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A Coincidental Memory of the '65 post flag year

Harrisonrules
in Melbourne Demons

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How we celebrated the breaking of the 57 year Flag drought last year believing we had exorcised that Norm Smith curse. But 2022 had a little too much of a pattern to remind us of our history of pain.  In the post '64 flag year, '65 we began the year in scintillating form with 10 straight wins. The 'back to back' beckoned. The following week Norm Smith was sacked and we lost the game under Checker Hughes coaching. Norm was reinstated, but alas the damage was done and we lost the remaining 8 games of the year and we know the history of the 57 years of pain that followed.  Following our best ever final series of '21 and the drought breaking flag, we began in scintillating form, 10 wins in a row. The 'back to back' beckoned. The pattern is not exact but too close for comfort. Once again eight losses to see out the season to mirror '65. The only difference is we did win 6 in the current extended season. 

To often history has a strange way of repeating itself, Let's hope 2023 truly lays our history of the twentieth century to rest and the new year of '23 extends our flag collection.

PS. nice to see the pies history of 'Colliwobbles' is alive and well.

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    Not quite correct. In 1965 we won the first eight (again many by small margins that tested our resolve) until we lost by 63 points to the sainters on Queen's Birthday under Norm Smith before he was sacked.

    Then the rot set in and we struggled for the nest 55.5 years.

    2022 does not resemble this era at all. In 1965 we had a lot of older players who had tasted success for many years and were on the way out. In 2022 we have a lot of younger players on the cusp of prolonged success (we hope). Barassi left, some retired and our ace in the hole, Jim Cardwell, was past his prime in recruitment and then zoning killed us off.

    GO DEES

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    54 minutes ago, Harrisonrules said:

    How we celebrated the breaking of the 57 year Flag drought last year believing we had exorcised that Norm Smith curse. But 2022 had a little too much of a pattern to remind us of our history of pain.  In the post '64 flag year, '65 we began the year in scintillating form with 10 straight wins. The 'back to back' beckoned. The following week Norm Smith was sacked and we lost the game under Checker Hughes coaching. Norm was reinstated, but alas the damage was done and we lost the remaining 8 games of the year and we know the history of the 57 years of pain that followed.  Following our best ever final series of '21 and the drought breaking flag, we began in scintillating form, 10 wins in a row. The 'back to back' beckoned. The pattern is not exact but too close for comfort. Once again eight losses to see out the season to mirror '65. The only difference is we did win 6 in the current extended season. 

    To often history has a strange way of repeating itself, Let's hope 2023 truly lays our history of the twentieth century to rest and the new year of '23 extends our flag collection.

    PS. nice to see the pies history of 'Colliwobbles' is alive and well.

    Would hardly call it colliwobbles. Given an extra minute, Sydney would be gone. 

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    26 minutes ago, Ugottobekidding said:

    Would hardly call it colliwobbles. Given an extra minute, Sydney would be gone. 

    I think there's an element of close loss in the Colliwobbles tag.

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    Just now, Harrisonrules said:

    Lighten up

     

    Says the poster foreshadowing a further 57 years of lack of success ...

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    4 minutes ago, Harrisonrules said:

    Lighten up

     

    I think that is your job Sunshine….

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    8 hours ago, tiers said:

    Not quite correct. In 1965 we won the first eight (again many by small margins that tested our resolve) until we lost by 63 points to the sainters on Queen's Birthday under Norm Smith before he was sacked.

    Then the rot set in and we struggled for the nest 55.5 years.

    2022 does not resemble this era at all. In 1965 we had a lot of older players who had tasted success for many years and were on the way out. In 2022 we have a lot of younger players on the cusp of prolonged success (we hope). Barassi left, some retired and our ace in the hole, Jim Cardwell, was past his prime in recruitment and then zoning killed us off.

    GO DEES

    Friend, sounds like you were there as I was. Your memory perhaps a little better than mine. I do recall the final win being against the Blues at Princes Park (so called in those days) and returning home believing we were well on track for another flag. 8 or 10? I don't argue. I googled the Demons 1965 season to attempt to keep the facts accurate. It records 10 strait wins, and 8 losses.  I checked the story with an ex-demon player of that era, who in fact went to South with Norm Smith. I shared his story. but the real story is the way the year panned out. A string of wins 8 or 10 in a row and a dramatic change of fortune. You're the historian, why don't you have the google entry changed. I'm a little less tied to the exact facts, just the sense of similarity. All part of the demon story.  Knowing the story with it many facets strengths that bond. Bring on the new chapter 2023. 

    GO DEES

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