ago, Deeoldfart said:

    An excellent run on the injury front (for a change).

    Apart from May with a torn hammie, Hunt with an ankle, Tommo with a knee and Smith with a hammie.

    Can I downgrade excellent to good?

  • Quote
    • Haha 2

    Because for the first time since 1950's we have 3 of the top half dozen players in the comp and probably 6 of top 20. We have never had champions in numbers like this. 

  • Quote
    • Like 13
    • Love 1
    3 minutes ago, Wizard of Koz said:

    Because for the first time since 1950's we have 3 of the top half dozen players in the comp and probably 6 of top 20. We have never had champions in numbers like this. 

    Got 23 champions now 😎🏆

  • Quote
    • Like 2

    A lot of the sides we played did have unfortunate injuries when we played them, in fact teams used their sub 14 times.

  • Quote
    • Like 3

    10 minutes ago, JAG001 said:

    A lot of the sides we played did have unfortunate injuries when we played them, in fact teams used their sub 14 times.

    Because we hit hard. Ain’t bruise free anymore.

  • Quote
    • Like 7
    52 minutes ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

    I was talking to a Dees fan whom I met at the supermarket a couple of days after the grannie. He works for the MFC as an accountant and this very subject came up. He believes that last year’s interstate bubble situation is a huge factor in this year’s success. He said while the players were close as it was, that time together truly cemented the bonds like nothing else. 
    Edit: Didn’t wanna give the wrong impression. Talking to strange men at Coles is not usually my wont. He approached me when he spotted my beanie. And it’s a given that when two Dees supporters discover one another in our suburb much gushing ensues. We’re as rare as hen’s teeth around here. 😁

    Never been a better time to wear a beanie or scarf and flying the club's colours.

    # Demonpride.

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    • Love 1
    2 hours ago, The Stigga said:

    Apart from the obvious- talented list, great coaching staff, terrific form leading into the finals, I've been thinking about the list of luck coincidences if you like, that helped us lift the cup:

    - a great comeback against Geelong that guaranteed top spot, the kudos of a minor premiership, as well as minimal travel 

    - three unexpected Footscray losses that made the above much easier 

    - the intervention of Pert and Roffey to keep Goodwin entrenched as coach 

    - an extra break before the Grand final that allowed May to play 

    - the respectful way the Jones situation was handled, which could have had the potential to derail things 

    Please add to the list!

     

     

     

     

    All clubs had their fair share of easy losses, Dogs just had theirs at the wrong time of the season.

    Edited by Bombay Airconditioning

  • Quote
    • Like 2

    The respectful and understanding way we supported Kossie when his mother tragically passed away before the season.

    Though he wasn't a huge scoreboard contributor on GF day, he still had a huge presence in the game, the preceding finals and season as a whole.

    I think having guys like Matty Wheelan and Nev around would have been a big help in this regard as well.

  • Quote
    • Like 6
    • Love 1
    40 minutes ago, Wizard of Koz said:

    Because for the first time since 1950's we have 3 of the top half dozen players in the comp and probably 6 of top 20. We have never had champions in numbers like this. 

    Absolutely! In middle Max, Trac, & Oliver - Viney a top 4th! 
    FB - May & Lever

    HB - Salem

    Wings - Langdon & Brayshaw

    HF - Fritsch

    FF - BB & Pickett

    Add Jackson

    5 All Australians another 4 in Fritsch, Salem, Langdon & Pickett who could have been picked and after the GF, Jackson would get on the bench!

    Most talented Demon team by quite a bit. Then add the youth not mentioned above:

    Rivers, Bowey, Petty, Sparrow, Spargo & Jordan!

    Depth in 22 - TMac, Harmes, ANB, Hibberd

    Future is brilliant!

  • Quote
    • Love 2

    The Grand Final umpires, who largely refused to pay coodabeen-paid frees to the Dogs. Although, that was the Dogs' own fault for overacting earlier in the finals (and all year).

  • Quote
    • Like 4
    14 minutes ago, Jontee said:

    My Libba voodoo doll.  Came good in the GF.

    Complete with stupid tattoos, I trust. 

  • Quote
    •  
    1 hour ago, FarNorthernD said:

    Honestly our lack of injuries to key players had a huge factor in our success. I think it is our single biggest threat to success next season. 

    I’ve been banging on about this for years…..injury ladder parallels real ladder.   Objectively the biggest sole determinant of success. We have an injury free year like this again and we’ll be primed for a repeat run. 

  • Quote
    • Like 2

    No crowd at Geelong - doubt they’d pay Close’s punch out in front of full house. 
     

    For once, hard work was rewarded and  everything fell our way

  • Quote
    • Like 5

    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: Richmond

      A few years ago, the Melbourne Football Club produced a documentary about the decade in which it rose from its dystopic purgatory of regular thrashings to the euphoria of a premiership victory. That entire period could have been compressed in a fast motion version of the 2025 season to date as the Demons went from embarrassing basket case to glorious winner in an unexpected victory over the Dockers last Saturday. They transformed in a single week from a team that put in a pedestrian effort of predictably kicking the ball long down the line into attack that made a very ordinary Bombers outfit look like worldbeaters into a slick, fast moving side with urgency and a willingness to handball and create play with shorter kicks and by changing angles to generate an element of chaos that yielded six goals in each of the opening quarters against Freo. 

        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 0 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • NON-MFC: Round 07

      Round 7 gets underway in iconic fashion with the traditional ANZAC Day blockbuster. The high-flying Magpies will be looking to solidify their spot atop the ladder, while the Bombers are desperate for a win to stay in touch with the top eight. Later that evening, Fremantle will be out to redeem themselves after a disappointing loss to the Demons, facing a hungry Adelaide side with eyes firmly set on breaking into the top four. Saturday serves up a triple-header of footy action. The Lions will be looking to consolidate their Top 2 spot as they head to Marvel Stadium to clash with the Saints. Over in Adelaide, Port Adelaide will be strong favourites at home against a struggling North Melbourne. The day wraps up with a fiery encounter in Canberra, where the Giants and Bulldogs renew their bitter rivalry. Sunday’s schedule kicks off with the Suns aiming to bounce back from their shock defeat to Richmond, taking on the out of form Swans.Then the Blues will be out to claim a major scalp when they battle the Cats at the MCG. The round finishes with a less-than-thrilling affair between Hawthorn and West Coast at Marvel. Who are you tipping and what are the best results for the Demons?

      • 3 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • REPORT: Fremantle

      For this year’s Easter Saturday game at the MCG, Simon Goodwin and his Demons wound the clock back a few years to wipe out the horrible memories of last season’s twin thrashings at the hands of the Dockers. And it was about time! Melbourne’s indomitable skipper Max Gawn put in a mammoth performance in shutting out his immediate opponent Sean Darcy in the ruck and around the ground and was a colossus at the end when the game was there to be won or lost. It was won by 16.11.107 to 14.13.97. There was the battery-charged Easter Bunny in Kysaiah Pickett running anyone wearing purple ragged, whether at midfield stoppages or around the big sticks. He finish with a five goal haul.

        • Love
        • Thanks
      • 0 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • CASEY: UWS Giants

      The Casey Demons took on an undefeated UWS Giants outfit at their own home ground on a beautiful autumn day but found themselves completely out of their depth going down by 53 points against a well-drilled and fair superior combination. Despite having 15 AFL listed players at their disposal - far more than in their earlier matches this season - the Demons were never really in the game and suffered their second defeat in a row after their bright start to the season when they drew with the Kangaroos, beat the Suns and matched the Cats for most of the day on their own dung heap at Corio Bay. The Giants were a different proposition altogether. They had a very slight wind advantage in the opening quarter but were too quick off the mark for the Demons, tearing the game apart by the half way mark of the term when they kicked the first five goals with clean and direct football.

        • Thanks
      • 0 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • PREGAME: Richmond

      The Dees are back at the MCG on Thursday for the annual blockbuster ANZAC Eve game against the Tigers. Can the Demons win back to back games for the first time since Rounds 17 & 18 last season? Who comes in and who goes out?

        • Thanks
      • 212 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • PODCAST: Fremantle

      The Demonland Podcast will air LIVE on TUESDAY, 22nd April @ 8:00pm. Join Binman, George & I as we analyse the Demons first win for the year against the Dockers. 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. If you would like to leave us a voicemail please call 03 9016 3666 and don't worry no body answers so you don't have to talk to a human.

        • Thanks
      • 47 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland
    View All